title: Physiotherapy Commenced Within the First Four Weeks Post-Spinal Surgery Is Safe and Effective: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether physiotherapy commenced within the first 4 weeks post-spinal surgery is safe and effective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, AMED, PubMed, Embase, and PEDro were searched from the earliest date possible through May 2015. An additional trial was identified through reference list scanning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled trials evaluating comprehensive physiotherapy rehabilitation commenced within 4 weeks postoperatively compared with a control group receiving no physiotherapy, standard postoperative care, rest, less active physiotherapy, or sham physiotherapy after spinal surgery of a musculoskeletal etiology. Two reviewers independently applied inclusion and exclusion criteria, with disagreements discussed until consensus could be reached. Searching identified 3162 potentially relevant articles, of which 4 trials with 250 participants met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted using a predefined data extraction form. Methodological quality of trials was assessed independently by 2 reviewers using the Downs and Black checklist. Pooled analyses were performed using a random-effects model with inverse variance methods to calculate risk differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) (dichotomous outcomes), and standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% CIs (continuous outcomes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared with no or sham physiotherapy, early comprehensive physiotherapy did not increase the risk of adverse events (risk difference, -.01; 95% CI, -.07 to .05; I(2)=0%). In addition, there is moderate-quality evidence demonstrating a reduction in pain by a moderate and significant amount at 12 weeks (SMD=-.38; 95% CI, -.66 to -.10; I(2)=0%) and at 12+ months (SMD=-.30; 95% CI, -.59 to -.02; I(2)=0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early comprehensive physiotherapy commenced within the first 4 weeks post-spinal surgery does not increase the potential for an adverse event and leads to a moderate, statistically significant reduction in pain when compared with a control group.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Australia. Electronic address: megan.snowdon@easternhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Snowdon
authors.affiliation: La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Casey L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Peiris
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Diskectomy; Laminectomy; Physical therapy modalities; Rehabilitation