Research has shown that interactively encouraging patients to perform exercise after lumbar surgery has beneficial effects compared giving them simple written advice and less regular follow-up. The report which was presented at EUROSPINE 2019 suggested that “psychosocial behavioural intervention administered in the spine care setting was successful in increasing physical activity after recuperation from lumbar surgery”.
In some countries patients are instructed to restrict physical activity for several months after complex lumbar surgery in order to safely recuperate. However, this can result in patients choosing a permanently sedentary lifestyle because they are worried they will injure themselves – instead this can lead to de-conditioning and poor long-term general health, known as ‘sedentary death syndrome’.
The research looked at patients who had had some form of lumbar surgery. They were randomly split into two groups:
- 114 patients were randomly put in the ‘control group’ and received information about safe physical activity and monthly phone calls to ensure safety.
- 111 patients were randomised to the ‘intervention group’ and received a booklet on the benefits of physical activity and instructions on how to safely increase activity, primarily walking. They were given a pedometer and they made a self-contract to increase walking. They received weekly and then monthly phone calls, to ensure safety and encourage the contract.
The second group had better outcomes both physically and in their general well-being. The conclusion from this trial was that positive, regular encouragement with the use of a pedometer, allowing them to measure the number of steps they were taking each day, made those patients more motivated to exercise than those patients who received minimal interaction.
