Rehabilitation Following Lumbar Disc Surgery
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Lumbar Disc Herniation, Radiculopathy
In brief
The proposed study will be a randomized clinical trial designed to determine the most effective physical therapy program for individuals who have undergone lumbar discectomy surgery. The study will compare two different post-operative physical therapy programs (general strengthening or general + specific strengthening). Both groups will begin treatment 2 weeks post-surgery. Subjects in both groups will receive weekly treatment sessions for 8 weeks with a treatment program emphasizing exercises shown to activate the large trunk muscles without imposing potentially harmful compression or shear forces. The general + specific strengthening group will also receive exercises shown to isolate activation of the deep trunk muscles, in particular the multifidus, with training augmented by the use of diagnostic ultrasound biofeedback. Patient assessments will be conducted pre- and post-surgery, as well as 10 (post-treatment) and 26 weeks after surgery.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00894972
- Run by
- University of Utah
- People needed
- 60
- Starts
- 2009-04-01
- Expected to finish
- 2012-04-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2012-11-06
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- 18-60 years old
- Diagnosis of LDH based on imaging (MRI or CT scan) of the lumbar spine with concurring clinical examination findings (based on the judgment of the attending neurosurgeon)
- Appropriate surgical candidate based on the opinion of the attending spine surgeon, and scheduled for single-level lumbar discectomy (open or micro-discectomy).
- Able to attend weekly treatment sessions.
You may not qualify if…
- Prior surgery to the lumbar spine
- Spondylolytic or degenerative spondylolisthesis present on pre-surgical imaging
- Unable to speak and understand English
- Peri- or post-operative complication (infection, nerve injury, dural tear, vascular injury, etc.) that would limit or delay the ability to participate in post-operative rehabilitation.
- Multi-level surgery or the use of instrumentation during surgery (i.e., lumbar fusion)
Where it is running
- University of Utah, Department of Physical Therapy — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.