A Survey on the Exercise Program after Surgery for the Herniated Lumbar Disc in the Hospital Websites

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Exercise therapy after lumbar disc herniation surgery which is presented through hospital website was studied. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of exercise therapy after lumbar disc herniation surgery; the methods of evaluation are identified through the participating hospital's web site and exercise therapy that is presented on reference is compared. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Exercise therapy after lumbar disc herniation surgery is effective; however, patient training is needed to ensure compliance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After searching on five different portals using the term 'spine surgery,' 230 websites were retrieved. The performance of lumbar disc herniation surgery and presentation of postoperative exercise therapy was discovered and the presentation of exercise therapy for surgery type and departments difference were investigated. Exercise therapy were classified according to purposes and method for reference and the number of each exercise therapy was investigated. Exercises which were divided by postoperative period were also investigated. RESULTS: In 230 websites were retrieved; there were a total of 103 hospitals performing lumbar disc herniation surgery: 23 websites (22%)proposed exercise therapy after surgery is 23(22%), and 2(9%) of websites proposed exercise therapy for the type of surgery. The number of exercise therapy proposed by the website was 15; of the exercises mentioned, deep abdominal muscle contractions was the most commonly mentioned, using the treadmill was least. There were 5 websites that proposed exercise therapy divided by postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Only 22% of hospitals with websites that performed lumbar disc herniation surgery proposed postoperative exercise therapy. Although th common trends seem biased, postoperative exercise therapy needs more attention and the construction of websites for patient access is necessary to provide better rehabilitation for patients.