The effect of movement therapy on quality of life of patients after lumbar disc herniation surgery

Background and Objective: Patients after lumbar disc herniation surgery

experience chronic pain and disability and can impact on their quality of life. This study aimed to determine the effect of movement therapy on quality of life of patients after lumbar disc herniation surgery.

Materials and Method: The current clinical trial study with before and after design in three stages was done on patients with lumbar disc herniation surgery in one of the hospitals in Isfahan in 2013. Patients were selected through convenience sampling and then were randomly allocated into two intervention and control groups (32 patients in each group). The movement program was implemented 4 weeks after surgery for 2 weeks. Data were collected through demographic questionnaire and SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS-18 using independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA.

Results: There has been a significant increase in the mean of overall quality of life score in intervention group 6 weeks (65.2 ± 7.45) and 3 months after intervention (70.9 ± 8.2), in compare with before the intervention (31.5 ± 6.05) (p < 0.001). Also the mean of overall quality of life score showed the significant difference in two groups (p < 0.001). Physical and psychological aspects increased significantly in both groups in the period of 6 weeks and 3 months after intervention, the increase was greater in intervention group than control group. (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Movement therapy promotes the quality of life of patients after lumbar disc herniation surgery. Thus, using this program by health care professionals in improving the quality of life of patients is recommended.