Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises in patients with lumbar microdiscectomy. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled study. SUBJECTS: Forty-two patients who were diagnosed as having lumbar disc herniation and had been operated on using the microdiscectomy method were divided randomly into 3 groups. METHODS: Dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises were set for the first group and a home exercise programme for the second. The third group given no exercises was considered as a control group. All patients were examined twice, once before the exercise programme and once 8 weeks later. RESULTS: Improvement in the first group was highly significant after the treatment (p < 0.0001). The second group improved significantly more in some parameters (pain, functional disability, lumbar Schober, progressive isoinertial lifting evaluation (neck), trunk endurance (flexion-extension)) than did the third group. The third group of patients showed some improvement in fingertip-floor distance, functional disability, modified lumbar Schober and left rotation in 8 weeks, but there were no significant improvements in the other parameters. CONCLUSION: Dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises are an efficient and useful technique in the rehabilitation of patients who have undergone microdiscectomy. They relieve pain, improve functional parameters and strengthen trunk, abdominal and low back muscles.