Evaluating a reabilitation protocol following lumbar fusion surgery.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating a rehabilitation protocol following umbar fusion surgery. A feasibility trial.
IRAS ID
145454
Contact name
James Greenwood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Universíty College London Hospital
Research summary
Some people suffer with lower back problems that can cause pain and restriction in activity. Occasionally this requires an operation to fuse the lower back. After this operation many people still have pain and limitation in what they can do. Some of these problems may be caused by muscular weakness, fear of movement and lack of fitness. This study is designed to see if it is possible to provide 10 weeks of rehabilitation (including advice and exercise) 3 months after this operation.
I have designed a rehabilitation programme and when we tried this with a small group of patients in our department they told us that they benefitted from coming. They were able to do more and had lower levels of pain.
We are planning to see if it is possible to provide a group rehabilitation class for people after they have had lumbar fusion surgery. We will do this by asking people who are planning to have this operation if they would like to join in our study. If they agree we will randomly select half to have normal treatment after surgery (currently this is at the discretion of the surgeon but may include physiotherapy, advice or pain tablets from the GP). The other half will be offered a chance to join our rehabilitation class for 10 weeks. Each class last a maximum of 90 minutes. This will include advice, exercises and peer support.
We will ask the patients to fill out a few questionnaires and also for their opinion about the process. This will show if it is possible to provide rehabilitation in this way.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0748
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion