The effect of pedometer‐supported walking and telemonitoring after disc hernia surgery on pain and disability levels and quality of life

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pedometer‐supported walking and telemonitoring after lumbar disc hernia surgery on pain and disability levels and quality of life. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial with two randomly selected groups conducted between March 2018 and January 2019. Sixty‐seven participants (33 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group) who had undergone lumbar microdiscectomy were allocated to receive and not to receive walking exercise. Pain and disability levels and quality of life of groups were tested with the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Oswestry Disability Index and the 36‐Item Short Form Survey. Measurements were taken 3 weeks after surgery and following completion of the first, second and third months. Results Compared with the control group, pain level at the first and second months and disability level at the second and third months in the intervention group were significantly lower (p < 0.05), and in the third month, subdimension scores of quality of life (the physical role difficulty, energy and vitality, mental health, social functionality and pain) were higher (p < 0.05). Conclusions Walking after herniated disc surgery decreased pain and disability levels and increased the quality of life; nurses can encourage adherence to walking as an effective intervention.

Effects of physical activity interventions using wearables to improve objectively-measured and patient-reported outcomes in adults following orthopaedic surgical procedures: A systematic review

“…Five studies included patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty ( n = 406), one study included patients undergoing total knee or hip arthroplasty ( n = 95), and one study included patients undergoing surgery for lumbar disc herniation (n = 67). A total of 568 participants were included in this review [ 34 – 39 ] ( Table 1 ). The average age range of the samples across studies reporting age was 64 to 67 years.…”

“…Three studies used a Fitbit Zip [ 34 – 36 ], one study used a Garmin Vivofit 2 [ 38 ], one study used Fitbit Flex or Fitbit One [ 37 ] and one study used a pedometer [ 39 ] for the intervention group. Five studies provided additional intervention components.…”

“…Five studies provided additional intervention components. These components included motivational interviewing ( n = 1) [ 35 ], goal setting ( n = 2) [ 34 , 36 ], a tailored exercise program ( n = 2) [ 34 , 37 ], financial incentives [ 35 ] ( n = 1), daily step goal sheet [ 38 ] ( n = 1) and 12-week step goal sheet ( n = 1) [ 39 ] ( Table 1 ). Interventions were delivered in-person by a licensed physical therapist ( n = 1) [ 34 ] or researcher (n = 1) [ 38 ], or remotely delivered by a health coach ( n = 1) [ 35 ], or exercise physiologist ( n = 1) [ 37 ].…”

“…Interventions were delivered in-person by a licensed physical therapist ( n = 1) [ 34 ] or researcher (n = 1) [ 38 ], or remotely delivered by a health coach ( n = 1) [ 35 ], or exercise physiologist ( n = 1) [ 37 ]. Two studies [ 36 , 39 ] used a hybrid format, which included 12 weekly action planning phone calls by researcher and 3 monthly in-person group support meetings in community [ 36 ] or 12 weekly phone calls and 3 in-person assessment visits [ 39 ]. Intervention duration ranged from 6 weeks to 6 months ( Table 1 ).…”

“…Intervention duration ranged from 6 weeks to 6 months ( Table 1 ). The wearable-based interventions were delivered immediately after surgery [ 38 ] or over an average of 14 days [ 34 ], 3 weeks [ 39 ], or 6-to 8-weeks [ 36 ] after orthopedic surgery. In-person sessions involved a single visit [ 38 ], 3 visits [ 39 ] or were dependent on the number of physical therapy visits [ 34 ].…”