Effects of Exercise Rehabilitation on Pain, Disability, and Muscle Strength after Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery: a Randomized Controlled Trial

[Purpose] The present study examined how exercise rehabilitation, extension exercise rehabilitation, and stabilization exercise rehabilitation programs for 8 weeks affected the lumbar region of elderly patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery. [Methods] Sixty participants were divided into 3 groups. The participants' lumbar extensor muscle strength was evaluated at 7 angles (72 degrees, 60 degrees, 48 degrees, 36 degrees, 24 degrees, 12 degrees, and 0 degrees) from flexion to extension by MedX after 8 weeks; and pain, disability, and maximum muscle strength were also measured. [Results] Extension exercise rehabilitation significantly decreased disability compared with the other exercise methods. On the other hand, stabilization exercise rehabilitation significantly increased lumbar deep muscle strength and endurance compared with the other exercise methods. When strength was compared using MedX, extension exercise rehabilitation increased strength significantly more than the other methods at the lumbar flexion angles of 12 degrees and 0 degrees. [Conclusion] The three exercise programs decreased pain and disability, and increased lumbar deep muscle strength of the posterior lumbar interbody fusion patients. Therefore, these methods help patients attain pain-free lives.