The effects of the addition of motor imagery to home exercises on pain, disability and psychosocial parameters in patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT

Patients who have suffered from persistent symptoms often undergo lumbar spinal surgery (LSS). Motor imagery should be added to postoperative home exercises to reduce patient complaints.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of home exercise plus motor imagery and only home exercise in patients undergoing LSS.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled study.

SETTINGS

This study was designed by researchers at Dokuz Eylul University.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-seven patients undergoing LSS were randomized to motor imagery group (n = 19) and control group (n = 18).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale, disability related to low back pain by Oswestry Disability Index, pain-related fear by Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, depression by Beck Depression Inventory, quality of life by World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF). All assessments were repeated in the preoperative period, three weeks after and six weeks after the surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Motor imagery group underwent home exercise plus motor imagery program applied by voice recording. Control group underwent only home exercise program. Exercise program compliance was monitored by exercise diary and telephone calls once every week.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in pain at rest and during activity, disability, kinesiophobia, depression, physical health and psychological sub-parameters of WHOQOL-BREF between preoperative period, and the third week and sixth week in both groups (p < 0.05). When comparing groups for gain scores, there was a more significant improvement in pain during activity in motor imagery group (p < 0.05). Motor imagery should be addressed as an effective treatment after LSS.