Supervised strength and mobility exercise prehabilitation interventions

Supervised exercise prehabilitation interventions (strength and mobility training) for patients on wait lists for spinal surgery (18, 19).

Intervention summary:

Two studies (one strong(18) and one moderate quality(19)) examined the effectiveness of supervised exercise prehabilitation interventions, consisting of strength and mobility training, in patients awaiting lumbar spinal stenosis surgery. In both studies, training was tailored to the participants’ needs, took place 6-9 weeks before surgery and was comprised of 2-3 sessions per week. Control groups received usual care.

The evidence of effectiveness of supervised strength and mobility exercise prehabilitation interventions for patients on wait lists for spinal surgery is inconsistent for the following outcomes:

Pain:

Inconsistent (one strong and one moderate quality study; inconsistent effects across and within studies for pain, when measured using different measurement tools) (18, 19).

Fear Avoidance:

Inconsistent (one strong and moderate quality study; inconsistent effects across studies) (18, 19).

Function:

Inconsistent (one strong and one moderate quality study; inconsistent effects across and within studies for function, when measured using different measurement tools) (18, 19).

The evidence of effectiveness of supervised strength and mobility exercise prehabilitation interventions is lacking for patients on wait lists for spinal surgery for the following outcomes:

Self-efficacy:

Might be effective (one strong quality study showing a significant effect for the intervention, compared to control) (18).

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) disability:

Might be effective (one moderate quality study showing a significant effect for the intervention, compared to control) (19).

Lumbar extensors endurance:

Might be effective (one moderate quality study showing a significant effect for the intervention, compared to control) (19).

Health related quality of life:

Inconsistent (one strong quality study, inconsistent effects across measures of health related quality of life) (18).

Trunk muscles strength:

Inconsistent (one moderate quality study, inconsistent effects across measures of trunk muscle strength) (19).

Walking capacity:

Inconsistent (one moderate quality study, inconsistent effects across measures of walking capacity) (19).

Back disability:

Might not be effective (one moderate quality study showing no effect for intervention compared to control) (19).

Lumbar active range of motion (ROM):

Might not be effective (one moderate quality study, showing no effect for intervention compared to control) (19).

Right knee and Left knee extensors strength:

Might not be effective (one moderate quality study, showing no effect for intervention compared to control) (19).