Early active rehabilitation after surgery for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective, randomized study of psychometric...

In a randomized study, using psychometric assessment, we evaluated two training programs before and after surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation. 26 patients were treated according to an early active training program (treatment group). 24 patients followed a traditional less active training program (control group). Before surgery, the patients filled in the following questionnaires 3 and 12 months after surgery: Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Pain was assessed by the patient's pain drawing and a visual analog scale. Both groups improved as regards pain severity and state of anxiety. The MPI parameter, pain interference, improved more in the early active treatment group than in the control group. This suggests that the early active training program has a positive effect on the way patients cope with pain in their daily lives.