Physical exercise in treatment of patients with lumbar discopathy

The beneficial effect of physical exercise in the treatment of patients with intervertebral lumbar discopathy is generally known. Regular exercise has a beneficial effect on motor performance of the spine, increasing the degree of active stabilization. Exercise also improves posture control, coordination and precision of movement, preventing spinal fatigue and micro injuries. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the popularity of physical exercise in lumbar discopathy patients.

665 patients, 16 76 years of age, with L4-L5 or L5- with discopathy, were enrolled in the study.348 patients received only conservative therapy, while 317 had undergone surgery.

55.6% of the conservatively managed patients and 57.4% of the surgically managed patients reported regular physical exercise. Patients receiving conservative therapy exercised for approx. 1 hour a week. Older patients exercised for a shorter period than young and middle-aged patients. In long-term follow-up, 2.2% more patients performed spinal exercises. Surgical patients devoted the most time to spinal exercise during the first 3 years after surgery. In long-term follow-up, the percentage of regularly exercising patients decreased by 3.9%. On average, 16.8% of conservatively managed patients and 21.5% of surgically managed patients exercised for more than 2 hours per week. Only approx. 20% of patients regularly engaged in spinal exercises for ca. 30 minutes daily.

There is insufficient use of physical exercise of the spine for the prevention and treatment of lumbar discopathy.