Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a structured swimming-based rehabilitation program in patients undergoing thoracolumbar spinal fusion. Postoperative rehabilitation after spinal fusion varies widely, and evidence supporting specific exercise strategies remains limited.
In this prospective observational cohort study, patients undergoing thoracolumbar spinal fusion are allocated to either a structured swimming-based rehabilitation program or a standard rehabilitation program. The swimming program is initiated 6 to 8 weeks after surgery and is performed three times per week for 12 weeks.
The primary outcome is the change in functional disability as measured by the Oswestry Disability Index at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale and quality of life assessed using the Short Form-36 questionnaire.
The results of this study aim to determine whether structured aquatic exercise can improve functional recovery, reduce pain, and enhance quality of life following thoracolumbar spinal fusion.
Thoracolumbar spinal fusion is commonly performed for degenerative, traumatic, and osteoporotic spinal conditions. Despite advances in surgical techniques, postoperative recovery remains heterogeneous, with many patients experiencing persistent pain and functional limitations.
Rehabilitation plays a critical role in postoperative recovery; however, optimal rehabilitation strategies following spinal fusion are not well established. Aquatic exercise has unique biomechanical advantages, including reduced axial loading, buoyancy-assisted movement, and increased resistance, which may facilitate earlier mobilization and neuromuscular reconditioning.
This study is a prospective comparative observational cohort study conducted at Tra Vinh General Hospital, Vietnam. A total of 124 patients undergoing thoracolumbar spinal fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation are included. Patients are allocated into two groups based on clinical recommendation and patient preference: a structured swimming-based rehabilitation group and a standard rehabilitation group.
The swimming-based rehabilitation program is initiated 6 to 8 weeks after surgery and consists of three sessions per week for 12 weeks. Each session includes warm-up exercises, low-impact swimming (primarily backstroke and freestyle), progressive endurance training, and cool-down exercises. Initial sessions are supervised to ensure safety and proper technique.
The standard rehabilitation group follows a conventional land-based program including ambulation training, core stabilization, and flexibility exercises with similar frequency and duration.
The primary outcome is the change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) from baseline to 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and quality of life assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Outcomes are assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.
Statistical analysis includes between-group comparisons using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests and multivariate regression to adjust for baseline differences. Effect sizes are reported with 95% confidence intervals.
This study aims to evaluate whether structured swimming-based rehabilitation improves functional recovery, pain reduction, and quality of life compared with standard rehabilitation after thoracolumbar spinal fusion.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming Rehabilitation | Patients undergoing structured swimming-based rehabilitation initiated 6-8 weeks after thoracolumbar spinal fusion, performed three sessions per week for 12 weeks. |
| |
| Standard Rehabilitation | Patients undergoing standard land-based postoperative rehabilitation including ambulation training, core strengthening, and flexibility exercises. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming-Based Rehabilitation | Behavioral | Structured aquatic exercise program initiated 6-8 weeks after thoracolumbar spinal fusion, performed three sessions per week for 12 weeks, including warm-up, swimming, and cool-down exercises. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) | The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) assesses functional disability, with scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater disability. The outcome measure is the change in ODI from baseline to 12 weeks after initiation of rehabilitation. | Baseline to 12 weeks |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) | Pain intensity is assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). The outcome measure is the change in VAS score from baseline to 12 weeks. | Baseline to 12 weeks |
| Quality of Life Measured by Short Form-36 (SF-36) |
Not provided
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Not provided
Not provided
Patients undergoing thoracolumbar spinal fusion at Tra Vinh General Hospital, Vietnam, who meet eligibility criteria and are followed prospectively for postoperative rehabilitation outcomes.
Not provided
Not provided
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tra Vinh General Hospital | Vĩnh Long | Vinh Long | 890000 | Vietnam |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19114433 | Background | Waller B, Lambeck J, Daly D. Therapeutic aquatic exercise in the treatment of low back pain: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2009 Jan;23(1):3-14. doi: 10.1177/0269215508097856. | |
| 14749199 | Background | Rainville J, Hartigan C, Martinez E, Limke J, Jouve C, Finno M. Exercise as a treatment for chronic low back pain. Spine J. 2004 Jan-Feb;4(1):106-15. doi: 10.1016/s1529-9430(03)00174-8. |
Not provided
Not provided
Individual participant data will not be shared due to institutional policies and patient confidentiality considerations. De-identified data may be available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D017116 | Low Back Pain |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001416 | Back Pain |
| D010146 | Pain |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Standard Rehabilitation | Behavioral | Conventional land-based postoperative rehabilitation including ambulation training, core stabilization, and flexibility exercises with similar frequency and duration. |
|
Quality of life is assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36), with scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better health status. The outcome measure is the change in SF-36 score from baseline to 12 weeks. |
| Baseline to 12 weeks |
| 16320033 | Background | Mannion AF, Elfering A. Predictors of surgical outcome and their assessment. Eur Spine J. 2006 Jan;15 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S93-108. doi: 10.1007/s00586-005-1045-9. Epub 2005 Dec 1. |
| D013568 |
| Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |