Evaluation of transverse abdominal muscle thickness and the quality of life in patients undergoing rehabilitation due to disc-root conflict in the lumbo-sacral spine treated surgically using the spinal disc resection method

• Main Authors: Joanna Golec, Damian Turzański, Justyna J. Golec, Krzysztof Tomaszewski, Elżbieta Szczygieł, Agata Masłoń, Dorota Czechowska, Edward Golec
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Univeristy of Physical Education in Krakow 2019-02-01
• Series: Rehabilitacja Medyczna
• Subjects: Quality of life; ultrasound; TrA muscle thickness; discectomy; central stability
• Online Access: http://rehmed.pl/gicid/01.3001.0013.0252

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the changes in abdominal transverse muscle thickness (TrA) after therapy that included elements of reeducation of central stabilisation, and pain reduction as well as quality of patients’ life after intervertebral disc resection of lumbar spine. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 30 patients (17 women and 13 men) aged 28-87 (58 ± 15) participating in a rehabilitation stay. All subjects underwent intervertebral disc resection (LS level) within the years 2012-2016. All subjects included in the study underwent ultrasound evaluation of the thickness of the TrA muscle, evaluation of activation ratio, percentage change in muscle thickness, evaluation of the quality of life with SF-36, assessment of pain components on the VAS scale and level of disability using the Barthel index. All the subjects were referred to a 3-week therapy programme combined with motor control re-education including deep muscle training. The tests were performed before and after the physiotherapy on the basis of the original exercise programme. Results and conclusions: The percentage of TrA muscle thickness change in the first exam was 15.84 ±0.1%, and 16.09 ±0.13% after treatment. There were no statistically significant differences between the measurements. In the assessment of quality of life, patients in the first exam reached the score of 113.23 ±28.07 points, whereas in the second one - 85.1 ±27.05 points. The difference between the results was statistically significant (p<0.001). Pain components on the VAS scale were assessed at 4.3 ±0.83 points on average in the former exam, and 2.83 ±1.04 points in the latter one. The difference in measurements was statistically significant (p<0.001). The assessment of the level of disability using the Barthel scale with an average score of 93.66 ±8.4 points, conducted in the first exam, indicated that the studied persons were characterised by full efficiency. The original therapy, carried out among subjects operated on due to disc-root conflict of the LS spine, has a positive effect on the thickness of the TrA muscle both in contraction and at rest, and also reduces the level of pain while improving quality of life.