Investigation of pain activity patterns, disability, body awareness, proprioception and function in individuals with and without lumbar spinal decompression surgery.

Background: Further studies are necessary to sustain the efficacy of decompression interventions and to identify the optimal rehabilitation.

Aim: To compare pain activity patterns, disability, body awareness, proprioception, function in individuals post and pre-lumbar decompression surgery and to reveal intergroup relationships.

Methods: The present study was conducted with a total of 83 participants. Fifty participants were in the operated individuals' group (OI) and 33 participants were in the pre operativeindividuals' group (POI). Participants in OI and POI were assessed one time. The mean duration after surgery was 18.6 months in OI. Participants were evaluated with the Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ), the Patterns of Activity Measure-Pain (POAM-P), the Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (mOSW), lumbar joint proprioception, lower extremity stepping reaction time and the 3 Meter Backward Walking Test (3MBWT).

Results: Symptom duration was longer in OI (p < .05). Avoidance and pacing scores were higher in the OI (p₁ = 0.003, p₂ = 0.001). In the OI, proprioception and 3MBWT were moderately correlated with BAQ (r₁= -0.465, r₂= -0.297, p₁ = 0.0007, p₂ = 0.036). Avoidance and overdoing were weakly correlated with left lower extremity stepping reaction time (r₁ = 0.33, r₂= -0.321, p₁ = 0.019, p₂ = 0.023). Pacing had a weak correlation with the right lower extremity stepping reaction time (r = 0.324, p = .022). 3MBWT and left lower extremity stepping reaction time were moderately correlated with mOSW (r₁ = 0.413, r₂ = 0.43, p₁ = 0.003, p₂ = 0.002).

Conclusion: Avoidance and pacing behaviors were higher in the surgical group. Avoidance, overdoing, and pacing behaviors were associated with reaction time. Body awareness correlates with proprioception and function.