Affiliations: [a] Perry Physical Therapy/Exclusive Physical Therapy,
Lansing, MI 48857, USA. Tel.: +1 517 675 3105; Fax: +1 517 675 3105; E-mail:
TCRIPT@AOL.COM | [b] Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ingham Regional
Medical Center, Lansing, MI 48910, USA | [c] Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201,
USA
Note: [] Corresponding author
Abstract: Objective: To examine the feasibility of using isokinetic test
findings as clinical outcome measures for rehabilitation success in patients
following Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) surgery. Background: Literature supports isokinetic exercise for trunk
flexion/extension testing and training. Despite the wide acceptance of
isokinetics, there is a paucity of literature on trunk flexion/extension
testing pre and post Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) surgery. Study Design: Pre-post surgical intervention Methods and Materials:
Physical therapy evaluation was conducted prior to patients' performance of
isokinetic testing. If surgical criteria were met, testing occurred prior to
their surgery. Once healing (fusion) was shown with radiographs, patients
underwent testing after one month of regimented rehabilitation. Results: Findings indicated that all patients tolerated isokinetic
testing prior to and after their ALIF surgery. Improvements of up to 50% in
trunk flexion and extension peak torque were noted post-rehabilitation. Pain
levels decreased from moderate to minimal during testing and did not interfere
with pre- or post-testing. Conclusion: Isokinetic testing is safe, effective and not a
detriment to patients who are candidates for ALIF procedure. Testing these
patients will potentially aid in return to function by narrowing the scope of
rehabilitation and proviing objective measures of trunk strength.
