Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation, Sapporo Maruyama Orthopedic Hospital, Sapporo, Japan | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, Takasaki, Japan | [c] PREVENT Inc., Nagoya, Japan | [d] Graduate School, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan | [e] Department of Orthopedics, Sapporo Maruyama Orthopedic Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Yu Kondo, Department of Rehabilitation, Sapporo Maruyama Orthopedic Hospital, N7 W 27 Chuo, Sapporo 006-0007, Hokkaido, Japan. Tel.: +81 11 612 1133; Fax: +81 11 612 8151; E-mail: y.kondo.reha@gmail.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on physical activity and its effects in patients after cervical spine surgery. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between physical activity and disability in patients after cervical spine surgery while also considering age, sex, pain, and central sensitization (CS)-related symptoms. METHODS: Participants included individuals with a cervical degenerative condition who had undergone surgery. Neck disability index, physical activity frequency, numerical rating scale for pain intensity, and short form of the CS inventory were recorded more than 1 year postoperatively. The linear mixed model was performed to examine the association between physical activity and disability. RESULTS: The responses of 145 participants were analyzed. The linear mixed model results showed that the stretching and light-intensity exercise frequency (β=-0.14, p= 0.039) was independently associated with disability, adjusted for age, sex, pain, and CS-related symptoms. Conversely, other physical activities, such as walking and muscle strength exercises, were not associated with a disability. CONCLUSION: The findings emphasize the importance of performing regular physical activity, regardless of pain and CS-related symptoms.
