The effect of pedometer-supported walking and telemonitoring after disc hernia surgery on pain and disability levels and quality of life

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pedometer-supported walking and telemonitoring after lumbar disc hernia surgery on pain and disability levels and quality of life. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial with two randomly selected groups conducted between March 2018 and January 2019. Sixty-seven participants (33 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group) who had undergone lumbar microdiscectomy were allocated to receive and not to receive walking exercise. Pain and disability levels and quality of life of groups were tested with the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Oswestry Disability Index and the 36-Item Short Form Survey. Measurements were taken 3 weeks after surgery and following completion of the first, second and third months. Results Compared with the control group, pain level at the first and second months and disability level at the second and third months in the intervention group were significantly lower (p < 0.05), and in the third month, subdimension scores of quality of life (the physical role difficulty, energy and vitality, mental health, social functionality and pain) were higher (p < 0.05). Conclusions Walking after herniated disc surgery decreased pain and disability levels and increased the quality of life; nurses can encourage adherence to walking as an effective intervention.