Effects of Early Rehabilitation Exercise on Pain, Muscle Strength, Activities of Daily Living, and Kinesiophobia in Patients after Lumbar Spine Surgery

Purpose: This study examined the effects of early rehabilitation exercise on pain, lower limb muscle strength, activities of daily living (ADL) impairment, and kinesiophobia in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used from October 28, 2024, to June 10, 2025. Fifty patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery were sequentially assigned to either experimental group (n=26) or a control group (n=24). Data were analyzed using normality and homogeneity test, independent t-tests, x² tests, Fisher’s exact tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc comarisons. Results: Early rehabilitation exercise significantly increased patient’ thigh circumference (F=33.56, p<.001) and 30-second chair rise performance (F=10.23, p<.001), and significantly reduced lower back pain (F=12.65, p<.001), ADL impairment (F=6.47, p=.002), and kinesiophobia (F=8.11, p<.001). Conclusion: Early rehabilitation exercise effectively reduces postoperative pain, improves lower limb muscle strength, and decreases ADL impairment and kinesiophobia, thereby faciliting early functional recovery. These findings support the integration of early rehabilitation exercise into postoperative care to enhance recovery and quality of life following lumbar spine surgery.