Function of low back muscle exercise : Preventive effect of refracture analysis of postoperative vertebral fractures.

BACKGROUND: Low back muscles exercise reportedly influence the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The exact relationship between the low back muscles exercise and the incidence of vertebral refractures remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of exercise to strengthen the low back muscles to prevent vertebral refracture after surgery, through clinical analysis of the vertebral fracture risk reduction program.

METHODS: In total 152 patients with vertebral fractures who had undergone percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and anti-osteoporosis treatment were randomly divided into observation and control groups. The observation group performed exercises to strengthen the back muscles after surgery. The clinical efficacy and incidence of re-fractures were compared between groups.

RESULTS: The observation group had reduced physical dysfunction and pain following surgery. After 3 months, the vertebral body height had significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the control group but not in the observation group (P > 0.05). In the observation and control groups, the incidence of vertebral refractures was 9.2% (7/76) and 17.1% (13/76), respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Postoperative exercise to strengthen the back muscles can improve physical function, relieve pain and promote the recovery of vertebral height; it can also assist in maintaining bone density, thereby significantly reducing the risk of refracture. This approach is safe and effective and can help improve the quality of life in patients with vertebral fractures.