ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026
Return to sports after lumbar disc herniation surgery: a survey of German surgeons and postoperative patient experiences.
Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
purposeLumbar disc herniation often requires temporary restriction of sports activity before and after surgery. Evidence-based guidance for postoperative return to sports is limited. This study aimed to assess surgeons' recommendations and compare them with patient-reported return-to-sport behavior using two survey-based datasets.
methodsWe analyzed two independent survey datasets: an online survey of German Spine Society (DWG) members assessing postoperative sports recommendations, and a single-center patient survey evaluating sports activity before and after lumbar disc surgery.
resultsA total of 183 DWG members participated in this online survey in 2019. Factors such as the height of the affected intervertebral disc (88%) or suspected segmental instability (61%) did not affect the recommended sports break. However, the type of sport in case of segmental instability played an important role for the surgeons (63%). Most surgeons recommended starting rehabilitation within 2-4 weeks, while a slight majority considered regular sporting activity appropriate from around 8 weeks after surgery. These findings were contrasted with a patient survey of 106 patients at a single spine center, assessing the actual pre- and postoperative return to sports. Resumption of sports after surgery was reported in 12.1 ± 11.7 weeks. The preoperative performance level was restored after 15.2 weeks.
conclusionSurgeons' recommendations for postoperative sports resumption after lumbar disc surgery show considerable variability and reflect limited evidence. Patient-reported return to sports in a single-center cohort appears to occur later than recommended, although the datasets are not directly comparable due to differences in design and setting. Prospective studies are needed to establish evidence-based guidelines.
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