The Walk study: Walking after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Walk Study: Potentially modifiable factors associated with post-operative walking ability in older people with lumbar spinal stenosis. A prospective multiple methods study
IRAS ID
287189
Contact name
Suzanne McIlroy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Background:
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) causes symptoms called neurogenic claudication and prevents people from walking. Lumbar spinal stenosis is the most common reason for spinal surgery but many people do not increase their walking after their operation. We don’t know why this happens. If the modifiable factors are identified it may be possible to target them with rehabilitation to improve walking ability and quality of life after surgery.
Aims: To identify the key modifiable factors which affects walking after surgery in people with LSS.Methods:
This study comprises of two stages
Stage one: 122 adults waiting for surgery for LSS, aged over 50 years, will be invited to attend two appointments, one before surgery and one 12 weeks post- surgery. They will be asked to complete a walking test, leg strength, grip strength and balance tests, complete some questionnaires and wear a step counter on their thigh for 7 days. In addition, people will be asked to complete some questionnaires at home 6 weeks after their operation. The things that have the greatest influence on walking will be used to develop a post-operative rehabilitation programme.In addition there are two sub-studies:
i) a think aloud study; 12 participants will be asked to think aloud as they complete the questionnaires. This will be audio-recorded and assessed for what participants are thinking when they complete the questionnaires,
ii) an intra-reliability study to assess if 30 lay people measure the same results for the Short Physical Performance Battery as clinicians.Stage two: 20 adults, from stage one, at least 3 months after they have had surgery for NC will be interviewed. Interviews will explore people’s beliefs and their experience of walking post-surgery and things that help or hinder walking. Common themes will be identified and used to help develop a rehabilitation programme.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EM/0307
Date of REC Opinion
3 Feb 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion