Historically, bed rest post-spine surgery was standard, but Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols now favor early mobilization to reduce length of stay (LOS) and improve outcomes. However, evidence on the most effective early mobilization protocols remains limited. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of bedside cycling as an early mobilization technique for patients following elective spine surgery. We conducted a prospective, single-blind, randomized trial involving patients undergoing elective spine surgery. Patients were operated by one of five surgeons from a single center. 16 participants aged ≥ 18 years were randomized 1:1 into an intervention group, and a control group receiving standard care. The intervention consisted of a 30-minute session of bedside foot cycling on the day following surgery. Outcomes were measured using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, with additional monitoring of vital signs during the cycling session. Demographic data and patient satisfaction were also collected. Both groups demonstrated similar demographics, except the intervention group was younger (p=0.04). Figure 1 demonstrates the evolution of TSK score based on the different patient group. Both pre-intervention scores were similar. However, the intervention group showed a slight reduction in kinesiophobia on postoperative day one, before the cycling (P>0.05). Pain levels remained stable during and after the cycling session (mean post-cycling VAS = 5±2). Participants in the intervention group expressed high satisfaction, with 75% believing the cycling would aid their recovery. There was a trend towards shorter lengths of stay in the intervention group (4.0 days) compared with the control group (4.8 days) (P>0.05). No adverse events were reported, and the intervention was well-tolerated. Bedside cycling as an early mobilization protocol is feasible and safe in the immediate post-operative period for elective spine surgery patients. Our next research with a larger sample size will assess the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing LOS and improving functional recovery outcomes For any figures or tables, please contact the authors directly.
Lorange et al. (Wed,) studied this question.