Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation 19 (2006) 41–48 41 IOS Press Evaluation of early period physical performance, physical activity, pain and disability levels of patients operated for cervical disc hernia Bilge Kara a,* , Arzu Genc ¸ a ,Y¨ ucel Yildirim a and ¨ Umit Acar b a Dokuz Eyl ¨ ul University School of Physical Therapy 35340, ˙ I nciraltı, ˙ I zmir, Turkey b Dokuz Eyl ¨ ul University School of Medicine Neurosurgical Department 35340, Inciraltı, Izmir, Turkey Abstract. Study design: A prospective study made into cervical disc hernias. Objectives: To assess the changes in the early postoperative period of the patients with cervical disc hernia in terms of the pain and disability we measured according to ‘The Neck Pain and Disability Scale’, physical performance, fatigue, fear of activity (kinesiophobia), physical activity levels. Setting: Neurosurgical department. Summary of background data: Kinesiophobia and its associated avoidance behavior in the development of chronic musculoskeletal pain has been of great concern over the past decade, thus rendering appropriate and detailed assessments in the postoperative period very important. Methods: Sixteen patients operated on because of cervical disc hernia were included in our study. The pain and disability, physical performance, fatigue, kinesiophobia, and physical levels of the patients were evaluated pre-postoperatively, during discharge and at the end of the second month. Results: While pain, disability measured according to ‘The Neck Pain and Disability Scale’ fatigue were decreasing, all performance measurements except the sit/stand, lying/sit and loaded reach were getting highest scores on the 2nd postoperative month. Although kinesiophobia, peaked at the 2nd postoperative month, physical activity level had also arrived the preoperative level at this time. Conclusion: Increased kinesiophobia, affected the physical performances and physical activity levels of the patients in daily lives in spite of decreased pain, disability and fatigue. Kinesiophobia had effects on postoperative recovery duration, daily life, and return to work. A detailed evaluation should be performed particularly for kinesiophobia in early postoperative period. Keywords: Cervical fusion, neck pain, performance, physical activity, performance early period 1. Introduction Surgical treatment of cervical herniated disc has so far been reported to relieve pain and improve function. Gore and Sepic reported excellent results after anterior * Address for correspondence: Bilge Kara, Dokuz Eyl¨ ul Univer- sity School of Physical Therapy 35340, ˙ Inciraltı, ˙ Izmir, Turkey. Tel.: +90 0 232 412 49 32; Fax: +90 0 232 270 50 30; E-mail: bparlak@deu.edu.tr. discectomy and fusion of the adjacent vertebrae. Initial pain relief was achieved by 96%, but recurrent pain was experienced by 32% of patients 7.2 years on average after surgery [14,39]. In addition to the pain relief, the important goal of the operation is to contribute to a rapid return of the patient to their functional condition. Nowadays, im- proved surgical techniques induce smaller skin incision causing minimal trauma to the tissues as well as less manipulation to neural elements and muscles. On the ISSN 1053-8127/06/$17.00  2006 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved