An interventional study of Telerehabilitation method and Nurse instructions in Spine Surgery, Telerehabilitation and Low Back Pain, sponsored by Kuopio University Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in Finland. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-31.
Sponsored by Kuopio University Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to assess how different methods of delivering post-operative instructions affect the participants' recovery after spinal decompression surgery. In addition, the investigators evaluate the related healthcare costs and the use of healthcare services in both working-age and elderly populations. The main research questions of the study are:
The outcome measures include pain levels, daily activity levels, and healthcare utilization. The results will be compared between study groups based on the information delivery method and age group.
2,922 studies on the registry are indexed under Low Back Pain; 580 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 300 is above the median of 60 across 2,364 interventional studies indexed under Low Back Pain.
Browse Low Back Pain studies →Kuopio University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 135 studies on the registry; 24 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patient receives physiotherapy personally after surgery while leaving hospital
Procedure: Physiotherapy after surgery, personal
Patient receives telerehabilitation personally after surgery 5-7 days
Procedure: Telerehabilitation method
Patient receives nurse's instructions personally after surgery while leaving hospital
Procedure: Nurse instructions
Patient receives telerehabilitation personally after surgery 5-7 days
Procedure: Telerehabilitation method
Patient receives physiotherapy personally after surgery at hospital outpatient clinic
Procedure: Hospital physioterapy
Patient receives physiotherapy personally after surgery when leaving the
Procedure: Physiotherapy after surgery, personal
Rehabilitation instrucions given by physiotherapist 4-7 days after surgery with remote telerehabilitation method
Nurse gives the patient rehabilitation instructions after surgery when the subject leaves hospital
Physiotherapist gives the patient rehabilitation instructions after surgery when the subject leaves hospital
Physiotherapist gives the patient rehabilitation instructions at the hospital outpatient clinic after 4-7 days post-operatively
Pain after surgery
Pain level / numerical rating scale, range 0-10 where 0 is no pain and 10 is most severe pain imaginable
Time frame: From enrollment to 1 year
Function after surgery
Function/disability after surgery: investigators assess participants' function and disability by Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). RMDQ is a 24-item self-report questionnaire about how low-back pain affects functional activities. Each question is worth one point so scores can range from 0 (no disability) to 24 (severe disability).
Time frame: From enrollment and surgery to 12months after surgery
Disability after surgery (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI)
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a tool used to assess the impact of low back pain on daily functioning. It consists of a questionnaire with 10 questions that evaluate various aspects of daily activities, such as movement, sitting, standing, and sleeping. Each question is scored on a scale from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates no restrictions and 5 indicates significant restrictions. The total score is calculated by summing the scores from the questions, and the higher the score, the greater the impact of the condition on daily life. Common interpretation ranges include: 0-20 Normal or minimal disability; 21-40 Moderate disability; 41-60 Severe disability; 61-80 Disability that significantly restricts daily activities; 81-100 Bed bound or symptoms may be exaggerated
Time frame: From enrollment to 12 months after surgery
Daily activity level after surgery
Daily amount of steps, as measured with Garmin wearable activity tracker. Investigatos get the steps taken per day from the device as well as activity index measured by the device.
Time frame: From enrollment to 1 year after operation
Overall health
Overall health EuroQol 5D questionnaire: The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 5 levels: (1) no problems, (2) slight problems, (3) moderate problems, (4) severe problems and (5) extreme problems. Each category is measured by above levels independently. The 5 dimensions' points do not combine as a sum score.
Time frame: From enrollment to surgery and 12 months post-op
Overall Health / EuroQol VAS
The EuroQol Visual Analog Scale (EQ VAS) records the participant's self-rated health on a vertical visual analogue scale where the endpoints are labelled 'The best health you can imagine' and 'The worst health you can imagine'. The VAS can be used as a quantitative measure of health outcome that reflects the patient's own judgement. EQ VAS range is 0-100 where 0 represents worst health the participant can imagine and 100 best health imaginable
Time frame: From enrollment to 12 months post-operative
Contacts to healthcare provider
How many times a participant needs to contact a healthcare provider
Time frame: From enrollment and surgery to 12months after surgery
Satisfaction to treatment and post-op rehabilitation
Satisfaction to post-op rehabilitation, asked by questionnaire by multiple YES/NO questions about the surgery and recovery period. The questions include "I am satisfied to the outcome of the operation", "I would still undergo the operation if I was able to decide now", "The operation helped to my radiculopathy", "I am happy for the rehabilitation I received after the surgery", "The physiotherapy and rehabilitation advice has been sufficient after the surgery", ...
Time frame: From enrollment to 12 months post-op
Function after operation
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Time frame: From enrollment to 12 months post-operative
6-minute walking test
On elderly people's research arm, investigators assess participants' physical fitness with 6-minute walking test. Investigators observes and takes time when patient walks 6 minutes in a controlled setting and the total distance covered is measured (meters).
Time frame: From enrollment and surgery to 12months after post-op
Timed up and go test (3 meters distance)
A 3-meter distance is marked on the floor, with sufficient free space at the end to allow the person to turn around with an assistive device (e.g. a rollator). The front legs of the chair are positioned immediately behind the starting line. The test is performed while wearing shoes. The person being tested sits in the chair with their back against the backrest and their arms resting on the armrests. If necessary, a mobility aid may be kept within reach and ready for use. When the tester gives the starting command ("Ready - go"), the person stands up, walks at a comfortable and safe pace beyond the line marking the 3-meter distance, ensuring that both feet cross the line, turns around, walks back, and sits down in the chair. The time is measured to the nearest 0.01 seconds. The tester starts the timer with the command "Go." The timer is stopped when the person being tested has sat back down in the chair, with their buttocks touching the seat.
Time frame: From enrollment and surgery to 12months after post-op
Walking speed
Tested on elderly participants' arm. A 4-meter starting line and finish line are marked on the floor with tape. The test begins from a standing position behind the starting line and ends when the participant's body crosses the finish line. After the command "Go," the participant walks the marked distance twice at their usual pace, and the third time the participant walks the distance more as quickly as possible. The walking time is measured for all three trials to the nearest 0.01 seconds. The tester starts the timer with the command "Go." The timer is stopped when the participant's body crosses the finish line. From these the average is calclulated (m/s)
Time frame: From enrollment and surgery to 12 months postoperatively
Grip strength
On elderly participants' arm, maximum grip strength is measured using a hand dynamometer. During the test, the participant grips the dynamometer handle firmly, gradually increasing the force throughout the trial until maximum grip strength is reached. Each grip is maintained for 3-5 seconds. The position of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints must remain unchanged throughout the trial. The measurement unit is kilograms (kg), as indicated on the outermost scale of the dynamometer display. After the grip is released, the needle remains at the maximum value reached during the trial. Before each subsequent grip, the display is reset to zero using the screw located in the center of the display.
Time frame: From enrollment and surgery through 12 months postoperatively
Balance
Measured on elderly participants' arm: Balance is assessed in three different positions: feet together, in a semi-tandem stance, and in a tandem stance. The participant may use a nearby table for support while positioning their feet into the required test position. Once the position has been achieved, the participant is instructed to release their hands from the support, after which the tester starts the timer. The time is measured to the nearest 0.01 seconds. The tester starts the timer with the command "Go." The timer is stopped after 10 seconds have elapsed or if the participant's feet move out of the required test position or if they use their hands for support.
Time frame: From enrollment and surgery through 12 months postoperatively
Plan to share: No — European Union Data Protection Regulations are very strict. Also, ethical committee prevents the data sharing unless absolutely necessary, and on which occasion the data request must be independently assessed
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Nov 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2029, 49 months after the start.
Of 1,231 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Low Back Pain, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 26. This study's planned 49 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 1,286 studies reached it within 11 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 27.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.