Table 2.

Characteristics of physical therapy protocols following SDR.

Author, Study Design	Post-Operative PT Start Day	Follow-Up Time (Year)	Physical Therapy Intensity and Frequency	Physical Therapy Interventions
Graubert et al. [39], prospective randomized trial	-	1	The patient underwent 4 weeks of therapy for 10 h per week, followed by 5 months of physiotherapy for 4–5 h per week, and then 6 months of PT for 1–3 h per week.	The patient underwent an intensive physical therapy program, which included the evaluation of gait kinematics and the improvement of ambulation.
Buckon et al. [35], RCT study	4th	1	The patient received two PT sessions daily and one OT session daily while in the hospital. After discharge, PT was conducted 3–4 times in a week and OT was conducted 1–2 times per week for a period of six months. PT continued for an additional year, with a frequency of 1–2 times per week.	The treatment plan included the use of assistive devices, occupational therapy, physical therapy, isometric contraction exercises, transfer training, and functional muscle strengthening.
Annika Lundkvist Josenby [4]	1st	10	For first 6 months post-surgery, the patients received one-hour sessions of therapy twice a week. Later on, the patients received therapy once a week for 18 months.	Primary goals of therapy were to improve the patient’s posture, enhance their balance control while sitting, standing, transferring, and walking, and also to train them on the use of assistive devices for walking.
Sophelia Hoi-shan Chan [38], case series study	2nd	1	At 6 and 12 months post-surgery, the patient underwent four weeks of therapy, consisting of 5 h per day.	The patient received both occupational therapy and physical therapy, with a focus on gait training.
Jack R. Engsberg [40]	-	2	From the 5th day to the 8th month post-surgery, the patient received therapy four times per week.	The therapy aimed to improve the patient’s gait speed and function, as well as cognitive skills.
Petra E. M. van Schie [37]	1st	1	During the first 3 months after surgery, the patient underwent therapy five times a week for 1 h each session. From the 3rd to the 6th month, therapy was conducted four times per week for one hour each session. From the 6th to the 12th month, therapy was conducted three times a week, with each session lasting 30 min.	The therapy program focused on improving the patient’s self-care abilities, gait training with specific emphasis on initial contact and heel-lift, and training in ADLs.
Annika Lundkvist Josenby [41], cohort study	1st	10	The patient received one-hour therapy sessions twice a week for 6 months, and then continued with once-a-week sessions thereafter for 18 months.	The therapy program included training the patient on functional ADLs, for example, getting in and out of bed, changing positions, and using assistive devices.