Table 6.

Subjective patient evaluation of postoperative athletic performance

Athletic performance Compared to preoperatively, the patients’ subjective evaluation to participate in sporting activities was judged
Not possible	Worse	Unchanged	Better	Completely unrestricted
n = 2 (5.1%)	n = 1 (2.6%)	n = 3 (7.7%)	n = 17 (43.6%)	n = 16 (41.0%)

LBP during athletic performance Following surgery, patients reported low back pain during athletic activity
Sport not possible	Only with strong pain	With mild pain	Occassional/recurrent pain	Never, completely pain-free
n = 2 (5.1%)	n = 1 (2.6%)	n = 6 (15.4%)	n = 16 (41.0%)	n = 14 (35.9%)

Level of competition/athletic performance Patients were asked for change in level of competition compared with before surgery
Stopped—reasons unrelated to surgery/LBP	Stopped—moderate/significant problems	Lower—moderate/significant problems	Lower—none or insignificant problems/reasons unrelated to LBP	Not changed—moderate/significant problems	Not changed—none or insignificant problems	Higher—moderate/significant problems	Higher—none or insignificant problems
n = 0 (0%)	n = 2 (5.1%)	n = 1 (2.6%)	n = 3 (7.7%)	n = 1 (2.6%)	n = 6 (15.4%)	n = 5 (12.8%)	n = 21 (53.8%)