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This study sought to examine the ability of motion analysis to detect long and short-term changes in performance following lumbar decompression surgery. These changes were compared with changes in more traditional questionnaire based assessments of outcome. Fifty-two patients from an original pool of 84 patients who underwent spinal surgery were assessed pre-operatively using spinal motion analysis and standard questionnaires of pain and function. These assessments were repeated at 6 weeks, and 6 months post-operatively. Significant Improvements in back and leg pain were noted at 6 weeks (p < 0.001) with no further improvements occurring at 6 months. Changes in the Oswestry Disability Score were noted only at the 6-month review, and only certain constructs of the SF-36 reported improvement. Of the motion analysis measures only measures of sagittal posture and anterior-posterior flexion appeared sensitive to change in the patient's condition. However, change in motion was not correlated with change in functional disability scales or pain. Measures of posture and range of motion of flexion may provide useful indices of objective performance in future outcome studies, however, they do not correlate with changes in subjective function or pain, thus their full relevance remains uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]