title: Isometric hip abductor strength following total hip replacement and its relationship to functional assessments.
abstract: Despite the rehabilitative emphasis on hip abductor strength following total hip replacement (THR), it is unclear how muscular strength is related to function. The purposes of this study were to examine changes in hip abductor strength during the first 6 months following THR and to determine the relationship between hip abductor strength and functional performances. Forty-three patients (mean age 64 +/- 7 years) completed strength assessments before surgery and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 weeks after surgery, and functional assessments before surgery and at 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. Both hip abductor strength and functional performance were significantly improved at each assessment (p < 0.01). The correlation between isometric hip abductor torques and the distance walked in 6 minutes was modestly high (r = 0.48-0.51; p < 0.01). This study provides baseline data for isometric hip abductor strength that can be used comparatively to assess patient progress and to help set clinical goals. Although strength is related to function, isometric measurements of strength should not be relied upon as the sole predictors of function in patients who have undergone THR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rorabeck
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Bourne
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements; D016552:Ergometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012399:Rotation; D016683:Supine Position; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements