title: Exercise improves early functional recovery after total hip arthroplasty.
abstract: The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to apply an 8-week customized exercise program to patients (Group E) scheduled for total hip arthroplasty, followed by a postsurgery exercise program, and show the effect on functional recovery compared with control subjects (Group C) who received no additional exercise apart from routine in-hospital physical therapy. Strength, range of motion, and physical function tests were completed by 57 patients at Week 8 and Week 1 before surgery and at Weeks 3, 12, and 24 postoperatively. No differences between the exercise and control groups were observed at baseline. By 1 week before surgery, patients in Group E had shown significant improvements for Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (total score, stiffness, and physical function components), and combined hip strength. Patients in Group E had improved hip flexion range of motion in the diseased hip compared with patients in Group C. Significant differences in outcome measures between Group E and Group C were observed throughout the postoperative phase from Weeks 3 to 24. The current study showed that customized perioperative exercise programs are well tolerated by patients with end-stage hip arthritis, and are effective in improving early recovery of physical function after total hip arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gilbey
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Ackland
authors.forename: Allan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trouchet
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tapper
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular