Physical function in men with and without hip osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the subjective joint pain and function and the objective physical function of lower extremities in men with hip osteoarthritis (OA), to compare the results with those from age- and sex-matched controls, and to evaluate the reproducibility of the functional tests.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Rehabilitation clinic in a university hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-seven volunteer men (age range, 47-64 y) with hip OA and 30 randomly selected, healthy age-matched men.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index, passive range of motion (ROM) of the hip joint measured with a standard goniometer, and physical functioning evaluated with a test battery.


RESULTS
The function and the composite scores of the WOMAC correlated (P<.05) with the degree of radiographically estimated severity of OA. The hips of the control subjects were 13% to 52% more flexible (P range, <.0001-.001) than those of the OA patients. The more the hip was deteriorated, the lower the ROM of the hip was in abduction and in both internal and external rotations. The reproducibility of marching on-the-spot and walking up and down stairs was good in both groups, but in other functional tests the reproducibility was poorer. The controls were significantly (P range, <.05-.01) better at marching, ascending and descending stairs, performing a 25-m walk, and in flexion-extension and abduction-adduction movements compared with the hip OA patients. Most of the WOMAC items were significantly (P<.05) related to the performance tests.


CONCLUSIONS
The WOMAC and the ROM can be considered useful hip OA indicators. Marching on-the-spot and walking up and down stairs are the most reproducible physical functioning tests and can thus be recommended for use for patients with hip OA.
Arokoski
Merja H
MH
Nilsiä Health Center, Nilsiä, Finland. merja.arokoski@nilsia.fi
Haara
Mikko
M
Helminen
Heikki J
HJ
Arokoski
Jari P
JP
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012399:Rotation