Resistance training in the early postoperative phase reduces hospitalization and leads to muscle hypertrophy in elderly hip surgery patients--a controlled, randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
To better understand how immobilization and surgery affect muscle size and function in the elderly and to identify effective training regimes.


METHODS
A prospective randomized, controlled study.


METHODS
Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients (aged 60-86) scheduled for unilateral hip replacement due to primary hip osteoarthrosis.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to standard home-based rehabilitation (1 h/d x 12 weeks), unilateral neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the operated side (1 h/d x 12 weeks), or unilateral resistance training of the operated side (3/wk x 12 weeks).


METHODS
Hospital length of stay (LOS), quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), isokinetic muscle strength, and functional performance. Patients were tested presurgery and 5 and 12 weeks postsurgery.


RESULTS
Mean+/-standard error LOS was shorter for the resistance training group (10.0+/-2.4 days, P<.05) than for the standard rehabilitation group (16.0+/-7.2 days). Resistance training, but not electrical stimulation or standard rehabilitation, resulted in increased CSA (12%, P<.05) and muscle strength (22-28%, P<.05). Functional muscle performance increased after resistance training (30%, P<.001) and electrical stimulation (15%, P<.05) but not after standard rehabilitation.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative resistance training effectively increased maximal muscle strength, muscle mass, and muscle function more than a standard rehabilitation regime. Furthermore, it markedly reduced LOS in elderly postoperative patients.
Suetta
Charlotte
C
Sports Medicine Research Unit, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. cs08@bbh.hosp.dk
Magnusson
S Peter
SP
Rosted
Anna
A
Aagaard
Per
P
Jakobsen
Ane K
AK
Larsen
Lone H
LH
Duus
Benn
B
Kjaer
Michael
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric