A single-group pretest posttest design using full kinetic chain manipulative therapy with rehabilitation in the treatment of 18 patients with hip osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Hip osteoarthritis (HOA) affects 30 million Americans or more, and is a leading cause of disability, suffering, and pain. Standard treatments are minimally effective and carry significant risk and expense. This study assessed treatment effects of a chiropractic protocol for HOA.


METHODS
Eighteen individuals, who did not qualify due to low baseline Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index scores (WOMAC) for other ongoing HOA randomized control trials, were selected. A prospectively planned protocol, consisting of axial manipulation to the affected hip with modified Thomas and active assisted stretch, was combined with full kinetic chain treatment or manipulative therapy to the spine, knee, ankle, or foot and assessed with use of valid and reliable outcome measures.


RESULTS
The primary outcome measure, the Overall Therapy Effectiveness Tool, was assessed with chi(2) and demonstrated that 83.33% of participants were improved after the ninth visit, P = .005, and 78% improved at the 3-month follow-up, P = .018. Using the paired t test, WOMAC was improved 64% at the ninth visit, P = .000, and 47% at follow-up, P = .016.


CONCLUSIONS
In HOA patients with lower WOMAC scores, a highly organized HOA treatment appears to have resulted in statistically and clinically meaningful intragroup changes in the Overall Effectiveness Therapy Tool, WOMAC, Harris Hip Scale, and range of motion, all with P <or= .05. Although the directionality and strength of the findings are encouraging, fully powered clinical trials are necessary to report generalizable findings.
Brantingham
James W
JW
Department of Research, Cleveland Chiropractic College Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90004, USA. james.brantingham@cleveland.edu
Globe
Gary A
GA
Cassa
Tammy Kay
TK
Globe
Denise
D
de Luca
Katie
K
Pollard
Henry
H
Lee
Felix
F
Bates
Charles
C
Jensen
Muffit
M
Mayer
Stephan
S
Korporaal
Charmaine
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome