title: Physical activity behavior of patients 1 year after primary total hip arthroplasty: a prospective multicenter cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Besides the important beneficial effects of regular physical activity on general health, some of the musculoskeletal effects of physical activity are of particular interest for older adults after total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, research on physical activity behavior of patients after THA is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the physical activity behavior and fulfillment of guidelines for health-enhancing physical activity of patients 1 year after THA. Design This was a prospective multicenter cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine level of physical activity, 653 participants (response rate=77%) completed the Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health-enhancing physical activity (SQUASH). Comparisons were made between participants in 2 age groups (≤75 and >75 years). Determinants of physical activity behavior were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants were physically active a mean of 1,468 minutes per week. Most time was spent in household and leisure activities. Younger participants were physically more active than older participants. A lower body mass index was predictive of a higher level of physical activity. Participants adhered to the guidelines of health-enhancing physical activity in 67% of cases. The guidelines were met more often by younger participants, male participants, and those without problems in the lower extremities. Limitations A nonresponse analysis was not conducted; thus, there might have been a selection bias. Use of a self-administered recall questionnaire to assess physical activity behavior may have been subject to memory and recall skill limitations of the participants, and patients tend to overestimate their physical activity level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study gives detailed insight into the physical activity of patients 1 year after primary THA. As among the general population, a considerable number of patients were found to be insufficiently physically active.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wagenmakers
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Johan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Groothoff
authors.forename: Wiebren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zijlstra
authors.forename: Sjoerd K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bulstra
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Beveren
authors.forename: Jos J A M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Raaij
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van den Akker-Scheek
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult