title: Effect of a walking skill training program in patients who have undergone total hip arthroplasty: Followup one year after surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of a 12-session walking skill training program of weight-bearing activities on physical functioning and self-efficacy initiated in patients 3 months after total hip arthroplasty (THA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight patients with THA, 35 women and 33 men, with a mean age of 66 years (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 64, 67 years), were randomized to a training group (n = 35) or a control group without physiotherapy (n = 33). Assessments were performed before the intervention at 3 months (pretest), at 5 months (posttest 1), and at 12 months (posttest 2) after surgery. The primary outcome was the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). The secondary outcomes were the stair climbing test (ST); figure-of-eight test; Index of Muscle Function (IMF); active hip range of motion (ROM) in flexion, extension, and abduction; Harris Hip Score (HHS); self-efficacy; and Hip Dysfunction and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The training group had larger improvements than the control group at posttest 1 on the 6MWT with an adjusted mean difference of 52 meters (95% CI 29, 74 meters; P < 0.001) and on the ST of -1 second (95% CI -2, 0 seconds; P = 0.01).There were also improvements on the figure-of-eight test (P = 0.02), IMF (P = 0.001), active hip ROM in extension (P = 0.02), HHS (P = 0.05), and self-efficacy (P = 0.04). The difference between the groups persisted at posttest 2 on the 6MWT of 52 meters (95% CI 24, 80 meters; P < 0.001) and on the ST of -1 second (95% CI -3, 0 seconds; P = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The walking skill training program was effective, especially in improving walking both immediately after the intervention and 1 year after THA surgery.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. k.e.heiberg@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Kristi Elisabeth
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Heiberg
authors.forename: Vigdis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bruun-Olsen
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekeland
authors.forename: Anne Marit
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mengshoel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking