title: Agreements and disagreements in exercise therapy prescriptions after hip replacement among rehabilitation professionals: a multicenter survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercise therapy following total hip replacement (THR) is considered to be important during the initial postoperative care, but till date only a few evidence-based recommendations exist. The aim of this survey was to identify prescription standards among different rehabilitation professionals, for the exercise therapy management after THR in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional survey. Standardized questionnaires were sent to 38 eligible rehabilitation facilities in Germany. Participating surgeons, orthopaedic physicians, physiotherapists and exercise therapists rated the optimal early weight-bearing, resistance training, key components and dose of exercise therapy, and the hip loading during exercising. The returned questionnaires were then analyzed for level of agreement (≥80%) among respondents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  313 rehabilitation professionals from 28 clinics returned completed questionnaires and were considered eligible for analysis. Out of total respondents, 53.9% (cemented THR) and 18.2% (uncemented THR) recommended full weight-bearing within five days after surgery. Commencement of resistance training later than three weeks after surgery is recommended by 20.6% (36%) for cemented (uncemented) prosthesis. Feedback varied significantly amongst the professions. Regarding the overall objectives of rehabilitation after hip replacement, respondents agree in six out of eight requested items. Agreement concerning priorities of specific exercises was achieved in three out of twelve items. The recommended exercise therapy dose varied significantly with working experience (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rehabilitation professionals mainly disagreed with the exercise therapy prescriptions following the total hip replacement during the initial postoperative care in Germany.
authors.affiliation: Department for Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. C.Eulenburg@uke.de.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eulenburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Physiology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany. anna.lina.rahlf@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Anna-Lina
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rahlf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. andrej.kutasow@me.com.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kutasow
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Physiology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany. astrid.zech@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zech
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D055656:Prescriptions; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D066231:Surgeons / Q000523:psychology