OBJECTIVE

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common orthopedic procedure that alleviates pain for millions of individuals. Yet, persistent physical function deficits, perhaps associated with movement compensations, are observed after THA. These deficits negatively affect quality of life and health for many individuals. Functional strength integration (FSI) techniques combine muscle strength training with specific movement retraining to improve physical function. This study aimed to determine if FSI would improve functional performance through remediation of movement compensations for individuals after THA.

METHODS

A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Ninety-five participants were randomized to either the FSI or control (CON) group for an 8-week intervention. The FSI protocol included exercise to improve muscular control and stability around the hip to minimize movement compensation during daily activity. The CON protocol included low-load resistance exercise, range-of-motion activities, and patient education. Functional performance, muscle strength, and self-reported outcomes were measured preoperatively, midway and after intervention, and 6 months after THA. Change from preoperative assessment to each time point was measured, and between-group differences were assessed.

RESULTS

There were minimal differences in outcomes between groups at the first postoperative assessment. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in the later assessments, including the primary endpoint. Both groups improved functional outcomes throughout the study period.

CONCLUSION

The FSI intervention did not result in greater improvements in function after THA compared to the CON intervention. Future work should further investigate additional biomechanical outcomes, timing of the FSI protocol, effective dosing, and patient characteristics predictive of success with FSI.

IMPACT

Recovery after THA is complex, and individuals after THA are affected by persistent movement deficits that affect morbidity and quality of life. The present study suggests that either approach to THA rehabilitation could improve outcomes for patients, and that structured rehabilitation programs may benefit individuals after THA.

Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Physical Therapy Association 2023.

BACKGROUND

Exercise rehabilitation training is an important measure for improving the prognosis of patients with hip fractures. However, the particular program that works effectively and the efficiency of exercise therapy are still controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of usual postoperative care combined with rehabilitation based on exercise prescription on motor function and complications in elderly patients who underwent surgery for hip fracture.

METHODS

This was an observational study. A total of 71 elderly patients with hip fractures who were treated with hip arthroplasty and internal fixation of the proximal femur with an intramedullary nail at Suzhou Municipal Hospital from October 2020 to December 2021 were included; 11 cases were excluded (eight cases were excluded due to loss of follow-up, two due to deaths from other causes, and one due to other reasons). Finally, 60 patients (18 males and 42 females) were included. Patients were randomly assigned to the control (n = 30) and experimental (n = 30) groups using a random number generator. Patients in the control group received usual postoperative care, whereas those in the experimental group received usual postoperative care combined with rehabilitation training based on the principles of exercise prescription. We recorded the motor function (Harris hip score), daily living ability (Barthel Index), and complications at discharge and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The Harris hip score and Barthel Index score were significantly higher at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively than at discharge in both groups (p < 0.05). The Harris hip score and Barthel Index score at discharge and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The incidence of complications at 6 months postoperatively was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (13% vs. 37%).

CONCLUSIONS

Rehabilitation therapy based on exercise prescription helps improve hip function and the ability to perform activities of daily living and related postoperative complications after hip fracture surgery in elderly patients. The findings of our study will guide decision-making in clinical practice and improve the clinical management of hip fractures in elderly patients postoperatively.

© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.

Osteoarthritis (OA) has been thought of as a disease of cartilage that can be effectively treated surgically at severe stages with joint arthroplasty. Today, OA is considered a whole-organ disease that is amenable to prevention and treatment at early stages. OA develops slowly over 10-15 years, interfering with activities of daily living and the ability to work. Many patients tolerate pain, and many health-care providers accept pain and disability as inevitable corollaries of OA and ageing. Too often, health-care providers passively await final 'joint death', necessitating knee and hip replacements. Instead, OA should be viewed as a chronic condition, where prevention and early comprehensive-care models are the accepted norm, as is the case with other chronic diseases. Joint injury, obesity and impaired muscle function are modifiable risk factors amenable to primary and secondary prevention strategies. The strategies that are most appropriate for each patient should be identified, by selecting interventions to correct--or at least attenuate--OA risk factors. We must also choose the interventions that are most likely to be acceptable to patients, to maximize adherence to--and persistence with--the regimes. Now is the time to begin the era of personalized prevention for knee OA.

OBJECTIVES

Hip arthroplasty is the most important surgical method for the treatment of hip fractures and necrosis in the femoral head. Limb function recovery is an important criterion to reflect the efficacy of surgery and the quality for life of patients. Postoperative rehabilitation exercises are crucial for limb function recovery. Otago exercise programme (OEP) is a safe, effective, practical, and economical rehabilitation exercise, which has been proven to prevent falls, improve limb function and walking ability, and lower limb strength. This study aims to explore the effect of OEP on limb function rehabilitation in elderly patients with hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures.

METHODS

A total of 77 elderly patients with hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures who met the criteria for inclusion and exclusion were enrolled for this study. They were randomly divided into a control group ( n =39) and an intervention group ( n =38). The control group was given routine rehabilitation training, and the intervention group performed OEP on the basis of the control group. Time get up and go test (TGUT), five times sit to stand test (FTSST), 10-meter walking test (10MWT), Harris Hip Score (HHS), Daily Activity Scale (Barthel index), and the Mos 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used before the intervention, at discharge, and the 12th week after discharge.

RESULTS

Before the intervention, there were no differences in TGUT, FTSST, 10MWT, HHS score, Barthel index, and SF-36 score between the 2 groups (all P >0.05). At the discharge after the intervention, there was no difference in TGUT between the 2 groups ( P >0.05), but the FTSST and 10MWT in the control group were longer than those in the intervention group (both P <0.05), and the HHS score, Barthel index, and SF-36 score in the control group were lower than those in the intervention group ( P <0.05). At the 12th week after discharge, TGUT, FTSST, 10MWT, HHS score, Barthel index, and SF-36 score in the intervention group were better than those in the control group ( P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

OEP can effectively promote limb stability and hip function recovery in elderly patients with hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures, improve daily mobility and quality of life, and it is suitable for clinical application.