A comparison between a mobility programme alone and a standard physiotherapy rehabilitation approach, on the functional outcome of patients following primary total hip arthroplasty.
Date
2007-04-10T07:51:44Z
Authors
Naidoo, Umantha
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to compare the outcome in patients following
primary total hip arthroplasty, between those receiving a mobility programme
alone, as compared to bed exercises and a mobility programme, at discharge
from hospital. Thirty-six patients were randomly allocated to either the
control or experimental group using a concealed allocation process. The
control group received a programme of supervised bed exercises and were
mobilised according to the standard postoperative mobility protocol. The
experimental group were mobilised according to standard protocol. On the
third/fourth and sixth/seventh day postoperatively, patients were assessed by
a blinded assessor on functional ability, pain at rest, and active range of hip
flexion and abduction. The results indicated no difference in functional
ability (p=0.99), pain at rest (p=0.83) and active range of hip flexion (p=0.19)
or abduction (p=0.12), on the seventh/eight day postoperatively, between the
control and experimental groups. In conclusion bed exercises appear to offer
no additional benefit to patients post THA, during the acute hospitalisation
phase. However this should not be extrapolated to THA patients who have
prolonged bed rest periods postoperatively.
Description
Student Number: 9602675T
Master of Science in
Physiotherapy.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Keywords
Hip arthroplasty, Mobility programme, Bed exercises, Standard postoperative mobility protocol, Functional ability, Hip flexion and abduction