Efficiency of a late phase home-based exercise program after total hip arthroplasty

AIM: To investigate the effects of a late phase home-based exercise program for patientswho underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) two years earlier.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Series consisted of 30 hips of 28 patients (mean age 62years; mean post-THA period 40.8 ± 6.6 months) who were operated with cementlessprosthesis. Patients were randomly divided in two groups; classic rehabilitation exercisegroup (17 hips of 16 patients) and theraband exercise group (13 hips of 12 patients). An 8-week home exercise program done on both sides of the hip one session for every day.Programs were modified every two weeks if necessary. Hip range of motion (ROM), hipand knee muscle strength, 6 minute walk test, timed-up and go test, sit to stand test, HarrisHip Score and SF-36 were evaluated before the exercises and after 8 week.RESULTS: There was statistically significant improvement in muscle strength, 6-minutewalk test, timed-up and go test and sit to stand test in two groups (p<0.05). But there wasno significant change between two groups (p<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Late phase home-based exercise programs are effective in long-termpost-THA. The functional outcomes were significantly better, after the home-basedexercise programs in two groups. Consequently, there is no specific exercise programs toobtain the results. Late phase home-based exercise programs should have a part inrehabilitation programs after total hip arthroplasty.Key words: Total hip arthroplasty, late phase rehabilitation, home-based exercise.