New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA)
shows that, surprisingly, patients’ physical
activity does not increase following hip replacement
surgery.
Total hip replacement is one of the most common
elective operations, with more than 620,000
procedures performed in the UK from 2003-2013. The
most prevalent cause for needing surgery is
osteoarthritis (93 per cent).
But the research, published in the journal Clinical
Rehabilitation, brings the purpose of a hip
replacement into question.
Lead researcher Tom Withers, from UEA’s School of
Health Sciences, said: “The most common reason for a
hip replacement is to reduce pain on movement. We
expected that the amount of physical activity
post-surgery would therefore increase. What we found
surprised us.”
This study is the first systematic review
specifically to examine the differences in physical
activity pre compared to post-surgery hip
replacement.
A search was performed on 13 July 2016. Studies were
eligible for inclusion if they presented
preoperative and up to one year postoperative
measures of physical activity for patients who had
undergone unilateral primary total hip replacement.
Data was synthesised using a meta-analysis with 95%
confidence intervals (CI), if appropriate. The
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme cohort study
checklist was used to assess the quality of
evidence.
From 6024 citations, 17 studies were selected: Nine
studies were analysed in a meta-analysis and eight
studies were analysed qualitatively. The quality of
the evidence was ‘low’ to ‘moderate’.
Lead researcher Tom Withers, from UEA’s School of
Health Sciences, said: “The most common reason for a
hip replacement is to reduce pain on movement. We
expected that the amount of physical activity
post-surgery would therefore increase. What we found
surprised us.”
“Our study looked at data from about 1,030 patients
who had received hip replacements. Indicators for
physical activity after surgery included whether
patients were walking longer distances, walking more
quickly, cycling and climbing stairs.
“We found that there was no clear evidence of a
change in physical activity following surgery.
“The benefits of regular physical activity following
a hip replacement are well known, so this research
is important for healthcare professionals because it
suggests that patients need to be encouraged to be
more physically active.”
The research used existing research papers measuring
pre- and post-operative measures of physical
activity.
Toby Smith, lecturer in physiotherapy in UEA’s
School of Health Sciences, said: “The lack of
significant difference in physical activity after
patients undergo such a common procedure suggests
there is a need for further research, including
further investigation into how other personal
characteristics or pre-existing conditions might
also influence the results.
“Healthcare professionals and researchers need to
better understand this lack of change and how
patient’s perceptions of physical activity might be
modified to increase their engagement in physical
activity post-operatively.”
For more information
Clinical Rehabilitation
Is there a difference in physical activity levels in
patients before and up to one year after unilateral
total hip replacement?
Link...
University of East Anglia (UEA)
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