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Physical function in men with and without hip osteoarthritis.
Merja H Arokoski1, Mikko Haara, Heikki J Helminen
1Nilsiä Health Center, Nilsiä, Finland. merja.arokoski@nilsia.fi
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|April 15, 2004
Summary
Men with hip osteoarthritis experience reduced joint function and range of motion compared to healthy controls. Specific tests like marching and stair climbing show good reproducibility for assessing physical function in hip OA patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rheumatology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Hip osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impacts lower extremity function and quality of life in men.
- Objective assessment of physical function and subjective pain is crucial for managing hip OA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate subjective and objective physical function in men with hip OA.
- To compare functional outcomes between hip OA patients and healthy controls.
- To assess the reproducibility of functional tests in hip OA.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 27 men with hip OA and 30 age-matched healthy controls.
- Utilized the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index for subjective assessment.
- Measured passive range of motion (ROM) and evaluated physical functioning through a test battery.
Main Results:
- WOMAC scores correlated with radiographic OA severity. Hip OA patients exhibited significantly lower ROM and poorer physical function across various tests compared to controls.
- Hip flexibility was reduced in OA patients, correlating with disease severity.
- Marching and stair climbing demonstrated good reproducibility, while other tests showed poorer reproducibility.
Conclusions:
- The WOMAC index and hip ROM are valuable indicators for hip OA.
- Marching on-the-spot and stair climbing are recommended as reliable functional tests for patients with hip OA due to their high reproducibility.