Short-term strength and pain changes in total hip arthroplasty patients

The purpose of this study was to report on three case studies of patients that underwent cementless, total hip arthroplasties. The primary emphasis of the study was on short-term changes in pain and strength. The MEED 3000 system was used to obtain bilateral strength measurements for hip abductors (HA), hip flexors (HF), knee extensors (KE), and for straight leg raising (SLR). A 10-point scale was used to assess pain intensity at rest and during each of the muscle strength tests. The postoperative pain was greatest and remained the longest for performing the SLR test. Increases and decreases in the strength of the operative and nonoperative hip tended to parallel one another over time. Throughout the period studied, strength differences between the operative and nonoperative sides for HF, SLR, and HE were large while the differences for HA were relatively small. The significant hip and knee muscle weakness of the total hip patients seems to support the need for a carefully monitored resistive exercise program following discharge from the hospital. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1990;12(1):16-23.