[Physical therapy aspects of treatment following total hip prosthesis]

Our physiotherapy program after total hip arthroplasty is presented, and certain modifications in relation to cemented or cementless implantations are discussed. Three different stages must be considered: preoperative instructions of the patient, mobilization of the patient and his joints, water gymnastics to enable the patient to obtain total independence. During the first three months only partial weight should be put on the operated leg. In comparison to the cemented system, the biomechanical properties of the cementless prosthesis permit only a careful and delayed mobilization and charge of the operated leg, as long as a secondary stability of the implant has not been reached. In more complicated cases it is of importance that the whole planning of postoperative physiotherapy should be discussed individually and in detail with the surgeon concerned.