Kinematic and Kinetic Changes after Total Hip Arthroplasty during Sit-To-Stand Transfers: Systematic Review

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common and effective surgical procedure that allows patients with hip osteoarthritis to restore functional ability and relieve pain. Sit-to-stand transfers are common demanding tasks during activities of daily living and are performed more than 50 times per day. The purpose of this systematic review is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of biomechanical changes during sit-to-stand transfers after THA.

Relevant articles were selected through MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. Articles were included if they met the following inclusion criteria: 1) participants underwent total hip arthroplasty without restriction on the arthroplasty design, 2) involved either kinematic or kinetic variables as the primary outcome measure, 3) evaluated sit-to-stand, and 4) were written in English.

A total of 11 articles were included in the current systematic review. The THA group exhibited altered movement patterns as compared to healthy controls. Improvement in loading asymmetry was found up to 1 year after THA, but other kinetic changes indicate intensified contralateral limb loading. Limb differences were apparent, but whether these differences persist over 10 months after THA is still unknown.

Despite the inevitable changes in kinematics and kinetics in sit-to-stand transfers after THA, it appears to be important to resolve asymmetrical loading between the operative and nonoperative limbs to minimize risk for subsequent joint problems.