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Does postoperative exercise after hip arthroplasty improve strength and function? A systematic review and
Zeyu Ye1,2, Sai Yu2, Leming Liao2
1Fuyang First People's Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Hangzhou Fuyang First People's Hospital), No. 300 Zhujian Road, Chunjiang Subdistrict,Fuyang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, 311400, China.
Structured postoperative exercise aids short- to mid-term recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA), improving hip abduction strength and patient function. Long-term benefits and effects on hip flexion strength require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common procedure for osteoarthritis, with postoperative recovery significantly impacting patient outcomes.
- Optimizing muscle strength, function, and range of motion post-THA is crucial for successful rehabilitation and return to daily activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical efficacy of structured postoperative exercise interventions following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) for osteoarthritis.
- To assess the impact of structured exercise on key recovery metrics including muscle strength, patient-reported function, and range of motion.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective studies comparing structured exercise with standard care post-primary THA.
- Pooled effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMD) or mean differences (MD) with random-effects models.
- Subgroup analyses were performed based on follow-up duration (e.g., <3 months, 3-6 months, >12 months) and limb status (operated vs. healthy).
Main Results:
- Twenty-two studies involving 1,782 participants were analyzed.
- Structured exercise significantly improved short-term and mid-term hip abduction strength, but not long-term.
- Patient-reported function, assessed by the Harris Hip Score (HHS), showed significant improvements early post-surgery, though 1-year effects were uncertain. Hip range of motion outcomes were inconclusive.
Conclusions:
- Structured postoperative exercise demonstrates short- to mid-term benefits for hip abduction strength and early patient-reported function after THA.
- The long-term effectiveness of structured exercise and its impact on hip flexion strength remain unconfirmed.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the sustained benefits and optimal protocols for exercise interventions post-THA.
