Research and News
Posts tagged total hip replacement
Abduction exercise after hip replacement: is there an optimal progression?
Aug 23rd
Patients undergoing total hip replacement often have weak hip abductor muscles before and after surgery. One of the most common hip exercises is sidelying hip abduction using an ankle weight. While this may be an effective exercise to activate the gluteus medius muscle, open-chain, non-weight bearing hip abduction is not specific to the function of the gluteus medius as a pelvic stabilizer in single-leg stance. Resisted lateral walking with a Thera-Band® Band Loop or Tubing with Cuffs is an example of such a closed-chain exercise as the patient steps away from the involved leg.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky evaluated electromyographic (EMG) levels of 4 exercises in total hip patients between 7 and 32 weeks post-operative. Dr. Cale Jacobs and colleagues were interested to see if there was a progression of muscle activation to guide clinical decisions about hip abduction exercise prescription. They published their findings in the Journal of Arthroplasty. The 4 exercises included 2 non-weight bearing and 2 weight-bearing exercises:
- Standing hip abduction with cuff weight at 1% of bodyweight, lifted to 30 degrees
- Sidelying hip abduction with cuff weight at 0.5% of bodyweight, lifted to 50% of leg length
- Standing hip abduction with uninvolved leg to 30 degrees
- Lateral walk with Thera-Band resistance band attached with More >
Exercise with Thera-Band® Stability Trainers helps improve dynamic balance in patients with hip osteoarthritis and replacement
Jun 1st
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, there are over 200,000 hip replacements performed each year in the United States. The most common reason for hip replacement is osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. “Hip School,” an exercise program for patients with osteoarthritis and hip replacement was developed in Germany in 1995 by orthopedic surgeon Thomas Horstmann and physiotherapist Georg Haupt. In the program, small groups of patients (10-15) exercise under the supervision of a physical therapist. Home exercises are also performed 3 to 4 times per week. The exercises focus on strength and balance exercises for 20 minutes, including:
- 1-leg balance, 15-30 seconds for 5 reps on each leg
- 1-leg balance with opposite leg movement for 1 to 3 sets of 15-25 reps
- Hip lift for 3 sets of 15-25 reps
- 2-leg calf raise with 2-second hold, 1 to 3 sets for 15 to 25 reps.
- Patients progress from a stable surface to Thera-Band Stability Trainers.
In a paper published in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, German researchers wanted to compare their Hip School participants with a non-exercising control group of hip patients. Each group was tested before and after 3 months using an oscillating platform (Posturomed®) to measure their static and dynamic balance. More >
