Article

Early maximal strength training is an efficient treatment for patients operated with total hip
arthroplasty. OBJECTIVE: To compare muscle strength, work efficiency, gait
patterns, and quality of life in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA)
randomly assigned to either maximal strength training or a conventional
rehabilitation program. DESIGN: A randomized controlled study. SETTING: Research
laboratory, rehabilitation center, and physical therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=24) with osteoarthritis as the main reason for THA were randomly
assigned to perform maximal strength training (n=12) or conventional
rehabilitation (n=12). INTERVENTIONS: The maximal strength training group (STG)
performed maximal strength training in leg press and abduction with the operated
leg only 5 times a week for 4 weeks in addition to the conventional
rehabilitation program. The conventional rehabilitation group (CRG) received
supervised physical therapy 3 to 5 times a week for 4 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: 1-repetition maximum (1RM) leg press strength, 1RM abduction strength,
rate of force development (RFD), work efficiency, gait patterns, and quality of
life. RESULTS: 1RM increased in the bilateral leg press (P<.002) and in the
operated leg separately (P<.002) in the STG compared with the CRG. 1RM abduction
strength in the operated leg (P<.002) and the healthy leg (P<.002) increased in
the STG compared with the CRG. RFD increased in the STG compared with the CRG
(P(g)=.030), followed by a trend towards increased peak force in the STG
(P(g)=.053) (P(g) = probability for differences between groups). Work efficiency
tended to improve in the STG compared with the CRG (P=.065). No differences in
gait patterns were revealed between the groups after the training intervention.
CONCLUSIONS: Early maximal strength training 1 week postoperatively is feasible
and an efficient treatment to regain muscular strength for patients who have
undergone THA, demonstrated by a significantly larger increase in muscular
strength and a trend towards a better work efficiency in the STG compared with the CRG.

Langue : ANGLAIS