Effects of incorporating elliptical trainer exercise during rehabilitation on physical function and self-reported outcomes after total hip arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.
Yuki Hasebe, Kiyokazu Akasaka, Takahiro Otsudo and 2 others
PMID 35291467WHAT IT FOUND
Adding 20 minutes of daily elliptical trainer exercise to standard hip replacement rehabilitation improved walking speed, stride length, and knee strength at 1 and 3 months compared to standard walking practice.
Patients also reported less fear of falling at 1 month. There was no difference in patient-reported hip function scores.
Key findings
01The intervention group had significantly higher knee extensor strength, stride length, and walking speed at 1 and 3 months postoperatively compared to the control group.
02Patients in the elliptical trainer group reported significantly higher confidence in avoiding falls (MFES score) at 1 month, but this difference was not significant at 3 months.
03There were no significant differences between the groups in patient-reported hip function and quality of life (HOOS scores) at any time point.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
All participants could walk without a cane before surgery, so results may not apply to patients with more severe preoperative disability or those who are less mobile. The content of standard physiotherapy may have varied slightly between patients, potentially affecting the comparison. The study did not report whether the physical therapists performing the assessments were blinded to group allocation, although the attending physicians were.
Declared interests
The authors declare no funding and no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this intervention improves patient-reported hip function or quality of life. The HOOS scores showed no significant difference between the groups, meaning patients did not feel their hip was better or their life improved more than those who just practiced walking. The benefits were seen in objective physical measures and short-term fall confidence.