Impact of total hip arthroplasty on pain, walking ability, and cardiovascular fitness

Thomas Horstmann, Sandra Vornholt-Koch, Torsten Brauner, Stefan Grau, Annegret Mündermann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients have less pain and are able to walk longer post-operatively than pre-operatively, and that THA patients before and after have higher heart rates and compromised gas exchange determinants at rest and following exercise compared to healthy subjects with a post-operative improvement. Fifty-two patients completed questionnaires and an incremental walking stress test pre-operatively and 6-months after THA. Twenty-four age-matched control subjects completed the same stress test. Fifty-one patients had less pain 6-months after THA compared to pre-operative levels. Forty-three patients showed an improvement of at least one walking duration category. Patients had compromised cardiovascular fitness compared to the control group with a tendency to improve after THA. Hence, 6-months following THA, deficits exist other than reduced strength as reported in the literature. Prior to THA, the ability to walk longer is compromised by pain and not by poor cardiovascular fitness. Studies on specific rehabilitation programs of varying intensities may demonstrate opportunities to improve the cardiovascular fitness of this population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2025-2030
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Orthopaedic Research
Volume30
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

Keywords

  • cardiovascular fitness
  • pain
  • total hip replacement
  • walking ability

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