TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of total hip arthroplasty on pain, walking ability, and cardiovascular fitness
AU - Horstmann, Thomas
AU - Vornholt-Koch, Sandra
AU - Brauner, Torsten
AU - Grau, Stefan
AU - Mündermann, Annegret
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - cardiovascular fitness
KW - pain
KW - total hip replacement
KW - walking ability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84867857769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jor.22163
DO - 10.1002/jor.22163
M3 - Article
C2 - 22653634
AN - SCOPUS:84867857769
SN - 0736-0266
VL - 30
SP - 2025
EP - 2030
JO - Journal of Orthopaedic Research
JF - Journal of Orthopaedic Research
IS - 12
ER -