Hip replacements 'do not necessarily lead to increased physical activity'

People who undergohip replacement surgery as a means of treating conditions such asosteoarthritis may not necessarily experience an improved level of physical activity after their operation. This is the conclusion of a new study from the University of East Anglia, which carried out a systematic review with the specific aim of examining the differences in physical activity before and after hip replacement surgery. It suggests more may need to be done to encourage patients to get active. No evidence to support inherent physical activity benefits of surgery The study, published in the medical journal Clinical Rehabilitation, analysed data from existing research papers comparing preoperative and postoperative measures of physical activity, with information taken from around 1,030 patients who had received hip replacements. Because the most common reason for a hip replacement is to reducepain during movement, it was expected that the amount of physical activity post-surgery would increase. However, no clear evidence of any postoperative change in physical activity levels was found. Indicators for physical activity after surgery included whether patients were walking longer distances, walking more quickly, cycling and climbing stairs. Further research may now be needed to determine how personal characteristics or pre-existing conditions might influence these results. The need to encourage patients to get active Currently, total hip replacement is one of the UK's most common typ...

Source: Arthritis Research UK - October 24, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news