OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of an arm-interval exercise program for the upper limbs on health status and walking ability in elderly patients after total hip arthroplasty. DESIGN: A randomized controlled investigation. After surgery, a control group started a general rehabilitation program, and a training group combined it with an arm-interval exercise program. SUBJECTS: Fourteen patients (age 75.1 +/- 4.8 years) were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 7) and the training group (n = 7). METHODS: A Western Ontario and MacMaster University (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index was completed and an incremental exercise test on an arm crank ergometer was also performed 1 month before (T-1) and 2 months after surgery (T2). Moreover, a 6-minute walk test was performed at T2. RESULTS: Both groups significantly improved all dimensions of WOMAC, except in WOMAC physical function subscale in the control group. The training group covered a significantly longer distance in the walking test than the control group and also presented significantly higher VO2peak value at T2. Correlation analyses indicate that VO2peak value and the distance covered in the 6-minute walking test were significantly associated with functional status. After calculating the ratio distance covered/score at WOMAC physical function, we observed a significantly higher ratio value in the training group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results indicate that the improvement in physical fitness and functional status of the training group seems to be associated with better health status.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher