Objective: To describe a progressive resistance training intervention implemented shortly after total hip arthroplasty, including a detailed description of load progression, pain response and adverse events to the training.
Design: Secondary analyses of data from the intervention group in a randomized controlled trial.
Subjects: This study reports data from the intervention group ( n = 37).
Interventions: The protocol described supervised progressive resistance training of the operated leg two days/week in addition to home-based exercise five days/week and for 10 weeks. The relative load progressed from 12 repetition maximum to 8 repetition maximum during 10 weeks for the exercises: knee extension, hip abduction, -flexion and -extension.
Main measures: Training load in kilograms (kg) for each exercise, hip pain during, before and after exercise using the Visual Analog Scale and adverse events during the initial four weeks of training.
Results: The majority of patients experienced only moderate hip pain during exercise (range in median across exercises and sessions: 5-35 mm Visual Analog Scale) and mild pain at rest (median: 1-18 mm Visual Analog Scale), both of which decreased over time ( p < 0.001), despite a substantial increase in absolute training load (67%-166 % across exercises, p < 0.001). Out of 152 training sessions, short term pain response (an increase >20 mm Visual Analog Scale) occurred in 13 patients in 24 training sessions.
Conclusion: Progressive resistance training as described in the present study can be implemented shortly following total hip arthroplasty with substantial load progression and no overall exacerbation of postoperative pain. Some patients may experience a short term pain response. Trial Registration (primary trial): NCT01214954.
Keywords: Hip replacement; pain; physiotherapy; strength training.