A specific inpatient aquatic physiotherapy program improves strength after total hip or knee replacement surgery: A randomised controlled trial

Rahmann, Ann E., Brauer, Sandra G. and Nitz, Jennifer C. (2009) A specific inpatient aquatic physiotherapy program improves strength after total hip or knee replacement surgery: A randomised controlled trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 90 5: 745-755.


Author Rahmann, Ann E.
Brauer, Sandra G.
Nitz, Jennifer C.
Title A specific inpatient aquatic physiotherapy program improves strength after total hip or knee replacement surgery: A randomised controlled trial
Journal name Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2009-05
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.12.011
Volume number 90
Issue number 5
ISSN 0003-9993; 1532-821X
Start page 745
End page 755
Total pages 11
Editor W.B. Saunders
Place of publication United States
Publisher W.B. Saunders
Collection year 2010
Language eng
Subject C1
920201 Allied Health Therapies (excl. Mental Health Services)
110317 Physiotherapy
Formatted abstract A specific inpatient aquatic physiotherapy program improves strength after total hip or knee replacement surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2009;90:745-55.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of inpatient aquatic physiotherapy in addition to usual ward physiotherapy on the recovery of strength, function, and gait speed after total hip or knee replacement surgery.

Design: Pragmatic randomized controlled trial with blinded 6-month follow-up.

Setting: Acute-care private hospital.

Participants: People (n65) undergoing primary hip or knee arthroplasty (average age, 69.68.2y; 30 men).

Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned to receive supplementary inpatient physiotherapy, beginning on day 4: aquatic physiotherapy, nonspecific water exercise, or additional ward physiotherapy.

Main Outcome Measures: Strength, gait speed, and functional ability at day 14. Results: At day 14, hip abductor strength was significantly greater after aquatic physiotherapy intervention than additional ward treatment (P.001) or water exercise  (P.011). No other outcome measures were significantly different at any time point in the trial, but relative differences favored the aquatic physiotherapy intervention at day 14. No adverse events occurred with early aquatic intervention.

Conclusions: A specific inpatient aquatic physiotherapy program has a positive effect on early recovery of hip strength after joint replacement surgery. Further studies are required to confirm these findings. Our research indicates that aquatic physiotherapy can be safely considered in this early postoperative phase. 
Keyword Arthroplasty
Replacement
Hydrotherapy
Physical therapy modalities
Rehabilitation
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

 
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Created: Wed, 02 Dec 2009, 13:25:12 EST by Kathleen Reinhardt on behalf of School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences