Abstract
Background
Existing review required updating.
Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy exercise after discharge from hospital on function, walking, range of motion, quality of life and muscle strength, for patients following elective primary total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis.
Design
Systematic review from January 2007 to November 2013.
Data sources
AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Kingsfund Database, and PEDro. Cochrane CENTRAL, BioMed Central (BMC), The Department of Health National Research Register and Clinical Trials.gov register. Searches were overseen by a librarian. Authors were contacted for missing information. No language restrictions were applied.
Eligibility criteria
Trials comparing physiotherapy exercise vs usual/standard care, or comparing two types of relevant exercise physiotherapy, following discharge from hospital after elective primary total hip replacement for osteoarthritis were reviewed.
Outcomes
Functional activities of daily living, walking, quality of life, muscle strength and joint range of motion.
Study appraisal
Quality and risk of bias for studies were evaluated. Data were extracted and meta-analyses considered.
Results
11 trials are included in the review. Trial quality was mixed. Newly included studies were assessed as having lower risk of bias than previous studies. Narrative review indicates that physiotherapy exercise after discharge following total hip replacement may potentially benefit patients in terms of function, walking and muscle strengthening.
Limitations
The overall quality and quantity of trials, and their diversity, prevented meta-analyses.
Conclusions
Disappointingly, insufficient evidence still prevents the effectiveness of physiotherapy exercise following discharge to be determined for this patient group. High quality, adequately powered, trials with long term follow up are required.
Citation
Effectiveness of land-based physiotherapy exercise following hospital discharge following hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis: an updated systematic review.