Biomechanical approach in the early rehabilitation of hip arthroplasty

D. Kovacheva-Predovska; N. Cherkezov; S. Assiov; A. Aleksiev

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D. Kovacheva-Predovska

, N. Cherkezov

, S. Assiov

, A. Aleksiev

Abstract: Objective: To verify if a biomechanical approach as preliminary quadriceps muscle contraction (added to standard advice) shows a significant beneficial effect in the early rehabilitation of hip arthroplasty and if it upgrades the positive one of standard advice alone.
Materials and methods: In the study, 25 patients (60.12±9.98 years) after osteoarthritis-related hip arthroplasty, were randomly divided into two groups. The active comparator group (n=13) followed standard advice. The experimental group (n=12) followed standard advice including one more – preliminary quadriceps muscle contraction. The primary outcome was a visual analog pain scale. The secondary outcomes were the range of motion, manual muscle testing, circumference difference (between affected and unaffected thigh) in centimeters, and success rate of the preliminary quadriceps muscle contraction.
Results: There was no inter-group baseline difference (P>0.05). Both groups showed significant improvement after one month (P<0.05). The experimental group showed better results than the active comparator group (after one month) (P<0.05). Correlation and regression analysis found that as the preliminary quadriceps muscle contraction success rate increased the other outcomes improved (P<0.05). Discussion: It was proved both from the quantitative and qualitative statistical analysis that the preliminary quadriceps muscle contraction (added to standard advice) had a significant beneficial effect in the early rehabilitation of hip arthroplasty and upgraded the one of standard advice alone.
Conclusion: The preliminary quadriceps muscle contraction is a practicable, simple, short, and effective approach to reduce pain and improve joint mobility, muscle strength, muscle hypotrophy, and functional capacity in the early rehabilitation of hip arthroplasty upgrading the positive effect of standard advice

Series on Biomechanics, Vol.39, No.1 (2025), 51-58
DOI: 10.7546/SB.01.07.2025

Keywords: early rehabilitation; Hip arthroplasty; preliminary quadriceps muscle contraction

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DOI: 10.7546/SB.01.07.2025

Date published: 2025-03-25

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