A specific arm-interval exercise program could improve the health status and walking ability of elderly patients after total hip arthroplasty: a pilot study.

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 (T[2]). Moreover, a 6-minute walk test was performed at T [2].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 VO2 peak value at T[2]. Correlation analyses indicate that VO2 peak 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]