Ergometer cycling after hip or knee replacement surgery: a randomized controlled trial

The optimal treatment strategy following primary total hip or knee replacement remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ergometer cycling after hip or knee replacement surgery on health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction. Three hundred and sixty-two patients were randomly assigned to either perform or not perform ergometer cycling beginning two weeks after total hip or knee replacement. The primary outcome was self-reported physical function as measured with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at three, six, twelve, and twenty-four months postoperatively. Results were compared with published thresholds for minimal clinically important improvements. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. After the hip arthroplasties, all of the outcome parameters were superior in the ergometer cycling group at all follow-up intervals, and the primary outcome, physical function as measured with the WOMAC, was significantly better at three months and twenty-four months. After the hip arthroplasties, a higher percentage of the ergometer cycling group was “very satisfied“ at all follow-up interval. The significant differences in the primary outcome exceeded the absolute minimal clinically important improvement threshold by a factor of 2.0. No significant differences between the study groups were seen after the knee arthroplasties.

Ergometer cycling after total hip arthroplasty is an effective means of achieving significant and clinically important improvement in patients` early and late health-related quality of life and satisfaction. However, this study does not support the use of ergometer cycling after knee arthroplasty.

Liebs TR, Herzberg W, Ruther W, et al. Ergometer cycling after hip or knee replacement surgery: a randomized controlled trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010 Apr;92(4):814-22

Related posts:

1. Land-based versus pool-based exercise for people awaiting joint replacement surgery of the hip or knee: results of a randomized controlled trial.
2. Severe knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial of acupuncture, physiotherapy (supervised exercise) and standard management for patients awaiting knee replacement
3. After Partial Knee Replacement, Patients Can Kneel, But They Need to Be Taught to Do So: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.
4. Effect of multiple physiotherapy sessions on functional outcomes in the initial postoperative period after primary total hip replacement: a randomized controlled trial.
5. Long-term effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee: A randomized controlled trial comparing two different physical therapy interventions.