Pilot study into the development of an effective home-based-exercise-strategy for patients after THA delvered on a Tablet-PC.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases of the
musculoskeletal system in elderly. Patients with
osteoarthritis experience pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. As a result of
the ageing in the coming decades the number of elderly with osteoarthritis will
progressively increase. Osteoarthritis is a common indicator for a Total Hip
Arthroplasty (THA). A hip replacement is one of the most successful orthopedic
surgeries. However, with regard to the postoperative rehabilitation a lot can
be improved. The current situation after a THA is that physical therapy is not
prescribed by default. Patients are resigned from the hospital and receive home
exercises. However, it is not clear whether patients actually carry out these
exercises and whether they perform the exercises correctly.

The main objective of this pilot study is the application of a home-based
exercise strategy that helps patients to return faster to their functional
level of before the surgery. At first, practical feasibilty of the exercise
strategy delivered by means of videos on a tablet-pc will be investigated and
secondary the potential clinical effectiveness. For the determination of
clinical effectiveness, newly developed possibilities of motion sensors will be
used to evaluate mobility.

The pilot study is an intervention study with four measurements.

A twelve-week home-based exercise strategy will be offered to patients after
their discharge from the hospital. This home-based exercise strategy will be
delivered by means of videos on a tablet-pc and consist of specified exercise
instructions for improving muscle strength, balance and functional movements.

The exercises consist of the usual exercises that are provided after a THA and
therefore there is no additional risk for participants. There is also no risk
in wearing of the motion sensor in the home situation and test situations. The
sensor is small and light and can be worn as a necklace without constrictions.
The objective measurements of mobility consist of activities of daily living
and in that sense there is again no additional risk for participants. In
addition we focus on relatively young patients between 18 and 75 years of age.
Participants will be measured four times; before the surgery, during the
beginning and at the end of the twelve-week intervention and a follow-up six
months after the operation. During these measurements participants fill in a
questionnaire and perform some activities of daily living (e.g. standing,
sitting, walking) while they are wearing a motion sensor. In addition, a
participant will perform a twelve week home-based exercise strategy in order to
train muscle strength, balance and functional movements. The exercises will
take about 30 minutes a day. Furthermore, once a week there is a telephone call
with a physiotherapist/researcher.