Physical activity and pain following total hip arthroplasty

ObjectivesTo determine types and levels of physical activities and hip pain in patients who had a total hip arthroplasty 5–7 years previously.ParticipantsNinety-eight men with a mean age of 61 years (standard deviation 9 years) and 134 women with a mean age of 61 years (standard deviation 6 years).MethodsPatients reported current physical activities and activity 2 years after surgery. Patients were also asked about pain in the operated hip associated with specific activities, and reduction of activities due to pain.ResultsNinety-five patients reported hip pain during physical activity, most frequently during bending and lifting activities and least frequently during non-weight-bearing activities. Climbing stairs was also associated with pain. Of 137 patients who decreased their level of activity between the two time points, 57 did so because of hip pain. Their average reduction in activity was 9.1 hours/week (95% confidence interval 6.8 to 11.4 hours/week). These 57 patients reported higher levels of activity 2 years after surgery than those who did not decrease their activity because of pain.ConclusionsThis study provides important information on the types of physical activity in which total hip arthroplasty patients participate, and their association with hip pain and reduction of activity due to pain. There is a need for future research to assess a wide variety of types and levels of activities, and to determine their association with pain and revision surgery.