• Marco Monticone, Emilia Ambrosini, Barbara Rocca, Chiara Lorenzon, Simona Ferrante, and Giovanni Zatti.
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute of Lissone Salvatore Maugeri Foundation IRCCS, Monza Brianza, Italy marco.monticone@fsm.it.
• Clin Rehabil. 2014 Jul 1; 28 (7): 658-68.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of an in-hospital programme based on task-oriented exercises associated with early full weight-bearing in patients with multiple comorbidities undergoing total hip replacement.DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingSpecialised rehabilitation centre.SubjectsA total of 100 patients (mean age of 69 (8) years; 40 males, 60 females).InterventionsThe experimental group underwent task-oriented exercises and was encouraged to abandon any walking aids by the end of their in-hospital stay. The control group underwent open chain kinetic exercises, and was recommended to use partial weight-bearing and walking aids until three months after surgery. Both groups individually followed programmes of 90-minute sessions five times a week for three weeks.Outcome MeasuresWestern Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Pain Numerical Rating Scale, Functional Independence Measure, and Short-Form Health Survey. The participants were evaluated before, after training, and after a further 12 months.ResultsThere were no significant between-group differences at baseline. After training, a between-group difference of 12 points was found for the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index - functional subscale, indicating a clinically tangible treatment effect on disability. The Functional Independence Measure increased by 31 and 15 points in the experimental and control group, respectively. A linear mixed model revealed significant effects of time, group, and time by group interaction on disability, pain, activities of daily living, and most of the physical quality of life domains.ConclusionTask-oriented exercises associated with early full weight-bearing improve disability, pain, activities of daily living, and quality of life after total hip replacement.© The Author(s) 2014.

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