The effectiveness of a 12 week exercise programme in hip osteoarthritis : a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease caused by the destruction of the joint cartilage. Pain, stiffness and dysfunction during activities of daily living are common reasons leading to a hip arthroplasty. Programmes based on quadriceps strengthening are now evidence-based. Therefore, this study aims to explore and investigate the effects of a 12-week hip exercise programme on pain and functional levels. Methods: This study reports outcomes of a randomised controlled trial. 40 participants were randomly allocated into 2 groups: control group and an intervention group. All participants were asked general demographic data at baseline, followed by assessment using the NPRS, WOMAC Scale, 6 MWT and muscle testing. Participants in the control group received no intervention, whereas the others performed hip exercises. A 12-week exercise programme resulted in highly statistically significant improvements for participants in the intervention group and minimal changes for the control group.