Home exercises are as effective as outpatient hydrotherapy for osteoarthritis of the hip.

Authors: Green J (1) , McKenna F (2) , Redfern EJ (3) , Chamberlain MA (2)
Affiliations:
(1) Shipley Day Hospital, Bradford (2) Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, The University of Leeds (3) Departments of Statistics, The University of Leeds
Source: Br J Rheumatol. 1993 Sep;32(9):812-5.
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/32.9.812 Publication date: 1993 Sep E-Publication date: Not specified Availability: abstract Copyright: © 1993 British Society for Rheumatology
Language: English Countries: Not specified Location: Not specified Correspondence address: M.A. Chamberlain : Rheumatology Research Unit. 36 Clarendon Road. Leeds LS2 9NZ

Keywords

Article abstract

Hydrotherapy for OA of the hip has rarely been evaluated in controlled studies. Forty-seven patients with OA of the hip were followed for 18 weeks. Patients were randomly allocated either to a regimen of home exercises or to twice weekly hydrotherapy for 6 weeks in addition to home exercises. There was an improvement seen in both subjective and objective measures in both groups with treatment. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Response to treatment appeared independent of age, sex and radiological severity. We conclude that for most patients, a carefully graded and supervised regimen of home exercises is beneficial and there is little benefit in adding hydrotherapy to this regimen.

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