A Randomized Controlled Trial of Outpatient Physiotherapy versus a Self-Administered Home Exercise Program Following Discharge Home from Total Hip Arthroplasty

Inclusion Criteria:

• primary THA (cemented or cementless)
• preoperative diagnosis of osteoarthritis (primary or secondary)
• meets objective discharge-to-home test following hip replacement
• ability to speak English and reply to questionnaires written in English
• ability to provide informed consent
• may include patients presenting for their second primary hip arthroplasty

Discharge to Home Criteria

• independent supine-to-sit transfer
• independent sit-to-stand transfer
• walk with walking aid 30 meters
• ascend and descend 3 stairs
• deemed medically fit and safe for home environment by surgeon/nursing/PT

Exclusion Criteria:

• surgery as part of a workers' compensation claim
• arthroplasty performed for trauma or following open reduction and internal fixation, malignancy or inflammatory arthropathy
• intra-operative complication of fracture or sciatic nerve injury
• procedure requiring complex surgical approach other than posterior or anterolateral (ie trochanteric osteotomy/micro 2 incision approach)
• indications for additional primary or revision arthroplasty within the time frame of the study (24 months) in other hip or knee joints which would adversely affect quality of life and functional scores pertaining to the joint of interest