Ergometer Cycling After Replacement of the Hip or Knee Joint

A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trail of Ergometer Cycling After Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery

Despite the widespread use of hip and knee replacement surgery, there is a considerable lack of consensus regarding postoperative treatment and rehabilitation, mostly because of the lack of well-designed studies testing the efficacy and effectiveness of such practices.

In particular there are no recommendations regarding the use of ergometer cycling after hip or knee replacement surgery.

Therefore the investigators initiated a multicenter controlled clinical trial evaluating the effect of ergometer cycling versus no ergometer cycling after hip or knee replacement surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient who is about to receive unilateral hip or knee replacement surgery on an elective basis of diagnosis of osteoarthritis or femoral head necrosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• A history of septic arthritis
• Hip fracture
• Intraoperative complications
• History of implant surgery on the joint to be operated on
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Amputations
• Inability of complete the questionnaires because of cognitive or language difficulties