Development of an Effective Home-based-exercise-strategy

Pilot Study Into the Development of an Effective Home-based-exercise-strategy for Patients After THA Delivered on a Tablet-PC

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system in elderly. Patients with osteoarthritis experience pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. Due to ageing Western societies in the coming decades the number of elderly with osteoarthritis will progressively increase. Osteoarthritis is a common indicator for a Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). A hip replacement is one of the most successful orthopedic surgeries. However, with regard to the postoperative rehabilitation a lot can be improved. The current situation after a THA is that physical therapy in the Netherlands is not prescribed by default. Patients are resigned from the hospital and receive home exercises. However, it is not clear whether patients actually carry out these exercises and whether they perform the exercises correctly.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 18 and 75 years
• Living independent
• Waiting for THA at either the Martini Hospital Groningen or the Medical Centre Leeuwarden in the Netherlands

Exclusion Criteria:

• Revision surgery
• Medical conditions that disallow independent living
• Cognitive impairment
• Inability to sufficiently read and understand Dutch
• Participating in another rehabilitation program