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CRE0010.1177/0269215516673884Clinical RehabilitationWithers et al.
CLINICAL
Original Article REHABILITATION
Clinical Rehabilitation
Abstract
Objective: To determine the difference in physical activity levels before and up to one year after unilateral
primary total hip replacement.
Data sources: A search was performed on 13 July 2016. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they
presented preoperative and up to one year postoperative measures of physical activity for patients who
had undergone unilateral primary total hip replacement.
Review methods: Any article that used a measure of physical activity pre and up to one year post-
unilateral primary total hip replacement. Data was synthesised using a meta-analysis with 95% confidence
intervals (CI), if appropriate. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme cohort study checklist was used to
assess the quality of evidence.
Results: From 6024 citations, 17 studies were selected: Nine studies were analysed in a meta-analysis and
eight studies were analysed qualitatively. The quality of the evidence was ‘low’ to ‘moderate’. There was
no statistically significant difference in physical activity pre- to post-total hip replacement when assessed
using: movement-related activity (mean difference (MD): −0.08; 95% CI: 1.60, 1.44; I2 = 0%; n = 77),
percentage of 24-hours spent walking (MD: −0.21; 95% CI: −1.36, 0.93; I2 = 12%; n = 65), 6-minute walk
test (MD: −60.85; 95% CI: −122.41, 0.72; I2 = 84%; n = 113) or the cardiopulmonary exercise test (MD:
−0.24; 95% CI: −1.36, 0.87; I2 = 0%; n = 76).
Conclusion: There is no statistically significant difference in physical activity levels before and up to one
year after unilateral primary total hip replacement. However, the low to moderate methodological quality
of the included articles should be taken into consideration when drawing conclusions.
UK
Keywords
Total hip replacement, exercise, physical activity, recovery
Introduction
Total hip replacement is one of the most common from their inception up and to the 13 July 2016.
elective orthopaedic operations. A total of 620,300 The reference lists of all potentially eligible articles
total hip replacements were undertaken in England, identified from the search strategy were reviewed.
Wales and Northern Ireland from April 2003 to An example of the search strategy is presented in
December 20131. Osteoarthritis is the most com- Appendix 1, available online.
mon indication, estimated to be the principle rea- For articles to be included in this systematic
son for 93% of total hip replacements.1 Of these review, all participants: Had to be over 18 years;
patients, 40% are male, with the median age at had any form of elective unilateral primary total
operation being 69 years. hip replacement; and physical activity data was
Physical activity is a generic term encompassing collected before and within the first postoperative
any activity that involves movement that results in year. One year postoperatively was chosen as this
an increase in heart rate and calorific expenditure, study is examining immediate postoperative
the amount of calories burnt.2 Physical activity can change opposed to long-term postoperative pat-
be subdivided into three categories: (1) everyday terns in physical activity. Articles were excluded if
activity, e.g. active travel such as walking or participants had more than one surgical procedure
cycling; (2) active recreation, e.g. gardening, home in the same operation, for example unilateral total
improvement or recreational walking; and (3) sport hip replacement and bunion removal. Participants
that may be competitive or non-competitive.2 with other health conditions were included.
Previous systematic reviews have focused on total Reviews were not included in the systematic
hip replacement and exercise3–5 or alternatively have review, but the reference list was read and any arti-
combined total hip and knee replacements together.6 cles that fit the inclusion criteria were included.
No previous systematic reviews have investigated the Any study design was included in the study. No
relationship between total hip replacement and physi- date restrictions were applied. Only articles written
cal activity, and specifically whether physical activity in English were included.
changes after total hip replacement. This is an impor- In accordance with Cochrane Collaboration
tant void in the evidence-base, as physical inactivity guidelines,7 initially article titles and abstracts
has been associated with the development of numer- were independently screened for eligibility by two
ous non-communicable diseases.2 Given this, the pur- reviewers (TW, SL). For those articles that were
pose of this systematic review is to answer the potentially eligible and those where eligibility was
question: Is there a difference in physical activity lev- unclear, the full text was then obtained and
els in patients before and up to one year after unilat- reviewed independently by each reviewer (TW,
eral total hip replacement? SL). Articles that both reviewers agreed had met
the eligibility criteria after reviewing the full text
were included. Any uncertainties were resolved
Methods
through discussion.
This study was undertaken in accordance with the
Cochrane collaboration guidelines.7 The electronic
databases AMED, CINHAL, EMBASE, Medline,
Outcomes
Central (Cochrane), OpenSigle, ClinicalTrials.gov The primary outcome measure was change in phys-
and UK Clinical Trials Gateway were searched ical activity within the initial 12 months post-total
hip replacement. Physical activity was defined All included studies were appraised using the
using the British Government’s, Department of Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Cohort Study
Health’s definition being: ‘all forms of activity Checklist.10 This is a 12-item appraisal tool that has
such as everyday walking or cycling to get from “A been previously used in rehabilitation research.10 An
to B”, active play work-related activity, active rec- additional question (6c. Was the characteristics of
reation (such as working out in a gym), dancing, excluded participants examined?) was incorporated
gardening or playing active games, as well as to the appraisal tool, as this was considered specifi-
organised and competitive sport’.2 All outcomes cally important to this review to better ascertain gen-
that measured physical activity were considered eralisability and acceptability of physical activity to
for this systematic review. This included, but is not the population. All included articles were indepen-
limited to, accelerometer and physical activity dently assessed using this tool by one reviewer
questionnaires, for example physical activity score (TW), and verified by a second (SL). Any disagree-
for the elderly8 and global physical activity ments in critical appraisal assessment were resolved
questionnaire.9 through discussion, if needed a third reviewer (TS)
Secondary outcome measures for this study was available to resolve any disagreements.
were considered to be any measure that measures
physiological exercise capacity, this includes but is
not limited to maximal and submaximal exercise Data synthesis and analysis
tests. Measures of strength or power, such as Heterogeneity was initially assessed by examining
strength dynamometry, were not considered meas- the data extraction tables by three reviewers (TW,
ures of physical activity in this systematic review AC, TS). When clinical homogeneity was assumed
and therefore excluded. Similarly, biomechanical a meta-analysis was deemed appropriate. If clinical
measures, such as walking speed and peak impact heterogeneity was evident, a narrative review of
force, were not considered measures of physical the evidence was undertaken.
activity, as these are measures of physiological For each meta-analyses, statistical heterogeneity
and/or biomechanical efficiency. was assessed using I2 and Chi2 statistics. When I2
was 20% or less and Chi2 was less than p = 0.10, a
Data extraction and critical appraisal fixed-effects model was adopted.7 When this was
not satisfied, a random-effect model was used.7 All
Data from all eligible articles were extracted meta-analyses were assessed as mean differences
using a data extraction table. The primary reviewer (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and pre-
(TW) independently screened and extracted data sented using forest plots. To determine whether age
from each eligible article. Following the inde- was a potentially important variable for outcome, a
pendent screening and extraction from the pri- subgroup analysis was undertaken to assess the lev-
mary reviewer, a second reviewer (SL) checked els of physical activity pre- vs. postoperatively, spe-
the screening and extraction for accuracy. Any cifically for people aged 65 years or over. Analyses
disagreement in screening or data extraction were were undertaken using Review Manager software
resolved through discussion. A third reviewer (Review Manager (RevMan) [Computer Program]
(TS) was not needed to adjudicate any disagree- Version 5.3. Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane
ments, on this occasion there were no disagree- Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014).
ments. Data extracted included: Number of
participants, age, gender, indication for total hip
replacement (e.g. osteoarthritis), physical activity Results
measure and pre-/postoperative total hip replace-
ment physical activity data. In the event of miss-
Search results
ing data, the corresponding authors were emailed A summary of the search results is presented in
and asked for further information. Figure 1. A total of 6024 articles were identified
after duplicates were removed. Of these, 17 were A summary of the demographic data for all
eligible and included. Nine articles provided suffi- included articles is presented in Table 2. In total,
cient data that were used in the meta-analysis.11–18 1030 participants were included; Arbuthnot et al.22
Eight articles19–26 were not included in the meta- did not clearly state the number of participants in
analysis as the data was either not appropriate to their study. Cohort sample sizes ranged from one15
synthesise or not presented in an appropriate way to 88 participants.17 Three studies15,22,24 did not
for pooled analysis to take place. clearly state the ratio of male:female participants of
A summary of the study appraisal results is pre- the remaining studies, 287 (68%) participants were
sented in Table 1. Overall the evidence base was female. Of the included articles, all but one, a
poor to moderate in quality. All studies clearly Randomized Control Trial,27 were observational,
addressed a focused research question. All studies, longitudinal studies.
with the exception of four, clearly explained the A number of different measures were used to
recruitment methods used.15,16,21,26 evaluate physical activity levels. Accelerometers
were used in three studies,13,28,29 cardiopulmonary follow-up (MD: −0.08; 95% CI: −1.60 to 1.44;
exercise test, an incremental exercise test to voli- I2 = 0%; n = 77; Figure 2).
tional exhaustion, used in three studies14–16 and the
6-minute walk test was also used in three stud-
Clinical findings: Secondary outcomes
ies.17,18,27 Two studies analysed secondary data
sets.19,20 A more detailed summary of measures For the secondary outcome measures, measures of
used is presented in Table 3. physiological capacity, three articles used
Cardiopulmonary Exercise testing, one evaluated
this on a cycle ergometer16 and two studies used a
Clinical findings: Primary outcomes treadmill.14,15 There was no statistically significant
For the primary outcome measures, change in difference, between pre- and post-total hip replace-
physical activity, percentage of 24-hours spent ment at a mean nine-month follow-up (MD: −0.24;
walking were analysed from two studies using 95% CI: −1.36 to 0.87; I2 = 0%; n = 76; Figure 2).
accelerometry.11,29 These reported no statistically Three articles measured the 6-minute walk
significant difference on pooled analysis between test.17,18,27 These reported no statistically significant
pre- and post-total hip replacement at six months different in pre- and post-total hip replacement
follow-up (MD: −0.21; 95% CI: −1.36 to 0.93; results at a mean 23-week follow-up (MD: −60.85;
I2 = 12%; n = 65; Figure 2). 95% CI: −122.41 to 0.72; I2 = 84%; n = 113; Figure
Three studies provided data on movement- 3). A subanalysis was conducted, excluding Oosting27
related physical activity as measured with acceler- as it was the only study that looked at exclusively
ometery pre- and up to one year post-total hip over 65 year olds. This resulted in an increase in the
replacement.11,13,29 These studies reported no statis- 6-minute walk test from 60.9 m to 89.1 m (MD:
tically significant difference in pre- and postopera- −89.09; 95% CI: −136.40 to −41.79; I2 = 68%;
tive results on pooled analysis at six months n = 101; Figure 4) up to one year postoperatively.
Table 3. (Continued)
Authors Physical activity measure PA level preoperation PA level postoperation
Lin et al.13 Accelerometer 1 month pre THR Six months post THR
Daily activity time% Daily activity time
55.6, 13.5 57.2, 12.8
Macnicol et al.26 12-minute walk 12-minute walk Three months mean 12-minute walk 121.9, 4.9 SEM bpm
Max 2.52, 0.14 SEM kph Six months 12-minute walk
Mean 112.8, 3.0 SEM bpm Mean 121.9, 4.4 SEM 4.4 bpm
Oosting et al.27 6-minute walk 340, 78 Six weeks 339, 69
Pugh15 CPEX Speed
. 5 km/h Three months post
treadmill VO2peak 1.2 L/min speed
. 7 kmh
VO2peak 1.9 L/min
Nine months post
8. km/h
VO2peak 2.4 L/min
.
Ries et al.16 CPEX PeakV
. O2ml.kg.min-1:14.7, 3.7 Six months
. post
VO2atATml.kg-1:10.4, 2.5 PeakV
. O2ml.kg.min-1:15.2, 4.2
VO2atATml.kg-1:10.1, 2.6
12 months
. post
PeakV
. O2ml.kg.min-1:15.4, 3.3
VO2atATml.kg-1:9.6, 1.9
24 months
. post
PeakV
. O 2 ml.kg.min-1:16.1, 2.9
VO2atATml.kg-1:9.9, 1.8
Smith et al.20 Secondary data set analysis Number of stairs climbed per week: 10 Up to one year postop
± 24 Number of stairs climbed per week: 14 ± 25
Walking to work or pleasure (hours/ Walking to work or pleasure (hours/week): 3.3 ± 5.0
week): 0.82 ± 1 Duration of total recreational activities (hours/week):
THR: total hip replacement, 6mwt: 6-minute walk test, CPEX: cardiopulmonary exercise test, IQR: inter quartile range; PA: physical activity; WS: walking speed; SEM: standard error of the mean.
Clinical Rehabilitation
Withers et al. 9
Figure 2. Meta-analysis of studies that used accelerometry or cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPEX), fixed
effect studies.
Figure 4. Random effects meta-analysis 6-minute walk test, removing Oosting et al.27
key factor in improving outcomes post-total hip However, both pre- and postoperatively, the
replacement.30,31 Additionally, it is also important to mean 6-minute walk test is noticeably less than the
consider the potential of timing of preoperative population mean. Heiberg et al.17 was the article
measure and its potential effect on outcome. that showed the greatest distance pre- and postop-
Postoperative data captured occurred between eratively, 401 ±113 m and 512 ±88 m, respectively,
six weeks18 to up to one year19,22,23,32,33. This there- though the reference values for 55–75 years old, is
fore needs to be considered when drawing conclu- 659 ±62 m.35 This noticeable difference is sugges-
sions from this systematic review. However, as tive that it is not purely the reason for the total hip
only two articles showed a significant improve- replacement that may result in the decrease in 6-
ment,17,18 it is suggested that this is likely to have a minute walk distance compared with the mean for
minimal affect. the age group. There is therefore a need to under-
While the 6-minute walk test did not reach a sta- stand better the other factors that may contribute to
tistically significant difference, it may be regarded this decrease in physical activity in this population.
as clinically significant with a mean difference of The previous methods of measurement
60.9 m (95% CI: −122.4 to 0.7). Previous research in discussed above could be referred to as ‘non-
chronic lung disease suggests that clinically sig- laboratory’ or ‘free-living’ based, that being that
nificant difference is 54 m (95% CI: 37 to 71 m).34 the measures have been undertaken in the natural
Therefore, the 60.9 m improvement in patients fol- environment and therefore not under controlled
lowing total hip replacement reported in our analysis ‘experimental’ conditions.36 However the cardio-
could potentially represent a significant difference. pulmonary exercise test does use ‘lab-based’
There is no specific data for the total hip replace- measures. It is important to note that while the
ment population, but it is hypothesised that the clini- cardiopulmonary exercise test may not be consid-
cally significant difference for total hip replacement ered a measure of physical activity, as it is a meas-
patients is likely to be greater than patients with ure of exercise capacity, it was included in this
chronic lung disease as they have an aetiology that systematic review as it is an indirect, surrogate
results in a physiological limited exercise capacity. measure of physical activity.36 This systematic
The 6-minute walk test data suggests that there review reported that there is no significant change
was no significant difference between distances in cardiopulmonary exercise test output between
covered in the 6-minute walk test between pre- pre- and post-total hip replacement.
and post-total hip replacement. However, this This study provides important information for
result should be interpreted with caution as the healthcare professionals with regard to physical
meta-analysis demonstrated considerable hetero- activity post-total hip replacement. Contrary to
geneity (I2 = 84%). When the Oosting et al.27 study previous understanding, this systematic review
was excluded alone (Figure 4), being the only does not support the hypothesis that patients are
study that exclusively recruited patients over more physically active following total hip replace-
65 year olds, there was an increase in the distance ment. Instead, based on limited but available evi-
walked between pre- and post-total hip replace- dence, this systematic review reports that there is
ment of 60.9 m to 89.1 m. This suggests that age no change in physical activity following unilateral
may be a modifier of the 6-minute walk test result primary total hip replacement. Qualitative research
following total hip replacement. This finding suggests that when people prior to total hip replace-
should however be considered with considerable ment are asked what their activity aspirations are
caution; as this is based on one study of 15 partici- postoperatively, the most common goal is to return
pants,27 more research is needed to explorer this to the level of physical activity that they were
potential link. Additionally, studies in healthy pop- undertaking before their hip disease or condition
ulations have shown that age is a non-significant impacted on their lifestyle.37 However, the results
(p > 0.05) predictor of 6-minute walk distance35 of this meta-analysis suggest that while this may be
and there is no clear reason to suggest why there an aspiration, it does not consistently occur post-
is a difference. total hip replacement.37
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