If you have hip osteoarthritis, doing a course of exercise therapy may mean you are less likely to need a hip\u00a0replacement in the next few years.<\/p>\n
INTRODUCTION\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Many people get stiff joints from osteoarthritis as they get older. For some people, severe pain and stiffness in\u00a0their hip joints means they can\u2019t get around very well. Replacing the damaged joint is one option. But hip\u00a0replacement is a big operation with risks, and artificial hips may wear out eventually. For these reasons, most WHAT DID THE RESEARCHERS HOPE TO FIND?<\/strong><\/p>\n In this new study the researchers wanted to know whether people with hip osteoarthritis could manage for\u00a0longer with their natural hip if they took part in a programme of exercise therapy.<\/p>\n WHO WAS STUDIED?<\/strong><\/p>\n The authors recruited 109 people in Norway, who had mild or moderate hip osteoarthritis that was not bad\u00a0enough for an immediate hip replacement.<\/p>\n HOW WAS THE STUDY CONDUCTED?<\/strong><\/p>\n The researchers randomly split the people in the study into two groups. Everyone in both groups went to education\u00a0sessions about osteoarthritis. But one group was also enrolled in an exercise therapy programme, with\u00a0two or three sessions a week for 12 weeks. The programme was specifically designed for people with osteoarthritis\u00a0of the hip, to improve strength and flexibility. The second group of people did not take part in the exercise The researchers followed everyone up to see whether they went on to have a hip replacement and, if so,\u00a0how long after the start of the study they had the operation.<\/p>\n WHAT DOES THE NEW STUDY SAY?<\/strong><\/p>\n People who had exercise therapy were less likely to have a hip replacement. After six years, 22 of the 55\u00a0people who\u2019d had exercise therapy had a hip replacement (which works out at 40 percent, or 40 in 100) compared\u00a0with 31 of the 54 people not in the exercise group (57 in 100).<\/p>\n People who had exercise therapy were able to wait longer before a hip replacement. The average time before\u00a0having a hip replacement for people in the exercise group was five and a half years, compared with three and a\u00a0half years for people who had not had exercise therapy.\u00a0There was no difference between the groups in how they rated their pain and stiffness. However, people\u00a0who had exercise therapy did rate their hip function more highly.<\/p>\n HOW RELIABLE ARE THE FINDINGS?<\/strong><\/p>\n This type of study is called a randomised controlled trial. It\u2019s the best way to show whether a treatment works.\u00a0The results should be reliable for this group of patients.<\/p>\n WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?<\/strong><\/p>\n If you have mild or moderate symptoms of hip osteoarthritis, this study suggests that an exercise programme\u00a0may help you avoid or delay hip surgery. You could ask your doctor about taking part in an exercise therapy\u00a0programme. However, we don\u2019t know if exercise therapy is helpful for delaying hip replacement for people\u00a0with severe osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & European League Against Rheumatism. This information may be distributed without further permission for non-commercial use only.<\/p>\n Disclaimer<\/strong>: This is a summary of a scientific article written by a medical professional (\u201cthe Original Article\u201d). The Summary is written to assist non medically trained readers to understand general points of the Original Article. \u00a0It should not be relied on in any way whatsoever<\/span>, (which also means the Summary is not medical advice), and is simply supplied to aid a lay understanding of general points of the Original Article. It is supplied \u201cas is\u201d without any warranty. You should note that the Original Article (and Summary) may not be accurate as errors can occur and also may be out of date as medical science is constantly changing. \u00a0It is very important that readers not rely on the content in the Summary and consult their medical professionals for all aspects of their health care. Do not use this Summary as medical advice even if the Summary is supplied to the reader by a medical professional.<\/strong> Date summary prepared:\u00a0January 2015<\/p>\n Summary based on research article published on:\u00a019 November 2013<\/p>\n From: Svege, I et al<\/em>.\u00a0Exercise therapy may postpone total hip replacement surgery in patients with hip osteoarthritis: a long-term follow-up of a randomised trial.\u00a0Ann Rheum Dis<\/em> 2015;74:164-169 doi:10.1136\/annrheumdis-2013-203628<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & European League Against Rheumatism. Medical professionals may print copies for their and their patients and students non commercial use. Other individuals may print a single copy for their personal, non commercial use. For other uses please contact our Rights and Licensing<\/a> Team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you have hip osteoarthritis, doing a course of exercise therapy may mean you are less likely to need a hip\u00a0replacement in the next few years. INTRODUCTION\u00a0 Many people get stiff joints from osteoarthritis as they get older. For some people, severe pain and stiffness in\u00a0their hip joints means they can\u2019t get around very well. […]<\/p>\n
\npeople would prefer to delay having a hip replacement until they really need it.<\/p>\n
\nExercise therapy is another way of treating osteoarthritis. You might worry that exercise could make a\u00a0damaged joint worse, but we know that exercise can actually help with osteoarthritis. Doctors and physiotherapists\u00a0can give advice about how to exercise safely.<\/p>\n
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