Hip Strengthening After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Document Type : SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Authors

1 Hotel Dieu de France, Orthopedics department, Beirut, Lebanon

2 Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Abstract

Objectives: As the population is growing older, incidence of knee osteoarthritis is largely increasing 
and the rate total knee arthroplasty surgery is following that same trend. However, patients postoperatively are retaining weakness in the quadriceps and hip abductors for a period reaching up to 3 
years following surgery. The current literature results on the effectivenes s of rehabilitation programs 
that also includes hip strengthening exercises are still highly contradicting. This meta -analysis studies 
and assesses the efficacy of hip strengthening exercises following total knee arthroplasty surgery.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and Google Scholar (page 1-20) were searched till January 2024. The 
clinical outcomes consisted of the post-operative tests (6MWT, TUG, SLS), pain, and range of motion (flexion and 
extension).
Results: Three randomized clinical studies were included in the meta-analysis. When compared to the standard 
rehabilitation, hip strengthening exercises proved a better improvement of single leg stance with no difference 
observed in the remaining outcomes.
Conclusion: Hip strengthening exercise protocols ensured a better improvement of single leg stance scores. 
However, no difference was observed in the remaining analyzed outcomes. This contradictions between studies 
can be explained by the different physical therapy protocols used. Nevertheless, more randomized controlled studies 
are needed to confirm such results.
 Level of evidence: II

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 12, Issue 6
June 2024
Pages 373-379

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 November 2023
  • Revise Date: 06 March 2024
  • Accept Date: 05 March 2024

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