Evaluating changes in the range of movement in the hip joint in patients with degenerative changes, before and after total hip replacement.

Background. The number of patients undergoing total hip replacement has been increasing steadily. Most of the patients referred for this surgery have degenerative changes in the hip joint, which significantly hinder or prevent movement and self-care, and cause severe pain. By reducing pain and increasing the range of movement, arthroplasty allows more intensive exercise, increasing physical fitness. Material and method. The clinical material consisted of 98 patients, divided into two groups. In Group I, for the first 7 days after surgery, continuous passive motion (CPM) was added to the program of isometric, respiratory and active exercises. Group II received the same program without CPM. A digital inclinometer was used to measure the range of movement in the hip before surgery and during rehabilitation, on the 3rd, 7th, and 11th day after surgery, and again at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Results. Greater range of movement was found in Group I (with CPM) after surgery. The differences appeared as early as day 3 after surgery, and were greatest at day 7 and day 10. At 6 months, however, the tested range of motion was similar in both groups. Conclusions. When applied in the early phase of rehabilitation, CPM significantly accelerates the achievement of maximum range of movement in the operated joint. Thanks to significant pain reduction, CPM improves patient comfort during rehabilitation exercises and significantly shortens the required time of hospitalization.