ISOMETRIC HIP ABDUCTOR STRENGTH FOLLOWING TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS

Despite the rehabilitative emphasis on hip abductor strength following total hip replacement (THR), it is unclear how muscular strength is r elated to function. The purposes of this study were to examine changes in hip abductor strength during the first 6 months following THR and to determine the relationship between hip abductor strength and functi onal performances. Forty-three patients (XBAR age 64 +/- 7 years) comp leted strength assessments before surgery and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 week s after surgery, and functional assessments before surgery and at 12 a nd 24 weeks after surgery. Both hip abductor strength and functional p erformance were significantly improved at each assessment (p < 0.01). The correlation between isometric hip abductor torques and the distanc e walked in 6 minutes was modestly high (r = 0.48-0.51; p < 0.01). Thi s study provides baseline data for isometric hip abductor strength tha t can be used comparatively to assess patient progress and to help set clinical goals. Although strength is related to function, isometric m easurements of strength should not be relied upon as the sole predicto rs of function in patients who have undergone THR.