Are bed exercises necessary following hip arthroplasty?

This study investigated whether a program of bed exercises increased the effectiveness of a mobility regimen during the acute period of hospitalisation, for patients who had undergone primary hip arthroplasty. Forty-two patients were randomly allocated, using a concealed allocation procedure, to one of two groups. Patients in the control group were mobilised according to a standard post-operative protocol. Patients in the exercise group were also mobilised using this protocol but in addition received a program of bed exercises. Severity of pain, range of active hip flexion and hip abduction, and a functional assessment were measured by a blinded assessor on the third or fourth post-operative day and again on the seventh or eighth post-operative day. Significant improvements were found in all outcome measures from the third or fourth post-operative day to the seventh or eighth post-operative day. No significant differences were seen between groups for any outcome measures at either measurement time. Bed exercises do not appear to be of additional benefit to a mobility regimen during the period of acute hospitalisation after primary hip arthroplasty.