Gait Analysis in Primary Total Hip Replacement - Feasibility Study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Measuring the effect of Total Hip Replacement on abnormal gait patterns in unilateral hip osteoarthritis - a feasibility study.

  • IRAS ID

    192440

  • Contact name

    A. John Timpereley

  • Contact email

    john.timperley@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 25 days

  • Research summary

    Total hip replacement is a successful operation to relieve hip pain and to improve quality of life[1]. Pain levels and the quality of life of these patients do not reach those of the general healthy population even 10 years after surgery[2-4].
    Post-operative walking abnormalities after total hip replacement are common and persist for a several years despite improvement in normal function [1, 5-12].
    No previous studies have measured hip muscle strength and mobile 3-dimensional gait analysis associated with abnormal walking patterns[10, 11, 14, 16]. Muscle weakness in different positions during the walking cycle may cause or contribute to these abnormal changes. Detailed measurements of patients’ walking and hip muscle strength will give a better understanding of the causes of abnormal walking patterns after hip replacement surgery. This kind of muscle weakness could be improved with specific exercises after total hip replacement to improve patient walking ability and daily function.
    This feasibility study will allow for the planning of a larger study looking at this problem and the exercises that could be used to improve patient recovery after total hip replacement.
    This project involves Surgeons from the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre Hip Unit, Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Physiotherapists and experts in biomechanics of University of St Mark and St John and University Worcester.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 5

  • REC reference

    16/WA/0096

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 Mar 2016

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion