Total hip replacement rehabilitation: current practice and telerehabilitation as a mode of service delivery

Abstract

Total hip replacement (THR) is the gold standard treatment for severe hip osteoarthritis. The effectiveness of physical rehabilitation for THR patients following discharge from hospital is supported by evidence; however, barriers such as geographical location and transport can limit access to appropriate health care. One solution is an alternative model of care using telerehabilitation technology to deliver rehabilitation programs directly into patients' homes. Research investigating telerehabilitation for the postoperative management of orthopaedic conditions has yielded promising results. To date, the majority of research has focused on the total knee replacement (TKR) population. Multiple randomised controlled trials (RCT) have compared telerehabilitation programs to conventional programs for postoperative rehabilitation in TKR patients 1-3. Piqueras 1 , Russell 2 and Tousignant 3 all demonstrated that vi Publications during candidature Peer-reviewed papers directly related to thesis