N Engl J Med

Trial pits arthroplasty against resistance training for hip OA

November 8, 2024

Among patients ≥50 years of age with severe hip osteoarthritis (OA) and an indication for surgery, total hip replacement (THR) led to greater reduction in hip pain and improved hip function at 6 months, compared with resistance training.

In this multicenter, randomized, controlled trial comparing THR with resistance training, the primary outcome was change in patient-reported hip pain and function from baseline to 6 months after initiation of treatment, assessed using the Oxford Hip Score (range, 0 to 48; higher scores indicating less pain and better function).

Of 109 patients (mean age, 67.6 years), 53 were randomly assigned to THR and 56 to resistance training. In an intention-to-treat analysis, mean increase (improvement) in Oxford Hip Score was 15.9 points in the THR group vs. 4.5 points in the resistance training group (P < 0.001). At 6 months, 5 patients (9%) who’d been assigned to THR had not undergone surgery, and 12 patients (21%) who’d been assigned to resistance training had undergone THR. The rate of serious adverse events at 6 months was similar between groups.

Source:

Frydendal T, et al. (2024, October 30). N Engl J Med. Total Hip Replacement or Resistance Training for Severe Hip Osteoarthritis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39476341/