Several medical resources constantly say that exercise can help protect you from heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, muscle pains, osteoporosis. Another study reveals a new significant benefit of exercises especially to patients with bone problems and hip problems. Along with negative issues about metal-on-metal hip replacement devices, a recent study thigh size is a factor in hip replacement failure.
A research study revealed that exercise can delay and prevent hip replacement surgeries. A three-month exercise program seemed to have significantly delayed, and perhaps even prevented, hip replacement surgeries in a Norwegian randomized, controlled trial. This study was funded by the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation, the Norwegian Rheumatism Association, and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.
The aim of the study is to determine the time span to total hip replacement in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Aged between 40-80 years old, the 109 patients who participated in the exercise program had mild to moderate hip pain and were not yet eligible for hip surgery. The patients were grouped into two.One group underwent both a supervised exercise program and patient education, while the other group gone through patient education only. They had three 90-minute educational discussions where they were told to stay active, even if it hurts a bit. Within the first 6 years after starting in the routine program, 22 patients (40%) had gotten a hip replacement. Meanwhile, in the control group, 31 patients (57%) had their artificial hip during the follow-up period. Exercise patients also had significantly less pain and better function, not only in the spring of 2011 but also at earlier follow-up points.
"If you exercise early" in the course of the disease, "maybe you can prevent surgery long-term," said researcher Dr. Linda Fernandes, a physiotherapist at Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo. "But that is just a theory. We can’t really say anything about cause and effect here," she added.
According to her, the next best step would be a larger randomized trial. Hence, in the meantime the research team is analyzing patients’ biomechanics to evaluate if they correlate with the results of the study.
This information is most especially significant to patients with hip problems who suffered from defective artificial hip devices namely DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System manufactured by Johnsons & Johnsons (J&J). In the press time, the DePuy multidistrict litigation contains hundreds of cases and more DePuy hip replacement lawsuit is expected to be filed. Hence, those who experience any doubts and concerns about their hip surgery, they should immediately report these to their doctors. Moreover, they should seek legal advice to find out if their situation qualifies for medical compensation. According to legal observers, the DePuy hip replacement recall should serve as a lesson to other device manufacturers to strengthen and certify the safety of their products.
