Resistance training in the early postoperative phase reduces hospitalization and leads to muscle hypertrophy in elderly hip surgery patients--a controlled, randomized study.

Objectives: To better understand how immobilization and surgery affect muscle size and function in the elderly and to identify effective training regimes.

Design: A prospective randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Participants: Thirty-six patients (aged 60-86) scheduled for unilateral hip replacement due to primary hip osteoarthrosis.

Intervention: Patients were randomized to standard home-based rehabilitation (1 h/d x 12 weeks), unilateral neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the operated side (1 h/d x 12 weeks), or unilateral resistance training of the operated side (3/wk x 12 weeks).

Measurements: Hospital length of stay (LOS), quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), isokinetic muscle strength, and functional performance. Patients were tested presurgery and 5 and 12 weeks postsurgery.

Results: Mean+/-standard error LOS was shorter for the resistance training group (10.0+/-2.4 days, P<.05) than for the standard rehabilitation group (16.0+/-7.2 days). Resistance training, but not electrical stimulation or standard rehabilitation, resulted in increased CSA (12%, P<.05) and muscle strength (22-28%, P<.05). Functional muscle performance increased after resistance training (30%, P<.001) and electrical stimulation (15%, P<.05) but not after standard rehabilitation.

Conclusion: Postoperative resistance training effectively increased maximal muscle strength, muscle mass, and muscle function more than a standard rehabilitation regime. Furthermore, it markedly reduced LOS in elderly postoperative patients.