Walking speed in elderly patients undergoing rehabilitation after hip replacement.

Background. Our study was undertaken to assess the impact of a structured rehabilitation regimen on walking speed in frail elderly patients recovering from hip replacement surgery, as well as to determine whether regular use of a pedal exerciser combined with multi-sensory training can increase this parameter. Material and methods. The study lasted 12 weeks and involved 52 subjects, randomly divided into two groups. Group I included 36 persons (22 women, 14 maen, mean age 74 years), while Group II, the controls, consisted of 16 individuals (10 women, 6 men, mean age 72 years). Group I was given an intensive rehabilitation regimen that included multi-sensory training and a pedal exercise routine, while Group II had a variety of exercises and brisk walking. Walking speed was measured over a distance of 10 meters. Results. Upon conclusion of the program, statistically significant (p<0.05) improvement was noted in Group I (mean normal walking speed 0.94m/s vs. 1.17m/s, and mean fast walking sped 1.37m/s vs. 1.49m/s), whereas none of the results in the control group proved to be statistically significant. Conclusions. A weekly, 150-min.-long physical rehabilitation routine comprised of resistance exercises on a pedal exerciser combined with multi-sensory training is very useful in improving significantly both the normal and fast walking speed in the frail elderly after hip replacement surgery.