INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ON INDICATORS OF POSTURAL STABILITY, FALL RISK AND KINESIOPHOBIA IN OLDER AGE GROUP PATIENTS WITH BILATERAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY IN THE LONG-TERM REHABILITATION PERIOD

Abstract

Objective – to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed physical therapy program on the indicators of postural stability, risk of falling and kinesiophobia in patients of older age groups with bilateral hip replacement in the long-term rehabilitation period. Material. 112 elderly people (69.6±1.2 years) were examined. The control group consisted of 42 people who had no history of lower limb joint replacement. The comparison group consisted of 37 people with unilateral total hip replacement. The experimental group consisted of 33 people with bilateral hip replacements, the effectiveness of which is presented in our study. A three-month physical therapy program was developed and implemented for them with the use of therapeutic exercises (using weighted weights, Thera-Band, MFT Challenge Disc Digital); gait training (self-control, practicing gait phases, overcoming an obstacle course), functional training of symmetry of lower limb movements (PROCEDOS PLATFORM 9 platform), Nordic walking; educational component – learning to control one’s condition, movement limitations, reducing the risk of falling, awareness of the need for regular rehabilitation interventions; reshaped physical factors – electromyostimulation of the quadriceps femoris muscle, gluteal muscles, and calf muscles. The effectiveness was assessed by the results of stabilometry, Fall efficacy scale, Timed Up & Go test, Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale. Results. Elderly patients with bilateral hip replacement in the long-term rehabilitation period showed deterioration of postural stability (according to the results of stabilometry), risk of falling (Fall efficacy scale, Timed Up & Go test, kinesiophobia (according to Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale); according to the studied indicators, their condition was worse (p<0.05) than in individuals with one hip replacement and the control group. The approved comprehensive physical therapy program of duration showed improvement of the patients’ condition due to the impact on the components of the balance function due to the improvement of postural stability, reduction of the risk of falling and kinesiophobia compared to the initial indicators according to all the studied parameters (p<0.05). Conclusions. Physical therapy is advisable to prescribe for the complex correction of signs of postural dysfunction, risk of falling and kinesiophobia in elderly patients with bilateral hip replacement joints.