RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although early mobilization in hospital is a key element of post-total hip arthroplasty rehabilitation, it is poorly documented. METHODS: To gain quantitative insight into inhospital mobilization, upright times and sit-to-stand transitions (STS) were measured using a thigh-mounted movement sensor in 44 participants (13 males and 31 females), age 50 to 82 years, in an observational, postsurgery, inhospital, longitudinal study. RESULTS: Some participants performed no activity in the first 24 hours after surgery. However, in the last 24 hours before discharge, participants performed a median of 40 (interquartile range [IQR], 15) STS and spent 134 minutes (IQR, 74 minutes) upright. Activity in rehabilitation constituted 19.4% (IQR, 15.8%) of STS and 13.3% (IQR, 5.5%) of upright time. Females spent longer in hospital (80 hours; IQR, 24) compared to males (54 hours; IQR, 26). CONCLUSION: Although there was considerable activity within rehabilitation periods, a large majority of STS and upright time occurred outside rehabilitation. Within the last 24 hours in hospital, all participants were upright for prolonged periods and completed numerous STS.