Digital Home-Based Physical Activity Promotion for Older Adults After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Launched by HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY · Aug 15, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying ways to help older adults stay active after having a total hip replacement surgery. The researchers want to see if using a tablet-based exercise program at home, either alone or combined with personal coaching through video calls, can encourage people aged 65 and older to move more compared to the usual care they receive after surgery. They will measure physical activity before surgery, six weeks after, and again six months later to see which approach works best.

People who might join the study need to be at least 65 years old, have hip arthritis requiring hip replacement, live near Heidelberg, be able to walk at least 10 meters (with or without a walking aid), and have internet access at home. Participants will be randomly placed into one of three groups: using the tablet exercise program with coaching, using the program without coaching, or receiving usual care without extra support. The program lasts 12 weeks and is done at home, making it convenient and safe. This trial aims to find out the best way to help older adults recover and stay active after hip surgery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age ≥65 years
• • Coxarthrosis with indication for total hip arthroplasty
• • Residence within a radius of ≤50 km from Heidelberg
• • Ability to walk ≥10 m (with/without walking aid)
• • Access to the internet (Wi-Fi) at home
• • Written informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Insufficient German language skills
• • Insufficient hearing to communicate via (video) telephone
• • Insufficient vision to recognize study materials
• • Contralateral coxarthrosis with indication for total hip arthroplasty
• • Severe medical condition illnesses that compromise physical fitness (heart failure classified as New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] class ≥3, heart valve defects associated with syncope, cardiac arrhythmia with dizziness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease \[COPD\] with oxygen therapy, cancer with chemotherapy and/or radiation, Parkinson's disease with rollator use \[Hoehn \& Yahr stage ≥4\])
• • Living in a nursing home
• • Planned major medical procedure within the next 6 months with inpatient hospital stay (e.g., further surgery)
• • Simultaneous participation in another competing study
• • Cognitive impairment (6-item Cognitive Impairment Test \[6CIT\] score \>7 points)