by Weekly group -spin classes could be more advantageous for people with a common hip problem than physiotherapy, according to a study.
The approach could also be cheaper for the NHS and, according to researchers, help to combat the waiting times for physiotherapy.
Hip arthrosis occurs when the cartilage collapses in the hip and causes pain and stiffness.
It was estimated that the condition in the UK concerns about 3.2 million people.
For the process, experts from the University of the University and the University of Bournemouth Dorset (UHD) compared the usual physiotherapy with an eight-week training and educational program that is known as a chain (cycling against hip pain).
The study published in the Lancet Rheumatology comprised 211 people, with each group being assigned around half.
The chain group took part in weekly educational sessions of a physiotherapist that lasted about 30 minutes, followed by a 30-minute session with static cycling under the direction of an instructor in the gym.
The effects of the treatment on the patients were measured based on the activity activities of hip disability and osteoarthritis -outcome score (HOOS) of daily living accommodation (ADL) -Subskala (ADL), which evaluates how the hip problems affect various daily activities.
The study showed that those who have completed the bicycle classes had a “statistically significant improvement in the function reported by patients after treatment”.
The researchers said that the method showed “superior results compared to the usual physiotherapy supply, and the feasibility of an inexpensive, community -based intervention within the NHS was shown.”
However, they emphasize that “long -term advantages and wider generalization command further investigations”.
Tom Wainwright, professor of orthopedics at Bournemouth University and physiotherapist at the UHD, said: “For the time required to treat a patient with standard physiotherapy, we can treat several patients in a group session and provide them with better results.
“This has proven to be cheaper than standard treatment, and we hope that this will help to reduce the waiting times of the NHS to physiotherapy in the future.”
Professor Rob Middleton from Bournemouth University and an orthopedic surgeon to the UHD said: “The hip replacement cost the NHS more than 6,000 GBP per patient. Therefore, avoiding surgery reduces the burden on the NHS in the event of hip problems, saves money and saves better results for patients.
“Now with this new study we can also see the potential for static cycling to save further money for the NHS by reducing waiting lists for physiotherapy.”
Dr. Peter Wilson, Chief Medical Officer at UHD, said: “We are an aging population and see more patients with osteoarthritis who either need surgery or physiotherapy.
“The search for alternatives to treat these patients could help to reduce waiting times and the financial demand for NHS services.”
The chain intervention was first started in 2013 and patients who want to participate are referred to UHD by their family doctor.
In order to strengthen access to the national level, experts from Bournemouth University had developed a virtual course through their educational app, with which humans were able to follow the program from their home or local gym.
