The most popular surgical treatment for end-stage hip joint arthritis is total hip arthroplasty (THA). The main problems that occur after THA are pain, functional disability, and reduced quality of life. The primary rehabilitation program for post-THA is conventional physiotherapy, but there is growing interest in complementary therapies that could hasten recovery and enhance results. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) is a non-invasive treatment that reduces pain, promotes tissue repair, and may improve musculoskeletal outcomes. However, its effectiveness in THA patients is yet unknown, especially in comparison to sham PEMF therapy. A single-blind, two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial will be conducted with 90 participants aged 18–70 years who have undergone total hip arthroplasty. Participants will be randomized into two groups: group A (n = 45) will receive pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in conjunction with conventional physiotherapy and group B (n = 45) will receive sham pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in conjunction with conventional physiotherapy. The intervention will be administered 4–5 times per week for 2 weeks, with each PEMF lasting 30 min. Participants will be evaluated before (baseline—POD 3) and after the intervention (end of 2 weeks) and administered during a predetermined time frame. The primary outcomes will be a visual analog scale and a Harris hip score for assessing postoperative pain and functional impairment. The secondary outcome will consist of an SF-36 questionnaire to evaluate quality of life and patient satisfaction. Additionally, safety and compliance with the intervention will be observed throughout the study. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible impact of combining traditional physiotherapy with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy after total hip replacement. By comparing active versus sham PEMF therapy, this study may give fresh perspectives on comprehensive and successful rehabilitation techniques for participants who have undergone total hip arthroplasty by emphasizing pain, functional disability, and quality of life. The trial has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (Reference no. DMIHER (DU)/IEC/2025/618). CTRI/2025/03/083475. Registered on 26 March 2025.
Gharjare et al. (Fri,) studied this question.