Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between patterns of putting-on and taking-off socks and flexion range of total arthroplastic hips in the early postoperative period. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were 74 patients (81 hip joints) who had undergone total hip arthroplasty 3-5 weeks earlier. [Methods] When the patients put on or took off their socks, their postures or ways were monitored and classified into five patterns; dangle sitting, long sitting, sitting posture with full-flexed knees, standing or supine posture, and using self-assisting devices. The flexion range of the operated hip was assessed in each group. [Results] The most frequent patterns of treating socks were the standing or supine postures, followed by sitting posture with full-flexed knees, dangle sitting and using self-assisting devices, and long sitting. There was a significant difference among the patterns of treating socks and the flexion range of the hip. [Conclusion] These results suggest that patients need different instructions for the postures of putting-on and taking-off socks, depending on the flexion range of the total arthroplastic hips.
