Disparities in Post-Arthroplasty Rehab Linked to Sociodemographic Factors

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A recent scoping review published on the Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal aimed to summarize the evidence regarding disparities in post-acute rehabilitation following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) across various sociodemographic factors including sex, race, ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status. The team included researchers from University of Pittsburgh and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Bridgeside Labs residents Allyn Bove (PhD, PT, DPT), Lauren Terhorst (PhD, Co-Director, SHRS), and Janet Freburger (PT, PhD, FAPTA).

 The review included literature from multiple search databases. Studies were selected if they:

·         Were original research articles published from 1993 onwards.

·         Used US-based data.

·         Included patients post-THA and/or TKA.

·         Presented results based on sociodemographic variables.

Image: Bernd Dittrich/Unsplash

·         Examined post-acute rehabilitation utilization as an outcome.

Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. The researchers’ results found that current evidence indicates that sex, race, ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status are associated with disparities in post-acute rehabilitation use after arthroplasty.

Read the full publication here