Rehabilitation protocol following hip arthroscopy. A 2015 to 2020 systematic review.

Objective Although many rehabilitation protocols following hip arthroscopy have been described, there is still significant variability about duration, goals, restrictions and techniques to apply by the physical therapy (PT) after the surgical procedure. Objective of this study is a systematic review about rehabilitation after hip arthroscopy. Design The data Sources were PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library. PRISMA guidelines were used for the systematic review. Level I-IV evidence clinical studies and clinical reviews that focused on rehabilitation protocols after hip arthroscopy have been used as study eligibility criteria. Major limitations include the retrospective nature of most of the studies selected (Level IV evidence) and the use of different clinical scores to report the outcomes. Results This review showed that although a standardized guideline on rehabilitation following hip arthroscopy is still missing, the most recent studies and clinical trials are focusing on a four-phased program which includes goals, recommendations and a progression of exercises. Conclusion Rehabilitation after hip arthroscopy is strongly suggested, but different authors recommended different rehabilitation programs. There is not a defined program, but as of today the current standard of care is composed of phase-based programs.