Table 1 Summary of focus group findings assessing suitable issues in investigating rehabilitation practice after total hip replacement in the UK

What do you do with your hip replacements?

In bed exercises

Quadriceps static exercises

Free range abductors

Bridging exercises

Hydrotherapy

Could you tell us a little bit about the exercise/physical activity you prescribe generically for your hip replacement patients?

Depends on period of rehabilitation

For Mobility: strengthening, functional, balance and weight bearing

Active instructions given are determined by time/service pressures

Target quadriceps and glutei muscles

What exercises do you think are important for total hip replacement surgery patients?

In bed exercises

Quadriceps static

Free range abductors

Bridging exercises

Hydrotherapy

Strengthening

Functional

Balance

Weight bearing

What would you like to know about a colleague’s practice with regards total hip replacement rehabilitation?

Demographics of patients seen?

Who mobilises first following surgery?

Day patient mobilised post-operatively?

Average duration of inpatient of stay?

Grade of physiotherapist that sees patients

Pre-operative education provided?

Use of resistance training?

Inpatient rehabilitation

Grade of physiotherapist that sees patients

Equipments patients are discharged with

Outpatient rehabilitation

Intermediate care team visits at home?

Mechanism/ route of re-referral?

Inpatient and outpatient discharge criteria?

Number of times patients seen in outpatient clinic

Frequency of visits and number seen personally