. 2010 May 28;7(1):16–20. doi: 10.1007/s11420-010-9167-y

Table 2.

Physical therapy guidelines for THA: 4 day LOS clinical pathway vs. 3 day LOS clinical pathway

	4-day length of stay THA clinical pathway	72-h clinical pathway
DOS	No physical therapy intervention	Treatment occurs bedside
		Evaluation
		Dangle, stand, or ambulate as tolerated
		Bedside exercises
		THA precautions instructed
POD1	Treatment occurs bedside	Treatment occurs bedside
	Evaluation	Transfer training
	Dangle, stand, or ambulate as tolerated	Progress ambulation distance as tolerated with walker
	Bedside exercises	Review exercises and precautions
	THA precautions instructed	High chair sitting and privileges
POD2	Treatment occurs bedside	Continue transfer training
	Transfer training	Attempt gait progression to cane or crutches and stair training^a
		Treatment session in PT gym
	Progress ambulation distance as tolerated with walker	Progression of exercise program
	Review exercises and precautions	Review precautions
	High chair sitting and bathroom privileges	High chair sitting and bathroom privileges
POD3	Continue transfer training	Continue transfer training
	Attempt gait progression to cane or crutches and stair training^a	Continue gait progression and stairs^a
	Treatment sessions in PT gym	Treatment session in PT gym
	Progression of exercise program	Review home exercise program and ADL technique
	Review precautions	Discharge if appropriate
	High chair sitting and bathroom privileges
POD4	Continue transfer training
	Continue gait progression and stairs^a
	Treatment session in PT gym
	Review home exercise program and ADL technique
	Discharge if appropriate
	*PT will be provided on Sunday for those patients whose discharge plan is home	*PT will be provided on Sunday for those patients whose discharge plan is home

^aThe stairs are negotiated with one rail and a cane or two rails, depending on the patient’s need to negotiate stairs and home environment