Mobility training after hip fracture: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

to compare the effects of two different exercise programmes after hip fracture.

DESIGN

assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

hospital rehabilitation units, with continued intervention at home.

SUBJECTS: 160 people with surgical fixation for hip fracture transferred to inpatient rehabilitation.

METHOD: in addition to other rehabilitation strategies, the intervention group received a higher dose (60 min/day) exercise programme conducted whilst standing and the control group received a lower dose exercise programme (30 min/day) primarily conducted whilst seated/supine. The primary outcome measures were knee extensor muscle strength in the fractured leg and walking speed, measured at 4 and 16 weeks.

RESULTS

150 participants (94% of those recruited) completed the trial. There were no differences between the groups for the two primary outcome measures. Post hoc analyses revealed increased walking speed among those in the higher dose, weight-bearing exercise group with cognitive impairment at 4 and 16 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

there was no benefit (or harm) due to the higher dose, weight-bearing exercise programme with respect to the primary outcome measures. However, people with hip fracture and cognitive impairment gained greater benefit from the higher dose programme than from the lower dose programme.