Recovery in Mobility by Community-Living Older Adults following Fragility Hip Fracture

Aims: This study describes recovery of mobility during inpatient rehabilitation and 12-weeks at home post-discharge in a group of community-living older adults following a fragility hip fracture and surgical repair. Methods: A prospective descriptive design employed repeated measures of five mobility measures at inpatient rehabilitation admission, discharge, and at home 2-, 6-, and 12-weeks post-discharge. Mobility scores were compared to age- and sex-reference scores from the literature. Results: The greatest gains in recovery were made during inpatient rehabilitation with continued improvement (p<.001) at home over 12-weeks on performance-based (Functional Independence Measure, Timed Up and Go, 6-Minute Walk, and Berg Balance Scale) and self-report (Composite Physical Function Scale) measures. Normative sex- and age-reference scores were not achieved at 12-weeks post-discharge. Conclusions: The deficit in recovery to normative scores indicates that these older adults will continue to be at risk of further decline in functional and physical performance, and institutionalization.

Automated summary

The study found that older adults recovering from fragility hip fractures and surgical repair made the greatest gains in mobility during inpatient rehabilitation, but did not reach normative scores at 12-weeks post-discharge, indicating continued risk of decline in functional and physical performance, as well as institutionalization.