Early Strength Training After Hip Fracture Surgery

Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hip Fractures

Treatments: Other: Knee-extension strength training of the fractured limb

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01616030

HH-S-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Patients treated surgically for a hip fracture have a need of rehabilitation for the regain of former functional skills. Despite an optimized fast track in-hospital rehabilitation program it has been found that patients with hip fracture within 2 weeks after the hip fracture loose more than half of their muscle strength in the fractured limb compared to non-fractured limb. New studies including patients with total hip arthroplasty and strength training applied early after surgery has shown promising results regarding prevention of loss of muscle strength. No similar study has been found including patients with hip fracture.

The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of progressive knee-extension strength training of the hip fractured limb, starting Day 1 after surgical treatment for a hip fracture and proceeded every weekday during their hospital stay.

The study will include 20 patients surgically treated for a cervical hip fracture and 20 patients surgically treated for an intertrochanteric or subtrochanteric fracture. All patients are admitted from their own home. Age 60 years or older.

Full description

Kronborg L, Bandholm T, Palm H, Kehlet H, Kristensen MT (2014) Feasibility of Progressive Strength Training Implemented in the Acute Ward after Hip Fracture Surgery. PLoS ONE 9(4): e93332. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093332

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Hip fracture diagnosed patients age ≥60 years, admitted to the acute hip fracture unit.
• Medial femoral neck fracture, pertrochanteric fracture or subtrochanteric fracture.
• Ability to speak and understand the Danish language.
• Cognitively well-preserved and able to give personal informed consent no later than by 5th post surgical day.
• Home-residing and with an independent pre-fracture ability to walk equal to New Mobility Score at ≥ 2 indoor.

Exclusion criteria

• Multiple fractures
• Postsurgical restrictions of mobilization
• Patient not accepting participation in relevant exercise therapy
• Fracture caused by cancer metastases
• Terminal illness
• Neurological impairment e.g. hemi paresis.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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36 participants in 1 patient group

Strength training, fractured limb

Experimental group

Description:

Knee-extension strength training of the fractured limb: Daily knee-extension strength training with 3 x 10 repetitions using an intensity of 10 Repetition Maximum (RM) for the hip fractured limb started as soon as possible after surgery.

Treatment:

Other: Knee-extension strength training of the fractured limb