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Updated: May 22, 2026
Method and Instrumented Fixture for Femoral Fracture Testing in a Sideways Fall-on-the-Hip Position
Published on: August 17, 2017
Fear of falling and changed functional ability following hip fracture among community-dwelling elderly people: an
Annette Jellesmark1, Suzanne Forsyth Herling, Ingrid Egerod
1Department of Quality, Copenhagen University Hospital Roskilde, Denmark. annetteum@hotmail.com
Purpose:
The aims of the study were to assess self-reported fear of falling (FOF) and functional ability among community-dwelling elderly people 3-6 months post hospital discharge after a hip fracture, to investigate the association between FOF and functional ability, and to explore the lived experience of FOF and disability when recovering from a hip fracture.
Method:
A sequential explanatory mixed method design was used in a "face-to-face" survey assessing FOF (Falls Efficacy Scale-International, FES-I), avoidance of activities (Modified survey of Activities and Fear of Falling, mSAFFE), functional ability (Functional Recovery Score, FRS), and mobility (New Mobility Score, NMS) followed by in-depth interviews of four participants. Interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation.
Results:
Among the 33 participants 58% had a high degree of FOF and avoided more activities, needed more assistance in activities of daily living, and were less mobile than participants who had a low degree of FOF (p < 0.0001). According to the informants FOF reduced their functional ability and seriously altered their lives.
Conclusions:
FOF was common and significantly associated with activity avoidance, disability, and affected the lives of elderly recovering from a hip fracture. Some patients were physically incapacitated by FOF.
