Interventions for improving mobility after hip fracture surgery in adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Hip fractures significantly impair mobility and recovery in adults.
• Effective interventions are crucial for improving post-fracture physical functioning.
• This review is an update of a 2011 Cochrane Review.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the benefits and harms of mobility interventions post-hip fracture surgery.
• To assess the impact on mobility and physical functioning.
• To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized trials.
• Searched multiple databases up to March 2021.
• Included 40 trials with 4059 participants, assessing various mobility strategies.

Main Results:

• Mobility strategies show moderate to small clinically meaningful improvements in mobility and walking speed, both in-hospital and post-hospital.
• Gait, balance, and functional training were particularly effective.
• Little to no difference in mortality or adverse events was observed.

Conclusions:

• Mobility interventions, especially those focusing on gait, balance, and functional tasks, offer significant benefits for hip fracture recovery.
• These strategies improve mobility and walking speed without increasing adverse events.
• Future research should focus on long-term outcomes, economic impact, and diverse populations.