Hospital-based rehabilitation for proximal hip fragility fractures in older adults: a scoping review protocol

The objective of this scoping review is to systematically organize and analyze the existing rehabilitation programs and exercises for inpatients, particularly older adults, with proximal hip fragility fractures, focusing on the characteristics and methods of exercise programs.

Hip fractures are a leading cause of disability and long-term care needs among older adults, with rising incidence due to aging. Early and effective rehabilitation is essential, yet existing research often focuses on single interventions or specific aspects of rehabilitation. For inpatients who are 65 years or older, a comprehensive analysis of rehabilitation programs and exercise interventions is needed, in line with the FITT-VP framework and incorporating multidisciplinary involvement.

This scoping review will include studies involving inpatients aged 65 years or older who have undergone surgical treatment for a single proximal hip fragility fracture and received inpatient rehabilitation in the same hospital. Studies must describe rehabilitation programs or exercise interventions.

This review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. The databases to be searched will include PubMed, CINAHL Ultimate (EBSCOhost), Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library, Scopus, JBI EBP Database (Ovid), PEDro, and Epistemonikos, and fragility fracture-related websites. The search will be conducted from January 2015 to February 2025, with no language or country restrictions. Two independent reviewers will screen and extract data, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be charted and presented using the FITT-VP framework, with results in tabular and narrative format to highlight characteristics and trends.

OSF https://osf.io/cysng/overview.