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

Abstract

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.