Regular long-term physical exercise at home in older adults with hip fractures or frailty: Randomised controlled trial

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of physical exercise under the supervision of a physiotherapist twice a week at home on fear of falling, nutrition, depressive symptoms, and social support in older adults with hip fractures or frailty, while the number of falls and prevalence of frailty were studied in patients with hip fractures. In addition, we investigate the experienced burden and need for support among close relatives. Participants were randomised for a year to a) supervised physical exercise at home or b) usual care. Some of the close relatives living in the same households with the research subjects participated in the survey. Assess ments on fear of falling, number of falls, prevalence of frailty, nutrition, social support, and perceived need for support among the close relatives were conducted in the beginning of the study and after 3, 6, and 12 months. The median age of those with hip fractures (n = 121) was 81 years, of whom 75 % were women and 61 % had femoral neck fractures. Among those with frailty (n = 299), the median age was 82 years, of whom 75 % were women, 39 % were considered frail, and 61 % were pre-frail. Participating in supervised physical exercise for a year reduced the prevalence of  frailty in those with hip fractures and fear of falling and depressive symptoms in those with frailty. Physical exercise did not have an effect on other measured variables. In addition, physical exercise did not affect the perceived burden or need for support among the close relatives. 

Full Text [in Finnish] (helda.helsinki.fi).

Authors

Sara Suikkanen, Paula Soukkio, Katriina Kukkonen-Harjula, Hannu Kautiainen, Markku Hupli

Additional Information

• Peer-reviewed: yes.
• Open Access: yes.
• Cite as: Suikkanen, S., Soukkio, P., Kukkonen-Harjula, K., Kautiainen, H., & Hupli, M. (2022). Pitkäkestoinen, kotona tehtävä liikuntaharjoittelu lonkkamurtumapotilailla ja gerasteenisilla ikääntyneillä: Satunnaistettu kontrolloitu tutkimus. Kela. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2022091459015