Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 4 , Pages 609-617, April 2008

Improvement in Aerobic Fitness During Rehabilitation After Hip Fracture

  • Marissa E. Mendelsohn, PhD

      Affiliations

    • School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Tom J. Overend, PhD, PT

      Affiliations

    • School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
    • Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, ON, Canada.
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Tom J. Overend, PhD, PT, School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario, Rm 1445, Elborn College, 1201 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
    • ,
  • Denise M. Connelly, PhD, PT

      Affiliations

    • School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
    • Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, ON, Canada.
    • ,
  • Robert J. Petrella, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
    • Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
    • Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, ON, Canada.

Abstract 

Mendelsohn ME, Overend TJ, Connelly DM, Petrella RJ. Improvement in aerobic fitness during rehabilitation after hip fracture.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of an upper-body exercise program on cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults with hip fracture during inpatient rehabilitation.

Design

Randomized controlled trial using a convenience sample.

Setting

An inpatient rehabilitation unit.

Participants

Twenty older patients (age, 81.3±7.2y; 14 women).

Intervention

Patients were randomly assigned to a control group (n=10) or a training group (n=10). Both groups attended physical and occupational therapy sessions 5 times a week during rehabilitation (mean length of stay, 32.9±5.3d). Patients in the training program used an arm crank ergometer 3 times a week for 4 weeks.

Main Outcome Measure

Peak oxygen consumption (Vo2peak).

Results

Vo2peak increased significantly in the training group (8.9±1.4 to 10.8±1.7mL·kg−1·min−1) and did not change in the control group (8.9±1.2 to 8.8±1.6mL·kg−1·min−1). At discharge, both groups were significantly improved in all functional outcome measures (Timed Up & Go [TUG] test, Berg Balance Scale [BBS], FIM instrument, two-minute walk test [2MWT], and ten-minute walk test [10MWT]). The training group performed significantly better in mobility (TUG, 2MWT, 10MWT) and balance (BBS) compared with the control group. There was a significant correlation between Vo2peak and the 2MWT (r=.81) and 10MWT (r=.85) in the training group at discharge.

Conclusions

The upper-body exercise program had a significant effect on aerobic power. Our results suggest that aerobic endurance exercise should be integrated into standard rehabilitation to enhance patients’ aerobic fitness and mobility after hip fracture surgery.

Key Words: Aerobic exercise, Elderly, Hip fractures, Rehabilitation

 

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(07)01842-4

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2007.09.036

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 4 , Pages 609-617, April 2008

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