Physical activity measured using a triaxial accelerometer in early after surgery rehabilitation in patients with hip fracture affects walking ability: a retrospective observational study.
Takahiro Toriyama, Masahiro Ishizaka, Shinno Iijima and 5 others
PMID 42703587WHAT IT FOUND
Older hip fracture patients with more active time in early rehab sessions were more likely to walk independently at one and two weeks.
Thresholds were 21.6% at one week and 17.8% at two weeks. This is an association, not proof.
Key findings
01Physical activity during rehabilitation sessions was associated with walking ability at one and two weeks after surgery.
02At one week, physical activity during rehabilitation sessions was 27.0% in the independent walking group and 16.1% in the non-independent walking group; at two weeks, it was 22.4% and 15.0%.
03Physical activity during rehabilitation sessions cutoff values for independent walking were 21.6% at one week and 17.8% at two weeks.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This was a single-center retrospective study, and 190 of 299 patients were excluded; 109 were analysed. The study found an association, not proof that increasing activity improves walking. Patients had hip fracture surgery, rehabilitation including physical and occupational therapy, and acetaminophen; early mobilization was also recorded, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. Walking ability was assessed only at 1 and 2 weeks, so mid-term and long-term outcomes were not evaluated. The analysis did not include objective pain assessment or enough consideration of comorbidities such as heart failure or renal dysfunction. Physical activity measurement required equipment such as a triaxial accelerometer.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest and no financial support to disclose.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that making patients more active during early rehabilitation will improve walking. This was a retrospective observational study, and the authors state that it remains unclear whether increasing physical activity improves walking ability. Patients also had hip fracture surgery, rehabilitation including physical and occupational therapy, and acetaminophen; early mobilization was recorded. The study cannot separate any single component.