Can the exercise-based and occupational therapy improve the posture, strength, and mobility in elderly Greek subjects with hip fracture? A non-randomized control trial

Nikolaos Terzis; Konstantinos Salonikidis; Paraskevi Apostolara; Nikolaos Roussos; Konstantinos Karzis; Athanasios Ververidis; Georgios Drosos

doi:10.22540/JFSF-06-057

Can the exercise-based and occupational therapy improve the posture, strength, and mobility in elderly Greek subjects with hip fracture? A non-randomized control trial

J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls. 2021 Jun 1;6(2):57-65. doi: 10.22540/JFSF-06-057. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Authors

Nikolaos Terzis¹, Konstantinos Salonikidis², Paraskevi Apostolara³, Nikolaos Roussos⁴, Konstantinos Karzis⁴, Athanasios Ververidis¹, Georgios Drosos¹

Affiliations

¹ Medical School, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
² Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece.
³ Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute, Athens, Greece.
⁴ General Hospital Asklepieion Voulas, Athens, Greece.

Abstract

Objectives: The effects of a rehabilitation program on static balance, mobility, and strength of lower limbs in elderly fallers operated after a hip fracture and non-operated were studied.

Methods: Ninety-one elderly (>65 years) were divided in two groups, the Operated Group (OG, 43 fallers) and the Non-Operated Group (NOG, 48 fallers). Posture during bipedal stance (30s), mobility (Up-and-Go, Falls Efficacy Scale, Berg Balance Scale) and isokinetic strength of several muscular groups in both limbs were evaluated before and after a rehabilitation intervention, consisting in 20 sessions (3 sessions/week) including kinesiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Results: After intervention, the average velocity of Center of Pressure displacement decreased significantly for OG and NOG (p<0.005). Similarly, all other variables describing static balance, mobility (p<0.05) and isokinetic strength (p<0.005) were improved significantly for both groups.

Conclusions: The applied intervention led to improvement in static balance, mobility, and strength of lower limbs after hip fracture. Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine physicians should prescribe evidence-based rehabilitation protocols in elderly fallers because they could show just as remarkable improvements as non-operated patients when the program is carefully designed.

Keywords: Aging; Hip fracture; Mobility; Posture; Rehabilitation.