Effectiveness of a home-based physical exercise intervention in patients with hip fragility fractures: a randomized controlled trial

We aimed to test the effectiveness of an invidually tailored home-based exercise intervention compared with usual care for independence, functional capacity and quality of life in patients with hip fragility fractures. In this single-blinded randomized-controlled trial (NCT04934358), patients with surgically treated fragility hip fractures were randomized to receive a 3-month exercise intervention or usual care. The exercise group performed a predetermined number of steps per day with resting pauses and a number of sit-to-stand exercises at home. The outcomes collected at baseline, at the end of the program and at follow up (6-months) included: the Barthel Index (primary outcome), quality of life, cognition and depression levels, 6-minute walking test, and 5-time sit-to-stand test. A total of 35 patients were randomized: 16 to the exercise group and 19 to the control group (mean age 80 ± 10 years, men n = 9). At the end of the program, patients in the exercise group presented significantly greater improvement in all primary and secondary outcomes than those in the control group did (Barthel Index variations: 12 ± 4 vs. 7 ± 5; p = 0.046), although both groups exhibited significant improvements from baseline for almost all the outcomes. Compared with usual care, a simple, individually tailored home-based exercise program favored the recovery of independence, quality of life, and functional capacity after hip fragility fractures.