In older women recovering from hip fracture, mobility improves most rapidly in the first 8 weeks, while somatic mood distress remains high and decreases only gradually.
May inform early mobility rehab timing post-hip fracture; hypothesis-generating for somatic mood distress management.
Women who had lived at home before hip fracture repair (N = 120, M age = 79.9) were interviewed before hospital discharge and at 2, 8, and 14 weeks postdischarge to determine (a) early recovery patterns in function and mood, (b) factors predictive of assistance needed in mobility and perceived mobility compared to prefracture status, (c) problems faced, and (d) advice to others. The mobility pattern was that of a relatively rapid gain until 8 weeks, with a smaller gain from 8 to 14 weeks. Affective mood distress was low except in those going to nursing homes. Somatic mood distress was high, decreasing only gradually. Factors predictive of needed assistance in mobility and of perceived mobility included both those without potential for nursing intervention (age, prefracture mobility, how fell, and type of surgical procedure), and those with the potential for intervention (affective distress, fatigue, and urinary problems). Persistent problems related to limitations in mobility, especially in dressing. Overwhelmingly, subjects advised the need for maintaining a good mental attitude.
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Williams et al. (1994) studied this question.
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