Training-Induced Strength and Functional Adaptations After Hip Fracture

At 3 months after hip fracture, most people are discharged from physical therapy despite residual muscle weakness and overall decreased functional capabilities. The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine, in frail elderly adults after hip fracture and repair, whether a supervised 6-month exercise program would result in strength gains in the fractured limb equivalent to the level of strength in the nonfractured limb; (2) to determine whether the principle of specificity of training would apply to this population of adults; and (3) to determine the relationship between progressive resistance exercise training (PRT) intensity and changes in measures of strength and physical function. Subjects The study participants were 31 older adults (9 men and 22 women; age [XSD], 796 years) who had surgical repair of a hip fracture that was completed less than 16 weeks before study enrollment and who completed at least 30 sessions of a supervised exercise intervention. Method