Synopsis

Objective: To compare the effects of an intensive, multicomponent home-based rehabilitation program following hip fracture, with usual home-based physiotherapy. Design: Assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial with six and 12 month follow up. Setting: Patients ’ homes in the USA. Patients: Three-hundred-and-four people aged over 64 years, discharged home within 100 days of surgical repair of hip fracture, without dementia or terminal disease. Follow up was of 281 subjects at six months and 271 at 12 months. Intervention: Subjects in the experimental group received up to six months (median 25 visits) of individualised therapy from a physiotherapist and by nursing staff in consultation with an occupational therapist. Therapy included monitored resisted strength training for upper and lower extremities, task training