Testing the effectiveness of the exercise plus program in older women post-hip fracture

• DOI: 10.1007/bf02879922
• Publication Date: 2008-04-04T13:59:32Z
• Authors: Barbara Resnick; Denise Orwig; Janet Yu-Yahiro; William Hawkes; Michelle Shardell; J. Richard Hebel; Sheryl Zimmerman; Justine Golden; Michele Werner; Jay Magaziner
• Keywords: Aged, 80 and over; Motivation; Time Factors; Hip Fractures; Middle Aged; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Patient Compliance; Female; Exercise; Aged

Exercise is an important strategy with potential to improve recovery in older adults following a hip fracture.The purpose of this study was to test the impact of a self-efficacy based intervention, the Exercise Plus Program, and the different components of the intervention, on self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and exercise behavior among older women post-hip fracture.Participants were randomized to one of four groups: exercise plus, exercise only, plus only (i.e., motivation), or routine care. Data collection was done at baseline (within 22 days of fracture), 2, 6, and 12 months post-hip fracture.A total of 209 women were recruited with an average age of 81.0 years (SD=6.9). The majority was White (97.1%), was widowed (57.2%), and had a high school education (66.7%). Generalized Estimating Equations were used to perform repeated measures analyses. No differences in trajectories of recovery were observed for self-efficacy or outcome expectations. A statistically significant difference in the overall trajectory of time in exercise was seen (p<.001), with more time spent exercising in all three treatment groups.The study demonstrated that it was possible to engage these women in a home-based exercise program and that the plus only, exercise only, and the exercise plus groups all increased exercise.