Innovative Measurement Of Rehabilitation Progress In Elderly With A Hip Fracture: A New Endpoint

The worldwide ageing population leads to an increase in the incidence of hip fractures in elderly. Weight bearing is important to improve outcome, but rehabilitation is often hampered by the absence of proper rehabilitation tools. The aim of current study is to gain insight in important gait parameters and the rehabilitation progress of elderly with a hip fracture using an innovative biofeedback system (SensiStep). Force measurements were performed in 113 participants during a 30-meter walk with SensiStep. Also, two mobility tests and pain score were assessed in these participants. In 10 participants the measurements were repeated after one year follow up, and 40 healthy volunteers were measured. The parameters peak force and step duration improved towards the end of rehabilitation. A new and objective endpoint of rehabilitation emerges from these two parameters. Moreover, a differentiated approach in rehabilitation could be developed based on the first training session. This could lead to individual rehabilitation programs and thereby improved outcome after hip fractures in elderly.