Objectives: In patients hospitalized following hip fracture, basic mobility status early after surgery and at discharge is associated with long-term outcomes. Getting in and out of bed is the basic mobility activity identified as one of the most challenging. Therefore, this study described strategies used by patients when getting in and out of bed early after hip fracture surgery.
Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study (the HIP-ME-UP cohort; NCT05756517) at Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre. We filmed patients getting in and out of bed during physiotherapy sessions on post operative days 3-5 by using an iPad. We analyzed the recordings using a quantitative film analysis with all recordings structured into three phases: preparation, lie-to-sit (out of bed)/sit-to-lie (into bed) and positioning.
Results: 42 patients (23 women) with a mean (SD) age of 78.7 (7.6) years were enrolled. For getting out of bed, we identified five strategies in the preparation phase, seven strategies in the lie-to-sit phase, and two strategies in the positioning phase. For getting into bed, we identified five strategies within each of the three phases. The choice of strategies for patients who were independent in getting in/out of bed was similar to patients in need of assistance.
Conclusion: Patients hospitalized following hip fracture surgery use different strategies when getting in and out of bed. Patients requiring assistance and those being independent used similar strategies, which suggests that it is important to tailor rehabilitation to each patient's specific needs rather than their level of independence.
Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT05756517.
Keywords: Hip fracture; basic mobility; getting out of bed; hospitalization; movement strategies.