Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of body
weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) as a strategy for improving
independent ambulation among patients who had sustained a hip fracture. DESIGN:
Nonrandomized controlled trial. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS:
Patients with a stable hip fracture and at least 50% weight-bearing.
INTERVENTION: BWSTT in lieu of standard walking exercises throughout stay in
rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Feasibility outcomes included the number
of patients agreeing to participate in treadmill walking, the number who returned
for follow-up assessments, compliance, and the number of adverse events.
Secondary outcomes included the Lower Extremity Functional Scale, the Timed Up &
Go test, a 2-minute walk test, and the Falls Self-Efficacy Scale. Univariate
regression was used to assess the group effect on score changes from baseline to
discharge and from baseline to follow-up. RESULTS: Among 41 potentially eligible
patients, 21 (51%) agreed to participate and 14 returned for follow-up
assessments. The recruitment goal of 12 patients agreeing to BWSTT was achieved;
however, retention by 3-month follow-up was 67%. The average compliance was 3
sessions a week; however, several patients were below average. No adverse events
of BWSTT were reported.
There were no significant differences between groups with
respect to secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:
BWSTT may be a feasible method for retraining gait among patients with hip fracture. However, future studies evaluating its efficacy need rigorous methods for ensuring compliance and retention.

Langue : ANGLAIS