Aging, Exercise, Hip Fractures
Conditions
Keywords
exergaming, hip fracture, training, acceptance
Brief summary
Older persons are at riskt for falls and fractures. After hip surgery they are normally treated with physical or occupational therapy. The additional use of computer based exercise games for training and the acceptance of such a technology are unclear. Thus, we plant to assess the above outcome ins an observational pilot study.
Detailed description
Falls and fall-associated fractures have a big medical burden on our societies. Older persons who suffer from a fall that leads to a trauma and fracture often loose functional capacity. They may have prolonged mobility problems and are at risk for long-term care or nursing home institutionalization. To date, measures to prevent such negative outcomes are early mobilization and functional physical or occupational therapy immediately following orthopedic surgery. In addition, patients usually are asked to train at home after hospital discharge. This can be achieved by a home training program or by ambulatory physical therapy. Recent technological development has introduced computerized training and gaming platforms into geriatric rehabilitation settings and home exercise training. Games that have been developed for a younger population have now been adapted to the needs of older persons. A recent systematic review has demonstrated that such platforms. for example Wii significantly improve balance and therefore have the potential to prevent falls\]. However to date such platforms have not been evaluated in a defined geriatric hospital patient population (e.g. after a hip fracture) as an adjunct to in-hospital physical therapy. Thus, such platforms could be offered as an additional training opportunity.
Interventions
Patients who are willing to use the computer game and who have given written informed consent shall have three instruction sessions by a physiotherapist instructor. They will then asked to use the platform at least 3 times per week at their own discretion. The platform will be installed in the patient room, alternatively in a defined training room. The patient will be free to choose the time and duration of the gaming. This allows the patients to select times that do not interfere with their usual therapy schedule or visits (e.g. evening or weekends). Prior to discharge compliance with the platform will be monitored by analyzing the gaming data of each patient.
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Living at home or in a retirement home (independent living situation) Time between surgery and the start of the gaming intervention less or equal 10 days Patient must be able to ambulate and to have full weight bearing
Exclusion criteria
The following
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance of technology | 14 days of game use | Questionnaire based answers about computer game use |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Functional improvement | after 14 days of game use | Measurement of mobility (short physical performance battery test) score hand grip strength in both hands (kPa) the best of three trials will be recorded |
Countries
Switzerland