Stand up and be counted: measuring time spent upright after hip fracture and comparison with community dwelling older people

Abstract

Objectives: Following hip fracture, the amount of time an individual spends on their feet ('uptime') may be an important marker of recovery. Using an automated device that measured uptime (Uptimer), we aimed to: (1) compare hip fracture patients' uptime with age- and gender-matched community dwelling older people; (2) identify whether uptime changed during the transition from hospital to home; and (3) examine the relationship between uptime and existing functional measures. Design: Prospective, observational study. Setting: Rehabilitation hospital and community. Participants: Patients undergoing rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery who aimed to return home at the end of rehabilitation, ..