Post rehabilitation, older adults with hip fracture display low vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) on the involved lower extremity during a sit-to-stand task and low physical function. The purpose of this study was to test whether muscle performance, involved side vGRF during a sit-to-stand task, and physical function improved following multimodal high-intensity resistance training, when initiated after usual care (2 to 6 months after hip fracture).

Case series study, 12 weeks extended high-intensity strength training intervention following hip fracture.

University hospital outpatient facility.

Twenty-four community-dwelling older adults (mean age 78.4 years (SD 10.4), 16 female/8 male), 3.6 (SD 1.2) months post-hip fracture and discharged from physical therapy participated. Intervention/Measurement: All participants performed sit-to-stand tasks, muscle performance tests, and modified physical performance test (mPPT) before and after 12 weeks (3x/wk) of training. Variables were compared using paired t-tests.

The vGRF rate of force development (RFD) and magnitude of discrepancy between limb loading during rising phase of sit-to-stand task (AREA) variables improved post-training (RFD ratio = Pre: 0.78–Post: 0.82, AREA ratio = Pre: 0.79–Post: 0.86). Surgical leg extension power gains were large (∼65%) while strength gains were moderate (∼34%); yielding improved symmetry in both strength (Pre: 0.74–Post: 0.88) and power (Pre: 0.75–Post: 0.82). Physical function improved pre-training 25 (SD 5.2) to post training 30 (SD 4.3), (p < 0.001).

Unique to this study, participants recovering from hip fracture demonstrated improved symmetry in sit-to-stand vGRFs, muscle function, and physical function after training. However, a high percentage of patients continued to experience persistently low vGRF of the involved side compared to previous studies of healthy elderly controls. Developing alternative strategies to improve involved side vGRF may be warranted.