Clinical Analgesic Regimen and Exercise Therapy after Hip Fracture
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Effect of Exercise and Analgesia on Muscle Gene Expression Following Hip Fracture Surgery
IRAS ID
353208
Contact name
Christopher Deacon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN50484326
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Commonly associated with low-energy falls from standing, hip fractures are a common injury in the elderly, with approximately 70,000 hip fractures per year in the UK. They cause significant disability and mortality, with mortality following hip fracture estimated as 6-10% at 30 days and 30% one-year post-injury. Despite advances in perioperative care and management of these fractures, mortality rates have remained stable. Hip fractures have been identified as a significant cause of disability worldwide and are associated with poor return to baseline function and increased care needs. As such, optimal management of these injuries is of utmost importance to achieve the best outcomes for patients. Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, quality and strength, and is a contributive factor to frailty in older individuals. Those with sarcopenia appear to be at greater risk of hospitalisation, falls and fracture, with hip fracture being both a serious consequence of sarcopenia, as well as a risk factor for frailty syndrome.
We aim to explore the effect of exercise on muscle function following hip fracture. We will look at cellular functions and the expression of genes in the muscle tissue, and the size of muscles on MRI scans, alongside measurements of muscle strength. This study also provides an opportunity to probe why some individuals experience poorer outcomes than others and look for predictors of poorer outcomes. We will investigate how cellular physiology associates with clinical measures (such as prior level of physical activity and functioning, cognition, muscle mass, and comorbidities), to identify whether muscle physiology can predict those who will recover well and those who recover slowly or suffer complications. In the longer term it is envisaged this information will hip optimise rehabilitation following hip fracture and provide insights into the recovery of muscle following traumatic injury.REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0276
Date of REC Opinion
14 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion