Sherrington et al: A randomised trial of weight-bearing versus non-weight-bearing exercise after hip fracture A randomised trial of weight-bearing versus non-weight-bearing exercise for improving physical ability in inpatients after hip fracture

Hip fractures are an important public health issue. By the age of 90, 32% of women and 17% of men have suffered a hip fracture (Gallagher et al 1980). By the year 2050 there will be about 2.3 million annual hip fractures globally (Gullberg et al 1997). Unfortunately, outcomes after hip fracture are often poor (Marottoli et al 1992). If more effective rehabilitation strategies could be developed for the immediate post-fracture period, longer term outcomes may also be improved.