Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

Dr. Mohammad Auais, PhD

Code:

NCT05972005

Conditions

Hip Fractures

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 55+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

The Intervention (Stronger at Home Intervention)

Usual care (Control)

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of a new 14-week individually-tailored home-based rehabilitation program called "Stronger at Home" with usual care in improving functional recovery in community-dwelling older adults after hip fractures.

The main question this trial aims to answer are:

• Is the Stronger at Home program more effective than usual care in improving functional recovery at the end of the 14-week intervention?

secondary questions include:

  • What is the cost-utility of the Stronger at Home program compared to usual care at 3.5 months, 6 months, and 12 months after discharge?
  • Does the program have a sustained impact on functional recovery at 6 months and 12 months post-discharge?

Participants in the trial will be asked to engage in the following tasks:

  • Participate in the Stronger at Home program, which includes using a self-directed toolkit consisting of educational resources and an illustrated exercise program.
  • Follow the guidelines provided in the toolkit for gradually increasing exercise intensity and incorporating different types of exercises into their daily life.

The effects of the Stronger at Home program will be compared to those of usual care.

Conditions

Hip Fractures

Study ID

NCT05972005

Start date

Oct 17, 2023

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Jul 29, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Oct 17, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 55+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Hip fracture patients who are 55 years or older,
  • Currently living in the community, and
  • Either being discharged to their home or a retirement home
  • Fall from a standing height or less
  • Live within 45km radius of recruitment site

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Came from long term care or discharged to long term care
  • Not a hip fracture (e.g., pelvic fracture)
  • Unable to give consent and no proxy
  • Fracture due to pathological disease (e.g., cancer, Paget's disease).
  • Does not speak English and no translator
  • Fracture sustained at hospital
  • Terminal illness or exercise contraindications
  • Discharged with other services not eligible

Study Design

Enrollment

200 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Intervention (Stronger at Home model)

This study implements a 14-week home-based rehabilitation program for older adults after hip fractures. Participants will receive 8 home visits by a Physiotherapist (PT) and/or Physio assistant(PTA), focusing on individualized exercise programs and pain self-management. The intervention aims to improve functional recovery and includes PT-led assessments, exercise adjustments, and discharge assessments. PTAs support exercise delivery and education. The clinical team comprises PTs and PTAs, receiving training on exercise principles, pain education, and goal setting. The program emphasizes progressive strengthening, balance, and functional exercises, adhering to evidence-based principles. The intervention aims to enhance efficiency, reduce wait times, and promote adherence.

active comparator: Control (usual care)

The control group will receive usual home care provided by the healthcare system, which could vary between cases. We'll document their received care during follow-ups as it is inconsistent and poorly recorded. Regular check-in calls by the study coordinator will remind them of assessments, reducing attrition.

Interventions

The Intervention (Stronger at Home Intervention)

The home-based intervention includes 8 visits by a PT and/or PTA. The PT conducts 3 visits for initial assessment, program design, coaching, and discharge assessments. The program targets personal goals and provides pain self-management support. The second PT visit at 6 weeks allows for reassessment and adjustments. The intervention ensures adherence through multiple sessions, tailored exercises, barrier-solving support, and motivational strategies. The PTA conducts solo visits every other week, assisting with exercises and education under PT supervision. This inclusion reduces wait times and improves efficiency. The clinical team consists of at least 2 PTs and 2 PTAs trained for 3 days. The exercise program adheres to evidence-based principles, involving a 30-minute session with warm-up, exercise, and cool-down. Participants are encouraged to exercise 5 times a week, focusing on strengthening, balance, and functionality. Feasible compliance rates were observed in the pilot study.

Usual care (Control)

The control group will receive usual home care provided by the healthcare system, which could vary between cases. We'll document their received care during follow-ups as it is inconsistent and poorly recorded. Regular check-in calls by the study coordinator will remind them of assessments, reducing attrition.

Primary outcome measure

  • The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) [ Time Frame: 3.5 months (post intervention ) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Mohammad Auais

(613) 533-2000mohammad.auais@queensu.ca

Locations

Queen's University

Recruiting

Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6

Contacts

Mohammad Auais

(613) 533-2000mohammad.auais@queensu.ca

More Information

Sponsor

Dr. Mohammad Auais, PhD

Last update posted

Aug 12, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • Hip Fracture
  • Exercise program
  • Recovery
  • Physical therapy

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Dr. Mohammad Auais, PhD on 2026-08-12.