title: Neuromuscular stimulation of the quadriceps muscle after hip fracture: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the feasibility and effect of neuromuscular stimulation on recovery of mobility after surgical fixation for hip fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind study with stratified randomization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Home-based rehabilitation program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four women over the age of 75 years with hip fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuromuscular or placebo stimulation of the quadriceps muscle of the fractured leg, applied for 3 hours a day, for 6 weeks, commencing 1 week after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recovery of walking speed and ability, postural stability, lower-limb muscle power, and pain at 7 and 13 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women in the neuromuscular stimulation group showed faster recovery of mobility. Of the women receiving stimulation, 9 of 12 recovered their prior levels of indoor mobility ability by 13 weeks compared with 3 of 12 in the placebo group (Fisher exact test, P=.046). There were no differences in recovery of walking speed in the first 7 weeks, but women in the stimulation group had greater recovery between 7 and 13 weeks (mean difference=-.13m/s; 95% confidence interval, -.23 to -.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuromuscular stimulation at home is feasible and may be effective in speeding recovery of mobility after surgical fixation of hip fracture.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Health, Coventry University, UK. s.lamb@coventry.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Oldham
authors.forename: Rhian E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: John Grimley
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*