TL;DR
- The recovery timeline depends on your age, bone strength, and overall health.
- Commit to your rehab sessions and make small daily adjustments at home.
- With steady progress, you can reduce the risk of another fall.
After a hip fracture, how you recover matters as much as how you’re treated. Rehabilitation helps restore strength, balance, and independence, while lowering the risk of another fall. Here’s what that entails.
Understanding Hip Fracture Treatment in Singapore
Hip Fracture & Common Causes
A hip fracture breaks the upper part of the femur (thigh bone) near the hip joint. These injuries often result from a fall or direct blow to the hip. Older adults, especially those with osteoporosis (a reduction in bone density) or age-related bone weakness, experience hip fractures most frequently.
How Are Hip Fractures Treated?
You’ll typically be recommended to go through surgery if you have a hip fracture. Depending on the break’s location and severity, treatment may involve internal fixation with screws, partial or total hip replacement.
In rare cases, an orthopaedic specialist may recommend non-surgical treatment if surgery poses high risks. These may include pre-existing conditions such as advanced heart or lung disease, extreme frailty, or a limited life expectancy. Non-surgical care may also be considered if the fracture is stable and non-displaced, or if you’re bedbound.
Timeline for Hip Fracture Healing
Healing timelines vary, but most patients stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery. The bone typically starts healing within six to 12 weeks. Patients can expect mobility and strength to improve steadily over several months with consistent rehab.
Types of Hip Fracture Therapy in Singapore
Hip Fracture Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a vital part of your recovery journey. It usually starts as early as a day or two after surgery, often while you’re still in the hospital, to restore movement in your hip, rebuild muscle strength, improve balance, and help you walk safely again.
Your physiotherapist will tailor exercises to your stage of healing: starting with simple movements in bed or a chair, and gradually progressing to walking with support, climbing stairs, and eventually more advanced mobility training.
Occupational Therapy for Daily Living Activities
After a hip fracture, even basic tasks like getting dressed or preparing a meal can feel overwhelming. Occupational therapy focuses on helping you regain independence in these everyday activities.
Your therapist might advise you to invest in adaptive tools like long-handled shoehorns, raised toilet seats, or grabbers to make life easier. They’ll also teach you safe ways to move around your home: from getting in and out of bed and using the bathroom, to standing at the sink without losing your balance.
Long-Term Rehabilitation Planning
Successful rehabilitation doesn’t end when you leave the hospital or clinic. Your care team will help you develop a long-term plan that supports your full recovery. This includes setting short and long-term goals, identifying any challenges you may face at home, and coordinating ongoing therapy.
Your plan might involve outpatient physiotherapy, home visits, or even tele-rehab sessions. While regular check-ins help track your progress and adjust your exercises as you gain strength and mobility, long-term rehabilitation focuses on preventing future falls and injuries through consistent training.
Want to know more about your recovery options? Get a tailored treatment plan at Alps Orthopaedic Centre.
Hip Fracture Recovery in Younger vs Older Patients
Healing Expectations for Younger Patients
Adults under 60 tend to recover faster from hip fracture treatments due to several physiological advantages. Their bones usually have higher mineral density and structural integrity, which promotes faster callus formation and bone remodelling.
Younger patients also have stronger muscles and better cardiovascular conditioning, which supports early mobilisation and reduces the risk of complications like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pneumonia.
In addition, they generally have fewer comorbidities and better pain tolerance, allowing them to participate more actively in post-surgical physiotherapy. As a result, with proper rehab, many younger individuals return to full function within three to six months.
Challenges in Elderly Hip Fracture Recovery
On the other hand, older adults — particularly those over 65 — face slower and more complicated recovery due to age-related physiological changes. As mentioned above, osteoporosis makes their bones more brittle and slower to heal. There’s also sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), which reduces muscle support around the hip joint, increasing their risk of re-injury or continued instability.
Chronic conditions common at that age, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cognitive impairments (such as dementia), can also delay healing.
Not to mention, elderly patients are at higher risk for hospital-acquired complications, including infections, pressure ulcers and delirium, especially if immobilised for long periods.
Tailored Rehabilitation Approaches
Rehabilitation must be adjusted based on the patient’s age, functional baseline, and overall health status. For younger patients, therapy may begin with weight-bearing exercises and progress rapidly to strength and endurance training. Their rehab focuses on restoring full joint mobility and resuming physically demanding tasks or sports.
In contrast, older patients may need a more cautious and structured approach. Rehab goals often prioritise basic mobility (like walking short distances), fall prevention, and energy conservation. Therapists may also involve geriatricians, dietitians, and social workers to manage medication, nutrition, and home safety.
Every patient heals differently, and your care plan should reflect that. Book a consultation with us to explore an approach built around your goals.
Hip Rehabilitation Tips for Better Outcomes
Early Mobility and Weight-Bearing Guidance
Getting moving soon after a hip surgery is crucial to recovering well, as it reduces the risk of complications like blood clots, pneumonia, and muscle atrophy.
With guidance from your care team, you can start with assisted walking using crutches or a walker. Depending on your fracture type and surgery, they’ll advise on whether you can bear your full weight right away, as early weight-bearing encourages better blood flow and speeds up bone healing.
Importance of Hip Strengthening Exercises
Rebuilding strength around the hip helps stabilise the joint, improves your balance, and makes daily activities easier. Your physiotherapist will design a customised exercise plan that may include leg raises, hip abductions, and bridging exercises. These strengthening workouts target key muscle groups like the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings, which help reduce the chances of another fall or injury in the future.
Nutrition and Lifestyle for Faster Healing
What you eat plays a major role in your recovery. A balanced diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, and protein supports bone repair and tissue regeneration. Staying hydrated, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol intake also promote faster healing.
If you’re underweight or have nutritional deficiencies, a dietitian may recommend add-on supplements to boost your recovery.
Pain Management and Medication Support
Effective pain control allows you to move more comfortably, which is essential for rehab. You may be prescribed a combination of medications such as paracetamol and anti-inflammatories. Non-medication methods like cold therapy, gentle massage, or breathing techniques may also provide relief.
If you experience side effects or persistent pain, you should inform your care team as soon as possible so they can adjust your plan.
Safe Home Modifications to Prevent Falls
Preventing another fall is key to staying independent and avoiding repeat injuries to the hip. Simple home modifications can make a big difference, such as:
- Removing loose rugs and using non-slip mats instead, especially in wet areas.
- Installing better lighting throughout the house.
- Placing frequently used items at waist level to avoid unnecessary bending or reaching.
Share Your Concerns With A Hip Specialist
Whether you’re exploring surgical options or looking into minimally invasive approaches like arthroscopy, an orthopaedic specialist can help you understand what’s best for your hip fracture treatment.
At Alps Orthopaedic Centre, your care will be led by Dr Jerry Chen, a fellowship-trained specialist who has performed hundreds of hip and knee procedures using Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols that have resulted in shorter recovery timelines and improved post-surgery comfort.
If you or someone you love is looking for treatment, book a consultation to get help today.
