LUMEN ET VIRTUS · Jun 5, 2026
Physical therapy treatment of older adults with hip fracture: clinical practice guideline
By Reynaldo LB, Fernandes RC, Xavier JMG et al.
Hip fracture is a major global public health problem, with a significant impact on mortality, functional disability, and hospital costs. According to the 2021 Clinical Practice Guidelines from the American Physical Therapy Association and the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, hip fracture is strongly associated with population aging, frailty, osteoporosis, and low-energy falls. The present work provides a detailed, evidence-based examination of recommendations for physical therapists involving functional diagnosis, standardized assessment, structured interventions, interprofessional management, and progressive rehabilitation strategies. It also includes epidemiological data, fracture types, risk factors, biomechanical characteristics, and clinical course, drawing exclusively on evidence selected through systematic reviews and meta-analyses included in the document. The study demonstrates that early and prolonged physical therapy intervention is decisive for functional recovery, prevention of complications, and reduction in mortality, with the use of validated measures such as TUG, SPPB, AM-PAC, SF- 36, and the Gait Speed Test being essential.