OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of an upper-body exercise program on cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults with hip fracture during inpatient rehabilitation. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial using a convenience sample. SETTING: An inpatient rehabilitation unit. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty older patients (age 81.3 +/- 7.2 y; 14 women). INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 10) or a training group (n = 10). Both groups attended physical and occupational therapy sessions 5 times a week during rehabilitation (mean length of stay 32.9 +/- 5.3 d). Patients in the training program used an arm crank ergometer 3 times a week for 4 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). RESULTS: VO2peak increased significantly in the training group (8.9 +/- 1.4 to 10.8 +/- 1.7 mL/kg/min) and did not change in the control group (8.9 +/- 1.2 to 8.8 +/- 1.6 mL/kg/min). At discharge, both groups were significantly improved in all functional outcome measures (Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), FIM instrument, two-minute walk test (2MWT), and ten-minute walk test (10MWT)). The training group performed significantly better in mobility (TUG, 2MWT, 10MWT) and balance (BBS) compared with the control group. There was a significant correlation between VO2peak and the 2MWT (r = 0.81) and 10MWT (r = 0.85) in the training group at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The upper-body exercise program had a significant effect on aerobic power. Our results suggest that aerobic endurance exercise should be integrated into standard rehabilitation to enhance patients' aerobic fitness and mobility after hip fracture surgery.

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