The incidence of hip fractures is growing in all Western societies. The mobility of hip fracture patients does not return to the pre-fracture level even 2 years after fracture. One reason for mobility limitation may be the persistent muscle weakness on the fractured leg. The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to examine whether 12-week muscle strength and power training twice a week has an effect on mobility in 60 to 85-year-old hip fracture patients. Forty-three persons were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 23) and a control (n = 20) group. The intervention comprised 12-week supervised intensive progressive strength-power training twice per week. All the measurers were blinded. Mobility was assessed by the Timed-up-and-go test (TUG), chair rise and stair climbing time, walking time and self-reported change in mobility. Data were analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. In addition, an efficacy analysis was performed for those subjects with over 50% training compliance (n = 20). Fourteen of the subjects in the training group and only two controls felt that their mobility had improved during the intervention period (p = 0.002). Training had no significant effect on TUG, chair rise and stair climbing time and walking time. However, in the efficacy analysis, the average chair rise time improved by 5.4% in the exercise group compared with controls (p = 0.005). After intensive muscle strength and power training, the self-reported mobility improved. The chair rise improved in participants with higher training compliance.

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