A holiday to better recovery
Rehabilitation on weekends and public holidays may improve post-surgery recovery for hip fractures
2026-02-18
(Press-News.org)
Hip fractures are common in the elderly, with many patients experiencing a decline in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) post-surgery. Therefore, postoperative rehabilitation plays a crucial role in helping patients recover to their pre-injury ADL level. Previous studies have shown that providing rehabilitation on weekdays and outside of normal business hours, such as on the weekend and public holidays, during hospitalization promotes improvements in ADL. However, many medical institutions have limited human resources,making it difficult to provide rehabilitation services to all patients on holidays. Consequently, decisions on which patients should receive priority intervention are currently made based on medical professionals’ discretion.
To devise a better course of action, a Graduate School of Medicine research group, led by the student Tsubasa Bito, Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Ryota Kawai, and Professor Ayumi Shintani from the Department of Medical Statistics and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery’s Dr. Shinji Takahashi, analyzed 77,947 patients aged 60 or older who underwent surgery after a hip fracture. Using the Barthel Index, which assesses ADL from 0 (complete dependence) to 100 (complete independence), the research team analyzed the impact on ADL at discharge when rehabilitation was provided within 7 days after surgery, including on holidays. The team made comparisons according to differences in age and ADL status at admission.
Their findings revealed that patients over 80 and those with initial Barthel Index scores of 0−10 who received rehabilitation on holidays had higher ADL scores at discharge. In contrast, those admitted with higher Barthel Index scores did not show significant improvement in ADL scores after additional holiday rehabilitation by the time they were discharged.
“The results of this study provide large-scale data supporting the practice of prioritizing interventions for elderly patients and those with difficulty performing activities independently, which had previously been based on empirical experience,” stated Bito. Professor Shintani concluded, “We believe the research findings will provide useful information for prescribing effective rehabilitation with limited human resources.”
The findings were published in Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.
###
About OMU
Established in Osaka as one of the largest public universities in Japan, Osaka Metropolitan University is committed to shaping the future of society through the “Convergence of Knowledge” and the promotion of world-class research. For more research news, visit https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/ and follow us on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
END
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
2026-02-18
Marking the fifth consecutive academic year of the Climate Solutions Now conference, Cal Poly’s Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience will host its upcoming all-virtual event on Feb. 23-27.
The conference, open to the public with a variety of ticketing options, includes more than 70 talks and discussions on strategies, tools and information for climate change solutions. Topics will cover energy, water, waste, business sustainability, agriculture, education and much more.
Presenters include leaders from across ...
2026-02-18
Researchers at Kumamoto University have discovered that behavioral changes during the COVID-19 pandemic—particularly widespread mask-wearing—may have reduced the risk of certain types of heart attacks triggered by air pollution.
The study, led by Dr. Masanobu Ishii and colleagues, was published in the European Society of Cardiology’s flagship journal, European Heart Journal.
Air pollution and heart attacks
Fine particulate matter known as PM2.5—tiny airborne particles small enough to penetrate ...
2026-02-18
Professor Pei-Qiang Huang's research group at Xiamen University recently reported the first reduction-cross-coupling reaction of aliphatic tertiary amides with 4-cyanopyridine via iridium and photoredox tandem catalysis. This method is based on the formation of imineonium through iridium-catalyzed hydrosilylation and acid catalysis, followed by tandem photocatalysis to generate two radicals (C,N,N trialkyl α-amino radical and stable 4-cyano-1,4-dihydropyridine radical) which then undergo ...
2026-02-18
A new Edith Cowan University (ECU) study has found advertisements that encourage healthy choices can reduce cravings and intentions to consume unhealthy foods, and in some cases a 15-second message may be more effective than traditional 30-second commercials.
Led by Dr Ross Hollett, the research investigated how the length and framing of junk food and anti-junk food ads influence immediate cravings among adults in different Body Mass Index (BMI) categories.
Anti-junk food ads are public health campaigns designed to discourage people from eating unhealthy foods, either by warning about ...
2026-02-18
A woman was buried with two children, but they were not her own. In another grave, two children were placed. They were not siblings and were more distantly related, perhaps cousins. In a new study, researchers at Uppsala University have clarified family relationships in four graves from a 5,500-year-old hunter-gatherer culture at Ajvide on Gotland. DNA analyses suggest that the people were well aware of family lineages and that relationships beyond the immediate family played an important role.
Ajvide is one of the most important Stone Age sites in Scandinavia and is ...
2026-02-18
The effectiveness of exercise therapy to ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis is likely minimal, short lived, and probably no better than no treatment at all, suggests an overarching (umbrella) systematic review and pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the open access journal RMD Open.
The findings question the universal promotion of exercise as a first line treatment to ease pain and improve physical function in all those living with the degenerative joint disease, and highlight the need to revisit research priorities, conclude the researchers.
Exercise ...
2026-02-17
ANN ARBOR—The price of copper must at least double in order to spur the development of new copper mines to meet the world's growing demand for the metal, according to a team led by a University of Michigan researcher.
A research team led by U-M geologist Adam Simon examined barriers to producing the copper necessary to meet demands for the metal under different scenarios. They found that meeting basic copper demand is possible, but will require higher prices and reforms to the permitting process to encourage ...
2026-02-17
As aging populations and rising diabetes rates drive an increase in chronic wounds, more patients face the risk of amputations. UC Riverside researchers have developed an oxygen-delivering gel capable of healing injuries that might otherwise progress to limb loss.
Injuries that fail to heal for more than a month are considered chronic wounds. They affect an estimated 12 million people annually worldwide, and around 4.5 million in the U.S. Of these, about one in five patients will ultimately require a life-altering amputation.
The new gel, tested in animal models, targets what researchers believe is a root cause of many chronic wounds: a lack of oxygen ...
2026-02-17
In the complex world of soil and water chemistry, certain minerals act like microscopic sponges, soaking up pollutants and keeping our environment safe. Among the most dangerous of these pollutants is hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), a highly toxic and mobile substance often found at industrial and mining sites. Now, a groundbreaking study published in Carbon Research has identified the specific "superstar" minerals that are best at neutralizing this threat while simultaneously locking away organic carbon.
The research, ...
2026-02-17
Sandy soils are among the most challenging environments for agriculture because water drains quickly and nutrients are easily lost. A new long-term field experiment shows that combining biochar with compost and sludge can dramatically improve how sandy soils retain water, offering a practical strategy for farming in drought-prone regions.
Researchers conducted a 441-day lysimeter study to examine how different organic amendments influence the water balance of sandy soil under realistic environmental conditions. The team compared single amendments and combinations of biochar, compost, and sludge, monitoring soil moisture, drainage, ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
[Press-News.org] A holiday to better recovery
Rehabilitation on weekends and public holidays may improve post-surgery recovery for hip fractures
