Barriers to early rehabilitation and support needs among elderly hip fracture patients with kinesiophobia: a qualitative study

PURPOSE: To explore the early rehabilitation experiences of elderly patients with postoperative kinesiophobia following hip fractures. METHODS: This qualitative inquiry adopted a phenomenological approach. 15 elderly patients with postoperative kinesiophobia were recruited 2-7 days after surgery to repair a hip fracture. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. FINDINGS: The study identified five major themes and five sub-themes: (1) Fear is a barrier to progress in rehabilitation (fear of falling, fear of poor recovery, fear of reinjury); (2) The gap between expectations and reality leads to frustration and anxiety; (3) Lack of knowledge impedes progress (limited patient awareness of early rehabilitation, low rehabilitation literacy among primary caregivers); (4) Emotional loneliness and insufficient social support impede recovery; (5) Continuity of rehabilitation after discharge is essential for recovery. CONCLUSION: Understanding the psychological experiences, challenges, and needs of elderly patients with postoperative kinesiophobia following hip fractures can aid in developing supportive strategies to reduce fear of movement, enhance early rehabilitation activities, and improve recovery outcomes.