In 2006, a study by Eli Carmeli, et. al., the effectiveness of supervised versus non-supervised exercise programs for elderly individuals recuperating from hip surgery was investigated. The purpose was to evaluate and compare the outcomes of two distinct rehabilitation approaches.

A prospective, descriptive, and quantitative study was conducted involving two groups: Group A, consisting of 34 participants (21 females, 13 males, mean age 79.2 years), engaged in a class-based exercise program administered in an outpatient clinic, and Group B, comprising 29 participants (17 females, 12 males, mean age 80.3 years), involved in a home-based exercise program. The study enrolled a total of 63 elderly patients who had undergone hip surgery for open reduction with internal fixation, starting the training regimen at 2 weeks post-surgery. The exercise period spanned 14 consecutive weeks, with outcome measures including results from physical performance tests, functional reach tests, and the Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire.

Of the initial 63 patients, 55 completed the exercise program. Both groups showed improvements in physical function after 14 weeks of training. However, while the home-based group demonstrated improvement in only 4 out of 6 tasks of the physical performance test, the class-based group exhibited improvement in all 6 tasks. Additionally, participants in the class-based program showed significant gains in SF-36 scores and functional reach tests, in contrast to the home-based group, where no significant changes were observed.

The study concludes that both supervised and non-supervised exercise programs yield improvements in various health aspects among elderly patients recovering from hip surgery. However, participants in the supervised/class-based group exhibited more positive health outcomes compared to those in the non-supervised/home-based group. This suggests that patients have the option to choose between home-based or class-based exercise regimes. The clinical significance underscores the importance of close supervision by a professional therapist during rehabilitation. Furthermore, the study results may have implications for healthcare policies and economics.

Reference: Carmeli, E., Sheklow, S. L., & Coleman, R. (2006). A comparative study of organized class-based exercise programs versus individual home-based exercise programs for elderly patients following hip surgery. Disability and rehabilitation, 28(16), 997-1005.