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Hip fracture guidelines recommend early mobilisation, multidisciplinary care, physiotherapy and fall prevention interventions. This study documents mobilisation practices and physiotherapy interventions provided post-hip fracture in six countries. Physiotherapists from orthopaedic wards in Denmark, Australia, Spain, Brazil, Norway and Ireland provided information regarding mobilisation and physiotherapy for 10 consecutive hip fracture patients (>60 years), between 2014 and 2018. Physiotherapists (n = 107) entered data on 426 patients. Two-thirds of patients (283, 66%) attempted standing 0-1 days after surgery (range: 0% of patients in Spain to 92% in Norway). Fewer patients (199, 47%) attempted walking on day 0-1 (range: 0% Spain/Brazil to 69% Norway). Physiotherapy to mobilise every weekday was provided to 356 patients (84%, range: 60% Ireland to 100% Spain). On weekends, physiotherapy to mobilise was limited (175, 40%, range: 0% Spain to 81% Brazil) but 298 patients (70%) mobilised with non-physiotherapy staff (range: 0% Spain to 96% Denmark/Ireland). Physiotherapy treatments included mobility, gait training, and range-of-motion exercises. Referral to fall prevention interventions was low (93, 22%, range: 0% Spain to 76% Ireland). Stronger compliance with guideline recommendations on early mobilising, weekend mobilising and referral to fall prevention interventions post hip-fracture is needed in some countries.Implications for rehabilitation This study provides a snapshot of mobilisation and physiotherapy practice for hip fracture patients in six countries. The results suggest a need to improve systems and approaches in some countries to enhance compliance with recommendations specifically relating to: • early attempts at standing and walking post-surgery. • opportunities to mobilise on weekends (with physiotherapist and/or other staff). • broader range of multidisciplinary care e.g., geriatric review, occupational therapy and nutrition advice. • use of standardised tests by physiotherapists post-surgery. • referral to fall prevention interventions. This study provides a snapshot of mobilisation and physiotherapy practice for hip fracture patients in six countries. The results suggest a need to improve systems and approaches in some countries to enhance compliance with recommendations specifically relating to: • early attempts at standing and walking post-surgery. • opportunities to mobilise on weekends (with physiotherapist and/or other staff). • broader range of multidisciplinary care e.g., geriatric review, occupational therapy and nutrition advice. • use of standardised tests by physiotherapists post-surgery. • referral to fall prevention interventions.

Background: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are physically active are regarded as more likely to act as credible physical activity (PA) role models and promote healthy lifestyles. This study explores PA levels and underlying motivations, within and between HCP students, first testing the validity and reliability of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2). Methods: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and BREQ-2 were administered to 296 HCP university students (physiotherapy n = 47, medicine n = 105, nursing n = 121, radiography n = 23). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Mann Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests compared scores between subgroups. Confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency testing of the BREQ-2 was also undertaken. Results: Fifty-six percent (n = 166) of respondents were moderately active, 40% (n = 118) highly active and 4% (n = 12) inactive. Participants' responses indicated mainly self-determined motivation for exercise. Significantly different Relative Autonomy Index (RAI) (p ≤ 0.001), identified (p ≤ 0.001) and intrinsic (p ≤ 0.001) motivation subscale scores were noted between HCP groups and among low, moderate and high-level PA groups. Conclusions: This HCP cohort were found to be active and intrinsically motivated to exercise. The BREQ-2 was shown to be a valid and reliable tool with strong subscale internal consistency.

The eighth Annual Conference of the Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society (RTRS) was held on Friday, 25 May 2012, hosted by the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science at the University of Dublin. The society provides a forum for the dissemination of current research within the three professions of occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy across the island of Ireland.The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Promoting Health and Wellbeing across the Lifespan’. Keynote speaker Professor Elizabeth Dean, University of British Columbia, highlighted the need for focussed attention on maintaining and reversing chronic lifestyle-related conditions, and Professor Virpi Timonen, Trinity College Dublin, presented research data on trends in ageing and challenges for the provision of care for older people in Ireland. Invited speakers, oral and poster presentations highlighted the diversity of current, clinically relevant research within the three professi...