My Hip My Voice

17/05/2026

🚶‍♀️ Can walking reduce hip fracture risk?

A 20-year prospective study followed nearly 10,000 women aged 65+ to explore the impact of walking on hip fractures.

Key findings:
• Walking for exercise was associated with a 14% lower risk of hip fracture
• Each additional block walked further reduced risk
• Walking around 16 blocks per day (~3200 steps) was linked to meaningful risk reduction
• Walking for routine activity alone showed no significant effect

👉 Not all movement is equal. Walking for exercise appears to matter most. Importantly, women who walked for exercise also had lower mortality rates over the study period.

💡 This reinforces a simple but powerful message:
Regular, purposeful walking may play a role in hip fracture prevention.

🔗 Read the study: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-025-07508-y

Summary Hip fractures in elderly women pose significant healthcare challenges. Promoting walking for exercise as a cost-effective intervention may help reduce the risk of fractures in this population. Purpose This study aimed to examine the relationship between walking and hip fracture risk among wo...

13/05/2026

🚨🎙️ New Hipcast Episode: "More Implants, More Complexity: The Rise of Periprosthetic Fractures"

In this episode of Hipcast, host Dr Niamh Dove is joined by Associate Professor Chris Wall, Director of the Department of Orthopaedics at Toowoomba Hospital, Orthopaedic Surgery Co-Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry, and Assistant Deputy Registry Clinical Director for the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.

Together, they explore periprosthetic femur fractures, an increasingly common and highly complex challenge as rates of joint replacement continue to rise worldwide.

Chris discusses:
🦴 What periprosthetic femur fractures are and who they affect
🦴 Why these injuries are becoming increasingly important in modern orthopaedic and orthogeriatric care
🦴 The complexities of surgical management, including fixation versus revision decisions
🦴 What current registry and outcomes data tells us about patient care and survivorship
🦴 Why capturing these fractures within registry data is essential for improving understanding, care pathways, and system-wide quality improvement

This is a fascinating and important discussion for clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in improving outcomes for older adults with hip fracture.

Hipcast is produced by the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry and is dedicated to improving outcomes and experiences for people with hip fracture and those who care for them.

🎧 Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1739857/episodes/19162569

12/05/2026

☕🫖 Coffee, tea… and bone health?

A 10-year longitudinal study examined how coffee and tea intake relates to bone mineral density in older women.

The study followed nearly 10,000 women aged 65+ with repeated measures of both diet and bone density.

Key findings:
• Tea consumption was associated with slightly higher hip bone mineral density
• Coffee showed no overall association with bone density
• However, high coffee intake (>5 cups/day) may be linked to lower bone density
• The effects varied depending on factors like BMI and alcohol intake

👉 This adds to growing evidence that dietary patterns can influence bone health over time.

💡 For older women, moderate tea intake may offer small benefits, while excessive coffee consumption could have downsides.

🔗 Read more: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233660

Background/Objectives: Evidence regarding the associations between coffee and tea consumption and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women remains inconclusive. Prior studies have not examined these relationships using repeated measures of both beverage intake and BMD over an extended foll...

11/05/2026

Frailty is not an inevitable part of ageing, and a new Australian Consensus Statement provides a clearer roadmap for prevention and management in community-dwelling older adults.

Developed through a national Delphi process involving multidisciplinary experts and consumers, the statement outlines practical, evidence-informed recommendations spanning the lifespan.

Key priorities include early identification through routine screening from age 65, personalised nutrition with adequate protein intake, and progressive, individualised exercise combining strength, balance and aerobic training.

It also highlights the importance of social connection through tailored social prescribing, comprehensive medication review to reduce harm, and personalised care planning for those living with severe frailty.

Together, these recommendations support a shift towards proactive, individualised, and integrated care to maintain function in older adults.

🔗 Read more: https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70182

Introduction This consensus statement from multidisciplinary experts and consumers across Australia provides comprehensive recommendations on the prevention and management of frailty in community-dw...

11/05/2026

💙 Happy International Nurses Day – 12 May 2026 💙

Today we celebrate the incredible dedication, expertise, and compassion of nurses across Australia and New Zealand, including those working in hip fracture care.

Nurses are central to improving outcomes, guiding recovery, and helping older adults regain independence after a fall or hip fracture.

Thank you for your tireless commitment, clinical expertise, and the compassion you bring every day. The care you provide changes lives and makes a lasting difference for patients and families alike.

11/05/2026

“It’s just part of getting old.” 💬👵👴

How often do we hear this after a hip fracture?

A new Australian study published in Age and Ageing suggests this belief may profoundly influence recovery and refracture prevention after hip fracture.

A study from researchers at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, explored how beliefs about ageing, cultural values and family expectations shape recovery experiences for culturally diverse older adults following hip fracture.

Researchers found that many older adults viewed fractures, falls and reduced mobility as an inevitable part of ageing, shaping whether they engaged with rehabilitation, osteoporosis treatment and falls prevention strategies.

But recovery is about far more than surgery and physical healing alone.

For some people, rehabilitation was closely tied to regaining independence. For others, it meant returning to important family and community roles, such as caring for grandchildren or contributing to household life.

The findings are an important reminder that successful hip fracture recovery cannot rely on clinical care alone. Person-centred, culturally responsive care, strong communication and family involvement all play a critical role in supporting long-term recovery and preventing future fractures.

This work builds on previous research from the Liverpool Hospital team published in the Australasian Journal on Ageing, highlighting ongoing challenges with post-discharge engagement in rehabilitation and preventative care.

🔗 Read blog discussion here: https://blog.oup.com/2026/05/why-recovery-after-a-hip-fracture-is-about-more-than-bones/
🔗 Read full study here: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag012



South Western Sydney Local Health District

AbstractBackground and Aims. Hip fractures are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults, with significant consequences for recovery an

10/05/2026

New national guidance is here: “Sip Til Send” 💧

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released new national guidance supporting safe pre-procedural oral fluid intake for patients awaiting surgery.

Under the “Sip Til Send” approach, patients can have small amounts of water or clear fluids right up until they are called to theatre, reducing prolonged fasting and its associated negative effects.

Key resources now available include:
• clinician and patient fact sheets
• an implementation guide for health services
• education and adaptable local materials

Health services can use this guidance to introduce “Sip Til Send” where it is not yet in place, or review and strengthen existing fasting practices.

💧This initiative is part of national efforts to support safe, appropriate and sustainable use of IV fluids in hospital care.

🔗 Learn more and access resources: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/clinical-topics/medicines-safety-and-quality/pre-procedural-fluid-management-using-sip-til-send

Safe pre procedural oral liquid intake to reduce the negative side effects of prolonged fasting.

05/05/2026

❤️🦴 What if cardiovascular risk could help predict fracture risk?

A new prospective analysis from the Women’s Health Initiative analysed over 21,000 postmenopausal women and found a clear association between heart health and fractures.

🔍Key findings:
• Women with high cardiovascular risk had a 93% higher risk of hip fracture
• Even moderate cardiovascular risk increased fracture risk
• The association was stronger in women under 65
• Higher-risk women experienced fractures earlier in life

The study used a 10-year cardiovascular risk score and found that risk remained significant even after adjusting for lifestyle and clinical factors.

Importantly, the link may be driven by shared mechanisms such as:
• Chronic inflammation
• Hormonal changes
• Reduced blood flow to bone

This suggests cardiovascular risk assessment could help identify people who may benefit from earlier bone health screening and intervention.

💬 Should fracture prevention extend beyond bone health to include cardiovascular risk?

🔗 Read more: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X26000700?via%3Dihub

04/05/2026

Healthy ageing starts with mindset 👩‍🦳 👨‍🦳

New research from the Yale School of Public Health highlights that how we think about ageing can have a measurable impact on our health.

In a study of more than 11,000 adults aged 50 to 99, those with a positive outlook on ageing showed better performance in:

✅Walking speed
✅Memory
✅Cognitive tasks

Importantly, they didn’t just maintain function, they improved over time.

Experts emphasise that a positive mindset often translates into healthier behaviours, staying physically, cognitively and socially active.

This has important implications for hip fracture care and prevention.

At ANZHFR, we know that supporting healthy ageing is not just about treatment, but also about empowering people to expect more from their later years.

A positive outlook is not just good for wellbeing, it’s a key part of maintaining independence and reducing risk.

Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/03/getting-older-ageing-happiest-time-of-life

Doing more trips around the sun does not mean inevitable decline, new research suggests – and having a optimistic outlook can even bring improvements

03/05/2026

What helps patients get moving after a hip fracture? It’s not just the surgery… it’s the message. 💬🚶‍♀️

A new qualitative study exploring patient and carer experiences in Saudi Arabia highlights something we don’t always measure but deeply matters: how advice is given and understood.

🔍 What did participants say?
• Patients and carers trusted clinicians and followed instructions closely
• But advice on weight-bearing and mobilisation was often inconsistent or unclear
• Fear of falling was a major barrier, especially for carers
• Carers played a crucial role in encouraging movement and supporting recovery at home

💡 Why this matters
Even when evidence supports early mobilisation and unrestricted weight-bearing, patients will only act on what they understand and feel confident doing.

📣 Key takeaway
Clear, consistent communication isn’t just good practice, it directly impacts recovery.

🔗 Read the full study: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2026.2620532

👥 Let’s not forget carers
They’re not just support people. They’re active partners in rehabilitation and need to be included every step of the way.

This study explored how patients and carers experienced weight-bearing instructions and mobilisation timing following hip fracture surgery. It also examined their views on unrestricted weight-beari...

28/04/2026

What you do in midlife can shape your health decades later 💡

A large Norwegian study following men over 50 years found that both low physical activity and low body weight in midlife significantly increased the risk of hip fracture in older age. Men who were inactive had a 38% higher risk, and those who were both inactive and underweight faced the greatest risk of all. 📊

Importantly, this study included men only, highlighting a gap in the evidence base and the need for more long-term research in women.

The message is clear: staying active and maintaining a healthy weight in your 40s and 50s is not just about fitness now, it is an investment in strength, independence, and resilience later in life. 💪

As our population ages, simple, modifiable factors like movement and nutrition play a powerful role in reducing fracture risk and supporting healthy ageing.

🔗 Read more: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11657-026-01657-1

Summary Research on hip fracture prevention in men is limited. In men, physical activity and body mass index were independently and jointly associated with hip fracture risk, with the highest risk among inactive and thin men. Promoting exercise and healthy weight in midlife may reduce fracture burde...