Study Design Longitudinal. Background The impact of ankle fracture on physical activity and sitting time and the course of recovery of physical activity are unclear. Objectives To assess the course of recovery of physical activity after ankle fracture and to investigate if this population is less physically active and more sedentary than the general population. Methods The ankle fracture cohort was derived from a randomised trial and assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-short) at immobilisation removal, 1, 3 and 6 months later. Total metabolic equivalent minutes per week (MET minutes/week) were calculated to evaluate the course of recovery of physical activity. Sitting minutes per day and the percentage meeting the World Health Organisation (WHO) physical activity guidelines were calculated. Normative data were derived from a cohort study that assessed physical activity using the IPAQ-short in the general population. Results In people with ankle fracture (n = 214), physical activity increased in the first month (from median 99 at immobilisation removal to 979 MET minutes/week), levelling by 6 months (1386 MET minutes/week). Only 22% of the ankle fracture cohort met WHO guidelines at immobilisation removal compared to 80% of the cohort from the general population (p<0.001). This difference diminished over time. Sitting time was higher for the ankle fracture cohort at all time-points (p<0.001). Conclusions People with ankle fracture are less physically active and more sedentary than the general population. Strategies to increase physical activity must be considered. Level of Evidence Prognosis level 3. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, Epub 8 Mar 2016. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.6297.
a1938-1344 (Electronic)