Functioning of Elder Muscle; Understanding Recovery
United Kingdom80 participantsStarted 2021-01-04
Plain-language summary
As people get older, the amount of skeletal muscle in the body can decrease. When the amount of this muscle in the body gets very low, there is an increased risk of falling, and not only is recovery to any injury slower, but more complications can be experienced following surgery, and patients may end up being more dependent on the help of others for meeting daily activities. However, it is not clear whether it is simply the amount of muscle that is in the body that is important for health, or whether it is the ability of muscle to function properly which is important.
This research study is looking at the way muscles of frail older people function; not just how strong they are, but the amount of fats and protein that there are in muscle cells, and how the genes in the muscles are being expressed (genes being a collection of chemical information that carry the instructions for making the proteins a cell will need to function).
We will also investigate whether recovery from hip fracture is impacted by the amount of muscle that there is in the body, and/or the functioning of this muscle.
Who can participate
Age range
65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Clinical Frailty Score (assessed as part of standard care) ≥ 4
* Fractured hip, sustained following a fall, that requires surgery
* Good understanding of spoken and written English language
* Able to give informed consent, or availability of a legally acceptable surrogate to provide consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Those who fell and sustained their hip fracture greater than 12 hours prior to hospitalisation.
* Those who have fallen and sustained a hip fracture whilst an in-patient in hospital
* Those who sustained the hip fracture as a result of high impact trauma (e.g. road traffic accident)
* Surgery carried out later than 96 hrs after fall
* Chronic neurological, inflammatory or musculoskeletal disorders which result in muscle wasting, e.g. Multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis
* Any co-morbidity which precludes hip surgery
* Those with a compromised swallowing reflex which would prevent the participant from taking fluids orally, will be excluded.
* Those taking diabetes medication
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.