Relationship between the independence level of individual motor-related functional independence measure items and its total score in patients after hip fracture: an ordinal logistic modelling study

[Purpose] The independence level of activities of daily living during the recovery period should be predicted to plan a rehabilitation program. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the independence levels of individual motor-related Functional Independence Measure (FIM-motor) items and total FIM-motor score in patients after hip fracture. [Participants and Methods] This study retrospectively analyzed 40 patients who had stayed in a convalescent rehabilitation hospital after hip fracture. The FIM-motor score was assessed for each patient on admission, after 2 and 4 weeks of hospitalization, and at discharge. [Results] The median FIM-motor scores were 52.5 on admission and 83.0 at discharge. The results of ordinal logistic modeling were statistically significant for all 13 FIM-motor items. The independence levels for transfer to toilet and bed/chair/wheelchair were proportionally distributed across the entire range of total FIM-motor scores. However, a weak relationship was observed between the scores for bladder and bowel management and total FIM-motor scores. Although eating and grooming were relatively easy items, stair-climbing and locomotion were difficult. [Conclusion] The relationship between the independence level of individual FIM-motor items and the total FIM-motor score varied widely. This knowledge might be useful while scheduling rehabilitative treatments for patients after hip fracture.