Understanding movement behaviours during the transition from hospital to home following orthopaedic trauma

This PhD used a mixed‑methods approach to examine physical activity and sedentary behaviour (termed ‘movement behaviours’) during and after hospitalisation following orthopaedic trauma. Understanding these patterns is important to identify where patients are inactive and enable targeted strategies and resources to increase movement. The hospital environment constrained activity due to complex factors, including risk‑averse policies that limited opportunities for movement, while patients had more reasons and confidence to move at home. Higher step counts during hospitalisation were associated with reduced six-month disability. This PhD provides recommendations to enhance movement during and after hospitalisation following orthopaedic trauma to optimise recovery outcomes.