Sensory processing impairments and their associations with physical and psychological outcomes in older adults after fall-related hip fracture surgery: a prospective cross-sectional study

Recovery after fall-related hip fracture surgery in older adults is frequently complicated by persistent physical limitations, psychological distress, and an increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. Emerging evidence suggests that sensory processing difficulties may influence functional performance, emotional well-being, and engagement in daily activities during the postoperative recovery period. However, the role of sensory processing patterns in shaping postoperative physical and psychological outcomes following hip fracture surgery remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine the associations between sensory processing patterns and functional and emotional outcomes after hip fracture surgery. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 137 individuals aged 65 years and older who had undergone hip fracture surgery. Sensory processing patterns were assessed via the Adult Sensory Processing Scale (ASPS). Physical performance, fall risk, fear of falling, and depressive symptoms were evaluated via the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), respectively. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was applied to assess data normality. Since the data were not normally distributed, the Kruskal–Wallis test and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis were performed. Overresponsiveness to vestibular input and intolerance to movement were significantly associated with lower physical performance, greater fall risk, greater fear of falling, and increased depressive symptoms. Conversely, greater proprioceptive seeking was associated with better physical performance, lower fear of falling, and reduced depression levels. Underresponsiveness to proprioceptive–vestibular input was linked to poorer functional outcomes. This study indicates that vestibular and proprioceptive overresponsiveness are significantly associated with physical and emotional outcomes following hip fracture surgery. Incorporating sensory-motor considerations into postoperative rehabilitation may be clinically relevant for addressing fall risk and sensory well-being in older adults. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT05811559.