A new trial confirms what we see in recovery every day, strength is rebuilt through effort, not shortcuts.
When someone breaks a hip later in life, the goal isn't just to heal the bone, it's to walk again, confidently and independently. So I was genuinely curious about this June 2025 trial, which asked whether adding testosterone to a supervised exercise program would help older women recover walking ability and function after a hip fracture.
The answer was clear: it didn't. Women who added testosterone did no better than women doing supervised exercise alone. The thing that moved the needle was the rehab itself, intensive physical therapy and strength training.
I find this reassuring, not disappointing. It tells us the fundamentals still win. Rebuilding the muscle around a healing bone, retraining balance, and progressively loading the body, that is the backbone of recovery, and there's no pill that quietly does it for you.
If you or someone you love is recovering from a fracture, the most powerful “medication” is often the one that asks the most of you: showing up for therapy and doing the strength work, even when it's hard.
If you're unsure your rehab plan is doing enough, that's a worthwhile question to bring to your care team.
Wondering about your own bone health?
Book a ConsultationAdding testosterone to supervised exercise did not improve walking ability or physical function in older women recovering from hip fracture compared with exercise alone; intensive rehabilitation and strength training remained the primary driver of recovery.
