PHYSICAL THERAPY

Research for physical therapy

Papers a physiotherapist can act on — musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiorespiratory and paediatric practice — each read in full and summarised without overstating what it found.

13,066 PAPERS · PAGE 12 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2023Post-Acute Care in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationDuring the pandemic, inpatient rehabilitation stays became shorter and more expensive, with far more patients discharged home with home health care and fewer to nursing facilities. Differences between traditional and managed care plans narrowed, but the study shows association, not cause.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2023Parents voice their experiences of caring for children with special healthcare needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of pediatric nursingParents said pandemic closures and missed therapy made children lose ground, while parents became teachers, nurses and therapists at home. Supply problems, fear of clinics and lost routines were major stressors, even when family time helped.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2023Loneliness and Functional Decline in Aging: A Systematic Review.Research in gerontological nursingLoneliness is consistently linked to functional decline in older adults, but the direction of this relationship remains unclear. Some studies suggest decline causes loneliness, while others indicate loneliness drives decline. The evidence is mixed, with 7 of 47 studies finding no association.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2023An Integrative Review of Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Symptoms Among Survivors of Hematologic Malignancies.Oncology nursing forumWomen with blood cancers report worse physical function, more pain, and greater symptom burden than men. Overall quality of life and fatigue findings are inconsistent. Nurses should assess physical status and pain more closely in female patients.
• PTOTRNOther2023Interactive gerontechnology for fall prevention in the elderly: a descriptive study.Revista brasileira de enfermagemThirty older adults rated a 3D scale model of a hazardous home as highly useful for spotting fall risks like loose rugs and poor lighting. Experts agreed the tool is valid for education, but the study did not test if it prevents actual falls.
• PTOTRNQualitative2023Experiencing COMFORT: Perceptions of Virtually-delivered Nonpharmacologic Therapies in Adults Prescribed Opioids for Chronic Pain.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesAdults with chronic pain prescribed opioids described virtual nonpharmacologic therapies as helpful for education and self-confidence. More than half reported some pain benefit and several reduced opioid use, though themes describe experiences rather than proven effects.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2023Is family social exclusion associated with child motor and socioemotional development delay? A cross-sectional exploratory study.Nursing openChildren from the most socially excluded families had significantly higher odds of motor and socioemotional development delays compared to the least excluded. Hospitalization in the last year also increased motor delay odds, while breastfeeding was associated with lower odds.
• PTMeta-Analysis2023Digital self-care in the management of spine musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemDigital self-care programmes produced small reductions in pain and disability for chronic low back pain compared with control groups. Benefits were modest and not clear for neck pain, so use them as an addition to usual treatment.
• PTOTRNOther2023Levels of Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity in Older Adults With a Mismatch Between Physiological Fall Risk and Fear of Falling.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults whose fear of falling did not match their actual balance risk did significantly less moderate to vigorous physical activity than those whose perception matched reality. This mismatch may contribute to inactivity and increased fall risk in community-dwelling seniors.
• PTOTSLPRNCohortFactors Associated With Function-Focused Care Among Hospitalized Older Adults Living With Dementia.Critical care nursing quarterlyHospitalized older adults with dementia who performed more daily activities and had less delirium reported less pain. Positive staff interactions also correlated with lower pain scores. These associations were cross-sectional, so causation is not proven, but they highlight functional engagement as a key factor.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2023Trajectories of Functional Decline in Older Adults: A Latent Class Growth Curve Analysis.Western journal of nursing researchMost older adults stay independent until age 85, but 10% decline rapidly from age 65 and 11% start with high disability. Comorbidities drive decline more than race or sex. Identify these groups early to target care.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2023Violence in rural areas against disabled people from the perspective of their families.Revista brasileira de enfermagemFamilies reported disabled relatives in rural areas faced physical, psychological, and sexual violence, including abuse by health professionals. They also struggled with financial strain, social isolation, and inaccessible transport to schools and clinics.
• PTOTRNCohort2023Identifying Comorbid Subtypes of Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesSix distinct patient subtypes were identified among acute respiratory failure survivors using early ICU data. Patients with obesity and severe kidney impairment had the worst functional disability at discharge, while awake and stable patients had the best mobility and lowest impairment.
• PTOTSLPRNCohortLongitudinal Effects of Sex, Aging, and Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis on Function.Nursing researchMen with MS experienced faster functional decline over time. Women showed greater year-to-year variability in function. Older adults had higher baseline limitation and more diverse trajectories. Sex and age shape how MS progresses differently.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2023Setting a Patient-Driven Agenda for Cancer Research Priorities in Geriatric Oncology: A Qualitative Study.Seminars in oncology nursingOlder adults with cancer prioritized research into symptom recognition, managing treatment side effects, and frailty over drug development. They reported feeling unheard when clinicians conflated cancer symptoms with normal aging, and highlighted gaps in support for caregivers.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2023Association of Perceived Neighborhood Environments With Cognitive Function in Older Adults.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults who perceived better transit access and sidewalk coverage in their neighborhood scored slightly higher on cognitive tests. These links disappeared for other neighborhood features after adjusting for age and education. The sample was highly educated and mostly cognitively intact, so results may not apply to diverse groups.
• PTRNCase Series2023Jet Lavage Irrigation Resolves Stage 4 Pelvic Pressure Injury Undermining.Advances in skin & wound careIn five nursing home patients with severe stage 4 pressure injuries, low-pressure jet lavage irrigation resolved deep undermining in four cases. The fifth showed improvement but died of COVID-19. No systemic infections occurred, though four patients died during the study.
• PTOTSLPRNCase-Control2023Development and validation of a risk prediction model for visual impairment in older adults.International journal of nursing sciencesA risk score using age, blood pressure, physical activity, diabetes, eye history and education separated older adults with and without visual impairment in a Chinese hospital. It was not tested outside that setting, so it cannot yet guide routine screening.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic ReviewWhat Is Important to the Younger Person (≤50 Years) When Having a Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Literature Review.Orthopedic nursingNo existing study has directly asked adults under 50 what outcomes matter most to them after hip replacement. Current knowledge relies on data from mixed-age groups or older patients, so clinicians cannot yet confirm if younger patients' priorities differ from those measured by standard tests.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2023A concept analysis of routines for improving health behaviors.International journal of nursing sciencesThe paper defines routines for improving health behaviors as repeated, controllable, goal-oriented activities integrated into a patient's lifestyle. It identifies antecedents like age and motivation, and consequences including improved physical and family wellbeing.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2023King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Questionnaire: reliability and convergent construct validity.Revista brasileira de enfermagemThe King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Questionnaire is reliable for assessing pain in Brazilian older adults with Parkinson's. A change of 9 points on its 168-point scale marks a clinically important difference. It correlates weakly with general pain measures, suggesting it captures Parkinson-specific pain.
• PTRNQualitative2023Black immigrants in São Paulo-Brazil: sociodemographic profile, reason for coming, embracement, and health.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PBlack immigrant women in São Paulo described polarized reception: nearly half felt discriminated against due to racism, while similar numbers felt embraced. Post-migration health issues were frequent, with emotional problems and physical symptoms linked to the stress of displacement and social exclusion.
• PTOTSLPRNNarrative Review2023Multidimensional Frailty and Traumatic Brain Injury among Older Adults: A Literature Review.Investigacion y educacion en enfermeriaFrailty predicts worse outcomes after traumatic brain injury in older adults, including higher rates of emotional distress, venous thromboembolism, and functional decline. A multidimensional assessment of physical, psychological, and social frailty may help clinicians anticipate recovery trajectories.
• PTRNOther2023Don't judge a book by its cover: Exploring low self-reported distress and repressive coping in a pediatric chronic pain population.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityIn pediatric chronic pain, children with low reported anxiety but high social desirability reported more pain intensity and bother, yet lower depression and somatic symptoms than truly low-anxious peers.
• PTRNRCT2022Staying Strong and Healthy During Androgen Deprivation Therapy.Cancer nursingThe primary LDL outcome did not show a significant between-group difference after correction. The combined exercise, nutrition, and ADT education intervention was feasible, but the control group also received nurse calls.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2024The other COVID-19 survivors: Timing, duration, and health impact of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Journal of clinical nursingSurvivors reported a median of 21 symptoms lasting over 100 days, with fatigue and cognitive issues causing the most work impairment. Symptoms evolved from flu-like to neurological and systemic issues. Most were not hospitalised, proving severe sequelae occur independently of acute infection severity.
• PTOTRNNarrative Review2023Principles of management of hand fractures.Journal of perioperative practiceFor adult hand fractures, early pain, wound and neurovascular checks, antibiotics for open fractures, and hand therapy five to seven days after surgery are core principles.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2024Caregiving in the COVID-19 pandemic: Family adaptations following an intensive care unit hospitalisation.Journal of clinical nursingSixteen caregivers described feeling isolated and unprepared, with family support and home health services easing their burden. Patients resisted being helped to maintain independence. Clinicians should assess family support networks before discharge to prevent caregiver overwhelm and poor recovery.
• PTOTRNQualitative2023A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experience of Black Individuals With Cancer Taking Long-Acting Opioids.Cancer nursingBlack patients with cancer taking long-acting opioids described pain as something to control by limiting doses and accepting background pain, while stigma, pharmacy access, side effects, and fear of addiction blocked relief.
• PTOther2023Overcoming Pandemic-Related Challenges in Recruitment and Screening: Strategies and Representation of Older Women With Cardiovascular Disease for a Multidomain Lifestyle Trial to Prevent Cognitive Decline.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingRemote recruitment through cardiology clinicians and mailed letters met a cardiovascular trial's enrollment goals, but randomized women were younger than the eligible clinic population, averaging 72.4 years, and only 1.6% Hispanic/Latinx and 0.8% Asian.
• PTQualitative2023Implementing a Sedentary Behavior Change Smartphone App in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Analysis Guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework and Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation-Behavior Model.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingSome cardiac rehab participants did not understand that the Vire app and ToDo-CR program with a Fitbit targeted sitting time. They wanted clear sedentary targets, personalization, and prompts when they were sitting. Early glitches or poor first impressions led some to stop.
• PTCohort2023The PhLIP team: Feasibility of a physiotherapy-led intensive prone positioning team initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic.Australian critical care : official journal of the Confederation of Australian Critical Care NursesA physiotherapy-led prone team conducted 154 of 161 proning episodes in 51 of 93 ICU patients with COVID-19, with no accidental extubations, hypoxia complications, neuromuscular injuries, manual handling injuries, or staff exposures to COVID-19.
• PTOTRNOther2023A quasi-experimental study of group counselling effectiveness for patient functional ability and quality of counselling among patients with hip arthroplasty.Nursing openGroup counselling before hip replacement matched individual counselling for patient satisfaction and post-surgery function. Nurses can safely use group sessions to save time without harming recovery, though most patients still want better advice on coping at home.
• PTOTRNQualitative2023Unmet needs, limited access: A qualitative study of postpartum health care experiences of people with disabilities.Journal of advanced nursingDisabled parents described postpartum care as fragmented and often inadequate. They said providers shifted attention to newborns, missed pain and recovery needs, gave unhelpful breastfeeding advice, and made them fear home visits. Some occupational therapy and home nursing supports helped.
• PTRNCohort2024Haemodynamic changes during prone versus supine position in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome.Australian critical care : official journal of the Confederation of Australian Critical Care NursesIn 18 ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS, turning prone was associated with higher cardiac index and better oxygenation. Oxygen delivery also rose, but this small before-and-after study does not prove prone positioning improves survival.
• PTOTRNCase-Control2023Post-COVID Patients With New-Onset Chronic Pain 2 Years After Infection: Cross-Sectional Study.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesNon-hospitalized post-COVID patients with new chronic pain reported higher pain intensity, pain interference, central sensitization, insomnia, fear of movement, catastrophizing, anxiety, stress, and depression than recovered or healthy controls.
• PTCohort2023Impact of risk for severe COVID-19 illness on physical activity during the pandemic.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careU.S. adults with conditions raising severe COVID-19 risk reported more physical inactivity during the pandemic. Early, active high-risk adults also reported less weekly activity. The sample was mostly middle-aged white women, so do not generalise widely.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2023Illness Perceptions and Health-Related Quality of Life in Women and Men With Atrial Fibrillation.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingPatients who believed atrial fibrillation caused many symptoms, had severe consequences, triggered strong emotions, or felt it was constantly recurring reported worse quality of life. Women felt less able to control the condition than men.
• PTCohort2023Sex differences in the impact of physical frailty on outcomes in heart failure.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn heart failure, physical frailty was linked to worse quality of life in women and higher one-year risk of hospitalization, death, or emergency care in men. The study did not show a clear sex difference, and frailty category was not linked to events.
• PTRNSurvey2023Predicting physical activity and sarcopenia-related health outcomes in women with rheumatoid arthritis: A test of the self-determination theory.Nursing openIn women with rheumatoid arthritis, motivation was linked to physical activity, and physical activity was linked to thigh circumference. Higher disease activity and older age were linked to lower handgrip strength and higher sarcopenia risk.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2023A scoping review of older patients' health-related quality of life, recovery and well-being after intensive care.Nursing openOlder ICU survivors face high 1-year mortality and functional decline, but most who survive report acceptable quality of life and willingness to return home. Pain and anxiety are acute issues that often resolve, while frailty and sensory impairments predict poor recovery.
• PTCohort2023Predictors of early mobilization in patients requiring VV ECMO for greater than 7 days: An international cohort study.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careOnly 22% of adults on venovenous ECMO for at least seven days were mobilized by day seven. COVID-19, epinephrine, epoprostenol, and conventional ventilation were associated with less early mobilization, while dual-lumen cannulation and high center volume were associated with more.
• PTRNQualitative2023Helpful social support for chronic pain in long-term care residents: "With a little help I manage on my own".Nursing openLong-term care residents with chronic pain said asking nurses for pills helped, but some waited until pain was severe. They valued calm, familiar help that let them keep independence, and disliked rushed care.
• PTOTRNSurvey2023Quality of life of older gynecologic oncology patients at the initiation of chemotherapy.Nursing openBefore chemotherapy, older gynecologic cancer patients reported lower global, physical, role and social function than age-matched Norwegian women; emotional function was similar, and cognitive function was higher.
• PTSurvey2023Chest physiotherapy techniques administered by certified specialists to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Brazil: A look towards future practice.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careBrazilian physiotherapists reported using positioning most often for chest physiotherapy in COVID-19. Certified specialists reported using ventilator hyperinflation more often and some manual or breathing techniques less often than non-certified specialists.
• PTOTCohort2023Post intensive care syndrome in survivors of COVID-19 who required mechanical ventilation during the third wave of the pandemic: A prospective study.Heart & lung : the journal of critical care64% of 22 survivors of COVID-19 ARDS with prolonged mechanical ventilation had post intensive care syndrome 30 days after discharge. Dependence in daily activities was most common, with 41% cognitive impairment and 32% anxiety or depression.
• PTRNCohort2023Gait and/or balance disturbances associated with Alzheimer's dementia among older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A longitudinal observational study.Journal of advanced nursingIn older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, baseline gait or balance problems were linked to a 24% to 53% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease over a mean 4.0 years of follow-up. Gait problems were the stronger marker; balance alone was not.
• PTSurvey2023Clinicians' perceptions on implementation strategies used to facilitate ABCDEF bundle adoption: A multicenter survey.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careICU sites reported using 63 of 73 implementation strategies to adopt the ABCDEF bundle, commonly with education and reminders. Financial strategies were rarely used and rated not feasible.
• PTRNRCT2023A music-with-movement exercise programme for community-dwelling older adults suffering from chronic pain: A pilot randomized controlled trial.Nursing openAfter 8 weeks, older adults with chronic pain who received a bundled programme of music-with-movement exercise, pain education, logbook guidance and WhatsApp reminders reported lower pain intensity than those given usual care plus a pamphlet. Components cannot be isolated.
• PTOTRNCohort2023Social Risk Factors are Associated with Risk for Hospitalization in Home Health Care: A Natural Language Processing Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome health notes mentioning social environment, physical environment, education or literacy, food insecurity, or access to care were linked to hospitalization or emergency visits. These factors may help clinicians spot risk, but they do not prove that treating them helps.