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 14 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRNMeta-Analysis2024Effectiveness of mobile health applications on clinical outcomes and health behaviors in patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of nursing sciencesFor patients with coronary heart disease, app-based programs reduced major adverse cardiac events and hospital readmissions. They also improved medication adherence, exercise capacity, total cholesterol, triglycerides, anxiety and depression; blood pressure, weight and smoking did not change.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2024Feasibility of In-Home Virtual Reality for Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesIn-home virtual reality for chronic pain in sickle cell disease was feasible but had high dropout. Daily diary completion was 43.6%, and follow-up surveys dropped to 21%. Users reported slight cybersickness but no nausea. This is a test of logistics, not proof the treatment works.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2024Perspectives and experiences of community-dwelling older adults who experience falling: A qualitative meta-synthesis.International journal of nursing sciencesOlder adults after falls described pain, fear, less activity and independence, and social withdrawal. Some blamed themselves, denied falls, or saw them as inevitable; others used walking aids, home changes, and slowing down.
• PTOTRNSurvey2024What is the burden of multimorbidity and the factors associated with its occurrence in elderly Brazilians?Revista brasileira de enfermagemOver half of community-dwelling elderly Brazilians have two or more chronic conditions. Being female, older, having low education, smoking in the past, being physically inactive, and high screen time were associated with higher multimorbidity prevalence.
• PTOTRNPilot2024Long-Term Effect of a Tablet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention on Step Count, Fatigue, Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Arthritis: A Pilot Study.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults with arthritis who received a tablet program with Fitbit tracking, four weekly video CBT walking sessions, and homework reported more steps, less fatigue, higher self-efficacy, and better quality of life than controls over 10 weeks. Small pilot.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2024Integrating Perspectives on Family Caregiving After Critical Illness: A Qualitative Content Analysis.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesFamily caregivers of ICU survivors report unmet needs for hands-on skills training and self-care support. Providers recognize logistical needs but overlook caregivers' mental health and personal well-being. Interventions must address these instrumental gaps rather than focusing solely on psychoeducation.
• PTRNOther2024Psychometric properties of the Chilean version of the quality of life questionnaire for multiple myeloma.Revista brasileira de enfermagemA Chilean Spanish questionnaire for quality of life in multiple myeloma appears usable: it reflects patients' symptoms, function and future concerns, but some parts are less dependable, so do not rely on every score alone.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2024Lean methodology: contributions to improving work processes in health and nursing.Revista brasileira de enfermagemLean methods cut waiting times, surgical durations, and costs in hospital units by removing waste and standardizing workflows. However, most included studies did not measure patient satisfaction or financial gains, and long-term sustainability of these changes remains unproven.
• PTQualitative2024Orthopaedic Nurse Navigators and Total Joint Arthroplasty Preoperative Optimization: Mental Health and Housing Status-Part Five of the Movement Is Life Special ONJ Series.Orthopedic nursingNurse navigators described screening joint replacement patients for mental health and unsafe housing, then connecting them to mental health services, social workers and physical therapists for home safety and device training. These are reported practices, not evidence of better surgical outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Low back pain self-management mobile applications: a systematic review on digital platforms.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PBack pain apps available in Brazil had some exercise and self-management features, but only two had been tested in clinical research. They are not proven treatments, so suggest them only as an adjunct with safety advice.
• PTOther2024Ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal pain in hospital cleaning workers: Convergent Care Research with mixed methods.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemHospital cleaning workers reported musculoskeletal pain in the last seven days in lower back, ankles or feet, wrists or hands, upper back and shoulders. Standing, twisting, squatting, wringing cloths and non-adjustable equipment were reported alongside pain.
• PTOther2024The Use of Novel Instrumented Socks to Detect Changes in Daily Life Mobility During an Exercise Intervention in Prostate Cancer Survivors Treated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy.Seminars in oncology nursingSix months of tai chi, strength training, or stretching did not clearly improve daily life mobility measured by socks in 35 prostate cancer survivors on androgen deprivation therapy. Still, 14 participants improved on at least two mobility measures.
• PTQualitative2024Palliative Care for SARS-CoV-2 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A Comprehensive Study.Revista brasileira de enfermagemICU staff described comfort-focused palliative care for SARS-CoV-2 patients: pain relief, non-drug anxiety and spiritual care, family contact, and religious rituals. They also reported workload, PPE limits, and fear as barriers.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2024Guides or guidelines for interacting and playing with medical complex children: a qualitative documentary research.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemGuides for children with medical complexity recommend play through the adult's voice, repeated simple interactions, high-contrast and textured objects, bath routines, and safe mobility. These are care prompts, not proof that play improves outcomes.
• PTQualitative2024Interprofessional approach to fall prevention in hospital care.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PHospital staff described communication with patients and carers, and between professions, as central to fall prevention. They often saw nursing as mainly responsible, reported role gaps, and said slow, separate medical-record systems reduced bedside time.
• PTRNSurvey2024Sleep quality and falls in middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil study.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PAdults aged 50 to 84 who rated their sleep quality low reported a fall in the past year more often. The pattern held across each five-year age band and after adjusting for sex and activity.
• PTOTRNOther2024Leprosy and its impact on the quality of life of people with physical disabilities: a scoping review.Revista brasileira de enfermagemLeprosy-related physical disability was linked to impaired daily living, social participation, income, mental health, and pain. Mapping these themes can guide assessment and patient education rather than prove a treatment works.
• PTOTRNNarrative Review2024Mobility Assessment Instruments.Seminars in oncology nursingNo single mobility test fits all cancer patients. Quick bedside options include gait speed, chair rise, Timed Up and Go and BMAT; longer PT and OT evaluations use balance, strength and patient-reported measures.
• PTOTSurvey2024Health-Related Quality of Life and its Determinants among School-going Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyAdolescents in Indian government schools rated quality of life around half the possible score, highest for social relationships. Older age was linked to better well-being scores, while failing a back-stretch test was linked to lower scores.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2024'A team around the child' professionals' experiences of unmet needs, access and expectations in children's palliative care services, a phenomenological study in the UK.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityProfessionals reported that families often had to 'fight' to access basic equipment and respite care. Staff felt blocked by other services or overwhelmed by staffing shortages, while families who did not shout were perceived to suffer in silence.
• PTRNPilot2023The Impact of an Electronic Best Practice Advisory on Patients' Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Profile.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingFitbit step counts did not rise after 12 weeks. Patients who also got provider counseling and activity surveys reported more activity and walked farther. All three happened together.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2023Experiences and Unmet Needs of Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of a Brain Tumor (Aged 15-39 Years): A Systematic Review and Meta-ethnography.Cancer nursingAdolescent and young adult brain tumor survivors report both positive coping and severe emotional distress, often feeling like a burden. Families carry the weight of managing late effects and navigating school or work support, while survivors frequently lack specific information on long-term needs.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Social exercise interventions for children who have complex developmental needs: A systematic review.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityGroup exercise with social elements produced motor skill gains after intervention in children with developmental needs, but total physical activity effects are unknown. Evidence for social, emotional, and thinking outcomes remains unclear.
• PTOTRNQualitative2025Elucidating children's understanding of brachial plexus birth injury.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityChildren with brachial plexus birth injury understood it mainly through pain, activity limits and unwanted attention, not through nerve terms or clinic diagrams. Ask what their arm stops them doing, and check readiness before teaching.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Identifying research priorities with children, youth, and families: A scoping review.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityChildren and families set priorities like pain management, mental health access, and hospital-to-home transitions. Yet they were outnumbered by professionals in 28 studies. Clinicians should verify if current care plans address these family-identified needs, not just clinical metrics.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2024Children and young people's participation in decision-making within healthcare organisations in New Zealand: An integrative review.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityMost evidence on child participation in New Zealand healthcare comes from adult opinions, not children's own voices. Barriers include lack of time, resources, and belief in children's competence. Few studies directly consulted children under five.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2025"A very different place from when the pandemic started": Lessons learned for improving systems of care for families of children with medical complexity.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityParents of children with medical complexity preferred virtual care for scheduling and rural access but found it ineffective for therapies requiring physical engagement. They urgently requested flexible funding for respite and exceptions to hospital visitor policies to support caregiving demands.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2024The meaning of health to persons aging with longstanding multiple sclerosis.Research in nursing & healthPeople aging with MS valued health as function and adaptation more than absence of disease. Over 26 years, agreement with both definitions declined slightly, but self-rated health remained largely stable. Wellness-focused views linked to more health behaviors.
• PTRNCohort2024Worse Depression Profiles Are Associated With Higher Symptom Burden and Poorer Quality of Life in Patients With Gynecologic Cancer.Cancer nursingWorse depression profiles were associated with higher anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain, and poorer quality of life among patients with gynecologic cancer receiving chemotherapy. Nurses can use these patterns to target screening and referrals.
• PTOTRNQualitative2024Qualitative Description of Exercise Perceptions and Experiences Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the High-Intensity Exercise to Attenuate Limitations and Train Habits Study.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingMost older adults with HIV stopped exercising due to practical life changes like relocation or cost, but their current barriers were physical pain, fatigue, and medication side effects. Providers often encouraged activity, but participants frequently perceived this advice as pressure rather than support.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2025Inpatients' experiences of falls: A qualitative meta-synthesis.Journal of advanced nursingPatients who fell in hospital often misjudged their balance, avoided calling nurses, and could not find or reach the call bell. They then feared walking independently. Ask why they did not call for help.
• PTRNQualitative2025Exploring women's bladder self-care practices: A qualitative secondary analysis.Journal of advanced nursingWomen described limiting fluids, doing pelvic floor exercises, avoiding public toilets, using pads, and self-treating UTIs to manage bladder health. Some practices were reported as helpful, others as ineffective, so ask patients what they are doing before advising.
• PTRNCohort2024John Henryism-racial stressors among older black men with low back pain.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)For older Black men with chronic low back pain, neither high-effort coping nor pain catastrophizing had a clear link to measured back performance. Higher high-effort coping was linked to lower self-reported pain, while higher catastrophizing was linked to higher pain.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Post-Acute Care Trends and Disparities After Joint Replacements in the United States, 1991-2018: A Systematic Review.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAfter joint replacement in the US, skilled nursing facility or nursing home discharges decreased in four studies and increased in one, but Black patients were more likely than White patients to go to institutional care and less likely to go home without home health care.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2024Crosswalk Algorithms for Cognitive and Functional Outcomes Among 2013-2018 Medicare Beneficiaries With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome health admission scores often disagree with nursing facility discharge scores for patients with dementia. Cognitive impairment can be ruled out reliably using specific OASIS items, but ADL limitations are over-identified, making cross-setting comparisons unreliable.
• PTRNPilot2024Paramedic-Assisted Community Evaluation After Discharge: The PACED Intervention.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationParamedic home visits within 72 hours of discharge were feasible for frail older adults, found medication discrepancies and fall risks, and were associated with lower 30-day rehospitalization in this unblinded study.
• PTOTRNOther2025Interventions facilitating the involvement of relatives of patients with acquired brain injury or malignant brain tumour: A scoping review.Journal of clinical nursingRelatives of stroke and brain tumour patients were involved in many varied interventions, commonly including education and physical activity or training, often delivered by nurses. Outcomes and involvement were not measured consistently, so it cannot show which approach works.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Healthcare professionals' experiences of required competencies in mentoring of interprofessional students in clinical practice: A systematic review of qualitative studies.Journal of advanced nursingMentoring interprofessional student teams requires specific skills in building team identity, facilitating shared reasoning, and balancing clinical care with teaching. Nurses, therapists and doctors described feeling unprepared to supervise peers from other professions without clear coordination and manager support.
• PTRNRCT2025Group-based pelvic floor muscle training for pregnant women: A randomized controlled feasibility study.Journal of advanced nursingGroup pelvic floor training was feasible for pregnant women, but scheduling around antenatal checks reduced attendance. Women liked peer support and home reminders. Postpartum symptom scores were lower, but this small feasibility study cannot prove benefit.
• PTOTRNQualitative2024The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study: Support Priorities of Caregivers of Older Adults.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresCaregivers of older adults in Saskatchewan prioritized immediate practical help, especially homecare and long-term care access, plus being listened to by healthcare teams. They also wanted clearer information, respite, and workplace and policy supports.
• PTOTRNQualitative2025Exploring physical activity experiences of community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity: A qualitative study.Journal of advanced nursingOldest-old adults with multiple chronic conditions described pain, tiredness, cold weather and caregiving as reducing activity. Fear after falls led them to stop activities. Companions, home adaptations, aids and tailored activities were described as supporting safety, confidence or activity.
• PTRNRCT2024Feasibility of a Novel Lighting System to Reduce Nighttime Falls in Assisted Living Residents With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNighttime doorframe lights did not show a clear fall reduction in assisted-living residents with dementia. The pilot was feasible. Observed falls were 8.6 with lights and 14.3 with standard nightlights per 1000 nights; the final analysis did not rule out no effect.
• PTOTRNCohort2024Patient, Practice, and Organizational Factors Associated With Early Mobility Performance in Critically Ill Adults.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesIn ICU records, prior-day physical or occupational therapy, sedation targets, awakening trials, breathing trials, and safety screens were linked with more next-day mobility. Deep sedation, delirium, restraints, benzodiazepines, and mechanical ventilation were linked with less.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Machine learning methods to discover hidden patterns in well-being and resilience for healthy aging.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingAdults with self-reported thinking challenges had the broadest range of co-occurring physical and social health issues. They also reported the highest number of strengths and needs compared to those with mobility, emotional, or sleep challenges.
• PTOTRNCohort2024Physical and Cognitive Function Trends in Post-acute Care after Total Joint Arthroplasty in Medicare Beneficiaries: 2013-2018.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationFrom 2013 to 2018, Medicare patients after hip or knee replacement shifted from nursing or rehab facilities to home health. Home health and rehab patients became more dependent and cognitively impaired; nursing facility patients became less dependent and impaired.
• PTRNSurvey2025Psychometric Testing of an Instrument Assessing Family Knowledge, Contemplation, Confidence and Readiness for Engaging in Early Mobilisation of Critically Ill Patients: A Multi-Site Cross-Sectional Design.Journal of advanced nursingFamily members of critically ill patients could answer a 22-item questionnaire about what they know, have thought about, feel confident doing and are ready to do for early mobilisation. It may help ICU teams screen family readiness.
• PTOther2024Content validity of guidance on self-care in the post-operative period for breast cancer.Revista brasileira de enfermagemA 30-item guide for women after breast surgery was judged clear and relevant by expert nurses and physiotherapists, but it was not tested with patients or shown to improve recovery.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Understanding attendance patterns and determinants in cardiac, pulmonary, and ICU rehabilitation/recovery programs: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careAcross studies, 54% of referred patients attended cardiac, pulmonary, or ICU recovery programs at least once, but rates ranged from 3.7% to 94.8%. Transportation, cost, work conflicts, and little program contact were barriers. Provider recommendation and flexible scheduling were facilitators.
• PTRNSurvey2024Exploring the factors affecting the readiness for hospital discharge after total knee arthroplasty: A structural equation model approach.Nursing openAfter knee replacement, patients averaged 7.68 of 10 for discharge readiness. Older age, living alone, and night knee pain were linked to lower readiness; education, discharge teaching, rehab confidence, pain knowledge and social support to higher.
• PTOTRNQualitative2025'Balancing Challenges and Personal Resources': A Qualitative Study of Women's Experiences of Arm Impairment After Axillary Surgery for Breast Cancer.Journal of advanced nursingWomen after axillary surgery said arm symptoms often improved, but some had lasting pain, swelling or stiffness that required exercises, daily adaptations, clear information and supportive follow-up.