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 2 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2017The effect of Tai Chi exercise on motor function and sleep quality in patients with stroke: A meta-analysis.International journal of nursing sciencesTai Chi added to usual care improved balance and daily activities in stroke patients, but did not improve walking speed or sleep quality. The evidence is weak due to high variability between studies and short follow-up, so it should not replace standard rehab.
• PTOTRNSurvey2017The Prevalence, Subtypes and Obstetric Risk Factors of Urinary Incontinence in Reproductive Age Women Referred to Community Health Care Centers of Dezful, Iran- 2015.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyOver half of reproductive-age women attending community health centers in Iran reported urinary incontinence, yet only 0.85% sought help. Mixed incontinence was the most common subtype. Vaginal delivery and irregular menstruation were significant risk factors, while regular menstruation was protective.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2017Quality of life of patients using intermittent urinary catheterization.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemQuality of life scores were similar in Brazil and Portugal, but Brazilian patients rated their general health higher. Patients who self-catheterized reported better physical and psychological well-being than those needing caregiver help.
• PTOTRNCohort2017Changes in frailty conditions and phenotype components in elderly after hospitalization.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemOne year after discharge, the most common change was non-frail to pre-frail (56.7%), and deaths occurred among frail and pre-frail adults. Depression, medicines, illnesses and daily-living scores did not predict overall frailty change.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2018Multicomponent Palliative Care Interventions in Advanced Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review.The American journal of hospice & palliative careAcross 64 palliative care programs for cancer, heart, lung or kidney disease, nurses were involved in 88%, but few delivered all 7 components. More disciplines or components were not clearly linked to better outcomes.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2017Self-Reported Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease by Sex and Disease Duration.Western journal of nursing researchMen reported more non-motor symptoms than women. Motor symptoms increased with disease duration, but non-motor symptoms did not. Speech problems peaked in the 6-to-10-year group, while hallucinations appeared most often after 10 years.
• PTRNNarrative Review2018Sleep Among Long-Term Care Residents in China: A Narrative Review of Literature.Clinical nursing researchSleep problems are common in Chinese long-term care residents, reported in 33% to 73% across studies. Non-drug approaches, especially exercise and behavioural programmes, were linked with better sleep, but evidence is weak.
• PTOther2017Implementation evaluation and refinement of an intervention to improve blunt chest injury management-A mixed-methods study.Journal of clinical nursingOnly 290 of 424 eligible blunt chest injury patients received the early protocol. Those who did were more likely to receive several protocol care components. Staff barriers included complexity and after-hours response. Post-relaunch monitoring reported uptake rising to 91%.
• PTRNOther2018Identifying a Relationship Between Physical Frailty and Heart Failure Symptoms.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingHalf of 49 adults with heart failure were physically frail. After accounting for projected one-year survival, frailty was associated with more than two times as much breathlessness, 75% worse wake disturbance, and 76% more depression. Pain and anxiety did not differ.
• PTRCT2018Acculturation and Physical Activity Among Latinas Enrolled in a 12-Month Walking Intervention.Western journal of nursing researchLower levels of some acculturation and assimilation dimensions were linked to more moderate-to-vigorous activity in postpartum Latinas. The walking group also had more activity than controls at 6 and 12 months.
• PTOTCohort2017The Relationships Among Pain, Depression, and Physical Activity in Patients With Heart Failure.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingDepressed heart failure patients spent a median of 60 minutes per week in light activity and 210 minutes in moderate activity. Sitting time was the only significant predictor linked to depression levels, though the model did not reach statistical significance.
• PTRNRCT2017Dose-Response Relationship Between Exercise Intensity, Mood States, and Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingAmong heart failure patients in the exercise group whose exercise capacity improved had better mood and some quality-of-life outcomes than those whose capacity fell. The parent randomized trial did not show a difference between exercise and control groups, so this is association, not proof.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2017Nursing home care trajectories for older adults following in-hospital palliative care consultation.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Ten of twelve patients discharged to a nursing home after palliative care received aggressive rehabilitation despite poor prognoses, often contradicting their own goals. Only two followed a comfort-focused path. Most patients experienced high symptom burden and rehospitalization, with no documented spiritual support or goal renegotiation in the nursing home.
• PTOTCohort2017Objective Measures of Activity in the Elderly: Distribution and Associations With Demographic and Health Factors.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults aged 70 to 94 spent 78.2% to 79.5% of waking time sedentary, and average moderate-to-vigorous activity was 71.5 to 75.0 minutes/day. Activity was lower with older age, higher BMI, disability and chronic disease.
• PTSystematic Review2018Evaluation of fatigability measurement: Integrative review.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)No standard way exists to measure fatigability, or activity-related fatigue, in older adults. Most tools are single-item ratings after a walking or other activity, and only 6 of 17 had reported evidence that they measure what they claim or give stable results.
• PTCohort2017Associations Between Hormonal Biomarkers and Cognitive, Motor, and Language Developmental Status in Very Low Birth Weight Infants.Nursing researchHigher salivary cortisol was linked to lower motor scores at 6 months in very low birth weight infants. Testosterone was not linked to development overall. A boy subgroup showed higher testosterone with better language, but this was not the main finding.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2018Physical Activity and Survival in Women With Advanced Breast Cancer.Cancer nursingWomen with advanced breast cancer who did one hour of moderate activity daily had a 23% lower risk of death. This held after adjusting for age, treatment, and depression. Nurses can encourage simple daily movement like walking or housework.
• PTPilot2018Outcomes of a Culturally Tailored Partially Randomized Patient Preference Controlled Trial to Increase Physical Activity Among Low-Income Immigrant Latinas.Journal of transcultural nursing : official journal of the Transcultural Nursing SocietyCommunity health worker-led Latin dance classes twice weekly increased physical activity and flexibility in low-income immigrant Latinas. Daytime classes improved muscle strength more; evening classes improved aerobic fitness more. BMI did not decrease.
• PTRNOther2017The Relationship Between Peripheral Artery Disease Symptomatology and Ischemia.Nursing researchPeople with PAD often reported discomfort outside the calf or used atypical descriptors during treadmill testing. Only 69.2% of tests stopped for classic calf discomfort, and classic descriptors were used 55.4% of the time.
• PTRCT2017The Yale Fitness Intervention Trial in female cancer survivors: Cardiovascular and physiological outcomes.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn 139 female cancer survivors, supervised aerobic-resistance exercise at a fitness center improved treadmill time and heart-rate recovery more than home physical activity, while blood pressure did not differ.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2017Beliefs About Use of Complementary Health Approaches for Parkinson's Disease.Holistic nursing practicePeople with Parkinson's disease using complementary health approaches believed these methods were effective for symptom control and necessary for general health. They reported low concern about side effects or drug interactions but expressed willingness to disclose their use to healthcare professionals.
• PTSurvey2017Relationship Between Adherence to Individual Goals Within the 5-2-1-0 Guidelines for Obesity Prevention and Number of PACER Laps in Adolescents.The Journal of school healthAdolescents who met at least one of the 5-2-1-0 health goals completed more PACER shuttle-run laps than those meeting none. Average laps did not rise further with more goals.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2018The Relationship Between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Incident Frailty: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults with the most pro-inflammatory diets had a higher risk of becoming frail over eight years. This link was strong in men, where the highest diet score group had four times the risk, but no association was found in women.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2018Fear of falling among community-dwelling older adults: A scoping review to identify effective evidence-based interventions.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Exercise, tai chi, cognitive behavior therapy and multi-component programs reduced fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults in 26 of 45 studies, but no intervention was clearly best.
• PTSystematic Review2017Factors associated with balance function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: An integrative review.International journal of nursing sciencesIn knee osteoarthritis, older age, higher BMI, greater pain, and weaker knees or ankles were linked to poorer balance. Knee sleeves and insoles gave mixed results. Weight loss and strengthening were suggested, but this review cannot prove they improve balance.
• PTOTRNQualitative2018Stakeholders' Perceptions Sought to Inform the Development of a Low-Cost Mobile Robot for Older Adults: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.Clinical nursing researchOlder adults in senior housing wanted to do daily self-care and household tasks themselves, keep active, and stay connected to family and friends. Staff visits did not replace that need. Safety checks and reminders mattered.
• PTOTRNOther2018Executive function: Responses to aerobic exercise in Alzheimer's disease.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Six months of supervised cycling did not significantly improve executive function in 28 older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Scores declined non-significantly. EXIT-25, BDS, and Stroop tracked change better than Trail Making Test and COWAT.
• PTRNMeta-Analysis2017Effect of nutritional supplement combined with exercise intervention on sarcopenia in the elderly: A meta-analysis.International journal of nursing sciencesIn older adults with sarcopenia, adding nutritional supplements to exercise increased muscle mass versus exercise alone, but BMI and fat mass showed no significant difference. Evidence came from six small trials with mixed results.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2018Beck Depression Inventory-II: Factor Analyses with Three Groups of Midlife Women of African Descent in the Midwest, the South, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.Issues in mental health nursingThe BDI-II depression screen works as a two-part measure for midlife women of African descent, separating cognitive symptoms like guilt from physical ones like fatigue. Somatic complaints should prompt further exploration for depression in this population.
• PTRCT2018The Influence of Exercise on Cardiovascular Health in Sedentary Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingSedentary adults with HIV had less moderate activity and less efficient breathing than matched controls. Step counts were associated with lower inflammation, better fitness, and lower insulin resistance, but exercise was not proven to cause these changes.
• PTOTRNSurvey2017Prevalence of household falls in long-lived adults and association with extrinsic factors.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemIn adults aged 80 or older, 46.9% reported a fall in the past year. Uneven floors, steps, pets at the entrance, missing anti-slip rugs and bathroom grab bars were associated with falls.
• PTRCT2017Circulating Lipids and Acute Pain Sensitization: An Exploratory Analysis.Nursing researchIn 30 people with acute low back pain, four blood lipids differed between those with and without pain sensitization, but predicted sensitization only 58% of the time, so this is not a clinical test.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2017Patients' Outcomes After Acute Respiratory Failure: A Qualitative Study With the PROMIS Framework.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesAfter acute respiratory failure, survivors described fatigue, breathlessness, fear of illness, memory and word-finding difficulty, and changed work and relationships. Some reported gratitude and closer relationships, while others felt isolated or wished they had died.
• PTOTRNOther2018Self-efficacy Mediates the Relationship Between Motivation and Physical Activity in Patients With Heart Failure.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingSelf-efficacy, not motivation, predicted physical activity in heart failure patients. High motivation did not increase activity when self-efficacy was low. Clinicians should assess and address barriers to exercise to build confidence, rather than only emphasizing the benefits of being active.
• PTQualitative2017Enhancing yoga participation: A qualitative investigation of barriers and facilitators to yoga among predominantly racial/ethnic minority, low-income adults.Complementary therapies in clinical practiceLow-income adults commonly saw yoga as relaxing and flexibility-focused, but injury fears, class timing, and unclear expectations limited participation; beginner classes and personable instructors were facilitators.
• PTOTRNCohort2017Examining the Effects of Age on Health Outcomes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Results From the Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Study and Evaluation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate Endpoints Cohorts.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults with COPD reported better quality of life despite worse lung function. Frequent exacerbations were lower after accounting for other factors, but severe exacerbation findings differed.
• PTOther2017Development and validation of an algorithm for laser application in wound treatment.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemExperienced wound-care professionals rated a laser therapy algorithm as useful for choosing wound cleaning and laser settings. It was not tested on patients, so it does not show that laser therapy heals wounds.
• PTRNOther2018A mixed methods study of Tai Chi exercise for patients with chronic heart failure aged 70 years and older.Nursing openFor older patients with chronic heart failure, Tai Chi training did not significantly improve fatigue, quality of life, physical performance or NTproBNP versus control. Participants found it feasible and meaningful.
• PTOTRNRCT2018Sources and Types of Social Support for Physical Activity Perceived by Fifth to Eighth Grade Girls.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingGirls with three sources of support for activity moved more than those with fewer. Mothers were the most common source overall, but support from fathers dropped as girls matured. Practical help like transport and doing activity together linked to more movement.
• PTOTRNCohort2018Octogenarians' post-acute care use after cardiac valve surgery and recovery: clinical implications.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Most Medicare patients aged 80 and older used post-acute care after cardiac valve surgery: 68%. Skilled nursing and home health were common; inpatient rehabilitation was rare. Patients and families may need early planning for discharge.
• PTRNPilot2018Acceptability and Feasibility of Examining Physical Activity in Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & PractitionersA hospital dance game and exercycle were feasible and safe in young children with diabetes, but most did not reach moderate activity. Glucose monitoring and parent feedback were acceptable.
• PTOther2018Translation of an evidence-based therapeutic exercise program for patients with peripheral artery disease.Journal of vascular nursing : official publication of the Society for Peripheral Vascular NursingSupervised exercise for leg pain from vascular disease improved walking distance by 11% and workload by 34%. Self-reported quality of life gains were inconsistent, with no change in general walking impairment scores.
• PTRNCohort2018Identifying Factors Associated With Mobility Decline Among Hospitalized Older Adults.Clinical nursing researchIn 959 hospitalized adults age 65 and older, 49% had mobility decline by discharge. Hearing impairment, non-emergency admission, and longer stays were associated with decline; adults 65-74 or 75-84 were more likely to decline than those 85 and older.
• PTRNNarrative Review2018Neighborhood, Socioeconomic, and Racial Influence on Chronic Pain.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesChronic pain in impoverished urban neighborhoods is associated with stress, unsafe places, limited walking, social isolation, and perceived discrimination. Ask about these barriers before recommending activity, and include nursing assessment of socioeconomic and neighborhood factors.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2018Functional Status Is Associated With 30-Day Potentially Preventable Readmissions Following Skilled Nursing Facility Discharge Among Medicare Beneficiaries.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationPatients discharged from skilled nursing facilities with greater dependence in self-care, mobility, or cognition had higher odds of 30-day potentially preventable readmissions. Mobility and self-care dependence showed stronger associations than severe cognitive impairment alone.
• PTRNOther2018CE: Original Research: Physical Activity Among Chinese American Immigrants with Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes.The American journal of nursingWalking, housekeeping, and hourly movement were the main activities; very few did aerobic or strength training. Participants knew diet mattered but often did not know what exercise to do, how hard, or how safe it was with their health problems.
• PTOTRNOther2018Hearing loss and tinnitus in survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing SocietyCancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy who also reported hearing loss and tinnitus had worse balance, pain interference, mood, and quality of life than those with neuropathy alone, but perceived stress did not differ.
• PTOTCohort2018Muscle Strength and Functional Limitations: Preserving Function in Older Mexican Americans.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationStronger handgrip was linked to less functional loss over two years in older Mexican Americans. Each 10-kg higher grip was associated with 5% and 8% lower odds of losing instrumental tasks and developing new disability. It does not prove strength training prevents decline.
• PTRNCohort2018Effect of symptoms on physical performance in COPD.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn adults with COPD, breathlessness was strongly linked to worse physical performance and to more anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Anxiety appeared linked to better performance, but authors warn this may reflect restlessness, not improvement.
• PTRNCohort2018Persistence of pain quality in community-dwelling older adults with chronic non-cancer pain.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Older adults with chronic pain kept the same pain-quality descriptors over 18 months, especially sensory pain. Those reporting all three persistent categories had more widespread pain, but pain severity and interference did not change consistently.