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 20 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRCT2026Feasibility and Acceptability of the Living My Life Program for Rural and Remote Stroke Survivors.The Australian journal of rural healthFour of five rural stroke survivors completed a 12-week online coaching program, found it acceptable, and reported progress on personal goals using their own technology. This pilot shows it can be done, not that it works.
• PTRNSurvey2026Comorbid Conditions of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Vulvodynia: A Latent Class Analysis.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesAmong 1,016 females with Ehlers-Danlos or hypermobility, those with both pain and non-musculoskeletal comorbidities were most likely to screen positive for vulvodynia (73%); the pain condition class was 64%. Screening is not diagnosis.
• PTOTRNRCT2026From Intensive Care to Recovery: Feasibility of a Randomised Controlled Study Design Evaluating a Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention for Critically Ill Patients.Nursing in critical care83 ICU patients were randomised to usual care or cognitive rehabilitation, but only 33 completed 6-month follow-up. This tested trial procedures, not whether mindfulness or brain training improves recovery.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2026Identifying types of non-pharmacological interventions administered by healthcare providers for older adults with neurocognitive disorders who have lower urinary tract symptoms: A scoping review.Japan journal of nursing science : JJNSNon-drug continence care for older adults with neurocognitive disorders and urinary symptoms was mapped into individualized, behavioral, cognitive, and educational interventions across 18 studies. As severity increased, care shifted from self-management to caregiver-led and technology-assisted support.
• PTQualitative2026Local Pain Collectives: A Novel Strategy for Improving Pain Knowledge, Pain Care and Community Connectedness in Rural Settings.The Australian journal of rural healthRural health professionals said a two-year pain program improved their pain knowledge, confidence, patient interactions, and belonging. They also reported building local referral networks and running community pain education events.
• PTRNRCT2026The Effect of Peanut Ball Use on the Labour Process and Maternal-Neonatal Outcomes in Parturient Women With High Maternal Body Mass Index: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of nursing practicePeanut ball positioning did not shorten active labour. In high-BMI women without pharmacologic analgesia, upright sitting on a peanut ball lowered end-of-active-phase pain and increased birth satisfaction.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Barriers and Facilitators Perceived by Primary Healthcare Professionals About Physical Activity Prescription, a Meta-Ethnography.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)Primary care professionals want to prescribe physical activity but feel blocked by time constraints, lack of training, and poor referral systems. They often view it as someone else's task or a waste of resources. Systemic support, not just personal motivation, is needed to make it routine.
• PTQualitative2026Mitigating and Solving Infection Prevention and Control Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From Qualitative Interviews With U.S. Home Healthcare Staff.Home healthcare nowHome health staff described fear, shifting infection-control guidance, and PPE problems in patients' homes. They reported scheduling COVID-positive visits last, using telehealth, and adapting therapy to reduce contact; these were experiences, not tested interventions.
• PTOTRNSurvey2026Patient and Family Perspectives of Pressure Injury Prevention and Management in Acute Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of clinical nursingMany patients and caregivers knew pressure injuries exist, but most did not hear about their risk or receive prevention resources during hospital admission. They preferred verbal information and brochures. Not hearing about risk was linked to more self-reported pressure injuries.
• PTOTSLPRNMeta-Analysis2026Efficacy of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) on Pain Symptoms and Sleep Quality Improvement in Chronic Pain Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.Nursing openInternet-based CBT reduced chronic pain and improved sleep quality in adults immediately after treatment. These benefits did not last: at follow-up, pain scores showed no significant difference from controls. The effect was also absent in children under 18.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2026Supporting Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Older Adults with Coronary Heart Disease: Development of a Web-Based Nursing Intervention.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresOlder adults recovering from coronary surgery described fear of triggering symptoms and uncertainty about safe exercise as key barriers to being active. They asked for clear, personalized guidance and regular encouragement from a nurse to build confidence.
• PTOTRNOther2026Health Outcomes Following the Health-Promoting "Reflective STRENGTH-Giving Dialogue" Intervention Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesParticipants reported lower impact of health problems on daily life and higher well-being after each dialogue on average. Over 14 weeks, no significant within-group changes were found.
• PTOTSurvey2026Health-Related Quality of Life of Adults With Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study in Primary Care.Journal of clinical nursingAdults with Long COVID reported worse health-related quality of life than those without, especially anxiety/depression, pain/discomfort, and usual activities. These differences remained after accounting for age, sex, and comorbidities.
• PTNarrative Review2026Perioperative Applications of Electrical Stimulation in Flap Surgeries: Mechanisms and Benefits.Advances in skin & wound careElectrical stimulation increased flap survival in animal and cell studies, but the review found no standardized clinical protocol. Most evidence is preclinical, so it cannot tell clinicians how to use ES in patients.
• PTQualitative2026Engaging With Hospital Staff to Develop Implementation Strategies For Delivering a Patient Falls Prevention Education Program Using a World Café.Western journal of nursing researchHospital staff proposed flexible training for all ward roles, visible falls champions, clear patient plans, family communication, interpreters and leadership support to implement a falls prevention education program. The plan has not been evaluated.
• PTOTRNOther2026The Moderating Effect of Physical Activity on the Association Between Cognitive Function and Fear of Falling in Low-Income Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Research in gerontological nursingCognitive function was not linked to fear of falling in low-income community-dwelling older adults without measured cognitive impairment, and physical activity did not appear to change this link. More sitting time was linked to more fear; more moderate-to-vigorous activity was linked to less fear.
• PTOTRNQualitative2026The Neglected Care Burden and Unmet Needs of Informal Caregivers of Stroke Survivors. A Qualitative Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesCaregivers of stroke survivors described heavy new roles, coordination and personal care, and feeling left without clear stroke information. They valued continuity with home physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2026Patient-Driven Grouping Model and Home Health Use Among Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome health visits and episode length fell after PDGM, especially for beneficiaries with dementia. Therapy visits drove much of the decline, and the largest reductions appeared in advanced dementia. This is service use, not proof of harm.
• PTRNCase Report2026Case Series: Episodes of Care in an Intensive Care Garden-Does Fresh Air Matter?Nursing in critical careICU patients used a garden space for end-of-life care and rehabilitation. Relatives and staff described it as private, natural and supportive, but the report cannot show fresh air improved outcomes.
• PTOTRNRCT2026A secondary analysis of how changes in pain interference relate to changes in health-related quality of life and physical function in heart failure.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn adults with heart failure, worsening pain interference tended to track with worsening physical function and quality of life over time. The links were modest and observational, so they do not prove pain treatment improves either outcome.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2026Rebuilding life after breast cancer treatment among Korean breast cancer survivors: an integrative review.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea)Korean breast cancer survivors reported persistent pain, sleep disturbance, decreased muscle strength, reduced exercise tolerance and lymphedema after treatment, plus body-image distress, fear of recurrence and return-to-work struggles. Exercise, diet, self-management and surveillance support are framed as possible nursing targets, not proven effects.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2026Applying the Brief Interview for Mental Status in a Diverse Home Health Patient Population.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationMost home health patients score as cognitively intact on the BIMS, but non-English speakers and minority patients score lower regardless of actual ability. This tool misses mild impairment and should not be used alone to judge a patient's cognition.
• PTRCT2026Recess as a Setting for Child Development: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Physical Activity, Motor Skills and Social-Emotional Functioning.The Journal of school healthStructured recess play did not increase children's physical activity or social-emotional functioning over a school year. Motor skills improved more in the control group than in the intervention group.
• PTOTQualitative2026Iranian Older Adults' Experiences of the Age-friendliness of Kashan City: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyOlder adults in Kashan described unsafe sidewalks, steep ramps, high bus steps, poor seating, dismissive staff and inaccessible technology as barriers to mobility, participation and independence. They felt forgotten.
• PTRNQualitative2026Relational and symbolic process: decisions regarding the place of death in the context of advanced cancer.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PChoosing home or hospital for death was described as a negotiation over pain control, family capacity, and communication. Nurses and other team members appeared as mediators, but the study did not show one setting as better.
• PTPilot2026Improving Pain Literacy Among Future Educators: Contemporary Pain Neuroscience Education in Teacher Preparation.The Journal of school healthAfter two pain neuroscience sessions delivered by a physical therapist, all 15 education students improved pain beliefs, and most improved pain knowledge. Confidence to discuss pain rose, while interest and usefulness stayed similar.
• PTRNOther2026Application of patient-reported outcome instruments in nonsurgical management of pelvic organ prolapse: a scoping review.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PCare for pelvic organ prolapse without surgery uses many questionnaires completed by patients, mainly for symptoms, quality of life or treatment outcomes. No one tool covers all key concerns, and timing varies. This maps practice; it does not prove any treatment works.
• PTRNSurvey2026Translation and Validation of the Japanese Version of the Dialysis Patient-Perceived Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale.Journal of renal carePeople on haemodialysis in Japan who exercised regularly scored higher on a Japanese questionnaire for perceived exercise benefits and barriers. The scale can help physiotherapists and nurses identify counselling targets, but does not prove exercise works.
• PTQualitative2026Communication strategies used in pediatric urology by specialist professionals.Revista brasileira de enfermagemSpecialists who treat children with urinary and bowel symptoms described using simple words, analogies, pictures, dolls and games to talk directly with children. Caregivers often led dialogue, but these tools were used to gather symptoms and explain guidance.
• PTSurvey2026Secular Trends in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Weight Status Among South Korean Adolescents During 2017-2024.The Journal of school healthObesity rose from 10.0% to 12.4%, underweight from 6.9% to 7.5%, and physical activity guideline adherence remained low at 6.7% in 2024. Screen time adherence fell to 19.2% in 2020 and recovered only to 24.5% in 2024.
• PTRNMeta-Analysis2026Efficacy and Safety of Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation in Invasively Ventilated Critically Ill Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Nursing in critical careMechanical insufflation-exsufflation, alone or added to suctioning or physiotherapy, increased sputum clearance in invasively ventilated ICU adults, but did not significantly improve oxygenation, ventilator-free days or ICU stay. Use it as an adjunct for retained secretions, not as a proven way to shorten ventilation.
• PTOTRNQualitative2026Community-Dwelling Older Adults' Experience With Activity Trackers: Effects of Monitoring Physical Activity.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults in a community exercise program said tracking with a Fitbit helped them set goals, feel more active, manage fear of falling, and describe changes in memory, social connection, and function. These were self-reported experiences, not proof the tracker caused change.
• PTOTRNCohort2026Distinct Health-Related Quality of Life Recovery Trajectories Among ICU Survivors: A Multicentre Prospective Cohort Study Using the EQ-5D-5L.Nursing in critical careTwo years after ICU discharge, 58.3% of survivors stayed near normal quality of life, 31.7% remained suboptimal and 10.0% stayed persistently low. Mobility and pain problems persisted in poorer groups; older age, delirium, multimorbidity and facility discharge were associated with poorer recovery.
• PTRNCohort2026Therapeutic support and functional disability after ischemic stroke: a cohort study.Revista brasileira de enfermagemDisability did not change significantly from 90 days to two to three years after ischemic stroke. Physiotherapy follow-up was linked to more moderate or severe disability, likely because more impaired patients were referred.
• PTRNOther2026Key comorbidities in the development of post-COVID conditions: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PHypertension and obesity were associated with different post-COVID symptom patterns in 350 adults: hypertensive patients reported weakness more often, obese patients reported diarrhea and upper-limb tingling. No treatment was tested.
• PTRNSurvey2026Understanding Exercise Facilitators, Preferences, and Goals in Females With Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed-Methods Analysis.The science of diabetes self-management and careFemales with type 2 diabetes most often wanted weight loss and glucose control, often to reduce medication. They preferred moderate aerobic activity at home, 30 to 45 minutes, with weekly support, and goals were similar across younger and older groups.
• PTRNSurvey2026Patients in Every Practice: Health Status and Health Experiences of an International Sample of Adults Born Preterm.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingMost participants born preterm reported ongoing health concerns, yet 67% had never been asked about preterm birth. Concerns were similar across gestational ages and birth eras, and respiratory, mental health and neurodevelopmental symptoms were common.
• PTRCT2026Teacher- Versus Video-Delivered Classroom Activity Breaks and Student Physical Activity: The PAAC-3 Trial.The Journal of school healthTeacher-led and video-led classroom activity breaks produced similar increases in students' active school-day time. Teachers delivered far less than the planned two 10-minute breaks daily, so the trial does not show that either format works.
• PTPilot2025Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury, a program using an app, smartwatch, wheelchair sensor, and PT and trainer guided workouts did not significantly change sedentary breaks, but it increased moderate-to-vigorous exercise time.
• PTRCT2024Early comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation for hospitalized patients with acute ex-acerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineWalking distance at discharge was not significantly different between early pulmonary rehabilitation and usual care. The rehabilitation group improved more, 47.5 m vs 23.0 m, and more patients reached the 30 m clinically important gain.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Possible role of the botulinum toxin in the management of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineBotulinum toxin injections for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome show inconsistent results. The only high-quality randomized trial found no significant improvement in pain or function compared to placebo, while lower-quality retrospective studies reported symptom relief. Current evidence does not support its use as a validated treatment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Impact of multidisciplinary rehabilitation on functioning and quality of life in stroke survivors: a longitudinal retrospective analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors in specialized multidisciplinary rehabilitation showed improved functional and quality of life scores up to 12 months, but overall quality of life did not improve and scores declined by 3 years. The study cannot separate rehabilitation from other care.
• PTCohort2026Quantitative Analysis of the Nystagmus of Posterior Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Its Association With Prognosis.Ear and hearingIn posterior canal BPPV, Dix-Hallpike latency and day 0 treatment success did not predict later dizziness or resolution, but torsional up-beating nystagmus during the Epley maneuver was linked to treatment success.
• PTMeta-Analysis2026Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationActive tDCS compared with sham reduced self-reported pain and improved pressure pain thresholds, but it did not change conditioned pain modulation. Evidence for function was low certainty.
• PTSystematic Review2026The classification of walking and phases of gait using EEG: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEEG-based studies could distinguish walking from rest in lab settings, but gait phase classification is sparse, mostly treadmill and healthy adults, and not ready for clinical robotic gait training.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Rehabilitation needs of long COVID patients in British Columbia.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMost people referred to a long COVID clinic needed rehabilitation by clinic criteria, especially for breathing and mental health. Many needed more than one service, so screening should ask about fatigue, breathlessness, mood, and function before choosing a single rehab pathway.
• PTOTOther2026Sex-related differences in the physical, functional, physiological, and emotional profile of adults with chronic vestibular hypofunction: a cross-sectional EXERVEST study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn adults with chronic vestibular hypofunction, women and men differed in body composition, exercise capacity, visual balance, and sleep. They did not differ in depression, anxiety, dizziness handicap, activity, or fall risk. Use same-sex reference values rather than assuming one sex is worse.
• PTOTRCT2026Effects of adding R-BoT + plus verticalization-based robotic locomotor training to conventional rehabilitation in patients with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding R-BoT + plus robotic stepping to conventional rehab improved walking independence more than conventional rehab alone at 4 weeks and 3 months. The robot was given with usual therapy, not alone.
• PTOTCohort2026Return to Community Living and Functional Ability Following Inpatient Rehabilitation for Hip Fracture in Patients Aged ≥65 Years: A Retrospective Descriptive Observational Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost older hip fracture patients who had lived at home returned after inpatient rehabilitation, but 18.1% returning to family and 26.3% returning to live alone had low function scores and likely needed support beyond family caregivers.
• PTRCT2026Effects of a 12-week Tai Chi program on postural stability and gait biomechanics in prefrail older adults: a randomized controlled study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter 12 weeks, prefrail older adults given Tai Chi plus health education finished the Timed Up-and-Go test 1.63 seconds faster than those given health education alone. Balance and physical performance scores were also better. The study did not test Tai Chi without health education.