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 21 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTCohort2026Ethnic Differences in Postacute Stroke Rehabilitation.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAfter adjusting for income, education, and other factors, there was no clear difference in first inpatient rehab use between MA and NHW stroke survivors. Before adjustment, NHW use was higher.
• PTOther2026A multidimensional evaluation of the Atalante exoskeleton as an assistive locomotion device for individuals with complete paraplegia: a prospective longitudinal study in a controlled environment.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 11 adults with complete paraplegia, supervised hands-free Atalante exoskeleton walking became faster to set up and take off, with rare harness-assisted near-falls, but one fracture occurred. Use needs careful bone screening and supervised indoor setup.
• PTOTPilot2026Transcutaneous spinal stimulation with upper extremity robotic training in chronic stroke and spinal cord injury: individual neurophysiological and clinical responses.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding cervical transcutaneous spinal stimulation to arm robotic and grip training produced no clear group-level arm gains. Some people with chronic stroke or spinal cord injury showed individual improvements in grip, arm scores, tone, or sensation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Immediate changes during dysesthesia-matched transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in refractory neuropathic pain: a retrospective observational case series.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPain scores dropped by a median of 2 points during stimulation in this case series. However, without a control group, these changes cannot be separated from placebo effects or natural symptom fluctuation.
• PTOther2026Handgrip strength reference values and dynapenia risk thresholds in an urban adult sample from Lima, Peru.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn Lima adults, grip strength was lower than commonly reported in European and North American groups, fell by 2.5 kg per decade, and age and sex reference values can guide local screening.
• PTCohort2026Relative fat mass predicts symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in older adults with metabolic syndrome: a longitudinal cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn Chinese adults with metabolic syndrome, higher relative fat mass was associated with new symptomatic knee osteoarthritis during follow-up. It identified risk better than BMI, but the paper describes the gain as modest and meant for screening, not diagnosis.
• PTCohort2026Home-based digital exercise versus hospital physiotherapy for plantar fasciitis: a propensity-score-matched retrospective cohort study with dual-perspective cost-utility evaluation.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFor adults with plantar fasciitis who chose a home app-delivered exercise programme over hospital physiotherapy, 3-month first-step pain was similar and slightly lower, and costs were less. The groups were not randomised, so this is not proof the programme caused the difference.
• PTRCT2026Peripheral and central vestibular neuromodulation improve postural control in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a randomized, sham-controlled, multi-arm intervention study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, 20 minutes of noisy vestibular stimulation over the mastoid processes, scalp stimulation over the right parietal cortex, or both reduced immediate sway on a hard balance task. The combined approach gave the largest short-term sway reduction.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Inpatient rehabilitation after acute injury or illness for patients with and without mental health disorders: service utilization, functional improvement, and pain.Journal of rehabilitation medicineInpatients with mental health disorders made similar functional gains and were equally satisfied, but reported more pain, used more opioids on discharge, cancelled more physiotherapy, and required far more team coordination and nurse time.
• PTOTRCT2026Tai Ji for stroke rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial on improving upper limb function and cortico-muscular coupling in stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients who added Tai Ji to standard medical treatment, health education, and upper limb rehabilitation had greater upper limb motor score gains after four weeks. Because Tai Ji was extra training, its unique effect is unclear.
• PTOTRCT2026Development of virtual reality in the upper extremities function in children with Cerebral Palsy. A pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality training did not significantly improve upper-extremity range of motion or motor function versus conventional therapy in 42 children with cerebral palsy. A younger 10 to 12 year subgroup showed better self-reported manual ability.
• PTSystematic Review2026Ankle-foot orthosis mechanical testing: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationDifferent tests of ankle-foot orthosis stiffness can disagree, so measured stiffness may not mean the same thing across labs. Clinicians cannot yet rely on stiffness numbers to choose an AFO until testing methods are standardized.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Clinically interpretable prediction models of stroke functional outcomes: A national cohort study of adults in inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the US.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn US inpatient rehab, discharge self-care and mobility were best predicted by admission self-care and mobility, continence and length of stay. Therapy minutes had limited influence.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Low-Frequency STN-DBS for Standing and Gait Initiation in Parkinson's Disease: A Double-Blinded Randomised Cross-Over Feasibility Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSwitching to low-frequency brain stimulation improved standing balance and movement initiation in Parkinson's, but caused tremor to return in 10 of 16 patients off medication. Clinical mobility scores did not change, so the benefit is only visible on specialised force-plate tests.
• PTCohort2026Sensor-derived heel pressure metrics capture reversible gait dysfunction beyond conventional gait measures in normal pressure hydrocephalus.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter a spinal fluid tap test, heel pressure patterns changed in responders. Adding heel pressure to a 10-m walk test showed added clinical usefulness, but did not clearly separate responders better.
• PTOther2026Fidelity of an Online Telecoaching Community-Based Exercise Intervention Among Adults Living With HIV in Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Observational Longitudinal Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies83% of the 18 participants assessed at month 6 attended at least 80% of online personal training sessions, but only 50% met the independent exercise target and 33% attended group classes. The only part delivered as planned was supervised attendance.
• PTOTRCT2026Safety, feasibility and preliminary effects of Atalante exoskeleton-assisted gait training in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a prospective ABA pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTen people with ALS completed six weeks of exoskeleton gait training safely. Objective measures showed no significant change, but participants reported high motivation and perceived benefits. This confirms feasibility and safety, not that the training preserves walking function.
• PTOTOther2026Topological data analysis of postural sway: characterizing balance control during childhood development.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationYounger children show more complex, oscillatory sway patterns than adults. Removing vision increased sway size but not its structural complexity, while standing on one leg increased both. These topological markers track balance maturation in healthy children.
• PTRCT2026Beyond microprocessor knees: exploring the potential of fully powered prosthetic legs.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe powered knee-ankle prototype did not give clinically meaningful walking benefits over microprocessor knees. With 12 transfemoral users, it was slower on fastest-speed tests, less symmetrical in swing time, and less preferred, while oxygen cost was similar.
• PTCase-Control2026Exploring brain activity differences in functional constipation using fNIRS: a case-control study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBrain activity did not differ significantly between functional constipation patients and healthy controls during three defecation-related tasks. Group-averaged trends showed lower motor and sensory activation during defecation tasks and higher activation during sphincter contraction in patients.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Efficacy of Physical Modalities for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain After Stroke: A Systematic Review.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn adults with post-stroke shoulder pain, electrical, shock-wave, or laser modalities sometimes reduced pain, especially when added to physiotherapy. Function improved less consistently, and the evidence was very uncertain, so do not treat these as proven stand-alone therapies.
• PTOTCase Report2026Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Distal Biceps Tenotomy for Fixed Spastic Elbow Contracture in Cerebral Palsy: Case Report and Technical Note.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn a 63-year-old woman with severe spastic cerebral palsy, ultrasound-guided percutaneous distal biceps tenotomy improved passive elbow extension and made hygiene and positioning easier. This single case does not show the procedure works.
• PTPilot2026Application of Circadian Rhythm-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Severe Pneumonia-A Feasibility Study With Convenience Sampling.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSevere pneumonia ICU patients receiving a bundle of airway care, positioning, breathing, limb, nutrition and psychological support timed to circadian rhythms had shorter ventilation and stay, better lung function, adherence and sleep than usual care. The bundle's components cannot be separated.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Functional recovery and mortality after intensive inpatient rehabilitation for severe acquired brain injury in older adults: a retrospective cohort study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOlder adults after severe acquired brain injury who had swallowing problems and diabetes at admission had poorer function at discharge. Death during inpatient rehabilitation was more common in older patients.
• PTOther2026Electrical bioimpedance spectral markers distinguish balance ability in older adults without provoking fall risk.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOlder adults with better single-leg balance showed more orderly muscle impedance signals during safe standing and sitting than those with poorer balance. This small marker study did not test whether the signals predict falls.
• PTOther2026The cost of imbalance: how balance problems drive energy cost of walking in persons with multiple sclerosis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn people with MS who had walking problems, poorer balance was linked to higher energy cost of walking, especially at slower speeds. This suggests rehabilitation may need to target both balance and walking speed, not balance alone.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Market shaping for AT: scoping review and case study of an intervention.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesHearing aid prices dropped 94% in Rwanda and 96% in Iran after UNICEF added them to its supply catalogue. Wheelchair prices fell less, averaging 34% across three countries. These gains rely on bulk public procurement, not clinical assessment or fitting.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Associations between interpreter dependency and rehabilitation outcomes and care processes following acquired brain injury: a Swedish registry-based cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineInterpreter-dependent patients started rehabilitation with lower independence and quality of life but improved at the same rate as others. However, their patient experience surveys were collected significantly less often, leaving their voices missing from routine care data.
• PTOther2026Validation of heart rate measurements from the polar verity sense during the submaximal Ekblom-Bak test in adult individuals with obesity.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn adults with obesity, arm-worn Polar Verity Sense matched chest strap heart rate during steady-state cycling, giving nearly identical estimated VO2 max. Most participants preferred the arm-worn device, but it was tested only during cycle ergometry.
• PTOther2026Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Use Among Commercially Insured and Medicare Advantage Patients.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesRemote therapeutic monitoring use was mostly for musculoskeletal problems (56.3% of commercial use), and other clinicians such as therapists and nurses delivered 48.7%. Use grew from 2089 months in 2022 to 24,494 months in 2024, but most patients used it for only one calendar year.
• PTOther2026A domain-specific approach to characterizing balance confidence post-stroke.Topics in stroke rehabilitationPeople with chronic stroke had the lowest balance confidence for recovering after a bump, averaging 48%. ABC scale items separated into walking, preparing for movement, and reacting to a disturbance.
• PTRCT2026Effects of an actuated ankle exoskeleton on walking stability in healthy adults: a controlled laboratory study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 18 healthy adults, walking with an ankle exoskeleton increased variability in stride length and ground-contact timing, but local stability near the ankle improved. Overall stride timing stayed unchanged. Device mass and assistance were combined, so neither alone can be blamed.
• PTCase Report2026Safety and Feasibility of Early Aquatic Physical Therapy for Military Survivors of Gunshot Wounds and Blast Injuries: A Case Series.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAll 3 military patients with gunshot or blast wounds received early aquatic therapy alongside acute multidisciplinary care and land-based rehabilitation without adverse events or wound infection. Each showed functional gains and returned to duty, but the case series cannot separate the aquatic component.
• PTOTSurvey2026Identifying classes with different disability profiles amongst patients with persistent neck pain.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with persistent neck pain fall into three distinct groups based on which daily tasks they struggle with, rather than just how much pain they feel. One group has mild issues, one struggles specifically with reading and lifting, and one has severe limitations across almost all activities.
• PTOTPilot2026Assisted cycling in non-ambulant adults with cerebral palsy: exploratory effects and feasibility in residential care.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFatigue, sleep and quality of life did not change after assisted cycling in non-ambulant adults with cerebral palsy. The programme was feasible, and some participants reported less leg pain and constipation.
• PTOTQualitative2026Let us tell you how to train us! experiences of children and youth with the Wheelchair Skills Training Program and their preferences for training delivery: a descriptive qualitative study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesChildren and youth using manual wheelchairs liked the Wheelchair Skills Training Program when it matched their goals, used playful practice, and built a supportive trainer relationship. They wanted flexible settings, timing, and dosage. These are experiences and preferences, not evidence that the program works.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Transfer effects of animal-assisted therapy on socioemotional skills in adult inpatient rehabilitation after acquired brain injury: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAfter six weeks, adults with brain injury who received animal-assisted occupational, speech, or physiotherapy showed more social behavior in a standardized outside-therapy task than usual therapy. Mood, thinking, motivation, quality of life and attendance did not differ. High dropouts mean this is not firm evidence.
• PTOTPilot2026Delivering Virtual Group Interventions for Youth With Persisting Symptoms After Concussion (Move&Connect-Youth) and Their Caregivers (Move&Connect-Caregivers): Fidelity and Engagement Evaluation.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesVirtual group concussion programs for youth and caregivers were mostly delivered as planned. Participants valued facilitator support and peer connection. Youth found exercises sometimes mismatched, and caregivers faced scheduling and material-access barriers. No clinical outcome results are reported here.
• PTCase Report2026Cryoneurolysis for Spasticity in a Pediatric Patient With Cold Urticaria Managed With Targeted Skin Warming: A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOne child with cold urticaria had cryoneurolysis for leg spasticity with active skin warming; no cold flare occurred, and ankle and hamstring range and heel strike improved at 1 month.
• PTSLPSystematic Review2026Use of Wearable Sensors in Angelman Syndrome: A Systematic Review.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRWearable sleep and vocalization sensors have been used in small Angelman syndrome studies, mostly at home. Some matched existing measures, but device intolerance and limited testing mean they are not ready as routine clinical tools.
• PTCohort2026Biomechanical and functional outcomes of high-burden and low-burden multilevel surgery in young people with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyGait pattern improved after both low-burden and high-burden multilevel surgery in ambulatory young people with cerebral palsy. Functional walking capacity improved only after low-burden surgery; high-burden surgery did not improve walking capacity and walking speed decreased.
• PTOTSurvey2026Consumer Priorities for Upper-Extremity Outcome Assessments.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStroke survivors and caregivers valued clinician-rated arm movement, strength and hand tasks over biomarkers or general disability. They preferred weekly in-person assessments during treatment.
• PTOTCohort2026Early Gait Responsiveness as a Predictor of Functional Trajectory in Older Adults Undergoing Postacute Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn older adults in postacute rehab, walking distance that increased faster during the first five therapy sessions predicted better discharge function. Each extra meter per session was linked to a 2.6-point higher FIM motor score. This is an observational signal, not proof that changing therapy dose improves outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026A Systematic Review of Stair Fall Risk Assessment Instruments in Older Adults.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStair-specific tests can add useful information to fall-risk assessment in older adults, but none is complete enough to stand alone. Timed stair tests and STEPS have the best evidence; self-report stair confidence tools are less established.
• PTCohort2026'They Even Have the Capacity, but the Places Aren't Prepared to Receive Them': Community Environment and Participation of Autistic Children in a Family-Engaged Research Analysis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchNo measured environmental factor or income was linked to autistic children’s community participation frequency, involvement, or desire for change. Caregivers still reported low participation in many activities and barriers like safety, cost, and unprepared places.
• PTCohort2026Severity of structural lumbar spinal stenosis does not impact responsiveness to exercise-based rehabilitation.Physical therapyRadiographic stenosis severity did not change short-term response to exercise-based rehabilitation. People with mild, moderate, or severe stenosis had similar improvements in pain, disability, goals, strength, and narcotic use.
• PTOther2026Toward Automation of Motor Assessments in Stroke: Proof-of-Concept Model to Interpret Balance and Gait in Patients With Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA video model recognized sit, stand, and turn actions from balance and gait assessment recordings, but performed poorly on feet together, nudge, and walking. It is not ready to replace clinician observation.
• PTOTCase-Control2026Thumb Positioning Modulates Median Nerve Mobility and Morphology During Postural Changes in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Implications for Nerve Gliding Exercises.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThumb abduction reduced median nerve excursion in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, suggesting nerve gliding exercises should avoid overstretching the thumb during the final step to prevent neural strain.
• PTOTPilot2026Feasibility of Behavioral Intervention and Guided Stepping Training Early Post-Stroke (BIG STEPS): A Pilot Randomized Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEarly stepping training after stroke was feasible and safe, with participants averaging 6534 steps/day versus 4031 in the control group at 12 weeks. This pilot supports larger trials but does not yet prove lasting functional gains.
• PTOther2026Application of Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography as an Objective Outcome Measure in Nonspecific Low Back Pain Associated with Myofascial Trigger Points.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA trained physiotherapist could measure quadratus lumborum stiffness by ultrasound with agreement close to a radiologist's. In people with nonspecific low back pain, quadratus lumborum stiffness was higher than in controls, but psoas major measurements were less consistent.