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 22 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2026Efficacy of Incremental Vestibular Ocular Reflex Adaptation Training on Gait, Balance, and Quality of Life in Individuals With Chronic Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationNo difference was found between StableEyes gaze stability training and traditional gaze stability exercises on gait, balance, or symptoms. Both groups improved over time, but because all participants also received balance and gait exercises, no single treatment can be credited.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Evaluating the Effectiveness and Technique Composition of Combined Motor Learning and Behavior Change Strategies for Movement Behavior in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationCombining motor learning, behavior change, self-management support, and exercise therapy may improve how people with chronic musculoskeletal pain moved, but not how much they moved. Effects on daily activities were inconsistent.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Clinical implementation of virtual reality in neurorehabilitation: a scoping review of barriers, facilitators, and motivational factors.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesClinicians perceived VR as a useful add-on, but adoption was uneven. Funding, training, technical support and workflow were barriers; patient motivation, peer support and management commitment helped.
• PTOTCase Report2026Ultrasound-Guided Alcohol Neurolysis for Poststroke Upper Limb Spasticity to Facilitate Arteriovenous Fistula Creation in Hemodialysis: A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn one dialysis-dependent stroke survivor, ultrasound-guided alcohol neurolysis of arm nerves reduced spasticity and pain and improved positioning, allowing fistula creation. It was given with stretching, orthoses, strengthening, electrical stimulation and lidocaine, so its independent effect is unclear.
• PTCase Report2026Atypical Central Neuropathic Pain Following Stroke Presenting With Distal Movement-Evoked Shoulder Pain: A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn a patient after right basal ganglia hemorrhage, passive wrist and finger extension caused severe left shoulder pain despite shoulder treatments. This pattern suggested centrally mediated pain; neuropathic medications gave only partial relief.
• PTCohort2026Clustering of Sedentary Behavior and Longitudinal Changes in Patients With Stroke Undergoing Rehabilitation.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTStroke patients in inpatient rehabilitation clustered into low, moderate, and high sedentary groups. Sedentary time fell and breaks rose overall, but the pattern of change differed by group.
• PTMeta-Analysis2026Efficacy of cervical physical therapy on pain sensitivity in patients with migraine compared to no treatment, sham treatment or usual medical care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyCervical physical therapy increased pain pressure thresholds in the sternocleidomastoid and frontal muscles in people with migraine. Effects were not significant in the upper trapezius, occipital, or temporal muscles. The evidence quality is very low to low, so these findings should not yet change clinical practice.
• PTOTCohort2026Temporal Variability in Routine Mobility Documentation as an Early Signal of Functional Decline in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Feasibility and Methods Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationRoutine mobility documentation variability could be calculated for all 182 residents. Higher week-to-week variability was exploratorily linked with decline, longer stay, and less community discharge, not tested as a cause.
• PTMeta-Analysis2026Effects of Telerehabilitation on Functional and Other Health-Related Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn adults with colorectal cancer, telerehabilitation did not improve physical function, the main outcome. Quality of life scores were higher, but the gain was smaller than the level considered clinically meaningful.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Association Between Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)-Related Clinical Burden and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity Among Special Operations Forces (SOF): Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Inferences.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAmong 105 Special Operations Forces in TBI rehab, higher baseline PTSD scores went with more brain-injury symptoms and worse daily function. But only poor daily function predicted faster PTSD improvement over time. Brain-injury symptom counts alone did not predict how PTSD changed.
• PTCase Report2026Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis Presenting With Paraplegia and a Neurogenic Bladder: A Case Report and Brief Literature Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA 12-year-old with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and urinary retention regained walking and voiding after steroids, antivirals, antibiotics, catheter training, leg rehabilitation, tibial nerve stimulation and pelvic floor work. Natural recovery and these other treatments mean this is not proof of benefit.
• PTOTPilot2026Adjustable Pediatric Prosthetic Sockets to Accommodate Growth in Children and Adolescents With Limb Loss.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationChildren using an adjustable prosthesis reported better temperature regulation and adjustability than with their conventional devices. Gait speed and socket pressure were unchanged. Half preferred the adjustable socket, but running was often limited by the attached foot components.
• PTPilot2026The effect of targeted upper cervical musculoskeletal management on the frequency and burden of migraine headache in adults - a single cohort pilot study.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyEight of ten women with migraine and restricted upper neck rotation had at least 50% lower migraine frequency three months after four manual therapy sessions, exercises, and education. Neck rotation symmetry improved in nine. Without a control group, this cannot show treatment caused these changes.
• PTSystematic Review2026Efficacy of manual therapy by different healthcare professionals on pain and function in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyManual therapy reduces pain and improves mouth opening in TMD patients in the short term, regardless of the practitioner's profession. However, evidence quality is low to moderate, with few long-term data, so sustained benefits are unproven.
• PTOther2026Sex Differences During Star Excursion Balance Test in Individuals With Chronic Hip-Related Groin Pain.Journal of sport rehabilitationIn 28 adults with chronic hip-related groin pain, males and females reached similar distances on the modified Star Excursion Balance Test. In some reaches, females showed more hip adduction, more pelvic drop, less trunk flexion, and smaller hip flexion moments.
• PTOTOther2026Recovery After Nontraumatic Lower Limb Amputation: A Scoping Review of Longitudinal Research Studies.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAfter nontraumatic lower limb amputation, research mostly tracked early physical and pain outcomes. Across 85 studies, only 7 covered prosthetic training and 1 covered life-long care. This maps gaps, not treatment effects.
• PTCohort2026Practice Patterns of Hip Flexion Assist Orthosis Use in Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Community-Based Analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSome patients with multiple sclerosis used a hip flexion assist orthosis regularly, while others stopped, declined purchase, or had an unsuccessful assessment. Pain, bulk, and cost were common barriers, and patients who stopped had higher recorded lower-limb spasticity.
• PTCohort2025Effects of an exercise program on calf muscle characteristics in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineA 16-week progressive exercise program improved calf muscle quality and size in patients with Achilles tendinopathy. Echo intensity dropped 8-13% and muscle cross-sectional area increased 5-7%. However, these structural changes did not predict improvements in functional performance like jump height.
• PTCase Report2026Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation for Spasticity in Primary Lateral Sclerosis: A Case Series.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTAll six people with PLS had lower spasticity scores after one 30-minute transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation session, and balance scores improved, but this was an uncontrolled case series, so it does not prove the treatment works.
• PTSystematic Review2026Metaverse-Related and Immersive Digital Technologies in Neurorehabilitation: A Scoping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation11 of 19 heterogeneous studies of immersive digital neurorehabilitation reported improvements, but no formal checks of study quality mean this is not proof of efficacy.
• PTOTOther2026Investigating Disparities in Acute Rehabilitation Outcomes Among Individuals With TBI and SCI: A Retrospective Chart Review of UDS Data.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationInsurance type predicted acute rehab outcomes for TBI and SCI patients. Publicly insured had lower discharge function than commercially insured, despite similar length of stay. Workers' compensation patients stayed longer and had higher discharge function. No differences were found for race or sex.
• PTCase Series2026A Sensory Adaptation Program for Individuals With Mal de Débarquement Syndrome: A Case Series.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTAll 10 adults with MdDS reported less oscillatory motion after a 3-week program that included education, sensory adaptation, functional mobility, and home exercise; 60% kept that reduction at 3 months. No control group means this cannot show the program caused the change.
• PTMeta-Analysis2026Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Assessing the Effects of Focal and Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Pain and Function in Patellar Tendinopathy.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFor patellar tendinopathy, shockwave therapy, sometimes with eccentric training or other exercise, reduced pain and improved function more than control. Many participants were athletes, so this is an option when usual care has not helped.
• PTOTOther2026Psychological Readiness and Kinesiophobia Are Not Associated With Effusion-Synovitis in Early Recovery After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.Journal of sport rehabilitationAt 4 to 6 months after ACL reconstruction, the severity of joint inflammation seen on ultrasound did not predict a patient's fear of movement or their psychological readiness to return to sport. Patients with more swelling were just as ready to return as those with less.
• PTCase Report2026Upper cervical chiropractic management of a patient with headaches, neck pain and a history of traumatic internal carotid artery compromise: a case report.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyA patient with prior carotid artery dissection and ongoing neck pain and headaches reported lower pain and disability after light upper cervical chiropractic. This describes a single case, not evidence the treatment works.
• PTOTCohort2026Physical activity measured using a triaxial accelerometer in early after surgery rehabilitation in patients with hip fracture affects walking ability: a retrospective observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder hip fracture patients with more active time in early rehab sessions were more likely to walk independently at one and two weeks. Thresholds were 21.6% at one week and 17.8% at two weeks. This is an association, not proof.
• PTOther2026Using Compositional Data Analysis to Explore Movement Behaviors in People Who Have Experienced a Stroke.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTStroke survivors' daily mix of activity, sedentary time, and sleep was associated with physical function. The whole-day pattern related to function more closely than each behavior considered separately.
• PTPilot2026Effect of action observation training on upper functioning and self-care in individuals with mental illness: a randomized controlled pilot trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceA four-week program of watching self-care videos and then practicing the movements improved upper limb function and daily living scores more than watching landscape images. The study was underpowered and preliminary, so these gains are not yet confirmed evidence of efficacy.
• PTPilot2026Intervention to Improve Running and Physical Activity Participation in Children With Generalised Joint Hypermobility: A Feasibility Study.Child: care, health and developmentA 10-week running group was safe and feasible for eight children aged 10 to 15 with hypermobility. Attendance was high and families liked it, but this paper mainly reports feasibility, not full efficacy.
• PTOTOther2026Using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures to Identify Mobility Limitation in Incurable Cancer.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA single-item symptom question closely tracks detailed mobility difficulty in incurable cancer. Younger patients reported worse mobility than older patients with similar clinical status. Use patient-reported scores to spot mobility issues that standard clinical ratings may miss.
• PTOTCohort2026Association between 6-month changes in 4-m usual gait time and social function domain score among community-dwelling older adults: a secondary analysis of a community-based program.Journal of physical therapy scienceOver 6 months, older adults whose self-paced 4-m walking time slowed also showed worse social function scores. Walking time and social scores moved together, but the study did not show one caused the other.
• PTOTOther2026Rehabilitation Exercise Behaviors in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis: A Mixed-Methods Study on Multidimensional Determinants.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost patients on peritoneal dialysis wanted exercise, but only 42% did it regularly. Fear of complications, feeling fragile, and vague guidance blocked action. Therapists may need to give specific, safe, ongoing home plans and address family and community supports.
• PTOTSurvey2026Participant-Reported Reductions in Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Associated With Variable-Friction Footwear: Retrospective Pre-Post Survey Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPeople with neurological or age-related conditions reported fewer falls, injurious falls, and health care use while wearing variable-friction shoes, but this was a self-selected retrospective survey, not evidence the shoes caused the change.
• PTPilot2026Impact of 24-hour shifts on interns' gait: A study on sleep deprivation and rest effects.Work (Reading, Mass.)A 24-hour shift without sleep did not change interns' gait immediately. However, after a rest period, foot rotation became less symmetrical. This suggests that while acute deprivation may not alter walking right away, recovery sleep quality plays a role in motor control.
• PTOther2026Clinical effects of shadow throwing instruction on improving the "elbow dropped" position: an examination of reproducibility during net and partner throwing drills.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 46 youth baseball players whose elbow dropped position improved during shadow throwing, it appeared in 58.7% during partner throwing, 13.0% during net throwing, and 0.0% during shadow throwing. Realistic partner throwing may not carry clinic form correction.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Hand injuries associated with mobile phone use: A systematic review.Work (Reading, Mass.)Review of 42 studies found hand conditions linked to phone use: De Quervain's tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, thumb or wrist pain, and less common tendon rupture or trigger finger. Evidence includes cross-sectional studies and case reports, so phone use alone cannot be proven a cause.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Effectiveness of Resistance Training in People With Down Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDIn people with Down syndrome, resistance training improved muscle strength more than control groups. Physical function also showed improvement, but body size, heart and breathing capacity, and work tasks did not show clear changes.
• PTOTCase Report2026Sequential Cryoneurolysis and Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy for Refractory Wrist Flexor Contracture: A Retrospective Case Series in Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients with chronic wrist flexor contracture had improved passive wrist extension after percutaneous needle tenotomy following cryoneurolysis. This small case series cannot prove benefit or separate the treatments' contributions.
• PTQualitative2026Patient-reported knee osteoarthritis problems and rehabilitation goals: A qualitative study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyPeople with painful knee osteoarthritis named problems including pain, sleep, fear, walking, hiking, sport, housework, caring, and travel. Their 3-month goals varied, often focused on walking, physical activity, daily tasks, and meaningful activities.
• PTPilot2026Feasibility and Immediate Effects of Dynamic Exercise Using Mixed Reality for Balance Improvement in Older Adults and Individuals With Neurologic Disorders.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation31 participants completed one 20-minute mixed reality session without severe sickness or adverse events. Overall Timed Up and Go improved by 0.92 seconds, Functional Reach did not, and subgroup effects were inconsistent.
• PTOther2026Location-Specific Disruption of the Body Schema in Chronic Low Back Pain.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPeople with chronic low back pain were slower to judge left/right in trunk movement images than matched controls, by 239±225 ms on average. Accuracy was not lower, hand judgments were unchanged, and task scores did not track pain intensity.
• PTOTCohort2026Short-term changes in frailty status and associated factors over 3 months of multidisciplinary outpatient care in older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceHalf of 100 older adults improved frailty over 3 months. Daily home exercise was associated with improvement, but medical, nutrition, exercise, supervised rehab, nursing and social support were given together, so no single component can be credited.
• PTRCT2026Synergy-based Functional Electrical Stimulation for gait rehabilitation in chronic stroke: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesHigh-intensity gait training with or without personalized multichannel functional electrical stimulation did not differ significantly on walking speed or endurance. The stimulation group improved endurance after training and at one month, but the study was too small to show a group difference.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Psychometric Properties of Instruments to Assess Movement Disorders in People With Intellectual Disabilities Using Antipsychotics: A Systematic Literature Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDNo single assessment scale consistently worked well for checking movement disorders in people with intellectual disabilities taking antipsychotics. Watch for restlessness, involuntary movements, spasms, slowness, rigidity or tremor, and record what you see for treatment review.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Integrating Assistive Technologies and Smart Home Systems in Neuromuscular Disorders: A Systematic Narrative Review of Clinical Outcomes and Occupational Therapy Perspectives.Occupational therapy internationalAssistive technology and smart home systems may help people with neuromuscular disorders stay independent, but benefit depends on low effort, home fit and ongoing adjustment. Therapists should audit homes, set client priorities and plan for possible abandonment as disease progresses.
• PTOther2026Effects of metatarsal bar and heel lift on foot biomechanics during gait: implications for performance-related biomechanics.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 3-mm metatarsal bar increased ankle dorsiflexion and lowered arch height compared with a heel lift in healthy adults walking. A heel lift increased late-stance plantarflexion moment. These are foot motion and force changes, not clinical outcomes.
• PTOTOther2026Standing work and low back pain: An experimental analysis of risk factors.Work (Reading, Mass.)No tested standing setup made pain lower than another. Pain rose over 120 minutes in all eight groups, and static posture, anti-fatigue mats, and insoles did not separate the groups.
• PTOTOther2026The value of performance-based tests in the assessment of patients with fibromyalgia: a construct validity and comprehensiveness analysis of a standardized test battery.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA four-test physical battery plus accelerometry accurately captured distinct aspects of fibromyalgia in 87 women. Physical capacity, daily activity, emotional distress and pain burden formed four separate domains, confirming the battery's validity for assessing function.
• PTOTRCT2026Video-based education is non-inferior to in-person education in patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.Archives of physiotherapyPreoperative video education was as good as postoperative in-person teaching for pain confidence. It also reduced fear of movement at six weeks. This allows therapists to shift education earlier, saving time without compromising recovery outcomes.
• PTRCT2026Feasibility and safety of multi-field functional electrical stimulation for distal upper-limb rehabilitation after subacute stroke: a randomised controlled feasibility trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFES-assisted hand therapy was feasible and safe in subacute stroke: all 16 participants completed all sessions, with no serious adverse events. Exploratory motor scores favoured the FES group, but this was not an efficacy trial.