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 23 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTPilot2026Timing in smartphone-guided home stroke rehabilitation with functional electrical stimulation: feasibility of distributed supervision and retrospective comparison with a front-loaded model.Journal of physical therapy scienceHome exercise plus smartphone-guided electrical stimulation training was safe with high adherence. Distributed supervision showed greater sit-to-stand and Timed Up and Go gains than front-loaded supervision, but the groups were not randomized and differed by country.
• PTOther2026Reliability and measurement error of hip abductor muscle strength using a hand-held dynamometer in healthy adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceHip abductor strength measured with a handheld dynamometer and a simple belt was highly reliable in healthy adults. Using the average of two trials, rather than the maximum, reduced measurement error and improved consistency between different raters.
• PTCohort2026Baseline PTSD and depressive symptoms predict multidimensional recovery after combat-related transtibial amputation: a prospective cohort study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCombat amputees with more PTSD or depression symptoms at baseline made smaller balance, walking and endurance gains during robotic rehabilitation. Screen psychiatric symptoms at admission, but do not assume treating PTSD or depression will improve recovery.
• PTMeta-Analysis2026Supervised versus non-supervised exercise intervention for blood pressure reduction in patients with hypertension and prehypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Brazilian journal of physical therapySupervised exercise was associated with a 3.46 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure than non-supervised exercise in hypertension or prehypertension, but diastolic blood pressure did not differ. The systolic difference was seen only in continuous aerobic training.
• PTRCT2026Asymmetrical spatiotemporal adjustment between the limbs after self-mobilization exercise program.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 15-minute cylinder-tube program combining positions and motions produced immediate hip and trunk angle changes during walking in healthy young adults, but not changes in ground reaction forces. Left-leg stance timing showed a speed-related change, and long-term benefit is unknown.
• PTSLPPilot2026The Aphasia Physical EXercise (APEX) study: feasibility of a new high-intensity functional interval training for stroke survivors with aphasia.AphasiologyHigh-intensity interval training was safe and well attended by 6 stroke survivors with aphasia, but language and cognitive changes did not reach significance; aerobic endurance improved.
• PTNarrative Review2026Relevance of improved reporting for non-pharmacological interventions in clinical trials: Bridging research to clinical practice.Brazilian journal of physical therapyNo patient outcome or treatment effect is reported. The paper argues that non-pharmacological trials need clearer intervention descriptions and fidelity reporting. It gives no tested intervention or clinical result to act on.
• PTOther2026User Satisfaction With Assistive, Rehabilitation, and Training Technologies: Questionnaire Development and Content Validation Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesExperts rated a 50-item satisfaction questionnaire for assistive, rehabilitation, and training devices as mostly relevant, but no users tested it and it is not yet proven to measure satisfaction accurately.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Types of Screen Time and Developmental Outcomes Among Children Aged 0-6 Years in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study.Child: care, health and developmentMore recreational screen time was linked with more suspected developmental delays in Thai children. Educational and communication-based screen time were linked with fewer language and personal-social delays in some analyses.
• PTOther2026An exploration of the factors predicting clinical responses to customized foot orthoses in individuals with plantar heel pain.Brazilian journal of physical therapyAfter 6 months, 107 of 120 people with plantar heel pain were classified as responders. They wore custom foot orthoses plus Crocs footwear, so the effect of either component alone is unclear.
• PTNarrative Review2026Low-cost pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic respiratory diseases: a narrative review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesWhen structured, low-cost pulmonary rehabilitation can improve walking distance and quality of life mainly in COPD. It can use walking, elastic bands, bodyweight exercise and education. Evidence for other lung diseases is limited.
• PTRCT2017Short- and Long-Term Effects of Balance Training on Physical Activity in Older Adults With Osteoporosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)After balance training with or without Nordic walking, older adults with osteoporosis were more likely to reach 5000 or more steps/day, but average steps did not clearly increase and the effect did not persist at 15 months.
• PTPilot2017Health Characteristics, Neuromuscular Attributes, and Mobility Among Primary Care Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Secondary Analysis.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Five of 50 older patients at mobility risk had symptomatic lumbar stenosis. They had more chronic illnesses, more pain, less knee flexion range, and lower advanced leg function scores; performance-based mobility did not differ.
• PTOTOther2017Explanators of Sarcopenia in Individuals With Diabesity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)A model combining leg fat content, ankle strength, and stair power accurately identified sarcopenia in adults with diabetes and obesity. Leg fat above 21%, ankle strength below 68 Nm, or stair power under 441 watts suggested sarcopenia, though MRI access limits clinical use.
• PTOther2017Criterion Validity of Ultrasound Imaging: Assessment of Multifidi Cross-Sectional Area in Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Averaging 3 ultrasound images agreed with MRI for L4 multifidi cross-sectional area in older adults with and without chronic low back pain. A single image was less reliable in pain-free older adults. Ultrasound may include fat.
• PTRCT2017Efficacy of Deep Dry Needling on Latent Myofascial Trigger Points in Older Adults With Nonspecific Shoulder Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial Pilot Study.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)In older adults, adding deep dry needling of a latent shoulder trigger point to needling an active one was linked to a forearm muscle tolerating more pressure immediately and at 1 week, but pain and grip strength did not differ between groups.
• PTOther2017Measurements of Weight Bearing Asymmetry Using the Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board Are Not Reliable for Older Adults and Individuals With Stroke.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Wii Fit balance board weight bearing asymmetry readings were moderately consistent but had large error. For older adults and stroke, changes must exceed 8.8% or 13.6% to be confident, so the board is not recommended for this assessment with factory settings.
• PTOTOther2017Relative Strength at the Hip, Knee, and Ankle Is Lower Among Younger and Older Females Who Are Obese.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Obese women had lower strength relative to their body weight at the ankle, knee, and hip compared to healthy weight women. Absolute strength was higher only for three movements. This suggests mobility support training should target the hip and ankle, not just the knee.
• PTOTRCT2016Effects of functional and analytical strength training on upper-extremity activity after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Brazilian journal of physical therapyFive weeks of home-based functional reaching-and-grasping practice improved arm activity more than analytical dumbbell lifting in chronic stroke, and the difference was still seen at 10 months. Strength, range of motion, motor control, and tone did not differ between groups.
• PTRCT2016Effect of muscle energy technique and static stretching on pain and functional disability in patients with mechanical neck pain: A randomized controlled trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoBoth muscle energy technique and passive stretching reduced neck pain and disability after 6 days, but muscle energy technique plus the same conventional exercises produced greater improvement.
• PTOTRCT2016Effect of mirror therapy on upper extremity motor function in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceMirror therapy added to conventional stroke rehabilitation improved upper extremity movement ability more than the conventional program with a non-reflecting mirror, but did not improve Brunnstrom stages or self-care independence.
• PTRCT2016Acute effects of Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) on different levels in ventilation and electrical activity of sternocleidomastoid and parasternal muscles in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients: a randomized controlled trial.Brazilian journal of physical therapyIn stable COPD, a 20 minute EPAP mask at 10 cmH2O increased parasternal muscle activity, lowered SCM activity, and reduced breathing rate and breathlessness. EPAP 15 improved tidal volume more, but parasternal activity rose less.
• PTOTSLPOther2016Reduced Cognitive-Motor Interference on Voluntary Balance Control in Older Tai Chi Practitioners.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults who practiced Tai Chi showed less decline in balance and thinking speed when doing both tasks at once compared to non-practitioners. They moved their center of pressure quicker and made fewer errors on the counting task while balancing.
• PTOTSystematic Review2016Incidence, Time Course and Predictors of Impairments Relating to Caring for the Profoundly Affected arm After Stroke: A Systematic Review.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyNo included study predicted difficulty caring for the arm after stroke. Spasticity and pain appeared as early as 1 week, and contracture by 2 weeks. Weakness and reduced motor control predicted spasticity and contracture; reduced sensation, shoulder subluxation, weakness, and stroke severity predicted pain.
• PTOTSLPOther2016New version of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-CAT): translation, cultural adaptation to Brazil and analyses of psychometric properties.Brazilian journal of physical therapyBrazilian parents understood the translated PEDI-CAT and rated it as describing daily function. Scores were stable after 7 to 15 days, but the children and youth had normal development.
• PTOTPilot2016Supported Standing in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationSupported standing was safe for four boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It improved hip and knee flexibility in some, but did not increase bone density. Adherence was difficult, and boys with severe ankle contractures could not tolerate upright standing.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2017Determining Risk of Falls in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Using Posttest Probability.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)No single test identified fallers reliably. Combining Berg Balance ≤50, Timed Up and Go ≥12 s, single-limb stance <6.5 s, walking speed <1.0 m/s, and five times sit-to-stand ≥12 s raised estimated fall chance above 30% baseline.
• PTRCT2017Physiotherapy for Patients with Sciatica Awaiting Lumbar Micro-discectomy Surgery: A Nested, Qualitative Study of Patients' Views and Experiences.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyPatients awaiting microdiscectomy described up to six physiotherapy sessions as valuable when tailored. Most who had surgery saw physiotherapy and surgery as helping together.
• PTOther2017Introducing a Third Timed Up & Go Test Trial Improves Performances of Hospitalized and Community-Dwelling Older Individuals.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Hospitalized and community-dwelling older adults were faster on the third Timed Up & Go trial than on the first two. Use the fastest of three timed trials when assessing mobility.
• PTOther2016Modified head shake sensory organization test: Sensitivity and specificity.Gait & postureA slow head shake on a sway-referenced platform best flagged vestibular asymmetry. In the patient group, a score of 51.67 or lower caught 70% of asymmetry cases and ruled out 100% of those without asymmetry.
• PTOther2016Comparability of off the shelf foot orthoses in the redistribution of forces in midfoot osteoarthritis patients.Gait & postureTwo contoured foot orthoses shifted walking load away from the heel and forefoot and onto the midfoot in people with midfoot osteoarthritis. A sham top cover also added small midfoot load compared with a shoe.
• PTOther2016A validation study of a smartphone application for functional mobility assessment of the elderly.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoIn 32 healthy older adults, a chest-mounted smartphone app gave sit-to-stand and up-and-go times almost the same as a chair force sensor, but it added 0.27 and 0.48 seconds on average.
• PTOTOther2016Effect of Segmental Trunk Support on Posture and Reaching in Children With Cerebral Palsy.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationSupporting the trunk at the ribs, not the pelvis, improved reaching for children with moderate CP. Severe CP required high axillary support for posture. Mild CP showed no benefit from any trunk support. Match the support height to the child's specific trunk control deficit.
• PTOTCase Report2016Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Novel Exoskeleton for an Infant With Arm Movement Impairments.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationA single infant with arthrogryposis contacted objects more at hip and chest while wearing a passive arm exoskeleton than without it, and some reaching improved without the device over time. This cannot prove the device caused the gains.
• PTRCT2016Exercise training and postural correction improve upper extremity symptoms among touchscreen smartphone users.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoStudents given stretching, strengthening, posture correction, and phone-handling guidance had less upper-limb disability and stronger grip and key pinch than controls. The package, not any single part, improved outcomes.
• PTOther2016Characterizing knee loading asymmetry in individuals following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using inertial sensors.Gait & postureThe surgical leg showed lower knee loading and slower shank rotation than the other leg about 3 months after ACL reconstruction. Sensor-measured shank rotation related to knee loading asymmetry even when walking timing looked normal.
• PTOther2016Lower leg compensatory strategies during performance of a step up and over task in patient six-months after total knee arthroplasty.Gait & postureSix months after knee replacement, during stepping up, the operated leg relied more on the hip and less on the knee, and landing had lower overall support. Leg muscle activity did not consistently differ from controls.
• PTOTOther2016Relationship between trunk and foot accelerations during walking in healthy adults.Gait & postureHealthy adults show larger acceleration magnitude at the foot than the trunk, but more irregular (less periodic) trunk motion. Foot and trunk movements correlate strongly in the forward plane, suggesting the body prioritizes a predictable foot placement while allowing the trunk to adapt.
• PTOther2016Validity and reliability of a thoracic kyphotic assessment tool measuring distance of the seventh cervical vertebra from the wall.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoA C7-to-wall distance tool was dependable and agreed with Flexicurve kyphosis angle in older people with thoracic kyphosis. Physical therapists, village health volunteers, and caregivers could use it to assess severity and walking endurance.
• PTOTOther2016The effects of shoe heel height and gait velocity on position sense of the knee joint and balance.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwenty minutes of treadmill walking in 9-cm heels at 4 km/h significantly worsened knee position sense and balance compared to 3-cm heels at 2 km/h. This suggests high heels combined with faster walking impair proprioceptive control in healthy young adults.
• PTOTOther2016Quantifying six-minute walk induced gait deterioration with inertial sensors in multiple sclerosis subjects.Gait & postureA hip-worn sensor detected gait deterioration in people with multiple sclerosis that walking speed missed, particularly in later minutes of the six-minute walk. This suggests two-minute tests may be too short to capture fatigue-related changes in mild cases.
• PTSLPCohort2016Balance, Body Motion, and Muscle Activity After High-Volume Short-Term Dance-Based Rehabilitation in Persons With Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Study.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTThree weeks of high-volume Adapted Tango was feasible in 22 people with Parkinson disease. Some balance and disease severity scores improved, but walking speed and several other outcomes did not change. Without a control group, this is not proof the dance caused the gains.
• PTSystematic Review2016Systematic review of published studies on aquatic exercise for balance in patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and hemiplegia.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoAquatic exercise may improve balance short term in multiple sclerosis and after stroke, but evidence for Parkinson's disease is too limited to support it. It is not clearly better than land-based exercise.
• PTOther2016Predicting tibiotalar and subtalar joint angles from skin-marker data with dual-fluoroscopy as a reference standard.Gait & postureA model allowing 1 rotation per joint predicted average tibiotalar motion more consistently than a model allowing 3 rotations, but neither gave reliable per-person tibiotalar or subtalar angles; errors exceeded 10° in 9 of 10 subjects.
• PTOTOther2016Kinesio Taping® of the metacarpophalangeal joints and its effect on pain and hand function in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn older adults with rheumatoid arthritis, Kinesio Taping of the MCP joints reduced hand pain and increased MCP ulnar deviation, but did not improve grip strength or overall hand function. Joint protection workshops improved grip strength and some daily activities.
• PTOther2016Optimal Joint Positions for Manual Isometric Muscle Testing.Journal of sport rehabilitationComputer models of major muscle groups around shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle predicted maximum isometric force at positions that differ from commonly recommended neutral right angle or midpoint for manual muscle testing, but the predictions were not tested in people.
• PTOther2016Relationship Between Walking Capacity, Biopsychosocial Factors, Self-efficacy, and Walking Activity in Persons Poststroke.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn people after stroke who could walk independently, daily steps were linked to walking balance, comorbidity burden, and self-efficacy. When balance confidence was low, better walking capacity related more strongly to more steps.
• PTOther2016Immediate Effect of Positioning Devices on Infant Leg Movement Characteristics.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationInfants moved their legs less often and with less acceleration in a car seat than on their backs or in a jungle gym. The speed at which the legs turned did not change. This was immediate, not long-term development.
• PTSurvey2016Promotion of healthy nutrition in clinical practice: A cross-sectional survey of practices and barriers among physiotherapists in southeast Nigeria.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoMost surveyed physiotherapists in southeast Nigeria rarely assessed diet or gave written advice, despite calling diet counselling very important. Lack of access to counsellors, materials, and expertise were common barriers.
• PTRCT2016Alterations in Aerobic Exercise Performance and Gait Economy Following High-Intensity Dynamic Stepping Training in Persons With Subacute Stroke.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTHigh-intensity stepping training did not reduce oxygen cost of walking in subacute stroke, but it increased highest oxygen use during treadmill testing and improved walking speed and distance compared with conventional therapy.