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 28 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2016The effect of kinesio taping with exercise compared with exercise alone on pain, range of motion, and disability of the shoulder in postmastectomy females: a randomized control trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn postmastectomy women, adding kinesio tape to two weeks of shoulder exercise reduced pain, improved movement and reduced disability more than exercise alone. Tape was reapplied every 3 days. Do not expect lasting effect from this short trial.
• PTPilot2016The effects of visual biofeedback using ultrasonograpy on deep trunk muscle activation.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy adults who watched an ultrasound of their own abdominal muscles while performing drawing-in exercises showed increased activation in the internal oblique and multifidus muscles. Rectus abdominis and external oblique activity did not change significantly after the six-week intervention.
• PTOTCase Report2016The effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercises on upper limb and visuoperceptual function in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of physical therapy scienceEleven children with cerebral palsy improved hand function and visual-motor speed after eight weeks of neck and trunk stabilization exercises. Because this was a small case series without a control group, it cannot confirm the exercises caused the gains.
• PTCase Report2016Accelerometer based analysis of gait initiation failure in advanced juvenile parkinsonism: a single subject study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn one woman with advanced juvenile parkinsonism, a sudden verbal command produced freezing patterns, while planned, step-by-step initiation produced larger forward acceleration and lower step frequency. This is one person, not a pattern.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2016Case report of meningiomatosis with aspiration of a dental bridge improved by comprehensive rehabilitation therapy.Journal of physical therapy scienceAn aspirated fixed dental bridge was removed on the second bronchoscopy. The patient also walked about 5 meters with a rolling walker. One case cannot show what caused the gain.
• PTCase Report2016Upward pulling plus exercise improves scapulocostal pain and scapular position.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn one woman with scapulocostal pain, after stretching, massage, push-up plus, then upward pulling with shoulder retraction, pain scores of 7/10 and 6/10 were 2/10, and horizontal scapular distance was 10.5 cm, then 11.5 cm, then 8.3 cm. This is one case, not proof.
• PTCase Report2016Effect of physical therapy scoliosis specific exercises using breathing pattern on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter eight weeks of scoliosis-specific exercises, one adolescent had lower Cobb angle measurements and trunk rotation measurements, and higher rib cage expansion on deep inhalation. This describes one person, not proof the exercises work.
• PTOTSLPOther2016The effects a respiration rehabilitation program on IADL, satisfaction with leisure, and quality of sleep of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwenty patients with COPD completed a 12-week breathing rehabilitation program. Scores for instrumental activities of daily living, leisure satisfaction, and sleep quality all improved after the intervention, though this was a small, uncontrolled study.
• PTPilot2016Effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching and deep-breathing exercises on upper extremity lymphedema in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceTen stroke patients with arm swelling performed deep-breathing and stretching exercises for four weeks. Body water volume in both arms decreased significantly, but the study lacked a control group, so the exercises cannot be proven as the cause.
• PTOTOther2016Preoperative physical performance predictors of self-reported physical function and quality of life in patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients awaiting knee replacement, worse self-reported function and quality of life were linked to more pain, poorer timed up-and-go performance, and poorer walk test performance. These are preoperative measures, not proof that training changes outcomes.
• PTCase Report2016Effect of the push-up plus guide and resistance device (PPGRD) on the serratus anterior during push-up plus.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn a person with scapular dyskinesis, adding a tubing device to push-up plus was followed by higher serratus anterior power, lower pain, and no dyskinesis. This is a single case, not proof the device works.
• PTCase Report2016Changes of heart rate variability and prefrontal oxygenation during Tai Chi practice versus arm ergometer cycling.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn one experienced Tai Chi practitioner, seated Tai Chi showed a heart-rate pattern associated with more parasympathetic control and a different prefrontal oxygenation pattern than similar arm cycling. This is a single case, not evidence Tai Chi works.
• PTOther2016The relationship between thoracic configuration and changes in volumes of hemithoraces in upright sitting.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn upright sitting, the left upper chest expanded more than the right, and the right lower chest expanded more than the left. This asymmetry was seen during quiet and volitional deep breathing. It was found in sedentary men, not patients.
• PTNarrative Review2017Regeneration of Skeletal Muscle After Eccentric Injury.Journal of sport rehabilitationNo original results. This narrative review summarizes muscle injury biology and common treatments. Evidence for cold, heat, NSAIDs, and platelet rich plasma in muscle strains is limited or mixed. There is nothing here to change practice.
• PTOTRCT2017Effects of singular and dual task constraints on motor skill variability in childhood.Gait & postureYoung children aged 4 to 6 varied more in finger rotation and in carrying a box while walking than older children. Obstacle crossing did not show age differences. This describes motor variability in children without known conditions, not treatment effects.
• PTSurvey2017Aerobic Exercise Prescription in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Web-Based Survey of US Physical Therapists.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT87.8% of responding US physical therapists endorsed aerobic exercise after stroke, but 72.1% could not prescribe it for every indicated patient, and 83.8% reported barriers.
• PTNarrative Review2017An Old Problem: Aging and Skeletal-Muscle-Strain Injury.Journal of sport rehabilitationThere is no new patient finding here. The paper is a narrative review of aging and muscle-strain injury, so there is nothing to change on Monday.
• PTOTRCT2017Klapp method effect on idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents: blind randomized controlled clinical trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceKlapp method exercises did not reduce spinal curvature or correct body asymmetry in adolescents with suspected scoliosis. Back extensor strength increased, but the control group also improved, so the exercise alone did not cause this change.
• PTOTOther2016Three-dimensional motion analysis in the elbow joint position sense in children.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 19 healthy children, elbow position sense was more accurate at 30° than at 110° in the right arm. The left arm showed no clear difference, and the dominant arm did not clearly outperform the other.
• PTOther2016Flexibility of internal and external glenohumeral rotation of junior female tennis players and its correlation with performance ranking.Journal of physical therapy scienceJunior female tennis players had less internal rotation in the dominant shoulder than the other side. More internal rotation in both shoulders was linked to better year-end ranking.
• PTOTSLPOther2016Respiratory flow and vital signs associated with the intensity of functional electrical stimulation delivered to human abdominal muscles during quiet breathing.Journal of physical therapy scienceStimulating the abdominal muscles of healthy men increased expiratory airflow during quiet breathing. Vital signs remained stable, but pain rose with intensity. The authors suggest 60–80 mA balances airflow and comfort, though this was not tested in patients needing airway clearance.
• PTRCT2016Effects of assisted aquatic movement and horseback riding therapies on emotion and brain activation in patients with cerebral palsy.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter one 50-minute session, patients with cerebral palsy assigned to assisted aquatic movement showed higher alpha-wave brain activity and more pleasant and more activated feelings than those assigned to horseback riding or movie watching.
• PTOTOther2016The effect of bilateral trainings on upper extremities muscle activation on level of motor function in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke patients with better arm recovery showed higher muscle activation and lower co-contraction when lifting a Pilates ring with both hands compared to clasping hands. This suggests the ring task may facilitate more coordinated movement in the affected limb.
• PTOTRCT2016Effects of inclined treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation on balance and gait in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding a metronome to inclined treadmill walking improved balance and gait more than walking without it or on a flat treadmill. However, the study was small and only included patients who could already walk, so results may not apply to all stroke survivors.
• PTOther2016Influence of time restriction, 20 minutes and 94.6 months, of visual information on angular displacement during the sit-to-stand (STS) task in three planes.Journal of physical therapy scienceGirls who kept their eyes closed for 20 minutes showed larger dominant-side ankle movement than girls with eyes open. Compared with eyes-open girls, congenitally blind girls showed larger non-dominant-side ankle movement and larger dominant-side knee movement. Hip movement did not differ.
• PTOTPilot2016Effect of sensorimotor stimulation on chronic stroke patients' upper extremity function: a preliminary study.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwo female and one male chronic stroke patients showed increased Box and Block and 10-second hand-test scores after 12 sessions combining passive mobilization, vibration, and proprioceptive training, while also receiving conventional rehabilitation. The contribution of any single component cannot be separated.
• PTOther2016Cardiovascular response to bouts of exercise with blood flow restriction.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 24 amateur athletes, one low-intensity calf exercise with groin blood flow restriction raised heart rate less than the same exercise without restriction. Blood pressure changes were mixed, and ECG measures of heart oxygen supply did not differ.
• PTOther2016Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the selective control assessment of the lower extremity tool among patients with spastic cerebral palsy.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe Japanese version of the SCALE tool reliably measures selective motor control in spastic cerebral palsy. It takes 15 minutes, needs no special equipment, and scores track closely with GMFCS levels. Use it to assess lower-limb control, but it cannot be used for children under 6 or GMFCS level V.
• PTOther2016A study of isokinetic strength and laxity with and without anterior cruciate ligament injury.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 31 high school athletes with mild past ACL injury, the injured knee had lower knee flexor strength than the other knee. Extensor strength and muscle balance were not reported as different. Injured-side anterior laxity at 88 N was also lower, not higher.
• PTNarrative Review2016The evolving role of physical therapists in the long-term management of chronic low back pain: longitudinal care using assisted self-management strategies.Brazilian journal of physical therapyNo new patient outcomes are reported. The paper proposes a long-term physical therapy model for chronic low back pain.
• PTRCT2016Treadmill training with partial body-weight support after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceTreadmill training with partial body-weight support added to conventional physical therapy was associated with higher knee function scores and shorter walking times at 12 weeks, but most measures showed no significant difference at 24 weeks.
• PTOther2016Automated stride assistance device improved the gait parameters and energy cost during walking of healthy middle-aged females but not those of young controls.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy middle-aged women took longer steps and had a lower heart-rate cost during a 3-minute indoor walk when a hip-assist device was on. Young women showed no benefit.
• PTOTOther2016Factors affecting the quality of life of homebound elderly hemiparetic stroke patients with cognitive impairment.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor homebound older stroke patients with cognitive impairment, higher quality of life scores went with better cognition and greater daily independence. Age, sex, and care level showed no clear link.
• PTOTOther2016Analysis of affected and non-affected sides of stroke hemiparalysis patients and correlations between rehabilitation therapy assessments using the bioelectrical impedance analysis method.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 20 stroke patients with hemiplegia, a body electrical measure called phase angle was lower on the paralyzed side and tracked grip strength, hand dexterity, and daily activity independence. Another body electrical measure was also lower, but the resistance measure did not differ.
• PTOTOther2016Does the Q - H index show a stronger relationship than the H:Q ratio in regard to knee pain during daily activities in patients with knee osteoarthritis?Journal of physical therapy scienceLower knee extension strength and a smaller gap between knee extension and flexion strength were linked to more pain in 78 women with knee osteoarthritis. The hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio was not.
• PTOther2016The effects of a pelvic belt on trunk and lower extremity muscles in the bridge position.Journal of physical therapy scienceWearing a pelvic compression belt in the bridge position lowered recorded muscle activity in the measured trunk and leg muscles in 20 healthy adults. This is a muscle-activation finding, not evidence of pain relief or functional benefit.
• PTCohort2016Comparative evaluation of ambulation patterns and isokinetic muscle strength for the application of rehabilitation exercise in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.Journal of physical therapy scienceYoung women with patellofemoral pain showed weaker knee muscles and higher forefoot contact during walking than controls. These differences may help identify the condition, but the study did not test whether fixing them reduces pain or improves function.
• PTOTSLPOther2016Patient satisfaction with out-patient rehabilitation therapy: validity and reliability.Journal of physical therapy scienceA new outpatient rehab satisfaction questionnaire gave stable scores over 1 week in 40 outpatients and matched an existing satisfaction score. It can help teams spot low satisfaction with processing and environment.
• PTOther2017A study on muscle activity and ratio of the knee extensor depending on the types of squat exercise.Journal of physical therapy scienceUnstable-surface squats at 15° gave a higher VMO/VL ratio than stable ones in healthy men, while stable-surface squats at 60° gave a higher ratio than unstable ones. At 45°, no clear advantage. This is a muscle activity result, not pain or function.
• PTOther2017Cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults participating in synchronized swimming-exercise.Journal of physical therapy scienceTotal cognitive test scores did not differ between older synchronized swimmers and age-matched exercisers. Delayed recall was higher in swimmers, but the study cannot show synchronized swimming improves overall cognition.
• PTOther2017A histomorphometric study of necrotic femoral head in rabbits treated with extracorporeal shock waves.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn rabbits with induced femoral head necrosis, shock waves applied to the treated side increased bone formation and bone volume compared with the untreated side. The paper reports rabbit bone histology, not human hip deformity or collapse.
• PTPilot2017Changes in postural strategy during exercise against perturbation using the balance exercise assist robot: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceNine healthy young adults using a balance robot showed significantly less body sway and reduced hip movement after five trials. Muscle activity decreased slightly but not significantly. This suggests the robot helps users learn to stabilize using their ankles.
• PTOther2016Association between respiratory muscle strength and reduction of arterial blood pressure levels after aerobic training in hypertensive subjects.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe increase in respiratory muscle strength after 8 weeks of aerobic training was not linked to the blood pressure reduction, although training lowered systolic and diastolic pressure and improved walking distance.
• PTOther2016Activation of back and lower limb muscles during squat exercises with different trunk flexion.Journal of physical therapy scienceBending the trunk to 30 degrees during squats did not clearly change back muscle activity, but it increased buttock and hamstring muscle activity. Front thigh muscle activity tended to fall.
• PTOther2016Preliminary reliability of the five item physical activity questionnaire.Journal of physical therapy scienceScores from a five-item leisure activity questionnaire were stable when adults answered again after 1 to 2 months. The paper did not compare the questionnaire with objective devices.
• PTOther2016Evaluation of research trends in physical therapy through analysis of articles published at the world confederation for physical therapy congress.Journal of physical therapy scienceMusculoskeletal spine, human movement analysis, and care for older people were the most common research topics at the 2015 World Confederation for Physical Therapy congress. Primary health care and technology were the least represented. This maps the field's focus but provides no data on patient outcomes.
• PTCase Report2016Scoliosis in adulthood-a case with untreated early onset scoliosis presenting at the age of 76 years.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 76-year-old man with untreated early-onset scoliosis exceeding 100° maintained an active lifestyle despite severe lung restriction. He reported shortness of breath but no other major health failures, demonstrating that surgery is not universally required for survival in such cases.
• PTOther2016Reliability and minimal detectable change of three functional tests: forward-lunge, step-up-over and sit-to-stand.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 45 healthy adults, balance tests repeated 6 to 8 days apart were most consistent for forward-lunge distance, contact time and impulse, and less consistent for step-up-over and sit-to-stand sway.
• PTCase Report2016Effect of pain-free range exercise on shoulder pain and range of motion in an amateur skier.Journal of physical therapy scienceLower reported pain and greater shoulder movement were noted after pain-free range exercises in a single amateur skier with severe right shoulder pain who had also received hot packs, electrical therapy, and ultrasound. This is a single case, not evidence that these exercises work.
• PTOther2016Effect of motor imagery on excitability of spinal neural function and its impact on the accuracy of movement-considering the point at which subjects subjectively determine the 50%MVC point.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 30 healthy people, imagining a 50% pinch contraction did not improve actual pinch force accuracy. It did increase a spinal nerve response.