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 3 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTNarrative Review2018The AVPR1A Gene and Its Single Nucleotide Polymorphism rs10877969: A Literature Review of Associations with Health Conditions and Pain.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesAVPR1A variants, including rs10877969, were reported in limited studies as linked to pain, social behavior, and sickle cell disease, but the evidence is too limited to guide patient care.
• PTRNNarrative Review2018Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Clinical Implications for Patients With Lung Cancer.Clinical journal of oncology nursingPatients with lung cancer and COPD need nursing care that checks inhaler technique, supports smoking cessation, confirms low blood oxygen before oxygen therapy, promotes pulmonary rehabilitation, and monitors symptoms and quality of life.
• PTRNOther2018Accelerometer-Measured Daily Activity Levels and Related Factors in Patients With Heart Failure.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingHeart failure patients averaged 10.2 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily; only 12.6% met 150 minutes weekly. Lower activity was linked to anxiety, worse symptoms, and poorer function.
• PTOTRNQualitative2018Patients' experiences of the transcatheter aortic valve implantation trajectory: A grounded theory study.Nursing openPatients recovering from TAVI described a journey between fear, weakness and hope. They valued clear conversations, trust in clinicians, and support that preserved independence while preparing them for slow recovery.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2018Cognitive-Based Interventions to Improve Mobility: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationCognitive training improved walking speed when participants performed a second task, such as talking or counting. The effect was small and did not reach significance for normal walking. Shorter training sessions may produce better results than longer ones.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2018Burden, resilience and coping in caregivers of patients with interstitial lung disease.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careCaregivers of patients with interstitial lung disease report significantly lower mental quality of life than the general population, driven by emotional strain. Those caring for patients on oxygen report higher burden and worse physical health. Caregivers need inclusion in visits, practical home advice, and specific support groups.
• PTOTRNQualitative2018Care in Nursing Facilities after Palliative Consult.Journal of hospice and palliative nursing : JHPN : the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses AssociationHospital palliative care goals were often missing when 12 patients entered nursing homes. Families expected improvement, and therapy was ordered despite poor prognosis.
• PTOTOther2018Identifying Barriers to Nurse-Facilitated Patient Mobility in the Intensive Care Unit.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesNurses and a technician had little free time; 79% of observed minutes were not possible for mobility, mostly documentation and provider communication. Potential mobility appeared during patient care and downtime.
• PTOTRNQualitative2018Home discharge following critical illness: A qualitative analysis of family caregiver experience.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careFamily caregivers of ICU survivors felt overwhelmed and unprepared at home discharge, then stayed vigilant as emotional needs continued after physical care needs were mentioned less. They often neglected their own health despite ICU staff advice.
• PTRCT2018Self-efficacy and embodiment associated with Alexander Technique lessons or with acupuncture sessions: A longitudinal qualitative sub-study within the ATLAS trial.Complementary therapies in clinical practiceParticipants described Alexander lessons or acupuncture sessions, plus usual care, as helping them notice and release tension, gain confidence to manage neck pain, and sustain self-care; some found the approach unsuited.
• PTOTRNRCT2018Symptoms Associated With Chronic Venous Disease in Response to a Cooling Treatment Compared to Placebo: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses SocietyCooling cuffs eased throbbing and pain in chronic venous disease. Half of cooling users saw throbbing improve versus 30% of placebo users. Both groups improved pain similarly, but fewer cooling users reported worsening. This self-care addition may help manage bothersome leg symptoms.
• PTRNCase Series2018Peripheral Infiltration and Extravasation Injury Methodology: A Retrospective Study.Journal of infusion nursing : the official publication of the Infusion Nurses SocietyIn 147 pediatric grade 3/4 IV infiltration cases managed by nursing, no patient needed surgery, had infection or developed compartment syndrome. Five needed specialized wound care.
• PTCohort2018Associations of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference with 3-Year All-Cause Mortality Among the Oldest Old: Evidence from a Chinese Community-Based Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAmong Chinese oldest old, higher body mass index and waist circumference were linked to better 3-year survival. Underweight participants had the highest mortality. This does not prove extra weight helps.
• PTRNSystematic Review2018Risk Factors for Falls in Adult Cancer Survivors: An Integrative Review.Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation NursesPoor physical function, cognitive function, and balance or gait problems were the most common factors associated with falls in adult cancer survivors. Medication type also appeared among them. The studies could not be combined into one overall estimate.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2018The Initiation of Rehabilitation Therapies and Observed Outcomes in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation NursesChildren with traumatic brain injury received rehabilitation services at different times by injury severity, and most had no delay on a speech pathology evaluation at follow-up. The study did not show that earlier or more frequent therapy improved recovery.
• PTOTRNOther2018Physical Activity and Function in Assisted Living Residents.Western journal of nursing researchAssisted living residents averaged 20.6 sedentary hours daily, with 42 minutes of moderate activity. A wrist monitor was feasible, and activity did not separate residents who had fallen from those who had not.
• PTRNOther2018The association of pain, race and slow gait speed in older adults.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Pain was not more strongly tied to slow gait in African American older adults than in non-Hispanic White older adults, though bothersome pain was associated with slower walking.
• PTRNSystematic Review2018Supervised Physical Activity and Improved Functional Capacity among Adults Living with HIV: A Systematic Review.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANACSupervised exercise improved physical function in adults with HIV most consistently when aerobic training was combined with resistance training. Yoga and aerobic training alone were less consistent, and self-reported function did not always match measured gains.
• PTOTRNQualitative2019"A body in transformation"-An empirical phenomenological study about fear-avoidance beliefs towards physical activity among persons experiencing moderate-to-severe rheumatic pain.Journal of clinical nursingFear of more pain, fatigue or being alone made people with moderate-to-severe rheumatic pain avoid physical activity. Some stayed active by listening to their body, planning recovery, and finding meaning in social roles.
• PTRNCase Series2019Role of Amputation in Improving Mobility, Pain Outcomes, and Emotional and Psychological Well-Being in Children With Metastatic Osteosarcoma.The American journal of hospice & palliative careAfter amputation, records showed better mobility in eight of twelve children with metastatic osteosarcoma and limited life expectancy, lower pain at one week and three months, and improved emotional wellbeing in nine.
• PTCohort2019Examination of clinical and psychosocial determinants of exercise capacity change in cardiac rehabilitation.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careCardiac rehabilitation completers improved exercise capacity by 1.91 METs on average. Older age, diabetes, higher BMI or weight predicted smaller gains. Better self-reported physical function, less pain, and percentage weight loss tracked with larger gains; depression and social support did not.
• PTOTRNCohort2018Examining age-related differences in functional domain impairment following traumatic brain injury.International journal of older people nursingOlder adults after mild-moderate traumatic brain injury had worse mobility, travel, home maintenance and overall function for a year. Better pre-injury physical health was linked to better function; better pre-injury mental health was sometimes linked to worse function in older adults.
• PTOTCohort2018Patient-Reported Outcomes in Functioning Following Nursing Home or Inpatient Rehabilitation.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAmong older Medicare beneficiaries who reported nursing home or inpatient rehabilitation, 33.4% said their functioning did not improve. Lower education, difficulty with complex daily tasks, less than 1 month of total rehab, and no outpatient rehab were linked to reporting no improvement.
• PTCohort2019Body Composition, IGF1 Status, and Physical Functionality in Nonagenarians: Implications for Osteosarcopenia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationVery old adults with both low muscle and low bone density did not have worse physical function than those with either alone. Lean mass related to function in men only, and muscle and bone measures were not linked.
• PTOTPilot2018The Influence of Active Gaming on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Black and Hispanic Youth.The Journal of school healthAdolescents in a summer camp playing Wii Fit for 30 minutes weekly for six weeks showed increased sit-ups, step-ups, and self-efficacy. However, without a control group, it is impossible to know if the games caused these changes or if natural growth or other camp activities did.
• PTOther2018Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Translated "A Matter of Balance" Fall Prevention Program Materials for Non-English-Speaking Participants.Journal of trauma nursing : the official journal of the Society of Trauma NursesTranslated MOB did not reduce fear of falling in Chinese participants; their fear increased from first to last class and at 6 months. Spanish fear decreased by last class, but 6-month data were missing.
• PTRNOther2019Restrictive Ventilatory Patterns in Residents of Continuing Care Retirement Communities.Western journal of nursing research52% of older residents in continuing care retirement communities had restrictive breathing patterns. Dementia, kyphosis, lower muscle strength, and breathing distress were linked to these patterns. The study cannot show whether these factors cause or result from restrictive breathing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Rehabilitation Therapy for Nursing Home Residents at the End-of-Life.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationTherapy for nursing home residents in their last month of life became more common and more intense, with much of it delivered very close to death. The study cannot tell you whether physical, occupational, or speech therapy helped or harmed.
• PTRNQualitative2018Living with chronic pain: Patients' experiences with healthcare services in Norway.Nursing openChronic pain patients felt helped when clinicians believed them, coordinated care and pain rehabilitation was useful for everyday life. They also felt dismissed, rushed, worse after untailored rehabilitation, and hopeless when told to accept pain.
• PTRNPilot2018The impact of implementing a fall prevention educational session for community-dwelling physical therapy patients.Nursing openFall risk awareness scores rose in eight older adults in physical therapy who received nurse practitioner-led education, a booklet, and a physical therapist-led session. They reported home safety changes, but the pilot was too small to show falls were prevented.
• PTQualitative2018Are we "missing the big picture" in transitions of care? Perspectives of healthcare providers managing patients with unplanned hospitalization.Applied nursing research : ANRProviders said discharge instructions were often too long, untailored, and rushed; poor handoffs, language barriers, and home safety issues complicated follow-up. They valued caregivers but rarely noted caregiver burden.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2019Lived experiences and quality of life after gynaecological cancer-An integrative review.Journal of clinical nursingNordic gynaecological cancer survivors described lasting bowel, bladder, sexual, fatigue and body-image problems, plus fear of recurrence. Follow-up focused on recurrence left unmet needs; nurse-led, person-centred dialogue and education were suggested.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2019Three Nurse-administered Protocols Reduce Nutritional Decline and Frailty in Older Gastrointestinal Surgery Patients: A Cluster Randomized Trial.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNurse-led protocols for early mobilization, oral care, and orientation reduced weight loss and prevented new frailty in older gastrointestinal surgery patients. The intervention required about 58 minutes of nursing time per day. Family members were coached to assist with daily activities.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2018Cupping therapy and chronic back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemCupping therapy reduced pain more than control in adults with chronic back pain, but the trials varied in how cupping was applied and most did not describe good blinding. The benefit is not enough to support a standard cupping protocol.
• PTCohort2018Occipital Neuralgia: a noninvasive therapeutic approach.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemPeople with occipital neuralgia who used customized insoles, and some also osteopathy, had incomplete follow-up and mixed symptom reports. Without a control group, neither component's contribution can be judged.
• PTRNQualitative2019A qualitative exploration of social and environmental factors affecting diet and activity in knee replacement patients.Journal of clinical nursingKnee replacement patients said tempting foods at work, rehab and family events made healthy eating hard. Home healthy food, spousal support and activity reminders helped. Weather was a common barrier to moving.
• PTRNSurvey2018The Relationship between Fear-Avoidance Beliefs and Pain in Pregnant Women with Pelvic Girdle Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyIn pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain, higher fear-avoidance beliefs were linked with more severe pain. Multiparous women reported higher fear-avoidance scores than primiparous women.
• PTRNQualitative2019Parental involvement in decision-making about their child's health care at the hospital.Nursing openParents of hospitalized children described decision-making as demanding. They needed clear, consistent information and professionals who asked what they wanted. Involvement varied widely, with some nurses actively including them and others simply giving care.
• PTOTCohort2019Rehabilitation Providers' Prediction of the Likely Success of the SNF-to-Home Transition Differs by Discipline.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOccupational and physical therapists’ concerns about a patient’s ability to live independently after skilled nursing facility discharge were linked with failed return home. Medical providers’ and social workers’ concerns were not linked. Treat therapist predictions as a possible warning sign, not proof.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2019The Effectiveness of Function-Focused Care Interventions in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review.The journal of nursing research : JNRFunction-focused care in nursing homes improved physical, psychosocial, and cognitive outcomes for most residents. The review could not determine which specific intervention method worked best or whether integrated or dedicated care processes were superior.
• PTNarrative Review2019Nurse Practitioners in Orthopaedic Surgical Settings: A Review of the Literature.Orthopedic nursingNurse practitioners in orthopaedic surgical teams were reported to improve access, communication and length of stay, but formal specialty training was inconsistent.
• PTRCT2019US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Based Physical Activity Recommendations Do Not Improve Fitness in Real-World Settings.The Journal of school healthCDC school physical activity strategies did not improve children's fitness compared with routine programming. Girls in intervention schools did not improve on the shuttle-run fitness test, while control girls improved slightly.
• PTOTSurvey2019The Association Between Yoga Use, Physical Function, and Employment in Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis.Holistic nursing practiceAdults with rheumatoid arthritis who practiced yoga were more likely to work full-time and had better self-reported physical function than those who did not. Once age and education were taken into account, pain, fatigue, depression and sleep did not differ. These are associations, not proof.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2019Frail Phenotype and Disability Prediction in Community-Dwelling Older People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.The journal of nursing research : JNRFrail community-dwelling older adults had a 5.37-fold higher risk of disability in basic daily tasks and a 3.87-fold higher risk in more complex daily tasks than robust peers. Those at risk also had a 1.84-fold higher risk than robust peers.
• PTOTCohort2019Predictive Capacity of Frailty Phenotype Toward Patterns of Disability Identified Using Latent Class Analysis.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationFrailty screening missed many older adults who later developed disability patterns. When it flagged someone, that person often did decline. It was not good at catching most people who declined.
• PTOTQualitative2019Dismissing chronic illness: A qualitative analysis of negative health care experiences.Health care for women internationalMany people with ME/CFS described health care professionals dismissing their symptoms, attributing them to depression or anxiety, or pushing exercise after symptoms worsened. Clinicians should listen to symptom reports and avoid forcing activity.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2019Effect of exergaming on health-related quality of life in older adults: A systematic review.International journal of nursing studiesExergaming did not consistently improve health-related quality of life in older adults. Most trials found no clear benefit, and the positive results were short-term and tied to supervised center-based sessions with high adherence.
• PTCohort2019Prevalence of sarcopenia in inpatients 70 years and older using different diagnostic criteria.Nursing openSarcopenia prevalence in older hospital inpatients ranged widely by diagnostic criteria, from 12.0% to 75.9% in men and 3.1% to 75.3% in women. The single strength-based criterion labelled 69.7% of men and 75.3% of women as sarcopenic.
• PTRNPilot2019Use of a Wearable Technology and Motivational Interviews to Improve Sleep in Older Adults With Osteoarthritis and Sleep Disturbance: A Pilot Study.Research in gerontological nursingOlder adults with osteoarthritis and insomnia symptoms reported less severe insomnia after 19 weeks of Fitbit tracking, tailored texts, and motivational calls. Insomnia scores improved by 1.2 points on a 28-point scale. No control group means this is feasibility, not proof.
• PTRNCohort2019Activities of Daily Living of Home Healthcare Patients.Home healthcare nowMost home health patients needed help with daily activities at admission, and 58.1% improved by discharge. Bathing was the most common problem, and impaired decision-making was linked to severe dependence.