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 6 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTCohort2020Cumulative and Incremental Value of Sarcopenia Components on Predicting Adverse Outcomes.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAdding grip strength and walking speed to a sarcopenia screening questionnaire improved prediction of adverse outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. Better strength and function was associated with lower risk. Muscle mass measured by DXA added little and sometimes was associated with higher risk.
• PTCohort2020Physical Activity Opportunities of Low-Income Elementary School-Aged Children During the Segmented School Day.The Journal of school healthChildren in these low-income elementary schools averaged 22.8 minutes (boys) and 20.0 minutes (girls) of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily. Days with multiple scheduled opportunities were associated with 7.1 and 8.0 more minutes than no-opportunity days.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2020Factors associated with sleep quality during chemotherapy: An integrative review.Nursing openPain, fatigue, depression, distress, and anxiety were the most consistently associated factors with poor sleep quality in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Older age, lower physical functioning, and more comorbidities were also linked to sleep disturbances.
• PTOther2020Impact of Weight Status on the Cardiopulmonary Fitness Outcome of a School-Based Physical Activity Program.The Journal of school healthA school-based physical activity program did not improve fourth-graders' BMI or aerobic fitness compared with control schools. Overweight and obese children improved less in fitness than normal-weight peers, regardless of program.
• PTOTRNPilot2020An evidence-based structured one-year programme to sustain physical activity in patients with heart failure in primary care: A non-randomized longitudinal feasibility study.Nursing openSeven patients with heart failure completed a one-year nurse-led programme combining group education and individual activity plans. Self-reported activity and walking distance improved, and participants found the group sessions and personalized goals most helpful. Feasibility was confirmed, but efficacy remains unproven.
• PTPilot2020Feasibility and acceptability of intensive, real-time biobehavioral data collection using ecological momentary assessment, salivary biomarkers, and accelerometers among middle-aged African Americans.Research in nursing & healthEmployed African American adults responded to text surveys over 7 days, collected saliva for 4 days, and wore hip accelerometers with high adherence. This shows intensive measurement is feasible for research, not that it improves health.
• PTRNCohort2020Co-occurrence of decrements in physical and cognitive function is common in older oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society39.3% of older patients receiving chemotherapy had low physical and cognitive function together, and 15.6% had very low physical function with moderate cognition. The profiles stayed stable over two cycles. Assess both.
• PTRNMeta-Analysis2021Effect of Angiotensin System Inhibitors on Physical Performance in Older People - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAcross 8 trials of 952 older people, ACE inhibitors and ARBs did not improve strength, walking endurance, or physical performance. Do not use these blood pressure medicines to enhance mobility or function.
• PTQualitative2020Long-term exercise adherence in patients with heart failure: A qualitative study.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careHeart failure patients in an exercise program said feeling stronger, having a routine, support, and learning helped them keep exercising. Some still reported no benefit or health problems.
• PTRNSystematic Review2020Efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemMassage, acupuncture, and relaxation trials for palliative cancer pain showed mixed short-term results. Some pain scores improved immediately, but most evidence was uncertain, so no therapy is established as effective.
• PTRNOther2020Adherence and exercise mode in supervised exercise therapy for peripheral artery disease.Journal of vascular nursing : official publication of the Society for Peripheral Vascular NursingIn PAD supervised exercise, combining treadmill and step-ex had the best adherence, while treadmill alone had the lowest. All groups improved exercise capacity; the combined group gained more work per session than treadmill alone. Step-ex appeared safe for patients with high fall risk.
• PTRCT2020A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Using SystemCHANGE™ Approach to Increase Physical Activity in Older Kidney Transplant Recipients.Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)The 6-month step difference was not significant, but older kidney transplant recipients who received a Fitbit plus monthly routine-based goal-setting sessions had 608 more daily steps than control at 3 months. Resting heart rate fell 6.3 beats per minute more than control.
• PTRCT2021Effects of Qigong Exercise on Physical and Psychological Health among African Americans.Western journal of nursing research15 African American adults completed an eight-week group Qigong program that included home video practice, breathing, meditation, and music. Some chair-stand and physical function scores improved, but with no control group improvement cannot be attributed to any part.
• PTOTRNSurvey2020A Study of Physical Activity, Frailty, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Taiwan.The journal of nursing research : JNRIn 150 community-dwelling older adults, better upper limb strength and flexibility, along with higher physical activity, were linked to higher health-related quality of life. Being prefrail was associated with lower quality of life scores. These are correlations, not evidence that exercise improves outcomes.
• PTOTRNQualitative2021How Context Influences Hospital Readmissions from Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Rapid Ethnographic Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHigh-performing hospitals had better communication flow and shared team expectations, while low-performing sites faced delays from missing nurse huddles and unsigned PT notes. Insurance status and physical office layouts also shaped discharge speed.
• PTOTOther2021Mixed Methods Study of Patient and Primary Care Provider Perceptions of Chronic Pain Treatment.Patient education and counselingPatients with chronic pain said they understood opioid risks and wanted function-focused conversations, while providers believed patients did not understand risks and thought pain reduction was the main goal. Fear, stigma, and time limits shaped both sides.
• PTOTRNNarrative Review2021A Paradigm Shift for Movement-based Pain Assessment in Older Adults: Practice, Policy and Regulatory Drivers.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesPain scores at rest may miss pain that limits older adults' movement and function. This review recommends assessing pain during walking, turning, or daily activities, but these are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTRNQualitative2020Patient perspectives of ankle-foot orthoses for walking ability in peripheral artery disease: A qualitative study.Journal of vascular nursing : official publication of the Society for Peripheral Vascular NursingPatients with peripheral artery disease and calf claudication described less pain and longer walking when wearing a carbon-fiber AFO during a 12-week community walking program, but fit, stiffness, skin problems and uneven surfaces limited use.
• PTSurvey2020Development and evaluation of the health belief model scale for exercise.International journal of nursing sciencesAn 18-item scale measured Chinese adults' exercise beliefs and separated barriers into objective (time, venues) and subjective (pain, laziness). It tested a questionnaire, not an exercise programme.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2020Risk Factors, Presentation, and Course of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in a Large, Academic Long-Term Care Facility.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn a large nursing home, 45.5% of residents who tested positive for COVID-19 had no symptoms at diagnosis. Male sex, bowel incontinence, and staff living in high-prevalence communities were linked to infection, while 30.1% of infected residents died.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2020Predicting hospital outcomes with the reported edmonton frail scale-Thai version in orthopaedic older patients.Journal of clinical nursingPreoperative frailty screening with the REFS-Thai predicted postoperative complications and delirium better than standard medical assessments in older orthopaedic patients. Frail patients had higher odds of complications and longer stays, while apparent frailty also predicted delirium.
• PTRNOther2021Older adults' social network and support and its association with physical activity.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Perceived support did not show a clear link with diary exercise minutes, but older adults with knee osteoarthritis and hypertension named many potential helpers. A nurse-led support session increased confidence in 60 of 72.
• PTQualitative2021A multisite study of multidisciplinary ICU team member beliefs toward early mobility.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careICU staff believed early mobility helped patients but feared falls, line dislodgement and instability. Nurses were seen as both key initiators and blockers, while staffing, equipment and time shaped whether mobilization happened.
• PTOTRNQualitative2021Parents' experiences of VOICE: A novel support programme in the NICU.Nursing in critical careParents of extreme premature infants described structured NICU meetings as helping them feel involved in care, understand their baby's cues, and gain confidence as parents. They valued personalized information and emotional support.
• PTOTQualitative2020Health and social care professionals' experiences of collaborative planning-Applying the person-centred practice framework.Nursing openProfessionals described collaborative planning after discharge as uneven: teamwork improved in some places, but unclear roles, power tensions, administrative meetings and limited time made person-centred care hard. They wanted shared definitions, fewer attendees and planning with patients at home.
• PTRCT2020Breathing exercises and pranayamas to decrease perceived exertion during breath-holding while locked-down due to COVID-19 online randomized study.Complementary therapies in clinical practiceAfter one week in adults without pulmonary conditions, breath-holding time rose in all four groups, but the groups differed overall only for perceived exertion change. Alternate-nostril and diaphragmatic breathing reduced exertion; alternate-nostril had the largest reduction.
• PTRNRCT2020Effect of intradialytic progressive resistance exercise on physical fitness and quality of life in maintenance haemodialysis patients.Nursing openDuring haemodialysis, supervised resistance exercise improved walking distance, sit-to-stand speed and grip strength over 12 weeks. Some kidney-disease quality-of-life scores improved, but overall physical and mental health scores did not.
• PTRNCohort2021Translation and evaluation of a comprehensive educational program for cardiac rehabilitation patients in Latin America: A multi-national, longitudinal study.Patient education and counselingIn three Latin American cardiac rehabilitation programs, Spanish Cardiac College education with supervised exercise and home exercise prescription increased knowledge from 13.64 to 15.38 of 20 points, held at 6 months. No control group, so the contribution of education cannot be separated from exercise.
• PTOTRCT2021Testing the Implementation of Function-focused Care in Assisted Living Settings.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn assisted living, a function-focused care program slowed resident functional decline over 12 months and increased resident participation in care activities. It did not improve activity measured by monitors, so do not expect those changes.
• PTRNCohort2021Effects of the Intensity of Lifestyle Exercise on Changes in Blood Pressure.Western journal of nursing researchIn older adults after a cardiac event, spending less time exercising at target heart rate zone was associated with a greater rise in systolic blood pressure over a year. No such link was found for diastolic pressure, and average blood pressure rose.
• PTOTCohort2020Executive Function, Dexterity, and Discharge Disposition in Older Intensive Care Unit Survivors.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesIn older ICU survivors, worse attention and task switching were linked to worse hand dexterity. Those discharged to a facility had lower dexterity and task-switching scores than those discharged home.
• PTRNOther2021A geriatrics walking clinic improves hemoglobin A1c and timed gait in older veterans with type 2 diabetes.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Older veterans with type 2 diabetes in a 6-week walking clinic had improved HbA1c at 3, 6, and 12 months and faster timed gait at 6 weeks. The clinic also gave diet advice and nurse calls, so walking alone is not proven.
• PTRNCohort2021The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB): A Quick and Useful Tool for Fall Risk Stratification Among Older Primary Care Patients.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder primary care patients with low SPPB scores had higher one-year fall rates, especially slow walkers. Over four years, total SPPB and walking speed still flagged higher fall rates.
• PTRNSurvey2021Families' and Residents' Perspectives of the Quality of Nursing Home Care: Implications for Composite Quality Measures.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationResidents and families rated attentiveness, personal care, routine medical care, physical environment, cleanliness, social environment, food and communication as contributing more to overall nursing home quality than the 5-Star rating. Short-stay residents and families also valued physical therapy.
• PTQualitative2021Standardisation, multi-measure, data quality and trending: A qualitative study on multidisciplinary perspectives to improve intensive care early mobility monitoring.Intensive & critical care nursingICU clinicians want early mobility monitoring that is standardised, combines quantitative and qualitative data, and trends over time without data overload. PTs highlighted assistance, cuing, and movement quality.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2021Application of enhanced recovery after surgery in total knee arthroplasty in patients with haemophilia A: A pilot study.Nursing openPatients with haemophilia A recovering from knee replacement had shorter hospital stays, less pain, and better joint function scores when receiving enhanced recovery protocols compared to routine nursing.
• PTRNNarrative Review2020The Role of Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across the Interdisciplinary Cancer Team: Implications for Practice.Seminars in oncology nursingCancer teams moved routine reviews, chemotherapy assessments, exercise, and nursing follow-up to telehealth to reduce hospital contact. Telephone and web lifestyle interventions often improved behaviour at end of treatment, but maintenance, remote assessment, and digital literacy remained limited.
• PTOther2021Development of a proxy-reported scale to assess motor function in infants and young children with early-onset neuromuscular disorders.Journal of advanced nursingParents and experts shaped a 43-item scale for parents and guardians to report motor function in infants and young children with early-onset neuromuscular disorders. It is not ready for clinical use, so clinicians should not use it to judge treatment benefit.
• PTOTRNCohort2020Nursing Home Residents Face Severe Functional Limitation or Death After Hospitalization for Pneumonia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationMost nursing home residents hospitalized for pneumonia had severe functional limitation or died within 60 days. Among those without severe prior ADL limitations, 66.3% had this outcome. Discuss likely decline before hospitalizing.
• PTOTRNRCT2021A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Impact of Function and Behavior Focused Care for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationA nursing home program increased resident activity and reduced resistiveness to care at 4 months, but these gains disappeared by 12 months. There were no improvements in daily function, mood, or agitation. The intervention requires ongoing staff mentoring to sustain changes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021A Scoping Review: Family and Child Perspectives of Clinic-Based Obesity Treatment.Journal of pediatric nursingFamilies reported that generic advice and inconvenient clinic logistics drove dropout, while specific meal plans, tailored exercise guidance, and support between visits helped them stay engaged. Mothers' perspectives dominated the data, with little input from fathers or children.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2020Factors Affecting Quality of Life Among the Elderly in Long-Term Care Hospitals.The journal of nursing research : JNRDepression and care dependency were the strongest links to lower quality of life in 202 elderly inpatients. Nurse-patient interaction scores did not predict quality of life. Family visits and cognitive status also correlated with well-being in this convenience sample.
• PTRCT2021The Cardiac Care Bridge randomized trial in high-risk older cardiac patients: A mixed-methods process evaluation.Journal of advanced nursingA nurse-coordinated cardiac transition programme did not show a significant difference in 6-month readmission or mortality, and only 67% of intended care was delivered.
• PTRNOther2020Factors Influencing the Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Physical Functional Capacity After Cardiac Rehabilitation.Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation NursesAfter completing cardiac rehab, higher depressive symptoms were linked to lower physical function. Spending more exercise time in the target heart rate zone reduced this link. Higher family support for exercise was linked to a stronger negative association.
• PTRNOther2021Individual Differences in Response to Supervised Exercise Therapy for Peripheral Artery Disease.Western journal of nursing researchAfter 12 weeks of supervised exercise therapy for peripheral artery disease, mean six-minute walking distance rose by 29.0 m, yet 31.8% did not improve. Each participant improved in at least one outcome.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2021Social Connection in Long-Term Care Homes: A Scoping Review of Published Research on the Mental Health Impacts and Potential Strategies During COVID-19.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAcross long-term care home studies, better social connection was commonly linked with less depression, better mood and fewer responsive behaviors, but evidence was uneven and mostly observational. Twelve low-cost strategies were identified, not proven.
• PTCohort2021Cardiac rehabilitation in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: Predictors of utilization and effects of exercise training.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careAmong Takotsubo patients who attended outpatient cardiac rehab, exercise capacity increased by 1.3 METs, but weight did not change. Only 13.6% of nearby eligible patients enrolled, and inpatient rehab evaluation strongly predicted attendance.
• PTOTRNSystematic ReviewAnxiety Symptoms After Orthopedic Injury: A Systematic Review.Journal of trauma nursing : the official journal of the Society of Trauma NursesAfter limb or pelvic fractures, clinically significant anxiety symptoms were common, from 11.5% to 55.7% during admission and 20% to 39% years later, and were associated with depression, PTSD, and pain.
• PTOTRNCohort2021Predictors and short-term outcomes of post-stroke fatigue in initial phase of transition from hospital to home: A prospective observational study.Journal of advanced nursingFatigue in the acute phase, within 2 weeks of admission, predicted fatigue one month after discharge. Persistent fatigue was associated with depression, insomnia, sarcopenia risk, and lower quality of life, but this study did not test treatment.
• PTOTRNOther2021Chronic Pain Management during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesOnly expert guidance and recommendations were found for chronic pain care during the pandemic, not tested patient outcomes. It suggests telemedicine, pain-severity triage, infection precautions, and opioid precautions.