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Adult rehabilitation research

Everything we have read on adult rehabilitation. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

1,091 PAPERS · PAGE 2 OF 22 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2021Functional Status Across Post-Acute Settings is Associated With 30-Day and 90-Day Hospital Readmissions.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationPatients with lower self-care or mobility function at the initial post-acute stay had higher 30-day and 90-day readmission risk across stroke, lower extremity joint replacement and hip/femur fracture/procedure. Function flags risk; it does not prove rehabilitation prevents readmission.
• OTRNSurvey2022Pain and Affected Symptoms of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis During COVID-19 Period.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesPatients with rheumatoid arthritis who could not attend clinic during the pandemic reported higher pain than before. They also reported more trouble with hygiene, dressing and cooking.
• PTOTRNOther2021Effectiveness of a group-walking intervention for people with dementia based on quality of life and caregivers' burden.Nursing openA nurse-led group walking programme did not improve quality of life or daily function. Physical functioning worsened, disability and dependence increased, and caregiver burden showed no clear change. Without a control group, these changes cannot be credited to walking.
• OTRNOther2021Exploring the employment readiness and return to work status of breast cancer patients and related factors.International journal of nursing sciencesOnly 21.35% of 192 Chinese breast cancer survivors had returned to work. Lower employment readiness was associated with advanced disease, cognitive symptoms, depression, fatigue and lower work ability. Survivors described support, finances and flexible work as important.
• PTOTOther2022Testing the use of translation apps to overcome everyday healthcare communication in Australian aged-care hospital wards-An exploratory study.Nursing openStaff found translation apps helped basic ward communication with older patients who spoke little English, especially pain and care routines. Phrase apps could not translate patient replies, and Google Translate was slow or inaccurate, so use was limited to low-risk exchanges.
• PTOTCohort2021Relationship between physical activity and functional capacity change in aged cohort in São Paulo, Brazil.Revista brasileira de enfermagemAfter accounting for age, BMI and earlier need for help with daily activities, weekly leisure-time physical activity was not linked to later need for help in older adults. Age, BMI and baseline daily-activity limitations were linked to more limitation.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2022Respiratory rehabilitation in patients recovering from severe acute respiratory syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careRespiratory rehabilitation improved six-minute walk distance by 45.79 m in pooled comparative studies. Lung function changes were mixed, quality of life did not clearly improve, and no serious adverse events were reported.
• OTRCT2022Effects of Cognitively Based Compassion Training in the outskirts: A mixed study.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemAdults in vulnerable communities who took a compassion training reported greater self-compassion after training and at follow-up. Stress and negative feelings also changed, but the study was small and mixed, so it does not prove clinical benefit.
• OTCohort2023Interrelationships among workload, illness severity, and function on return to work following acute respiratory distress syndrome.Australian critical care : official journal of the Confederation of Australian Critical Care NursesIllness severity and function at 6 months were linked to return to work in 329 ARDS survivors. Work at 6 months was the strongest observed link to work at 12 months. These are links, not proof.
• PTOTRNCohort2022Post-Acute Care Outcomes and Functional Status Changes of Adults with New Cancer Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationSurvival was best among older adults with newly diagnosed advanced cancer discharged to a skilled nursing facility when they received cancer treatment and no hospice. Among those with complete ADL data, mean improvement was 1.5 to 3.1 points on a 28-point scale.
• PTOTOther2022Characterizing Standardized Functional Data at Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationInpatient rehab records show Section GG and FIM mostly line up, but Section GG often scores patients as more independent. Transfer change scores were least consistent. Higher Section GG scores can mean device use or different definitions, not better function.
• OTRNCohort2022The Influence of Prior Functional Status on Self-Care Improvement During a Skilled Nursing Facility Stay.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationSkilled nursing facility residents who were independent in self-care before admission scored higher at admission and discharge and improved more during the stay than those who needed help or were dependent. Prior self-care level helps set realistic discharge goals.
• OTCohort2022Examining the Effect of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Home Care Recipients' Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Capacity.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome care recipients assessed during the first pandemic wave were more likely to be judged less able to shop or get around than recipients assessed before it. Older age and unstable health were linked to greater decline.
• PTOTRNCohort2023Poor long-term recovery after critical COVID-19 during 12 months longitudinal follow-up.Intensive & critical care nursingTwelve months after severe COVID-19 ICU care, 46 patients still reported fatigue and functional limitations. Symptoms did not improve between four and twelve months, except slight cognitive gain, while frailty worsened.
• OTRNSurvey2023Factors influencing employment rates and states after liver transplantation in China: A multi-centre cross-sectional study.Nursing openAmong Chinese liver transplant recipients, 59% were employed after transplant versus 69.8% before, but 81.6% rated their current work as good. Nurses can assess depression, physical activity, social support, and work ability during follow-up.
• PTOTRNCohort2023A longitudinal study of disability in activities of daily living and activity restriction-induced fear of falling among Korean older people.Nursing openOlder adults who limited activities because they feared falling had more disability in daily tasks over 10 years. Fear of falling without limiting activities was not linked to disability.
• OTCohort2023Depressive Multimorbidity and Trajectories of Functional Status among Older Americans: Differences by Racial/Ethnic Group.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults with high depressive symptoms plus chronic disease accumulated daily living limitations about five times faster over time than those with neither. Hispanic and Black participants also accumulated limitations faster than White participants.
• OTRNRCT2023Evaluating depressive symptoms, BDNF Val66Met, and APOE-ε4 as moderators of response to computerized cognitive training in heart failure.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careDepression severity, BDNF Val66Met, and APOE-ε4 did not predict response to computerized cognitive training in heart failure. The trial's memory and daily function outcomes improved over time in all groups.
• PTOTRNQualitative2023Real-life experience of accepting assistive device services for Tibetans with dysfunction: A qualitative study.International journal of nursing sciencesTen Tibetan adults who used assistive devices said the devices helped daily life and eased family care, but poor fitting, unsafe paths, fall fear, and stigma made them hard to use. They wanted local professional guidance and financial support.
• OTRNQualitative2023The self-care process of community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.Revista brasileira de enfermagemOlder adults changed self-care routines during COVID-19 using health professionals, media and technology, but unapproved practices appeared only in those diagnosed. Loss of daily activities and risk-group stigma brought fear, discouragement and loneliness.
• OTRNOther2023Delirium Mediates Incidence of Hospital-Associated Disability Among Older Adults.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHospitalized older adults with delirium were more likely to lose daily living skills before discharge. Delirium accounted for part of the disability risk linked to dementia and higher comorbidity.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2023Family involvement and diabetes distress across dyads for adults with type 2 diabetes.Patient education and counselingHarmful family involvement, such as arguing about food or undermining self-care, is linked to higher diabetes distress for both the patient and the support person. This pattern holds regardless of whether they live together, suggesting support for the caregiver as well as the patient.
• OTCohort2023Changes in Satisfaction with Meaningful Activities and Onset of Depressive Symptoms among Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults: A Population-Based Study Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationCommunity-dwelling older adults whose satisfaction with their most meaningful activities fell were more likely to develop depressive symptoms during follow-up. Ask what matters to them, not just what they do, when planning mental health support.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2023The relationship between experience of knee pain and physical activity participation: A scoping review of quantitative studies.International journal of nursing sciencesEvidence linking knee pain to physical activity is inconsistent. Pain may reduce moderate activity but not light activity. Psychological factors like catastrophizing and specific painful movements interfere with participation more than pain intensity alone.
• PTOTRNQualitative2023Experiencing COMFORT: Perceptions of Virtually-delivered Nonpharmacologic Therapies in Adults Prescribed Opioids for Chronic Pain.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesAdults with chronic pain prescribed opioids described virtual nonpharmacologic therapies as helpful for education and self-confidence. More than half reported some pain benefit and several reduced opioid use, though themes describe experiences rather than proven effects.
• OTOther2023Return-to-work self-efficacy questionnaire: Cross-cultural adaptation and validation in China.Nursing openA Chinese 11-item questionnaire lets breast cancer survivors report how confident they feel about returning to work. It did not show that confidence makes return more likely; it gives a way to ask and follow it.
• OTRNQualitative2024Understanding the Postpartum Cesarean Pain Experience Among Individuals With Publicly Funded Insurance: A Qualitative Investigation.Journal of midwifery & women's healthPostpartum people after cesarean birth described pain that interfered with infant care, household tasks, and mood. They wanted individualized counseling, non-drug comfort options, and honest opioid discussion without feeling judged.
• PTOTOther2023Changes in Functional Outcomes After an Inpatient Rehabilitation Program for Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients.Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)Solid-organ transplant recipients in a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program improved walking, balance, strength, independence, and quality of life; no control group means natural recovery cannot be separated.
• PTOTRNCase Series2023A Single-Center Retrospective Evaluation of Decision-Making and Factors Motivating Hand Transplant Candidates.Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)In eight completed hand transplant evaluations, none proceeded to transplant. Patients often stopped because of rehabilitation time, lifelong immunosuppression, alternative options, or social and financial strain; teams stopped others for safety or incomplete follow-up.
• PTOTRNSurvey2023Self-efficacy, resilience and healthy ageing among older people who have an acute hospital admission: A cross-sectional study.Nursing openAmong older people discharged home after an acute hospital admission, higher self-efficacy and resilience were linked to better healthy ageing. More co-morbidities were linked to worse healthy ageing. This does not show that raising self-efficacy improves outcomes.
• OTRNCohort2023Resilience, activities of daily living, and well-being in patients with chronic kidney disease.Nursing openWell-being did not show a clear change over six months in 105 CKD patients; daily living scores fell while resilience rose. Resilience was associated with better well-being, but no intervention was tested.
• OTCohort2024Profile of Older Dual-Enrollees Living in Areas with Managed Long-Term Services and Supports.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association56.2% of older adults on Medicare and Medicaid needing long-term care lived where managed long-term services were offered. They averaged 2.89 helpers and nearly 70 weekly care hours. Areas with these programs had more Hispanic adults and less nursing-home or residential care living.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2024The unmet rehabilitation needs of colorectal cancer survivors after surgery: A qualitative meta-synthesis.Nursing openColorectal cancer survivors after surgery said they lacked clear help with diet, exercise, bowel symptoms, stoma care, work and emotional support. These are reported needs, not tested interventions.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2024Patients' experiences of day surgery and recovery: A meta-ethnography.Nursing openDay surgery patients wanted realistic, tailored information and support they could absorb after anaesthesia. Unexpected symptoms and no planned contact made them feel unsafe; phone calls, written instructions and family help were valued.
• PTOTRNOther2024Symptomatology and Quality of Life of Older People With HIV and Comorbid Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases From an HIV Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANACOlder people with HIV and COPD reported more depression, worse mobility, self-care, usual activities, and pain than those with HIV alone. Anxiety levels did not differ between the groups. The study describes these associations but cannot prove COPD caused them.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Reducing the Burdens of Paid Caregivers of Older Adults by Using Assistive Technology: A Scoping Review.Western journal of nursing researchPaid caregivers reported less physical strain with handrails, transfer devices and bidet seats, but sensors and robots were also reported to bring alarm burden, extra effort and worry. The evidence is too small and mixed to prove these technologies work.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2024Integrating Perspectives on Family Caregiving After Critical Illness: A Qualitative Content Analysis.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesFamily caregivers of ICU survivors report unmet needs for hands-on skills training and self-care support. Providers recognize logistical needs but overlook caregivers' mental health and personal well-being. Interventions must address these instrumental gaps rather than focusing solely on psychoeducation.
• OTRNOther2024Does self-care improve coping or does coping improve self-care? A structural equation modeling study.Applied nursing research : ANRIn heart failure caregivers, better self-care was linked to less stress, more active coping and better mental health. Targeting caregiver self-care may be a practical entry point, but these cross-sectional data cannot prove it causes change.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2024Crosswalk Algorithms for Cognitive and Functional Outcomes Among 2013-2018 Medicare Beneficiaries With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome health admission scores often disagree with nursing facility discharge scores for patients with dementia. Cognitive impairment can be ruled out reliably using specific OASIS items, but ADL limitations are over-identified, making cross-setting comparisons unreliable.
• OTQualitative2025'There are things I have learned the hard way' Patient experiences on lasting challenges 4 months after Transient Ischemic Attack: A qualitative study.Journal of clinical nursingPeople with transient ischemic attack who reported lasting challenges described fatigue, thinking changes, and ongoing worry four months later. Many improved slowly, but they said they needed earlier acknowledgement of lasting symptoms and support for mental wellbeing.
• OTRNCohort2024Factors associated with change in activities of daily living performance in home health care patients with diabetes.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Home health patients with diabetes improved ADL performance, and only 3% did not improve. Black patients and those with bowel incontinence or ostomy improved less, while surgical wounds, pain, confusion, better prior function, and caregiver training needs were linked to greater improvement.
• PTOTRNCohort2024Physical and Cognitive Function Trends in Post-acute Care after Total Joint Arthroplasty in Medicare Beneficiaries: 2013-2018.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationFrom 2013 to 2018, Medicare patients after hip or knee replacement shifted from nursing or rehab facilities to home health. Home health and rehab patients became more dependent and cognitively impaired; nursing facility patients became less dependent and impaired.
• OTRNCohort2024Association of Novel Ventricular Assist Device Self-report Measures With Overall Health-Related Quality of Life.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingTwo of five new LVAD self-report measures were linked to heart-failure-specific quality of life at 3 months, not to generic quality of life. Chest incision pain and adverse events were also linked to lower quality of life.
• PTOTPilot2025Effects of the Vitality Acupunch Exercise Program on Older Adults With Probable Sarcopenia: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study.Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' AssociationIn nursing-home residents with probable sarcopenia, a 24-week seated acupunch program did not improve the main physical outcomes overall, but handgrip strength was higher at the end and participants described greater strength and enjoyment.
• PTOTRNOther2024Self-care dependency assessment of person with lower limb amputation: an exploratory study.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemIn 40 home-dwelling adults after dysvascular major lower-limb amputation, walking and bathing had highest dependency; feeding lowest. Toilet, walking and transferring scores were the strongest predictors of overall autonomy.
• PTOTRNOther2024Purposes and characteristics of virtual reality technologies for the elderly in the community: a scoping review.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemCommunity older adults used VR for balance, gait, strength, cognition, mood, and leisure. Devices included screens, Kinect, goggles, and sensors; only four studies reported dizziness, nausea or anxiety, so safety reporting was incomplete.
• OTRNSurvey2024Factors affecting return to work in breast cancer survivors in Korea: a cross-sectional study.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea)Among Korean breast cancer survivors who had worked before diagnosis, being single, 2 to 5 years after diagnosis, less anxious preoccupation and better quality of working life were linked with returning to work.
• OTRNCase Series2025Morbidity and factors associated with frailty in post-COVID-19 elderly patients attended at a reference center.Revista brasileira de enfermagemPost-COVID-19 elderly survivors were often pre-frail or frail. Among 204, 80 were pre-frail and 31 were frail. Impaired cognition, five or more comorbidities, and trouble with complex daily activities were associated with frailty.
• OTRNQualitative2025Perspectives of Older Adults on Self-Care of Chronic Diseases Utilizing Online Health Resources: An Exploratory Descriptive Qualitative Study.Nursing & health sciencesOlder adults in Singapore with chronic diseases trusted doctors, family and friends more than online health information, but were wary of scams and unsure how to judge websites. They wanted guidance to use technology safely.
• OTRNSurvey2025Housing characteristics of low and moderate income older adults with and without disabilities.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)About 32% of low and moderate income older adults with disability had an adverse consequence from unmet care needs. Subsidized housing, renting, apartment or mobile home, and interior disorder were associated with having such consequences.