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Geriatrics research

Everything we have read on geriatrics. 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.

1,154 PAPERS · PAGE 12 OF 24 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPRCT2020Task-Specific Versus Impairment-Based Training on Locomotor Performance in Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Crossover Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairTask-specific stepping training improved walking speed and endurance more than impairment-based exercises in people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. However, the stepping group experienced significantly more minor adverse events, including falls. Clinicians must weigh these gains against the increased fall risk and educate patients on safety.
• PTOTPilot2020COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Considerations and Costs of Telehealth Exercise Programs for Older Adults With Functional Impairments Living at Home-Lessons Learned From a Pilot Case Study.Physical therapyA single stroke survivor completed a 36-session telehealth strength and balance program. He improved in sit-to-stand speed and perceived recovery, but walking speed and daily step count barely changed. The program cost about $158 per session, far exceeding standard Medicare reimbursement rates.
• PTOTOther2020Assessment of dynamic balancing responses following perturbations during slow walking in relation to clinical outcome measures for high-functioning post-stroke subjects.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn slow walking, 44% of stroke subjects fell outside the healthy response range for forward pushes and 27% for backward pushes; outward pushes also showed impaired responses, while inward pushes mostly did not. Routine tests related only to forward pushes.
• OTSurvey2019Profiles and Predictors of Smart Home Technology Adoption by Older Adults.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthOlder adults mostly own basic safety devices like alarms and thermostats but reject complex automation like voice assistants or remote monitoring. Being female, younger, or having mobility issues predicts higher adoption, but these factors explain very little of the variance, so no single profile guarantees success.
• PTOTOther2020Thai dance exercises benefited functional mobility and fall rates among community-dwelling older individuals.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoCommunity-dwelling older adults who performed Thai dance exercises for six weeks showed improved functional mobility and fewer falls. Participants walked faster, stood up from a chair more quickly, and the number of fallers dropped from 21 to 5. Benefits appeared within three weeks.
• OTOther2019Spanish Transcultural Adaptation of the Activity Card Sort.Occupational therapy internationalThe Spanish Activity Card Sort now contains 79 activities tailored to local habits, including napping and going for drinks, while removing less common ones like bingo or church attendance. This provides therapists with a culturally relevant tool to assess participation in community-dwelling older adults.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Attenuation of core temperature elevation and interleukin-6 excretion during head-out hot water immersion in elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceHead-out hot water immersion failed to raise IL-6 in elderly men, unlike in young men. Core temperature also rose less in the elderly. This method does not replicate the exercise-induced IL-6 response in older adults.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2020Effect of cold oral stimulation on orthostatic hypotension in multiple system atrophy: a case study.Journal of physical therapy scienceHolding an ice cube in the mouth while standing did not prevent blood pressure from dropping in a woman with multiple system atrophy. It changed heart rate variability markers but did not alter blood pressure or heart rate compared to standing without stimulation.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2020Verbal Semantics and the Left Dorsolateral Anterior Temporal Lobe: A Longitudinal Case of Bilateral Temporal Degeneration.AphasiologyA woman with right-sided brain degeneration initially lost the meaning of faces and places but kept her word knowledge. This suggests checking non-verbal semantics and social behavior early, even when standard language tests look normal.
• PTOTCohort2020Factors Associated With Walking in Older Medical Inpatients.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn older medical inpatients, assigned bedrest and devices or treatments that hampered walking were the strongest barriers to daily step count. Higher baseline physical performance predicted more walking, while pain and fatigue did not significantly reduce activity.
• OTRCT2020The Effects of a Recollection-Based Occupational Therapy Program of Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Occupational therapy internationalMild Alzheimer's patients in a daycare centre who did a 24-session occupational therapy programme combining recollection with physical, horticultural, musical, artistic and daily-living tasks showed fewer memory complaints, better cognition, lower depression scores and higher quality-of-life scores than usual activities.
• PTOTQualitative2020Integrating Technology Into Clinical Practice for the Assessment of Balance and Mobility: Perspectives of Exercise Professionals Practicing in Retirement and Long-term Care.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationExercise professionals in retirement and long-term care view technology-assisted balance assessment as a useful adjunct, not a replacement. They prioritize tools that allow modular task selection to accommodate residents with cognitive or physical limitations, and value objective data for tracking progress and communicating with families.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Development of a dyadic sleep intervention for Alzheimer's disease patients and their caregivers.Disability and rehabilitationA five-session sleep program for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers showed promising self-reported improvements in sleep and daily habits. It was not designed to prove efficacy, but it successfully refined materials for a future trial.
• OTSLPCohort2021Memory Support System training in mild cognitive impairment: Predictors of learning and adherence.Neuropsychological rehabilitationPatients with mild cognitive impairment who learned the Memory Support System better at the end of a 10-day program were more likely to keep using it at 6, 12, and 18 months. Baseline global cognition predicted how well they learned the system.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Severity of Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults and Risk of Ischemic Stroke and Depression.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationIn older adults with traumatic brain injury, high injury severity was associated with a much higher risk of ischemic stroke but not depression. Stroke risk was 6.68 times higher in the severe group. This suggests monitoring for stroke, not mood, based on injury severity.
• PTOTOther2021Falls After Dysvascular Transtibial Amputation: A Secondary Analysis of Falling Characteristics and Reduced Physical Performance.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn older adults with dysvascular leg amputation, falls were mostly caused by internal balance issues during transfers, not external trips. This suggests therapy should focus on weight-shifting and safe transfer techniques for the first five years after amputation.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Cause of death in adults with Down syndrome in the United States.Disability and health journalAdults with Down syndrome face much higher death risks from choking, pneumonitis, and early-onset dementia. They also have lower cancer death rates. Clinicians should screen for swallowing issues and start dementia checks by age 35.
• PTOTSLPCohortEvaluating the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Relationships Predicting Suicidal Ideation Following Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationSuicidal thoughts after brain injury were linked to depression, substance misuse, and injury severity. Injury severity predicted these thoughts even when depression was absent. Screen all patients for suicidal thoughts, not just those with diagnosed depression.
• PTOTSurvey2021Rates, patterns, and correlates of fitness tracker use among older adults with multiple sclerosis.Disability and health journalAmong older adults with MS, 28% use fitness trackers. Users report slightly more physical activity than non-users, but this association exists only in those who already have higher income, employment, and less disability.
• PTOTCohort2021Regional Variations in Rehabilitation Outcomes of Adult Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation Investigation.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAdults with traumatic brain injury discharged after inpatient rehabilitation varied widely by U.S. region. After accounting for patient factors, some regions had higher discharge function scores, longer stays, or lower likelihood of going home.
• PTOTQualitative2020Virtual reality in pain therapy: a requirements analysis for older adults with chronic back pain.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOlder adults with chronic back pain prioritized safety, simple controls, and positive reinforcement over complex game stories when designing VR exercises. They feared falling and found the demo too difficult, demanding a seated option, help button, and therapist supervision.
• PTOTCohort2020Is fatness or fitness key for survival in older adults with intellectual disabilities?Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDOlder adults with intellectual disabilities who were unfit had 3.6 to 4.6 times higher mortality risk than those who were fit, regardless of obesity. Fitness predicted survival; weight measures did not. Prioritize improving physical fitness over weight reduction for healthy aging.
• PTOTRCT2020Fall inducing movable platform (FIMP) for overground trips and slips.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new mobile platform successfully induced realistic trips and slips in healthy young adults without restricting their walking. The device attached to the ankle and moved with the person, allowing researchers to capture natural balance recovery reactions that treadmill studies often miss.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021Laying the foundation for a primary care core set of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for community-dwelling older adults: A qualitative study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineCommunity-dwelling older adults prioritized leisure, family relationships, and mobility over physical impairments. They viewed coping and environmental support as central to independence. These patient-focused themes may differ from deficit-oriented clinical assessments.
• PTOTCohort2020Improved Self-Reported Comfort, Stability, and Limb Temperature Regulation with an Immediate Fit, Adjustable Transtibial Prosthesis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationParticipants rated the iFIT adjustable prosthesis significantly better than their conventional device for comfort, stability, and temperature regulation. No skin breakdown or falls were reported. However, wear time was lower, and the study was short-term with self-selected participants.
• PTOTOther2020Slip-Fall Predictors in Community-Dwelling, Ambulatory Stroke Survivors: A Cross-sectional Study.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn community-dwelling stroke survivors, a combination of dynamic gait stability, Timed Up and Go time, and hip extensor strength predicted who would fall when a slip was simulated. A 13-second TUG time and hip extensor strength below 106 Nm were key cutoffs.
• PTOTOther2020People with Parkinson disease with and without freezing of gait respond similarly to external and self-generated cues.Gait & postureListening to music increased walking variability in all groups, while mental singing did not. People with Parkinson's and freezing of gait responded like those without freezing. Those with the highest baseline variability improved the most when cued.
• PTOTOther2021One-to-One and Group-Based Teleconferencing for Falls Rehabilitation: Usability, Acceptability, and Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesFalls rehab via smartphone video was acceptable but unreliable for delivering exercises. Poor connectivity, phone overheating, small screens, and safety concerns outweighed benefits; it may support follow-up calls, not replace face-to-face visits.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Factors related to physical and mental components of quality of life in the community-dwelling frail older persons.Journal of physical therapy scienceDeclines in physical quality of life were linked to reduced lung function, while declines in mental quality of life were linked to depression and swallowing problems. Therapists should monitor breathing capacity, mood, and swallowing to protect overall well-being.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Brain activity during real-time walking and with walking interventions after stroke: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBrain imaging during real-time walking in stroke survivors shows increased activity in motor and planning areas compared to standing, but findings vary widely by walking phase. Activation patterns are inconsistent when compared to healthy adults, and no single brain region reliably predicts walking recovery.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Combining transcranial direct current stimulation with a motor-cognitive task: the impact on dual-task walking costs in older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationApplying brain stimulation while older adults walked a complex virtual reality task cut dual-task walking costs by almost 50%. Stimulation while seated or sham stimulation during walking did not change gait costs. This immediate effect requires confirmation in larger trials before clinical use.
• OTSystematic Review2021Impacts of Low-cost Robotic Pets for Older Adults and People With Dementia: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesLow-cost robotic cats and dogs reduced agitation and improved mood in people with dementia, and lowered loneliness in healthy older adults. However, some users found the robots creepy or distressing, and the evidence comes from small studies with poor quality ratings.
• PTOTOther2020One-repetition maximum can be estimated with a handheld dynamometer and circumference in community-dwelling older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor older adults, knee strength (1RM) can be estimated using a handheld dynamometer and thigh circumference. The predicted values matched actual measurements closely, offering a safe, low-cost alternative to heavy gym equipment for prescribing resistance training.
• PTOTSLPCohortSuccessful Community Discharge Among Older Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury in Skilled Nursing Facilities.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationFor older adults with TBI in skilled nursing facilities, discharge home depends on function, not injury severity. Cognitive impairment, dependence in daily activities, incontinence, and dual Medicare/Medicaid enrollment predict failure to discharge home. Traditional injury scores like GCS do not.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2020The Efficacy of Fall Hazards Identification on Fall Outcomes: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFall hazard identification programs did not reduce the number of falls in adults over 50. The pooled data showed no benefit compared to usual care. While these programs help identify hazards, they did not lower fall rates in the included trials.
• PTOTQualitative2020Perceptions of Physical Activity in African American Older Adults on Hemodialysis: Themes From Key Informant Interviews.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTen African American older adults on hemodialysis described walking to the mailbox, shopping, or using day care equipment as feasible ways to stay active. They cited pain, lack of motivation, and icy sidewalks as primary barriers, while family encouragement and personal desire to walk again drove their efforts.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020The Effect of Caregiver-Mediated Mobility Interventions in Hospitalized Patients on Patient, Caregiver, and Health System Outcomes: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTeaching caregivers to help hospitalized patients move improved patient independence and reduced caregiver burden. Interventions that also encouraged collaboration with staff reduced length of stay. Evidence is low quality because blinding was impossible and studies varied widely.
• PTOTCohort2020Fall prediction using decision tree analysis in acute care units.Journal of physical therapy scienceA decision tree model predicted inpatient falls with moderate accuracy (AUC 0.7919). Patients with no fall history and no need for transfer assistance had no falls. For those needing transfer help, a Berg Balance Scale score of 51 or higher indicated low fall risk.
• PTOTCohort2021Comparison of forward and backward postural perturbations in mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease.Gait & posturePeople with Parkinson's disease showed no difference from controls in the number of steps taken to recover balance after backward or forward perturbations. However, a detailed analysis of body sway identified a distinct difference during forward stepping, suggesting subtle motor control issues that standard step counts miss.
• PTOTCohort2020Relation of chair rising ability to activities of daily living and physical activity in Parkinson's disease.Archives of physiotherapyParkinson's patients who need to push off the chair with their arms have significantly lower independence and physical activity than those who rise normally. This simple observation helps identify who needs extra support, though it reflects existing decline rather than predicting future loss.
• PTOTOther2021Validation of IMU-based gait event detection during curved walking and turning in older adults and Parkinson's Disease patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationShank-mounted sensors accurately detect foot contacts during straight and curved walking in older adults and people with Parkinson's or stroke. Detection fails during turns, missing many steps and creating false ones. Do not trust sensor data from turning without manual checks.
• PTOTOther2021Performance in complex life situations: effects of age, cognition, and walking speed in virtual versus real life environments.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality shopping tasks did not replicate real-world walking patterns, showing slower speeds and different gait variability. However, they accurately captured age-related differences in cognitive performance and task efficiency, suggesting VR is better suited for assessing thinking strategies than gait mechanics.
• PTOTCohort2020Does age of patients with gastrointestinal cancer impact postoperative physical function and quality of life? A prospective study using the new Japanese elderly standard.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients aged 75 or older had shorter walking distance, weaker knee extension, and lower physical functioning and mental health at 4 weeks after surgery. Body mass index fell in all age groups, but knee force and walking distance did not change overall.
• PTOTCohort2021Associations between exercising in a group and physical and cognitive functions in community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study using data from the Kasama Study.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults who exercised with others had better lower-limb strength and higher overall cognitive scores than those who exercised alone. Group exercise was associated with better function even after accounting for total activity levels, suggesting the social component matters.
• PTOTOther2021Age-associated increase in postural variability relate to greater low-frequency center of pressure oscillations.Gait & postureIn older adults, greater postural variability during a forward lean task was strongly predicted by low-frequency center-of-pressure oscillations. This suggests future rehab strategies could target these specific oscillations to improve balance and reduce fall risk.
• PTOTRCT2021Effect of Virtual Reality Gait Training on Participation in Survivors of Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyVirtual reality gait training did not improve community participation more than standard treadmill training in stroke survivors. Both groups improved, and patients found the virtual reality approach safe and enjoyable, but it offered no statistical advantage over conventional care.
• PTOTSurvey2021Long-term perceived disabilities up to 10 years after transient ischaemic attack.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMany TIA survivors reported ongoing difficulties up to 10 years later, especially emotions, strength and participation. Most lived independently, but women and older people reported more problems.
• PTOTOther2021Concurrent and discriminant validity of Nintendo Wii Fit exergame for the assessment of postural sway.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor adults, two Wii Fit games matched standard balance tests on specific sensory conditions, but for elderly users, no game matched the standard test. The games did distinguish adults from elderly participants, but they are not a valid substitute for clinical balance assessment in older adults.
• PTOTPilot2021A 3-month multicomponent home-based rehabilitation program for older people with restricted life-space mobility: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults with very restricted mobility improved their life-space score by 18.5 points after 3 months of home rehab. This gain exceeded the 10-point threshold considered clinically meaningful. However, the improvement came from moving with help, not independently.
• OTSLPOther2021The Learning, Social and Emotion Adaptation Questionnaire-Short Form: A Measure of Adaptive Behavior for Primary School Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe 53-item LSEAQ-S reliably measures school adaptation for students with autism. It takes teachers 15 to 20 minutes to complete and provides norms showing girls with autism lag behind peers more than boys do, especially as they age.