TOPIC

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 16 OF 24 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2023Mild Neurocognitive Disorder, Social Engagement, and Falls Among Older Primary Care Patients.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder patients with mild neurocognitive disorder reported more falls, but social engagement alone was not linked to falls. The link between mild neurocognitive disorder and falls was stronger when social engagement was low, and the study did not test whether engagement changes fall risk.
• PTOTOther2022Naturalistic visualization of reaching movements using head-mounted displays improves movement quality compared to conventional computer screens and proves high usability.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHead-mounted displays improved 3D reaching quality and reduced movement onset time compared to 2D screens in healthy elderly and pilot brain-injured patients. Usability was high across all technologies, with no significant differences in motivation or self-reported cognitive load.
• PTOTCohort2022Six Minutes Walking in Polio Survivors: Effects on Fatigue and Walking Adaptability.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSix minutes of adaptive walking caused substantial cardiorespiratory fatigue in polio survivors, leading to a decline in walking adaptability. Healthy individuals experienced only modest fatigue and maintained or improved performance. This suggests prolonged walking may increase fall risk in polio survivors.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Successful Community Discharge Among Older Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury Admitted to Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost older adults with traumatic brain injury return home after inpatient rehab. Those living alone before injury were less likely to succeed than those living with others. Higher motor and cognitive scores on admission predicted a better chance of going home.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Clarification of Factors Determining Discharge Destination Among Elderly Patients After Stroke With Low Levels of Independence in Activities of Daily Living: A Retrospective Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAmong stroke survivors with severe disability, those who could eat by mouth, had better cognitive scores, and lived with family were more likely to go home. Patients living alone all went to long-term care, regardless of their physical ability.
• PTOTPilot2022Modular hip exoskeleton improves walking function and reduces sedentary time in community-dwelling older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTwelve older adults trained with a hip exoskeleton in their senior community. Walking speed and endurance improved beyond clinically important thresholds. Daily sedentary time dropped by 112 minutes. No falls or injuries occurred. This is a small pilot, so efficacy is not yet proven.
• PTOTCohort2023Rest-Activity Rhythm Characteristics Associated With Depression Symptoms in Stroke Survivors.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke survivors with more fragmented 24-hour activity patterns had higher odds of depression symptoms. This association held across two distinct samples. The link was strongest for clinically significant depression rather than mild symptoms.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Physical therapists demonstrate clinical behaviors consistent with established clinical practice guidelines in managing individuals following amputation.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyAustralian physios reported clinical behaviors largely consistent with amputation guidelines, including falls prevention, pain management, and peer support referrals. However, most were unaware of comprehensive care plans before starting treatment. This suggests strong individual practice but potential gaps in multidisciplinary coordination.
• PTOTOther2023Loaded and unloaded timed stair tests as tools for assessing advanced functional mobility in people with stroke.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe Timed Stair Test reliably measures advanced mobility in stroke survivors. Walking with a 5% body-weight vest took 45 seconds on average, compared to 17 seconds for healthy adults. A completion time over 26 seconds strongly indicates stroke-related mobility limitations.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Opioid use in older orthopedic rehabilitation inpatients: a retrospective study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNew opioid users in orthopedic rehab received far lower doses than guidelines suggest, with older patients requiring the least. Prior users received much higher doses. Functional recovery was similar across groups, but constipation was common in all.
• PTOTOther2022Differences in Balance Confidence, Fear of Falling, and Fall Risk Factors Among White and Black Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)In 84 high-functioning older adults, Black participants had objectively worse fall risk markers but reported less fear of falling than White participants. Race and gait speed predicted fear, but the sample was too small to explain why White adults fall more often.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Concurrent Validity Between Potential Screening Tests for Early Mobility Decline in Independent Community Dwellers.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)New screening tests for mobility decline correlated strongly with standard physical therapy measures in adults aged 40 to 75. Scores from both test sets clearly distinguished three stages of functional decline, suggesting these tools can identify early mobility issues in community-dwelling adults.
• PTOTCase Report2023Improving functional outcomes and quality of life in an elderly woman with sarcopenia and spinal Tuberculosis: A case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAn elderly woman with spinal tuberculosis and sarcopenia improved her independence and quality of life after a three-month multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Her ability to perform daily activities increased, but this single case cannot prove the treatment works for others.
• PTOTOther2023Smartphone Global Positioning System-Based System to Assess Mobility in Health Research: Development, Accuracy, and Usability Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAn open-source smartphone GPS system correctly labelled 97.40% of all samples. 9 older adults tested it, and results indicated easy integration into daily life. It measures out-of-home mobility, not a treatment.
• PTOTOther2023Mobile Robotic Balance Assistant (MRBA): a gait assistive and fall intervention robot for daily living.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA prototype robot slowed walking speed and step length in users but detected 94% of simulated falls in healthy adults with no false alarms. It has not been tested on patients with balance impairments, so its real-world safety and effectiveness remain unknown.
• PTOTPilot2023Gamified Physical Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Musculoskeletal Issues: Pilot Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAdding a gamified exercise machine to standard physiotherapy did not change functional outcomes compared to standard care alone. The study was too small to prove the device is as effective as usual therapy, and no significant differences were found in strength, mobility, or daily living skills.
• PTOTOther2022Using crutches during walking possibly reduces gait imagery accuracy among healthy young and older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy adults overestimated how fast they would walk with crutches, and this error was larger in older adults. Without crutches, older adults underestimated their speed. This suggests crutch use disrupts movement prediction, potentially increasing fall risk.
• PTOTRCT2022Pre-operative physiotherapy for elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery.The South African journal of physiotherapyNo significant differences emerged between groups for any clinical outcome. The intervention group had fewer postoperative pulmonary complications and walked further when first mobilising, but these were secondary observations in a 12-person pilot. Do not change practice based on this.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Functional connectivity of proximal and distal lower limb muscles and impact on gait variability in stroke.Gait & postureStroke survivors with stronger brain-to-muscle signals to the thigh compared to the shin showed more inconsistent step lengths. These brain signals did not predict variability in step timing. This links specific neural patterns to spatial gait instability.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022Olfactory identification ability in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.Journal of physical therapy sciencePeople with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease struggled to identify specific odors like gas leaks and curry, but could still smell pungent odors like sweaty socks. This suggests olfactory testing should precede safety guidance or sensory interventions.
• PTOTCohort2023Stroke and activity limitation in Chinese adults 65 Years or older.Disability and health journalOlder Chinese adults with stroke had markedly higher rates of needing help with daily tasks than those with other conditions. They were four times more likely to have severe activity limitations than healthy peers. IADL issues were common across all groups.
• PTOTCohort2022Relationship between the characteristics of lower extremity function and activities of daily living in hospitalized middle-aged and older adults with subacute cardiovascular disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn hospitalized older adults with cardiovascular disease, both lower limb strength and walking endurance correlated with daily independence. Patients aged 75 or older with deficits in both areas had the lowest independence scores. Assessing both may better identify who needs targeted rehabilitation.
• PTOTCohort2023Age-related changes in gait domains: Results from the LonGenity study.Gait & postureAs older adults age, walking pace and step time worsen faster, especially in people with cognitive impairment or mobility disability. Variability rises gradually. This helps PTs and OTs identify at-risk older adults.
• PTOTCohort2023Clinical measures of balance and gait cannot differentiate somatosensory impairments in people with lower-limb amputation.Gait & postureStandard balance and gait tests distinguish people with lower-limb amputation from able-bodied individuals, but they fail to detect differences in somatosensory integrity within the amputation group. Sensation loss was not associated with worse scores on these common clinical measures.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Age-related High-frequency Hearing Loss Is Not Associated With Horizontal Semicircular Canal Function.Ear and hearingHigh-frequency hearing loss did not predict horizontal semicircular canal function in adults aged 24 to 85. Hearing declined with age, but vestibular responses on caloric and vHIT testing did not. Do not assume age-related hearing loss implies horizontal canal dysfunction.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023A systematic review of the determinants of implementation of a locomotor training program using a powered exoskeleton for individuals with a spinal cord injury.Clinical rehabilitationImplementation of exoskeleton gait training depends on managing expectations, securing staff time, and handling adverse events like falls or skin lesions. High costs and device complexity are barriers, while perceived health benefits and reduced clinician strain are facilitators for adoption in clinical settings.
• OTOther2022Light up: an intervention study of the effect of environmental dynamic lighting on sleep-wake rhythm, mood and behaviour in older adults with intellectual disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRInstalling dynamic lighting in living rooms improved mood and reduced depressive symptoms in older adults with intellectual disabilities. However, it did not stabilise their sleep-wake rhythm as hypothesised, and the effect on sleep onset was minor.
• PTOTOther2023Postural instructions affect postural sway in young adults.Gait & postureTelling healthy young adults to exert effort to stand up straight made their balance worse on an unstable surface. Instructions to lighten up or stand relaxed resulted in significantly steadier posture than effort-based cues.
• PTOTSLPOther2023A new paradigm for assessing postural stability.Gait & postureHealthy adults lean significantly less than the standard limit used to score balance tests. Because the test assumes everyone can lean 12.5 degrees, it may overestimate stability and miss fall risk in patients who actually have a smaller range of motion.
• PTOTSurvey2023The relationship between frailty and motor function among living in the community elderly females.Journal of physical therapy scienceAmong 67 older women in community exercise salons, frailty was common, and women with frailty had weaker grip, slower walking and longer chair-to-walk-to-chair times. Depression, physical function and oral function were most strongly related to frailty.
• PTOTOther2023Determinants of quality of life in elderly rehabilitation users at a day care service center.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor older adults in day care, quality of life linked to social roles and independence, not physical strength or age. Longer time in care support predicted lower psychological and social well-being. Focus sessions on connection and daily living tasks rather than exercise alone.
• PTOTOther2023Psychometric properties of Upper-body Dressing Scale in people with stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineTiming how long it takes a stroke patient to put on a shirt distinguishes them from healthy adults with high accuracy. The standard score failed to do this because patients with good cognition needed no help. Use the time taken, not the cue count, to track recovery.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Effects of water exercise on body composition and components of metabolic syndrome in older females with sarcopenic obesity.Journal of physical therapy scienceWater exercise reduced leg body fat in older women with sarcopenic obesity but did not increase muscle mass or improve metabolic syndrome markers. Knee extension strength increased in both groups. Do not expect body composition or metabolic changes from water exercise alone.
• PTOTCase-Control2023Physical functions associated with health-related quality of life in older adults diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older adults awaiting knee surgery, slow sit-to-stand and walking speed tracked lower physical and social quality of life, but not mental well-being. Pain on joint loading also correlated with poorer physical quality of life. Assess these specific functions to target rehab.
• PTOTPilot2023Development of a compensation-aware virtual rehabilitation system for upper extremity rehabilitation in community-dwelling older adults with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe virtual system did not beat conventional therapy on upper-limb function after three months, but both groups improved. It detected compensatory movements, though their counts did not fall.
• OTPilot2023The memory clinic and psychosocial intervention: Translating past promise into current practices.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA multi-component post-diagnostic package (care-coordinator support, GP/clinic liaison, health review, memory aids, behavioural activation, communication training) was associated with less depression, fewer reported memory and behaviour problems, better carer coping and home-care maintenance over 12 months in 48 families; components cannot be separated.
• PTOTCohort2023Predictors of life-space mobility in patients with fracture 3 months after discharge from convalescent rehabilitation ward: a prospective longitudinal study.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor older adults discharged home after fracture, three-month life-space mobility was predicted by fall-related self-efficacy, motor function, age, and gender, not by walking speed or balance tests. Patients with lower fear of falling and better mobility scores moved more widely after discharge.
• PTOTCohort2023Higher knee flexion moment during walking is associated with a lower risk of knee pain developing among the elderly after 24 months.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineOlder adults with a higher knee flexion moment while walking had less frequent knee pain after two years. No association was found at twelve months, and knee adduction moment trends suggested higher risk. This challenges the idea that more sagittal loading is harmful.
• PTOTCohort2023Influence of history of falls and physical function on obstacle-straddling behavior.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults with a history of falls or poor balance stepped more slowly and bent their hips more when crossing obstacles than those with good balance. They relied on large hip movements to clear the obstacle, likely because their legs could not generate enough forward push.
• PTOTCohort2023Validity of temporo-spatial characteristics of gait as an index for fall risk screening in community-dwelling older people.Journal of physical therapy scienceGait speed under 0.83 m/s and a heel strike angle under 15.8 degrees helped identify older adults who had fallen in the past year. These simple walking metrics from portable sensors may screen for fall risk, though the test missed many non-fallers.
• PTOTPilot2023Autonomous Control of Music to Retrain Walking After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairOne 30-minute session of automated, music-based gait training improved walking symmetry and reduced energy cost in 10 stroke survivors. The system adjusted music tempo and beat salience in real time based on foot sensors, offering a potential way to deliver skilled gait rehab without a therapist present.
• OTCohort2023Driving Errors Predicting Pass/Fail On-Road Assessment Outcomes Among Cognitively Impaired Older Drivers.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthFor older drivers with cognitive impairment, three specific on-road errors predict failing a driving assessment: adjusting poorly to traffic, drifting from the lane, and regulating speed badly. These errors occurred in 98.8%, 91.3%, and 98.8% of drivers respectively, distinguishing those who failed from those who passed.
• OTQualitative2023Social Networks May Shape Visually Impaired Older Adults' Occupational Engagement: A Narrative Inquiry.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthFive women with age-related vision loss described how family provided practical help for daily tasks, while friends offered companionship for leisure. Peers with similar vision loss were key for sharing specific coping strategies. Reciprocity in relationships helped them maintain a sense of independence.
• PTOTOther2023Cognitive Impairments After Stroke Do Not Attenuate Explicit Visuomotor Adaptation in Reaching and Savings With the Unaffected Arm.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke participants using their unaffected arm adapted to a 40° reaching rotation and relearned it as well as age-matched controls, despite lower cognitive screening scores. Both older groups were less accurate than young controls.
• OTOther2022Alberta Rating Index for Apps: Study of Reliability and Validity.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieA new tool for rating mental health apps showed moderate to high reliability for occupational therapists and adults with mental health conditions, but low reliability for older adults. Therapists rated apps stricter than other groups. The tool correlates moderately with existing scales.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Changes in physical function of frail elderly females in the one-year long-term care prevention program.Journal of physical therapy scienceFrail women attending a one-year community care prevention program maintained walking speed, balance, and overall function, but grip strength significantly decreased. The program focused on lower limb exercise, leaving upper limb strength unaddressed.
• OTQualitative2023Occupation's Role in Inclusion of Spanish-Speaking Older Adults in a Senior Center.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthSpanish-speaking elders described feeling included when the senior center proactively offered regular activities in Spanish, staff learned their interests, and bilingual staff made first contact. When English-only information assumed they would ask, they did not connect.
• OTOther2022Characterizing Cognition in Everyday Life of Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthOlder adults who felt their thinking was worsening but scored normal on tests reported less memory satisfaction, more everyday planning and working memory problems, and completed fewer real-world tasks than healthy adults. This suggests asking about daily tasks, not only test scores.
• OTCohort2023The cognitive profile of middle-aged and older adults with high vs. low autistic traits.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMiddle-aged and older adults with high autistic traits performed worse on working memory and complex attention tasks than matched peers. They reported more cognitive decline, but this self-report difference disappeared when depression symptoms were controlled. Informant reports showed no group differences.
• PTOTOther2023Assessing real-world gait with digital technology? Validation, insights and recommendations from the Mobilise-D consortium.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA lower-back wearable could identify walking bouts, steps, and cadence reasonably well in real life, but stride length was unreliable, especially for slow or short bouts.