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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 18 OF 24 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Barriers and facilitators of public transport use among people with disabilities: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with disabilities face barriers at every step of public transport use, from walking to the stop to riding the bus. Physical issues like steep ramps and social issues like driver attitudes were common. Travel training may help improve confidence and reduce fear.
• PTOTPilot2024Validity and Reliability of a Telehealth Physical Fitness and Functional Assessment Battery for Ambulatory Youth With and Without Mobility Disabilities: Observational Measurement Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHand grip, sit-to-stand, and timed walk tests matched in-person scores closely when done via video. The home-modified six-minute walk did not match in-person distances and should not be compared to them. No falls occurred.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Surface Electromyography for Evaluating the Effect of Aging on the Coordination of Swallowing Muscles.DysphagiaIn healthy older adults, swallowing muscles coordinate less tightly as age increases, but only when swallowing a large 30 ml gulp. Small sips showed no age-related change. This suggests stress testing with larger volumes is needed to detect early aging effects on swallowing coordination.
• OTPilot2024Evaluating the impact of a darts game intervention on cognitive function in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA darts communication programme did not establish cognitive improvement in older adults. In those without mild cognitive impairment, forward weight shift while throwing had a possible link to later MoCA scores, but the link was not established.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Association between cognitive dysfunction and diabetes in patients over 65 years old: a cross-sectional study using propensity score matching.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOlder adults with diabetes were significantly more likely to have cognitive dysfunction than matched controls. Among those with diabetes, having cognitive dysfunction was strongly associated with greater dependence in daily activities like bathing and dressing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Trends in the Characteristics and Outcomes of Older Medicare Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury Treated in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities: 2013 to 2018.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder Medicare patients with recent traumatic brain injury in inpatient rehabilitation increased 28.2% from 2013 to 2018. They were more often male, had more comorbidities, and more were discharged home.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Coproduction and Usability of a Smartphone App for Falls Reporting in Parkinson Disease.Physical therapyThirteen people with Parkinson disease tested a new app for logging falls over six months. They found it easy to use and preferred it to paper diaries, especially because they could type or speak instead of write. It helped some spot fall patterns, but not all.
• PTOTCohort2023A Clinical Measure of Trunk Neuromuscular Function Predicts Falling in Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults with chronic low back pain who show aberrant lumbopelvic movements during forward bending have a 24.9% higher risk of falling for each additional movement observed. Screening for these movements can help identify patients at higher fall risk beyond standard factors.
• PTOTCohort2022Trajectories of Physical Function and Disability Over 12 Months in Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults with chronic low back pain followed different courses. Some stayed stable, some improved, and some worsened. The classes also differed in activity, pain, fear, catastrophizing, mood and comorbidities.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Community-based exercise program, self-reported health-related symptoms, and quality of life in persons with traumatic brain injury 45 + years old.NeuroRehabilitationIn 20 adults with moderate-to-severe brain injury, a 12-week community-based aerobic program improved self-reported cognitive health and sleep quality compared to stretching. Global quality of life, emotional health, and social health showed no significant difference between groups.
• PTOTOther2023Uneven surface and cognitive dual-task independently affect gait quality in older adults.Gait & postureUneven ground and reciting alternate letters each made older adults' walking slower, less rhythmic and less smooth. Combining the two did not produce extra gait change beyond the effects of each alone.
• PTOTOther2024A Prospective Intervention Study With 6 Months Follow-up of the Effect of Reablement in Home Dwelling Elderly: Patient-reported and Observed Outcomes.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHome-dwelling older adults receiving a reablement package of exercises, goal-based ADL practice, supportive communication, and nurse coordination had better function, health rating, and fewer home-care hours at 6 months than usual care.
• OTSurvey2024Caregivers' Role in In-Home Video Telehealth: National Survey of Occupational Therapy Practitioners.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesVHA OT practitioners said caregivers often join in-home video visits, mainly to run the camera and microphone, help patients hear or understand, and provide history. Poor internet and caregiver burden can block the visit.
• PTOTCohort2024Two-year course of walking adaptability in persons living with late effects of polio.Journal of rehabilitation medicineWalking adaptability did not change over two years in people with late effects of polio who had good balance. This suggests the condition progresses slowly, so short-term assessments may miss decline. Clinicians should expect stability in these specific skills over brief intervals.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Treatment of balance with Computerised Dynamic Posturography therapy in chronic hemiplegic patients.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdding computerized balance training to standard therapy did not improve overall balance scores in stroke patients with a history of falls. Only one specific sensory test score improved. Standard therapy alone produced similar changes, so the computer's added value is unproven.
• PTOTCohort2024Can minimum toe clearance predict community-based trips by older adults?Gait & postureLaboratory measurements of minimum toe clearance did not predict how often older adults tripped in the community once fall history was accounted for. A prior history of falls was a much stronger predictor, suggesting standard gait metrics may miss real-world trip risk.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Demystifying the Digital Divide: Disparities in Telerehabilitation Readiness Among Older Adults in the United States.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationTwo in three older rehabilitation users were ready for video visits. Readiness was significantly lower among Black, Hispanic, financially strained, and rural patients. Lack of device ownership or tech skills, not sensory loss, was the main barrier.
• PTOTCohort2024Minimal detectable change of gait and balance measures in older neurological patients: estimating the standard error of the measurement from before-after rehabilitation data thanks to the linear mixed-effects models.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationGait speed and total TUG time are reliable enough to track change in older neurological patients. Use a three-repetition protocol: discard the first, average the next two. A real change requires about 15% improvement or decline. Inertial sensor metrics for sit-to-walk and turning were too noisy to be useful.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Validation and reliability analysis of the Questionnaire on the Emotional Impact of Vertigo-CIEV version translated to the Brazilian Portuguese language.CoDASThe Brazilian Portuguese version of the CIEV questionnaire reliably identifies emotional impact and anxiety risk in patients with vertigo. It correlates strongly with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, particularly in the emotional domain, offering a practical tool for assessing psychological distress in vestibular patients.
• PTOTOther2023Effectiveness of locomotion training in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective clinical trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceSix months of home-based locomotion training reduced disability scores from 0.24 to 0.16 on a 3-point scale and lowered pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Without a control group, natural variation cannot be ruled out, but the exercises are simple and low-intensity.
• PTOTOther2024Human-centered design of a novel soft exosuit for post-stroke gait rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe new stroke-specific NewGait device scored 84.3 on usability versus 62.7 for the original, indicating best imaginable usability. Silicone bands survived 500,000 cycles while latex failed at 26,727. Clinical effectiveness remains untested.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Successful Discharge to Community From Home Health Less Likely for People in Late Stages of Dementia.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Successful discharge to community rates varied by dementia stage. Patients in the most advanced stage had the lowest success rate at 52.0%. Those in middle stages had the highest rates, between 78.8% and 79.3%. Declining independence and higher caregiver needs were linked to lower success.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Rehabilitation delivery models to foster healthy ageing-a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesRehabilitation for older adults is mostly delivered through outpatient, telerehabilitation, home, community, inpatient, and eldercare models. Physical therapists lead most interventions, often focusing on single diseases rather than multimorbidity. Assistive technology and environmental adaptations are rarely provided.
• PTOTCase Report2024Preliminary gait analysis of frail versus older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceThree frail women walked with a wider base and slower speed, keeping their center of gravity more stable than three robust men. However, their foot clearance was lower, suggesting a higher risk of tripping despite the stability measures.
• PTOTOther2024The stepping test, and infrared depth sensor, provide reliable measures of balance in community-dwelling older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 20-second stepping test measured by a cheap motion sensor tracked balance well in 27 healthy older adults. Poor balance showed up as fewer steps and more head sway. The test was reliable, but the group was small and all were fully independent.
• PTOTOther2024Virtual reality skateboarding training for balance and functional performance in degenerative lumbar spine disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA six-week VR skateboarding program reduced pain and improved walking, strength, and balance in older adults with degenerative lumbar spine disease. Participants used handrails for safety, and the study lacked a control group receiving usual care.
• PTOTRCT2024Dog-assisted physiotherapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomized controlled pilot study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdding a therapy dog to balance exercises for two weeks improved walking distance, balance, and mood more than standard physiotherapy alone in people with ALS. The study was small and short, so it shows promise but does not prove long-term benefit or how to apply it in routine care.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Hearing Aid Amplification Improves Postural Control for Older Adults With Hearing Loss When Other Sensory Cues Are Impoverished.Trends in hearingOlder adults with hearing loss and impaired balance systems stood more steadily on foam when wearing hearing aids. The improvement was not linked to how long they had used the devices, suggesting the benefit comes from immediate access to environmental sound cues rather than long-term adaptation.
• OTQualitative2024Clinical Utility and Usability of the Digital Box and Block Test: Mixed Methods Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesFour occupational therapists rated a digital Box and Block Test prototype as more professional and easier to evaluate than the wooden version, though bulkier to transport. They suggested softer block edges and audible end-of-test signals.
• PTOTCohort2024Perturbation-based dual task assessment in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOlder adults with mild cognitive impairment fell more often during reactive balance tests than cognitively intact peers, regardless of whether they performed a simultaneous visual task. Adding the visual task did not worsen their balance recovery, suggesting they prioritized staying upright over the secondary task.
• PTOTCohort2023Functional Ability, Psychological Factors, and Rehabilitation Outcomes After Elective Total Hip Replacement.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieOlder adults in rehab after hip replacement improved their function but did not regain their pre-surgery level. Higher positive affect predicted shorter hospital stays, but did not predict better functional ability at discharge.
• OTSurvey2024Effect of Physical Activity on Association between COVID-19 and Personal Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Occupational therapy in health careAmong older adults, a reported decrease in walking or exercise was more strongly linked to worse daily life status than quarantine or hospitalization. Occupational therapists may ask about activity loss.
• OTQualitative2024Evidence-Based Practice: Implementing REIS Findings in South African Aged Care Facilities.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthFacility managers identified staff development and understanding resident needs as key priorities for implementing environmental assessments. They reported that existing biomedical routines and financial constraints hindered person-centered care, and that the assessment tool did not account for facility budgets.
• PTOTOther2024Enhancing fall risk assessment: instrumenting vision with deep learning during walks.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new AI tool automatically tracks where pregnant women look while walking over obstacles in a lab. It accurately identifies gaze on hazards, helping clinicians see if distraction contributes to fall risk without manual video review.
• PTOTOther2024Trend change analysis of postural balance in Parkinson's disease discriminates between medication state.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTrend change analysis detected differences between medication states in Parkinson's disease that standard sway measures missed. However, neither method distinguished patients from healthy controls during quiet standing.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Meta-analysis of the quantitative assessment of lower extremity motor function in elderly individuals based on objective detection.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationObjective sensors and 3D motion capture systems reliably detected differences in walking speed and stride length between elderly groups. Wearable inertial sensors and clinical gait analysis showed inconsistent results across studies, making them less dependable for standardized assessment.
• OTSurvey2023Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists' Perspectives.Occupational therapy internationalMost surveyed Korean occupational therapists wanted orthopedic OT education and guidelines. Few had worked in orthopedic departments. They cited low awareness among other professionals, no appropriate fees, and limited OT knowledge as barriers.
• OTOther2023Relationships between Loneliness and Occupational Dysfunction in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.Occupational therapy internationalCommunity-dwelling older adults with higher occupational dysfunction reported significantly more loneliness, even after adjusting for age, gender, education, income, living situation, depression, and social network size. This suggests loneliness may stem from negative experiences in daily activities, not just a lack of social contact.
• PTOTOther2024Cultural adaptation and Sepedi translation of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsThe Sepedi version of a balance-confidence questionnaire was culturally adapted and gave stable results when given again to 32 older rural adults. It can help assess balance confidence, but this study did not test whether it predicts falls.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Validity and Reliability of Dynamic and Functional Balance Tests in People Aged 19-54: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyThe Y-Balance Test, Star Excursion Balance Test, and one-arm Functional Reach Test are valid and reliable for assessing dynamic balance in healthy adults aged 19-54. Different tests measure distinct skills, so scores cannot be directly compared between them.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Prioritising patients for hospital occupational therapy to reduce inpatient falls: A retrospective case-control study to identify predictive patient falls risk factors.The British journal of occupational therapyEarly occupational therapy input was associated with an 81% reduction in falls within the first 48 hours of admission. Key risk factors for early falls included impaired balance, reduced muscle strength, impulsivity, and mobilising without assistance.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Are Middle- or Older-Aged Adults With a Spinal Cord Injury Engaging in Leisure-Time Physical Activity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationLeisure activity in adults over 45 with spinal cord injury varies wildly. While the average moderate-to-heavy activity was 173 minutes per week, between 27% and 64% of participants reported doing none at all. This gap means you cannot assume your patients are active enough to protect their heart health.
• PTOTCohort2024Association Between Depression Symptoms and Disability Outcomes in Older Adults at Risk of Mobility Decline.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationDepression symptoms linked to worse physical function and participation in older adults at risk of mobility decline. However, depression did not predict how quickly these abilities declined over two years. Treat depression as a concurrent marker of current disability, not necessarily a driver of future rapid decline.
• PTOTOther2024Effect of age on ankle biomechanics and tibial compression during stair descent.Gait & postureOlder adults showed lower peak tibial compression than young adults during stair descent, but similar total load over time. Ankle stiffness did not predict compression. The older group’s reduced ankle strength likely limits their ability to absorb impact forces, potentially increasing fracture risk despite lower peak loads.
• PTOTCohort2024Active use of local exercise facilities can improve physical performance of community-dwelling older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults using community exercise rooms at least 48 times over two years maintained grip strength, while those who never used them declined. Balance and walking speed did not improve for any group. Simply having a place to exercise supported strength maintenance.
• OTOther2024An occupational therapy delirium pathway reduces hospital re-presentations in older adults with delirium: A before and after observational study.The British journal of occupational therapyAn occupational therapy pathway linking hospital care to home visits reduced hospital re-presentations in older adults with delirium. It did not shorten hospital stays. Patients still had significant functional decline compared to their pre-admission baseline when they finished the service.
• PTOTCohort2024Prevalence and characteristics of frailty in older adults in Japan: a cross-sectional study using data from the long-term care insurance system.Journal of physical therapy scienceAmong 393 older adults in Japan needing mild long-term care support, 80.4% were frail. Frailty was linked to age, living in rural areas, and not having orthopedic issues. The type of care service used did not differ between frail and non-frail groups.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Effects of a dual intervention (motor and virtual reality-based cognitive) on cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBoth a VR kitchen-memory game and the same pencil-and-paper version improved cognition and reduced depressive symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Neither was better than the other. Neither improved daily-living skills. Both groups also did balance, strength and aerobic exercise, so the training alone cannot be credited.
• PTOTOther2024Healthy older adults generate transverse-plane momenta required for 90° turns while walking during the same phases of gait as used in straight-line gait.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy older adults use the same body mechanics to turn as they do to walk straight. They push their body sideways during right-leg stance and twist their body during double-leg stance. These specific moments offer targets for balance training.
• PTOTSurvey2024Health equity profile of knee replacement patients in the South African public sector: A descriptive study.The South African journal of physiotherapyOne in three knee replacement patients at a South African public hospital waited over five years. Older patients and those with lower socioeconomic status waited significantly longer. More than half reported severe mobility issues and pain, with many experiencing anxiety and depression.