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Cardiopulmonary research

Everything we have read on cardiopulmonary. 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.

1,018 PAPERS · PAGE 15 OF 21 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSystematic Review2023Effectiveness of the "Evidence-Based Scientific Exercise Guidelines" in Increasing Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cardiometabolic Health, and Muscle Strength in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAerobic exercise did not significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness in acute spinal cord injury. However, functional electrical stimulation cycling reduced muscle loss and increased lean body mass. Strength training improved peak torque and perceived function. These interventions appear safe but evidence remains limited.
• PTRCT2024Effect of maximal-intensity and high-intensity interval training on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineSupervised interval training after heart attack improved exercise capacity and quality of life more than usual care. Maximal-intensity training gave the largest exercise capacity gain.
• PTRCT2024Technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease patients with central obesity: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineA nurse-led bundle of assessment, goal setting, physician-approved exercise, website feedback, pedometer tracking, and chatroom support improved physical activity and lifestyle, and reduced BMI and waist size, but not quality of life or mood. Daily steps were not clearly higher at 12 weeks.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Effects of an inpatient rehabilitation programme on functional capacity, quality of life and psychological distress in patients with post covid-19 condition: an observational study.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with post-COVID-19 condition walked 100.8 m further on average after a 3-week inpatient rehabilitation programme. Those with weaker breathing muscles who received respiratory muscle training improved more than those who did not, but the programme included many other therapies, so the specific effect of the breathing training cannot be separated from the rest.
• PTOTCohort2023Hospital admission is associated with disability and late musculoskeletal pain in individuals with long COVID.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesHospitalized long COVID patients reported more musculoskeletal pain and worse balance, fatigue, and walking speed than those not hospitalized. Days in intensive care and on mechanical ventilation predicted higher pain intensity, suggesting severe acute illness drives late physical symptoms.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Recovery of activities of daily living in COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care unit or medical care unit: an observational study on the role of rehabilitation in the subacute phase.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPost-ICU patients arrived with worse function but recovered to the same level as medical ward patients. Independence improved from a Barthel score of 10 to 70. This proves early rehab helps severe cases catch up, but without a control group, we cannot separate the treatment's effect from natural recovery.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Survival and causes of death in adults with spina bifida in Sweden: a population-based case-control study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdults with spina bifida died at a rate 7.3 times higher than matched controls over 25 years. While most died from their congenital condition, they also had higher rates of death from urinary system diseases and genitourinary cancers compared to the general population.
• PTCohort2024The relationship between chronic diseases and the intensity and duration of low back pain.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAmong adults with low back pain, those who reported one or more chronic diseases also reported higher pain intensity and longer pain duration. Hypertension and arthritis were linked to longer pain; hypothyroidism to higher intensity. This is association, not cause.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Quality of life, exercise capacity, cognition, and mental health of Chilean patients after COVID-19: an experience of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program at a physical and rehabilitation medicine unit.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPost-COVID patients completing an 8-week multidisciplinary program showed significant gains in walking distance, strength, and mental health. However, nearly one-third dropped out. Baseline balance and fatigue scores helped predict who would leave early, allowing for targeted support.
• PTOTCohort2023Oxygen Therapy During Activities of Daily Living Rehabilitation and Outcome in Patients With Severe-to-critical COVID-19.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationShowering took the longest to wean off supplemental oxygen, averaging 47.7 days, compared to 38.4 days for dressing. Mechanical ventilation was the strongest predictor of prolonged oxygen need. Most patients still had low leg strength scores at follow-up.
• PTCohort2023Association of Frailty and Depressive Symptoms With the Establishment of Exercise Habits in Patients Undergoing Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFrailty only, not depressive symptoms, was linked to fewer patients establishing exercise habits during outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Check grip and walking before discharge and build graded, confidence-focused exercise plans.
• PTOTCohort2023Preliminary Findings on Cognitive Dysfunction in University-Educated Patients After Mild COVID-19 Disease.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationUniversity-educated patients with persistent symptoms after mild COVID-19 showed significant memory and processing speed deficits compared to their estimated pre-illness functioning. These cognitive issues persisted an average of 18 months post-infection, with half scoring below expected norms on verbal memory tests.
• PTCohort2023Body-weight support gait training in neurological intensive care: safety, feasibility, and delays before walking with or without suspension.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn a neurological ICU, 78 suspended walking sessions on 33 brain-injury patients were tolerated with transient interruptions only. Suspension could support walking when patients were too weak to stand, but staffing and device barriers stopped 45 eligible patients.
• PTOTCohort2023Relationship of Age And Mobility Levels During Physical Rehabilitation With Clinical Outcomes in Critical Illness.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOlder ICU patients gained mobility more slowly across the first three rehab sessions, with a rate of 0.3 versus 0.6 points per session. Higher initial mobility and faster early improvement were linked to shorter ICU stays and greater likelihood of discharge home.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Persistent Dysphonia in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationAt least three months after discharge, 25% of ICU patients and 10.3% of ward patients had persistent voice problems. In ICU survivors, voice trouble strongly tracked with swallowing difficulty. Most ICU cases showed vocal cord weakness or paralysis, while ward cases mostly showed cord thinning.
• PTOTSurvey2024Early mobilization of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage: a national survey of french intensive care units.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEarly mobilization for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage varies widely across French intensive care units. Ninety percent of units lack a written protocol, and many prohibit out-of-bed movement due to unstandardized safety concerns rather than evidence.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Outcomes in critically ill patients after diaphragmatic stimulation on ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineDiaphragm stimulation improved muscle strength measures like maximum inspiratory pressure, but did not shorten ventilator time or reduce death rates. The evidence is weak and inconsistent, so it cannot yet be recommended as a standard treatment for preventing ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction.
• 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.
• PTOTOther2024Relative aerobic load of walking in people with multiple sclerosis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineWalking at a comfortable pace demands 60% of peak aerobic capacity for people with MS, a level considered high. Almost one-third exceed their ventilatory threshold, meaning daily walking causes physiological exhaustion. This suggests patients may be walking too fast for their fitness.
• PTSystematic Review2024Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients with coronary heart disease: a systematic review and evidence mapping study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAcross 62 reviews, exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation was reported as beneficial compared with usual care, but evidence quality was low and results were inconsistent.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Dysphagia Prevalence and Outcomes Associated with the Evolution of COVID-19 and Its Variants in Critically Ill Patients.DysphagiaIn critically ill COVID-19 patients referred to speech pathology, 94% had dysphagia at initial assessment. Most recovered by discharge, but 29% still had swallowing problems. Longer time on a ventilator or tracheostomy was linked to slower recovery.
• PTOther2024Cardiorespiratory fitness in persons with lower limb amputation.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationPeople with lower limb amputation in rehabilitation had mean peak oxygen uptake 14.6 mL/kg/min, low compared with age-matched references. Older age was linked to lower fitness. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was feasible and may help plan fitness training, but it does not show training improves walking.
• PTOTRCT2023Effects of a Dedicated Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for Patients With Obesity on Body Weight, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Physical Fitness: The OPTICARE XL Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyA specialized 1-year cardiac rehab program for patients with obesity produced greater weight loss than standard care at 3 months, but this advantage disappeared by 6 months. Neither program significantly improved physical activity or fitness compared to the other at the primary endpoint.
• PTRCT2023Effects and safety of hypertonic saline combined with airway clearance in non-hospitalized children with recurrent wheezing.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoAdding 3% hypertonic saline to airway clearance did not improve outcomes more than 0.9% saline. However, both groups saw immediate symptom relief and fewer hospitalizations and school absences over three months compared to the prior three months.
• PTOTSLPProtocol2023Content validation of the decannulation protocol for adult tracheostomized patients.CoDASExperts validated a decannulation protocol for adults, removing the blue-dye test and oral diet as prerequisites. They agreed that patients with dysphagia can still be decannulated if they can protect their airways, shifting focus to secretion management and clinical assessment.
• PTOther2024Effects of a comprehensive structured patient education intervention on disease-related knowledge and behaviour change among people living with type 2 diabetes in the Philippines.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with diabetes attending cardiac rehabilitation or diabetes clinic care reported higher knowledge, more steps, and more fruit and vegetables after a comprehensive online education program. Health literacy did not change.
• PTNarrative Review2024Ensuring quality of life in palliative care physiotherapy in developing countries.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPhysiotherapists in low-income countries often lack palliative care training, with only 10-21% having received it. This paper reviews barriers like funding gaps and suggests integrating palliative care into entry-level physiotherapy curricula to improve access for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
• PTCase Report2023Serratus anterior fascia plane block for pain control in patients with multiple rib fractures.Journal of physical therapy scienceThree patients with multiple rib fractures received intermittent serratus anterior fascia plane blocks. Pain scores dropped from severe to mild or absent, allowing them to get out of bed and perform respiratory physiotherapy. No adverse effects were reported.
• PTProtocol2023Inspiratory versus expiratory incentive spirometry: A randomised control trial study protocol.The South African journal of physiotherapyThis paper describes the plan for a trial comparing two breathing exercises, but no patients have been treated and no results are reported. It cannot change your practice because it does not yet tell us whether inspiratory or expiratory incentive spirometry works better.
• PTSLPPilot2024A Pluridisciplinary Tracheostomy Weaning Protocol for Brain-Injured Patients, Outside of the Intensive Care Unit and Without Instrumental Assessment: Results of Pilot Study.DysphagiaIn 30 tracheostomized brain-injured patients, a ward-based clinical weaning protocol removed the tube in 26, and all removals were successful. This pilot suggests non-ICU decannulation may be feasible, but it needs a controlled trial.
• PTOTOther2024Clinical effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation and barriers to completion in patients of low socioeconomic status in rural areas: A mixed-methods study.Clinical rehabilitationOnly 11.2% of eligible rural separations completed cardiac rehabilitation. Completion was associated with lower risk of death or cardiovascular admission, while commencing without completing was not associated with lower risk.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Functional outcomes of patients in ICU using the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool: An integrative review.The South African journal of physiotherapyThe Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool reliably measures physical and respiratory function in ICU patients. It correlates with discharge location and helps plan rehabilitation. However, using it did not reduce the length of stay in the ICU or hospital.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Predictive Factors for Successful Decannulation in Patients with Tracheostomies and Brain Injuries: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaFor patients with brain injuries, decannulation success is predicted by better consciousness, effective swallowing, and a strong cough. Younger age and traumatic rather than anoxic causes also help. These factors suggest who might tolerate tube removal, but do not guarantee it.
• PTOTCohort2024Group Versus Individual Rehabilitation in Lung Transplantation: A Retrospective Noninferiority Assessment.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalIndividual rehabilitation was noninferior to group rehabilitation for improving 6-minute walk distance. Both formats produced similar gains in physical function, quality of life, and symptoms. Individual sessions require less time and may be a viable alternative for lung transplant patients.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Exoskeleton-based exercises for overground gait and balance rehabilitation in spinal cord injury: a systematic review of dose and dosage parameters.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost studies using exoskeletons for walking and balance in spinal cord injury reported improvements. Typical effective protocols involved 60-minute sessions, three times a week, for eight to twelve weeks. However, study designs varied widely, and many did not report training intensity or dropouts.
• PTSLPCohort2024Linking Oropharyngeal Swallowing Physiology and Functional Clinical Predictors in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsIn people with ALS, oral swallowing impairment worsened as respiratory function declined. However, the standard ALS functional rating scale did not predict swallowing severity, meaning global physical scores may miss specific oral and pharyngeal deficits.
• PTOTOther2024Influence of blood lactate variations and passive exercise on cardiac responses.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn nine healthy men, passive arm cycling raised heart rate equally regardless of preceding handgrip intensity or blood lactate levels. The metabolic stimulus did not change the heart rate response to mechanical movement. This baseline data does not yet prove safety or efficacy for critically ill patients.
• PTOTCohort2024Age and period of ventilator use are related to walking independence at the time of discharge in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a single-center retrospective observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who were previously independent walkers, older age and longer ventilator use predicted whether they could walk unaided at discharge. The cutoffs for likely dependence were age 56 years and 7.5 days on the ventilator.
• PTSystematic Review2024Early Mobilization Dose Reporting in Randomized Clinical Trials With Patients Who Were Mechanically Ventilated: A Scoping Review.Physical therapyMost ICU mobilization trials report what exercise was done but fail to report how hard it was or how it was adjusted for the patient. Control groups are described even more poorly than intervention groups, making it hard to know if the 'usual care' was actually comparable.
• PTOther2024Novel wireless laser doppler flowmeter-based investigation of earlobe vascular dynamics in cardiopulmonary exercise testing.Journal of physical therapy scienceEarlobe blood flow rose sharply during intense cycling, reaching 1.7 times resting levels at peak effort. This change occurred earlier than the metabolic threshold for fatigue. The pattern offers a potential way to spot circulation problems in heart patients, but only healthy young men were tested here.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Survival and predictive factors of clinical outcome in patients with severe acquired brain injury.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients with severe brain injury who had tracheostomies survived as long as those without, but remained heavily disabled. Younger age predicted better survival and walking ability, yet most patients could not walk or eat by mouth after discharge.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Pulmonary rehabilitation in follow-up and inpatient rehabilitation for Long COVID: twelve months of follow-up.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineLong COVID patients improved during 21-day pulmonary rehabilitation, but fatigue and mental health problems worsened again by follow-up. Among those employed at baseline, 86.9% of inpatient rehabilitation and 88.6% of follow-up rehabilitation patients had returned to work at 12 months.
• PTCohort2024Usefulness of the cardiopulmonary exercise test up to the anaerobic threshold for pati-ents aged ≥ 80 years with cardiovascular disease on cardiac rehabilitation.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients aged 80 and over with cardiovascular disease who could do an exercise test up to anaerobic threshold had mostly similar test results to patients aged 70 to 79, except lower heart rate and worse breathing efficiency at rest.
• PTOther2024Clinical application of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation: A scoping review.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoAcross 25 studies of 905 patients, IPV was used widely but with inconsistent settings. Most common doses were 200-300 cycles per minute, 10-20 cm H2O in ICU, and 10-20 minute sessions, one or two times daily.
• PTSLPCase-Control2024Differences in cough strength, respiratory function, and physical performance in older adults with and without low swallowing function in the repetitive saliva swallowing test.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults with low swallowing screening had weaker cough and breathing muscles than matched controls. Lung function and physical tests were similar. The analysis included 14 low swallowing and 14 controls.
• PTOTPilot2024A Feasibility Study of a Physical and Occupational Therapy-Led and Parent-Administered Program to Improve Parent Mental Health and Infant Development.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsA therapist-led program teaching parents massage and motor exercises was feasible and acceptable. Parent anxiety, depression, and sense of competence improved significantly from admission to discharge, but without a control group, it is impossible to know if the program caused these changes or if parents simply felt better as their infants improved.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Phenotyping Down syndrome: discovery and predictive modelling with electronic medical records.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRElectronic records show people with Down syndrome have high rates of speech disorders, coordination issues and hypothyroidism. A model accurately predicted heart surgery needs based on pre-existing heart and breathing conditions, though diagnostic codes can be inaccurate.
• PTOther2024Relations Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cognition in Older Adults With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment From the Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Training (ACT) Trial: Sex Differences.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHigher aerobic fitness was linked to better memory and executive function in older adults with amnestic MCI, especially men. It was not linked to global cognition or to women's executive function or memory. This is association, not proof exercise improves cognition.
• PTRCT2024Submaximal, Low-Dose Eccentric vs Traditional Cycling Exercise: Reduced Oxygen Uptake and Pulmonary Artery Pressure Assessed by Echocardiography in Healthy Middle-aged Adults. A Randomized Controlled, Crossover Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEccentric cycling lowered oxygen uptake by 40% and pulmonary artery pressure by 26% compared to traditional cycling in healthy adults. Participants felt less breathless but reported similar leg fatigue, suggesting a lower cardiopulmonary load at the same external work.
• PTOTOther2024The Spanish adaptation of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart: psychometric evidence in cardiac rehabilitation patients.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe Spanish Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart works well as a total score but fails as a four-part breakdown. Use the overall score to gauge fear of movement in cardiac patients, but do not rely on individual subscales or item-level data for clinical decisions.