TOPIC

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 17 OF 21 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRCT2025Cardiopulmonary exercise tests in people with chronic stroke: Interpretation and clinical application.Clinical rehabilitationMost treadmill exercise tests in chronic stroke stop due to walking problems, not heart or lung limits. Only 1.9% met criteria for a true maximal effort. Peak oxygen consumption from these tests likely underestimates fitness. Consider alternative modalities or clinical judgment for training intensity.
• PTPilot2025Feasibility of a Recumbent Stepper for Short-Interval, Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Stroke.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTAll 28 people with chronic stroke completed a 10-minute recumbent stepper interval session with no serious adverse events. Average heart rate during intervals was 76.8% of age-predicted maximum, so the session was feasible but not consistently vigorous.
• PTProtocol2024Effect of a 4-Week Telerehabilitation Program for People With Post-COVID Syndrome on Physical Function and Symptoms: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyNo results are reported.
• PTOTCohort2025Malnutrition and sarcopenia in inpatient rehabilitation: prevalence and associations with changes in bodyweight, muscle strength, and functional independence.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOver a third of inpatient rehab patients had malnutrition or sarcopenia. Strength and function improved during rehab, but malnourished patients were still weaker and less independent at discharge. Many at-risk patients lost weight, suggesting follow-up is needed.
• PTCase Report2024Effects of robot exoskeletal-assisted gait training on gait ability in a pediatric patient with peripheral polyneuropathy: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceA boy with suspected Guillain-Barré improved walking and balance after robot exoskeleton-assisted gait training added to intravenous immunoglobulin, physical therapy and occupational therapy. This single case cannot show which treatment caused the change.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Multimodal Technologies for Remote Assessment of Neurological and Mental Health.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRCombining speech, video, and text data in remote assessment platforms improves diagnostic accuracy and robustness compared to using any single data source alone. Multimodal analysis provides a more holistic view of neurological and mental health status for clinicians.
• PTOther2024Interventional study of comparing body pressure in different prone positions in healthy young women.Journal of physical therapy scienceFace pressure was higher in 19 healthy young women when the face turned opposite the raised arm than in other positions. Elbow pressure was lower in those positions.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2024Complex Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a 4-Year-Old With Repaired Critical Congenital Heart Disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn a 4-year-old with repaired heart disease and autism, guanfacine worsened aggression, but clonidine plus stimulant medication reduced elopement and meltdowns. Cardiac monitoring was essential. This single case shows how to manage complex symptoms, not that these drugs work for everyone.
• PTPilot2025Early functional proprioceptive stimulation in high spinal cord injury: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesEarly vibration stimulation did not reduce spasticity, muscle wasting, or motor recovery more than sham in acute spinal cord injury, but no adverse events were attributed to it in this small pilot.
• PTOTOther2024Relationships between life-space mobility, physical function, and empowerment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceLife-space mobility was not related to empowerment scores in stable outpatients with COPD. It was related to 6-minute walk distance and %FVC.
• PTOther2024Development and evaluation of an automated breathing-synchronized chest wall vibration stimulation system.Journal of physical therapy scienceAn automated chest vibration system synced with breathing flow sensors stimulated the rib cage more effectively than manual vibration in healthy men. It increased inspiratory and expiratory flow velocities and chest wall displacement without causing discomfort, though tidal volume gains were similar to manual methods.
• PTOTOther2024Relationship between respiratory sarcopenia and respiratory muscle weakness in community-dwelling older adults: a preliminary cross-sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceCommunity-dwelling older adults with respiratory sarcopenia had lower skeletal muscle mass and trunk muscle mass than those with respiratory muscle weakness or robust status. However, respiratory function did not differ between these groups, suggesting the condition affects body composition more than lung capacity.
• PTOTNarrative Review2024Sleep-related breathing disorders in children with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with spina bifida and myelomeningocele often have sleep-related breathing disorders without snoring or poor sleep history. The review recommends low-threshold in-lab polysomnography and multidisciplinary care, with physical and occupational therapy as possible team members, not a proven single treatment.
• PTOTRCT2025Subphenotypic classification of COVID-19 survivors and response to telerehabilitation: a latent class analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA 6-week home exercise app improved walking distance in COVID-19 survivors, but the benefit depended on lung function and steroid use. Patients with poorer baseline lung function who had taken steroids saw the largest gains. Others showed no significant difference.
• PTCase Report2024Effect of long-term rehabilitation on takotsubo syndrome-induced severe intensive care unit-acquired weakness: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn a single patient with extremely severe ICU-acquired weakness, muscle strength score rose from 16 to 58, walking distance rose from 385 m to 473 m, and heart-failure quality-of-life score reached 100 during acute, convalescent, and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.
• PTRCT2025Effects of a Home-Based Rehabilitation Exercise Program on Cardiorespiratory Performance in Community-Dwelling Adults Who Underwent Heart Surgery: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHome-based virtual reality exercise significantly improved walking distance in heart surgery patients compared to usual care. However, respiratory muscle strength and lung function improved similarly in both groups, suggesting these gains reflect natural recovery rather than the specific effect of the VR intervention.
• PTOTOther2024Associations between Physical Activity, Systemic Inflammation, and Hospital Admissions in Adults with Heart Failure.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalIn adults with heart failure, vigorous daily activity was linked to 62% fewer hospital admissions and lower inflammation. Light activity also reduced admissions. These are associations, not proof that activity causes these benefits, as the study was cross-sectional.
• PTOTPilot2025Virtual Reality Respiratory Biofeedback in an Outpatient Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesNine adolescents in a 4-week pain program found VR breathing biofeedback feasible and acceptable, with seven of nine completing at least 80% of sessions. The program's functional gains cannot be credited to VR, and no session showed a confirmed blood pressure or heart-rate change.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025A Pilot Study of a Modified Swallowing Screening Tool for Critically Ill Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.DysphagiaA modified bedside screening protocol combining ultrasound and specific dye tests allowed 13 ICU patients to safely resume oral feeding without aspiration symptoms. This approach offers a feasible alternative to invasive endoscopy in isolation settings, though its accuracy remains unvalidated against gold-standard tests.
• PTQualitative2025Experiences of participation in cardiorespiratory training among people with post-stroke fatigue: a qualitative study.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with post-stroke fatigue found home-based, physiotherapist-supervised interval training safe and feasible. Supervision helped them push past fear of exertion. They reported needing less recovery time and feeling more confident in daily activities, though fatigue persisted.
• PTOther2024Interventional study of the effect of trunk support provision on the body pressure and ventilation volume in the prone position in healthy young and older women.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn healthy women, prone trunk supports lowered facial pressure but increased chest pressure. Tidal volume remained stable, though lung capacity decreased in young women. This suggests supports may reduce facial ulcer risk without compromising basic breathing, but chest compression is a trade-off.
• PTOTQualitative2025Design Requirements for Cardiac Telerehabilitation Technologies Supporting Athlete Values: Qualitative Interview Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAthletes with heart disease rejected generic cardiac rehab as too easy and impersonal. They wanted sport-specific intensity, hard data limits like max heart rate, and clinical validation of their wearables. They trusted face-to-face contact for safety but used remote monitoring for independence.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Exploring interprofessional collaboration in the intensive care unit.The South African journal of physiotherapyClinicians in South African ICUs reported that doctors often misunderstand their roles, leading to late or inappropriate referrals. Teamwork was disrupted by siloed ward rounds, poor communication, staff shortages, and the pandemic, with participants urging compulsory joint rounds and better interprofessional education.
• PTSystematic Review2024Adverse events related to physiotherapy practice: a scoping review.Archives of physiotherapyAcross 58 studies, physiotherapy interventions were associated with adverse events including increased pain, falls, and haemodynamic instability. Musculoskeletal care most frequently reported pain and stiffness, while cardiorespiratory and neurological settings saw falls and vital sign changes. These events were attributed to the physiotherapy intervention.
• PTPilot2025Physiological effects of combined breathing and physical training in middle-aged and older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding breathing resistance to walking or cycling did not change peak oxygen uptake or workload after 6 weeks. Maximum air moved per minute increased, but the study was small.
• PTRCT2025Beneficial Effects of the Novel Digital Incentive Spirometer Device and Incentive Spirometer in Patients Undergoing Open-Heart Surgery: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesA new digital incentive spirometer did not improve lung function or breathing muscle strength better than a standard device in patients after open-heart surgery. Both groups experienced declines in these measures by day 5, with no significant difference between the two devices.
• PTQualitative2024Acute exacerbation of COPD: Physiotherapy practice and factors that influence management.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn South African private hospitals, physiotherapists reported managing acute COPD exacerbations by first assessing each patient, then combining breathing techniques, mobilisation, exercise and education. Supportive teams and equipment helped. Poor communication, nurse attitudes, workload, anxiety and limited training hindered care.
• PTOther2024The Association Between Patient-Level Factors and Physical Function in Lung Transplant Recipients.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalIn lung transplant recipients, older age and clinically significant psychological distress were linked to fewer sit-to-stand repetitions, while more time since transplant was linked to better performance. These factors may help target mobility assessment and rehab.
• PTQualitative2025Exploring Compassionate Care in Virtual Rehabilitation: Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPeople with limb loss or COPD said compassion in virtual rehab came from feeling cared for, reassured, and heard. They worried phone-only visits and feeling rushed weakened connection, but liked fitting care into daily life.
• PTSurvey2025Early mobilisation in Windhoek intensive care units: Practices, attitudes and barriers.The South African journal of physiotherapyWindhoek ICU staff rated early mobilisation important (76.9%), yet 83.8% said doctor referral was required, 48.7% lacked a mobility protocol, and 51.3% said there was no mobility champion. Only 42 of 174 surveys were returned.
• PTOTCohort2025Motor Impairment and Disuse Are Independent Predictors of Vascular Outcomes Poststroke.Physical therapyStroke survivors showed reduced artery size and muscle blood flow in paretic arms compared to non-paretic arms and healthy controls. Motor impairment and perceived arm disuse independently predicted these vascular deficits. These findings suggest vascular health is linked to motor recovery and usage patterns.
• PTOTRCT2025Effectiveness of virtual reality assisted active limb movement exercises for patients in the respiratory intensive care unit: a randomized pilot study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn respiratory ICU patients, VR-assisted active limb exercises increased daily exercise time, out-of-bed time and good adherence, raised muscle strength scores, and were associated with a shorter RICU stay over a week.
• PTRCT2025Investigating the Acute and Chronic Effects of Cardiovascular Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Early Subacute Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn early subacute stroke, 8-week cardiovascular exercise plus standard care did not change blood BDNF levels. It improved peak oxygen uptake by 4.43 mL/kg/minute, but upper-limb motor outcomes did not differ from standard care.
• PTOTSLPCohort202512-Month trajectories of physical and mental symptom scores after COVID-19 hospitalization and their role in predicting "very long" COVID.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA survey given three months after hospitalization predicted long-term recovery with 91% accuracy. Physical symptom burden and cognitive complaints were the strongest markers, while age and mental health scores added little to the prediction.
• PTOTOther2025Does Inspiratory Threshold Loading and Visual Tasking Affect Visual Attention Accuracy?Physical therapyHealthy adults tracking moving objects made more errors while breathing against inspiratory loads, with greater interference at moderate than low loads. Accuracy correlated with inspiratory muscle strength and emotional control. This suggests breathing effort competes for cognitive resources.
• PTNarrative Review2025Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing.The South African journal of physiotherapyThis paper reviews how ageing affects body systems and summarises existing evidence on physical activity. It does not present new clinical results, so it offers background knowledge rather than actionable findings for patient care.
• PTOTCohort2025Postural balance and functional muscle strength in the hands and legs one year after hospitalisation due to COVID-19.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOne year after hospitalisation for COVID-19, most patients had improved balance and strength, but nearly half still had impaired muscle strength. Older age and lower pre-illness activity predicted worse hand strength. Discharge strength was the strongest predictor of recovery, suggesting early assessment identifies those needing continued rehabilitation.
• PTOTCase Report2025Safety of cardiorespiratory and muscle fitness assessment in two children with leukemia during early chemotherapy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineTwo children undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia safely completed maximal exercise and strength tests during early treatment. No adverse effects occurred, and the testing did not disrupt their treatment schedule. This suggests rigorous physiological assessment is feasible early in therapy, though sample size is too small to confirm benefits.
• PTCohort2025Differential patterns of the relationship between exercise dose and mortality risk across severities of airflow limitation: a prospective cohort study with a 5-year follow-up period.Journal of rehabilitation medicineHigher weekly physical activity was linked to lower all-cause mortality overall. The pattern varied by airflow limitation: normal and mild groups showed lower risk below thresholds, the moderate group showed higher risk above 63.42 MET-h/week, and severe or very severe groups showed no clear association.
• PTOTCohort2025Bilateral hand use during infancy in very low birth weight infants.Journal of physical therapy scienceVery low birth weight infants under 1,000 g reached toy transfer later than infants with birth weight 1,000 to 1,499 g, with middle ages of 6.4 and 5.8 months. No clear difference was seen for playing with both hands together or grasping two toys.
• PTOTQualitative2025The Development of a Vocational Rehabilitation Program to Assist Individuals With MDRTB and TB in Returning to Work.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapists and physiotherapists reported that vocational rehab for TB survivors is often sacrificed for physical recovery. They recommended a holistic, staged model that prioritizes work skills and uses group activities to overcome resource shortages.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Amantadine Continuation After Hospital Discharge for Acute Stroke Requiring Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Long-term Follow-up Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn 28 stroke patients continuing amantadine into rehab, dosing varied widely but appeared safe. Most patients improved in mobility and speech, yet confusion and agitation often emerged when doses were reduced, not increased. This offers no guidance on optimal dosing or timing.
• PTRCT2025Optimizing Pulmonary Health and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial Combining Incentive Spirometry and Aerobic Exercise.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAdding incentive spirometry to aerobic exercise improved lung capacity and quality of life more than aerobic exercise alone. The combined group saw greater gains in physical function and larger drops in breathlessness, fatigue, and insomnia after 8 weeks.
• PTOTCase Report2025Case Report: Rehabilitation assessment and exercise using cardiopulmonary exercise test after coronavirus-disease pneumonia.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTwo men with persistent respiratory distress after severe COVID-19 improved their exercise tolerance and oxygen needs after rehabilitation guided by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. They completed a multi-component programme including respiratory training and prone positioning, so the specific contribution of the testing protocol cannot be isolated.
• PTOTCohort2025Association Between Muscle Activity of Upper Limbs and Respiratory Parameters During Functional Performance in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Occupational therapy internationalPeople with mild to moderate COPD used their chest muscles more than healthy peers when reaching up, but did not always breathe less efficiently. Only one specific muscle group showed significantly higher activity during hair washing and shelf tasks.
• PTOther2025A controlled clinical trial of leg thermal therapy in conjunction with standard cardiac rehabilitation in patients with decompensated heart failure.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding leg heating to cardiac rehabilitation did not show improvement in peak exercise capacity in 10 patients given leg heating and 6 given rehabilitation alone after decompensated heart failure. Leg heating was safe, but changes in the leg-heating group alone cannot show benefit.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Plea for routine endoscopic tracheostomy tube adjustment.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesRoutine endoscopy found two-thirds of tracheostomy tubes in neurorehab patients were malpositioned, causing visible tracheal injury in 19%. No patient factors predicted misplacement. Check tube position endoscopically upon admission or at first change.
• PTOTCohort2025Correlation between respiratory muscle strength and arm muscle strength of the unaffected side in patients with sub-acute stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn stroke patients who could not walk alone, respiratory strength and arm strength on the unaffected side were both far below healthy levels. Over two months of standard rehab, these improved but did not reach normal. The two strengths tracked together closely.
• PTOTCohort2025Functional independence during hospitalization in patients with intensive care unit-acquired weakness.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients who developed ICU-acquired weakness had consistently lower daily living independence scores during hospitalization. At discharge, 84% of this group had hospitalization-associated disability compared to 52% of those without weakness. Early targeted rehabilitation may be needed for these patients.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Developmental Profiles of Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Their Associated Predictors.Child: care, health and developmentDeaf and hard of hearing children show higher rates of developmental delay than the general population, with 35% scoring below cut-off in communication. Prematurity, low birthweight, and medical comorbidities predict delays across all domains, regardless of hearing loss severity.