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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 19 OF 21 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTCohort2025Baseline functional oxygen uptake gain as a prognostic factor of center-based exercise responding in well-functioning older adults.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 151 older adults doing one year of center-based supervised plus home exercise, lower baseline oxygen gain per workload was linked to a meaningful aerobic fitness gain. A low baseline marker may help set expectations, not prove exercise works.
• PTSLPPilot2025Expiratory Muscle Strength Training to Improve Voice and Respiratory Outcomes After Laryngectomy: A Feasibility Study.International journal of language & communication disordersTen people who had a laryngectomy completed expiratory muscle strength training using a hand-held device at their stoma. All finished the five-week programme, but most needed simple equipment tweaks to stop air leaks. Lung pressure and voice loudness improved, yet clinicians saw no change in voice quality.
• PTRCT2026The effect of early mobilization of post-cardiac surgery patients on delirium: a pilot study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineEarly mobilization did not significantly reduce delirium incidence compared to usual care. However, it shortened delirium duration and showed a trend toward lower incidence on day 2. The protocol was safe, with no severe adverse events, though tachycardia occurred in 13% of patients.
• PTOTCohort2026Long-term outcomes following a pulmonary telerehabilitation trial for people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID: a 12-month follow-up study.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with long-COVID breathing symptoms improved in lower-limb strength, respiratory symptom burden, and quality of life over 12 months, but the primary measure of functional capacity showed no significant change. Higher body mass index was linked to less improvement in fatigue.
• PTCohort2026Differential increase in peak oxygen uptake with cardiac rehabilitation among patients with stage B versus C heart failure.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients with earlier-stage heart failure gained fitness from cardiac rehabilitation faster than those with advanced heart failure. Peak oxygen uptake increased by 0.36 mL/kg/min per month in stage B versus 0.22 in stage C. Both groups improved, but the difference was significant.
• PTQualitative2026Development of Mobile Software "SRCardioCare" Prototype for Implementing Home-Based Exercise Program Among Patients After Adult Cardiac Surgical Revascularization: Qualitative Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHealth care professionals interviewed about a prototype home-based cardiac rehabilitation app described it as useful and safe to suggest, but flagged manual vital entry and clinician reply time as feasibility problems.
• PTRCT2026The effect of breathing exercises and mindset with or without cold exposure on mental and physical health in persons with a spinal cord injury-Results of a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationBreathing and mindset exercises with cold showers did not improve mental health in people with spinal cord injury. However, this combined approach improved inspiratory breathing capacity and lowered fasting glucose compared to usual care, while the breathing-only group showed no such physical benefits.
• PTOTCohort2026Hemodynamic responses and functional aerobic capacity in adults: insights from NASA method estimated VO₂.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesLonger tests like the 1-minute sit-to-stand and 2-minute step test caused higher heart rate and blood pressure, but only the sit-to-stand variants correlated with estimated aerobic capacity. The 2-minute step test showed no link to estimated fitness despite its higher physical demand.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Safety and Benefits of Moderate to High Intensity Aerobic Exercise During the Subacute Phase of Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationModerate to high intensity aerobic exercise after stroke did not improve peak oxygen capacity, self-selected walking speed or function. Walking distance and fast walking speed improved immediately after intervention, and severe cardiac or cerebral events did not differ.
• PTOther2026Inspiratory muscle training for people with spinal cord injury: An implementation study.Clinical rehabilitationA 6-week package of audit feedback, education and a clinical champion raised inspiratory muscle training provision by physiotherapists for spinal cord injury from 20% to 91%. Two months after support stopped, provision fell to 72%. Continuous audit feedback was needed to hold the gain.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Evidence and alternatives to the routine use of cuffed tracheostomy tubes in spontaneously breathing patients with neurological disorders.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesRoutine cuff inflation in spontaneously breathing neurological patients lacks evidence for benefit and risks tracheal damage. Early deflation, cuffless tubes, or fitting fenestrated tubes improves cough, swallowing, and voice. Assess readiness for deflation rather than keeping cuffs inflated by default.
• PTOTOther2026Feasibility of Early Assessment of Cognitive Deficits in Patients With Ventilation Sepsis: A Cross-Sectional Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAmong 28 ICU patients after sepsis and ventilation, reaction-speed tests showed severe attention deficits. Early testing was inconsistent; 27 of 28 could be tested by 14 days after awakening.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Non-epileptic paroxysmal events in Rett syndrome: A systematic review of case-based and observational evidence.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMany paroxysmal events in Rett syndrome are non-epileptic. Misclassification is frequent. Clinicians should use video EEG or detailed phenomenological descriptions to distinguish these from seizures, avoiding inappropriate antiepileptic treatment.
• PTCohort2025Diaphragm Morphology and Function in Neurocritical Care Patients: Uncovering Key Correlations With Respiratory Muscle Strength Under Mechanical Ventilation.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyDiaphragm thickness correlated with inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength in neurocritical patients on assisted ventilation. However, thickness did not correlate with ICU length of stay or ventilation duration. The small sample size limits conclusions about clinical outcomes.
• PTQualitative2025Beyond the lungs: patients' experiences of musculoskeletal symptoms and manual therapy in cystic fibrosis care - A qualitative interview study.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyTen adults with cystic fibrosis described daily muscle and joint pain and stiffness around the chest, neck and head. They reported less pain, easier breathing and more attention to body care during manual therapy, but this was experience, not evidence manual therapy works.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Body-weight supported treadmill or total body recumbent stepper for mobility-adapted cardiopulmonary exercise testing in multiple sclerosis patients with varying disability.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with multiple sclerosis achieved similar peak oxygen uptake on both a recumbent stepper and a supported treadmill, but more met criteria for a maximal test on the stepper. Half could not finish the treadmill due to leg symptoms. The stepper may be more reliable for assessing fitness in those with mobility disability.
• PTOther2025The relationship between lower limb alignment and physical fitness in children aged 10-12: A sex-specific analysis using the ALPHA-fitness test battery.Brazilian journal of physical therapyIn children aged 10-12, sex and BMI were linked to fitness test scores more clearly than knee or foot alignment. Pronated feet showed a weak link to lower jump distance.
• PTCohort2026Effectiveness of exercise training in people with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis with and without COPD.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe study did not find a difference in six-minute walk distance improvement between the groups after a program of daily supervised physical training, airway clearance when needed, medication optimization, education, nutritional programs and psychosocial counseling when appropriate. Both groups improved.
• PTOTOther2026Feasibility, Test-Retest Reliability and Convergent Validity of the Two-Minute Step Test in Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRThe Two-Minute Step Test worked for half of older adults with intellectual disabilities, with excellent reliability. It was feasible for those with mild to moderate disabilities but rarely for those with severe or profound disabilities.
• PTSLPCohort2026Age better discriminates early dysphagia than cough function, respiratory muscle strength, or trunk control after mild stroke.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationAfter mild stroke, age was the best marker of early swallowing problems. Patients with dysphagia averaged 70.0 years, those without 61.4 years. Cough flow, breathing muscle strength and trunk control did not separate them on their own.
• PTProtocol2025Do Fibromyalgia Patients Have a Preferred Resistance Training Volume? Protocol for a Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyNo results yet: this protocol plans a randomized crossover trial comparing resistance training volumes in women with fibromyalgia and will ask which volume they prefer.
• PTOTOther2025What are the characteristics of outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have reduced physical activity as a result of low-frequency pulmonary rehabilitation?Journal of physical therapy scienceMale COPD patients with low lung function or hilly homes were more likely to step less after low-frequency rehab. Screen for these factors early to adjust frequency or plan home visits.
• PTOTCohort2025Presence of transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy influences the prognosis of patients with acute decompensated heart failure undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients with heart failure and transthyretin amyloidosis had similar physical function gains from rehab but much higher death and rehospitalization rates. Good discharge scores did not predict their poor outcomes. Clinicians should not assume rehab success means a safe prognosis in this group.
• PTCohort2025General movements and head magnetic resonance imaging to predict cerebral palsy in preterm and low birth weight infants.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 154 very-low-birth-weight infants, abnormal head MRI plus definitely abnormal general movements flagged 92.9% of infants who had cerebral palsy and correctly excluded 97.9% who did not. Alone, each was less accurate.
• PTOther2025Reproducibility and minimal detectable change of sustained maximal inspiratory pressure in healthy adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceA sustained maximal inspiratory pressure test gave consistent scores when repeated one minute apart in 30 healthy young adults. Changes above 88.4 pressure-time units or 16.9% can be considered real rather than measurement noise.
• PTCohort2026General movements and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age in infants born very preterm.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn very preterm infants, early general movement quality was linked to development only before accounting for other risks. Once socioeconomic status and severe neonatal morbidities were included, the movement score added no independent predictive value.
• PTRCT2026Effect of inspiratory muscle training on inspiratory muscle strength in adults with post-COVID-19 condition and inspiratory muscle weakness: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding inspiratory muscle training to exercise, breathing instructions and physiotherapy follow-up improved inspiratory muscle strength and reduced cough in adults with post-COVID inspiratory weakness who could tolerate structured rehabilitation compared with those components without inspiratory training. Other outcomes did not differ between groups.
• PTCohort2025Strength, Agility, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Elite Male Futsal Players.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 18 elite male futsal players, greater knee flexor strength asymmetry related to higher functional strength but not to agility or balance. Most strength measures showed no link to aerobic capacity, suggesting these qualities act independently in this group.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Disproportional ventilatory response to incremental exercise in individuals with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIndividuals with cerebral palsy breathe much faster during exercise than typically developing people, even at lower heart rates. This is likely due to an inability to take deeper breaths rather than metabolic stress. Therapists should monitor respiratory rate, not just heart rate, to gauge exertion.
• PTOther2026Comparisons of hip-worn and ankle-worn accelerometers on measuring physical activity and their correlations with perceived activity level in community-dwelling older adults.Gait & postureIn 40 older adults, ankle accelerometers counted more steps and light activity, while hip accelerometers detected more moderate and vigorous activity. Self-reported activity matched weekday accelerometer counts and sitting, but not weekend activity.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Physiological and psychological therapeutic effects of telerehabilitation treatment on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceTelerehabilitation for COPD is slightly worse than face-to-face rehab for walking distance but better for anxiety and depression. Use it when travel is a barrier, but expect smaller gains in physical endurance compared to clinic-based programs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Lung Volume Recruitment Slows Pulmonary Functional Decline and Prolongs Survival in ALS.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn people with ALS, lung volume recruitment was associated with a slower decline in lung capacity and longer survival, particularly when continued for six months or more. However, this was a retrospective study without a control group, so the intervention did not cause these outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026A systematic review of physical activity guidelines for adults with cardio-respiratory diseases: Stepping towards evidence-based recommendations.Clinical rehabilitationMost cardio-respiratory guidelines encourage physical activity but lack specific instructions on how to prescribe it. Only 11 of 29 guidelines provided clear details on frequency, intensity, time and type, leaving clinicians to interpret vague advice.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Progressive relaxation exercises: association with dyspnea, anxiety, and oxygen saturation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn 60 patients with mild to moderate COPD, one month of daily progressive relaxation exercises was associated with a shift from severe to mild dyspnea and moderate to mild anxiety. These changes persisted at three months. Without a control group, these shifts may reflect natural fluctuation rather than the exercises themselves.
• PTPilot2025Effects of supine ergometer exercise on central and peripheral circulation in patients with ischemic heart disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor men with ischemic heart disease, pedaling lying down increased leg blood flow and parasympathetic activity compared to sitting. However, heart rate, blood pressure, and perceived exertion remained similar between positions. No adverse events occurred.
• PTPilot2026Effects of self-selected music on psychophysiological responses to goal-directed exercise in Parkinson's disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with Parkinson's disease walked farther, faster, and took more steps while listening to their own chosen music at least 120 beats per minute compared with white noise. They also felt more motivated and enjoyed it more, but this was a 12-person pilot.
• PTOTRCT2026Effect of an ERAS-based pulmonary rehabilitation exercise program on perioperative outcomes in liver resection patients: a prospective study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAfter liver resection, a nurse-led pulmonary rehabilitation bundle added to routine care improved lung function, daily activity, and walking, and reduced atelectasis and clots. Do not credit one component alone.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Effects of incentive spirometer added to standard rehabilitation in previously hospitalized adults with post-COVID-19 condition: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding an incentive spirometer to standard rehabilitation improved peak expiratory flow and reduced breathlessness compared with rehabilitation alone. However, it did not improve walking distance, strength, or quality of life more than the standard programme. Use it as an adjunct for respiratory symptoms, not a replacement for comprehensive rehab.
• PTCohort2026Early neurodevelopmental outcome in newborns with mild hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyForty newborns with mild HIE and normal aEEG showed no cerebral palsy at 12 months. 60% had above-average Griffiths scores, 30% were within the expected range, and 10% were borderline. This describes a low-risk group, not all mild HIE.
• PTCohort2025Cardiopulmonary Reactivity in Bulgarian National Taekwon-Do Team Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyResting heart rate and a recovery index did not change after the camp. After the step test, blood pressure fell and load tolerance improved, so cardiopulmonary reactivity showed mixed adaptation.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Feasibility of transcranial magnetic stimulation adjuvant therapy for chronic respiratory diseases: a narrative review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTMS is a safe, non-invasive tool for assessing diaphragm nerve pathways and is being explored as an add-on therapy for breathlessness in chronic lung disease. Current evidence is mechanistic and preclinical, with no large clinical trials yet proving it improves respiratory outcomes in these patients.
• PTCohort2026Prognostic profiles for discharge destination identified during intensive care unit admission: a decision tree analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSimple ICU variables identified discharge profiles. APACHE II score under 20 with ICU stay under 8.3 days had 86% probability of home discharge. FSS-ICU below 5 with APACHE II 20 or higher had 18%.
• PTRCT2026Addition of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, Based on the Level of Excitability, to an Intradialytic Twice-Weekly Cycling Protocol: A Randomized Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyAdding electrical stimulation to cycling during dialysis did not improve muscle strength, sit-to-stand capacity, breathing muscle strength, neuromuscular excitability, or quality of life versus cycling alone in a very small trial.
• PTPilot2026Effect of home-based rehabilitation in frail older adults after cardiac surgery: a prospective feasibility study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFrail older adults after cardiac surgery improved from 5.5 to 8.6 on a 12-point physical function scale over six weeks of home exercise, but those who completed the most sessions did no better than those who completed the fewest.
• PTCohort2026Patient characteristics of non-participants and reasons for non-participation in cardiac (tele)rehabilitation-a prospective analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOf 328 patients who agreed to a rehabilitation study after a heart attack, 200 took part in the hospital programme, 64 took the home app programme and 64 took neither. Non-participants were older, and most said they were simply not interested.
• PTCohort2026WHODAS 2.0 to Assess Disability in the Rehabilitation of Individuals With Chronic Respiratory Conditions: Responsiveness and Interpretability.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyThe WHODAS 2.0 disability questionnaire detected improvement in 33 people with chronic respiratory conditions after an eight-week supervised exercise programme, with scores falling from 44.98 to 35.49. A drop of at least 6.22 points may be the threshold for a meaningful change.
• PTRCT2026Acute Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Peripheral Tissue Oxygenation Behavior in Individuals With COPD: A Randomized Crossover Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyThe main measure, how fast muscle oxygen fell during a single breathing-training session, did not differ between strength, endurance or sham training in 29 people with COPD. Strength training reached the lowest muscle oxygen faster, but the changes were small.
• PTMeta-Analysis2026Non-pharmacological therapies for patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStructured exercise programmes helped people with LAM walk further in six minutes: 37.39 metres more on average across four small studies. Lung function and quality of life did not improve significantly, and none of the studies was randomised.
• PTRCT2026Effects of home-based cardiac rehabilitation integrated in the cardiac care bridge transitional care program on the physical functioning of older patients who are frail: secondary analysis of a randomized trial.Physical therapyHome-based cardiac rehabilitation added to a transitional-care program improved physical function at six months in frail older cardiac patients, by 0.8 points on a 12-point scale. The gain lost significance once missing patients were accounted for, and no other measure improved.
• PTCohort2026Feasibility of Physical Fitness Measurements in Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Within Two Large Cohort Studies: The HA-ID and IDS-TILDA Study.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRThese four fitness tests are feasible in large studies of older adults with intellectual disabilities. Grip strength was easiest to complete; full tandem balance and the step test were hardest. Severe or profound intellectual disability and wheelchair use were the main barriers.