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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.

1,442 PAPERS · PAGE 12 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRCT2018Effectiveness of falls prevention intervention programme in community-dwelling older people in Thailand: Randomized controlled trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoA four-month physiotherapist-delivered home-based programme combining balance exercise, falls advice and a booklet did not reduce falls in community-dwelling older people in Thailand.
• PTOTSLPCohort2018The role of biopsychosocial factors in the rehabilitation process of individuals with a stroke.Work (Reading, Mass.)Patients who started rehab more than 16 weeks after stroke, had no family care support, or were single or widowed showed significantly less improvement in mobility and daily activities. Depression and low self-efficacy at admission also predicted poor outcomes. Younger age under 55 was unexpectedly linked to lower efficacy.
• PTRCT2018Effect of exercise therapy combined with branched-chain amino acid supplementation on muscle strengthening in persons with osteoarthritis.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoAdding branched-chain amino acids to unsupervised home exercises did not significantly improve hip muscle strength or walking speed compared to a placebo. However, the amino acid group showed significantly greater strength improvement in the non-operated leg, suggesting a potential benefit for the healthy side.
• PTOTSurvey2019Difficulty and independence in shopping among older Americans: more than just leaving the house.Disability and rehabilitationBroken steps and neighborhood disorder were linked to more shopping difficulty in older adults, but links weakened after health and physical capacity were considered. Check the route from the home when older adults report shopping difficulty.
• PTOther2018Dynamic Balance Is Related to Physiological Impairments in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPeople with MS who had recently fallen repeatedly had worse foot vibration sense, longer balance reaction delays, more spasticity, and higher pyramidal and cerebellar signs than non-fallers. It does not show that treating these signs reduces falls.
• PTOTSLPCohort2018Cluster Analysis of Vulnerable Groups in Acute Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn acute traumatic brain injury rehab, 148 patients formed four vulnerability clusters. Clusters differed in length of stay and functional independence gains, and elderly medically complex patients were the oldest cluster.
• PTCase-Control2018Energy Impairments in Older Adults With Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy: A Matched Case-Control Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with chronic low back pain radiating to or below the knee used more oxygen per meter walking at their own pace and walked slower than matched pain-free peers. Their peak walking oxygen was lower, but that result depended on removing an outlier.
• PTSLPNarrative Review2018Delirium Screening and Management in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAdmission 3D-CAM screening in an inpatient rehab facility found delirium in 41 of 399 first admissions. Patients with brain disorders screened positive more often than orthopedic patients, and those with delirium were transferred back to acute hospitals more often.
• PTOTCohort2018Which Neuromuscular Attributes Are Associated With Changes in Mobility Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Symptomatic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationFor older adults with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis, low trunk endurance, weak legs and stiff knees predicted mobility decline over two years. These three attributes were also predictive in those without stenosis, suggesting rehabilitation targets should focus on these impairments regardless of diagnosis.
• PTOTCohort2019Assessment of Mobility in Older People Hospitalized for Medical Illness Using the de Morton Mobility Index and Cumulated Ambulation Score-Validity and Minimal Clinical Important Difference.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)The DEMMI detects mobility changes in hospitalized older adults, including those with severe cognitive impairment. A 10.7-point improvement marks a meaningful change. The CAS is quicker but hits a ceiling, making it poor for tracking recovery in high-functioning patients.
• PTRCT2018ADSTEP: Preliminary Investigation of a Multicomponent Walking Aid Program in People With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn people with MS using walking aids, the ADSTEP program of selection, fitting and task-oriented training produced fewer fallers than usual medical care and reduced sitting time. It did not reduce total falls or improve walking tests or patient-reported outcomes. Components cannot be separated.
• PTOTSLPCohort2018Improvement During Inpatient Rehabilitation Among Older Adults With Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson Disease, and Stroke.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationOlder adults with Guillain-Barré, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, or stroke all improved in self-care, mobility, and cognition during inpatient rehabilitation. Patients with Guillain-Barré showed the largest gains, followed by stroke, while those with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease made more modest but still meaningful progress.
• PTOTOther2018Influences of Age, Obesity, and Adverse Drug Effects on Balance and Mobility Testing Scores in Ambulatory Older Adults.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Age, body mass index, and a new drug index score predicted poorer balance and mobility test results in 57 older adults. The drug index worked even when standard fall-risk tests showed normal scores, suggesting it may help identify hidden risks.
• PTOther2019Effects of activity intensity, time, and intermittent doffing on daily limb fluid volume change in people with transtibial amputation.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalIntermittent doffing did not reduce the rate of limb fluid volume loss in 13 active transtibial amputees. Fluid loss was greater early in the day and less during high activity than low activity.
• PTOTRCT2019Effects of geriatric interdisciplinary home rehabilitation on complications and readmissions after hip fracture: a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationOlder adults with hip fracture who received conventional geriatric care plus home rehabilitation had similar complications and readmissions as those who received conventional geriatric care. Adding home rehabilitation did not reduce complications, readmissions, or days in hospital after discharge.
• PTOTCohort2019Reliability and Fall Risk Detection for the BESTest and Mini-BESTest in Older Adults.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)The BESTest and Mini-BESTest are stable over four weeks in older adults with balance problems, so a drop in score likely reflects a real change rather than test error. However, neither test reliably identified people who had fallen in the past year.
• PTCohort2019Age-related trends in cardiometabolic disease among adults with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyOver at least 3 years, middle-aged and older adults with cerebral palsy were diagnosed with diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, abnormal heart rhythm and atherosclerosis sooner than younger adults. High cholesterol and hypertension were most common.
• PTRCT2019Implementation of a Personalized, Cost-Effective Physical Therapy Approach (Coach2Move) for Older Adults: Barriers and Facilitators.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Coach2Move therapy differed from usual care in how goals were set and feedback given, not in the exercises themselves. Therapists struggled with dual record keeping and income fears, but found coaching helpful for learning the approach.
• PTOTRCT2019Change in Depression, Confidence, and Physical Function Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Depression scores did not change clearly. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment in a meaningful activity program had short-term gains in confidence and community participation; gains did not persist at follow-up.
• PTOther2019Gait Speed and Dynamic Stability Decline Accelerates Only in Late Life: A Cross-sectional Study in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Walking speed and walking balance were similar among healthy walkers aged 65 to 84. They declined at age 85 and older, with speed about 0.13 m/s slower and reaching 0.76 m/s, shorter steps, and fewer steps per minute.
• PTOther2019Dementia, Comorbidity, and Physical Function in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)PACE participants had gait speeds of 0.64 m/s and over 20 seconds on TUG. More chronic conditions related to slower walking, and in people with dementia each additional condition was linked to 3.5% worse TUG time. Without dementia, conditions were not linked to TUG time.
• PTOTCohort2019Predictors of Functional Change in a Skilled Nursing Facility Population.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)No measured factor predicted lower-extremity function change, severe disability at discharge, or slow walking at discharge in 140 skilled nursing facility patients. 87% improved meaningfully, but 69% had severe disability, and higher depression scores tracked with smaller gait-speed gains.
• PTCohort2018A Preliminary Study of Early-Onset Dementia of Former Professional Football and Hockey Players.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationNone of the living former professional football and hockey players in this study had early-onset dementia. Most cognitive and brain imaging comparisons with non-contact athletes were similar, but pain, sleep problems, and low activity were more common.
• PTOTQualitative2019A qualitative study of patient-centered goal-setting in geriatric rehabilitation: patient and professional perspectives.Clinical rehabilitationOlder patients in geriatric rehabilitation first aim for self-care and going home, then set more ambitious goals after discharge. Teams focused on discharge criteria. Long-term goals were often unrecorded.
• PTCase Report2019Use of trunk muscle training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation to reduce pain and disability in an older adult with chronic low back pain: A case report.Physiotherapy theory and practiceOne 83-year-old woman with chronic low back pain had less pain and better performance after 12 weeks of trunk muscle training, electrical stimulation, home exercise, and twice-weekly physical therapy. As a single case, it cannot show that this package works.
• PTSurvey2019Involvement of Acute Care Physical Therapists in Care Transitions for Older Adults Following Acute Hospitalization: A Cross-sectional National Survey.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Acute care physical therapists reported strong involvement in discharge planning, but communication with post-acute and outpatient providers was rare. Many said contacting patients or other therapists did not count as productive time.
• PTRCT2019Aerobic Exercise Sustains Performance of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Early-Stage Alzheimer Disease.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Aerobic exercise sustained independence in daily tasks such as cooking and housework in early Alzheimer disease, compared with stretching and toning. Caregiving hours did not clearly change.
• PTOTSurvey2019Individual and Environmental Determinants of Late-Life Community Disability for Persons Aging With Cardiovascular Disease.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation44.8% of community-dwelling adults with self-reported heart disease could not take part in valued activities because of health or functioning, compared with 29.0% without heart disease. Lack of transportation, needing mobility help, and home-entry modifications were linked to more of these restrictions.
• PTOTCohort2018The baseline speed of 10-m gait predicts ambulatory discharge for hospitalized frail elderly after DOPPO rehabilitation.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationIn frail hospitalized older adults after DOPPO rehabilitation, baseline 10-m walking speed above 0.84 m/s predicted reaching 300 m in 6 min, the ambulatory discharge goal.
• PTRCT2018Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation May Improve Cognitive-Motor Function in Functionally Limited Older Adults.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairTen sessions of brain stimulation improved a 30-point cognitive test and reduced standing sway when counting backwards, compared with sham, in functionally limited older adults. Timed Up-and-Go did not improve.
• PTOther2019Frequency and Circumstances of Falls Reported by Ambulatory Unilateral Lower Limb Prosthesis Users: A Secondary Analysis.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation57.6% of 66 ambulatory unilateral lower limb prosthesis users reported at least one fall in the past 12 months. Walking on level ground was the most common activity, and foot catching or slipping was more common than the body being pushed off balance.
• PTOTCohort2018Cognitive function impacts gait, functional mobility and falls in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.Gait & postureIn men and women with FXTAS, slower processing speed and poorer attention were linked to shorter strides, slower turning, and more falls in the past year. These cognitive deficits may help identify patients at higher risk of falling.
• PTOTOther2018Effects of a progressive walking program on the risk of developing locomotive syndrome in elderly Japanese people: a single-arm trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 24 untrained older adults, a 4-month progressive walking program improved two-step test scores and self-reported locomotive syndrome risk, but stand-up scores did not change. Without a control group, this cannot prove the program caused the improvements.
• PTOther2018Economic benefits of microprocessor controlled prosthetic knees: a modeling study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMicroprocessor knees were modeled to be cost-effective and to cut major injurious falls by 79%, but total costs were higher and this is not trial evidence.
• PTNarrative Review2018Powered ankle-foot orthoses: the effects of the assistance on healthy and impaired users while walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPowered ankle-foot orthoses can reduce walking effort in healthy lab users, but effects vary by device and person. Evidence is sparse for impaired walkers, so do not expect a standard clinical benefit.
• PTOther2018A new method for evaluating joint position sense using oral instructions based on body schema.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn healthy people, a new oral shoulder position test produced 90-degree angles similar to conventional tests, but 45-degree angles differed. Older adults reached lower angles, and children varied more.
• PTOTOther2018Effects of promoting daily physical activity on physical and mental health in older individuals.Journal of physical therapy sciencePhysical fitness did not improve more than control. With accelerometer-based nurse counselling, tailored step goals, and health seminars, older adults increased average daily steps, vitality, and social functioning; control also wore accelerometers, received seminars, and increased steps.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019What factors affect clinical decision-making about access to stroke rehabilitation? A systematic review.Clinical rehabilitationClinicians deciding stroke rehabilitation access weighed age, dementia, pre and poststroke function, social support, motivation, expected discharge, bed shortages, and their own knowledge or gut instinct. No service reported using formal criteria.
• PTCohort2019The transition between turning and sitting in patients with Parkinson's disease: A wearable device detects an unexpected sequence of events.Gait & postureMost participants with Parkinson’s disease overlapped turning and sitting during the Timed Up and Go. Longer overlap was linked to worse balance and gait difficulty, not to cognition or medication state.
• PTOther2019Effects of upper body strength, hand placement and foot placement on ladder fall severity.Gait & postureIn a simulated ladder fall, higher grip and breakaway strength were linked with lower fall severity. Hand and foot placement also mattered: reestablishing a foot lowered severity, and the hand response linked with lower severity changed with climbing direction.
• PTRCT2018Walking and balance outcomes for stroke survivors: a randomized clinical trial comparing body-weight-supported treadmill training with versus without challenging mobility skills.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding challenging mobility skills to hands-free body-weight-supported treadmill training did not improve walking speed more than hands-free training alone. Both groups improved walking speed and more participants were community or limited community ambulators after six weeks.
• PTOther2019Dynamic knee joint stiffness and contralateral knee joint loading during prolonged walking in patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis.Gait & postureIn unilateral knee OA, the painful knee was stiffer during walking, and modelled knee joint forces rose after 30 and 45 minutes in both knees. The non-painful knee also had higher late-stance forces.
• PTOTOther2018Manual wheelchair downhill stability: an analysis of factors affecting tip probability.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBump height, speed, and rear axle position drove downhill wheelchair tipping in simulations. Lowering the seat and reclining the backrest favoured rolling over or stopping, but recline increased backward tipping risk.
• PTOTOther2019Exercise and Parkinson Disease: Comparing Tango, Treadmill, and Stretching.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTTreadmill walking improved forward and backward gait speed more than stretching or tango, but none of the changes across the three groups were large enough to be clinically meaningful for people with Parkinson disease.
• PTOTOther2018Differences in body awareness and its effects on balance function and independence in activities of daily living for stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke survivors with lower fall risk and less need for daily assistance reported higher body awareness. The study did not show that improving body awareness caused these differences.
• PTRCT2018Time course of changes in motor-cognitive exergame performances during task-specific training in patients with dementia: identification and predictors of early training response.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn mild-to-moderate dementia, exergame balance training improved completion time within 3 weeks. Gains were largest early, then plateaued; more complex tasks still improved over the full 10 weeks. Patients with poorer baseline task, visuospatial, and dual-task scores responded fastest.
• PTOther2018Biomechanical Evaluation of Virtual Reality-based Turning on a Self-Paced Linear Treadmill.Gait & postureNine of ten healthy adults initiated turning on a VR treadmill. Head rotation triggered the turn, but leg movements and muscle activity were significantly smaller than real-world turning. The system felt realistic but did not fully replicate overground mechanics.
• PTOther2018Objective measures of gait and balance in healthy non-falling adults as a function of age.Gait & postureOlder healthy non-falling adults showed more variable foot pressure and stride length while walking, age differences in stride length while texting, and wider steps during heel-to-toe walking.
• PTSurvey2019Fall Prevalence and Contributors to the Likelihood of Falling in Persons With Upper Limb Loss.Physical therapyAmong 105 people with upper limb loss who answered fall questions, 28.6% reported two or more falls in the past year and 45.7% reported at least one. Lower balance confidence, low perceived capability, and prosthesis use were associated with frequent falls.
• PTSLPCohort2018Association between gait and cognition in an elderly population based sample.Gait & postureIn healthy, highly educated older adults, walking speed showed no link to cognition. Only longer stride length related to faster processing speed and better naming. Do not assume a patient's normal walking speed rules out early cognitive changes in this group.