TOPIC

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 17 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021Motor Dysfunction in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: A Rehabilitation Framework for Prodromal Synucleinopathy.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder often show subtle motor signs years before a Parkinson's diagnosis. The authors propose a framework for early exercise and rehabilitation, but note there are no trials proving these interventions prevent or slow the disease.
• PTMeta-Analysis2021Critical spatiotemporal gait parameters for individuals with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoPeople with dementia walked slower, had shorter stride length, and showed more variability in stride time than healthy older adults, both alone and while doing another task. Speed and stride time variability were among the clearest differences.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Healthcare-seeking behavior and awareness of physical therapy among Japanese residents in Thailand: a descriptive study.Journal of physical therapy scienceJapanese residents in Thailand mostly use hospitals, not physical therapy clinics. Younger groups used PT more than older adults, who preferred prevention. Word-of-mouth was the main source of healthcare information.
• PTOTCohort2021Relationship between gait speed and trunk muscles in frail elderly individuals.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 12 frail older adults, thicker lower abdominal and deep core muscles correlated with faster walking. This links trunk structure to gait speed but does not prove that strengthening these muscles improves walking or prevents falls.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Factors associated with falls in community-dwelling older adults: an analysis based on subscales of the frailty screening index.Journal of physical therapy scienceFalls in older adults were linked to three specific frailty signs: not walking weekly, feeling slower, and unexplained tiredness. These items predicted falls better than the total frailty score. Check these three questions when screening community-dwelling patients.
• PTOTCohort2021Shedding light on light exposure in elderly with intellectual disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRElderly people with intellectual disabilities in group homes spend their day in low light. They rarely get the bright exposure linked to better sleep and mood, especially on weekends. This is a descriptive finding, not proof that lighting changes cause their health issues.
• PTCohort2021Hospital readmission in stroke survivors one year versus three years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation: Prevalence and associations in an Asian cohort.Journal of rehabilitation medicine24.0% of stroke survivors were readmitted within one year. Recurrent stroke, falls, seizures, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection were listed causes. Comorbidity, inpatient complications, and lower function at rehabilitation admission were associated with readmission.
• PTOther2021The detrimental association between fear of falling and motor performance in older cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.Gait & postureOlder cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and high fear of falling walked 16.1% slower and had 12.4% shorter strides than those with low fear. Postural sway did not differ.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Generalizing the predictive relationship between 1-month motor skill retention and Rey-Osterrieth Delayed Recall scores from nondemented older adults to individuals with chronic stroke: a short report.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding visuospatial memory test scores to prediction models modestly improved accuracy for 1-month motor skill retention in older adults and people with stroke. The benefit was small and based on very few stroke patients, so it is not yet a clinical tool.
• PTOTRCT2021Executive Function Moderates Functional Outcomes of Engagement Strategies During Rehabilitation in Older Adults.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationNo overall difference between Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation and standard physical and occupational therapy was found in this exploratory analysis. Higher clock drawing scores were associated with higher discharge function in patients receiving the Enhanced Medical Rehabilitation approach.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Identifying hearing impairment and the associated impact on the quality of life among the elderly residing in retirement homes in Pretoria, South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost elderly residents in South African retirement homes failed hearing screens, with 77% referred for further evaluation. Self-reported hearing difficulties were significantly associated with reduced quality of life. Many participants had never heard of an audiologist, and hearing aid users reported challenges with device maintenance.
• PTOTOther2021Diagnosing sarcopenia: Functional perspectives and a new algorithm from the ISarcoPRM.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA proposed diagnostic algorithm suggests screening older adults for sarcopenia using chair stand and grip strength tests, then confirming muscle loss with ultrasound of the anterior thigh. This approach is not yet tested in clinical practice.
• PTPilot2021Evaluating the Feasibility and Effects of a Short-Term Task Specific Power Training With and Without Cognitive Training Among Older Adults With Slow Gait Speed: A Pilot Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSix weeks of functional power training improved leg power, dynamic balance, and gait speed in older veterans. Adding computer-based cognitive training did not produce any additional benefit over the physical training alone.
• PTOTQualitative2020Clinical Utility of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in Older Adult Rehabilitation and Nursing Homes: Perceptions among Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists in Spain.Occupational therapy internationalSpanish therapists reported older clients felt heard and more involved when COPM goals were set with them. Many clients struggled naming priorities and rating performance versus satisfaction, and time or institutional constraints limited routine use.
• PTOther2021Physiotherapists and patients report positive experiences overall with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study.Journal of physiotherapyPhysiotherapists and patients in Australia reported generally positive videoconference physiotherapy experiences, but 41% of individual and 43% of group patients rated quality lower than in-person, and technology, touch, assessment and falls risk concerns were reported.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Visiting Out-of-Home Places When Living With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study: Visiter des lieux hors du domicile lorsque l'on vit avec une démence: étude transversale observationnelle.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapiePeople with dementia visit fewer places overall, but the loss is uneven. They retain healthcare, home, and close social visits, yet abandon banks, pharmacies, and cultural venues. This creates specific gaps in daily life that require targeted support rather than general advice to 'go out'.
• PTOther2021Is the diaphragm thickness related to gait speed in patients with hemiplegia caused by cerebrovascular accident?Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 11 community walkers after stroke, the unaffected to affected diaphragm thickness ratio during deep breath was linked to faster walking. Other thickness measures were not. This does not show diaphragm training improves gait speed.
• PTOTCohort2021Correlates of improvement in the care need levels of older adults with disabilities: a two-year follow-up study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older adults using day-care services, better baseline cognitive, self-care, bladder and bowel control, and social-cognition scores were linked to improved care need levels over two years. Walking and strength tests did not differ between groups.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021How wearable sensors have been utilised to evaluate frailty in older adults: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors show promise for objectively identifying frailty in older adults, but current evidence is too varied to recommend a specific device or placement. Physical activity and gait speed appear most useful, though definitions differ widely across studies.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Leisure and Productivity in Older Adults with Cancer: A Systematic Review.Occupational therapy internationalCancer limits social leisure and physical activity in older adults, with 14% to 18% reporting social restrictions. Patients often abandon valued tasks for low-demand activities. Evidence for occupational therapy interventions is sparse, relying mostly on case reports rather than trials.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Validity of the Rotterdam Elderly Pain Observation Scale for institutionalised cognitively impaired Dutch adults.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRThe Rotterdam Elderly Pain Observation Scale reliably detects pain in institutionalised adults with intellectual disabilities. A score of 3 or higher indicates likely pain, though specificity is moderate. It also appears valid for subgroups with autism or Down syndrome, despite small sample sizes in those analyses.
• PTRCT2021Low-frequency STN-DBS provides acute gait improvements in Parkinson's disease: a double-blinded randomised cross-over feasibility trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 14 people with Parkinson's, low-frequency subthalamic deep brain stimulation with voltage adjusted made trunk movement while walking more rhythmic side-to-side and up-and-down than usual high-frequency. Clinical walking tests did not change, and tremor worsened in some.
• PTOTPilot2021A smartphone-based online system for fall detection with alert notifications and contextual information of real-life falls.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA smartphone system detected 27 of 37 reported falls over 90 days, but missed 10 and raised 45 false alerts. It captured fall location, weather, and activity context.
• PTOTSurvey2021Malnutrition is associated with depression in Japanese older adults requiring long-term care or support.Journal of physical therapy scienceDepression scores were significantly linked to malnutrition risk in older adults needing long-term care. Higher depression scores predicted malnutrition risk. Specific depressive feelings like emptiness and loss of interest were more common in those at nutritional risk.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Psychological interventions with older adults during inpatient postacute rehabilitation: A systematic review.Rehabilitation psychologyPsychological interventions for older adults in inpatient rehab lack high-quality evidence. Anxiety showed no significant improvement. Depression results were mixed and unreliable due to high risk of bias. Clinicians cannot assume these therapies work in this setting.
• PTQualitative2022Views of wheelchair users and caregivers regarding a passive safety monitoring system for electric powered wheelchair operators with cognitive impairment.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNAWheelchair users and caregivers accepted the concept of a passive wheelchair safety monitor only if it protected independence and privacy, kept cost low, and did not single users out. They wanted training, insurance coverage, and reliable design.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Examining social determinants in use of assistive technology for race/ethnic groups of older adults.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyOlder adults with activity limitations had over seven times the odds of using assistive technology. Black older adults had higher odds of use than Whites, while Asians had lower odds. Health insurance increased use for Whites and Hispanics, but having a personal doctor was the key factor for Black patients.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Challenges in Measuring Applied Cognition: Measurement Properties and Equivalence of the Functional Assessment in Acute Care Multidimensional Computerized Adaptive Test (FAMCAT) Applied Cognition Item Bank.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMany items in this hospitalized patient cognition test showed bias for age, sex, or education. Items on reading long books or using smartphones were harder for older or less educated people, regardless of actual cognitive ability. Six items were deleted or restricted to improve the test's fairness.
• PTQualitative2022Interrelations between factors related to physical activity in inactive adults with knee pain.Disability and rehabilitationInactive adults with knee pain linked physical activity to pain, mood, environment, social expectations, knowledge, and resources. Females more often reported fear, fatigue, sleep, social perception, and exercise uncertainty; males reported sports and tracking.
• PTRCT2021Effects of a home-based rehabilitation program in community-dwelling older people after discharge from hospital: A subgroup analysis of a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationThe home-based rehabilitation program did not improve physical performance or physical activity overall. In older adults with moderate pre-admission mobility restriction, it improved physical performance, walking difficulty, stair difficulty and fear of falling.
• PTOTCohort2022Functional motor improvement during inpatient rehabilitation among older adults with traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMost older adults with TBI in inpatient rehab made meaningful motor gains: 84.1% improved by at least nine points and 68.6% by 17 points on a 13-to-91 motor independence score. Lowest baseline scores could reach 17-point gains if stay exceeded 10 days.
• PTOTCohort2021Associations of Multiple Chronic Conditions With Physical Performance and Falls Among Older Adults With Back Pain: A Longitudinal, Population-based Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with back pain and multiple chronic conditions experienced faster physical decline and higher fall risk over six years. Arthritis was the most consistent predictor of worsening function and falls. Screen for arthritis and multimorbidity to identify patients at highest risk of mobility loss.
• PTOther2021Exploring the Association Between Measures of Obesity and Measures of Trip-induced Fall Risk Among Older Adults.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationWaist-to-hip ratio and fat mass index, not BMI, associated with higher trip risk and poorer recovery in older adults. Those with high waist-to-hip ratio showed variable toe clearance. Those with high fat mass index had less favorable trunk velocity during recovery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022COVID-19 positivity rates, hospitalizations and mortality of adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario, Canada.Disability and health journalAdults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than other adults. Once infected, they were 2.21 times more likely to be hospitalized and 2.23 times more likely to die within 30 days. Risks were highest in younger adults.
• PTOTCohort2021Association of Lifetime TBI and Military Employment with Late Life ADL Functioning: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with a past head injury involving loss of consciousness reported more difficulties with daily activities at study entry than those without such injury. However, the rate at which these difficulties increased over time was not significantly different between the groups.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Repetitive Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOlder adults with a first head injury face a 3% annual risk of a second one. Epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson's, depression, and atrial fibrillation significantly raise this risk. These factors should trigger aggressive fall prevention and close monitoring for further head trauma.
• PTCohort2022Aberrant Lumbopelvic Movements Predict Prospective Functional Decline in Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationFour observed aberrant lumbopelvic movements at baseline were linked to worse physical function one year later in older adults with chronic low back pain. Higher movement scores were associated with worse function.
• PTOther2021Brain Activity Response to Visual Cues for Gait Impairment in Parkinson's Disease: An EEG Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairVisual cues improved gait speed and stride length in all groups. In people with Parkinson's, especially those with freezing of gait, cues changed brain activity in visual and sensory processing areas, which correlated with better walking performance.
• PTOTOther2021Muscle activation strategies of people with early-stage Parkinson's during walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with early-stage Parkinson's showed significantly higher muscle co-activation, lower modulation, and greater asymmetry in ankle muscles during walking compared to controls. These differences were present even in those with low clinical gait scores, suggesting wearable sensors may detect subtle gait impairment earlier than standard observation.
• PTOTOther2021Concurrent validity of human pose tracking in video for measuring gait parameters in older adults: a preliminary analysis with multiple trackers, viewing angles, and walking directions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVideo pose tracking accurately measures step time and cadence in older adults, but fails to reliably measure step width or variability. Clinicians should use these tools only for temporal gait metrics, not for assessing lateral stability or step consistency.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Within-subject variation in the cognitive timed up and go test as an explanatory variable in fall risk in patients with parkinson's disease.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn Parkinson's disease, greater within-session variation in the cognitive Timed Up and Go test time strongly predicts recurrent falls. A cut-off of 1.53 seconds identified recurrent fallers with acceptable accuracy. Single-trial testing may miss this risk signal.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Kinect-based rapid movement training to improve balance recovery for stroke fall prevention: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationKinect-based rapid movement training improved balance scores in chronic stroke survivors, matching the gains seen with conventional physiotherapy. It did not, however, make participants faster at reacting to a simulated fall compared to standard care.
• PTOTSurvey2021Survey of transfemoral amputee experience and priorities for the user-centered design of powered robotic transfemoral prostheses.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTransfemoral amputees using microprocessor knees reported higher autonomy, satisfaction, and daily prosthesis use than those with mechanical knees. Both groups prioritized stability and comfort over running capability. Cost sensitivity did not correlate with income, but rather with the level of insurance reimbursement.
• PTOther2021Classification of Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait based on 360° turning analysis using 36 kinematic features.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFull-body motion capture in a lab during 360° turns correctly labelled 98.1% of cases comparing Parkinson's disease with controls, but only 79.4% and 72.9% of freezing versus non-freezing cases. No treatment was tested.
• PTOTOther2021Abnormal Gait Movements Prior to a Near Fall in Individuals After Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn the single step before a near fall, stroke patients slowed down, took longer to complete the step, and shifted their body weight side-to-side more than usual. Therapists should watch for these specific changes in gait to anticipate instability.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Systematic Review of the Importance of Hip Muscle Strength, Activation, and Structure in Balance and Mobility Tasks.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStronger hip abductors generally mean better balance and mobility in young and older adults, but not always in middle-aged groups. Higher fat inside the gluteus medius muscle is linked to falls in older adults. Activation timing varies by age and task.
• PTOTOther2022Deep learning approach to estimate foot pressure distribution in walking with application for a cost-effective insole system.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA deep learning model estimated full-foot pressure from just nine sensors in young and older adults walking comfortably. It outperformed a fuzzy logic model and worked with a low-cost insole prototype, though accuracy was lower for older adults.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022Traumatic Brain Injury and Early Onset Dementia in Post 9-11 Veterans.Brain injuryPost-9/11 Veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury had three times the odds of early-onset dementia compared to matched controls. The risk was nearly six times higher for frontotemporal dementia than for Alzheimer's, suggesting TBI may specifically drive FTD pathology.
• PTOTOther2022Performance of machine learning models in estimation of ground reaction forces during balance exergaming.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAn LSTM model accurately estimated vertical ground reaction force from 2D video during balance exergaming, with errors under 11% body weight. This suggests standard cameras could provide real-time weight-shifting biofeedback for home use, though horizontal force estimation was less accurate.
• PTOTCohort2022Assessment of changes in muscle mass, strength, and quality and activities of daily living in elderly stroke patients.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationStroke patients improved activities of daily living over four weeks when muscle strength and muscle quality improved. Muscle mass did not track recovery and even tended to fall, so mass is a poor marker of rehabilitation progress.