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 21 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2023Psychometric properties of Upper-body Dressing Scale in people with stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineTiming how long it takes a stroke patient to put on a shirt distinguishes them from healthy adults with high accuracy. The standard score failed to do this because patients with good cognition needed no help. Use the time taken, not the cue count, to track recovery.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Effects of water exercise on body composition and components of metabolic syndrome in older females with sarcopenic obesity.Journal of physical therapy scienceWater exercise reduced leg body fat in older women with sarcopenic obesity but did not increase muscle mass or improve metabolic syndrome markers. Knee extension strength increased in both groups. Do not expect body composition or metabolic changes from water exercise alone.
• PTOTCase-Control2023Physical functions associated with health-related quality of life in older adults diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older adults awaiting knee surgery, slow sit-to-stand and walking speed tracked lower physical and social quality of life, but not mental well-being. Pain on joint loading also correlated with poorer physical quality of life. Assess these specific functions to target rehab.
• PTOTPilot2023Development of a compensation-aware virtual rehabilitation system for upper extremity rehabilitation in community-dwelling older adults with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe virtual system did not beat conventional therapy on upper-limb function after three months, but both groups improved. It detected compensatory movements, though their counts did not fall.
• PTOther2023Dopamine replacement therapy normalizes reactive step length to postural perturbations in Parkinson's disease.Gait & postureDopamine medication lengthened reactive step length in Parkinson's patients during automated treadmill perturbations, matching healthy controls. No significant medication effect appeared during manual shoulder pulls. This suggests automated perturbations may detect balance improvements that clinical tests miss.
• PTOTCohort2023Predictors of life-space mobility in patients with fracture 3 months after discharge from convalescent rehabilitation ward: a prospective longitudinal study.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor older adults discharged home after fracture, three-month life-space mobility was predicted by fall-related self-efficacy, motor function, age, and gender, not by walking speed or balance tests. Patients with lower fear of falling and better mobility scores moved more widely after discharge.
• PTOTCohort2023Higher knee flexion moment during walking is associated with a lower risk of knee pain developing among the elderly after 24 months.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineOlder adults with a higher knee flexion moment while walking had less frequent knee pain after two years. No association was found at twelve months, and knee adduction moment trends suggested higher risk. This challenges the idea that more sagittal loading is harmful.
• PTOTCohort2023Influence of history of falls and physical function on obstacle-straddling behavior.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults with a history of falls or poor balance stepped more slowly and bent their hips more when crossing obstacles than those with good balance. They relied on large hip movements to clear the obstacle, likely because their legs could not generate enough forward push.
• PTCohort2023Indicators predicting the development and improvement of sarcopenia in older adults requiring long-term care.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults in Japanese daycare rehabilitation who were at risk of malnutrition or had smaller calf circumference were more often found to develop sarcopenia or fail to improve over six months. Nutrition screening and calf checks may help flag risk.
• PTOTCohort2023Validity of temporo-spatial characteristics of gait as an index for fall risk screening in community-dwelling older people.Journal of physical therapy scienceGait speed under 0.83 m/s and a heel strike angle under 15.8 degrees helped identify older adults who had fallen in the past year. These simple walking metrics from portable sensors may screen for fall risk, though the test missed many non-fallers.
• PTOTPilot2023Autonomous Control of Music to Retrain Walking After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairOne 30-minute session of automated, music-based gait training improved walking symmetry and reduced energy cost in 10 stroke survivors. The system adjusted music tempo and beat salience in real time based on foot sensors, offering a potential way to deliver skilled gait rehab without a therapist present.
• PTOTOther2023Cognitive Impairments After Stroke Do Not Attenuate Explicit Visuomotor Adaptation in Reaching and Savings With the Unaffected Arm.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke participants using their unaffected arm adapted to a 40° reaching rotation and relearned it as well as age-matched controls, despite lower cognitive screening scores. Both older groups were less accurate than young controls.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Changes in physical function of frail elderly females in the one-year long-term care prevention program.Journal of physical therapy scienceFrail women attending a one-year community care prevention program maintained walking speed, balance, and overall function, but grip strength significantly decreased. The program focused on lower limb exercise, leaving upper limb strength unaddressed.
• PTOTOther2023Assessing real-world gait with digital technology? Validation, insights and recommendations from the Mobilise-D consortium.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA lower-back wearable could identify walking bouts, steps, and cadence reasonably well in real life, but stride length was unreliable, especially for slow or short bouts.
• PTOTCohort2023An Initial Assessment of the Decline With Age for the 6-minute Walk Test (6MWT) in Chinese Older Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn 525 Chinese older adults with COPD, six-minute walk distance dropped sharply as disease severity increased and with advancing age. Mean distance fell from 317 meters in mild disease to 168 meters in very severe disease, with further decline after age 70.
• PTOther2023Age-related differences in reactive balance control and fall-risk in people with chronic stroke.Gait & postureOlder adults with chronic stroke fell more during unexpected slips on their less affected side than younger adults, while slips on the affected side showed no age difference and routine balance tests were similar.
• PTOTCohort2023Relationship between toe grip strength and dynamic balance in older adult patients with femoral neck fracture.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 15 older adults recovering from hip fracture, stronger toe grip was linked to better balance scores and a larger forward-backward sway range. There was no difference in toe strength between the operated and non-operated legs.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of US community-dwelling older adults with communication disabilities, using the national health and aging trends survey.Journal of communication disordersAbout one in four community-dwelling US adults over 65 has a communication disability. These individuals are more likely to be male, Black or Hispanic, have lower education and income, and have very small social networks compared to peers without disabilities.
• PTOTPilot2023Association between upper limb movements during drumming and cognition in older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia at a nursing home: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn 16 older adults with dementia, the height their arm reached while drumming correlated with both handgrip strength and MMSE scores. This suggests arm elevation during drumming may help assess motor function and cognitive status when standard tests are difficult.
• PTCohort2023Factors associated with falls during voluntary self-isolation among community-dwelling older people: a longitudinal study.Journal of physical therapy scienceDuring self-isolation, older people who reported subjective cognitive decline or unexplained fatigue had significantly higher odds of falling. These specific frailty symptoms predicted falls independently of age, gender, or total frailty score.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022What are the common areas of risk and their characteristics found in intermediate care from an occupational therapy perspective? A scoping review.The British journal of occupational therapyFalls, discharge planning, and practice errors were the most common risk areas for occupational therapists in intermediate care. The review found no evidence on how therapists explicitly assess the severity or likelihood of these risks.
• PTOther2023Change in activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex in different phases during the dual-task walking in older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOlder adults walking while subtracting sevens had slower gait and more errors than younger adults. Their frontal brain activity was higher early than late during dual task, and right orbitofrontal activity was lower than younger adults during dual task.
• PTOTCohort2023Relationships between physical, cognitive, and social frailty and locomotive and non-locomotive physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity.Journal of physical therapy scienceOnly physical frailty linked to low steps and walking intensity. Cognitive and social frailty showed no such link. Use walking data for physical risk, but look elsewhere for mental or social decline.
• PTOTQualitative2023Systems modelling as an approach for eliciting the mechanisms for hip fracture recovery among older adults in a participatory stakeholder engagement setting.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStakeholders identified fragmented information and overprotective caregivers as key barriers to hip fracture recovery. They proposed coordinated communication, patient education on subsidies, and group therapy to build resilience and improve rehabilitation uptake.
• PTOTQualitative2023Perspectives of Rehabilitation Professionals on Implementing a Validated Home Telerehabilitation Intervention for Older Adults in Geriatric Rehabilitation: Multisite Focus Group Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesTherapists valued sensor monitoring for spotting activity drops after discharge but struggled to use it with patients who have cognitive impairment or live alone. They identified a lack of time to review data and insufficient training as key barriers to routine implementation.
• PTOther2023Managing Musculoskeletal Pain in Older Adults Through a Digital Care Solution: Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Clinical Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOlder adults using a digital musculoskeletal pain program started it more often, completed more sessions, and had pain reduction similar to younger adults. They also reported high satisfaction, but there was no control group.
• PTPilot2023Changes in pulmonary function following thoracic spine manipulation in a healthy inactive older adult population-a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceThoracic spine manipulation did not improve breathing measures more than sham in inactive older adults. Maximal voluntary ventilation rose after repeated manipulation sessions, but the small pilot cannot show the treatment works.
• PTOTCohort2023Balance assessment in selected stages of Parkinson's disease using trend change analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new balance metric called the Trend Change Index (TCI) successfully distinguished Parkinson's patients from healthy controls in both early and later stages. Unlike standard speed measurements, this metric detected balance differences in Stage II patients who otherwise looked normal on traditional tests.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Gender-specific factors associated with the Japanese version of the trail making test among Japanese workers.Journal of physical therapy scienceWorkers with metabolic syndrome risk factors took longer to complete a cognitive flexibility test. Low muscle mass and lower-body strength also predicted slower test times in men, but not in women. These physical markers may help identify cognitive decline risk in the workplace.
• PTOTCase-Control2023Characteristics of falls and their fear in older adults requiring long-term care.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults in daycare who had fallen showed less confidence crossing streets and performing daily tasks than non-fallers. Low confidence in crossing the street was specifically linked to a history of falls, suggesting outdoor mobility anxiety is a key marker in this group.
• PTOTCohort2022Validity and feasibility of using a seated push-up test among community-dwelling older adults.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoA seated push-up test successfully identified lower body strength and mobility in older adults. Passing the test required lifting 85% of bodyweight. The 1-minute version detected further differences in strength and endurance among those who passed the initial test.
• PTOTOther2023Telehealth Delivery of Evidence-Based Intervention Within Older Adult Populations: A Scoping Review.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthTelehealth delivery of evidence-based occupational therapy for older adults is feasible and often preferred by clients, but it does not consistently outperform in-person care. Success depends on adapting activities for the screen and ensuring clients have reliable technology access and support.
• PTOTRCT2022Use of mobile app to enhance functional outcomes and adherence of home-based rehabilitation program for elderly with hip fracture: A randomized controlled trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoA mobile app improved exercise adherence in the first month, but did not lead to better walking, mobility, or function than paper handouts at two months. The study was underpowered due to dropouts, so the lack of functional difference is uncertain.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Technology for activity participation in older people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: expert perspectives and a scoping review.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyDigital health tools for older adults with dementia mostly support daily tasks and social connection, but rarely address leisure, sleep, or work. Experts warn that poor design and lack of tailored training limit uptake, especially for those with less tech experience.
• PTCohort2023Changes in Mild Neurocognitive Disorder Status in Mobility Limited Older Primary Care Patients: Implications for Rehabilitative Care.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationOver 2 years, 27% of 349 mobility-limited older patients had fluctuating cognitive status. Better gait speed and fewer depressive symptoms were linked to being less likely to be in a mild neurocognitive disorder group, but physical activity was not.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Differences in Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Following Later-Life Traumatic Brain Injury in Veteran and Civilian Populations.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationTraumatic brain injury after age 68 strongly increased the risk of Alzheimer's diagnosis, but this risk dropped significantly with each passing year. The elevated danger appeared to fade roughly five years after the injury, suggesting the link is short-term rather than permanent.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Neck Symptoms and Associated Clinical Outcomes in Patients Following Concussion.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationPatients with more severe neck symptoms after concussion took longer to recover, averaging 40 days versus 30 days. Neck pain was reported by nearly half of all patients, with higher rates in non-sports injuries like falls and motor vehicle accidents compared to sports-related concussions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Referent Values for Commonly Used Clinical Mobility Tests in Black and White Adults Aged 50-95 Years.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMobility tests show significant performance declines starting in the 80s for Black and White adults in the Southeastern US. Use these race and sex-specific reference values to identify fall risk, but note the cohort was highly educated and may perform better than your patients.
• PTCohort2023Using the Instrumented Sway System (ISway) to Identify and Compare Balance Domain Deficits in People With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPeople with MS had larger and faster standing sway than controls. Those with MS who had fallen also had larger and faster sway than those who had not. Other sway patterns did not differ. It does not prove sway causes falls.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Associations of Prior Head Injury With Mild Behavioral Impairment Domains.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMultiple prior head injuries are associated with higher rates of impulse dyscontrol and affective dysregulation in older adults. These behavioral symptoms appeared decades after the injury. Single injuries showed no such association. Screen for mood and behavioral changes in patients with a history of repeated head trauma.
• PTOTCohort2023ICF framework in cardiac rehabilitation: a real-life implementation in post-cardiac surgery and chronic heart failure patients.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineCardiac rehabilitation improved functioning in both post-surgery and chronic heart failure patients, but those with heart failure started with worse body function impairments and made smaller gains than surgery patients. High comorbidity complexity predicted poorer outcomes at discharge.
• PTOTSurvey2024Validating a fear-of-falling-related activity avoidance scale in lower limb prosthesis users.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationThe mSAFE appeared usable to measure how much lower-limb prosthesis users avoid activities because of fear of falling. A 6-item version may also work. The evidence comes from 59 people who could walk in the community.
• PTOther2023Reliability and validity of the supine-to-stand test in people with stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe supine-to-stand test was reliable when the same or different raters tested it and when repeated after 7 days. People with stroke averaged 10.81 seconds, compared with 4.57 seconds in healthy older adults. A 5.25 second cut-off separated the groups.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Construct validity, responsiveness, and interpretability of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) in patients admitted to inpatient geriatric rehabilitation.Clinical rehabilitationThe Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) is a valid observational tool for older adults in inpatient geriatric care. It detects meaningful physical improvement at 14.5 points and screens cognitive function without burdening patients with interviews.
• PTOTQualitative2024Physical rehabilitation for people with advanced dementia who fracture their hip - expert consensus process.Disability and rehabilitationExperts agreed that rehab for advanced dementia after hip fracture is less about exercise and more about setting the scene. They prioritized managing pain, nutrition, and hydration, plus ensuring safety and comfort, before attempting any physical movement.
• PTOTOther2023Going beyond PA: Assessing sensorimotor capacity with wearables in multiple sclerosis-a cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSmartwatch data from 90 people with MS linked movement patterns to clinical severity, but not reliably to specific upper-limb skills. One metric tracked grip strength independently of disability scores, while others mixed activity volume with ability.
• PTOTCohort2023Predictive factors for home discharge after femoral fracture surgery: a prospective cohort study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFemale sex, higher preoperative cognition, more physiotherapy sessions, higher exercise self-efficacy, and caregiver availability predicted home discharge after hip fracture surgery. These factors identified patients likely to return home versus needing institutional care.
• PTCase Report2023A Case Report of Cryoneurolysis for Dorsal Foot Pain and Toe Clawing in a Patient With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn one patient with MS, cryoneurolysis of the FDL motor branch and superficial fibular nerve relieved dorsal foot pain and toe clawing for five and a half months. Symptoms returned, requiring retreatment. This is a single case, not proof the treatment works for others.
• PTPilot2023Development of an Elliptical Perturbation System that provides unexpected perturbations during elliptical walking (the EPES system).Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe EPES prototype elliptical perturbation system and camera software detected shoulder and trunk balance responses in two young adults. It does not show that training reduces falls in older adults.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Gait analysis comparison between manual marking, 2D pose estimation algorithms, and 3D marker-based system.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOpenPose tracked knee angles accurately but failed at the ankle. Kinovea was consistent but slow and biased. MediaPipe was too inaccurate for gait analysis. No tool replaced the 3D marker system, though OpenPose is a promising, faster alternative for knee motion.