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 22 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2024Circumstances of falls among older adult walker users in long-term care and the associated walker design deficits.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNASideways falls with two-wheeled walkers happened while turning. Backward falls with rollators happened during transfers when brakes failed to stop rolling. Design fixes for lateral stability and easier braking are needed to prevent these injuries.
• PTOTCohort2024Defining Clinically Meaningful Cut Points for Leg Power Impairment Using Physical Performance in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis From Boston RISE.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationSex-specific leg power thresholds identified: 3.07 Watts/kg for men and 2.59 Watts/kg for women. Falling below these values on the Stair Climb Power Test strongly associates with mobility limitation. These cut points help clinicians identify older adults at high risk for adverse health outcomes.
• PTOther2023Mobility Rehab visual feedback system for gait rehabilitation in older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding real-time gait feedback to physical therapy did not improve patients' confidence in their mobility. The primary outcome was null, though the feedback group showed small gains in walking speed and arm swing.
• PTCohort2023Mild Stroke, Serious Problems: Limitations in Balance and Gait Capacity and the Impact on Fall Rate, and Physical Activity.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople after mild stroke fell more often than healthy controls, had poorer balance and gait, lower confidence, and less intense activity, even when leg motor scores were normal. Screen balance and gait after mild stroke.
• PTRCT2023Combined Reactive and Volitional Step Training Improves Balance Recovery and Stepping Reaction Time in People With Parkinson's Disease: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople with Parkinson’s disease who did 12 weeks of home stepping games plus two supervised slip/trip sessions had faster choice stepping reaction times and fewer total laboratory falls than controls, but daily-life falls were not reduced.
• PTOTRCT2024The influence of prehabilitation in patients with liver cirrhosis before liver transplantation: a randomized clinical trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePrehabilitation improved liver frailty and Child-Pugh scores after one month, but very low patient adherence prevented any conclusions at three months. The study could not determine if prehabilitation is more effective than standard care for patients awaiting liver transplantation.
• PTOTOther2024Disparities in Access to Spasticity Chemodenervation Specialists in the United States: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationMedicare beneficiaries in nonurban areas and communities with large Hispanic populations face greater difficulty accessing spasticity chemodenervation specialists. Urban areas had significantly fewer beneficiaries per provider, while regions with at least 25% Hispanic beneficiaries had significantly more beneficiaries per provider.
• PTPilot2024Safety, walking ability, and satisfaction outcomes of the NEURO TRONIC stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO): A comparative evaluation to the E-MAG active SCKAFO.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalThe primary knee-joint safety outcome did not differ significantly between NEURO TRONIC and E-MAG stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthoses in adults with neuromuscular knee weakness. Perceived walking effort favoured NEURO, but this small uncontrolled study cannot prove superiority.
• PTOTSurvey2024Performance of the Physical Functioning Activities of Daily Living Scale in the 2020 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe 8-item PFADL scale reliably measures physical function in Medicare patients. It is best for identifying limitations, as 26% of respondents scored at the maximum, leaving little room to detect differences among those with higher function. Use it to screen for disability, not to grade top performers.
• PTOther2023Validating the Safe and Effective Use of a Neurorehabilitation System (InTandem) to Improve Walking in the Chronic Stroke Population: Usability Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn a simulated home test, 14 of 15 adults with chronic stroke completed key InTandem walking-device tasks without errors. The one error involved sensor setup and a software bug. This was about safe use, not improved walking.
• PTOTPilot2023Mixed methods usability evaluation of an assistive wearable robotic hand orthosis for people with spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFive people with spinal cord injury tried a wearable robotic hand for grasping. Four improved their hand function scores, but one got worse because the device blocked their existing tenodesis grasp. Donning took almost five minutes and required assistance, which users disliked.
• PTOTCohort2024Comparison of Upper Extremity Function and Daily Use in Individuals with and without Post Stroke Depression.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairDepression did not affect arm function during early rehabilitation but was linked to significantly worse arm use and independence at six months. Clinicians should monitor mood closely when patients transition home, as depression may hinder the carryover of therapy gains to daily life.
• PTCohort2023Association of Frailty and Depressive Symptoms With the Establishment of Exercise Habits in Patients Undergoing Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFrailty only, not depressive symptoms, was linked to fewer patients establishing exercise habits during outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Check grip and walking before discharge and build graded, confidence-focused exercise plans.
• PTOther2023Concurrent Validity of Dual-Task Walking Speed With CERAD-NP Assessment Battery in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOlder adults with lower CERAD scores walked slower, especially while counting backward on a straight path. This dual-task walk may help flag cognitive decline, but it does not diagnose it.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Older Adults' Engagement and Mood During Robot-Assisted Group Activities in Nursing Homes: Development and Observational Pilot Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn a pilot study, older adults in nursing homes showed high engagement and positive mood during robot-led group activities. Staff noted the robot allowed them more time for individual care, but this does not prove the robot improves health outcomes.
• PTOTPilot2024Optimizing exoskeleton assistance to improve walking speed and energy economy for older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTen healthy older adults walked faster and used less energy with personalized ankle exoskeleton assistance. The speed increase met clinical thresholds for meaningful change. However, participants required extensive training to adapt, and the device was tethered to a lab computer.
• PTOTOther2023Prediction of Discharge Destination After Inpatient Rehabilitation for Stroke Using Mobility and Self-Care Assessment in Section GG of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility - Patient Assessment Instrument.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFor stroke patients leaving inpatient rehab, having a caregiver at home was the strongest predictor of going home rather than to a skilled nursing facility. Admission Section GG scores above 33.5 predicted discharge to home with homecare, and scores above 36.5 predicted home with outpatient therapy.
• PTPilot2023Feasibility and Safety of Sequential Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Physical Therapy in Older Adults at Risk of Falling: A Randomized Pilot Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSix older fall-risk participants completed 20-minute tDCS or sham sessions before usual PT, and no unanticipated side effects or adverse effects were reported. Functional changes were inconsistent, and the study was too small to show whether tDCS helped.
• PTOther2023Pain, Balance-Confidence, Functional Mobility, and Reach Are Associated With Risk of Recurrent Falls Among Adults With Lower-Limb Amputation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation36% of 83 adults with lower-limb amputation reported recurrent falls. Pain in the back and both legs, low balance confidence, poor mobility, and short prosthetic-side reach were linked to recurrent falls.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Association between fear of falling and falls following acute and chronic stroke: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with acute stroke who answer yes to "are you afraid of falling?" have a higher risk of falls. In chronic stroke, a simple yes/no question misses the link, so use a confidence scale like the FES or ABC to spot the risk.
• PTOTCohort2023Comparison of usefulness between the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test and the Berg Balance Scale for measuring balance in patients with subacute stroke: a prospective cohort study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe Mini-BESTest detects balance changes during subacute stroke rehab better than the Berg Balance Scale. The Berg scores hit a ceiling for 43% of patients at discharge, hiding further improvement. The Mini-BESTest avoided this, making it more useful for tracking progress in higher-functioning patients.
• PTOTPilot2024Reminiscent music therapy combined with robot-assisted rehabilitation for elderly stroke patients: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding reminiscent music to robot therapy improved self-efficacy and positive emotions more than robot therapy or usual care alone. However, the primary outcome of daily living activities showed no significant difference between the three groups. All groups improved from their own baselines.
• PTOther2024Fall risk classification with posturographic parameters in community-dwelling older adults: a machine learning and explainable artificial intelligence approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTrunk sway measured by a tracker and a computer model sorted older adults into fall-risk groups better when risk was defined by a Timed Up and Go time of 10 seconds or more than by a fall in the past year.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Barriers and facilitators of public transport use among people with disabilities: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with disabilities face barriers at every step of public transport use, from walking to the stop to riding the bus. Physical issues like steep ramps and social issues like driver attitudes were common. Travel training may help improve confidence and reduce fear.
• PTOTPilot2024Validity and Reliability of a Telehealth Physical Fitness and Functional Assessment Battery for Ambulatory Youth With and Without Mobility Disabilities: Observational Measurement Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHand grip, sit-to-stand, and timed walk tests matched in-person scores closely when done via video. The home-modified six-minute walk did not match in-person distances and should not be compared to them. No falls occurred.
• PTOTCohort2024Prevalence of Arm Weakness, Pre-Stroke Outcomes and Other Post-Stroke Impairments Using Routinely Collected Clinical Data on an Acute Stroke Unit.Neurorehabilitation and neural repair34.8% of 463 stroke patients at one acute hospital had upper limb weakness at a median of 1.0 day post-stroke. No one with severe weakness went home directly.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Surface Electromyography for Evaluating the Effect of Aging on the Coordination of Swallowing Muscles.DysphagiaIn healthy older adults, swallowing muscles coordinate less tightly as age increases, but only when swallowing a large 30 ml gulp. Small sips showed no age-related change. This suggests stress testing with larger volumes is needed to detect early aging effects on swallowing coordination.
• PTRCT2024Can transcranial direct current stimulation combined with interactive computerized cognitive training boost cognition and gait performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment? a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn older adults with mild cognitive impairment, adding brain stimulation to Nintendo Switch cognitive training did not improve cognition more than sham stimulation plus training, but it improved walking speed, steadiness and the cost of doing both.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Association between cognitive dysfunction and diabetes in patients over 65 years old: a cross-sectional study using propensity score matching.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOlder adults with diabetes were significantly more likely to have cognitive dysfunction than matched controls. Among those with diabetes, having cognitive dysfunction was strongly associated with greater dependence in daily activities like bathing and dressing.
• PTOther2024Gait patterns during overground and virtual omnidirectional treadmill walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy young adults, walking on the omnidirectional treadmill in VR was slower than overground walking, at 0.43 m/s versus 1.3 m/s. Step length remained shorter after speed was accounted for, and turns took longer and needed more steps.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Trends in the Characteristics and Outcomes of Older Medicare Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury Treated in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities: 2013 to 2018.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder Medicare patients with recent traumatic brain injury in inpatient rehabilitation increased 28.2% from 2013 to 2018. They were more often male, had more comorbidities, and more were discharged home.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Coproduction and Usability of a Smartphone App for Falls Reporting in Parkinson Disease.Physical therapyThirteen people with Parkinson disease tested a new app for logging falls over six months. They found it easy to use and preferred it to paper diaries, especially because they could type or speak instead of write. It helped some spot fall patterns, but not all.
• PTOTCohort2023A Clinical Measure of Trunk Neuromuscular Function Predicts Falling in Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults with chronic low back pain who show aberrant lumbopelvic movements during forward bending have a 24.9% higher risk of falling for each additional movement observed. Screening for these movements can help identify patients at higher fall risk beyond standard factors.
• PTOTCohort2022Trajectories of Physical Function and Disability Over 12 Months in Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults with chronic low back pain followed different courses. Some stayed stable, some improved, and some worsened. The classes also differed in activity, pain, fear, catastrophizing, mood and comorbidities.
• PTSurvey2022Knowledge and Use of Evidence-Based Programs for Older Adults in the Community: A Survey of Physical Therapy Professionals.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Most surveyed PTs know about evidence-based community programs but many do not refer. The main barrier is not knowing where programs are located. Clinicians should check local availability before assuming patients have access.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Community-based exercise program, self-reported health-related symptoms, and quality of life in persons with traumatic brain injury 45 + years old.NeuroRehabilitationIn 20 adults with moderate-to-severe brain injury, a 12-week community-based aerobic program improved self-reported cognitive health and sleep quality compared to stretching. Global quality of life, emotional health, and social health showed no significant difference between groups.
• PTOTOther2023Uneven surface and cognitive dual-task independently affect gait quality in older adults.Gait & postureUneven ground and reciting alternate letters each made older adults' walking slower, less rhythmic and less smooth. Combining the two did not produce extra gait change beyond the effects of each alone.
• PTCase Report2023Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Mobility Training in Chronic Ischemic Stroke: A Case Report.Physical therapyOne man with chronic stroke improved walking speed and distance after pairing vagus nerve stimulation with home walking and biking. Speed peaked at 9 months, then returned near baseline by 41 months.
• PTOTOther2024A Prospective Intervention Study With 6 Months Follow-up of the Effect of Reablement in Home Dwelling Elderly: Patient-reported and Observed Outcomes.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHome-dwelling older adults receiving a reablement package of exercises, goal-based ADL practice, supportive communication, and nurse coordination had better function, health rating, and fewer home-care hours at 6 months than usual care.
• PTRCT2024Effects of Perturbation-Based Treadmill Training on Balance Performance, Daily Life Gait, and Falls in Older Adults: REACT Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyDual-task treadmill training with perturbations did not improve daily-life gait quality. Compared with dual-task treadmill training without perturbations, it improved Short Physical Performance Battery scores, reduced fear of falling, and self-reported falls decreased from 28 to 10 over 6 months.
• PTOTCohort2024Two-year course of walking adaptability in persons living with late effects of polio.Journal of rehabilitation medicineWalking adaptability did not change over two years in people with late effects of polio who had good balance. This suggests the condition progresses slowly, so short-term assessments may miss decline. Clinicians should expect stability in these specific skills over brief intervals.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Treatment of balance with Computerised Dynamic Posturography therapy in chronic hemiplegic patients.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdding computerized balance training to standard therapy did not improve overall balance scores in stroke patients with a history of falls. Only one specific sensory test score improved. Standard therapy alone produced similar changes, so the computer's added value is unproven.
• PTOTCohort2024Can minimum toe clearance predict community-based trips by older adults?Gait & postureLaboratory measurements of minimum toe clearance did not predict how often older adults tripped in the community once fall history was accounted for. A prior history of falls was a much stronger predictor, suggesting standard gait metrics may miss real-world trip risk.
• PTOther2024Effect of musical cues on gait in individuals with Parkinson disease with comorbid dementia.Gait & postureNo reliable evidence that music or mental singing cues improved gait speed, cadence, or stride length in people with Parkinson disease and dementia. Faster cues did not help; slower cues made walking slower.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Improvement of frailty prevalence: difference in factors affecting frailty prevalence among 75 year-old individuals between 2006 and 2019.Journal of physical therapy scienceFrailty in 75-year-olds dropped from 24.3% in 2006 to 15.2% in 2019. This improvement was driven by better mobility, daily activities, and cognition. However, choking and dry mouth became more common, signaling new oral health risks in this population.
• PTCohort2023Phase angle as a prognostic factor for one-year mortality in geriatric health service facility residents.Journal of physical therapy scienceA lower phase angle was associated with death within one year in 96 female Japanese facility residents. The paper proposed 2.95° as a cut-off for identifying one-year survival.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Demystifying the Digital Divide: Disparities in Telerehabilitation Readiness Among Older Adults in the United States.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationTwo in three older rehabilitation users were ready for video visits. Readiness was significantly lower among Black, Hispanic, financially strained, and rural patients. Lack of device ownership or tech skills, not sensory loss, was the main barrier.
• PTOTCohort2024Minimal detectable change of gait and balance measures in older neurological patients: estimating the standard error of the measurement from before-after rehabilitation data thanks to the linear mixed-effects models.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationGait speed and total TUG time are reliable enough to track change in older neurological patients. Use a three-repetition protocol: discard the first, average the next two. A real change requires about 15% improvement or decline. Inertial sensor metrics for sit-to-walk and turning were too noisy to be useful.
• PTOther2024How Healthy Older Adults Enact Lateral Maneuvers While Walking.Gait & postureHealthy older adults mostly used the same four-step lane-change strategy as young adults. They began trading side-to-side stability for path accuracy earlier and settled more slowly. Across groups lower perceived balance confidence was linked with taking more steps after the cue.
• PTOther2024Reliability and minimal detectable change of stiffness and other mechanical properties of the ankle joint in standing and walking.Gait & postureAnkle stiffness and viscosity measured via perturbation show good-to-excellent reliability in healthy adults during both standing and walking. Standing measurements had lower error margins, making them quicker and more stable, while walking offers functional insight but requires strict foot placement.