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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 25 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOther2025Automatic gait EVENT detection in older adults during perturbed walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAutomatic marker and angle models detected foot touchdown and liftoff during lab slips and trips in healthy older adults; over 92% of touchdown events were within 50 ms. This is a measurement method, not evidence that fall risk can be judged in patients.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Impact of Frailty on Post-Treatment Dysphagia in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.DysphagiaPatients with head and neck cancer who were frail before treatment had worse swallowing quality of life and higher toxicity-related dysphagia scores at every check up to 24 months after treatment. Frailty status was associated with worse outcomes, but both frail and non-frail patients deteriorated significantly.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025To Identify and Compare ActivPAL Objectively Measured Activity Levels With Self-Reported Activity From the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in Older Adults With Intellectual Disability.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSelf-reported activity questionnaires badly misrepresent real movement in older adults with intellectual disability. They overestimate vigorous activity by 93% and underestimate mild activity by 57% compared to wearable sensors. Use objective measures, not patient recall, to assess baseline fitness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Submovements in manual tracking: people with Parkinson's disease produce more submovements than age-matched controls.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's made more small corrective movements and had larger timing and position errors than controls during manual tracking. This held true across all tested speeds. Older adults without Parkinson's showed similar error patterns to younger adults regarding movement smoothness.
• PTOther2024Percentage of decline in individual proprioceptors in older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults had smaller sway responses to vibration than young adults, indicating reduced proprioception in lower leg and trunk muscle spindles. The study describes group differences only and did not test treatment or fall outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Contextual Determinants of Health Disparities in Utilization of Community-Based Rehabilitation Services Among Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries With Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationWhere older TBI patients live shapes whether they get home or clinic rehab. High unemployment and rural living linked to less home care and less outpatient care respectively. Severe housing problems linked to more outpatient care. Context matters for access.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Emergency department utilization by spina bifida patients in Florida 2016-2020.Journal of rehabilitation medicineYoung adults with spina bifida in Florida used the emergency department most, especially those aged 20 to 29. Common reasons included infections, seizures, and bowel issues. These presentations suggest gaps in routine outpatient care during the transition from paediatric to adult services.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Cognitive Changes Up to 4 Years After Cochlear Implantation in Older Adults: A Prospective Longitudinal Study Using the RBANS-H.Ear and hearingCognitive scores improved significantly one year after cochlear implantation but returned to baseline levels by four years. Quality of life and hearing gains persisted longer. Without a control group, practice effects from repeated testing may explain the early cognitive rise, so do not assume the implant caused lasting cognitive improvement.
• PTOTOther2024Relationships between life-space mobility, physical function, and empowerment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceLife-space mobility was not related to empowerment scores in stable outpatients with COPD. It was related to 6-minute walk distance and %FVC.
• PTOTOther2024Correlation between postural stability and fall risk in trans-femoral amputees due to muscle fatigue.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter a 30-minute sit-to-stand task, people with transfemoral amputations showed significantly worse balance and higher fall risk scores. Controls did not show a significant change in fall risk. Strong correlations between poor balance and fall risk were found in the amputee group.
• PTOTOther2024Relationship between respiratory sarcopenia and respiratory muscle weakness in community-dwelling older adults: a preliminary cross-sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceCommunity-dwelling older adults with respiratory sarcopenia had lower skeletal muscle mass and trunk muscle mass than those with respiratory muscle weakness or robust status. However, respiratory function did not differ between these groups, suggesting the condition affects body composition more than lung capacity.
• PTOTCohort2024Individual joint contributions to forward propulsion are not related to stability during walking in young or older adults.Gait & postureOlder adults who rely more on their hips for forward propulsion show greater side-to-side stability, but this hip shift has no clear link to forward-backward stability. The change in propulsion strategy appears related to lateral balance control rather than general instability.
• PTOTOther2024The effect of advanced age and stool modification on reaching distance in sitting.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding leg supports to a stool increased forward reach distance in older adults by 8.7 cm. They reached farther forward than sideways. The study compared healthy young and older adults, so it does not show how to treat patients with balance deficits.
• PTOTCohort2024Factors associated with stair climbing independence at discharge in patients with vertebral compression fractures and their interrelationships: a study using decision tree analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor women with vertebral compression fractures, muscle mass and age at admission predicted stair independence at discharge. Those with skeletal muscle mass index below 4.48 kg/m2 or age over 90.5 years were more likely to need assistance. Grip strength below 11.9 kg also flagged risk.
• PTOTCase Report2024Non-surgical reduction in thoracolumbar kyphosis and sagittal vertical axis corresponding with improved sensorimotor control in an older adult with spinal deformity: a Chiropractic Biophysics® case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne older man with spinal deformity improved his standing balance and reduced his forward lean after four months of chiropractic exercises, traction and whole-body vibration. Because this was a single patient, it shows what happened to him, not that the treatment works.
• PTOTCohort2025Feasibility of a mat-based Pilates program for community dwelling seniors to improve balance and core strength.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAn 8-week mat Pilates program was feasible and well-liked by seniors, but did not significantly improve balance or strength. High baseline confidence and short duration likely limited gains. Participants requested more education and clearer goals for future programs.
• PTOTOther2025Cross-sectional analysis of speed-up mechanism in normal gait among healthy older adults with and without falls - Results from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.Gait & postureWhen asked to walk faster, healthy older adults who had recently fallen did not increase hip, knee, and ankle range of motion as much as those who had not fallen. This subtle loss of movement reserve during acceleration may help identify fall risk earlier than usual walking speed alone.
• PTOther2025Inertial measurement units worn on the dorsum of the foot and proximal to the ankle can provide valid slip recovery measures.Gait & postureWearable sensors on the top of the foot or just above the ankle accurately measured how far and fast an older adult's foot slid during a lab-induced slip. They matched gold-standard camera data closely. Participants could put the foot sensors on themselves with similar accuracy to researchers.
• PTOTOther2024Associations between Physical Activity, Systemic Inflammation, and Hospital Admissions in Adults with Heart Failure.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalIn adults with heart failure, vigorous daily activity was linked to 62% fewer hospital admissions and lower inflammation. Light activity also reduced admissions. These are associations, not proof that activity causes these benefits, as the study was cross-sectional.
• PTCohort2025Evaluation of activity and function before and immediately after the provision of a microprocessor knee in individuals with transfemoral amputation.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalObjective daily activity did not show clear improvement after provision of a microprocessor knee and prosthetic foot. Patients reported better balance confidence, satisfaction and community reintegration, and walked farther on a clinic walk test.
• PTQualitative2025Understanding Patient and Physiotherapist Requirements for a Personalized Automated Smartphone Telemonitored App for Posttotal Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients after total knee replacement and physiotherapists described requirements for an app: simple navigation, timely searchable education, exercise logs, reminders, progress tracking, alerts when recovery deviates, and continued physiotherapy sessions.
• PTOTCohort2024Relationship between functional independence measure scores and timed up-and-go time in postoperative elderly patients with vertebral and hip fractures.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor elderly patients within two months of hip or vertebral fracture surgery, a Timed Up & Go time over 35 seconds strongly predicts needing nursing care. In patients more than 12 months post-surgery, slow walking often coexists with independence, so TUG time does not predict care needs in this late group.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Physical exercise for primary sarcopenia: an expert opinion.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFor older adults with primary sarcopenia, expert recommendations favour tailored resistance exercise, often combined with aerobic and balance training, to improve muscle mass, strength and physical performance.
• PTOTSurvey2025Pregnancy after amputation: A national survey of prosthetic and mobility outcomes in women with lived experience.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalMost women with lower-limb amputation reported mobility changes during pregnancy, including falls and poor prosthesis fit. Many needed a wheelchair postpartum. Seven advised arranging a back-up mobility plan before delivery, as resuming prosthesis use within days was not guaranteed.
• PTPilot2024A feasibility study on physical therapist interventions in the Japanese integrated health services and preventive care program for older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults attended a 6-month community program led by physical therapists, with high completion and improved sit-to-stand speed. However, there was no change in frailty rates, grip strength, or walking speed. The program was feasible, but evidence for physical function benefits beyond sit-to-stand is lacking.
• PTOther2025Effects of age/gender profiles and physical activity level on symmetry of lumbar muscle activation in pain-free older adults during various spinal movements.Gait & posturePain-free adults over 50 showed left-sided lumbar muscle activation asymmetry during many movements. Dominant-side activation generally decreased with age, and more sitting was linked to greater left-sided asymmetry.
• PTOTOther2025The central nervous system adjusts muscle synergy structure and tightly controls rollator-supported transitions between sitting and standing.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy young adults used more upper body and less leg muscle when gripping rollator handles. The brain did not change its core movement pattern, only the muscle balance. This shifts load from weak legs to arms but requires further testing in older, fall-prone users.
• PTSystematic Review2024Adverse events related to physiotherapy practice: a scoping review.Archives of physiotherapyAcross 58 studies, physiotherapy interventions were associated with adverse events including increased pain, falls, and haemodynamic instability. Musculoskeletal care most frequently reported pain and stiffness, while cardiorespiratory and neurological settings saw falls and vital sign changes. These events were attributed to the physiotherapy intervention.
• PTPilot2025Physiological effects of combined breathing and physical training in middle-aged and older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding breathing resistance to walking or cycling did not change peak oxygen uptake or workload after 6 weeks. Maximum air moved per minute increased, but the study was small.
• PTOther2025Discordance Between Balance Ability and Perception and Its Relation to Falls in Parkinson's Disease: A Replication Analysis.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn 171 people with Parkinson's disease, mismatch between Timed Up and Go balance ability and perceived confidence was associated with faller status over the previous 12 months.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Enhancing anticipation control of the posture system in the elderly wearing stroboscopic glasses.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOlder adults wearing stroboscopic glasses during balance training showed larger sway and increased open-loop control. This suggests they relied more on internal body awareness and less on visual feedback to maintain posture. It is a single-session lab study, not a clinical trial.
• PTOTOther2025Noncontact of the unilateral hallux with the ground reduces forward limits of stability while standing.Journal of physical therapy scienceTaping the big toe off the ground reduced how far people could lean forward without stepping. This effect was stronger when leaning toward the taped side. Quiet standing balance was unaffected, suggesting the toe matters mainly during forward reaching tasks.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Exploring the influence of hospital context on acute care physical therapy fall prevention practice: A qualitative study.Physiotherapy theory and practiceTen acute care physical therapists described mobility promotion as the central fall prevention strategy, yet found it consistently blocked by nursing guidelines, staff shortages, and lack of equipment. They viewed their role as educating nurses and planning safe discharges rather than delivering direct treatment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Factors Associated With Alzheimer's Dementia Diagnosis and Survival in Down Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDREarlier baseline assessments and living with family predicted earlier dementia diagnosis in Down syndrome. Median survival post-diagnosis was 4 years, with older age, epilepsy, and hospital residence linked to shorter survival. Anti-dementia medication showed no significant survival benefit.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Can hearing handicap be linked to frailty? A cross-sectional study.CoDASHearing handicap was associated with physical frailty, but not with cognitive or social frailty, in older adults from low-income areas. Emotional hearing difficulties linked to physical frailty, while social frailty was tied to cognitive decline rather than hearing loss.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Association between older people's health literacy and sociodemographic aspects, functioning, happiness, and perception of the COVID-19 pandemic: a preliminary study.CoDASIn 37 older adults, lower health literacy was linked to less education and more difficulty with cognition and self-care. It was also associated with feeling less calm. However, health literacy did not influence how they perceived the pandemic or their overall happiness.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Smart Wearable Technologies for Balance Rehabilitation in Older Adults at Risk of Falls: Scoping Review and Comparative Analysis.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThis review maps smart balance rehab tools for older adults at risk of falls but reports no patient outcomes. Most systems use VR and motion tracking. Few offer AI personalization or remote monitoring. The authors compare these gaps to their own new platform, TeleRehab DSS.
• PTOther2025Using Isometric Squat Strength to Predict Concentric and Eccentric Squat Strength in Young and Older Adults.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyIn older adults, isometric squat strength predicted concentric and eccentric 1RM, allowing safe estimation of lifting capacity. In young adults, no such relationship existed. Use isometric testing to guide rehab loads for older patients, but not for younger ones.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Views and Experiences of Dementia in People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with intellectual disabilities described losing abilities and relationships, but maintaining a sense of self through choice, competence and connection. Support from staff who understood their non-verbal cues helped counteract these losses.
• PTOTCase-Control2025Atypical Postural Control Variability and Coordination Persist Into Middle and Older Adulthood in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMiddle-aged and older autistic adults showed greater body sway when standing still but smaller, jerkier movements when asked to sway deliberately. These differences persisted across age, suggesting atypical postural control that may contribute to higher fall risk in this population.
• PTCohort2025Epidemiology of spinal cord injuries in three selected counties in Kenya.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn three Kenyan counties, spinal cord injuries mostly affected men aged 26 to 35. Motor vehicle accidents and falls caused nearly nine in ten injuries. Cervical lesions were most common, and neuropathic pain was the leading complication.
• PTCohort2025Walking Function and Capacity in Middle-Aged and Older (59-66y) Adults With Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele: A 4-Year Follow-up Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOver 4 years, 5 of 10 adults with spina bifida myelomeningocele had 6-minute walk distance fall by more than 30 m, and 6 of 10 reported severe fatigue. Short-distance walking speed mostly did not change. Longer-distance walking tests may reveal decline.
• PTOTQualitative2025Health Care Professionals' Views of Barriers and Facilitators for Implementing a Fall Risk Screening Tool in Clinical and Public Health Settings.Physical therapyClinicians found the First-time Injurious Fall tool quick and useful for spotting risk, but warned it needs clear instructions to avoid misinterpreting the balance test. They recommended embedding it into daily routines with management support rather than adding it as an extra task.
• PTOTCohort2025Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Reduced Unsupervised Training Engagement in Inpatients With Subacute Stroke: A Secondary Data Analysis Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationInpatients with subacute stroke who had depressive symptoms spent significantly less time in unsupervised leg cycle training than those without. This association was not seen with apathy alone or with functional outcomes at discharge.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025A Home-Based Behaviour Change Intervention With Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity in People With Stroke and Diabetes-A Feasibility and Safety Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyFourteen stroke survivors with diabetes completed a 12-week home-based behaviour change programme. Recruitment was slow, questionnaire completion was low, and no efficacy claims can be made from this safety and feasibility test.
• PTNarrative Review2025Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing.The South African journal of physiotherapyThis paper reviews how ageing affects body systems and summarises existing evidence on physical activity. It does not present new clinical results, so it offers background knowledge rather than actionable findings for patient care.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Within-session dual-task walking practice improves gait variability in older adults with multiple sclerosis.Gait & postureOlder adults with MS walked with more variability than healthy peers, especially when adding a mental task. However, repeating the walking task three times in one session reduced this variability in both groups. This suggests short practice sessions can help stabilize gait.
• PTOTCohort2025Can N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentration on admission predict the functional independence measure at discharge in patients aged 75 years or older with postoperative proximal femur fracture?Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older proximal femur fracture patients, a blood marker of heart failure severity did not predict total independence at discharge beyond the baseline score. Higher marker levels were linked to lower motor independence and smaller total and motor gains.
• PTOther2025A study of eye movement during dual-task walking in elderly individuals.Journal of physical therapy scienceElderly participants walking while doing mental math had larger vertical eye movements and walked slower with more steps. Dual-task walking may reduce forward visual attention and shorten stride.
• PTCase-Control2025Comparison of the kinematic characteristics of stepping movements in the Four Square Step Test among community-dwelling older adults with and without a history of falls.Journal of physical therapy scienceFSST total time did not differ between older adults with and without falls, but fallers made shorter steps to the right and slower steps forward. Total time alone may miss direction-specific stepping problems.