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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 7 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRNQualitative2026Community-Dwelling Older Adults' Experience With Activity Trackers: Effects of Monitoring Physical Activity.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults in a community exercise program said tracking with a Fitbit helped them set goals, feel more active, manage fear of falling, and describe changes in memory, social connection, and function. These were self-reported experiences, not proof the tracker caused change.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Rehabilitation needs of long COVID patients in British Columbia.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMost people referred to a long COVID clinic needed rehabilitation by clinic criteria, especially for breathing and mental health. Many needed more than one service, so screening should ask about fatigue, breathlessness, mood, and function before choosing a single rehab pathway.
• PTRCT2026Effects of a 12-week Tai Chi program on postural stability and gait biomechanics in prefrail older adults: a randomized controlled study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter 12 weeks, prefrail older adults given Tai Chi plus health education finished the Timed Up-and-Go test 1.63 seconds faster than those given health education alone. Balance and physical performance scores were also better. The study did not test Tai Chi without health education.
• PTOther2026A multidimensional evaluation of the Atalante exoskeleton as an assistive locomotion device for individuals with complete paraplegia: a prospective longitudinal study in a controlled environment.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 11 adults with complete paraplegia, supervised hands-free Atalante exoskeleton walking became faster to set up and take off, with rare harness-assisted near-falls, but one fracture occurred. Use needs careful bone screening and supervised indoor setup.
• PTCohort2026Relative fat mass predicts symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in older adults with metabolic syndrome: a longitudinal cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn Chinese adults with metabolic syndrome, higher relative fat mass was associated with new symptomatic knee osteoarthritis during follow-up. It identified risk better than BMI, but the paper describes the gain as modest and meant for screening, not diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Low-Frequency STN-DBS for Standing and Gait Initiation in Parkinson's Disease: A Double-Blinded Randomised Cross-Over Feasibility Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSwitching to low-frequency brain stimulation improved standing balance and movement initiation in Parkinson's, but caused tremor to return in 10 of 16 patients off medication. Clinical mobility scores did not change, so the benefit is only visible on specialised force-plate tests.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Functional recovery and mortality after intensive inpatient rehabilitation for severe acquired brain injury in older adults: a retrospective cohort study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOlder adults after severe acquired brain injury who had swallowing problems and diabetes at admission had poorer function at discharge. Death during inpatient rehabilitation was more common in older patients.
• PTOther2026Electrical bioimpedance spectral markers distinguish balance ability in older adults without provoking fall risk.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOlder adults with better single-leg balance showed more orderly muscle impedance signals during safe standing and sitting than those with poorer balance. This small marker study did not test whether the signals predict falls.
• PTOTCohort2026Early Gait Responsiveness as a Predictor of Functional Trajectory in Older Adults Undergoing Postacute Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn older adults in postacute rehab, walking distance that increased faster during the first five therapy sessions predicted better discharge function. Each extra meter per session was linked to a 2.6-point higher FIM motor score. This is an observational signal, not proof that changing therapy dose improves outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026A Systematic Review of Stair Fall Risk Assessment Instruments in Older Adults.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStair-specific tests can add useful information to fall-risk assessment in older adults, but none is complete enough to stand alone. Timed stair tests and STEPS have the best evidence; self-report stair confidence tools are less established.
• PTOTPilot2026Adjustable Pediatric Prosthetic Sockets to Accommodate Growth in Children and Adolescents With Limb Loss.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationChildren using an adjustable prosthesis reported better temperature regulation and adjustability than with their conventional devices. Gait speed and socket pressure were unchanged. Half preferred the adjustable socket, but running was often limited by the attached foot components.
• PTOTCohort2026Physical activity measured using a triaxial accelerometer in early after surgery rehabilitation in patients with hip fracture affects walking ability: a retrospective observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder hip fracture patients with more active time in early rehab sessions were more likely to walk independently at one and two weeks. Thresholds were 21.6% at one week and 17.8% at two weeks. This is an association, not proof.
• PTOTCohort2026Association between 6-month changes in 4-m usual gait time and social function domain score among community-dwelling older adults: a secondary analysis of a community-based program.Journal of physical therapy scienceOver 6 months, older adults whose self-paced 4-m walking time slowed also showed worse social function scores. Walking time and social scores moved together, but the study did not show one caused the other.
• PTOTSurvey2026Participant-Reported Reductions in Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Associated With Variable-Friction Footwear: Retrospective Pre-Post Survey Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPeople with neurological or age-related conditions reported fewer falls, injurious falls, and health care use while wearing variable-friction shoes, but this was a self-selected retrospective survey, not evidence the shoes caused the change.
• PTPilot2026Feasibility and Immediate Effects of Dynamic Exercise Using Mixed Reality for Balance Improvement in Older Adults and Individuals With Neurologic Disorders.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation31 participants completed one 20-minute mixed reality session without severe sickness or adverse events. Overall Timed Up and Go improved by 0.92 seconds, Functional Reach did not, and subgroup effects were inconsistent.
• PTOTCohort2026Short-term changes in frailty status and associated factors over 3 months of multidisciplinary outpatient care in older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceHalf of 100 older adults improved frailty over 3 months. Daily home exercise was associated with improvement, but medical, nutrition, exercise, supervised rehab, nursing and social support were given together, so no single component can be credited.
• PTRCT2017Short- and Long-Term Effects of Balance Training on Physical Activity in Older Adults With Osteoporosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)After balance training with or without Nordic walking, older adults with osteoporosis were more likely to reach 5000 or more steps/day, but average steps did not clearly increase and the effect did not persist at 15 months.
• PTPilot2017Health Characteristics, Neuromuscular Attributes, and Mobility Among Primary Care Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Secondary Analysis.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Five of 50 older patients at mobility risk had symptomatic lumbar stenosis. They had more chronic illnesses, more pain, less knee flexion range, and lower advanced leg function scores; performance-based mobility did not differ.
• PTOther2017Criterion Validity of Ultrasound Imaging: Assessment of Multifidi Cross-Sectional Area in Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Averaging 3 ultrasound images agreed with MRI for L4 multifidi cross-sectional area in older adults with and without chronic low back pain. A single image was less reliable in pain-free older adults. Ultrasound may include fat.
• PTRCT2017Efficacy of Deep Dry Needling on Latent Myofascial Trigger Points in Older Adults With Nonspecific Shoulder Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial Pilot Study.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)In older adults, adding deep dry needling of a latent shoulder trigger point to needling an active one was linked to a forearm muscle tolerating more pressure immediately and at 1 week, but pain and grip strength did not differ between groups.
• PTOther2017Measurements of Weight Bearing Asymmetry Using the Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board Are Not Reliable for Older Adults and Individuals With Stroke.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Wii Fit balance board weight bearing asymmetry readings were moderately consistent but had large error. For older adults and stroke, changes must exceed 8.8% or 13.6% to be confident, so the board is not recommended for this assessment with factory settings.
• PTOTSLPOther2016Reduced Cognitive-Motor Interference on Voluntary Balance Control in Older Tai Chi Practitioners.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults who practiced Tai Chi showed less decline in balance and thinking speed when doing both tasks at once compared to non-practitioners. They moved their center of pressure quicker and made fewer errors on the counting task while balancing.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2017Determining Risk of Falls in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Using Posttest Probability.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)No single test identified fallers reliably. Combining Berg Balance ≤50, Timed Up and Go ≥12 s, single-limb stance <6.5 s, walking speed <1.0 m/s, and five times sit-to-stand ≥12 s raised estimated fall chance above 30% baseline.
• PTOther2017Introducing a Third Timed Up & Go Test Trial Improves Performances of Hospitalized and Community-Dwelling Older Individuals.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Hospitalized and community-dwelling older adults were faster on the third Timed Up & Go trial than on the first two. Use the fastest of three timed trials when assessing mobility.
• PTOther2016A validation study of a smartphone application for functional mobility assessment of the elderly.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoIn 32 healthy older adults, a chest-mounted smartphone app gave sit-to-stand and up-and-go times almost the same as a chair force sensor, but it added 0.27 and 0.48 seconds on average.
• PTOther2016Lower leg compensatory strategies during performance of a step up and over task in patient six-months after total knee arthroplasty.Gait & postureSix months after knee replacement, during stepping up, the operated leg relied more on the hip and less on the knee, and landing had lower overall support. Leg muscle activity did not consistently differ from controls.
• PTOther2016Validity and reliability of a thoracic kyphotic assessment tool measuring distance of the seventh cervical vertebra from the wall.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoA C7-to-wall distance tool was dependable and agreed with Flexicurve kyphosis angle in older people with thoracic kyphosis. Physical therapists, village health volunteers, and caregivers could use it to assess severity and walking endurance.
• PTOTOther2016Kinesio Taping® of the metacarpophalangeal joints and its effect on pain and hand function in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn older adults with rheumatoid arthritis, Kinesio Taping of the MCP joints reduced hand pain and increased MCP ulnar deviation, but did not improve grip strength or overall hand function. Joint protection workshops improved grip strength and some daily activities.
• PTOther2016Relationship Between Walking Capacity, Biopsychosocial Factors, Self-efficacy, and Walking Activity in Persons Poststroke.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn people after stroke who could walk independently, daily steps were linked to walking balance, comorbidity burden, and self-efficacy. When balance confidence was low, better walking capacity related more strongly to more steps.
• PTQualitative2017Exploring peer-mentoring for community dwelling older adults with chronic low back pain: a qualitative study.PhysiotherapyOlder adults with chronic low back pain, physiotherapists and potential peer mentors described peer mentoring as potentially helpful after discharge from physiotherapy, especially through empathy, but wanted flexible matching, training and monitoring.
• PTOTOther2016Factors associated with attitudes and beliefs of elders with acute low back pain: data from the study Back Complaints in the Elders (BACE).Brazilian journal of physical therapyIn elders with acute low back pain, higher disability, more depressive symptoms, and lower expectation of returning to activities were associated with more negative back-pain beliefs. The study cannot show these factors caused the beliefs.
• PTMeta-Analysis2016A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies examining the relationship between mobility and cognition in healthy older adults.Gait & postureHealthy older adults with faster gait, better balance and better chair-rise performance tended to score better on memory, thinking speed and other cognitive tests. The associations were mostly small and cross-sectional, so they do not prove that mobility changes cause cognition changes.
• PTOther2016Risk of falls in Brazilian elders with and without low back pain assessed using the Physiological Profile Assessment: BACE study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyOlder Brazilian adults with low back pain had a moderate fall-risk score, while those without pain had a mild score. They also reported more falls, swayed more, reacted slower and had weaker thigh muscles.
• PTOther2016Comparison of bone density on the dominant and nondominant sides between healthy elderly individuals and stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy elderly controls showed no side-to-side difference in heel bone density. Stroke patients had lower bone density on the paretic side than the nonparetic side, and their side-to-side difference was larger than in controls.
• PTOther2016Assessing gait and balance impairment in elderly residents of nursing homes.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn nursing home residents, slower Timed Up and Go and lower Tinetti POMA scores were linked with more falls over the last year. Berg Balance did not track falls, and One-Legged Stance could be used in only 46%.
• PTRCT2016The effect of intervention according to muscle contraction type on the cerebral cortex of the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceFour weeks of eccentric knee exercises increased brain activity in motor areas and rectus femoris muscle activity more than concentric exercises in healthy older adults. This suggests eccentric training may better stimulate the nervous system, though functional improvements were not measured.
• PTOther2016Effects of wearing ankle weight on knee joint repositioning sense in the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceAnkle weights did not show a reliable improvement in knee position sense in older adults in this small study. Older adults still made larger angle errors than younger adults.
• PTOther2016Fall- and BBS-related differences in muscle strength and postural balance of the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceActive older women who had fallen and those who had not looked almost the same in strength and Berg Balance Scale scores. A sensor sway measure differed, but the Berg scale alone did not separate fallers.
• PTOTCohort2016Factors associated with the recovery of activities of daily living after hospitalization for acute medical illness: a prospective cohort study.Journal of physical therapy scienceLonger time from illness onset to starting rehabilitation was associated with poorer recovery of daily activities. Among patients who had been independent before illness, better cognition was associated with better recovery; among those partially dependent, better nutrition was associated with better recovery.
• PTCase-Control2016180° turn while walking: characterization and comparisons between subjects with and without stroke.Journal of physical therapy sciencePeople with stroke took longer, used more steps, and lost balance more often during turns than matched healthy controls. Turning toward either side made no difference.
• PTRCT2016Effects of 24-week resistance exercise training on carotid peak systolic and end diastolic flow velocity in healthy older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy older men who did elastic-band resistance exercise for 24 weeks had faster carotid artery blood flow: speed rose 9.2 cm/s during heart contraction and 1.8 cm/s during relaxation, with no change in artery wall thickness or diameter.
• PTOther2016Green tea and exercise interventions as nondrug remedies in geriatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 120 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, green tea, treadmill exercise, infliximab, or combination groups were reported to improve disease activity and bone markers over 6 months. The study did not clearly assign treatments, so it cannot show green tea or exercise caused the benefit.
• PTOther2016Association of ACTN3 polymorphisms with BMD, and physical fitness of elderly women.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder women with the ACTN3 RR genotype had higher trunk, pelvis and spine bone density, but strength, walking, balance and endurance did not differ by genotype.
• PTRCT2016The effect of abdominal drawing-in exercise and myofascial release on pain, flexibility, and balance of elderly females.Journal of physical therapy scienceAbdominal drawing-in and myofascial release did not differ in pain, flexibility, or balance among older women with low back pain. Both groups reported less pain after eight weeks.
• PTOTOther2016The effect of performing a dual-task on postural control and selective attention of older adults when stepping backward.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults had slower reactions, more errors, and greater sway when stepping backward. Adding a tone task made reaction times slower in both groups, but sway did not differ between single and dual task.
• PTOther2016Characteristics of tasks utilized for evaluation of judgment errors in the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults misjudged their abilities. They predicted shorter reaches and faster obstacle walking than they actually did. Obstacle-course errors differed between fallers and non-fallers, but this study did not test whether any task prevents falls.
• PTOther2016Analysis of the influential factors of maximal-effort expiratory capacity of elderly women.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older women, age was the strongest factor tied to lower breathing capacity; height was linked to measures of air volume, while weight was not when age and height were considered.
• PTOTOther2017Stride variability measures derived from wrist- and hip-worn accelerometers.Gait & postureWrist-worn accelerometers can track walking rhythm and activity levels as well as hip-worn devices in healthy older adults. However, they cannot reliably measure stride-to-stride variability. Use wrist data for general activity counts, but do not expect it to detect subtle inconsistencies in walking.
• PTOther2016Effects of elastic-band resistance exercise on balance, mobility and gait function, flexibility and fall efficacy in elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding elastic-band lower-limb exercise to general physical therapy improved balance, gait, flexibility and fall confidence more than general physical therapy alone in 30 rural older adults. The added band component cannot be separated from extra session time.
• PTOTOther2016Comparison of older adults' visual perceptual skills, cognitive function, and fall efficacy according to fall risk in the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults classified as at risk for falls had lower visual perception, cognition, and fall efficacy scores than those not at risk. Scores were correlated, but this cannot show that training these skills prevents falls.