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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 8 OF 29 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTPilot2016The temporal relationship of thresholds between muscle activity and ventilation during bicycle ramp exercise in community dwelling elderly males.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 11 active elderly men, the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscles showed a change in activity before the ventilatory threshold, while the biceps femoris changed near it. This suggests surface EMG could guide safe cycling intensity without gas analysis.
• PTOther2016Examinations of factors influencing toe grip strength.Journal of physical therapy scienceAmong 12 healthy young women, stronger toe grip was linked to higher foot arches, more front-of-shin muscle activity, more toe curling, and greater ankle angle. This is an association in a small group, not proof that training toe grip prevents falls.
• PTRCT2017Functional implications of muscle co-contraction during gait in advanced age.Gait & postureIn older adults, more lower-extremity co-contraction was linked to longer cognitive test time, slower dual-task gait, and lower balance confidence, but not to physical or balance test scores.
• PTOther2017Trunk Muscle Characteristics of the Multifidi, Erector Spinae, Psoas, and Quadratus Lumborum in Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyOlder adults with chronic low back pain showed more fat within the multifidus and smaller erector spinae muscles than peers without pain, with differences also varying by sex. This is an MRI comparison, not proof that exercises change these muscles.
• PTOther2017Quantification of upper body movements during gait in older adults and in those with Parkinson's disease: impact of acceleration realignment methodologies.Gait & postureWearable sensor alignment methods changed every upper-body gait variable tested. For 12 of 42 variables, the method also changed how clearly Parkinson's disease differed from controls, so sensor results cannot be compared across studies without the same processing.
• PTOther2016The effect of walking sticks on balance in geriatric subjects.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 39 older adults already using a walking stick, balance scores were higher when they held the stick than when they did not. The pattern was seen across body mass groups, but stick use was not assigned.
• PTOTOther2016Effects of community-based rehabilitation program on activities of daily living and cognition in elderly chronic stroke survivors.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults with chronic stroke who took part in a monthly community rehabilitation program combining exercise and crafts improved in daily activities and cognition. Only eleven finished, and there was no control group.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2016Case report of meningiomatosis with aspiration of a dental bridge improved by comprehensive rehabilitation therapy.Journal of physical therapy scienceAn aspirated fixed dental bridge was removed on the second bronchoscopy. The patient also walked about 5 meters with a rolling walker. One case cannot show what caused the gain.
• PTCase Report2016Changes of heart rate variability and prefrontal oxygenation during Tai Chi practice versus arm ergometer cycling.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn one experienced Tai Chi practitioner, seated Tai Chi showed a heart-rate pattern associated with more parasympathetic control and a different prefrontal oxygenation pattern than similar arm cycling. This is a single case, not evidence Tai Chi works.
• PTOTOther2016Factors affecting the quality of life of homebound elderly hemiparetic stroke patients with cognitive impairment.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor homebound older stroke patients with cognitive impairment, higher quality of life scores went with better cognition and greater daily independence. Age, sex, and care level showed no clear link.
• PTOther2017Cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults participating in synchronized swimming-exercise.Journal of physical therapy scienceTotal cognitive test scores did not differ between older synchronized swimmers and age-matched exercisers. Delayed recall was higher in swimmers, but the study cannot show synchronized swimming improves overall cognition.
• PTOther2016Evaluation of research trends in physical therapy through analysis of articles published at the world confederation for physical therapy congress.Journal of physical therapy scienceMusculoskeletal spine, human movement analysis, and care for older people were the most common research topics at the 2015 World Confederation for Physical Therapy congress. Primary health care and technology were the least represented. This maps the field's focus but provides no data on patient outcomes.
• PTPilot2016Preliminary validation of an exercise program suitable for pregnant women with abnormal glucose metabolism: inhibitory effects of Tai Chi Yuttari-exercise on plasma glucose elevation.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 12 young nonpregnant women wearing a weighted backpack, seated Tai Chi in a 60-minute session after a sugary meal lowered plasma glucose by 1.66 mg/dl, while resting raised it by 9.42 mg/dl. This is a preliminary signal, not evidence for pregnant patients.
• PTOTOther2016Reliability and validity of the sequential weight-shifting test: a new functional approach to the assessment of the sitting balance of older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceA new seated weight-shifting test gave moderately consistent results when repeated a week later in older adults who needed help walking. It also tracked reach, grip strength, mobility, and breathing measures. It needs force platforms, so it is not a simple clinic test.
• PTRCT2016Effects of modified Pilates on variability of inter-joint coordination during walking in the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 20 older adults, 8 weeks of modified Pilates plus regular treatment increased hip-knee coordination variability compared with regular treatment alone. Knee-ankle variability and single-joint variability did not change.
• PTCase Series2017Effects of exercise therapy during dialysis for elderly patients undergoing maintenance dialysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceMuscle strength, chair-stand count, and dialysis efficiency showed no clear improvement, but quality of life scores improved in seven older dialysis patients who exercised during dialysis for 3 months.
• PTCohort2017Effects of increased physical activity on body composition, physical functions, vascular functions, HR-QOL, and self-efficacy in community-dwelling elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceMeeting a 1,300-step/day increase target for 6 months did not change body composition, vascular function, strength, balance, or walking speed. It was associated with better role and emotional quality-of-life scores, but only 18 participants achieved the target and 29 did not.
• PTOther2017Sagittal plane spinal mobility is associated with dynamic balance ability of community-dwelling elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 31 community-dwelling elderly people, greater lumbar flexion was linked to longer functional reach, greater thoracic extension to faster Timed Up and Go, and entire-spine extension to faster walking.
• PTOther2017Toe functions have little effect on dynamic balance ability in elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceToe grip strength was associated with better performance on timed walking and stepping tests in 78 ambulant older adults, but toe range, pain and hallux valgus angle mattered little. The overall impact of toe functions on dynamic balance was small.
• PTOther2017The validity of an accelerometer-based method for estimating fluidity in the sit-to-walk task in a community setting.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 17 older women, a waist accelerometer matched lab timing for sit-to-walk and estimated how smoothly they stood up and started walking. The method may be usable outside a lab.
• PTOther2017The effects of Tai Chi on waist circumference and blood pressure in the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 6-week group program with Tai Chi lowered waist circumference by 1.8 cm and systolic blood pressure by 16.6 mmHg in older adults compared with control. The design was nonrandomized, so this suggests possible benefit but not proof.
• PTRCT2016The Falls In Care Home study: a feasibility randomized controlled trial of the use of a risk assessment and decision support tool to prevent falls in care homes.Clinical rehabilitationIn care homes using a falls checklist, residents had a fall rate of 1.9 per year compared with 4 in standard care, but this was a feasibility trial, not proof the tool prevents falls.
• PTOTCohort2017Comparison of the Berg Balance Scale and Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale to predict falls in community-dwelling adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceBoth the Berg Balance Scale and the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale predicted fall risk in independent older adults, with similar accuracy. Cut-offs of 40 points on the Berg and 22 points on the Fullerton identified fallers with high sensitivity but moderate specificity.
• PTOTCohort2016The progression of disability among older adults in Mexico.Disability and rehabilitationIn older Mexican adults, disability progression differed by gender. Men followed the expected pattern of mobility, then IADL, then ADL decline. Women showed a reversed pattern, with ADL difficulties appearing before IADL difficulties. Social support was linked to higher disability in women, not men.
• PTSurvey2016Increased Rates of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults in US Emergency Departments, 2009-2010.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationEmergency department visits for mild traumatic brain injury among US adults aged 65 and older were common, especially in those 85 and older. Falls caused most diagnosed cases. Consider mild head injury after a fall.
• PTOther2017The effects of horse-riding simulator exercise on balance in elderly with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter eight weeks of conventional physical therapy plus a horse-riding simulator, balance scores improved in 15 older adults with osteoarthritis. Because both were given together, the simulator alone cannot be credited.
• PTOTOther2016Comparing Comorbidity Indices to Predict Post-Acute Rehabilitation Outcomes in Older Adults.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationFive standard comorbidity indices added almost no predictive value for discharge function or community return in older rehab patients. Admission functional status and demographics explained most variance, suggesting clinicians should prioritize current ability over diagnosis lists.
• PTCohort2017Relation between change in exercise capacity and change in blood amino acids in patients with chronic heart failure.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter three months of cardiac rehab in chronic heart failure, blood amino acid levels did not change in a way the study could detect among 12 patients. A change in citrulline was linked with improvement in exercise capacity, but there was no control group.
• PTOther2017Effect of a modified grip angle of a walker on the wrist deviation angle, muscle activation and palmar load during walker-assisted gait in elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn elderly walker users, a 15-degree tilted handle lowered wrist deviation, wrist muscle activity, and pressure on the ulnar side of the palm during short-term walker gait compared with a flat handle.
• PTOTQualitative2017Negotiating identity and self-image: perceptions of falls in ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury - a qualitative study.Clinical rehabilitationAmbulatory people with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury described walking as central to feeling normal. They minimized fall risk through planning, aids and training, but often accepted or exceeded risk to preserve identity, valued activities and daily life.
• PTOTCohort2016Inpatient Walking Activity to Predict Readmission in Older Adults.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn older inpatients, lower average daily hospital steps were associated with higher 30-day readmission risk. This observational finding does not prove that increasing walking would reduce readmissions.
• PTOther2017Associations of knee muscle force, bone malalignment, and knee-joint laxity with osteoarthritis in elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceKnee extensor strength did not differ among older adults grouped by possible knee malalignment and laxity. Knee flexor strength was lower in those with both possible malalignment and laxity than in those with neither. This does not show that strengthening knee flexors prevents osteoarthritis.
• PTOTSLPCohort2017Factors influencing executive function by physical activity level among young adults: a near-infrared spectroscopy study.Journal of physical therapy scienceYoung adults with higher physical activity levels showed greater brain activation in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive tasks. Higher activity steps and IQ scores were significantly associated with better cognitive function, suggesting an active lifestyle may support executive function.
• PTOther2017"Slow walking with turns" increases quadriceps and erector spinae muscle activity.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn young healthy volunteers, slow walking with frequent turns raised metabolic intensity and increased erector spinae, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis activity compared with treadmill walking at the same speed.
• PTOTOther2016Measurement characteristics for two health-related quality of life measures in older adults: The SF-36 and the CDC Healthy Days items.Disability and health journalCDC Healthy Days items matched SF-36 physical and mental health scores in older adults, except physical functioning. A brief unhealthy-days question may miss function-specific problems.
• PTOTCohort2017Parkinsonian signs are a risk factor for falls.Gait & postureOlder adults with mild parkinsonian signs were more likely to fall during follow-up, even after common fall risk factors were considered. Their falls were also more likely to result in injury and emergency service use.
• PTOTCohort2016A prospective observational study of outcomes from rehabilitation of elderly patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment.Clinical rehabilitation64 of 116 elderly patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment improved daily living scores after rehabilitation. The moderate and severe groups did not differ in how many improved.
• PTRCT2017Predictors of Change in Physical Function in Older Adults in Response to Long-Term, Structured Physical Activity: The LIFE Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults who walked more at baseline showed greater improvement in walking speed and physical performance. In the exercise group, more center attendance was also associated with better function. Older age, less activity, and lower baseline function were associated with poorer response.
• PTOther2017Altered spatiotemporal characteristics of gait in older adults with chronic low back pain.Gait & postureOlder adults with chronic low back pain walked slower and negotiated stairs slower than matched pain-free peers. When walking fast, they used a wider step base, and wider steps plus double support time were associated with slower stair performance.
• PTNarrative Review2017Core outcome sets for research and clinical practice.Brazilian journal of physical therapyCore outcome sets standardize a minimum set of results to measure in trials and practice. For low back pain and osteoarthritis, agreed domains include pain, physical function, and quality of life or patient global assessment. They aid comparison, not treatment proof.
• PTOTOther2017Gait, dual task and history of falls in elderly with preserved cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and mild Alzheimer's disease.Brazilian journal of physical therapyA dual-task Timed Up and Go test separated mild Alzheimer's disease from preserved cognition and mild cognitive impairment. Usual walking speed did not separate the groups. More people with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer's disease reported falls, but not more falls each.
• PTOther2017Multifidi Muscle Characteristics and Physical Function Among Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with chronic low back pain who had more fat within a deep back muscle scored worse on walking, balance, stairs and self-reported function. Muscle size did not explain function. This relationship was seen only in older adults with pain.
• PTOTCohort2017Patient Satisfaction and Prognosis for Functional Improvement and Deterioration, Institutionalization, and Death Among Medicare Beneficiaries Over 2 Years.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMedicare beneficiaries in the top quartile for satisfaction with access to care were less likely to functionally deteriorate, be institutionalized, or die over two years. High satisfaction with care coordination was linked to lower institutionalization risk only.
• PTOTOther2017Linear and nonlinear analysis of postural control in frailty syndrome.Brazilian journal of physical therapySway measures did not separate frail, pre-frail, and non-frail older adults after sitting and rising. Frail participants had more falls and longer TUG and sit-to-stand times, so the clinical findings were clearer than the lab findings.
• PTOTRCT2016Technology-assisted stroke rehabilitation in Mexico: a pilot randomized trial comparing traditional therapy to circuit training in a Robot/technology-assisted therapy gym.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot gym therapy matched traditional therapy for arm function but improved leg movement scores more. The groups differed sharply in age, with the robot group much younger. The robot gym allowed one therapist to supervise six patients at once, potentially doubling daily treatment volume.
• PTRCT2017Association Between 6-Minute Walk Test Distance and Objective Variables of Functional Capacity After Exercise Training in Elderly Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Randomized Exercise Trial.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn 47 older patients with preserved-ejection-fraction heart failure, change in 6-minute walk distance did not track change in peak oxygen uptake or ventilatory threshold over 16 weeks; the no-exercise group also improved walk distance by 9% from baseline.
• PTOther2017The change of lung capacity in elderly women caused by life span.Journal of physical therapy scienceNon-smoking women with no lung disease history in older age groups had lower lung capacity and airflow than younger age groups. This gives reference values, not proof exercise works.
• PTOTSLPPilot2016Global cognitive function and processing speed are associated with gait and balance dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 14 people with Parkinson's, lower global cognitive scores correlated with slower walking and more sway. Processing speed specifically linked to turning difficulty. No control group and tiny sample mean these associations are hypotheses, not evidence of cause.
• PTOther2017The effect of horse-riding simulator exercise on the gait, muscle strength and muscle activation in elderly people with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe group with the simulator did not do better than the knee-strengthening-only group, though both groups improved walking speed, knee strength and muscle activity.
• PTOTOther2017Discriminative and predictive validity of the short-form activities-specific balance confidence scale for predicting fall of stroke survivors.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe short-form ABC scale predicted falls in stroke survivors with high accuracy. A score of 45.42 or lower indicated a higher risk of multiple falls. This shorter tool performed better than the full 16-item scale and takes less time to administer.