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Orthopaedic research

Everything we have read on orthopaedic. 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.

2,015 PAPERS · PAGE 10 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCase Series2019Effectiveness of active soft tissue release and trigger point block for the diagnosis and treatment of low back and leg pain of predominantly gluteus medius origin: a report of 115 cases.Journal of physical therapy scienceMost patients with low back or leg pain had myofascial trigger points, often in the gluteus medius. Active soft tissue release alone or with injection improved symptoms in nearly all cases, but this uncontrolled report cannot prove the treatments caused the relief.
• PTSystematic Review2019Do alterations in muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, and alignment predict lower extremity injury in runners: a systematic review.Archives of physiotherapyNo muscle strength, flexibility, range-of-motion, or alignment test reliably predicted running injury across seven studies. Some isolated associations appeared, but they were inconsistent and not strong enough to guide practice.
• PTOTSurvey2019Global Consensus From Clinicians Regarding Low Back Pain Outcome Indicators for Older Adults: Pairwise Wiki Survey Using Crowdsourcing.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesClinicians ranked returning to 80% of prior daily activities, independent walking, and grocery shopping as the most important low back pain outcomes for older adults. Pain scores and straight-leg raise ranked low.
• PTCase Report2019Improving posture to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's: a CBP® case report with a 21 month follow-up.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne man with Parkinson's, taking carbidopa-Levodopa and mirapex, reported less pain, better walking and posture after 38 sessions combining exercises, adjustments, traction, platform work, walking practice and a heel lift. No single part can be credited.
• PTCohort2019An International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF)-based investigation of movement impairment in women with pelvic organ prolapse.The South African journal of physiotherapyWomen awaiting pelvic organ prolapse surgery showed poor pelvic floor and abdominal muscle function, with low endurance and incorrect activation. Pelvic floor and abdominal measures correlated moderately, suggesting clinicians should assess and treat both muscle groups together rather than the pelvic floor alone.
• PTCase Series2019Treatment monitoring as a component of psychologically informed physical therapy: A case series of patients at high risk for persistent low back pain related disability.Musculoskeletal science & practiceIn high-risk low back pain patients, changes in psychological scores predicted disability outcomes better than physical impairment scores. However, neither predicted pain intensity changes better than the patient's baseline pain score. Use psychological measures to track functional recovery, not pain.
• PTRCT2019The contralateral knee may not be a valid control for biomechanical outcomes after unilateral total knee arthroplasty.Gait & postureAfter unilateral knee replacement, the non-operated knee with arthritis moved less than the non-operated knee without arthritis, despite similar pain. Not all measures differed, but it should not be assumed to be a normal control.
• PTSurvey2019Outpatient Physical Therapist Attitudes Toward and Behaviors in Cardiovascular Disease Screening: A National Survey.Physical therapyOnly 14.8% of outpatient physical therapists checked resting blood pressure and heart rate at every new patient exam, despite many reporting moderate or greater risk caseloads. Lack of time and clinic policy were common barriers.
• PTCohort2019The Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment: a study of the reliability, construct validity and responsiveness in patients sustaining trauma.Clinical rehabilitationIn trauma patients, the Dutch Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment reliably measures four areas of function and tracks recovery, but its upper-extremity subscale misses mild arm problems.
• PTOTSystematic Review2018Musculoskeletal disorder and pain associated with smartphone use: A systematic review of biomechanical evidence.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoSmartphone use in lab studies showed more neck flexion, higher upper trapezius activity, lower pain thresholds and larger thumb tendons in frequent users. These are associations, not proof that changing posture prevents pain.
• PTOTCohort2019Impact of heart failure on functional recovery after hip fracture.Journal of physical therapy scienceHip fracture patients with heart failure gained 34.1% of possible daily-living score improvement, versus 51.6% without heart failure, after adjusting for age, gender and pre-fracture walking. They were also less likely to return to the same residence.
• PTNarrative Review2019Are Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologies Crucial to Our Understanding of Spinal Conditions?The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyThis is a clinical commentary on magnetic resonance imaging research for spinal conditions. It has no original results, so it does not tell therapists what to change.
• PTOther2018Agreement of clinical examination for low back pain with facet joint origin.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoTwo physical therapists agreed on facet pain exam items more than 70% of the time, but overall facet diagnosis agreement was fair. Unilateral pain, muscle spasm, and pain with extension plus same-side bending and rotation were least consistent.
• PTOTOther2019Medium-Term Outcomes of Digital Versus Conventional Home-Based Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Prospective, Parallel-Group Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients using a digital home-rehab system after knee replacement showed greater improvement in walking speed and knee motion at 3 and 6 months than those receiving standard physiotherapy. However, the digital group had more treatment hours, and the study was not randomized.
• PTOther2019The effect of surface inclination and limb on knee loading measures in transtibial prosthesis users.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationKnee loading rate was lowest up slope, and down slope was greater than all surfaces except bottom slope, in transtibial prosthesis users walking in a lab. The intact limb had higher rate than prosthetic limb, but these were knee loading measures, not osteoarthritis outcomes.
• PTCohort2019Muscle synergies demonstrate only minimal changes after treatment in cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter injections, nerve surgery, or orthopedic surgery, plus usual rehabilitation, children's muscle coordination patterns changed little. Small changes made the patterns less like typical walkers. Orthopedic surgery improved walking form, but walking speed decreased.
• PTOther2019Sexual disability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain-a multicenter retrospective analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 697 chronic low back pain patients, 11.05% skipped the sexual Oswestry item. Among responders, 37% reported sexual problems and 7% strong limitation. Sexual item scores were associated with total disability; in 112 patients, with activity avoidance and depression.
• PTCase Series2019Physical therapy in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I after distal radius fracture: a case series.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older adults with complex regional pain syndrome after wrist fracture, a six-week physical therapy program significantly reduced pain and improved hand function. Grip strength did not improve significantly, so patients may still struggle with force despite feeling less pain.
• PTOther2019An injury profile of basketball players in Accra, Ghana.The South African journal of physiotherapyTackling attempts caused 32 injuries (42.67%) and the knee had 16 injuries (21.33%) among 273 male basketball players in Accra. 64 injuries (85.33%) received no treatment, and 36 competition players and 20 training players returned immediately with pain or limping.
• PTOther2019Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of six musculoskeletal preparticipatory screening tests.The South African journal of physiotherapyOnly the one-legged hyperextension and bridge-hold tests showed substantial to excellent agreement between two physiotherapists. Several other tests were inconsistent, so screening results should not be treated as standalone evidence.
• PTRCT2019A novel approach to improve hamstring flexibility: A single-blinded randomised clinical trial.The South African journal of physiotherapyQuadriceps activation after passive stretching improved hamstring flexibility by 13.4 degrees versus 6.2 degrees with stretching alone in young adults. Tibial nerve gliding did not clearly outperform stretching in this small trial.
• PTCohort2019Health professionals' referral practice and related healthcare utilization for people with low back pain in Singapore: A retrospective study.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liao59.92% of patients with chronic low back pain in this Singapore tertiary pain clinic were referred for physiotherapy. Those referred reported more pain interference and poorer physical quality of life, but pain scores alone did not explain much of how many visits they used.
• PTOther2019Can Biomechanics Research Lead to More Effective Treatment of Low Back Pain? A Point-Counterpoint Debate.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyNo new patient outcomes are reported. This point-counterpoint debate about biomechanics and low back pain gives no treatment result to act on.
• PTNarrative Review2019Links between the Hip and the Lumbar Spine (Hip Spine Syndrome) as they Relate to Clinical Decision Making for Patients with Lumbopelvic Pain.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationHip and low back pain can overlap, and hip range of motion may influence lumbar motion. Hip arthroplasty sometimes improved low back pain, but causal links are unclear.
• PTOther2019Model Simulations Challenge Reductionist Research Approaches to Studying Chronic Low Back Pain.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyA computer model of chronic low back pain suggests that when more than 11 factors contribute, less than 1% of simulated patients can be grouped by one dominant factor, and treating two or more factors may be more effective at population level.
• PTPilot2019Error-augmentation gait training to improve gait symmetry in patients with non-traumatic lower limb amputation: A proof-of-concept study.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalFour adults with non-traumatic lower limb amputation completed a single error-augmentation treadmill session safely and found it acceptable. Gait symmetry changed, but responses varied and no consistent sustained improvement was seen.
• PTOTSLPRCT2019Effects of muscle energy technique on pain, range of motion and function in patients with post-surgical elbow stiffness: A randomized controlled trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoStarting muscle energy technique immediately after cast removal improved elbow stiffness more than waiting a week. Patients in the early-start group had less pain, better movement, and improved arm function after three weeks of physiotherapy.
• PTOther2019Development of a short form of the Hong Kong Chinese orebro musculoskeletal pain screening questionnaire.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoA short Chinese questionnaire for workers with back or neck pain took a few minutes and identified people likely to have long sick leave or not return to work, but it was less useful for neck pain.
• PTCohort2019Factors associated with functional rehabilitation outcomes of non-operative treatment for hip fractures: a retrospective study.Journal of physical therapy scienceAmong 57 older adults with hip fractures treated without surgery, higher albumin and better cognitive scores were linked to greater function at discharge. Age and timing of sitting or transfers were not.
• PTOTSystematic Review2019Hand therapy interventions, outcomes, and diagnoses evaluated over the last 10 years: A mapping review linking research to practice.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsAcross 191 hand therapy articles, evidence concentrated on carpal tunnel, osteoarthritis, tendon surgeries, exercise, orthotics, education, and body function/physiology outcomes. Few studies covered amputation, hand transplants, traumas, activity-based interventions, or function/performance and quality-of-care outcomes.
• PTCohort2019Perceived Instability Is Associated With Strength and Pain, Not Frontal Knee Laxity, in Patients With Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyIn patients scheduled for TKA, perceived instability was linked to weaker knee extensors and more pain, not frontal knee laxity. This does not show that strength training reduces giving way.
• PTSurvey2019The prevalence and work-related physical factors associated with knee pain in older Thai farmers.Journal of physical therapy scienceKnee pain was reported by 154 of 285 older Thai farmers. Pain lasting more than 12 months was linked with a maximum physical activity load, but this survey cannot show which activities caused it.
• PTPilot2019Digital Versus Conventional Rehabilitation After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Single-Center, Parallel-Group Pilot Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients using a digital home exercise system after hip replacement recovered mobility and hip movement faster than those receiving conventional in-person physiotherapy. The digital group had better Timed Up and Go scores at 8 weeks and 6 months, but the study was small and not randomly assigned.
• PTNarrative Review2019A Narrative Review of Musculoskeletal Impairments Associated With Nonspecific Chronic Pelvic Pain.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMusculoskeletal impairments like high pelvic floor tone and poor movement are present in women with chronic pelvic pain, but evidence linking them to the pain is weak. Studies used subjective tests with poor reliability, so these findings do not yet justify specific treatments.
• PTOTSystematic Review2019Understanding Low Back Pain in Traumatic Lower Limb Amputees: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationLow back pain is common in traumatic amputees, affecting 52.8% to 64%. Biomechanical studies show altered trunk motion and higher spinal loads, but the link to pain is unclear due to small sample sizes and inconsistent reporting.
• PTOther2019The Spanish Version of the Functional Rating Index in Patients With Low Back Pain: Preliminary Results of the Validation Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSpanish version of the Functional Rating Index was easy to complete and produced similar scores when repeated in 22 patients with low back pain, but this small preliminary check does not yet prove it measures the right thing for all Spanish speakers.
• PTOther2019The short-term effects of hydrotherapy on pain and self-perceived functional status in individuals living with osteoarthritis of the knee joint.The South African journal of physiotherapyAfter 4 weeks of twice-weekly heated hydrotherapy, 18 adults with knee osteoarthritis reported less pain and better self-perceived function. The study had no control group or follow-up, so the improvement cannot be separated from time or other changes.
• PTOTOther2018Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Validity, and Reliability of the Patient-Rated Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire for Thai Patients.Occupational therapy internationalThe Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire is now available in Thai and works reliably for hand injury patients. Scores stay consistent over time, and most domains are internally sound. The aesthetics section is less reliable, so interpret those specific scores with caution.
• PTOTSLPOther2019Comparison of foot kinetics and kinematics during gait initiation between young and elderly participants.Journal of physical therapy scienceElderly participants walked slower with shorter strides and showed significantly lower foot joint movement, moment, and power during gait initiation compared to young participants. The reduction in mechanical output was most pronounced in the toe and midfoot joints.
• PTSurvey2019Coping behaviors for skeletal muscle injuries and disorders among community-dwelling elderly persons in Japan.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder Japanese adults reported using hospitals most often for fractures, sprains, and musculoskeletal pain, then Judo therapist offices. Many reported no facility for stiff shoulders or daily fatigue. Ask what care they seek.
• PTPilot2019Functional electrical stimulation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 23 men after ACL reconstruction, standard rehabilitation plus FES during walking produced better quadriceps strength recovery than standard rehabilitation plus NMES: 82% versus 47% of pre-surgery strength. Gait speed and symmetry did not differ.
• PTCase-Control2019Characteristics of plantar pressure distribution in elite male soccer players with or without history of proximal fifth metatarsal fracture: a case-control study.Journal of physical therapy scienceElite soccer players with healed proximal fifth metatarsal fractures had higher pressure under the fifth metatarsal during walking and a more angled walking pressure track than controls. The study could not tell whether these patterns came before or after injury.
• PTOther2019Relationship between the deep flexion of the knee joint and the dynamics of the infrapatellar fat pad after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction via ultrasonography.Journal of physical therapy scienceThree months after ACL reconstruction, patients who could sit in seiza, a Japanese kneeling position, had a thinner fat pad under the kneecap at a 10-degree bend and greater change in thickness between 10 and 90 degrees than those who could not.
• PTSystematic Review2019Minimal Clinically Important Difference of Shoulder Outcome Measures and Diagnoses: A Systematic Review.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationThe smallest score change considered important on common shoulder outcome measures varies widely by diagnosis. Do not apply one fixed threshold to all shoulder patients; match the value to rotator cuff, fracture, instability, or arthroplasty status.
• PTCase Report2019Synergistic effects of vacuum therapy and laser therapy on physical rehabilitation.Journal of physical therapy sciencePain was reported to decrease 100% and some shoulder, lumbar and hip movements increased after 10 sessions combining vacuum and laser therapy. Because both treatments were given together and neither was tested alone, this does not show either one worked.
• PTPilot2019Voluntary control of wearable robotic exoskeletons by patients with paresis via neuromechanical modeling.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPatients with stroke or spinal cord injury could control a robotic leg exoskeleton from seated knee and ankle movements. Muscle activity fell with higher assistance, but this small study did not test walking or recovery.
• PTSystematic Review2019Effects of McKenzie and stabilization exercises in reducing pain intensity and functional disability in individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain: a systematic review.Journal of physical therapy scienceMcKenzie and stabilization exercises were reported to reduce pain and disability in chronic nonspecific low back pain, but direct comparison evidence is limited and mixed.
• PTOther2019Reproducibility of elastic modulus measurement of the multifidus using the shear wave elastography function of an ultrasound diagnostic device.Journal of physical therapy scienceShear wave elastography reliably measures multifidus muscle stiffness in healthy adults. Measurements stayed consistent across neutral, flexed, and extended trunk positions, supporting its use for assessing back muscles at different angles.
• PTOTCohort2019Reweighting of the sensory inputs for postural control in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy after surgery.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSurgery improved walking scores but did not normalize balance. Patients with cervical myelopathy still relied less on leg sensation and more on vision and inner-ear balance than healthy adults, even six months after decompression. They remain at risk for falls and need specific balance retraining.
• PTSurvey2019Factors associated with low back pain in elite high school volleyball players.Journal of physical therapy sciencePrevious ankle injury and more years of playing were linked to low back pain in 123 high school volleyball players. Of 59 players with back pain, 35 felt performance decline, and 21 consulted a doctor and 21 told a coach.