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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 14 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPRCT2020The effects of visual feedback balance training on the pain and physical function of patients with chronic degenerative knee arthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceBoth muscle-strengthening exercises and visual feedback balance training reduced pain and improved function in older adults with knee arthritis. However, adding visual feedback to standard therapy did not show a significant advantage over standard therapy alone.
• PTPilot2020Immediate effects of muscle energy technique and stabilization exercise in patients with chronic low back pain with suspected facet joint origin: A pilot study.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoOne session of muscle energy technique was no better than stabilization exercise for pain, disability, or movement in chronic low back pain. Both groups had similar pain relief, but neither treatment showed a clear advantage over the other.
• PTCohort2021Association Between Therapeutic Alliance and Outcomes Following Telephone-Delivered Exercise by a Physical Therapist for People With Knee Osteoarthritis: Secondary Analyses From a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn people with knee osteoarthritis receiving telephone-delivered physical therapy, a stronger alliance rated by the patient was weakly linked to better pain and function scores. However, these statistical links were so small they are unlikely to matter clinically. Therapist ratings of the alliance showed no such association.
• PTCohort2021Factors Associated With Symptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears: The Rotator Cuff Outcomes Workgroup Cohort Study.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationIn patients with shoulder pain, symptomatic rotator cuff tears were more likely with older age, dominant shoulder involvement, and higher BMI. Smoking and reported shoulder use at work were not linked. This does not prove cause.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Patients' perceptions with musculoskeletal disorders regarding their experience with healthcare providers and health services: an overview of reviews.Archives of physiotherapyPatients with musculoskeletal pain, arthritis or osteoporosis wanted clear tailored information, respectful communication, trusted clinicians, individualized treatment and smooth care transitions. Most evidence came from reviews of healthcare services, not physiotherapy alone.
• PTOTCohort2021Bone quality in adults with severe motor and intellectual disabilities.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn adults with severe motor and intellectual disabilities, the ability to walk was the strongest predictor of better bone quality. Older age and anti-epileptic drug use were linked to lower bone quality. Tube feeding and sex were not significant factors.
• PTPilot2021Combining advanced computational and imaging techniques as a quantitative tool to estimate patellofemoral joint stress during downhill gait: A feasibility study.Gait & postureDuring downhill walking, people with patellofemoral OA showed an earlier rise in lateral facet contact stress than controls in this small feasibility study. It does not show any treatment works.
• PTOTOther2020Common musculoskeletal impairments in postpartum runners: an international Delphi study.Archives of physiotherapyExperts agreed postpartum runners with pain commonly show abdominal, hip, and pelvic floor weakness, plus tight hip flexors. Risk factors include muscle imbalance, poor control, and returning to running too soon. This is expert opinion on what to check, not proof these causes pain.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Health-Enabling Technologies to Assist Patients With Musculoskeletal Shoulder Disorders When Exercising at Home: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesMost home exercise technologies for shoulder pain are prototypes that track range of motion but rarely check movement quality. Only eight studies showed significant clinical improvements, so these tools currently assist rather than replace therapy.
• PTRCT2020Comparison between high-velocity low-amplitude manipulation and muscle energy technique on pain and trunk neuromuscular postural control in male workers with chronic low back pain: A randomised crossover trial.The South African journal of physiotherapyHVLA thrust manipulation and muscle energy technique reduced pain in men with chronic low back pain. Pain fell after the first session and again after 15 days. No clear change was seen in trunk muscle activation or standing balance.
• PTCohort2020Relationship between low back pain and lumbar and hip joint movement in desk workers.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 10 desk workers with chronic low back pain, higher pain scores correlated with a greater proportion of lumbar movement and a smaller proportion of hip movement during forward and backward bending. The study cannot show which causes the other.
• PTSurvey2020Current knowledge of idiopathic scoliosis among practising physiotherapists in South Africa.The South African journal of physiotherapySouth African physiotherapists showed gaps in idiopathic scoliosis knowledge, especially diagnosis, prevalence, bracing, and exercise methods. Most were not confident using Adam's forward bend test or a scoliometer, so first-contact screening may be missed.
• PTOther2020Contribution of hip and knee muscles to lateral knee stability during gait.Journal of physical therapy scienceLateral knee muscles and some hip muscles showed higher estimated force during walking when a knee model allowed sideways motion than when it did not. This was in 15 healthy men and did not test patients or treatment.
• PTCohort2020Performance of Pain Interventionalists From Different Specialties in Treating Degenerative Disk Disease-Related Low Back Pain.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationProvider specialty did not predict how long patients with degenerative disk disease waited for spine surgery or what they paid for injections. However, receiving physical therapy significantly delayed surgery. This suggests that for patients on the path to surgery, concurrent physical therapy is associated with a longer period of non-surgical management.
• PTOTNarrative Review2020Physical Examination of the Ankle: A Review of the Original Orthopedic Special Test Description and Scientific Validity of Common Tests for Ankle Examination.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationNo single ankle special test reliably diagnoses ligament tears. Sensitivity ranges from 32% to 100% depending on the test and method, and many lack any accuracy data. Diagnosis requires combining test results with patient history and signs, not relying on one maneuver.
• PTSLPCase Report2020Cervical Dystonia Caused by Chronic Nonunion C2 Fracture: A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA man with neck twisting and swallowing difficulty had an undiagnosed cervical fracture. Botulinum toxin improved symptoms temporarily, but surgery to fuse the spine resolved the dystonia, pain, and dysphagia completely. This case suggests ruling out structural causes before assuming idiopathic dystonia.
• PTOTCase-Control2020Relation of Musculoskeletal Strength and Function to Postural Stability in Ambulatory Adults With Cerebral Palsy.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn adults with cerebral palsy, leg strength and hip bone shape relate to balance. Bone density at the hip does not. Low hip bone density in this group is common and should not be assumed to be the main driver of poor balance.
• PTQualitative2021Implementing patient direct access to musculoskeletal physiotherapy in primary care: views of patients, general practitioners, physiotherapists and clinical commissioners in England.PhysiotherapyPatients found direct access acceptable, but many did not understand it and still needed GP advice. Poor awareness, confusing forms, lost promotion, poor record sharing, and waiting bottlenecks blocked use.
• PTOTOther2021Effects of prolonged walking with body borne load on knee adduction biomechanics.Gait & postureCarrying 30 kg increased knee adduction moment by 37%, a magnitude linked to osteoarthritis risk. Walking for 60 minutes increased knee adduction angle by 24%. Neither load nor duration changed biomechanical variability. These findings suggest military load carriage stresses the medial knee.
• PTOTCohort2020Evolution of service metrics and utilisation of objective discharge criteria in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction rehabilitation: a retrospective cohort study with historical control in a public hospital physiotherapy department.Archives of physiotherapyA phase-based ACL rehabilitation program increased physiotherapist use of objective outcome measures and lengthened treatment duration, but did not improve rehabilitation completion rates or patient-reported knee function compared to standard care.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Can Yoga or Physical Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain Improve Depression and Anxiety Among Adults From a Racially Diverse, Low-Income Community? A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationYoga and physical therapy did not significantly reduce depression or anxiety compared to education in the full group. However, participants with moderate symptoms at baseline saw meaningful improvements in both conditions after 12 weeks of either treatment.
• PTCase Series2020Deep heat therapy system with resonant cavity applicator for articular cartilage in knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceA prototype device heated deep knee cartilage in three healthy men without warming the skin or causing burns. It did not test pain or function in osteoarthritis. This shows the machine works physically, not that it treats patients.
• PTCohort2021Increased satellite cell apoptosis in vastus lateralis muscle after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAfter ACL reconstruction and early rehabilitation, satellite cells in the thigh muscle were less numerous and showed more programmed cell death, while signs of satellite cell activation did not change. This is a muscle cell finding, not proof that rehabilitation was harmful.
• PTOther2021Effects of prolonged load carriage on angular jerk of frontal and sagittal knee motion.Gait & postureCarrying 15 or 30 kg while walking made knee motion less smooth, especially side-to-side. After 60 minutes, side-to-side motion became more abrupt. This was a lab study in 18 healthy adults, not people with knee injury.
• PTOTSurvey2021Musculoskeletal symptoms among adult smartphone and tablet device users: a retrospective study.Archives of physiotherapyMost users reported neck stiffness or discomfort starting within 30 minutes. Tablet use over 30 minutes per session was linked to more symptoms in young adults, but smartphone duration was not. People who rested their device on a stand reported fewer symptoms than those holding it.
• PTPilot2021Pre-Operative Scapular Rehabilitation for Arthroscopic Repair of Traumatic Rotator Cuff Tear: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.International journal of sports physical therapyBefore arthroscopic traumatic rotator cuff repair, adding six weeks of scapular and core stabilization, proprioception and pain-control exercises to mobility work was associated with better abduction and lower WORC scores, but DASH and internal rotation did not differ.
• PTOTCohort2021Association of Occupational and Physical Therapy With Duration of Prescription Opioid Use After Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Medicare Enrollees.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAfter hip or knee replacement, non-drug pain interventions, mostly OT/PT evaluations, were linked to shorter opioid use only with home health. Without home health, there was no clear link. This cannot prove the interventions caused the change.
• PTOther2021Intra-rater reliability of measurement of abdominal perimuscular connective tissue thickness on ultrasound images.Journal of physical therapy scienceUltrasound measurements of abdominal connective tissue thickness showed good to excellent consistency when the same therapist measured the same men twice on the same day and again within two weeks. The smallest change that can be trusted above measurement noise is 0.1 to 1.4 mm.
• PTCase Report2021Rehabilitation training using a single-joint type hybrid assistive limb for the knee after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: an initial case report indicating safety and feasibility.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne patient used a knee-assisting robot for three sessions after ACL reconstruction. He had no adverse events. His strength symmetry and knee function scores improved, but this single case cannot prove the robot caused the change.
• PTOther2021The impact of the foot contact position and cutting angle during cutting on the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury.Journal of physical therapy scienceLanding with the foot outside the body during sharp cuts increased loading rate and decreased knee flexion compared to landing with the foot in front. This combination may raise ACL injury risk. Coaches should consider cueing athletes to incline their whole body into the cut.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Delivering Virtual Cancer Rehabilitation Programming During the First 90 Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multimethod Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationVirtual cancer rehab kept high attendance and increased visit volume during the pandemic. However, therapists found assessing physical impairments and teaching exercises difficult without in-person exams. Video was preferred over phone, and an initial in-person assessment was recommended for complex cases.
• PTOTOther2021Ban Bedcentricity: A Multifaceted Innovation to Reduce Sedentary Behavior of Patients During the Hospital Stay.Physical therapyA hospital-wide initiative to reduce bed rest showed mixed results. Patients on two cardiac wards spent less time lying in bed and were more likely to go home. However, orthopedic patients showed no change in bed rest and actually stayed in the hospital longer.
• PTOTOther2021Consistent differences in lumbar spine alignment between low back pain subgroups and genders during clinical and functional activity sitting tests.Musculoskeletal science & practicePeople with low back pain classified into the Rotation-Extension subgroup sit with a more extended lumbar spine than those in the Rotation subgroup. This difference holds true during both clinical tests and functional preferred sitting, regardless of gender.
• PTCase Report2021Correction of a double spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine utilizing Chiropractic BioPhysics® technique: a case report with 1 year follow-up.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn one 57-year-old man with chronic low back and leg pain, a chiropractic program of adjusting, traction, and exercises was reported to reduce measured vertebral slippage and pain at 1 year. A single case cannot show that any treatment works for other patients.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021'It's not hands-on therapy, so it's very limited': Telehealth use and views among allied health clinicians during the coronavirus pandemic.Musculoskeletal science & practiceMost clinicians adopted telehealth rapidly but doubted its value. Only 42% thought it was as effective as face-to-face care, and just 25% believed patients valued it equally. Lack of hands-on contact was the main barrier, with most clinicians reporting inadequate training.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the recovery of people with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit: A narrative review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineNMES may slow muscle wasting and help wean ventilated patients, but evidence for building strength is mixed. It is safe for most ICU patients, including those with pacemakers, provided electrodes are placed carefully. Use it alongside active movement, not just as a passive substitute.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation in Physical Therapy: A Rapid Overview.Physical therapyTelerehabilitation often matches in-person physical therapy for musculoskeletal pain and function, but results are inconsistent across neurological and cardiopulmonary conditions. Many included reviews had high risk of bias, so evidence for superiority is weak. It is a viable alternative when access is limited.
• PTCohort2021Walking energetics and abductor strength are associated with physical activity in older women with hip osteoarthritis.Gait & postureHigher walking energy use was associated with lower self-reported activity, more sedentary time and less light activity in older women with hip osteoarthritis. Stronger hip abductors were associated with higher reported activity, but not with walking energy use.
• PTCase Report2021An unusual presentation of acute myocardial infarction in physiotherapy direct access: findings from a case report.Archives of physiotherapyA physiotherapist recognised an acute myocardial infarction in a 46-year-old man whose shoulder pain moved from right to left. The shoulder exam did not reproduce pain, and breathlessness, fatigue, shortness of breath and sweating appeared. He was referred and later returned to work.
• PTOTRCT2021Comparing an eHealth Program (My Hip Journey) With Standard Care for Total Hip Arthroplasty: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAdding My Hip Journey to standard care did not add benefit for hip function, quality of life, or self-efficacy at 6 weeks, 3 months, or 6 months. Standard care included a booklet, a preoperative session, and a phone call. Both groups improved after surgery.
• PTOther2021Normative Parameters of Gastrocnemius Muscle Stiffness and Associations with Patient Characteristics and Function.International journal of sports physical therapyIn healthy adults, resting gastrocnemius stiffness was lower than stiffness during a heel raise, and men had higher stiffness than women. Stiffness was related to plantarflexion force and step length, not to age, BMI, race, exercise, or gait speed.
• PTCohort2021Sequencing and Integration of Cervical Manual Therapy and Vestibulo-oculomotor Therapy for Concussion Symptoms: Retrospective Analysis.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 38 patients, a sequenced clinic program combining cervical manual therapy, exercise, canalith repositioning, vision therapy, vestibular rehab and light cardio was associated with improved symptoms. No control group means the program cannot be shown to have caused the improvement.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021The Comparative Mental Health Responses Between Post-Musculoskeletal Injury and Post-Concussive Injury Among Collegiate Athletes: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyCollegiate athletes with concussions and those with musculoskeletal injuries showed similar patterns of depression and anxiety. Anxiety scores dropped initially but often remained clinically significant. Athletes frequently returned to play before their psychological symptoms resolved, regardless of injury type.
• PTPilot2021An Alternative Model of Care for the Treatment of Adolescent Athletes with Extension-Based Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study.International journal of sports physical therapyPhysical therapy first model (rest and twice-weekly therapy with pain-free progression) cut advanced imaging from 8 to 1, had median billed cost 19% lower, and showed similar outcomes, but used more visits and slower return for some non-specific cases in a 16-patient pilot.
• PTOther2021Post-Trial Feedback Alters Landing Performance in Adolescent Female Athletes Using a Portable Feedback System.International journal of sports physical therapyOne session of portable feedback cut landing forces by nearly 30% and improved knee alignment in adolescent female athletes. These changes persisted during a dual-task test, though the study did not track long-term retention or actual injury rates.
• PTCohort2021The Immediate Effects of Expert and Dyad External Focus Feedback on Drop Landing Biomechanics in Female Athletes: An Instrumented Field Study.International journal of sports physical therapyExpert feedback lowered landing impact force; teammate feedback did not. Both groups reduced the knee moving inward after one session. For impact force, only expert feedback changed; for inward knee movement, teammate feedback was similar.
• PTPilot2021Does the Direction of Kinesiology Tape Application Influence Muscle Activation in Asymptomatic Individuals?International journal of sports physical therapyTaping direction made no difference to quadriceps muscle activity, strength, or jump performance in healthy young adults. One small hop distance change was not significant after adjusting for multiple tests and fell well below the detectable change threshold.
• PTOther2021Crosswalking the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function, Pain Interference, and Pain Intensity Scores to the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and the Oswestry Disability Index.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPROMIS physical function and pain interference scores can be translated to and from ODI and Roland-Morris scores. Pain intensity translations were weak. The equations are preliminary and meant for comparing scores across studies.
• PTOther2021Patients Walking Faster After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Have More Gait Asymmetry.International journal of sports physical therapyAthletes who walked faster six months after ACLR had more gait asymmetry. The opposite knee bore more load, while the reconstructed knee did not, so faster walking alone may not improve symmetry.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2021Inter-Disciplinary Conservative Management of Bilateral Non-United Lumbar Pars Defects in a Junior Elite Golfer.International journal of sports physical therapyA 15-year-old golfer with bilateral lumbar pars fractures avoided surgery through a 12-month interdisciplinary exercise program. He returned to competitive golf and accepted a college scholarship, remaining asymptomatic 18 months post-intervention.