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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 15 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2021Physical Therapy Use, Costs, and Value for Latent Classes of Good vs Poor Outcome in Patients Who Catastrophize About Their Pain Prior to Knee Arthroplasty.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPatients who catastrophized about pain before knee arthroplasty and had poor outcomes used more PT, and PT costs were higher after 2 months. From 6 to 12 months, scores worsened despite about 8 visits, so continued PT had little value.
• PTOther2021Quadriceps Strength Influences Patient Function More Than Single Leg Forward Hop During Late-Stage ACL Rehabilitation.International journal of sports physical therapyDuring late ACL rehab, quadriceps strength symmetry and involved-limb strength tracked how patients rated their knee function better than single-leg hop distance. Hop tests alone may miss strength deficits that matter for return-to-sport decisions.
• PTSurvey2021Physical Therapists' Assessment of Patient Self-Efficacy for Home Exercise Programs.International journal of sports physical therapyA majority of surveyed physical therapists said self-efficacy matters for home exercise programs, but they usually judged it by talking or watching, not patient-reported scales, and those who did not assess often said they did not know how.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Descriptive Strength and Range of Motion in Youth Baseball Players.International journal of sports physical therapyYouth baseball players aged 5-12 already show shoulder adaptations similar to adults: greater external rotation and internal rotation strength in the throwing arm. However, total range of motion remains symmetrical between arms, suggesting these changes are normal development rather than immediate injury risk.
• PTSurvey2021Factors associated with musculoskeletal pain in the past 12 months amongst female miners in a South African goldmine.The South African journal of physiotherapyAbout 50.0% of female miners reported musculoskeletal pain over the past 12 months. Higher education and good self-rated health were associated with less pain when other factors were included, while workplace factor links were not.
• PTOther2021Time to re-think our strategy with musculoskeletal disorders and workstation ergonomics.The South African journal of physiotherapyComputer users at work in South Africa with work-related musculoskeletal pain had similar workstation risk scores to those without work-related pain, but reported more trouble switching off from work and a stronger need for approval. Ergonomic advice alone may miss this.
• PTOTQualitative2021Pre-operative physiotherapy following unilateral ankle fractures at a tertiary hospital in South Africa: Perceptions of patients and nurses.The South African journal of physiotherapyPatients and nurses valued pre-operative physiotherapy for building confidence and independence while waiting for ankle surgery. Fear, pain, and staff shortages were key barriers. Participants requested more education on surgery and recovery timelines, plus daily monitoring to maintain motivation.
• PTCohort2021Early post-immobilization pain at rest, movement evoked pain, and their ratio as potential predictors of pain and disability at six- and 12-months after distal radius fracture.Archives of physiotherapyAt two months after distal radius fracture, pain at rest ≥3/10 and pain with movement ≥6/10 predicted persistent pain, while pain with movement ≥7/10 predicted disability; their ratio did not.
• PTSystematic Review2021State of the art in parallel ankle rehabilitation robot: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNo parallel ankle rehabilitation robot is currently used in clinical practice. All tested devices remain in the laboratory or simulation stage, with most trials conducted only on healthy subjects rather than patients with ankle dysfunction.
• PTPilot2021Individual analysis of dynamic stability for twenty-four Tai Chi forms among persons with knee osteoarthritis: A pilot study.Gait & postureTai Chi forms varied in balance stability during performance compared with walking in eight adults with knee OA. Form 8 had the largest forward-back range, Form 10 had the largest side-to-side range, and Form 1 had the smallest ranges.
• PTOTPilot2021Feasibility and Convergent Validity of an Activity Tracker for Low Back Pain Within a Clinical Study: Cross-sectional Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesMost patients with low back pain wore and synced a commercial activity tracker, but its step and distance data correlated poorly with self-reported activity questionnaires. The device is feasible for tracking compliance but does not accurately measure activity levels compared to standard surveys.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2021Safety and efficacy of mesotherapy in musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with meta-analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMesotherapy injections for musculoskeletal pain reduced pain scores more than systemic medication or placebo in most trials. Side effects were mild and temporary. However, the treatments varied widely in drugs and techniques, making it hard to know which specific protocol worked best.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Effect of Action Observation Therapy in the Rehabilitation of Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAction Observation Therapy improves motor recovery in stroke and Parkinson's disease, with strong evidence for upper limb function and balance. It shows moderate benefit for orthopedic pain and range of motion. However, it does not help children with cerebral palsy or improve cognition in dementia.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Caregiver-Reported Pain Management Practices for Individuals With Cerebral Palsy.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationCaregivers of children and adults with severe cerebral palsy most often treated musculoskeletal pain by changing positions. Massage and stretching were also common. Medication was used frequently but rated no more helpful than these physical approaches.
• PTOTRCT2021A comparison between laterally wedged insoles and ankle-foot orthoses for the treatment of medial osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized cross-over trial.Clinical rehabilitationAnkle-foot orthoses reduced medial knee load more effectively than lateral wedge insoles in gait lab tests. However, neither device improved patient-reported pain or function significantly more than the other, and overall clinical gains were small for both groups.
• PTOTQualitative2021Contextualizing the lived experiences of patients with low back pain from different countries according to the ICF framework.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with back pain in Canada, Botswana and Norway mostly described limits in daily activities, pain, emotions, sleep and energy. Family, health services and work environments also mattered.
• PTOTRCT2021Self-Management to Improve Function After Amputation: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the VETPALS Intervention.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe VETPALS self-management program did not improve physical function, which was the primary outcome. However, it did reduce depression and improve satisfaction with health at six months compared to standard education. Participants rated the program highly.
• PTOTCohort2021Factors characterizing gait performance of patients before and soon after knee arthroplasty.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwo weeks after knee replacement, walking speed and Timed Up and Go times worsened for the entire group. Older patients and those with slower pre-surgery walking declined the most. Minimally invasive and unicompartmental surgeries resulted in less decline than conventional total knee replacement.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review of Interventions.International journal of sports physical therapyNo treatment for proximal hamstring tendinopathy has high-quality evidence. Shockwave therapy looked better than a weak multi-modal control in one small trial, but evidence was very low. Surgery had the most complications. Do not assume any single injection or procedure is proven.
• PTOTOther2021Effect of low back pain on the muscles controlling the sitting posture.Journal of physical therapy scienceSlump sitting fails to relax back muscles in people with recurrent low back pain. While healthy adults showed reduced muscle activity, those with pain kept their trunk muscles highly active. This posture may increase spinal stress rather than provide rest for patients with pain.
• PTOTRCT2021Changes in levels of cartilage oligomeric proteinase and urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen in subjects with knee osteoarthritis after dextrose prolotherapy: A randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineDextrose prolotherapy reduced a urine marker of cartilage breakdown significantly more than hyaluronic acid. Both injections improved pain and function similarly, but the prolotherapy group started with worse pain. High dropout rates mean these results need cautious interpretation.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2021Effectiveness of total knee arthroplasty rehabilitation programmes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding specific methods like electrical stimulation or balance exercises to standard knee replacement rehab did not consistently improve range of motion or pain. While some scores for function and walking speed improved, the results were inconsistent across studies. There is no single superior rehabilitation protocol.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Comparison of Common Methodologies for the Determination of Knee Flexor Muscle Strength.International journal of sports physical therapyKnee flexor strength measured by a wall-anchored handheld dynamometer correlates with lab equipment but cannot be swapped for it. Seated testing yields higher torque than supine, and dorsiflexing the foot increases force compared to plantarflexion.
• PTOther2021Concurrent Validation and Reference Values of Gluteus Medius Clinical Test.International journal of sports physical therapyThe Gluteus Medius Clinical Test is highly reliable but correlates weakly with dynamometer torque. It measures endurance, not strength. Use it as a complementary tool when a dynamometer is unavailable, not as a substitute for isometric strength testing.
• PTOTRCT2021Comparison of neuromuscular and cardiovascular exercise intensity and enjoyment between standard of care, off-the-shelf and custom active video games for promotion of physical activity of persons post-stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCustom active video games matched the exercise intensity of off-the-shelf games and standard care but produced more accurate stepping. Participants found the custom games more enjoyable and less effortful, suggesting they are a viable tool for balancing fitness with movement quality in stroke rehab.
• PTOther2021Which Hop Tests Can Best Identify Functional Limb Asymmetry in Patients 9-12 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Employing a Hamstrings Tendon Autograft?International journal of sports physical therapyAt 9-12 months after ACL reconstruction, 80-88% of patients reached 90% limb symmetry on each forward hop test, but most did not on side, vertical and agility hop tests.
• PTCase Report2021The Implementation of Therapeutic Alliance in the Rehabilitation of an Elite Pediatric Athlete with Salter-Harris Fracture: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyIn an elite pediatric athlete after knee fracture surgery, a physical therapist used shared goals, honesty about uncertainty, and sport-specific compromise to maintain engagement; he improved knee motion and returned to racing.
• PTCase Report2021A Novel Rehabilitation Program Using Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Taping for Shoulder Pain in Swimmers: A Protocol and Case Example.International journal of sports physical therapyIn a teenage competitive swimmer, reported pain fell and he returned to full practice after eight weeks of a combined program: swimming modifications, fins, manual therapy, stretching, strengthening, NMES and taping. The report describes a single case, and no single component can be credited.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2021Effects of orthopedic insoles on patients with knee osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis and systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOrthopedic insoles did not significantly reduce pain or improve function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. While one analysis showed a small WOMAC pain difference, sensitivity checks removed this effect. Clinicians should not expect these insoles to change symptoms or mobility for this population.
• PTOTCase Report2021Post-operative Rehabilitation for Scapular Muscle Reattachment: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyFollowing bilateral scapular muscle reattachment, a physical therapist reported immediate pain relief and functional improvement at one year. Rehabilitation was notably slower than rotator cuff repair, requiring six weeks of no formal therapy and cautious progression to avoid tension on the healing muscles.
• PTOther2021Incorporating Internal and External Training Load Measurements in Clinical Decision Making After ACL Reconstruction: A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes using wearable technology to track training load during ACL rehabilitation. It does not report any patient outcomes or test whether this approach improves return-to-sport decisions, so it offers no evidence that these measurements change clinical results.
• PTOther2021Visual Perturbation to Enhance Return to Sport Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes using stroboscopic glasses and implicit cues to retrain athletes after ACL injury. It does not test if this works. Do not change your current rehab protocol based on this article, as it offers a theoretical framework and exercise examples rather than clinical evidence of benefit.
• PTRCT2021Graded activity with and without daily-monitored-walking in patients with type 2 diabetes with low back pain: secondary analysis of a randomized-clinical trial.Archives of physiotherapyAdding daily pedometer-monitored walking to graded activity improved back pain disability and confidence earlier in treatment than graded activity alone, but the two groups showed no difference by week 12.
• PTCohort2021Patient-Reported Outcome-Based Quality Indicators in Dutch Primary Care Physical Therapy for Patients With Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Cohort Study.Physical therapyDutch primary care physical therapists can monitor nonspecific low back pain care using six patient-reported indicators: completion rates, change scores, and global perceived effect. Practices with enough repeated data can compare outcomes, but this does not show which treatment works.
• PTNarrative Review2021Why Measure Patient Experience in Physical Therapy?Archives of physiotherapy
• PTOther2021Providing value-based care as a physiotherapist.Archives of physiotherapyThere are no findings to act on. The paper gives physiotherapists suggestions for value-based care, but it reports no original study results.
• PTRCT2021Effects of hydrotherapy and land-based exercise on mobility and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized control trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceHydrotherapy and land-based exercise produced similar mobility and quality-of-life outcomes. Both groups improved pain, function, and sit-to-stand time after six weeks. Hydrotherapy also improved walking and stair climbing at six weeks, and some quality-of-life domains at six months.
• PTCohort2021Changes in physiotherapy students' beliefs and attitudes about low back pain through pre-registration training.Archives of physiotherapyPhysiotherapy students’ unhelpful low back pain belief scores were 26.95 points lower after a biopsychosocial spinal pain module on a 34 to 170 scale, especially beliefs that the back is vulnerable and needs protection.
• PTOTCohort2021Fear Avoidance Predicts Persistent Pain in Young Adults With Low Back Pain: A Prospective Study.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyFear avoidance and pain interference predicted persistent pain in young adults. Most participants improved, but those with high fear avoidance stayed in moderate/high pain. Physical activity levels did not differ between groups, challenging the assumption that inactivity drives chronicity in this population.
• PTNarrative Review2021Physical Therapist Recognition and Referral of Individuals With Suspected Lyme Disease.Physical therapyThere is no original research finding here. This narrative review gives background on recognizing and referring suspected Lyme disease, but reports no methods, patients, or outcomes.
• PTOther2021The interrater and intrarater reliability of the flexibility and strength tests included in the Sport Science Lab® screening protocol amongst professional rugby players.The South African journal of physiotherapyMost strength and flexibility tests in the Sport Science Lab protocol agreed closely between raters and across days. However, the Modified Thomas test and hip external rotation tests showed poor to moderate reliability. Do not rely on these specific tests to screen elite male rugby players.
• PTOTSurvey2021Prevalence and patterns of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate students of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in a South African university.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoMost occupational therapy and physiotherapy students reported musculoskeletal pain in the past year, especially neck and low back. Longer daily travel and not exercising were linked to more pain; measured ergonomic hazards were not.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021How to objectively assess and observe maladaptive pain behaviors in clinical rehabilitation: a systematic search and review.Archives of physiotherapyOnly two brief observation tools passed the authors' clinic and quality checks: the Pain Behaviour Scale and the Behavioral Avoidance Test-Back Pain. Both are validated only for chronic low back pain.
• PTCohort2021The role of pre-season health characteristics as injury risk factors in female adolescent soccer players.Journal of physical therapy scienceHistory of concussion correlated with more injuries in female high school soccer players. Pre-season neck pain and dizziness were associated with slower eye movement test scores, but subjective complaints alone did not predict injury count in this small sample.
• PTOTSurvey2021Smartphone addiction and its association with upper body musculoskeletal symptoms among university students classified by age and gender.Journal of physical therapy scienceUniversity students classified as addicted to their smartphones were far more likely to report neck and shoulder pain than those who were not. This association held even after adjusting for age and gender, with female students and those over 20 also showing higher rates of symptoms.
• PTCase-Control2021Lower limb kinematics of single-leg squat performance in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients with an ACL-deficient knee, the injured leg showed less knee valgus during a single-leg squat than the uninjured leg. This counterintuitive finding suggests patients may subconsciously avoid the valgus position to protect the unstable knee.
• PTCohort2021Biomechanical Changes During a 90º Cut in Collegiate Female Soccer Players With Participation in the 11.International journal of sports physical therapySoccer players using the 11+ warm-up showed a clinically meaningful reduction in risky knee collapse during a 90° cut on their non-dominant leg. This change did not reach statistical significance, so treat it as a promising signal rather than proof of efficacy.
• PTOTNarrative Review2021Self-management at the core of back pain care: 10 key points for clinicians.Brazilian journal of physical therapySelf-management support should be central for persistent low back pain. Reviews of trials reported small to moderate effects on pain, disability and self-efficacy for at least one year, but the evidence quality was low to moderate.
• PTCohort2021Composite psychosocial risk based on the fear avoidance model in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Cluster-based analysis.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicinePatients with moderate-to-high preoperative fear-avoidance risk reported poorer knee function and quality of life during follow-up. They were less likely to report returning to sport at the same level without pain, though this result was not clear. Screening may identify risk.
• PTOther2021The detrimental association between fear of falling and motor performance in older cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.Gait & postureOlder cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and high fear of falling walked 16.1% slower and had 12.4% shorter strides than those with low fear. Postural sway did not differ.