TOPIC

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 16 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTCohort2021Twelve-Week Quadriceps Strength as A Predictor of Quadriceps Strength At Time Of Return To Sport Testing Following Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyQuadriceps strength at 12 weeks after ACL reconstruction predicts strength at return-to-sport testing. This allows therapists to identify patients behind schedule early and adjust rehab before they transition out of structured care.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Platelet-Rich Plasma versus Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews.International journal of sports physical therapyCorticosteroid injections relieve lateral epicondylitis pain in the short term (2-8 weeks). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are superior for long-term pain relief and function (beyond 8 weeks). PRP preparation and injection techniques vary widely across studies, limiting specific protocol guidance.
• PTCase Report2021A Targeted Approach to Evaluating the Golfing Athlete with Low Back Pain: A Resident's Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA golfer with right-sided low back pain reported being pain-free after golfing and working out following seven visits of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, home exercises, and education. The report describes a single person, not proof that this approach works.
• PTOther2021Reliability and Validity of the Y-balance Test in Young Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain.International journal of sports physical therapyYoung adults with chronic low back pain reached shorter distances on the Y-balance test than matched pain-free adults. Testers showed excellent agreement scoring the test after brief training. The test is portable and inexpensive.
• PTSurvey2021Does the Conservative Non-pharmacological Management of Knee Osteoarthritis in Switzerland Reflect the Clinical Guidelines? A Survey Among General Practitioners, Rheumatologists, and Orthopaedic Surgeons.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSwiss doctors rarely refer knee OA patients to exercise, estimating only 54% of their patients receive it. Patient disinterest is the top barrier. Doctors rely on clinical judgment and patient suffering rather than guidelines when deciding to refer to exercise.
• PTOther2021Female Adolescent Soccer Players Utilize Different Neuromuscular Strategies Between Limbs During the Propulsion Phase of a Lateral Vertical Jump.International journal of sports physical therapyJump height did not differ between kicking and non-kicking limbs in adolescent female soccer players. The limbs still moved differently during takeoff: the kicking limb used more hip contribution and less knee contribution.
• PTOTPilot2021Assessing Physical Function and Mobility following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury with the NIH Toolbox Motor Battery: A Feasibility Study.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsThe NIH Toolbox Motor Battery is feasible for children with traumatic brain injury, taking about 23 minutes. It detects endurance and balance problems that parents may not report, but it fails in children under 5 due to distraction and difficulty following instructions.
• PTOther2021Medio-Lateral Hamstring Muscle Activity in Unilateral vs. Bilateral Strength Exercises in Female Team Handball Players - A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of sports physical therapyRomanian deadlifts, performed either one or two legs, produced the highest medial hamstring activity relative to the lateral hamstring. Unilateral execution did not reduce this medial dominance. These exercises effectively target the medial hamstring in female handball players.
• PTOTPilot2021Immersive virtual reality in children with upper limb injuries: Findings from a feasibility study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn a small feasibility study, children with upper limb injuries reported that immersive virtual reality games made rehabilitation exercises more enjoyable, easier, and less painful than usual therapy. Physiotherapists observed increased range of motion and engagement, though the study lacked a control group and baseline data.
• PTOTOther2021Diagnosing sarcopenia: Functional perspectives and a new algorithm from the ISarcoPRM.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA proposed diagnostic algorithm suggests screening older adults for sarcopenia using chair stand and grip strength tests, then confirming muscle loss with ultrasound of the anterior thigh. This approach is not yet tested in clinical practice.
• PTOther2021Differences in Muscle Activities and Kinematics between Forefoot Strike and Rearfoot Strike in the Lower Limb during 180° Turns.International journal of sports physical therapyForefoot strikes during 180-degree turns showed lower vertical ground force and higher hamstring activity than rearfoot strikes, suggesting potential ACL protection. However, rearfoot strikes had smaller knee valgus angles. The study was a small lab simulation, not a test of injury prevention.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Kinesiology Tape: A Descriptive Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the United States.International journal of sports physical therapyMost clinicians learn kinesiology taping from continuing education and peers, not research. Half use 50% tension for three days. Many skip skin prep or removal instructions. The paper reports what practitioners do, not whether the tape works.
• PTOTCase Series2021Health Parameters in Standing and Nonstanding Nonambulatory Adults With Cerebral Palsy.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationBone density and health parameters showed no meaningful differences between 13 adults with cerebral palsy who stood and 5 who did not. Only descriptive occurrences, such as stand pivot transfers, were noted in the standing group.
• PTCase Report2021Upper Extremity Superficial Vein Thromboses Presenting as Acute Neck Pain in a Young and Healthy Male: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA young soldier's acute neck pain was musculoskeletal in appearance but resistant to therapy. A rising blood pressure trend and an elevated D-dimer prompted referral, revealing superficial vein thromboses likely caused by prolonged crutch use. This case highlights that unexplained pain worsening despite care warrants vital sign review.
• PTCohort2021A Comparison of Resting Scapular Posture and the Davies Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test.International journal of sports physical therapyResting scapular posture did not predict performance on the Davies Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test in healthy young adults. A second-year student could identify scapular types as reliably as an experienced therapist. Static posture alone does not explain dynamic stability test results.
• PTOTOther2020Psychological Effects of Hands-On Training Using Public Transportation among Inpatients with Physical Disabilities: Analysis of the Self-Efficacy and Perception of Occupational Enablement Using a Multimethod Design.Occupational therapy internationalHands-on public transport training increased patients' confidence but did not change their view of their own ability. Patients who used transport after discharge had better balance and walking scores than those who did not.
• PTNarrative Review2021Noncontact Knee Ligament Injury Prevention Screening in Netball: A Clinical Commentary with Clinical Practice Suggestions for Community-Level Players.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper offers a theoretical framework for screening netball players but reports no new clinical data. It suggests potential tests based on existing literature but does not prove any screening method reduces injury risk.
• PTOther2021Recommendations for Plyometric Training after ACL Reconstruction - A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper offers expert recommendations for structuring plyometric training after ACL reconstruction, proposing a four-stage progression based on strength and movement quality. It reports no patient outcomes or trial data, so it provides a framework for discussion rather than evidence of efficacy.
• PTProtocol2021A Criterion Based Rehabilitation Protocol for ACL Repair with Internal Brace Augmentation.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a criterion-based rehabilitation protocol for ACL repair with internal brace augmentation. It describes phase goals and progression rules but reports no patient outcomes or trial results, so it offers no evidence that this protocol improves recovery.
• PTNarrative Review2021The Neuroplastic Adaptation Trident Model: A Suggested Novel Framework for ACL Rehabilitation.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a theoretical framework for ACL rehabilitation but reports no patients, no outcomes, and no data. There is nothing here to change your practice on.
• PTOTOther2021Time-integrated propulsive and braking impulses do not depend on walking speed.Gait & postureHow you calculate walking forces changes the results. Time-integrated impulses show propulsion stays constant regardless of speed. Peak force measures falsely suggest propulsion drops when walking slows, potentially mislabeling slow walkers as having gait deficits.
• PTOTOther2021TEXT4myBACK - The Development Process of a Self-Management Intervention Delivered Via Text Message for Low Back Pain.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationDevelopers created 82 one-way text messages for low back pain self-management. Experts and consumers rated the messages, leading to revisions in 34% and 42% of drafts respectively. The final bank covers exercise, education, mood, care, sleep, and medication, but its effectiveness is untested.
• PTCohort2021Surgical site, gender, and place of residence influence the time to resume driving after total joint arthroplasty.Archives of physiotherapyMost patients resumed driving between weeks 4 and 9 after knee or hip replacement. Men and those living in the countryside drove earlier. Right-sided knee replacements and female patients were significantly more likely to delay driving until weeks 10 to 12.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Hand rehabilitation programmes for second to fifth metacarpal fractures: A systematic literature review.The South African journal of physiotherapyOne high-quality trial found a structured home exercise programme matched or beat traditional physiotherapy for hand movement and function after surgery. Two observational studies suggested early self-managed mobilisation works for non-surgical fractures, but evidence remains limited.
• PTOther2021Blended teaching versus traditional teaching for undergraduate physiotherapy students at the University of the Witwatersrand.The South African journal of physiotherapyBlended teaching significantly improved theoretical exam scores compared to traditional lectures, but did not improve clinical performance marks. Students generally preferred the blended format, though some found the volume of resources overwhelming.
• PTOTRCT2021Repeated standing back extension exercise: Influence on muscle shear modulus change after lumbodorsal muscle fatigue.Work (Reading, Mass.)After inducing back muscle fatigue, five sets of standing back extension exercises significantly reduced muscle stiffness in healthy men. The exercise had no effect on stiffness in participants who were not fatigued first.
• PTOther2021Ultrasound investigation into the relationship between hip adduction and the patellofemoral joint.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 40 healthy adults, moving the hip into 20° adduction consistently reduced the ultrasound gap between patella and femoral condyle by 0.18 cm. This indicates lateral patellar tilt. It may inform patellofemoral pain rehab, but patients were not tested.
• PTOther2021Knee joint angle sensing in healthy young adults using flexible orthosis with different wearing pressure.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn healthy young men, a soft knee brace at standard or tight pressure did not improve knee position sense compared with no brace. Tight pressure produced the largest errors.
• PTOTQualitative2021Beneficial and limiting factors in return to work after primary total knee replacement: Patients' perspective.Work (Reading, Mass.)Patients identified four themes influencing return to work: rehabilitation, patient factors, occupational factors, and medical support. Physical therapists who coached gently and set realistic expectations were most helpful. Patients needed control over their work pace and felt surgeons often lacked knowledge of their specific job demands.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021The Systemic Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyBlood flow restriction training improves strength and aerobic capacity with low loads, but dosing varies widely. It appears safe for healthy adults and some cardiac patients, though it increases perceived exertion and discomfort initially. Evidence for older adults and long-term systemic effects remains limited.
• PTOTOther2021A standardized protocol for the comprehensive assessment of dental hygiene work.Work (Reading, Mass.)A new video protocol allows accurate, standardized observation of dental hygiene tasks. It achieved good-to-excellent reliability for posture and activity coding, offering a tool to identify specific musculoskeletal risk factors in this high-prevalence profession.
• PTNarrative Review2021Lumbar spondylolisthesis: STATE of the art on assessment and conservative treatment.Archives of physiotherapyThis is a clinical overview of lumbar spondylolisthesis, not a study with new results. It summarizes existing evidence on how to assess and treat the condition, so it offers no new data to change your practice.
• PTOTNarrative Review2021Understanding the Process and Challenges for Return-to-Work Post-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation from a Musculoskeletal Perspective: A Narrative Review.Occupational therapy internationalUsing a musculoskeletal return-to-work model for post-HCT patients is expert consensus, not tested evidence. Functional capacity evaluation and job evaluation can guide individualized plans, with monitoring for unpredictable complications.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Safety and Effectiveness of a Perturbation-based Neuromuscular Training Program on Dynamic Balance in Adolescent Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of sports physical therapyA five-week perturbation training program was safe for adolescent females but did not improve dynamic balance, strength, proprioception, or flexibility compared to normal activity. The primary outcome was null.
• PTOther2021To What Extent Do Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Biomarkers Relate to Pain, Flexibility, Strength, and Function in Individuals With Chronic Symptomatic Achilles Tendinopathy?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesUltrasound markers showed only weak links to pain, flexibility, strength, or function, although they could distinguish a symptomatic Achilles tendon from the other side.
• PTOther2021Establishing Normative Values for Inter-Limb Kinetic Symmetry During Landing in Uninjured Adolescent Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyUninjured adolescent athletes typically show 16-20% asymmetry in landing forces. In a small group of post-ACL reconstruction athletes, six of eleven exceeded the 75th percentile of this norm, consistently loading their healthy limb more than the surgical one.
• PTPilot2021The Role of Fatigue in Return to Sport Testing Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyFatigue reduced performance more in the healthy leg than the injured leg in 21 athletes ready for return to sport. This narrows the gap between legs, potentially hiding deficits if testing is done while tired. Assess both limbs in fresh and fatigued states.
• PTSurvey2021Interprofessional Inconsistencies in the Diagnosis of Shoulder Instability: Survey Results of Physicians and Rehabilitation Providers.International journal of sports physical therapySports medicine clinicians disagreed about shoulder instability diagnosis. Physicians leaned on examination tests, while physical therapists and athletic trainers leaned on history. A positive sulcus sign shifted most clinicians toward multidirectional instability.
• PTNarrative Review2021Osteoarthritis Progression: Mitigation and Rehabilitation Strategies.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesExercise reduces pain and improves function in osteoarthritis, but no drug or biologic halts joint damage. After knee or hip replacement, progressive resistance training reliably increases strength, though results for walking distance are inconsistent. No standardized rehabilitation protocol exists yet.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Effectiveness of eHealth Tools for Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMost comparisons showed eHealth tools after hip or knee replacement did not outperform usual care on physical or psychological outcomes, but several studies found lower travel, time, and cost.
• PTNarrative Review2021ACL Return to Sport Testing: It's Time to Step up Our Game.International journal of sports physical therapyCurrent ACL return-to-sport criteria rely too heavily on time and symmetry, which often overestimate readiness. Proposed stricter testing includes higher symmetry targets, psychological readiness, and intrinsic risk factors like gender and family history. These recommendations are expert opinion and not yet validated.
• PTOther2021Examination of the innominate movements in individuals with and without a positive march test.Journal of physical therapy scienceMarch test groups differed in pelvic movement, but the direction depended on position. The positive group moved more while standing, and less during hip flexion at 90 and 100 degrees, and during the March test motion.
• PTSurvey2021Mechanical Percussion Devices: A Survey of Practice Patterns Among Healthcare Professionals.International journal of sports physical therapyMost clinicians using percussion devices rely on peer collaboration and anecdotal experience rather than evidence. There are no established guidelines, and treatment settings vary widely among practitioners. This describes current habits, not proven effectiveness.
• PTOTRCT2021Efficacy of wrist robot-aided orthopedic rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot-assisted wrist rehab matched conventional therapy on standard clinical tests for grip, dexterity, and function. However, patients using the robot showed significantly better range of motion and overall robotic performance scores than those receiving traditional manual therapy.
• PTOTOther2021Incidence of spinal instability among patients with discogenic low back pain with different backgrounds.Journal of physical therapy scienceMore than half of patients with discogenic low back pain showed spinal instability on X-ray. This instability was not linked to age, gender, sports activity, or occupation. These findings describe who has instability but do not prove that instability causes pain or that specific treatments work.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Reliability and Validity of the Functional Movement Screen™ with a Modified Scoring System for Young Adults with Low Back Pain.International journal of sports physical therapyA modified Functional Movement Screen scoring system, where a zero is given only for increased pain rather than any pain, showed excellent reliability in young adults with low back pain. It reliably distinguished those with pain from asymptomatic peers, supporting its use for assessing movement quality.
• PTSurvey2021Overuse Injury, Substance Use, and Resilience in Collegiate Female Athlete.International journal of sports physical therapyResilience did not show a link to pain, overuse injury, or substance use among 230 female collegiate athletes. Pain was reported by 45.0% and overuse injury by 52.0%.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Reliability, responsiveness, and validity of handheld dynamometry for assessing quadriceps strength in total knee arthroplasty.Disability and rehabilitationHandheld dynamometry is a reliable and responsive way to track quadriceps strength in total knee replacement patients, but its readings are not interchangeable with lab equipment. Use it to monitor progress over time, not to compare scores against electromechanical dynamometry results.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Sustained Attention and Working Memory Predict the Number of Days on Health-Related Benefits in the Year Following Occupational Rehabilitation.Journal of occupational rehabilitationFor patients on long-term benefits, better sustained attention and working memory at the start of rehab predicted fewer days on benefits one year later. Attention improvement during rehab also predicted fewer benefit days in this group.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Digitally Assisted Versus Conventional Home-Based Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationDigital home rehab with motion trackers and 13 therapist visits matched conventional rehab with 30 visits on shoulder function at 12 weeks. Both groups improved clinically, but no significant difference was found. The study stopped early due to the pandemic, leaving it underpowered.