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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 22 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2023Effects of multidirectional elastic tape on pain and function in individuals with lateral elbow tendinopathy: A randomised crossover trial.Clinical rehabilitationTensioned multidirectional elastic tape did not improve pain-free grip strength or pressure pain thresholds in people with lateral elbow tendinopathy. While 26% of participants showed a meaningful individual improvement in grip strength, the group average showed no benefit over control tape or no tape.
• PTRCT2023Beyond the pain: A qualitative study exploring the physical therapy experience in patients with chronic low back pain.Physiotherapy theory and practiceIn low-income, mostly Black adults with chronic low back pain, physical therapy was experienced as empowering when education and exercise built confidence, and when therapist and peer connection made them feel supported. These are themes, not proof that it works.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Trajectories of Executive Functions After Early Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury: Teacher Ratings in the Initial 81 Months Postinjury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationTeacher ratings showed two groups: 65% stayed in the normal range, while 35% had executive function concerns that worsened over time. Children in the struggling group were more likely to have had a brain injury, lower socio-economic status, and authoritarian parenting.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Supervised exercise therapy versus laser-guided exercise therapy on postural control in subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled clinical trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineBoth supervised and laser-guided exercise with pain education improved postural control. Laser-guided exercise showed greater improvements in energy required to restore balance, but no control group means natural recovery cannot be ruled out.
• PTOTSLPPilot2022Feasibility of a Novel Video Game-Based Electromyography Biofeedback System in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.Journal of sport rehabilitationPatients with knee osteoarthritis generated 25% higher knee extension torque and exercised 2.7 minutes longer when using a video game biofeedback system compared to traditional biofeedback. Participants reported high usability and engagement, suggesting the game format may help patients exert more effort during rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Opioid use in older orthopedic rehabilitation inpatients: a retrospective study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNew opioid users in orthopedic rehab received far lower doses than guidelines suggest, with older patients requiring the least. Prior users received much higher doses. Functional recovery was similar across groups, but constipation was common in all.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Relations between indoor rehabilitation and basic health services in a developing country.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn a Bangladeshi inpatient rehabilitation ward, 78.1% of patients arrived via outpatient screening rather than acute care transfer. Musculoskeletal conditions accounted for the largest share of admissions among those with recorded diagnoses. Most patients were discharged home.
• PTCohort2022The effect of fatigue on running mechanics in older and younger runners.Gait & postureOlder and younger runners adapted to fatigue similarly, with no interaction between age and exertion. Both groups showed slightly reduced knee range of motion and increased hip extension moment when tired. The change in knee motion was small, likely not clinically meaningful.
• PTCase-Control2022Effects of cognitive- and motor-dual tasks on postural control regularity following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Gait & postureAfter ACL reconstruction, one-leg balance was more regular than matched controls only when people also did a visual number-reversal task. Eyes closed and catching a ball changed balance overall, but did not separate groups.
• PTRCT2022Reduction of risk factors for ACL Re-injuries using an innovative biofeedback approach: A phase I randomized clinical trial.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineThe biofeedback intervention failed to improve the primary measure of landing symmetry, meaning it did not reduce key risk factors for second ACL injuries. While one secondary measure of force symmetry improved immediately, this benefit did not last by the 12-week follow-up.
• PTProtocol2022Patient adherence to physical activity advice (PAPA) in patients with low back pain: Study protocol for a multicentre randomized controlled trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyThis paper is a protocol for a planned trial, not a report of results. It describes how researchers will test if social support helps patients with low back pain stick to activity advice, but no findings are available yet.
• PTOTOther2022Differences in gait kinetics and kinematics between patients with rotating hinge knee and cruciate-retaining prostheses: a cross-sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceGait mechanics for rotating hinge knee implants matched cruciate-retaining ones, not healthy knees. This suggests the restrictive implant corrects alignment to normal load levels, but small sample size and all-female cohort limit generalizability.
• PTSurvey2022Effects of pain-related catastrophic thinking, anxiety, and depression on pain intensity and quality of life in patients with knee and low back pain.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe 14 low back pain patients and 14 knee pain patients did not differ in pain, catastrophizing, anxiety, depression, or quality of life. Higher pain was reported alongside anxiety in back pain and helplessness in knee pain.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Patient experiences receiving rehabilitation care via telehealth: Identifying opportunities for remote care.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients at a rehabilitation hospital reported high satisfaction with telehealth, rating visits as easy, safe, and effective. This positive experience was consistent across neurological, pain, and musculoskeletal conditions, including multidisciplinary team visits.
• PTOTSurvey2022A survey of physical and occupational therapists' views on lumbar loading movements.Journal of physical therapy sciencePhysical and occupational therapists in Japan most often listed lifting heavy objects while bending forward, trunk rotation, and holding heavy objects while standing as lumbar-loading. Grabbing high places and picking up floor items were also common.
• PTOTPilot2023Gamified Physical Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Musculoskeletal Issues: Pilot Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAdding a gamified exercise machine to standard physiotherapy did not change functional outcomes compared to standard care alone. The study was too small to prove the device is as effective as usual therapy, and no significant differences were found in strength, mobility, or daily living skills.
• PTQualitative2022Reciprocity in Low Back Pain Care and Its Role in Power Dynamics: A Give-and-Take Approach.Physical therapyClinicians who accepted patients’ conversational leads, invited their input, and shared personal stories created more equal power dynamics. Blocking these offers or staying strictly biomedical kept clinicians in control and discouraged patient participation.
• PTOther2022Maximizing Recovery in the Postpartum Period: A Timeline for Rehabilitation from Pregnancy through Return to Sport.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a timeline for exercise and return to sport after pregnancy, but it is a clinical commentary, not a study. It offers no new evidence on whether these guidelines work or are safe, so there are no findings here to change your practice.
• PTOther2023The Effect of a Mobile Health App on Treatment Adherence and Revenue at Physical Health Clinics: Retrospective Record Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients who voluntarily downloaded a clinic app had more visits and generated more revenue than those who did not. However, because patients chose whether to use the app, this difference may reflect their existing motivation rather than the app's effect.
• PTOther20222022 IJSPT Orthopedic Summit Research Abstracts.International journal of sports physical therapyNo single finding can be taken from this article, because it is a collection of conference abstracts rather than one full study.
• PTPilot2022Exploring Force Production Reliability across Different Levels of Clinical Experience during a Simulated One-handed Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Treatment: A Pilot Study.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 10 trained participants, IASTM force was similar across two lab sessions, but this tested force consistency, not patient pain or function. Do not assume one instrument or training produces clinically effective force.
• PTOther2022The Reliability of the GNRB® Knee Arthrometer in Measuring ACL Stiffness and Laxity: Implications for Clinical Use and Clinical Trial Design.International journal of sports physical therapyThe robotic knee device gave repeatable measurements of front-to-back knee movement and tissue stiffness in healthy young adults, but measurement error was large enough that small changes should not be treated as real.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022A Comparison of Factors Associated with Running-Related Injuries between Adult and Adolescent Runners.International journal of sports physical therapyBoth adult and adolescent runners with a history of injury reported intentional weight loss and scored lower on movement quality tests than uninjured runners. These factors appear relevant across age groups, though the cross-sectional design cannot prove they caused the injuries.
• PTOther2022Ultrasound Measurement of Lateral Patellar Displacement: A Cadaveric Validation Study.International journal of sports physical therapyUltrasound measurements of patellar position matched direct surgical measurements in cadavers, with a strong correlation between the two methods. This validates ultrasound as a tool for assessing lateral patellar displacement, though confirmation in living patients with knee pain is still required.
• PTSurvey2022Nonspecific chronic low back pain conditions and therapeutic practices in Burkina Faso.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn Burkina Faso, most chronic back pain patients held strong fear-avoidance beliefs about physical activity. Medical practitioners relied heavily on analgesics, while physiotherapists used a mix of passive and active treatments. Few practitioners systematically assessed psychosocial risk factors.
• PTCohort2023Independently ambulatory children with spina bifida experience near-typical knee and ankle joint moments and forces during walking.Gait & postureMost independently walking children with spina bifida generate near-typical knee and ankle forces during gait. However, those with the weakest plantar flexors experienced higher compressive knee and shear ankle forces, suggesting a specific subgroup at risk for altered loading despite high function.
• PTOther2023Description and rules of a new card game to learn clinical reasoning in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyPhysiotherapy students described a new card game as engaging and helpful for practicing clinical reasoning. The tool organizes patient information into hypothesis categories but has not been tested to show it actually improves reasoning skills or patient outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Influence of Initial Health Care Provider on Subsequent Health Care Utilization for Patients With a New Onset of Low Back Pain: A Scoping Review.Physical therapyStarting new low back pain care with a physical therapist or chiropractor was linked to fewer opioid prescriptions and less imaging than starting with a doctor. However, costs varied, and no study proved these providers improved patient recovery or satisfaction.
• PTPilot2022Physical therapist-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy and exercise for older outpatients with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding physical therapist-delivered ACT to exercise did not show a clear reduction in physical disability. The group receiving ACT plus exercise improved and was lower than usual care at 4 weeks, but pilot small and dropouts high.
• PTQualitative2022Doing things you never imagined: Professional and ethical issues in the U.S. outpatient physical therapy setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.Musculoskeletal science & practiceOutpatient physical therapists reported that safety measures like masking and distancing compromised their ability to use touch and communicate empathy. They faced ethical pressure to prioritize productivity over care quality, and struggled to manage patient conflicts over masks and vaccines.
• PTOther2022Applying patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in physiotherapy: an evaluation based on the QUALITOUCH Activity Index.Archives of physiotherapyPatients receiving physiotherapy reported less pain and easier household tasks over follow-ups in 11,948 patients. This dataset created diagnosis-specific reference ranges to compare individual progress, not evidence that any particular treatment caused improvement.
• PTQualitative2023Patient Choice After Referral to Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain and Knee Osteoarthritis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationVeterans referred to physical therapy for back pain or knee osteoarthritis described appointment confusion, long waits, travel or work barriers, and doubts that physical therapists could diagnose or provide effective treatment as barriers to starting care.
• PTOTOther2023A core outcome set for lower limb orthopaedic surgery for children with cerebral palsy: An international multi-stakeholder consensus study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyInternational consensus identified 19 outcomes across 8 domains to measure after lower limb surgery in children with cerebral palsy. These include pain, walking, independence, and self-esteem. Adverse events and assistive device use were excluded from the core set.
• PTRCT2023Variation in Outcomes and Number of Visits Following Care Guideline Implementation: Part 2 of an Analysis of 12 355 Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyAfter a knee replacement care guideline, function score gains were 5.6 points higher than in the non-guideline group, on a 0 to 100 scale, and clinic-to-clinic variation fell. The gain was below the 10 point threshold for meaningful change, and visits did not increase.
• PTOTCohort2022Influence of patients' walking ability at one-week post-proximal femur fracture surgery on the choice of discharge destination in Japan.Journal of physical therapy scienceWalking ability one week after hip fracture surgery predicts discharge home. Patients with supervised walking ability were nearly twice as likely to go home. However, having a relative living together was a much stronger predictor, with patients four times more likely to be discharged home.
• PTCohort2023Improved Outcomes Following a Care Guideline Implementation: Part 1 of an Analysis of 12 355 Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyAfter a knee replacement care guideline and quality improvement bundle, fewer patients failed to make meaningful progress: 14.3% after versus 25.8% before. This change cannot be pinned to any single component.
• PTOTCohort2023Demographic and Clinical Correlates of Device-Measured Physical Activity Levels in Individuals with Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPeople with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome did significantly less vigorous exercise and took fewer steps than healthy peers. Higher body mass index and poorer quality of life scores were the only factors linked to this lower activity level.
• PTOTRCT2023The combined effect of short foot exercises and orthosis in symptomatic flexible flatfoot: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdding short foot exercises to a shoe insole reduced pain and improved function more than the insole alone in people with painful flat feet. The primary outcome, foot pressure, showed no difference between groups at the end of the six weeks.
• PTCase-Control2022Sex-Specific Brain Activations during Single-Leg Exercise.International journal of sports physical therapyDuring simple knee movements, females showed higher brain activation in visual and planning areas, while males showed higher activation in the cerebellum. This suggests females may rely more on vision and movement planning, potentially due to lower proprioception.
• PTPilot2022An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Risk Screening and Reduction Program for High School Female Athletes: A Pilot Study.International journal of sports physical therapyEvery athlete met a high-risk ankle dorsiflexion cutoff. Jump landing and balance step-down scores were high-risk in 10/15 and 11/15. Hip strength and hamstring-to-quadriceps measures were below cutoffs in many. This pilot screened athletes; it did not test prevention.
• PTCohort2022Psychological Patient-reported Outcomes Cannot Predict a Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Patients who Return to Sports after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyPsychological questionnaires did not predict second ACL injuries after reconstruction and return to sport. Proposed score cut-offs did not separate patients who were injured again from those who were not, whether or not quadriceps strength was symmetrical.
• PTOther2022Movement Competency Screen: Rethinking the Rating.International journal of sports physical therapyScoring dancers' movement with five load levels rather than three groups showed a stronger link to core and hip strength. The five-level system explained 24% of the score variance, while the three-level system explained only 13.3%, suggesting the five-level approach captures more detail.
• PTOther2022Agreement Between Isokinetic Dynamometer and Hand-held Isometric Dynamometer as Measures to Detect Lower Limb Asymmetry in Muscle Torque After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyHand-held and isokinetic dynamometers do not agree on limb symmetry after ACL reconstruction. The hand-held device detected significantly more flexion asymmetry than the isokinetic machine, but results differed by movement. Do not swap the two tools mid-rehabilitation, as they measure different things and give different answers.
• PTNarrative Review2022Economic evaluation: a reader's guide to studies of cost-effectiveness.Archives of physiotherapyThis paper is a guide to reading economic evaluations. It explains concepts like cost-effectiveness ratios and quality-adjusted life years but reports no original research findings, patient outcomes, or treatment effects.
• PTCohort2022Isometric Knee Strength is Greater in Individuals Who Score Higher on Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyAthletes with higher psychological readiness scores had significantly greater isometric knee flexion strength. There were no significant differences between groups for knee extension strength, balance, or hop tests. The link between readiness and function is inconsistent.
• PTOTQualitative2023Cooperative leadership as a condition for patient-reported rehabilitation success.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesHigh-success rehab clinics had flatter hierarchies where therapists challenged doctors openly. Low-success clinics relied on rigid physician dominance and delegate-based meetings, which staff felt reduced their voice and hindered genuine interdisciplinary teamwork.
• PTCohort2022Injuries and Illnesses Across 10 Years of Canada Games Competitions: 2009 - 2019.International journal of sports physical therapyShoulder injuries and muscle strains were the most common injury findings at Canada Games, and female athletes had more recorded injuries and illnesses than male athletes.
• PTCohort2022Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study.International journal of sports physical therapyBaseball pitchers with unstable or hypermobile shoulders on manual exam reported significantly more arm pain and lower function than those with normal stability. This cross-sectional study found an association, but it cannot prove that shoulder laxity causes the pain or that screening changes outcomes.
• PTCohort2022Deficits in Dynamic Balance and Hop Performance Following ACL Reconstruction Are Not Dependent on Meniscal Injury History.International journal of sports physical therapyAdolescent athletes with isolated ACL tears and those with meniscal repairs or partial meniscectomies showed similar deficits in dynamic balance and hop performance. Meniscal injury history did not change the degree of limb asymmetry at return-to-sport testing.
• PTOTNarrative Review2023The state of the art in telerehabilitation for musculoskeletal conditions.Archives of physiotherapyTelerehabilitation matches face-to-face care for pain and function in musculoskeletal conditions. Prioritize patient preference and digital literacy. Use hybrid models for complex cases or when hands-on skills are needed. Ensure safety, privacy, and clear communication to maintain therapeutic alliance.