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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 23 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2023Effect of the lumbar stability exercise on the height difference between shoulders and range of motion in older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older adults, five weeks of lumbar stability exercise significantly improved shoulder flexion and abduction range of motion, while passive arm exercise only improved abduction. Neither group showed a significant change in shoulder height difference.
• PTOther2023Predictions of total work based on measures of muscle strength and hop performance in individuals after ACL reconstruction.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineQuadriceps strength at 180°/s and triple hop distance predicted total limb work in ACLR patients. This means these clinical tests can estimate a patient's ability to generate and absorb power during jumping. However, isokinetic strength testing is rarely available in standard clinics.
• PTOther2023Confirmatory factor analysis of the Japanese Health Locus of Control scales among people with musculoskeletal disorders.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe 25-item Japanese Health Locus of Control scale works better as five separate factors (internal, family, professional, chance, supernatural) than as a simple internal-versus-external split in patients with musculoskeletal pain. However, it only met two of four statistical criteria for a good fit.
• PTRCT2023Unilateral Strength Training after Total Knee Arthroplasty Leads to Similar or Better Effects on Strength and Flexibility than Bilateral Strength Training - A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineUnilateral strength training after knee replacement worked as well as bilateral training for the operated leg, but improved flexibility more and strength in the healthy leg. Both groups gained function. The study was small, so treat this as a promising option rather than proof.
• PTOTCase-Control2023Physical functions associated with health-related quality of life in older adults diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older adults awaiting knee surgery, slow sit-to-stand and walking speed tracked lower physical and social quality of life, but not mental well-being. Pain on joint loading also correlated with poorer physical quality of life. Assess these specific functions to target rehab.
• PTOTOther2023Quantitative assessments of finger individuation with an instrumented glove.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA data glove produced repeatable scores for finger movement in 20 healthy adults. The test is consistent across visits, but because only healthy right-handed young adults were studied, these scores cannot yet diagnose hand problems in patients.
• PTOTCohort2023Differences in Recovery of Tendon Health Explained by Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy Subgroups: A 6-Month Follow-up.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyFour distinct patient profiles emerged in Achilles tendinopathy. Activity- and Function-Dominant groups recovered fastest, while Structure-Dominant patients showed delayed structural healing. Psychosocial-Dominant patients retained functional deficits. Recovery timelines vary by subgroup, suggesting tailored monitoring is needed.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on quadriceps weakness immediately after total knee arthroplasty: a pilot, randomized, open-label clinical trial.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients taking omega-3 capsules for 30 days before knee replacement surgery showed significantly less quadriceps weakness on day 4 after surgery compared to those who took nothing. This pilot study suggests a potential benefit, but the small sample size means these results need confirmation.
• PTCohort2023Association between knee function and kinesiophobia 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Journal of physical therapy scienceSix months after ACL reconstruction, patients with more fear of movement had worse hop test performance and more anterior knee pain. Younger age and male sex were also linked to higher kinesiophobia scores.
• PTOTCohort2023Self-reported physical function is strongly related to pain behavior and pain interference and weakly related to physical capacity in people with chronic low back pain.Musculoskeletal science & practiceSelf-reported physical function in chronic low back pain correlates strongly with pain behavior and interference but weakly with objective physical capacity. Clinicians should not use questionnaires as a proxy for performance tests, as they measure different constructs.
• PTCase Report2023Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation effects on patients with subacute vertebral fracture: a case report using an ABAB study design.Journal of physical therapy sciencePain scores fell sharply during hospitalization with standard physical therapy, bracing, walking aids and earlier pain medication. Adding TENS to that plan coincided with higher trunk strength and longer walking distance in one patient. This cannot show TENS works.
• PTOTSurvey2023The Comparison of Psychological Barriers Between Individuals with a History of Anterior Knee Pain, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, and Healthy Individuals.International journal of sports physical therapyStudents with a history of anterior knee pain or ACL reconstruction reported significantly higher fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, and fear-avoidance beliefs than healthy peers. The two injured groups showed similar psychological barriers, suggesting these issues persist long after injury.
• PTSystematic Review2023Sex-specific differences in neuromuscular activation of the knee stabilizing muscles in adults - a systematic review.Archives of physiotherapyEvidence on sex-specific differences in knee muscle activation is contradictory. Some studies show women activate quadriceps more during landing, others find no difference or opposite effects. Do not assume a distinct neuromuscular profile for women based on current data.
• PTSurvey2023Survey on Knowledge, Use, and Diagnostic Applicability of Special Tests for Rotator Cuff Involvement in Clinical Practice.International journal of sports physical therapyMost PTs know and use empty can and full can tests, but rank infraspinatus, champagne toast, ERLS, and belly-off as most useful for diagnosis. No test was top in all three areas. Experience or specialization did not change test knowledge or use.
• PTNarrative Review2023MSK Ultrasound - An IJSPT Perspective.International journal of sports physical therapyThis article describes how musculoskeletal ultrasound can be used in physical therapy for diagnosis, biofeedback, and guiding interventions. It reviews existing concepts and training requirements but presents no new clinical evidence or patient outcomes.
• PTOther2023The Need To Change Return to Play Testing in Athletes Following ACL Injury: A Theoretical Model.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a theoretical model for return-to-play testing after ACL injury, focusing on reactive and neurocognitive tasks. It does not report any patient data or outcomes, so there is no evidence here to change your practice.
• PTRCT2023Effectiveness of Spinal Stabilization Exercises on Dynamic Balance in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain.International journal of sports physical therapySupervised spinal stabilization exercises improved dynamic balance more than general exercises over eight weeks, but pain and disability dropped equally in both groups. Neither exercise type reduced pain or disability beyond the threshold considered clinically meaningful.
• PTSystematic Review2023Physical Therapists Use of Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging in Clinical Practice: A Review of Case Reports.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 42 published physical therapy cases, ultrasound use was followed by confirmed diagnosis in 33, changed treatment in 29, and referral in 25. These are case reports, not proof ultrasound works.
• PTPilot2023A Preliminary Investigation into the Neural Correlates of Knee Loading during a Change of Direction Task in Individuals after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyEight people with ACL reconstruction showed slightly lower knee extension moments when vision was disrupted, but this change was smaller than the minimal detectable difference. Brain activity in visual-sensory areas correlated with knee loading only during the disrupted vision condition.
• PTOTOther2023Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) and Associated Sub-scales.International journal of sports physical therapyThe 40-item HOOS and HOOS-12 failed statistical structure tests, suggesting items overlap too much to measure distinct problems. The shorter HOOS-JR showed better structure and validly distinguished hip pathology from healthy states, making it more reliable for screening hip dysfunction in active populations.
• PTPilot2023Signs of Nervous System Sensitization in Female Runners with Chronic Patellofemoral Pain.International journal of sports physical therapyFemale runners with chronic knee pain had lower pain thresholds to pressure at the knee and remote sites like the shin and thigh. Heat pain tests and functional balance scores showed no differences between groups. Pressure testing may better identify sensitization in this population.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Examining the Peer-Reviewed Published Literature Regarding Low Back Pain in Rowing: A Scoping Review.International journal of sports physical therapyThe only two consistent risk factors for low back pain in rowers were previous back pain and prolonged ergometer use. Most evidence relies on retrospective surveys with no standard definition of back pain, so specific training limits or screening tools cannot be recommended.
• PTOTRCT2023Effectiveness of Spinal Stabilization Exercises on Movement Performance in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain.International journal of sports physical therapySpinal stabilization exercises improved movement quality more than general exercises, but neither reduced pain or disability enough to be clinically meaningful. Both groups improved during supervised sessions, with gains fading when participants exercised alone at home.
• PTOTOther2023My Top Five Concepts for Selecting Lower Extremity Exercises For Cruciate Ligament and Patellofemoral Rehabilitation.International journal of sports physical therapySeated knee extensions place higher strain on the ACL than most weight-bearing exercises like squats and lunges. Technique details matter: keeping knees over toes and using a forward trunk tilt reduces ligament load. Progress from low to high knee angles to control stress on the patellofemoral joint.
• PTOther2023Video Analysis of 26 Cases of Second ACL Injury Events in Collegiate and Professional Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyVideo analysis of 26 non-contact second ACL injuries showed knee valgus collapse in 18 cases. Injuries occurred mostly during single-leg landing or cutting, with athletes focused on the ball or opponent. Hip angles remained unchanged, suggesting a stiff landing contributed to the injury.
• PTPilot2023Adding A Structured Educational Session to the Rehabilitation Program of Soccer Players Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Feasibility Study.International journal of sports physical therapyAdding a structured educational session to usual ACLR rehab was feasible and acceptable: 35 of 36 soccer players agreed, and 30 completed one-week follow-up. In the educational group, fear scores were lower and readiness scores higher, but this was not a test of effectiveness.
• PTCohort2023The Association Between Functional Movement Screen Scores and Knee Valgus Moments During Unplanned Sidestep Cutting in Netball.International journal of sports physical therapyFunctional Movement Screen scores did not correlate with knee valgus moments during unplanned sidestep cutting in female netballers. A low composite score cannot be used to infer high ACL injury risk during this specific sport maneuver. Screening tools must better replicate the unplanned, high-velocity nature of the movement to predict risk.
• PTOTOther2023A scalable 12-week exercise and education programme reduces symptoms and improves function and wellbeing in people with hip and knee osteoarthritis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with hip and knee arthritis attending a 12-week gym programme reported less pain and better function. Because there was no control group, we cannot know if the programme caused these changes or if they were natural recovery.
• PTCohort2023Beyond peak torque: Longitudinal analysis of angle-specific isokinetic knee torques in collegiate athletes post-ACLR.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineCollegiate athletes with bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts showed quadriceps asymmetry at deep knee flexion angles until 8 months post-surgery, resolving by 12 months. Testing at both 60°/s and 240°/s speeds yielded similar results, suggesting one speed may be sufficient.
• PTCase Report2023Re-establishing the cervical lordosis after whiplash: a Chiropractic Biophysics® spinal corrective care methods pre-auto injury and post-auto injury case report with follow-up.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn one teen, Chiropractic BioPhysics® traction and exercises increased cervical lordosis before and after a whiplash injury. Neck pain and disability scores fell. This describes what happened to one person, not evidence that the method works.
• PTOTCohort2023Predictors of life-space mobility in patients with fracture 3 months after discharge from convalescent rehabilitation ward: a prospective longitudinal study.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor older adults discharged home after fracture, three-month life-space mobility was predicted by fall-related self-efficacy, motor function, age, and gender, not by walking speed or balance tests. Patients with lower fear of falling and better mobility scores moved more widely after discharge.
• PTOTSurvey2023Female athlete triad cross-sectional study of soccer players by level of competition.Journal of physical therapy scienceMost female soccer players reported menstruation as bothersome or affecting performance, yet only a few used low-dose pills. Players with a history of amenorrhea had later menarche. Lower-level players expressed a stronger desire to lose weight than top-league athletes.
• PTOTCohort2023Higher knee flexion moment during walking is associated with a lower risk of knee pain developing among the elderly after 24 months.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineOlder adults with a higher knee flexion moment while walking had less frequent knee pain after two years. No association was found at twelve months, and knee adduction moment trends suggested higher risk. This challenges the idea that more sagittal loading is harmful.
• PTCase Report2023The Development of a Return to Performance Pathway Involving A Professional Soccer Player Returning From A Multi-Structural Knee Injury: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA criteria-based return-to-performance pathway allowed a professional soccer player to return to full league match play eight weeks after a complex knee surgery and meniscectomy. Progression relied on objective strength, power, and sport-specific metrics rather than time, though this is a single case.
• PTCohort2023Using trunk kinematics to predict kinetic asymmetries during double-leg jump-landings in collegiate athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Gait & postureSide-to-side hip position during jump-landings predicted 27% to 38% of the variance in force and knee moment asymmetries in athletes recovering from ACL reconstruction. Simple video analysis of hip shift may help screen for risky loading patterns, though it does not replace force plates.
• PTOther2023Muscle synergy patterns as altered coordination strategies in individuals with chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAcross 15 people with chronic low back pain and 15 matched controls, trunk muscle synergy patterns were similar; the pain group showed more consistent patterns in some back-muscle synergies and more variable patterns in one trunk-stability synergy.
• PTOTQualitative2023Participation in everyday life for young people with chronic pain in Saudi Arabia: "you feel lacking in life and you feel that time is flying by".Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesYoung people with chronic pain described pain as a heavy burden that limited walking, sleep, mood, concentration, and social contact. They tried to keep daily life going with medication, distraction, rest, family help, and avoiding triggers.
• PTCase Report2023The Longitudinal Neurophysiological Adaptation of a Division I Female Lacrosse Player Following Anterior Cruciate Rupture and Repair: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyOne athlete's brain activity showed high stress and asymmetry right after ACL injury, then normalized by nine months alongside physical recovery. This tracks a single person's healing. It does not prove brain monitoring guides safe return to sport.
• PTOther2023Periodization in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation: New Framework Versus Old Model? A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a theoretical framework for periodizing ACL rehab but reports no original data. The authors state these concepts have not been tested in randomized controlled trials, so there are no evidence-based findings to change clinical practice.
• PTSystematic Review2023The Effect Of Percussive Therapy On Musculoskeletal Performance And Experiences Of Pain: A Systematic Literature Review.International journal of sports physical therapyPercussive massage guns increased flexibility in the reviewed studies, but a single treatment was not better than static stretching. Strength and pain findings were limited and mixed, and some pain studies gave other treatments at the same time.
• PTNarrative Review2023Graft-Specific Surgical and Rehabilitation Considerations for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with the Quadriceps Tendon Autograft.International journal of sports physical therapyThis clinical commentary discusses quadriceps tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. It gives surgical and rehabilitation considerations, not original results.
• PTOther2023The Falcon Test: An Observer Agreement Study in Subjects With and Without Anterior Knee Pain.International journal of sports physical therapyThe Falcon test showed almost perfect agreement between and within raters for measuring rectus femoris length. It was more reliable than the Thomas test for detecting differences in people with anterior knee pain, though this group was small and had low pain levels.
• PTOther2023Self-Movement Screening using the Symmio Application is Reliable and Valid for Identifying Musculoskeletal Risk Factors.International journal of sports physical therapyUntrained people scored their own movement on a phone app almost as well as a physical therapist did. The app identified pain with movement and balance deficits accurately, though it missed general movement dysfunction. Use it to spot issues, not to rule them out.
• PTOTOther2023The Swedish King's Parkinson's disease Pain Scale: Validation and pain prevalence in persons with mild-moderate severity Parkinson's disease.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Swedish King's Parkinson's Pain Scale correlates strongly with visual pain scores and captures pain independently of balance. In mild-moderate Parkinson's, 57% reported pain, mostly musculoskeletal. Use this scale to identify pain types that require specific rehabilitation strategies.
• PTOther2023Identifying Conservative Interventions for Individuals with Subacromial Pain Syndrome Prior to Undergoing a Subacromial Decompression: A Scoping Review.International journal of sports physical therapyMost studies of shoulder surgery patients listed physical therapy and injections as prior care, but rarely described the exercises, dosage, or who delivered them. Clinicians cannot judge whether conservative care was adequate because the literature omits the specifics.
• PTOTOther2023Assessing real-world gait with digital technology? Validation, insights and recommendations from the Mobilise-D consortium.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA lower-back wearable could identify walking bouts, steps, and cadence reasonably well in real life, but stride length was unreliable, especially for slow or short bouts.
• PTCohort2023Relationship of early postoperative perceived leg length discrepancy to the progression of osteoarthritis in the contralateral hip after unilateral total hip arthroplasty-a retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients who felt their operated leg was longer 3 weeks after one-sided hip replacement had more joint space narrowing in the opposite hip at 1 year when similar patients were matched (1.00 mm vs 0.22 mm). Without matching, the difference was not clear enough.
• PTNarrative Review2023Ecological and Specific Evidence-Based Safe Return To Play After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction In Soccer Players: A New International Paradigm.International journal of sports physical therapyCurrent return-to-play testing for soccer players after ACL reconstruction often misses ecological demands. A proposed two-phase protocol combines standard clinical measures with field-based simulations of match intensity, fatigue, and dual-tasking to better predict safe readiness.
• PTRCT2023Duration of Electro-Dry Needling Does Not Change the Pain Response After Repeated Nociceptive Thermal Stimuli in Asymptomatic Individuals: A Randomized Intervention Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationElectro-dry needling reduced pain sensitivity in healthy adults, but the duration of treatment made no difference. Whether needles were left in for 10 minutes or 30 minutes, the immediate reduction in pain response was the same.
• PTOther2023The Use of MSK Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries.International journal of sports physical therapyThis is a clinical overview describing elbow anatomy, types of ulnar collateral ligament injuries, and the technical use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnosis. It reports no patients, no methods, and no outcomes, so there is nothing here to change your practice on.