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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 4 OF 41 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTPilot2017Underwater treadmill training and gait ability in the normal adult.Journal of physical therapy scienceUnderwater treadmill training increased step length, velocity, and cadence in healthy young men. The study lacked a control group and followed only 20 participants, so it cannot confirm whether this method improves gait ability or outperforms standard training.
• PTCase Report2016Using musculoskeletal modeling to evaluate the effect of ankle foot orthosis tuning on musculotendon dynamics: a case study.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyA custom ankle-foot orthosis set in plantar flexion with heel alignment tuning reduced gastrocnemius operating length and improved swing knee flexion and walking speed in a person with left hemiplegia after stroke. Knee extension in stance did not improve.
• PTOTOther2016Clinical Decision Support Tools for Selecting Interventions for Patients with Disabling Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationNo decision support tool for selecting interventions in musculoskeletal pain is ready for widespread use. Most are early-stage questionnaires, algorithms, or prediction rules, with inconsistent testing and no confirmed patient benefit.
• PTOTOther2016Development of a Modified Version of the Spinal Function Sort (M-SFS): A Mixed Method Approach.Journal of occupational rehabilitationA 20-item modified picture-based spinal function sort was developed for chronic nonspecific low back pain, adding prolonged postures and removing redundant items. It has not yet been checked for accuracy or consistency, so use cautiously.
• PTOTSLPCohort2017Long-Term School Outcomes of Children and Adolescents With Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren with severe TBI need school support services immediately. Those with mild or moderate injuries often appear fine at two years but require comparable support by six years post-injury. Monitor academic performance long-term, not just at discharge.
• PTOther2017Analysis of muscle activation in each body segment in response to the stimulation intensity of whole-body vibration.Journal of physical therapy scienceWhole-body vibration produced the strongest muscle activation in ten young men when set to the highest amplitude and the lowest frequency of 10 Hz. Activation was highest in the legs and faded as it reached the trunk and shoulders.
• PTOTRCT2017Return to Work in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Multidisciplinary Intervention Versus Brief Intervention: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitationA comprehensive multidisciplinary intervention did not increase full return to work at 12 or 24 months compared to a brief intervention. However, patients in the multidisciplinary group returned to partial work significantly faster during the first seven months.
• PTRCT2017Immediate effects of Graston Technique on hamstring muscle extensibility and pain intensity in patients with nonspecific low back pain.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne 60-second Graston session had a larger immediate sit-and-reach change than static stretching (11.03 vs 8.62), but pain scores did not differ between groups. The trial had only 24 patients.
• PTOther2016Influence of Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptive Phase on Spinal Excitability.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSpinal reflex excitability did not change across menstrual or oral contraceptive phases in 30 women, even though hormone levels changed. The study offers no support for expecting this reflex measure to shift with cycle phase.
• PTOther2017Effects of manipulation of the thorax and intensity of the pressure biofeedback unit on the superficial cervical flexors muscle during craniocervical flexion exercise.Journal of physical therapy scienceFixing the thorax during craniocervical flexion produced lower sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscle activation than not fixing it, in 33 subjects. Raising pressure to 40 mmHg increased activation, but the study measured muscle activity, not neck pain or function.
• PTCohort2017Effects of perioperative factors and hip geometry on hip abductor muscle strength during the first 6 months after anterolateral total hip arthroplasty.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter anterolateral total hip arthroplasty, hip abductor strength at 2 and 6 months was related to preoperative strength, body mass index, and mental health score, not femoral offset.
• PTOther2016Psychological Factors Are Related to Pain Intensity in Back-Healthy People Who Develop Clinically Relevant Pain During Prolonged Standing: A Preliminary Study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAcross all back-healthy people who developed pain during standing, fear of pain and catastrophizing did not track pain intensity. In the 5 people whose pain reached at least 20 mm on a 100-mm scale, fear of pain tracked average pain closely.
• PTRCT2017Comparison of group-based outpatient physiotherapy with usual care after total knee replacement: a feasibility study for a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationGroup physiotherapy after knee replacement is feasible but recruitment was low at 37%, mainly due to travel and time commitments. Attendance was good at 73% when travel costs were refunded. This pilot did not test if the treatment works, only if a larger trial could be run.
• PTOther2017Reliability and responsiveness of measures of pain in people with osteoarthritis of the knee: a psychometric evaluation.Disability and rehabilitationThe ICOAP constant score stayed stable over time, and both ICOAP constant and intermittent scores changed clearly after knee replacement. The McGill total score did not work as one overall pain score. Use its continuous, intermittent and neuropathic scores, not the affective items.
• PTOTOther2017Functional state of knee arthritis patients and related factors.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 135 hospitalized patients with knee arthritis, physical and mental quality-of-life scores varied with age, pain, BMI, knee function, and range of motion.
• PTSystematic Review2017Effectiveness of surgical and non-surgical management of crouch gait in cerebral palsy: A systematic review.Gait & postureMost evidence for crouch gait in cerebral palsy was for hamstring lengthening, often with other surgeries, and it did not show which procedure works best for a given patient.
• PTCohort2016Dynamic motor control is associated with treatment outcomes for children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy who showed more complex muscle activation while walking improved more in gait, speed and function after treatment. It did not predict energy cost. Motor control may help guide prognosis.
• PTCase Report2017On-Ice Return-to-Hockey Progression After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyA single club hockey player received physical therapy, running, strengthening, slide board work, agility, neuromuscular training, on-ice skating, and bracing, then returned to her previous competitive level without re-injury by 22 months. This is expert opinion, not tested evidence.
• PTOther2017The effects of horse-riding simulator exercise on balance in elderly with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter eight weeks of conventional physical therapy plus a horse-riding simulator, balance scores improved in 15 older adults with osteoarthritis. Because both were given together, the simulator alone cannot be credited.
• PTCohort2017Limb Symmetry Indexes Can Overestimate Knee Function After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyLimb symmetry tests overestimate knee recovery after ACL reconstruction. More than half of patients who passed standard symmetry criteria failed to match their pre-injury baseline. Failing to restore this baseline function was linked to a higher risk of second ACL injuries.
• PTOTOther2016Comparing Comorbidity Indices to Predict Post-Acute Rehabilitation Outcomes in Older Adults.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationFive standard comorbidity indices added almost no predictive value for discharge function or community return in older rehab patients. Admission functional status and demographics explained most variance, suggesting clinicians should prioritize current ability over diagnosis lists.
• PTOther2017Effect of a modified grip angle of a walker on the wrist deviation angle, muscle activation and palmar load during walker-assisted gait in elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn elderly walker users, a 15-degree tilted handle lowered wrist deviation, wrist muscle activity, and pressure on the ulnar side of the palm during short-term walker gait compared with a flat handle.
• PTCase-Control2016Predictive Capacity of Thigh Muscle Strength in Symptomatic and/or Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis Progression: Data from the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Osteoarthritis Biomarkers Consortium.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationThigh muscle strength did not predict combined symptomatic and radiographic knee osteoarthritis progression. In men, lower baseline knee strength was associated with pain progression without radiographic progression.
• PTOther2017Associations of knee muscle force, bone malalignment, and knee-joint laxity with osteoarthritis in elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceKnee extensor strength did not differ among older adults grouped by possible knee malalignment and laxity. Knee flexor strength was lower in those with both possible malalignment and laxity than in those with neither. This does not show that strengthening knee flexors prevents osteoarthritis.
• PTCohort2017The Diagnostic Accuracy of Special Tests for Rotator Cuff Tear: The ROW Cohort Study.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationJobe's test was positive in 88% of patients with rotator cuff tears. The drop arm test was positive in 24%, but a positive result made a tear likely. Negative results did not rule out a tear.
• PTOther2017The effects of pelvic diagonal movements and resistance on the lumbar multifidus.Journal of physical therapy scienceSide-lying pelvic diagonal movements changed lumbar multifidus thickness, with anterior elevation greater than posterior depression. Adding resistance did not produce a further difference in thickness compared with no resistance.
• PTOTCohort2016Social Support and Actual Versus Expected Length of Stay in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAlmost half of stroke, lower extremity fracture, and joint replacement inpatients left earlier than expected. Patients with no family or friend support were less likely to leave early in all groups, and more likely to stay longer in fracture or joint replacement.
• PTOther2017The effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on the pain and function of patients with degenerative knee arthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 20 adults with degenerative knee arthritis, over four weeks, adding shock wave therapy to heat pack, interference current, and ultrasound produced greater reductions in pain and function scores than the same physical therapies alone.
• PTNarrative Review2017Reassurance for patients with non-specific conditions - a user's guide.Brazilian journal of physical therapyReassurance is harder than it looks. Negative test results may not calm patients, and brief education can reduce some fears but not worry, catastrophising or depression. Tell patients what you know, and avoid platitudes that may add concern.
• PTOTQualitative2017A qualitative investigation of recovery after femoral fracture in Rett syndrome.Child: care, health and developmentCaregivers of females with Rett syndrome after femoral fracture described subtle, individual pain signs, delayed diagnosis, high stress, strained trust with schools or respite, and that independent walkers recovered while assisted walkers often lost mobility.
• PTPilot2017Effectiveness of a Home-Based Eccentric-Exercise Program on the Torque-Angle Relationship of the Shoulder External Rotators: A Pilot Study.Journal of sport rehabilitationIn 10 healthy participants, a 6-week home eccentric shoulder program showed greater eccentric energy absorption at terminal internal rotation, but isometric strength did not change across angles. The study had no control group.
• PTCohort2017Abnormal loading and functional deficits are present in both limbs before and after unilateral knee arthroplasty.Gait & postureThe main measure of load on the other knee did not show a change after unilateral knee replacement. Gait remained abnormal in both legs, and pre-operative gait function was linked to post-operative recovery.
• PTRCT2016Promoting physical activity in low back pain patients: six months follow-up of a randomised controlled trial comparing a multicomponent intervention with a low intensity intervention.Clinical rehabilitationSix months after rehab, Movement Coaching did not lead to higher total physical activity than a low intensity intervention. Both groups had lower total activity at follow-up, and the Movement Coaching group had a greater decline in total, transport and workplace activity.
• PTRCT2016Determinants of pain and functioning in knee osteoarthritis: a one-year prospective study.Clinical rehabilitationNormal anxiety scores at baseline predicted better pain and function over follow-up. Depression did not. This was a prognostic analysis, not a treatment trial.
• PTOther2017Altered spatiotemporal characteristics of gait in older adults with chronic low back pain.Gait & postureOlder adults with chronic low back pain walked slower and negotiated stairs slower than matched pain-free peers. When walking fast, they used a wider step base, and wider steps plus double support time were associated with slower stair performance.
• PTOther2017Construct and discriminant validity of STarT Back Screening Tool - Brazilian version.Brazilian journal of physical therapyThe Brazilian STarT Back questionnaire agreed with disability scores, but only weakly with fear-avoidance beliefs about work and physical activity. It can help flag low back pain patients with more disability, not fear beliefs alone.
• PTOTSurvey2017Knee pain in adolescents: prevalence, risk factors, and functional impairment.Brazilian journal of physical therapy22.6% of adolescents reported knee pain in the past week. Pain was more common in older teens and in those not doing school physical education. Girls with knee pain reported greater functional impairment.
• PTOther2017Shoulder pain in adolescent athletes: prevalence, associated factors and its influence on upper limb function.Brazilian journal of physical therapyShoulder pain was common among adolescent athletes, especially older teenagers and judo or handball players. Athletes with pain reported worse upper limb function and had greater internal rotation deficits and lower right external rotation.
• PTOTCohort2017How Receptive Are Patients With Late Stage Cancer to Rehabilitation Services and What Are the Sources of Their Resistance?Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost patients with late-stage lung cancer refused rehabilitation even when distressed by their limitations. The main barrier was believing they did not need help. Clinicians should expect resistance and discuss why therapy matters before referring, rather than assuming distress drives uptake.
• PTNarrative Review2017Core outcome sets for research and clinical practice.Brazilian journal of physical therapyCore outcome sets standardize a minimum set of results to measure in trials and practice. For low back pain and osteoarthritis, agreed domains include pain, physical function, and quality of life or patient global assessment. They aid comparison, not treatment proof.
• PTOther2017Multifidi Muscle Characteristics and Physical Function Among Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with chronic low back pain who had more fat within a deep back muscle scored worse on walking, balance, stairs and self-reported function. Muscle size did not explain function. This relationship was seen only in older adults with pain.
• PTRCT2017Application of shortwave diathermy to lower limb increases arterial blood flow velocity and skin temperature in women: a randomized controlled trial.Brazilian journal of physical therapyIn healthy women, 20 min of shortwave diathermy raised popliteal artery blood flow and skin temperature, and the flow rise persisted 20 min after stopping. Microwave diathermy raised skin temperature but did not increase popliteal artery flow.
• PTSurvey2017Investigation of musculoskeletal symptoms in a manufacturing company in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyUpper-limb pain or discomfort was common among metal-product manufacturing workers. Repetitive tasks and missing short work breaks were associated with upper-limb symptoms, but the study cannot show cause.
• PTOTOther2017Hip, knee, and ankle kinematics during activities of daily living: a cross-sectional study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyHealthy adults used far more hip and knee motion for self-care than for walking or stairs. Crouching and getting out of the bath required up to 101 degrees of hip flexion and 149 degrees of knee flexion, exceeding typical post-surgery limits.
• PTOther2017The ratio of medial and lateral hamstring muscle thickness does not correlate with the lateral tibial rotation angle in the standing position in healthy young adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 30 healthy young men, ultrasound ratios of hamstring muscle thickness did not correlate with tibial rotation angle while standing. This resting thickness ratio alone may not explain standing tibial rotation.
• PTOther2017Long-term histopathological developments in knee-joint components in a rat model of osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn rats with chemically induced knee osteoarthritis, cartilage staining decreased at 1 week, the line separating cartilage from calcified cartilage disappeared by 2 weeks, and joint capsule spaces narrowed by 8 weeks. No therapy was tested in people.
• PTOther2017Articular chondrocyte alignment in the rat after surgically induced osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn rats with surgically induced osteoarthritis, chondrocyte alignment deteriorated significantly starting at two weeks post-surgery. This disorganization correlated with disease severity and preceded major cell loss. These findings suggest that structural changes in cartilage cells occur early in the disease process.
• PTCohort2016Bone Density in Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder who had bone density scans had lower bone density scores at the spine, hip and femoral neck than matched controls, even after accounting for body size. The sample was small and scans were obtained for clinical concerns.
• PTOTOther2017Abnormal Joint Moment Distributions and Functional Performance During Sit-to-Stand in Femoroacetabular Impingement Patients.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPeople with symptomatic hip impingement took 0.6 seconds longer to stand up, put less relative load on the knee, trended toward more hip effort, and loaded more slowly, without clear weight-bearing asymmetry.
• PTOther2017The effect of horse-riding simulator exercise on the gait, muscle strength and muscle activation in elderly people with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe group with the simulator did not do better than the knee-strengthening-only group, though both groups improved walking speed, knee strength and muscle activity.