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Explore the latest in physical therapy, including management of sports injuries, postoperative rehabilitation, strength conditioning in the elderly, and more.

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  • Meta-Analysis: Touch Tied to Improved Mental, Physical Health JAMA News May 3, 2024 Dermatology Complementary and Alternative Medicine Pain Medicine Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Depressive Disorders Full Text | pdf link PDF free

This report describes 2 cases of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo symptoms in middle-aged patients who experienced onset after using a handheld massage gun.

This randomized clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of self-administered acupressure on reducing knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain among middle-aged and older adults.

This randomized clinical trial evaluates quality-of-life outcomes in patients with claudication following extracorporeal corporeal shockwave therapy.

  • Extracorporeal Shockwave for Claudication—Potential Efficacy JAMA Surgery Opinion April 10, 2024 Cardiology Lifestyle Behaviors Physical Activity Ischemic Heart Disease Full Text | pdf link PDF

This cross-sectional study examines the extent to which states have introduced or enacted mandates for coverage of nonpharmacological pain treatments and characterizes the variation in such mandates.

  • Exercise Therapy for Post–COVID-19 Condition—Does No Harm JAMA Network Open Opinion April 4, 2024 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Nutrition, Obesity, Exercise Coronavirus (COVID-19) Lifestyle Behaviors Physical Activity Full Text | pdf link PDF open access

This cross-sectional study evaluates the association of preoperative circulating tumor HPV DNA levels with disease burden or adverse pathologic features among patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who have undergone primary transoral robotic surgery.

This cohort study evaluates the association of a virtual synchronized prehabilitation program with perioperative outcomes among patients undergoing thoracic cancer surgery.

This cohort study aims to establish whether anterior vs posterior tumor extension may represent a prognostic factor in oral tongue and floor squamous cell carcinoma.

This study attempts to verify if Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities would improve manual abilities in young children with unilateral cerebral palsy more than usual motor activity.

This review summarizes current evidence regarding the diagnosis and treatment of knee osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain, and meniscal tears.

This cohort study examines the association between the receipt of physical therapy to treat dizziness and the risk of falls requiring medical care in the subsequent year.

This cohort study assesses receipt of physical therapy and chiropractic care for chronic low back pain among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD) from different racial and ethnic groups.

  • Short Walks While Hospitalized May Improve Older Patients’ Outcomes JAMA News August 16, 2023 Geriatrics Lifestyle Behaviors Physical Activity Full Text | pdf link PDF
  • Short Bouts of Physical Activity—Good for Health? JAMA Oncology Opinion July 27, 2023 Cancer Screening, Prevention, Control Lifestyle Behaviors Oncology Physical Activity Cancer Epidemiology Full Text | pdf link PDF

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the type, timing, frequency, and duration of physical therapy for Parkinson disease and whether outcomes are durable over time.

This systematic review examines the current evidence for rehabilitation interventions in head and neck cancer–associated lymphedema.

This cross-sectional study analyzes health insurance coverage for lymphedema treatments from the top 3 insurance companies per state based on market share and enrollment data to determine individual access to pneumatic compression and surgical treatments across the United States.

This cohort study examines whether increasing and decreasing physical activity or exercise is associated with functional recovery at 6 months after a stroke.

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PTA100 Introduction to Physical Therapy: Choosing a Research Topic

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What do you need?

As a researcher, you need to  define  and  articulate  the need for information.  This includes:

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Research Strategy

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  • Example:  Concussions in student athletes are a growing public health problem.  You may be interested in knowing about the dangers of concussions, what to do if you suspect a student has a concussion, and how to evaluate and manage the concussion in order for the student to return to athletic activity.
  • Is there a specific disease or condition that interests you, perhaps one that has affected a friend or family member?  What are some therapeutic methods that could be employed to help those affected by it?
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Using the following databases, look up background information on your topic as that may help you to narrow your focus.

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After you conduct a review on your topic, you should discover what is already known and what research questions remain regarding your topic.  Your research question will most likely derive from the recent literature. What remains to be known and studied about your issue? Which implications for future research  were stated in the articles you found?

  • Source: Physical Therapy: Choosing a Research Topic by David Petersen, Health Professions & Social Work Librarian, Florida Gulf Coast University

The purpose of this video is to:

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  • v.64(1); 2018 Mar

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Effectiveness of physical therapy and exercise on pain and functional status in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized-controlled trial

Nilay Şahin.

1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Turkey

Ali Yavuz Karahan

2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey

İlknur Albayrak

3 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

This study aims to investigate the effect of physical therapy modalities on pain and functional status in patients with non-specific low back pain.

Patients and methods

Between February 2011 and August 2013, a total of 104 patients (38 males, 66 females; mean age 49.3±12.5 years; range 34 to 62 years) with non-specific chronic low back pain for more than 12 weeks without any neurological deficit were included in this randomized-controlled study. The patients were divided into two groups: physical therapy group (n=52) and control group (n=52). Both groups were given exercise and medical treatment; physiotherapy modalities were also applied in the physical therapy group. The patients were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Istanbul Low Back Pain Disability Index (ILBP) before treatment and at two weeks, three months, and one year after treatment.

A total of 100 patients completed one-year follow-up. In both groups, the VAS, ODI, and ILBP significantly improved after treatment (p<0.01), compared to before treatment values. There were statistically significant differences in the VAS, ODI, and ILBP scores at three months and one year after treatment between the physical therapy group and control group (p<0.05).

Multidisciplinary approaches including physical therapy should be implemented to provide long-term improvement in pain and functional status in the treatment of non-specific chronic low back pain.

Introduction

Low back pain is one of the major health problems during life time with a prevalence of 80%, which causes functional loss and reduced productivity.[ 1 , 2 ] In 85% of patients with low back pain, the symptoms and signs are non-specific without a clear diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment protocol.[ 3 , 4 ] Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is back pain lasting longer than 12 weeks. It has a negative impact on functional, socioeconomic, and occupational activities and on the psychological status.[ 5 - 7 ] Due to the multiple negative effects associated with CLBP, it has been argued that a single technique for low back pain treatment would be ineffective and treatment should include a multidisciplinary approach.[ 8 ] A variety of conservative treatment modalities, such as exercise, physical therapy, and medication are applied in the treatment of CLBP. These techniques are intended to increase mobilization, decrease pain, and improve functional and psychological status.[ 9 , 10 ] Exercising is one of the main treatments used for CLBP and has been shown to reduce the duration and frequency of back pain.[ 11 - 13 ] Previous studies have demonstrated that physiotherapy modalities such as hot packs, ice massages, diathermy, ultrasound therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) reduce inf lammation, relieve musculoskeletal symptoms and joint stiffness, thereby, providing symptomatic relief.[ 14 - 18 ] Additionally, medical treatment has been shown to be an effective method for symptomatic improvement of CLBP.[ 19 - 21 ] However, the efficacy of a combined approach with physical therapy and medical treatment for CLBP has not yet been sufficiently demonstrated. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of physical treatment modalities for pain relief and functional status improvement in patients with CLBP.

Patients and Methods

A total of 110 patients with CLBP were identified from the hospital records of the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic between February 2011 and August 2013. The patients with CLBP of longer than 12 weeks without any neurological deficit were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were as follows: pain severity of ≥8 according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), age ≤18 years, pregnancy, previous surgery, structural abnormalities, spinal cord compression, serious instability, osteoporosis, body mass index (BMI) higher than 30 kg/m2, severe cardiovascular or metabolic disease, and acute infection. Accordingly, a total of 104 patients (38 males, 66 females; mean age 49.3±12.5 years; range 34 to 62 years) who met the inclusion criteria were included in this randomized- controlled study (Figure 1).

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Object name is TJPMR-2018-64-1-052-058-F1.jpg

A detailed history of each patient was obtained and clinical examination was performed including neurological and physical examination of the lumbar region with inspection and palpation, lumbar mobility measurements, and lumbar range of motion measurements. All patients were evaluated by a single physician. The study protocol was approved by the local Ethics Committee. A written informed consent was obtained from each patient. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Interventions

All patients were divided into two groups: physical therapy group (n=52) and control group (n=52). Physical therapy group (PTG) received physical therapy modalities in addition to medical and exercise therapy, while the control group (CG) was treated with medical and exercise therapy alone.

Medical treatment

If necessary, 1.5 g/day of paracetamol was prescribed.

Exercise program

Active isotonic and isometric strengthening exercises were prescribed to strengthen the frontal abdominal muscles (musculus obliquus externus abdominis, musculus obliquus internus abdominis, musculus rectus abdominis), deep abdominal muscles (musculus psoas major, musculus psoas minor, musculus iliacus, musculus quadratum lumbarum), and back muscles (musculi dorsi, musculus erector spinae, musculi transverso-spinales, musculi inter-spinales, musculi intertransversarii). For the hamstrings, lumbar extensors, and hip f lexors, a set of stretching exercises was prescribed. A home-based exercise program was instructed by the physiotherapist to each patient. In addition, a written exercise program was given to the patients. The exercise program lasted for three months and was performed at least five days per week, two exercises per day, with each exercise repeated at least 10 times.

Physical therapy

The physical therapy was administered to the waist region by the physiotherapist, for a total of 10 sessions, five days per week, with a single session per day. The sessions included a hot pack, ultrasound, and TENS treatment. Hot pack therapy was applied for 20 min and ultrasonic therapy for five min in continuous form at a frequency of 1 MHz and a density of 1.5 W/cm2.[ 16 , 17 ] In addition, TENS treatment was given in the following form: continuous, with strength of 100 Hz, 40 μSN for 30 min.

Evaluation criteria

All patients were assessed prior to treatment and at two weeks, three months, and one year after treatment. Pain severity was evaluated using the VAS according to a 10-point scale, where 0 points indicate no pain and 10 points indicate severe pain.[ 22 ] The functional status was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).[ 23 - 28 ] and Istanbul Low Back Pain Disability Index (ILBP).[ 26 ] The ODI consists of 10 questions which assess the degree of pain, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, social life, travel, and pain alteration, each scoring between 0 and 5. Maximum score is 50 and the total score is multiplied by two: the result is presented in percentage. The evaluation formula is as follows: points/total score (50) x 100= %, where 0% indicates the absence of pain and functional disability and 100% indicates severe pain and functional limitation. Its validity and reliability studies were conducted in patients with low back pain in the Turkish society.[ 25 ] In addition, ILBP is a scale with a total score of 0-90, including 18 items evaluating the functional status of patients with low back pain, with scores ranging from 0 to 5 for each question. Its validity and reliability studies were carried out.[ 26 ]

Sample size calculation

The number of the patients included in this study was determined based on VAS data. According to the results of Sahin et al.,[ 27 ] the mean score of the VAS in PTG was 7.16 with a standard deviation (SD) of 2.54 and the mean score of the VAS in CG was 5.72.[ 27 ] The sample size was based on a power of 80% (beta: 0.2). A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Accordingly, 48 patients were required in each group. We estimated a dropout rate of 10% and, thus, aimed to allocate 52 patients for each group.

Randomization

After the patients' medical histories were collected, the data relating to each patient were filled out by two investigators and placed in envelopes. Then, using a random number table obtained from the computer, the closed envelopes of the patients were randomly distributed into two groups in a 1:1 ratio (PTG, CG). During the study, 50 patients in each group completed at two weeks, three months, and one year follow-up (Figure 1).

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using the PASW for Windows version 18.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The conformity of continuous variables with normal distribution was evaluated using the Shapiro- Wilk test. To evaluate the differences among the categorical variables (i.e., sex, education status, and profession) between the groups, the chi-square test was performed. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare significant differences among the abnormally distributed variables. Differences in continuous data between the groups were analyzed using the Student t-test for normally distributed variables. The repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare the data from the parameters repeatedly measured in the intra-group analysis. The Bonferroni correction was carried out to make an inter-group analysis, and a post-hoc test was performed, if the variance analysis test result was significant. To detect the sub-group differences, the Bonferroni Student t-test was used. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

A total of 100 patients completed one-year follow-up. The mean age of PTG was 50.4±11.4 years and the mean age of CG was 46.2±12.3 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the age, sex, education, occupation, and BMI between the groups (p>0.05). Sixty-three percent of the groups were females, and 13% were university graduates. Demographic characteristics of both groups are shown in Table 1.

In both groups, the VAS scores after the therapy were significantly lower compared to pre-therapy scores and the differences between pre-therapy and at three months post-therapy were found to be significant (p<0.05). ODI, and ILBP scores showed a significant improvement at two weeks and three months of follow-up compared to baseline values (p<0.05) (Table 2). There was a statistically significant difference in the VAS, ODI, and ILBP scores at two week, three months, and one year of follow-up, compared to the baseline values between the groups, in favor of PTG (Table 2).

In this randomized-controlled trial, we found that the combination of physical therapy methods, exercise, and medical treatment for non-specific CLBP improved pain and functional status than exercise and medical treatment without physical therapy. This improvement sustained for three months after the treatment. These results show that physiotherapy combined with medical therapy and exercise leads to better improvements in pain and functional status at three months after the initiation of the treatment. The main goals of CLBP treatment are to reduce pain, to improve soft tissue flexibility due to spasm and tension, to increase strength and endurance of the trunk stabilizers, and to improve mobility and posture, thereby, leading to improved functional capacity, better ability to perform activities of daily life, and prevention of work loss.[ 28 , 29 ] Many methods such as resting, medical treatment, back school, exercise programs, physical therapy modalities, and manipulation are used in the treatment of CLBP. It has been shown that a multidisciplinary approach is more effective than a single treatment modality.[ 30 - 32 ] Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach including physical therapy, exercise, and medical treatment was applied in our study. Decreased paraspinal muscle strength and endurance is an important risk factor for the development of low back pain. In addition, the body muscle strength is lower in patients with low back pain than in healthy people.[ 33 ] In patients with reduced muscle strength, the risk of lumbar pain is three times higher. Therefore, exercise is one of the primary treatment modalities for non-specific CLBP.[ 33 ] It aims to improve posture, to strengthen the trunk muscles, and to increase aerobic capacity, leading to reduced pain and improved functional status.[ 13 , 34 ] In a study, Van Tulder et al.[ 35 ] reported that exercise for the treatment of low back pain was effective in accelerating improvements in daily life activities and return to work. In a meta-analysis, the patients with CLBP treated with exercise therapy showed a significant improvement in terms of pain and functional status, compared to the patients who received no treatment or other conservative treatments.[ 36 ] It has also been shown that inactivity leads to undesirable behaviors such as kinesophobia, anxiety, and difficulty in coping with pain, and exercise therapy reduces these behaviors.[ 37 , 38 ] However, there is no precise information concerning the effect of exercise types (i.e., flexion, stretching, or strengthening) on the patient outcomes.[ 34 , 37 ] In several studies, it has been shown that the pain relief due to exercise therapy in CLBP is limited to six-months duration.[ 39 ] In our study, lumbar isometric, lumbar flexion, and lumbar and hamstring stretching exercises were applied. Pain and functional status both improved with physiotherapy, exercise therapy, and medical treatment prescribed in this study. We also observed that this improvement lasted for one year. During the study of CLBP patients, we concluded that pain and functional status were negatively affected; therefore, the treatment was demonstrated to be effective in improving the severity of the pain and the function status.[ 40 ] In the present study, the VAS was used to assess the pain severity and the ODI and ILBP were used to evaluate the functional status. We found significantly higher improvements in the VAS, ODI, and ILBP scores with the addition of physiotherapy at three month and one year of follow-up, compared to medical and exercise therapy alone. Another method used in the treatment of patients with non-specific CLBP, which we also included in this study, is physical therapy modalities. These modalities allow for short-term treatment, including cold application, hot pack, ultrasound, diathermy, and TENS.[ 2 , 16 , 18 ] These treatments are non-invasive, safe, easy to administer, and rarely cause significant side effects, except mild skin irritation.[ 41 , 42 ] In several studies, it has been shown that physical therapy is more effective than placebo.[ 34 , 42 , 43 ] One of the most commonly used physical therapy methods is TENS. In one study, TENS was found to be more effective in reducing pain and increasing the range of motion of the joint, compared to placebo.[ 34 ] Marchand et al.[ 44 ] divided 48 patients with low back pain into three groups as the control, placebo, and TENS. A 43% reduction in the pain severity was found in the TENS group.[ 44 ] In another study evaluating hot and cold applications, it was shown that warm application was more successful than placebo in reducing pain in patients with acute and subacute lumbar pain, and cold application provided pain control in the acute phase and reduced the muscle tension.[ 16 ] In our study, there was no placebo group. We found that when added to medical treatment and exercise, physical therapy was associated with a higher improvement in pain and functional status. Although the efficacy of these treatment modalities was not evaluated separately in our study, the positive effect of the addition of physical therapy to the other treatment modalities was demonstrated. In many studies, CLBP treatment groups are heterogeneous, no control group is included, and treatment efficacy is only evaluated for a short time.[ 45 ] In our study, the treatment groups were homogeneous and a control group was included. Follow-up was continued for one year. It is critical that the treatment effect for CLBP is long-term; therefore, retention of pain control and functional improvements must be maintained. Isokinetic measurements are the gold standard to demonstrate the efficacy of exercises, but are very subjective. In our study, we did not perform isokinetic muscle strength measurements; this may represent a limitation. Another limitation is the unknown contribution of medical and exercises therapies to patients’ improvement. The ideal control group for this study would be a group of patients who are followed without any treatment. As this would be unethical, however, we provided medical and exercise therapy to our control group patients. In conclusion, treatment approaches for chronic conditions should have long-term effects and should ideally provide permanent improvement. Our study results showed that improvements were able to be sustained for one year after the treatment. Therefore, combined treatment with exercise, medical therapy, and physiotherapy was found to be more effective for non-specific CLBP than exercise and medical therapy alone. These results suggest that treatment of CLBP should ideally include a multidisciplinary approach with physiotherapy to provide long-term improvement.

Conflict of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure: The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

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Swimming can improve mood and people report enjoying water-based exercise more than exercising on land.

People are able to exercise longer in water without increased joint or muscle pain, which has been shown to be especially helpful for people with arthritis and osteoarthritis. Water-based exercise can help people with arthritis improve the use of their arthritic joints, decrease pain, and not worsen symptoms. People with rheumatoid arthritis have shown more health improvements after participating in hydrotherapy (exercising in warm water) than with other activities.

For people with fibromyalgia, swimming can decrease anxiety, and exercise therapy in warm water can decrease depression and improve mood. Parents of children with developmental disabilities find that recreational activities, such as swimming, improve family connections.

Water-based exercise can benefit older adults by improving their quality of life and decreasing disability. It can also improve or help maintain the bone health of post-menopausal women.

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  • US Census Bureau. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012. Arts, Recreation, and Travel: Participation in Selected Sports Activities 2009. [XLS – 40 KB] ·
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Be active, healthy, and happy! In Chapter 2: Physical Activity Has Many Health Benefits. 2009.
  • Westby MD. A health professional's guide to exercise prescription for people with arthritis: a review of aerobic fitness activities. Arthritis Rheum. 2001;45(6):501-11.
  • Hall J, Skevington SM, Maddison PJ, Chapman K. A randomized and controlled trial of hydrotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 1996;9(3):206-15.
  • Tomas-Carus P, Gusi N, Hakkinen A, Hakkinen K, Leal A, and Ortega-Alonso A. Eight months of physical training in warm water improves physical and mental health in women with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2008;40(4):248-52.
  • Broman G, Quintana M, Engardt M, Gullstrand L, Jansson E, and Kaijser L. Older women's cardiovascular responses to deep-water running. J Aging Phys Act. 2006;14(1):29-40.
  • Cider A, Svealv BG, Tang MS, Schaufelberger M, and Andersson B. Immersion in warm water induces improvement in cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2006;8(3):308-13.
  • Bartels EM, Lund H, Hagen KB, Dagfinrud H, Christensen R, Danneskiold-Samsøe B. Aquatic exercise for the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;3:CD005523.
  • Berger BG, and Owen DR. Mood alteration with yoga and swimming: aerobic exercise may not be necessary. Percept Mot Skills. 1992;75(3 Pt 2):1331-43.
  • Gowans SE and deHueck A. Pool exercise for individuals with fibromyalgia. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2007;19(2):168-73.
  • Hartmann S and Bung P. Physical exercise during pregnancy—physiological considerations and recommendations. J Perinat Med. 1999;27(3):204-15.
  • Mactavish JB and Schleien SJ. Re-injecting spontaneity and balance in family life: parents' perspectives on recreation in families that include children with developmental disability. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2004;48(Pt 2):123-41.
  • Sato D, Kaneda K, Wakabayashi H, and Nomura T. The water exercise improves health-related quality of life of frail elderly people at day service facility. Qual Life Res. 2007;16:1577-85.
  • Rotstein A, Harush M, and Vaisman N. The effect of water exercise program on bone density of postmenopausal Women. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008;48(3):352-9.

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"Enhancing Clinical Practice Through Psychosocial Perspectives in the Management of Low Back Pain" Symposium Speakers (in order of presentation) : Chris J. Main, PhD, FBPsS, Julie M. Fritz, PT, PhD, ATC, Steven Z. George, PT, PhD, and William S. Shaw, PhD. [ Audio and Video Podcast ] [ About the Podcast ]

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IMAGES

  1. Research Topics for Physiotherapy/Physical Therapy

    research paper topics in physical therapy

  2. (PDF) Guest Editorial: Physical Therapy in Critical Care

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  3. 😎 Physical therapy research topics. Physical Therapy Research Databases

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  4. 😊 Physical science research paper. Term Papers and Essays on Physical

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  5. 77 Physical Therapy Paper Topics & Essay Sample For 2023

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  6. Importance of Physical Therapy Essay Example

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  5. How to find research topics

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COMMENTS

  1. Best 60 Physical Therapy Research Topics

    Some research topics in physical therapy include; The systemic review of health promotion in physical therapy. The influence of hip strength and core endurance on recurrent dislocations. Influence of fatigue and knee kinetics. Effects of fatigue of jumping and leg movement. Role of physical therapists in health promotion.

  2. Advance articles

    News From the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, May 2024 Long-Term Follow-Up of a Person-Centered Prehabilitation Program Based on Cognitive-Behavioral Physical Therapy for Patients Scheduled for Lumbar Fusion

  3. How New Technology Is Improving Physical Therapy

    The aim of this paper is to highlight new technology currently being used in Physical Therapy for orthopedic conditions ranging from sports medicine to joint arthroplasty to trauma. ... Future research utilizing instrumented insoles will most likely expand into additional orthopedic populations that typically demonstrate compensatory movement ...

  4. Research Agenda for Physical Therapy From the American Physical Therapy

    Research agendas play an important role in directing scholarly inquiry in a field. The Research Agenda for Physical Therapy From the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) outlines research priorities that are vital to advancing physical therapist practice and the profession. The development of the research agenda included multiple iterative steps and feedback from stakeholders.

  5. Theses, Dissertations and Projects

    Theses/Dissertations from 2015. Physical Therapy after Triangular Fibrocartilage Injuries and Ulnar Wrist Pain, Mohamed A. Abdelmegeed. The Effect of Cervical Muscle Fatigue on Postural Stability during Immersion Virtual Reality, Mazen M. Alqahtani. The Effects of a Novel Therapeutic Intervention in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Patients, Adel ...

  6. University Library: Physical Therapy: Choosing a Research Topic

    How to choose a manageable research topic: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO VIEW: Okay, ignore the silly beginning, because this video is a great (and short!) overview on how to select a research topic that's manageable for your assignment. Nice tips on narrowing a huge topic by considering the angles of WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, WHEN, or HOW.

  7. High impact research from PTJ

    High-Impact Research from PTJ. The latest Journal Citation Reports (Journal Citation Reports™, from Clarivate, 2022) have now been released, and I am pleased to announce that PTJ continues to grow its impact within the physical therapy and rehabilitation communities. To mark PTJ's continued growth, this selection of highly cited articles has been made free to read.

  8. Physical Therapy

    All proposed research must be linked to one or more priorities in the 2023 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Research Agenda . View the updated 2024 research grant guidelines for available grants. Note that the deadline for letters of intent has passed and the applications are closed ...

  9. Using research to guide practice: The Physiotherapy Evidence Database

    This paper describes the PEDro scale, PEDro contents, who uses PEDro, searching, browsing the latest content, and developing skills in evidence-based physical therapy. ... PEDro facilitates the use of high-quality clinical research by physical therapy clinicians, educators, students, and researchers. ... Body Part, Subdiscipline, Topic, and ...

  10. Physical Therapy

    Physical Therapy. Explore the latest in physical therapy, including management of sports injuries, postoperative rehabilitation, strength conditioning in the elderly, and more. This study attempts to verify if Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities would improve manual abilities in young children with unilateral ...

  11. An Update of Systematic Reviews Examining the Effectiveness of

    Objective To update a systematic review published in 2013 that focused on evaluating the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of physical therapy, including exercise, manual therapy, electrotherapy, and combined or multimodal approaches to managing shoulder pain. Design Umbrella review. Literature Search An electronic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL was undertaken ...

  12. Research Agenda for Physical Therapy From APTA

    The Research Agenda for Physical Therapy expands on our profession's continued advancement and considers current issues, new innovations, and forward-thinking viewpoints. The research agenda outlines research priorities that are vital to advancing physical therapist practice and the profession. The development of the research agenda included ...

  13. Doctor of Physical Therapy Research Papers

    Research Papers from 2017. A Systematic Mapping Review of Health Promotion and Well-being Concepts in Physical Therapy, Andrew Amundson, Jesse Klein, Bailey Ringold, and Aaron Theis. The Influence of Hip Strength and Core Endurance on Recurrent Patella Dislocations: A Pilot Study, Samuel Arnold, Emily Bradshaw, Anna Hansen, Jessica Knutson, and ...

  14. Most Popular Articles : Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy

    The Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (JNPT) is an indexed resource for dissemination of research-based evidence related to neurologic physical therapy intervention. High standards of quality are maintained through a rigorous, double-blinded, peer-review process and adherence to standards recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

  15. Choosing a Research Topic

    Identifying a research topic; Developing a topic and formulating questions based on the information need; Exploring general information sources to increase your familiarity with the topic; Developing the information need into a manageable focus (i.e. a research question); Identifying keywords, synonyms and related terms for the information needed;

  16. The Top 100 Most-Cited Publications in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

    Results. The top 100 most-cited articles in musculoskeletal rehabilitation over the last 50 years were published between 1973 and 2015. Total number of citations was 24,366, with an average of 243.66 citations per paper. Highest citation was reported by a paper on treatment of low back pain by Waddell G.

  17. Physical Therapy Research

    Physical Therapy Research (PTR) is an official journal of the Japanese Society of Physical Therapy. This peer-reviewed international journal focuses on research in physical therapy and related fields (previously Journal of the Japanese Physical Therapy Association (JJPTA)). Article types accepted are: Scientific Research Articles (Original ...

  18. Top Mentioned Articles of 2020

    Physical Therapist Management of Total Knee Arthroplasty. Diane U Jette, Stephen J Hunter, Lynn Burkett, Bud Langham, David S Logerstedt, Nicolas S Piuzzi, Noreen M Poirier, Linda J L Radach, Jennifer E Ritter, David A Scalzitti, Jennifer E Stevens-Lapsley, James Tompkins, Joseph Zeni Jr, for the American Physical Therapy Association.

  19. 100+ Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students in 2022

    Top 25 Physiotherapy Research Topics for College Students. Effect of trigger point release and therapeutic ultrasonography on the relief of neck discomfort in university students. An RCT looked at the impact of lumbar traction on calf muscle soreness. Impact of trigger point release in treating student thoracic back discomfort.

  20. Doctor of Physical Therapy Research Papers

    A key finding was that 76% of respondents believe that physical therapists should suggest ways to maintain a healthy weight, however it was only addressed with 37% of the sample. The majority of respondents believed physical therapists should advise them about physical activity (88.6%), smoking cessation (65%), and weight management (83%).

  21. Effectiveness of physical therapy and exercise on pain and functional

    Introduction. Low back pain is one of the major health problems during life time with a prevalence of 80%, which causes functional loss and reduced productivity.[1,2] In 85% of patients with low back pain, the symptoms and signs are non-specific without a clear diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment protocol.[3,4] Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is back pain lasting longer than 12 weeks.

  22. Roundup

    Another year, another collection of high-quality, on-point research published in PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, APTA's scientific journal. The publication, available for free to members as a member benefit, continued to grow in influence as it made inroads in social media, offered more podcasts than ever, and refined its continuous publication model.

  23. About Physical Activity

    We also fund the Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (PAPREN). The network works across sectors to advance the evidence base for physical activity policies. It also puts research into practice with a shared vision: active people in active communities, supported by equitable, sustainable policies and practices.

  24. Swimming and Your Health

    For people with fibromyalgia, swimming can decrease anxiety, and exercise therapy in warm water can decrease depression and improve mood. Parents of children with developmental disabilities find that recreational activities, such as swimming, improve family connections. Water-based exercise can benefit older adults by improving their quality of ...

  25. Discussions and Debates

    [About the Podcast] "Enhancing Clinical Practice Through Psychosocial Perspectives in the Management of Low Back Pain" Symposium Speakers (in order of presentation): Chris J. Main, PhD, FBPsS, Julie M. Fritz, PT, PhD, ATC, Steven Z. George, PT, PhD, and William S. Shaw, PhD. [Audio and Video Podcast] [About the Podcast]Variability in Pediatric Physical Therapist Practice