Physiotherapy

For physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals, developing capability and expertise in research can be challenging. However, involvement in research is beneficial at organisational and individual levels, both for clinicians and patients. One way to embark on research is to apply for a personal fellowship such as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Pre-Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship (PCAF). While the NIHR has guidance on how to complete the application form, it can be difficult to implement this guidance and understand what a competitive application looks like...

BACKGROUND: Manual patient handling is the most frequently reported risk factor for work related musculoskeletal disorders in healthcare. Patient handling tasks are routinely performed manually without assistive devices and can create awkward postures and high loads for nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs). However, AHPs, notably physiotherapists, also utilize therapeutic handling to facilitate patient movement during rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: To comprehensively map the literature surrounding manual patient handling (without assistive devices) by healthcare practitioners...

BACKGROUND: The upper limb neurodynamic test for median nerve (ULNT1) is commonly applied for assessment of cervical radiculopathy (CR). However, the diagnostic accuracy of ULNT1 in diagnosing CR remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the ULNT1 for the CR. DATA SOURCES: Four databases were searched for relevant studies published up to April 30, 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Cross-sectional or cohort studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of ULNT1 for CR were included...

BACKGROUND: The incidence of vertebral fragility fractures (VFF) is rising, placing a major burden on individuals and health systems. No comprehensive picture of the research regarding physiotherapy exists for this patient cohort. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aims to summarise the research regarding Physiotherapy post VFF, the type of physiotherapy interventions employed and outcome measures utilised. DESIGN: Scoping review, adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines...

BACKGROUND: Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle (DRAM) commonly occurs in pregnancy and postnatally. Physiotherapists routinely guide women in its management, although the effectiveness of these treatments is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of conservative interventions to reduce the presence and width of DRAM in pregnant and postnatal women. DATA SOURCES: EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, PUBMED, AMED and PEDro searched until August 2021...

OBJECTIVES: To determine which mechanical ventilation settings influence the attainment of expiratory flow rate characteristics that may promote secretion mobilisation during ventilator hyperinflation (VHI). DESIGN: Prospective, single centre study. SETTING: Intensive care unit, tertiary metropolitan hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four patients receiving mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were recruited to either a low PEEP or high PEEP group (5-9 cmH2 O or 10-15 cmH2 O PEEP respectively)...

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of progressive resistance exercise (PRE) on impairment, activity and participation of people with cerebral palsy (CP). Also, to determine which programme parameters provide the most beneficial effects. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases searched from the earliest available time. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) implementing PRE as an intervention in people with cerebral palsy were included...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of participants during a six-month, post-stroke telerehabilitation programme. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study to investigate participant experiences of ACTIV (Augmented Community Telerehabilitation Intervention), a six-month tailored exercise programme delivered by physiotherapists primarily using readily accessible telecommunication technology. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were used to collect data, which were analysed using thematic analysis...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: To examine the association between physiotherapy access after hip fracture and discharge home, readmission, survival, and mobility recovery. METHODS: A 2017 Physiotherapy Hip Fracture Sprint Audit was linked to hospital records for 5383 patients. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between physiotherapy access in the first postoperative week and discharge home, 30-day readmission post-discharge, 30-day survival and 120-days mobility recovery post-admission adjusted for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology grade, Hospital Frailty Risk Score and prefracture mobility/residence...

OBJECTIVES: To examine the feasibility of implementing a 10-week exercise-based cancer rehabilitation programme in a national cancer centre. DESIGN: A single-arm prospective feasibility study. SETTING: An outpatient physiotherapy department. PARTICIPANTS: Forty de-conditioned cancer survivors (<1 year post completion of treatment). INTERVENTIONS: A 10-week programme of twice weekly group-based supervised exercise sessions...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVE(S): To describe a) how motor learning principles are applied during post stroke physiotherapy, with a focus on lower limb rehabilitation; and b) the context in which these principles are used, in relation to patient and/or task characteristics. DESIGN: Direct non-participation observation of routine physiotherapy sessions, with data collected via video recording. A structured analysis matrix and pre-agreed definitions were used to identify, count and record: type of activity; repetitions; instructional and feedback statements (frequency and type); strategies such as observational learning and augmented feedback...

BACKGROUND: Low back (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy are related to high direct and indirect costs. It is important to clarify evidence regarding interventions to manage and prevent these conditions. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the efficacy and acceptability of the interventions to prevent LBP and PGP during pregnancy. DATA SOURCES: Searches were conducted up to January 6th, 2021 in the MEDLINE, PEDro, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, AMED, Embase and PsycInfo databases STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: (1) Pregnant women without LBP and/or PGP; (2) any prevention strategy on incidence of LBP and PGP and sick leave; (3) comparison to control; (4) quasi and randomised controlled trial...

BACKGROUND: Cross-education refers to the increase in motor output of the untrained limb following unilateral training of the opposite limb. Cross education has been shown to be beneficial in clinical settings. OBJECTIVES: This systematic literature and meta-analysis aims to assess the effects of cross-education on strength and motor function in post stroke rehabilitation. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, PEDro, Web of Science, ClinicalTrails...

OBJECTIVES: As healthcare systems continue to modernise, physiotherapists are required to transform their practice to remain contemporary and meet future population needs. The study aims to gain an insight into physiotherapists' perceptions of their current and emerging future role. The intention is to develop an understanding of the physiotherapist's role and how it can continue to evolve to support populations' needs in more sustainable and innovative ways. DESIGN: A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was undertaken informed by Gadamerian hermeneutic philosophy...

OBJECTIVES: Hypoglycaemia is a serious complication of exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to test energy expenditure and the degree of the glucose-lowering effect of different exercise modalities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study PARTICIPANTS: This study included 44 patients {35 women and nine men, mean age 51 [standard deviation (SD) 5] years} with T2DM [mean HbA1c 7% (SD 1%)]. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standardised exercise tests for walking, running and cycling were performed using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), and symptom-limited maximal cycle exercise test, respectively...

BACKGROUND: Incivility in healthcare teams is a widely recognised phenomenon. The impact of incivility is far-reaching with consequences for healthcare organisations, individuals and patient care. To date there has been little research into the effects of incivility on physiotherapists, with the extant literature focussed on nurses and physicians. PURPOSE: To explore the impact of incivility on physiotherapists working in the acute hospital setting METHODS: A qualitative design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used...

BACKGROUND: Robust measurement tools are essential in guiding physiotherapy-delivered airway clearance techniques to ventilated infants and children. OBJECTIVE: To identify measurement tools used to evaluate effects of airway clearance techniques in ventilated infants and children and to determine the clinimetric properties of these tools. DATA SOURCES: Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and Web of Science, up to November 2020...

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are a common serious complication following upper abdominal surgery. Postoperatively, physiotherapy-led non-invasive ventilation (NIV) may be a promising method to reduce PPC incidence. The objectives of this pilot trial were to examine preliminary effectiveness, feasibility and safety of additional intermittent physiotherapy-led NIV compared to continuous high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) alone. DESIGN: Single-centre, assessor-blinded, parallel-group, pilot randomised control trial...