Physiotherapy News and Research

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New interactive wobbleboard can allow clinicians to better measure improvements in patients' balance

A physiotherapy lecturer at Bournemouth University (BU) has created a new interactive wobbleboard that will allow clinicians to better measure improvements in patients' balance.

30 Jan 2013

Less is more for emergency department treatment of whiplash

Researchers recommend that patients presenting to emergency departments with acute whiplash should receive usual consultations and a single physiotherapy advice session for persistent symptoms.

22 Jan 2013

French method successful for clubfoot

Researchers have demonstrated the efficacy of the “French” functional method for correcting congenital idiopathic clubfoot, with the majority of patients achieving a good result, often without surgery.

20 Dec 2012

Whiplash recovery no quicker with intensive therapy

More costly, intensive treatment works no better than usual care at speeding up recovery from whiplash injuries, according to new research published Online First in The Lancet.

18 Dec 2012

Sputum color guides antibiotic treatment in COPD

Withholding antibiotic treatment from hospitalized chronic obstructive lung disease patients with nonpurulent sputum does not negatively affect outcomes, a pilot study shows.

4 Dec 2012

Video gaming helps coordination in children with degenerative ataxia

Whole-body controlled video gaming may help children and adolescents with degenerative ataxia to improve the physical symptoms of their condition, say researchers.

13 Nov 2012

Exercise not superior to physiotherapy for neck pain

Both exercise-based interventions and physiotherapy are effective for reducing pain in patients with nonspecific neck pain, UK researchers have found, but adherence to such treatments remains a challenge.

6 Nov 2012

Exercise improves hip osteoarthritis function

Patients with hip osteoarthritis can achieve improvements in function and range of motion with the help of exercise therapy, regardless of whether adjunctive manual therapy is also used, study findings suggest.

30 Oct 2012

Nottingham experts identify risk factors associated with childhood obesity

High birth weight, rapid weight gain and having an overweight mother who smokes can all increase the risk of a baby becoming obese later in childhood, research by experts at The University of Nottingham has found.

30 Oct 2012

DFG-funded project to research into complex regional pain syndrome

German Research Foundation funds a three-year joint project of the Mainz University Medical Center and the University of Münster to the tune of about EUR 460,000.

3 Oct 2012

No evidence for added benefits of spinal manipulation for acute lower back pain

Manipulating or "adjusting" the spine is a popular way to treat occasional or acute lower back pain and is covered by many health insurance plans, but a recent review by The Cochrane Library finds no evidence to suggest it is more effective than other therapy options.

21 Sep 2012

Ultrasound boosts rheumatology clinical examination findings

Musculoskeletal ultrasound improves rheumatology diagnosis and guides treatment, say researchers who believe imaging should be performed alongside clinical examination.

21 Sep 2012

Concussion: an interview with Dr Rob Reid

Concussion happens when something produces a concussive force to the head, such as a blow to the head. The definition from the 2008 consensus, which was in Zurich, is, “concussion is defined as a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic biomechanical forces.”

10 Sep 2012

New guidelines for physiotherapists can help prevent falls in older adults

Taking a fall in older life can not only result in injury, but also a potentially debilitating loss of confidence. But new guidelines for physiotherapists, co-compiled by a leading academic in the field from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), University of Exeter, aim to refresh out-dated guidelines and introduce better direction for physiotherapists who work with elderly people at risk of falling.

1 Sep 2012

Physiotherapy beneficial for Parkinson’s patients

Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the BMJ suggest that physiotherapy interventions benefit Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, at least in the short term.

20 Aug 2012

Physiotherapy beneficial for Parkinson’s patients

Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the BMJ suggest that physiotherapy interventions benefit Parkinson’s disease patients, at least in the short term.

14 Aug 2012

Tai Chi improves health and quality of life for COPD sufferers

A new University of Sydney study has found Tai Chi can be an effective form of exercise therapy for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), improving exercise capacity and quality of life.

14 Aug 2012

Physios to get prescribing powers

Physiotherapists and podiatrists are set to gain independent prescribing powers from 2014, under proposals unveiled by the Department of Health this week.

26 Jul 2012

Roke, University of Southampton pioneer use of Xbox computer technology for stroke

The University of Southampton, in collaboration with Roke Manor Research Ltd (Roke), a Chemring company, has pioneered the use of Xbox computer technology to develop the world's first process that measures hand joint movement to help stroke patients recover manual agility at home.

15 Jun 2012

Study tests effectiveness of personally tailored exercise programmes on young people with depression

A unique study to test the effectiveness of personally tailored exercise programmes on young people with depression has been launched by researchers at The University of Nottingham.

18 Apr 2012