- Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality Exercises on Joint Proprioception, Balance, Fall Risk, Functional Mobility, Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Pregnant Women-A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. [Journal Article]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70240.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: This study will provide evidence on the role of IVR as a novel intervention for improving proprioception and reducing fall risk during pregnancy. The findings may support physiotherapists in implementing engaging, patient-centered, and safe rehabilitation strategies.
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- AI-Based Exergaming as a Digital Assessment Tool for Post-Stroke Upper-Limb Function: Protocol for a Feasibility Study. [Journal Article]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70237.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: If validated, the proposed exergame may serve as an accessible and scalable digital tool to support future development of objective assessment tools in stroke rehabilitation, potentially reducing clinical workload and enabling remote evaluations. A future large-scale study will evaluate test-retest reliability, longitudinal responsiveness, and home-based implementation.
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- The Effect of Kinesio Taping on Handgrip Strength and Functional Outcomes in Elderly Patients After Lower Extremity Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study. [Journal Article]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70243.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that Kinesio taping application is a simple and cost-effective method that increases HGS in patients and is an effective method in controlling pain, improving walking speed, and enhancing functionality in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery.
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- Comparative Efficacy of Dynamic Taping and Tissue Flossing Combined With Resistance Band Training on Dynamic Balance, Jump Performance, Agility, Sprint Velocity, and Lower Limb Strength in Young Football Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol. [Journal Article]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70241.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: This will be the first three-arm, parallel-group RCT to quantify the isolated and additive effects of dynamic taping and tissue flossing when super-imposed on a standardized, youth-specific resistance-band program. The trial is powered to detect a 6-point between-group difference in the Y-Balance composite score (MCID = 5.5) and is prospectively registered with an openly available SAP. In case either adjunct is better, clinicians can immediately have an inexpensive tool to boost balance, sprint capacity and lower-limb strength in adolescent footballers, hence decreasing injury burden. To confirm long-term stability, involve female participants, and incorporate mechanistic functions (e.g., EMG, motion-capture) to elucidate neuro-muscular pathways, longer-term multi-center trials are needed.
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- Effect of Feldenkrais Method in Enhancing Postural Control for Patients With Diabetic Polyneuropathy. [Randomized Controlled Trial]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70233.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: The Feldenkrais Method appears effective in enhancing balance, postural control, and quality of life in individuals with DPN. These results support its integration into neurorehabilitation programs.
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- Correlation Between the Severity of Low Back Pain and Sitting Posture Parameters Among Female Bharatanatyam Dancers. [Journal Article]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70235.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: Despite the physical demands and sustained postures involved in Bharatanatyam practice, this study found no significant link between sitting postural parameters and low back pain. This suggests that discomfort in dancers may be more influenced by dynamic performance factors, repetitive loading, and training intensity than by static sitting posture alone. The results highlight the intricate characteristics of low back pain in dancers and the necessity of focusing on movement patterns and muscular endurance in effective rehabilitation approaches.
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- Environmental Scan of the United States Regulatory Practices of Physical Therapy Dry Needling. [Journal Article]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70225.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: This environmental scan highlights the heterogeneity and gaps in DN regulations across US physical therapy regulatory jurisdictions. Our findings suggest that national regulatory guidelines may help reduce heterogeneity across jurisdictions by ensuring a minimal standard of competency, specifically from a safety perspective.
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- Land-Based Functional Rehabilitation Versus Aquatic Therapy on the Quality of Life of Individuals With Chronic Chikungunya: A Randomized Clinical Trial. [Randomized Controlled Trial]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70239.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: Both rehabilitation programs, land-based and aquatic, significantly improved the quality of life of individuals in the chronic phase of chikungunya, with the land-based program showing superior results in social aspects.
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- Early Mobilization Following Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review of Functional and Hospital Outcomes. [Systematic Review]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70232.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: Early mobilization following cardiac surgery appears safe and is associated with improvements in functional recovery (e.g., walking capacity and independence) and selected hospital outcomes (e.g., length of stay), although the magnitude of benefit varies across studies.
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- Extracorporeal Radial Shock Wave Therapy Combined With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol. [Journal Article]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70217.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: This study will verify the clinical intervention efficacy of ESWT combined with rTMS for nonspecific low back pain and explore the potential therapeutic mechanisms.
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- The Impact of Gender on the Landing Error Scoring System: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [Systematic Review]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70230.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: Although a statistically significant difference between sexes was identified, the mean difference of 0.62 errors is not clinically meaningful. The findings should be interpreted with caution due to their high heterogeneity and very low-quality evidence. Furthermore, sex differences in LESS scores may be context-dependent and influenced by population characteristics and study conditions.
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- Effectiveness of Different Exercises for Relieving Menstrual Symptoms: A Narrative Review. [Review]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70229.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: Exercise interventions appear to be effective, safe, and clinically applicable for managing menstrual discomfort, that is, aerobic and yoga interventions. More high-quality randomised controlled trials are needed to support clinical recommendations. This review uniquely provides a comparative synthesis across multiple therapeutic exercise modalities and highlights clinically relevant dose-response patterns.
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- Optimal Reactive Balance Training Characteristics Poststroke: Secondary Analysis of a Clinical Trial. [Journal Article]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70231.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: Greater exposure to RBT was associated with improvements in reactive balance control among individuals with chronic stroke. Participants who completed a higher number of perturbations within the standardized 12-session protocol showed greater improvements in reactive balance control, consistent with a dose-response association. These results indicate that training volume-reflected in the number of perturbations experienced-may be an important factor to consider when refining RBT protocols.
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- Efficacy of Active Exercises to Improve Range of Motion in Knee Joint After Total Knee Arthroplasty. A Randomized Controlled Trial. [Randomized Controlled Trial]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70228.PR
- CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with reduced joint mobility after TKA, HF self-managed knee flexion exercises were associated with a positive change in flexion compared with LF, though the between-group difference was smaller than expected.
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- Immediate Effect of Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Versus PNF Stretching in Shortened Hamstring Syndrome: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial. [Letter]Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul; 31(3):e70227.PR
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