Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.008
Augusto Boening , Louise Ada , Maria Tereza M Alvarenga , Aline A Scianni , Lucas R Nascimento
{"title":"Unilateral mirror therapy may improve upper limb motor recovery after stroke but bilateral mirror therapy provides little or no additional benefit: a systematic review","authors":"Augusto Boening , Louise Ada , Maria Tereza M Alvarenga , Aline A Scianni , Lucas R Nascimento","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Question</h3><div>Is mirror therapy, using only the intact upper limb (unilateral), superior to the same amount and type of practice without the mirror at reducing upper limb impairments or activity limitations? Is mirror therapy, using the intact and the affected upper limb (bilateral), superior to the same amount and type of practice without the mirror at reducing upper limb impairments or activity limitations?</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Systematic review of randomised trials with meta-analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>Adults at any time after stroke of any severity.</div></div><div><h3>Intervention</h3><div>Supervised mirror therapy for the upper limb.</div></div><div><h3>Outcome measures</h3><div>Motor impairments and/or activities.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 19 trials, involving 618 participants, were included. The mean PEDro score of the trials was 6 (range 3 to 8). Low-level evidence indicates that unilateral mirror therapy may have a moderate effect on motor recovery (SMD 0.48, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.82) and moderate level evidence indicates that this is similar in terms of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (MD 5 out of 66 points, 95% CI 0 to 10). Moderate-level evidence indicates that bilateral mirror therapy has little or no effect on motor recovery (SMD 0.15, 95% CI –0.07 to 0.38) and moderate level evidence indicates that this is similar in terms of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (MD 2 out of 66 points, 95% CI –1 to 6).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This systematic review suggests that unilateral mirror therapy may improve motor recovery after stroke. In contrast, bilateral mirror therapy appears to offer little benefit compared with practice without the mirror.</div></div><div><h3>Registration</h3><div>PROSPERO (CRD420251038374).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Pages 33-41"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145805883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.005
Gabriela da Silva Matuti , Sandra Regina Alouche
{"title":"Clinimetrics: Upper Extremity Motor Activity Log","authors":"Gabriela da Silva Matuti , Sandra Regina Alouche","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Page 72"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145795186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.011
Linkun Shen, Sheng Li
{"title":"Correspondence: reconsidering pelvic floor muscle training in elite gymnasts (by Gram et al)","authors":"Linkun Shen, Sheng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.011","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Page 84"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145795151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.004
Elaine Menezes de Oliveira , Gabriela da Silva Matuti
{"title":"Clinimetrics: Lower Extremity - Motor Activity Log","authors":"Elaine Menezes de Oliveira , Gabriela da Silva Matuti","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Page 71"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145795098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.010
Marte Charlotte Dobbertin Gram, Morten Wang Fagerland, Kari Bø
{"title":"Correspondence: clarifying baseline balance and the training regimen (reply to Shen and Li)","authors":"Marte Charlotte Dobbertin Gram, Morten Wang Fagerland, Kari Bø","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.11.010","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Page 85"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145795192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.007
Tatiana de Bem Fretta , Kari Bø , Pauliana Carolina de Souza Mendes , Mirella Dias , Daiane Leite da Roza , Cristine Homsi Jorge
{"title":"Telerehabilitation reduced urinary incontinence, pelvic pain and dyspareunia in women after treatment for gynaecological cancer: a randomised trial","authors":"Tatiana de Bem Fretta , Kari Bø , Pauliana Carolina de Souza Mendes , Mirella Dias , Daiane Leite da Roza , Cristine Homsi Jorge","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Question</h3><div>How effective is a telerehabilitation program in reducing reports of pelvic floor dysfunction in women after gynaecological cancer treatment?</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Randomised controlled trial with blinded assessors, concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>Fifty-eight women reporting urinary incontinence (UI) after treatment for gynaecological cancer.</div></div><div><h3>Interventions</h3><div>Experimental group participants were allocated to undertake telerehabilitation sessions including pelvic floor muscle training once a week for 12 weeks. The control group received usual care.</div></div><div><h3>Outcome measures</h3><div>The primary outcome was the prevalence of UI on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF). The secondary outcomes were: the impact of UI on quality of life (ICIQ-UI-SF), sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index), dyspareunia (numerical assessment scale), self-esteem (Rosenberg), pain (numerical assessment scale), faecal incontinence, stool consistency, vaginal stenosis, quality of life (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire) and level of physical activity. After 12 weeks, the telerehab group also responded about treatment satisfaction, adherence and system usability.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After 12 weeks, the experimental group had better outcomes than the control group in several areas: prevalence of UI (RD –0.45, 95% CI –0.62 to –0.23); total ICIQ-UI-SF score (MD –9.5, 95% CI –11.8 to –7.1); pelvic pain (MD –3.1, 95% CI –4.7 to –1.4); self-esteem (MD 2.9, 95% CI 0.7 to 5.1); and measures of vaginal stenosis and quality of life.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>A 12-week telerehabilitation program was effective in reducing reports of UI, severity of UI, pelvic pain and dyspareunia in women after the treatment of gynaecological cancer.</div></div><div><h3>Registration</h3><div>Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC) RBR-8ht5nqq.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Pages 53-60"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145800888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.002
Rafael Zambelli Pinto , Alice Kongsted , Samuel Silva , Jill A Hayden , Aron Downie , Bruno T Saragiotto
{"title":"Recent highlights in low back pain research, Part I: Diagnosis and Prognosis","authors":"Rafael Zambelli Pinto , Alice Kongsted , Samuel Silva , Jill A Hayden , Aron Downie , Bruno T Saragiotto","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>This paper highlights research relating to diagnosis and prognosis in low back pain (LBP) published between January 2020 and September 2025.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>To identify studies for inclusion, we searched Medline, CINAHL and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Search results were screened and relevant studies were grouped according to their topic area. From those results, we selected studies that were perceived to be of great clinical importance, particularly high quality and/or controversial.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>This narrative review synthesised five key themes in LBP research. For Theme 1 (Serious pathologies presenting as LBP)<strong>,</strong> we found that serious spinal conditions are rare, and clinicians should assess overall concern using a combination of alerting features rather than isolated red flags. In Theme 2 (Imaging in LBP management), we discussed the limited role of imaging, noting its continued overuse and frequent inappropriate application. In Theme 3 (Diagnostic uncertainty), we highlighted that LBP often lacks a clear anatomical cause and that embracing uncertainty while focusing on modifiable factors can help patients feel more supported and in control. Theme 4 (Clinical course and pain trajectories) showed that although recovery is common in recent onset LBP, recurrences are frequent; even long-lasting pain can improve. Traditional labels such as ‘acute’ and ‘chronic’ often fail to capture the fluctuating nature of LBP. Finally, in Theme 5 (Prognostic factors and prediction models), we presented patient characteristics related to delayed recovery but highlighted that current prediction models are not yet ready for clinical implementation. We provided direction for future research across all themes. The identified themes help clinicians make informed, evidence-based decisions and navigate current uncertainties in diagnosis and prognosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Pages 23-32"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145805447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-09-16DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.08.001
Cherie Zischke
{"title":"Critically appraised papers: The Sustainable Model of Early Intervention and Telerehabilitation for Children with CP (SMART-CP) results in earlier diagnosis and access to treatment compared with usual care [commentary]","authors":"Cherie Zischke","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Page 68"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145082190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of PhysiotherapyPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.005
Travis Haber , Mark R Elkins
{"title":"Smallest worthwhile effects in physiotherapy research","authors":"Travis Haber , Mark R Elkins","doi":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphys.2025.12.005","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49153,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiotherapy","volume":"72 1","pages":"Pages 6-9"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145805486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}