JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0207
Charles R Hazle, William G Boissonnault, Jaxon Keeton, Calvert Benson, Noah Taylor
{"title":"Investigating the Integration of Diagnostic and Procedural Imaging Into DPT Clinical Education Experiences.","authors":"Charles R Hazle, William G Boissonnault, Jaxon Keeton, Calvert Benson, Noah Taylor","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>OBJECTIVE:</b> To describe the integration of diagnostic and procedural imaging into Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students' terminal clinical education experiences. <b>DESIGN:</b> Descriptive survey <b>METHODS:</b> A web-based survey was distributed to clinical instructors (CIs) in 11 jurisdictions in which physical therapists (PTs) have imaging referral privileges. Survey questions investigated the CIs' imaging referral beliefs and practices, along with interactions with students regarding imaging findings being incorporated into clinical decision making. <b>RESULTS:</b> Of 132 responding CIs, 29% were unsure or responded negatively about having jurisdictional imaging referral privileges. Additionally, 28% of CIs stated referring for imaging was beyond their personal scopes of practice. Another 31% of those not engaging students with imaging discussions expressed imaging referral and acting on results were not entry-level skills, with 27% citing inadequate student academic preparation. Clinical instructors identified barriers to integration of imaging into clinical education experiences including employer policies, concerns for offending referral sources, lack of CI confidence/training, and lack of communication from academic programs regarding student preparation. <b>CONCLUSION:</b> Interactions between CIs and students were highly varied with many students having limited imaging-related experiences. Multiple opportunities exist to enhance clinical education experiences related to imaging to better prepare DPT students for licensure examination and contemporary clinical practice. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):289-296. Epub 4 May 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0207</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"289-296"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0213
Dermot Simpson, Simon Wallace, Enda King, Helen McKeever, Rod Whiteley
{"title":"The Aspetar Hamstring Injury Rehabilitation Pathway.","authors":"Dermot Simpson, Simon Wallace, Enda King, Helen McKeever, Rod Whiteley","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0213","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>OBJECTIVE:</b> To explore the perspectives of practitioners working in elite-level sport on a structured hamstring rehabilitation pathway, evaluating its perceived clinical relevance, acceptability, and practical application. <b>DESIGN:</b> Cross-sectional study. <b>METHODS:</b> A steering group of senior clinicians at the Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar, developed a hamstring rehabilitation pathway guided by the Knowledge-To-Action framework. Following an internal review, the pathway was externally distributed to 32 elite-level sports practitioners prior to attending a 2-day preconference workshop at the Aspetar International Rehabilitation Conference 2024. Participants completed a structured survey comprising a mixture of closed (answered on a 5-point Likert scale) questions and open feedback. <b>RESULTS:</b> Of 32 invited practitioners, 24 (75%) submitted the survey. Respondents worked exclusively in elite sport and held advanced academic qualifications. Survey question completion was high (96%), with strong overall agreement (92%). Sections demonstrated high individual agreement: assessment (93%), milestones (92%), strength (92%), motor control (92%), running (93%), explosiveness and reactive strength (94%), and Aspetar week (85%). <b>CONCLUSION:</b> Practitioners working in elite sport reported high agreement regarding the perceived clinical relevance, acceptability, and practical applicability of the Aspetar hamstring injury rehabilitation pathway. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):340-353. Epub 20 May 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0213</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"340-353"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0204
Max Jordon, Frank Tudini, Matthew Grubb
{"title":"Immediate and Short-Term Effects of Electro-Dry Needling on Thermal Temporal Summation in Healthy Adults.","authors":"Max Jordon, Frank Tudini, Matthew Grubb","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>OBJECTIVE:</b> The aim of this study was to examine the local and distal immediate and short-term effects of a single session of electro-dry needling (EDN) on thermal temporal summation (TS) in asymptomatic adults. <b>DESIGN:</b> This was a single-group repeated-measures intervention study. <b>METHODS:</b> Twenty-five asymptomatic adults participated in this study. Using a Medoc TSA_II thermode, TS was assessed at three sites: right lumbar paraspinals, right tibialis anterior, and right thenar eminence. One week after establishing baseline stability of TS, participants received a 10-minute EDN intervention applied to the lumbar spine. TS was reassessed immediately after EDN, 25 minutes after EDN, and 48 hours later. Consistent with prior work, TS was quantified as the difference between the initial and peak pain ratings evoked by a series of 10 identical heat pulses. A 3 × 5 repeated-measures analysis of variance examined the effects of location and time. <b>RESULTS:</b> There were significant main effects of location (<i>P</i> = .031, [Formula: see text] ) and time (<i>P</i> < .001, [Formula: see text] ), but no Location × Time interaction (<i>P</i> = .570, [Formula: see text] ). TS decreased significantly from pre-EDN to each post-EDN time point (all <i>P</i> < .05). Reductions were similar across all anatomical sites, and TS remained stable from immediately post-EDN through 48 hours. Baseline measures collected 1 week apart showed no significant differences, supporting the stability of the TS measure. <b>CONCLUSION:</b> In asymptomatic adults, small but statistically significant reductions in TS were associated with a single 10-minute session of EDN. The absence of site-specific effects suggests that EDN may influence central rather than peripheral nociceptive processes. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):367-373. Epub 3 Jun 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0204</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"367-373"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0215
Neil B Sheth, Jess Elis
{"title":"Decel to Excel: Translating Countermovement Jump Metrics Into Targeted Rehabilitation Strategies for Return to Play.","authors":"Neil B Sheth, Jess Elis","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0215","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0215","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>BACKGROUND:</b> Athletes often return to sport despite persistent neuromuscular deficits that impair deceleration, force attenuation, and reacceleration following change of direction-qualities that are essential for sport performance and injury risk reduction. Return-to-play (RTP) criteria have frequently relied on global outputs or symmetry thresholds, which may fail to detect subtle limitations. Building on our original <i>Decel to Excel</i> framework, advanced force plate metrics provide an opportunity to better characterize late-stage performance readiness. <b>CLINICAL QUESTION:</b> How can force plate metrics guide phase-specific rehabilitation throughout the course of care? We expand the <i>Decel to Excel</i> framework, which integrates clinically meaningful force plate metrics, with phase-specific rehabilitation strategies to inform RTP decision making. <b>KEY RESULTS:</b> Countermovement jump-derived force plate metrics, offer insight into limb- and phase-specific neuromuscular qualities not captured by jump height or distance alone. Persistent deficits in these metrics are often missed following lower-limb injury, particularly anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and are associated with altered movement strategies during sport-specific tasks. We outline practical methods for interpreting force traces, linking metric-specific deficits to observable movement patterns, and selecting targeted rehabilitation interventions. <b>CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS:</b> Integrating force plate metrics within a structured workflow allows clinicians to individualize late-stage rehabilitation, enhance interdisciplinary communication, and move beyond symmetry-based RTP thresholds. The <i>Decel to Excel 2.0</i> framework helps to close the gap between objective data and clinical decision making to support safer and more performance-relevant RTP outcomes. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):247-253. Epub 3 June 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0215</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"247-253"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0191
Nicole Hutmacher, Aglaja Busch, Daniela Nyffenegger, Angela Blasimann, Wolfgang Taube, Philipp Henle, Heiner Baur
{"title":"What Are the Effects of a Targeted Sensorimotor Training Program Compared to Standard Care on Neuromuscular Activity in Individuals After ACL Reconstruction? Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Nicole Hutmacher, Aglaja Busch, Daniela Nyffenegger, Angela Blasimann, Wolfgang Taube, Philipp Henle, Heiner Baur","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0191","DOIUrl":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0191","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>OBJECTIVE:</b> To assess whether a specifically designed sensorimotor training program-the ACL-EDGE (Evidence-Driven Gain & Execution)-can alter sensorimotor deficits in individuals after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). <b>DESIGN:</b> Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. <b>METHODS:</b> Fifty participants will be randomly assigned to a control or an intervention group, involving 16 one-on-one training sessions over 8 weeks with a trained physical therapist. The ACL-EDGE is based on the current best evidence regarding sensorimotor training, incorporating important principles of motor learning to foster automatic movement execution. Sensorimotor deficits will be assessed and quantified during single-leg stance, an artificially induced tibial translation, stairway walking, and single-leg hops while simultaneously recording neuromuscular and electrical cortical activity. Baseline measurements will be conducted 9-10 months after ACL reconstruction, with the follow-up after 8 weeks. <b>CONCLUSION:</b> The study aims to improve sensorimotor control in ACL patients by applying a specifically developed rehabilitation program to improve current rehabilitation. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):304-312. Epub 27 March 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0191</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"304-312"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0199
Eva M Ciccodicola, Alison M Hanson, Shawn E Roberts, Mia J Katzel, Tishya A L Wren
{"title":"Asymmetry of Single-Leg Vertical Hop Performance and Biomechanics in Adolescent Athletes With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.","authors":"Eva M Ciccodicola, Alison M Hanson, Shawn E Roberts, Mia J Katzel, Tishya A L Wren","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0199","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>OBJECTIVE:</b> To assess single-leg vertical hop (SLVH) symmetry in adolescent athletes with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), comparing injured to uninjured limbs. <b>DESIGN:</b> Retrospective cohort study. <b>METHODS:</b> Nineteen patients (15 female; mean age=16.3 years; mean=9.2 months post-ACLR) underwent three-dimensional motion analysis during SLVH. Hop performance and biomechanics were compared between ACLR and contralateral limbs using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. <b>RESULTS:</b> Hop height was significantly lower for the ACLR limb compared with the contralateral side (<i>P</i> = .028), with a median limb symmetry index (LSI) of 92.3%. Biomechanical variables demonstrated asymmetry, including peak knee and ankle flexion angles, peak knee flexion moment, total power generation, total power absorption, and percent power absorption contributed by the knee (all <i>P</i> ≤ .037) even in participants who achieved hop height symmetry (LSI<sub>height</sub> ≥90%). <b>CONCLUSION:</b> Adolescent athletes in late-stage rehabilitation post-ACLR had interlimb asymmetry of biomechanics during the SLVH, indicating deficiencies of their ACLR limb and decreased readiness for return to sport. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):321-327. Epub 18 May 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0199</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"321-327"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0212
Simon Wallace, Dermot Simpson, Helen McKeever, Rod Whiteley, Enda King
{"title":"The Aspetar Rectus Femoris Injury Rehabilitation Pathway.","authors":"Simon Wallace, Dermot Simpson, Helen McKeever, Rod Whiteley, Enda King","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>OBJECTIVE:</b> To evaluate agreement and clinical acceptability among practitioners working in elite sport regarding a rectus femoris rehabilitation pathway for elite and high-level athletes. <b>DESIGN:</b> Cross-sectional survey. <b>METHODS:</b> Experienced rehabilitation clinicians from the Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha, Qatar, developed a rectus femoris rehabilitation pathway that comprised 8 sections: assessment, milestones, strength, motor control, explosiveness and reactive strength, running, kicking, and weekly schedule. Following an internal review, a draft of the pathway was distributed to practitioners who were attending the preconference workshop at the 2024 Aspetar International Rehabilitation Conference (n = 32). Participants rated agreement with key elements using a 5-point Likert scale (75% a priori threshold for high agreement). Survey responses (n = 27) were analyzed descriptively. <b>RESULTS:</b> Overall agreement was high (89%), and disagreement was low (2%). The running section had the highest agreement (94%). The strength section had the lowest disagreement (0%). Weekly scheduling was the only section to not reach high agreement (67%), whereas explosiveness and reactive strength showed the highest disagreement (6%). These findings demonstrate high agreement with key components of a criteria-based, multifactorial rehabilitation pathway, while noting sport-specific and scheduling constraints. <b>CONCLUSION:</b> High agreement was observed among practitioners, suggesting alignment with current practices in elite sport. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):354-366. Epub 20 May 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0212</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"354-366"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0184
John Nyland, Jonathon Lewis, Jarod Richards, Ryan Krupp
{"title":"The Deep Myofascial Tissue Network and the Quadriceps Femoris Tendon Autograft: A Clinical Commentary.","authors":"John Nyland, Jonathon Lewis, Jarod Richards, Ryan Krupp","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0184","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>BACKGROUND:</b> Quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft use for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has increased. Like other ACLR tendon autografts, this tissue is a component of the deep myofascial tissue network. <b>CLINICAL QUESTION:</b> How does QT autograft use for ACLR compare to hamstring tendon and bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft use from a deep myofascial tissue network perspective? <b>KEY RESULTS:</b> The QT is a histologically and morphologically less homogenous tissue than bone-patellar tendon-bone and hamstring tendon autografts. Harvest site damage to QT aponeurosis fusion points during surgical harvest may impair quadriceps femoris neuromuscular function and deep myofascial tissue network load sharing. <b>CLINICAL APPLICATION:</b> Physical therapists should be aware of inherent differences between ACLR tendon autografts. Studies are needed to better elucidate QT histological and morphological harvest defect tissue healing properties and how best to either preserve aponeurosis fusion points or minimize their damage. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):254-263. Epub 25 March 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0184</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"254-263"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0219
Tara Caberwal, Amy Cecchini, Thomas Beltran, Carmen R Versoza, Whitney A Green, Cristóbal S Berry-Cabán
{"title":"Prevalence of Cervicalgia Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Among Active-Duty Service Members: Implications for Concussion Assessment.","authors":"Tara Caberwal, Amy Cecchini, Thomas Beltran, Carmen R Versoza, Whitney A Green, Cristóbal S Berry-Cabán","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>OBJECTIVES:</b> To (1) determine the prevalence of cervicalgia within 90 days of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) among active-duty service members, and (2) describe associated demographic and clinical characteristics relevant to physical therapy management. <b>DESIGN:</b> Retrospective cohort study. <b>METHODS:</b> Deidentified personnel and medical encounter data from the Military Assessment and Readiness System (2016-2024) were analyzed. Service members were identified using ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision) codes for initial encounter of mTBI. Cervicalgia (M54.2) was classified as pre-existing (≤90 days pre-mTBI) or incident (≤90 days post-mTBI). Prevalence and clinical characteristics were compared by cervicalgia. <b>RESULTS:</b> Among 71 176 service members diagnosed with mTBI, 18.4% had cervicalgia within 90 days of injury (7.3% pre-existing; 11.1% incident). Cervicalgia clustered temporally around mTBI (mean: 29 days preinjury, 24 days postinjury). Compared with those without cervicalgia, affected service members had a higher prevalence of posttraumatic headache (16.1% vs 6.2%) and postconcussion syndrome (18.8% vs 11.0%), longer time in service, and greater deployment exposure. <b>CONCLUSION:</b> Nearly 1 in 5 service members diagnosed with mTBI had cervicalgia documented in close temporal proximity to injury. Cervicalgia was associated with greater postconcussive symptom burden. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):297-303. Epub 4 May 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0219</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"297-303"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JOSPT openPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0216
Giovanni Alberotanza, Søren T Skou, Jan Hartvigsen, Mette Dideriksen, Mette Nyberg, Hanne Rasmussen, Alessio Bricca
{"title":"Patient and Clinician Preferences for Postrehabilitation Physical Activity Support in Knee, Hip, and Low Back Pain Management - A Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Giovanni Alberotanza, Søren T Skou, Jan Hartvigsen, Mette Dideriksen, Mette Nyberg, Hanne Rasmussen, Alessio Bricca","doi":"10.2519/josptopen.2026.0216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.0216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>OBJECTIVE:</b> To investigate knee/hip osteoarthritis (OA) and low back pain (LBP) patient preferences for strategies to maintain physical activity after in-person rehabilitation, and the strategies recommended by clinicians. <b>DESIGN:</b> Cross-sectional survey study. <b>METHODS:</b> We recruited patients with knee/hip OA and LBP at 2 Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D) facilities and invited clinicians delivering physical rehabilitation for these diagnoses via emails and social media. The survey was conducted between April and June 2025. Questionnaires for patients and clinicians both contained 11 strategies for maintaining patients' physical activity levels informed by findings from a systematic review. Participants could rate their preferences on a 9-point Likert scale from \"Disagree\" to \"Agree\" and provide additional comments. We summarized the data using descriptive statistics. <b>RESULTS:</b> Twenty-five patients and 52 clinicians completed the questionnaires. The patients' mean age was 75.5 years; 88% were women. Ninety-two percent preferred exercise therapy alone and 76% preferred in-person interventions for physical activity maintenance. The clinicians had varying experience working with patients with OA and LBP and had a mean age of 44.5 years; 60% were women, and 64% of them recommended combining exercise and self-management interventions for physical activity maintenance. Additional comments from both groups highlighted preferences for focusing on social environment (ie, group exercising), individual preferences, and motivations. <b>CONCLUSION:</b> After in-person rehabilitation, patients more frequently preferred in-person exercise therapy, while clinicians more frequently preferred recommending exercise therapy with self-management support. These findings should be interpreted with caution given the small sample size. <i>JOSPT Open 2026;4(3):313-320. Epub 15 May 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0216</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520324,"journal":{"name":"JOSPT open","volume":"4 3","pages":"313-320"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}