Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25504482›Full record

ArticlePhysical therapy2015

Clinical characteristics of patients with cancer referred for outpatient physical therapy.

Meryl J Alappattu, Rogelio A Coronado, Derek Lee, Barbara Bour, Steven Z George

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Physical therapy, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 33% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Utilization outcomes of a cancer rehabilitation (CRNav) program: getting to the quadruple aim in cancer care.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Oncology Section EDGE Task Force on Cancer: A systematic review of patient-reported measures for sexual dysfunction.Rehabilitation oncology (American Physical Therapy Association. Oncology Section) · 2017
    Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Meryl J AlappattuM.J. Alappattu, PT, DPT, PhD, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, PO Box 100444, Gainesville, FL 32610-0154 (USA), and Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida. meryl@ufl.edu.
Rogelio A CoronadoR.A. Coronado, PT, PhD, CSCS, FAAOMPT, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Derek LeeD. Lee, PT, DPT, University of Florida College of Medicine.
Barbara BourB. Bour, PT, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida.
Steven Z GeorgeS.Z. George, PT, PhD, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida.
Bournemouth University · GBFlorida College · USGeorge Washington University · USUniversity of Florida · USVanderbilt University · US

Funding

Using social networks to map and evaluate team science across CTSA hubsUL1TR001427 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI MITCHELL, DUANE A. · 2015 to 2024
$37.2M
Training In Rehabilitation and Neuromuscular PlasticityT32HD043730 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI DAVID D FULLER · 2003 to 2026
$5.3M
Integrative and translational training in pain researchT32NS045551 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI YEZIERSKI, ROBERT P. · 2005 to 2014
$1.8M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001427NICHD NIH HHS T32 HD043730NINDS NIH HHS T32 NS045551
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCancer rehabilitation is a developing area, with an increasing number of survivors of cancer in the United States. The increase in survivorship occurs alongside impairments arising directly from cancer or from treatment-related side effects.

objectiveThis study described clinical characteristics of patients with cancer referred for outpatient physical therapy and explored patterns in frequency of impairments between type of cancer and mode of cancer treatment.

designThis was a retrospective chart review of patients with cancer referred to a tertiary care physical therapy clinic over a 2-year period.

methodsCharacteristics such as age, sex, cancer type, mode of treatment, and neuromusculoskeletal impairments were identified. Impairment frequencies were computed based on cancer type and mode of treatment.

resultsData from 418 patients (mean age=57.9 years, SD=14.3; 41.1% female) were examined. Genitourinary cancer (n=169) and breast cancer (n=90) were the most prevalent types of cancer reported in this sample. Impairments in strength (83.6%) and soft tissue (71.3%) were the most common examination findings. Lymphedema was most common in patients with breast cancer, and incontinence was most common in patients with genitourinary cancer. LIMITATIONS: The types of cancer identified in this study may be reflective of this tertiary center and may not generalize to other facilities. Impairment identification during the initial physical therapist evaluation was not performed systematically.

conclusionThese data reinforce that physical therapists should screen for lymphedema in patients with breast cancer and incontinence in urogenital cancers. Strength and soft tissue integrity should be evaluated in most patients with cancer. Assessing pain and fatigue levels is recommended for patients who have had radiation therapy.

Indexed as

Physical Therapy ModalitiesAgedAmbulatory CareAnimalsBreast NeoplasmsComorbidityFemaleHumansHypertensionLymphedemaMaleMiddle AgedMuscidaeNeoplasmsRetrospective StudiesUrogenital Neoplasms

Identifiers

PMID25504482
PMCPMC4384050
OpenAlexW2155921038

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.