Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41528190›Full record

Observational studyPhysiotherapy theory and practice2026

Investigating acute care physical therapy in general medicine: a retrospective analysis of utilization and effectiveness.

James P Crick, Gabriel N Alain, Cristiane Meirelles, Marka Gehrig, Lisa Juckett, Carmen Quatman, Catherine Quatman-Yates

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Physiotherapy theory and practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

James P CrickCATALYST, The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Gabriel N AlainCATALYST, The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Cristiane MeirellesDivision of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Marka GehrigDivision of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Lisa JuckettDivision of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Carmen QuatmanDivision of Trauma, Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
Catherine Quatman-YatesDivision of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

Funding

AHRQ HHS T32 HS029590
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhysical therapy (PT) has been associated with improved patient- and system- outcomes for hospitalized patients. However, significant variation exists in PT delivery to general medicine patients, and there has been little research exploring the utilization and effectiveness of PT in this population. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the utilization and effectiveness of PT for acutely hospitalized general medicine patients, focusing on the relationship between PT minutes per day provided and patient functional improvement and discharge disposition.

methodsThis retrospective observational cohort study analyzed clinical data from 7693 patients admitted to an urban academic medical center between July 2021 and December 2023. Patients included were at least 18 years old, discharged alive, and received at least two PT visits. The primary predictor variable was minutes per day of PT provided. The primary outcome was functional improvement, measured by the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) Basic Mobility "six-clicks" score. The secondary outcome was discharge to home. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for functional improvement and discharge disposition.

resultsEach 10-minute increase in PT minutes per day provided positively associated with functional improvement (aOR = 1.16 per 10-minute increase, 95% CI 1.07-1.25,

conclusionIncreased daily PT was associated with greater functional improvement and higher likelihood of discharge to home. These results support more intentional PT resource allocation and suggest that identifying clinically meaningful treatment thresholds may help guide therapist decision-making.

Indexed as

Physical Therapy ModalitiesAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient DischargeRecovery of FunctionRetrospective Studiesacute carefunctionHospitalpatient dischargephysical therapy

Identifiers

PMID41528190
PMCPMC13100688

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.