The Role of Physical Performance Measures in the Physiotherapy Assessment and Management of Older Adults with Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures: A Narrative Review
Journal: Osteoporosis International
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-025-07606-x
Key Findings:
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Purpose: Explores how physical performance measures support assessment, clinical decision-making, and monitoring in physiotherapy care for older adults with osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs).
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Common Measures: Gait speed, Timed Up and Go (TUG), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and functional mobility assessments.
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Clinical Utility: These tools help evaluate mobility, balance, and fall risk; track progress; and tailor rehabilitation interventions.
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Gaps Identified: Limited guidance on the standardized use of these measures across care settings and insufficient evidence on implementation strategies.
Conclusion:
Physical performance measures are valuable in guiding physiotherapy management for older adults with OVFs, but their integration into routine care remains inconsistent. More research is needed to establish standardized protocols and examine the impact of these measures on long-term patient outcomes.
đź‘Ź Congratulations to the research team for this valuable contribution to osteoporosis care and physiotherapy practice!
