THE INDEX

Every paper we have read

Each one summarised from the full article, not its abstract, and kept only if it speaks to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology or nursing. Newest first.

35,183 PAPERS · PAGE 246 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2016What are the barriers and facilitators to goal-setting during rehabilitation for stroke and other acquired brain injuries? A systematic review and meta-synthesis.Clinical rehabilitationPatients tended to want broad, long-term goals; staff tended to set short, impairment-focused goals. Use early therapist-led goal-setting when patients prefer it, and shift to patient-led goals after discharge.
• RCT2016Brief Report: Initial Trial of Alpha7-Nicotinic Receptor Stimulation in Two Adult Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAfter taking DMXB-A, both adults with autism showed a lower brain response marker, higher attention test scores, and better self-rated attention. This tiny study cannot show benefit.
• PTOther2017Construct Validity of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M) in Adults With Lower Limb Amputation.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationSelf-reported PLUS-M mobility scores tracked other mobility questionnaires and performance tests, and increased with clinician-assigned functional level in adults with one lower limb amputation.
• PTOTCohort2017How Receptive Are Patients With Late Stage Cancer to Rehabilitation Services and What Are the Sources of Their Resistance?Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost patients with late-stage lung cancer refused rehabilitation even when distressed by their limitations. The main barrier was believing they did not need help. Clinicians should expect resistance and discuss why therapy matters before referring, rather than assuming distress drives uptake.
• PTCohort2017Postural control strategies differ in normal weight and overweight infants.Gait & postureOverweight infants reached sitting at the same age as normal weight infants. They moved more side-to-side but had less overall movement while sitting. The study did not follow developmental outcomes.
• PTSurvey2017Assessment of knowledge in palliative care of physical therapists students at a university hospital in Brazil.Brazilian journal of physical therapyPhysical therapists at a Brazilian hospital knew basic palliative care concepts, but many reported team training gaps and some did not use pain scales. This describes knowledge, not evidence that training improves patient outcomes.
• PTNarrative Review2017Core outcome sets for research and clinical practice.Brazilian journal of physical therapyCore outcome sets standardize a minimum set of results to measure in trials and practice. For low back pain and osteoarthritis, agreed domains include pain, physical function, and quality of life or patient global assessment. They aid comparison, not treatment proof.
• PTOTOther2017Gait, dual task and history of falls in elderly with preserved cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and mild Alzheimer's disease.Brazilian journal of physical therapyA dual-task Timed Up and Go test separated mild Alzheimer's disease from preserved cognition and mild cognitive impairment. Usual walking speed did not separate the groups. More people with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer's disease reported falls, but not more falls each.
• PTOther2017Multifidi Muscle Characteristics and Physical Function Among Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with chronic low back pain who had more fat within a deep back muscle scored worse on walking, balance, stairs and self-reported function. Muscle size did not explain function. This relationship was seen only in older adults with pain.
• SLPCohort2017Severity of ASD symptoms and their correlation with the presence of copy number variations and exposure to first trimester ultrasound.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchFirst trimester ultrasound was linked to increased repetitive behaviors in children with ASD, but also to lower social affective symptoms. In males with specific genetic variations, it correlated with lower non-verbal IQ. These findings suggest a possible interaction, but do not prove ultrasound causes these outcomes.
• SLPRCT2017Bilingual approach to online cancer genetics education for Deaf American Sign Language users produces greater knowledge and confidence than English text only: A randomized study.Disability and health journalBilingual ASL video with English captions helped Deaf adults with high school or less education learn more about cancer genetics than English text alone. For those with some college or more, both formats improved knowledge equally. Overall, the study found no significant difference between the two formats when education level was ignored.
• PTOther2017Does electrode placement influence tens-induced antihyperalgesia in experimental inflammatory pain model?Brazilian journal of physical therapyIn rats with inflamed knee joints, low-frequency TENS reduced pain responses to pressure whether electrodes were placed on the knee, opposite knee, back, or acupoints. By day five, the effect had faded.
• PTOther2017Different pain responses to distinct levels of physical activity in women with patellofemoral pain.Brazilian journal of physical therapyWomen with patellofemoral pain who did intense physical activity reported more pain than those doing moderate activity. A loaded stair-climbing protocol raised pain and made it similar between the pain groups, while unloaded stairs did not.
• PTOTOther2017A Screening Tool to Identify Spasticity in Need of Treatment.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationExperts and 20 patients with spasticity helped develop a 13-item patient questionnaire. Most patients completed and interpreted items as intended. It is a screening aid, not a replacement for clinical evaluation.
• PTQualitative2017Continuity of care in hospital rehabilitation services: a qualitative insight from inpatients' experience.Brazilian journal of physical therapyPatients in hospital rehabilitation reported breaks in continuity when therapists lacked prior information, changed providers, gave conflicting advice, missed sessions, or left them without post-discharge instructions.
• PTRCT2017Application of shortwave diathermy to lower limb increases arterial blood flow velocity and skin temperature in women: a randomized controlled trial.Brazilian journal of physical therapyIn healthy women, 20 min of shortwave diathermy raised popliteal artery blood flow and skin temperature, and the flow rise persisted 20 min after stopping. Microwave diathermy raised skin temperature but did not increase popliteal artery flow.
• PTOther2017Factor and Rasch analysis of the Fonseca anamnestic index for the diagnosis of myogenous temporomandibular disorder.Brazilian journal of physical therapyThe Fonseca index for myogenous TMD did not behave as a single score. It split into separate symptom groups, and the jaw and TMJ group was the main one.
• Other2017Effects of Tongue Force Training on Bulbar Motor Function in the Female SOD1-G93A Rat Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairTongue force training did not improve low-force tongue force, survival, or grip force, and it worsened tongue movement, licking and body-weight decline in female ALS-model rats.
• PTOTCohort2017Patient Satisfaction and Prognosis for Functional Improvement and Deterioration, Institutionalization, and Death Among Medicare Beneficiaries Over 2 Years.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMedicare beneficiaries in the top quartile for satisfaction with access to care were less likely to functionally deteriorate, be institutionalized, or die over two years. High satisfaction with care coordination was linked to lower institutionalization risk only.
• SLPCase-Control2016Name recognition in autism: EEG evidence of altered patterns of brain activity and connectivity.Molecular autismBrain activity in high functioning young men with autism showed their own name was not treated as more special than a close person's name. Long range front to back brain communication was weaker, while name recognition speed and accuracy were normal.
• SLPCohort2016Use of Sleep Evaluations and Treatments in Children with Down Syndrome.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPLess than half of 954 children with Down syndrome had documented sleep studies, and behavioral sleep treatment was rare. Many children with sleep diagnoses received medication or surgery, but records cannot show whether treatment helped.
• SLPCase-Control2016Quantitative autistic trait measurements index background genetic risk for ASD in Hispanic families.Molecular autismIn Hispanic families, spouses and relatives had similar autistic-trait scores. Parents of children with autism were more likely to both score high. These scores may index background inherited risk for autism.
• PTCohort2016Seizure burden and neurodevelopmental outcome in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn neonates with moderate or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, seizures alone did not predict abnormal development. High seizure burden, over 40 minutes total or over 13 minutes in one hour, was associated with abnormal outcome at 24 to 48 months.
• SLPOther2016Social affiliation motives modulate spontaneous learning in Williams syndrome but not in autism.Molecular autismIn live playful demonstrations, preschoolers with Williams syndrome imitated more when the model was socially engaging. Preschoolers with autism did not show that boost. When imitation had a practical goal and in trial-and-error learning, the groups did not differ.
• SLPCohort2016Discrimination and Acculturation Stress: A Longitudinal Study of Children's Well-Being from Prenatal Development to 5 Years of Age.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn families with Mexican-origin adolescent mothers, greater cumulative stress from discrimination and acculturation was associated with more maternal depressive symptoms and poorer child socio-emotional and academic outcomes by age 5. Mother-child interaction quality was not associated with child outcomes.
• Other2016Predictors of specific phobia in children with Williams syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRGreater behaviour regulation difficulties were most strongly linked to specific phobia in 194 children with Williams syndrome. Younger age and lower IQ were also linked. This is an association, not evidence of cause.
• OTRCT2016Rehabilitation of hemineglect of the left arm using movement detection bracelets activating a visual and acoustic alarm.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLeft-arm movement improved in three tasks only while alarms were active during seven days of occupational therapist-guided bimanual task practice with wrist alarm bracelets in nine stroke patients with arm neglect. No lasting benefit was seen after the alarms were switched off.
• PTOther2017Measurement properties of the Human Activity Profile questionnaire in hospitalized patients.Brazilian journal of physical therapyThe Human Activity Profile questionnaire gave stable scores when hospitalized patients repeated it after 48 hours. Its inactive, moderately active, or active classes were similar to those from a commonly used activity questionnaire.
• OTCase-Control2017Reduced GABA and altered somatosensory function in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism had lower GABA in the brain area handling touch and movement. They detected weak touch less well and did not show the normal change after prior touch. Lower GABA was linked to a smaller effect of weak prior touch on detection.
• PTOther2017Comparison of cervical muscle thickness between asymptomatic women with and without forward head posture.Brazilian journal of physical therapyAmong asymptomatic women, most cervical muscles were similar between those with and without forward head posture. Only the sternocleidomastoid was thicker in the forward-posture group, so posture alone did not show broad muscle differences.
• PTOTCohort2017Nested Cohort Study to Identify Characteristics That Predict Near-Term Disablement From Lung Cancer Brain Metastases.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn lung cancer patients with brain metastases, whole-brain radiation, cerebellar tumors, and new or expanding lesions predicted sharp drops in mobility. These factors flag patients who need immediate rehabilitation referral to prevent disablement.
• PTOther2017Energy expenditure and cost of walking and stair climbing in individuals with chronic stroke.Brazilian journal of physical therapyStroke walkers used less oxygen per minute than healthy controls. Limited walkers used more oxygen per metre walking. On stairs, both stroke groups used more oxygen per metre than controls. During walking, those at or above 0.8 m/s had costs similar to controls.
• PTPilot2017Exploring the impact of visual and movement based priming on a motor intervention in the acute phase post-stroke in persons with severe hemiparesis of the upper extremity.Disability and rehabilitationFive people with flaccid hands after acute stroke tolerated a 45-minute virtual mirror and movement priming plus pinch training session. Four showed improved pinch-force tracking, but without a control group these gains cannot be attributed to the intervention.
• PTSurvey2017Investigation of musculoskeletal symptoms in a manufacturing company in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyUpper-limb pain or discomfort was common among metal-product manufacturing workers. Repetitive tasks and missing short work breaks were associated with upper-limb symptoms, but the study cannot show cause.
• PTOther2017Soft tissue artifact causes significant errors in the calculation of joint angles and range of motion at the hip.Gait & postureSkin markers on the hip and thigh gave large movement errors and underestimated hip range of motion compared with X-ray bone tracking in 11 healthy adults. The tested model changes did not consistently fix the angles.
• PTOTOther2017Linear and nonlinear analysis of postural control in frailty syndrome.Brazilian journal of physical therapySway measures did not separate frail, pre-frail, and non-frail older adults after sitting and rising. Frail participants had more falls and longer TUG and sit-to-stand times, so the clinical findings were clearer than the lab findings.
• Survey2017Elastomeric liners for people with transtibial amputation: Survey of prosthetists' clinical practices.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalProsthetists rely heavily on manufacturer information when selecting liners, citing durability, comfort, and suspension as key factors. Despite dozens of available products, they routinely use only two or three. This suggests a preference for familiar options over exploring newer alternatives or evidence-based comparisons.
• PTOther2017Measuring hip flexor and extensor strengths across various postures using a fixed belt.Journal of physical therapy scienceHip flexor strength and left hip extensor strength were higher when healthy adults were measured sitting at 90 degrees than in manual muscle testing postures. The right hip extensor strength did not differ by posture.
• PTOTOther2017Hip, knee, and ankle kinematics during activities of daily living: a cross-sectional study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyHealthy adults used far more hip and knee motion for self-care than for walking or stairs. Crouching and getting out of the bath required up to 101 degrees of hip flexion and 149 degrees of knee flexion, exceeding typical post-surgery limits.
• PTOther2017Safety of early performance of the six-minute walk test following acute myocardial infarction: a cross-sectional study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyEarly six-minute walk tests after uncomplicated heart attacks were completed by all 152 patients. Severe complications occurred in 3.9%, but none led to death, and the up to 4 days and after 4 days groups did not differ.
• OTOther2016Workplace Interventions to Prevent Disability from Both the Scientific and Practice Perspectives: A Comparison of Scientific Literature, Grey Literature and Stakeholder Observations.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkplace interventions, often including changes to job design, work organization, or case management, showed strong evidence for quicker first return to work and less cumulative sick absence, mainly in musculoskeletal conditions. Evidence was weak or absent for mental health and cancer.
• OTSLPOther2016Cognitive and Adaptive Skills in Toddlers Who Meet Criteria for Autism in DSM-IV but not DSM-5.Journal of autism and developmental disordersToddlers who met DSM-IV autism criteria but not DSM-5 had milder cognitive and adaptive deficits than DSM-5 toddlers, but still had lower socialization scores than toddlers with other delays.
• PTOTSLPCohort2016Sociodemographic Disparities in Intervention Service Utilization in Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFamilies using public insurance received fewer weekly hours of individual therapy than those with private insurance. Non-English speaking families also received fewer hours. Children of Black mothers entered classroom services earlier than White children, though this may reflect differences in prior diagnoses or childcare needs rather than superior access.
• OTSLPRCT2016A Replication and Extension of the PEERS® for Young Adults Social Skills Intervention: Examining Effects on Social Skills and Social Anxiety in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersYoung adults with autism who completed this 16-week social skills group showed better social skills knowledge, empathy, and fewer problem behaviors than those on a waitlist. They also reported more social interactions. However, the group did not significantly reduce loneliness or social anxiety compared to waitlist controls.
• PTOTNarrative Review2016On the assessment of coordination between upper extremities: towards a common language between rehabilitation engineers, clinicians and neuroscientists.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationClinicians and engineers currently use incompatible definitions and metrics for upper-limb coordination, preventing standardized assessment. This review proposes a common taxonomy to align terminology, aiming to bridge the gap between clinical functional measures and robotic assessment tools.
• PTOTRCT2016Technology-assisted stroke rehabilitation in Mexico: a pilot randomized trial comparing traditional therapy to circuit training in a Robot/technology-assisted therapy gym.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot gym therapy matched traditional therapy for arm function but improved leg movement scores more. The groups differed sharply in age, with the robot group much younger. The robot gym allowed one therapist to supervise six patients at once, potentially doubling daily treatment volume.
• OTSLPCohort2016The Role of Executive Function in Independent Living Skills in Female Adolescents and Young Adults With Fragile X Syndrome.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesYoung women with Fragile X Syndrome scored higher on a performance-based independent living test than matched controls, but caregiver-reported daily skills showed no difference. Phonemic verbal fluency predicted performance-based independence, but earlier executive function did not predict later outcomes.
• SLPOther2016The Latent Structure of Autistic Traits: A Taxometric, Latent Class and Latent Profile Analysis of the Adult Autism Spectrum Quotient.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutism questionnaire scores did not behave as a simple severity scale. A high-scoring group stood apart, and other people endorsed different autistic traits despite similar total scores.
• SLPRCT2016Low-income fathers' speech to toddlers during book reading versus toy play.Journal of child languageLow-income fathers used more labels and wh-questions during book reading, and more directives and explanations during toy play. Their book-reading questions were linked to toddlers' vocabulary, but not all links held up.
• PTPilot2016Model-based variables for the kinematic assessment of upper-extremity impairments in post-stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMovement variables from post-stroke reaching separated recovery into inefficiency, speed, and inaccuracy, and changed during robot-assisted training. The study did not prove the robot caused improvement.