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 279 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTPilot2017A Pilot Study Assessing Performance and Visual Attention of Teenagers with ASD in a Novel Adaptive Driving Simulator.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTeens with ASD did not show a clear difference in total simulator driving errors, but they made more turning errors. In a small training pilot, both simulator modes reduced errors, but looking time did not change, and practice effects cannot be ruled out.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2018Depression and Depressive Symptoms in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren with TBI report more depressive symptoms than peers, but rates vary widely and evidence does not confirm higher clinical depression diagnoses. Symptoms often persist beyond the acute phase, suggesting a need for ongoing mental health monitoring rather than assuming they resolve with physical recovery.
• OTOther2018The effect of fine motor skills on handwriting legibility in preschool age children.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 52 preschoolers, better fine motor precision and faster in-hand manipulation were linked to more legible Korean alphabet writing. Fine motor precision was the strongest link, reported at sixty percent. This is association, not proof that training improves handwriting.
• PTOther2018Relationship between agility and lower limb muscle strength, targeting university badminton players.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 23 male university badminton players, higher side-shuffle scores were linked to greater hip extension and ankle plantar flexion strength, after accounting for years of play.
• OTOther2018Role of cognitive assessment for high school graduates prior to choosing their college major.Journal of physical therapy scienceComputer science students scored higher on a nonverbal cognitive test than art students. Senior computer science students scored higher than junior ones, but senior art students did not differ from junior art students.
• PTCohort2018Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Falls in Well-Functioning Older Adults: Findings From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationOverall activity levels did not differ between fallers and non-fallers. However, people who fell during routine tasks were less active than those who fell during risky tasks, particularly in the afternoon and evening. Poor balance was linked to lower activity levels during these times.
• SLPOther2018The effect of exercise combined with a cognitive-enhancement group training program on cognition and depression in the community-dwelling elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 30 older adults, weekly group sessions combining exercise, memory tasks, music and discussion were followed by improved scores on several cognitive tests and lower depression scores. Two memory tests did not improve, and there was no control group.
• PTPilot2018Effects of Fatigue on Balance in Individuals With Parkinson Disease: Influence of Medication and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genotype.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn 27 people with Parkinson disease, treadmill fatigue did not produce measurable worsening of balance or gait. Medication state and BDNF genotype did not change that result. Timed Up and Go scores changed after testing.
• PTOther2018Effect of a physiotherapy rehabilitation program on knee osteoarthritis in patients with different pain intensities.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 60 people with moderate knee OA, a 4-week program combining pulsed electromagnetic field, ultrasound, stretching and strengthening lowered pain and improved knee motion, quadriceps strength and WOMAC disability. The moderate-pain group had largest changes in pain, motion and WOMAC. All groups received treatment.
• PTOTSurvey2018Understanding frames: A UK survey of parents and professionals regarding the use of standing frames for children with cerebral palsy.Child: care, health and developmentMost UK clinicians prescribe standing frames for children with cerebral palsy from experience, not guidance. Parents reported daily use was achieved by 18% and 30 to 60 minute use by 52%. Benefits were perceived, not proven; space, funding, discomfort and support needs limited use.
• OTPilot2018The effects of an occupation-centered cognitive rehabilitation program on elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn six older women with mild cognitive impairment, after the combined handicraft and reminiscence program, cognitive test scores did not improve enough to be counted as a real change, but instrumental daily living scores and an EEG attention measure increased.
• PTOTCohort2018Comparing Electrical Stimulation With and Without Ultrasound Guidance for Phenol Neurolysis to the Musculocutaneous Nerve.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationUltrasound plus electrical stimulation guidance was associated with less phenol than electrical stimulation alone for elbow flexor spasticity. Technical success and immediate elbow range of motion improvement were similar, and some patients also received botulinum toxin.
• PTCohort2018Do moderate aerobic exercise and strength training influence electromyographic biofeedback of the pelvic floor muscles in female non-athletes?Journal of physical therapy scienceOver three months, pelvic floor contraction scores rose in all three groups of female non-athletes, but the largest rise occurred in previously inactive women who started moderate gym exercise. The study did not randomize participants.
• SLPCohort2018Language and speech outcomes of children with hearing loss and additional disabilities: identifying the variables that influence performance at five years of age.International journal of audiologyFive-year-olds with hearing loss and additional disabilities showed language delays far worse than their cognitive ability. Milder hearing loss, higher nonverbal cognition, and oral-only communication predicted better outcomes. Earlier device fitting also helped. These factors guide prognosis and intervention intensity.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2018Disparities in Health Care Utilization of Adults With Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Related to Insurance, Race, and Ethnicity: A Systematic Review.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationLack of insurance consistently reduced use of hospital and rehabilitation services for adults with traumatic brain injury. Racial disparities in service use were inconsistent and often disappeared after adjusting for insurance status.
• PTRCT2018Effect of aerobic exercises versus laser acupuncture in treatment of postmenopausal hot flushes: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter 8 weeks, both aerobic exercise and laser acupuncture reduced FSH, LH, and hot flush severity. The text says aerobic exercise was superior, but the FSH table shows the laser acupuncture group had the lower value.
• OTCase Series2018The impact of group occupational therapy using a cueing system on executive function of preschool-aged children with brain lesions.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter weekly occupational therapy with a graded cueing system, six preschool children with brain lesions improved on every executive function rating measure. Because there was no control group, the change cannot be separated from normal development.
• SLPSurvey2018Genetic testing in intellectual disability psychiatry: Opinions and practices of UK child and intellectual disability psychiatrists.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMost UK child and intellectual disability psychiatrists already order genetic tests or refer, but child psychiatrists reported less confidence than intellectual disability psychiatrists; only 14% had used speech and language therapist help when communicating results.
• PTOther2018Impaired set shifting is associated with previous falls in individuals with and without Parkinson's disease.Gait & posturePoorer set shifting on a simple paper test was linked to previous falls in 138 adults with and without Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's and freezing had stronger links, and the set-shifting link did not clearly differ by group.
• Other2017Gene Disrupting Mutations Associated with Regression in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost children with autism did not lose skills. Those who lost both language and social skills had a higher rate of specific genetic mutations in postsynaptic density genes. This links certain biological pathways to skill loss but does not offer new treatment options.
• SLPCohort2017Early autism symptoms in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchInfants with tuberous sclerosis who later developed autism showed more atypical social communication behavior at 9 and 12 months than infants with tuberous sclerosis without autism and low-risk controls. The difference remained after controlling for cognitive scores.
• OTSLPOther2017Developmental Screening in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: Disease-Related Risk and Screening Outcomes in 4 Year Olds.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn 77 four-year-olds, higher-risk sickle cell genotypes had lower language scores and more positive screens. Among higher-risk children, those with abnormal stroke-risk tests also had lower language scores and more positive screens.
• SLPRCT2017Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Versus a Counselling Intervention for Anxiety in Young People with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor young people with high-functioning autism and anxiety, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) was no more effective than person-centred counselling at reducing anxiety symptoms. Neither treatment showed superiority over the other on primary anxiety measures or social skills outcomes.
• Case-Control2017Prenatal exposure to fever is associated with autism spectrum disorder in the boston birth cohort.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMothers who reported fever during pregnancy had children more likely to have ASD after accounting for other factors. The link was not seen before accounting, or when similar mothers were compared. Flu and genital or urinary infections were not linked.
• PTOther2017Assessment of the underlying systems involved in standing balance: the additional value of electromyography in system identification and parameter estimation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding lower-leg EMG and muscle timing and acceleration terms to a balance test made estimates of sensory weighting, reflexes and delays more accurate and dependable. Patients and treatment decisions were not tested.
• SLPCohort2017Association Between Autistic Traits in Preschool Children and Later Emotional/Behavioral Outcomes.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 189 community children, higher autistic traits at age 5 were linked to more emotional symptoms and peer problems at age 7, even after age 5 problems were considered. Links were not clear for conduct, hyperactivity, and prosocial behavior.
• Cohort2018Is Profit Status of Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Independently Associated With 30-Day Unplanned Hospital Readmission for Medicare Beneficiaries?Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationFor-profit inpatient rehab facilities had a 0.1% point higher 30-day unplanned readmission measure than non-profit facilities. This is a facility-level finding, not a patient-level effect.
• PTOTSystematic Review2018Postacute Care Setting, Facility Characteristics, and Poststroke Outcomes: A Systematic Review.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke patients rehabilitated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities were associated with lower mortality and often better community discharge than those in skilled nursing facilities, but functional gains were inconsistent and costs were higher.
• Other2018Implementation of a Multifaceted Interactive Electrodiagnostic Medicine Workshop in a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationPhysical medicine and rehabilitation residents reported better comfort with electrodiagnostic testing after a two-part workshop, and exam scores rose. The study did not test whether this improves patient care.
• PTOTOther2018Motion-plane dependency of the range of dart throw motion and the effects of tendon action due to finger extrinsic muscles during the motion.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe wrist dart-throw path is not a single fixed range; it changes with forearm angle, often largest near the middle angle. Grip thickness affected motion only at some angles, so finger tendon action may matter but was inconsistent.
• SLPOther2018Do puzzle pieces and autism puzzle piece logos evoke negative associations?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAdults linked puzzle pieces to negative words more readily than shapes, and gave more negative first thoughts about puzzle pieces. The same pattern appeared for generic pieces and autism logos.
• PTOTOther2018Analysis of body imbalance in various writing sitting postures using sitting pressure measurement.Journal of physical therapy scienceThree common slouching postures shifted pressure forward compared to an upright sitting position. Leaning on one arm also shifted weight to that side. These changes suggest a tilted pelvis, which the authors link to spinal imbalance, but no pain or injury was measured.
• OTCase Series2018The influences of client-centered therapy on the level of performance, the level of satisfaction of activity of daily living, and the quality of life of the chronic stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwo chronic stroke patients had improved COPM performance and satisfaction and higher SS-QOL after 4 weeks of client-centered occupational therapy. With only two participants and no control group, this cannot show the therapy caused the improvement.
• Other2018Characterization of early communicative behavior in mouse models of neurofibromatosis type 1.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMouse pups with NF1 gene changes made abnormal ultrasonic calls when separated from their mother. Germline mutants called more, while mutants with Nf1 deleted in developing brain cells called less, without obvious early physical delay.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2018High-Intensity Variable Stepping Training in Patients With Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTFour people with incomplete spinal cord injury walked faster and farther after intensive stepping training. The programme was safe and feasible, but gains vanished within a year. The severe impairments of three participants likely limited how much they could improve.
• SLPQualitative2018Parental involvement in the care and intervention of children with hearing loss.International journal of audiologyParents of children with hearing loss described taking the central role through work behind the scenes, case management, language support, advocacy, and everyday parenting. These themes show what parents do, not that their involvement improves child outcomes.
• PTRCT2018Effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on upper extremity muscle tone in chronic stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn chronic stroke upper-limb hypertonia, patients receiving ESWT plus general physical therapy and development therapy twice weekly for 8 weeks had lower measured tone, stiffness and elasticity in forearm and finger flexors than sham plus the same therapy.
• OTCohort2018Brief Report: Executive Function as a Predictor of Academic Achievement in School-Aged Children with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 32 children with ASD, better spatial reversal at age 6 was linked to higher math scores at age 9, not spelling or word reading. At age 9, spatial reversal did not predict math scores once nonverbal and spatial abilities were considered.
• PTOther2018Activity profile and physiological responses of Korean amateur football referees during matches.Journal of physical therapy scienceHigh-school referees covered 6,719 m and college referees 7,547 m during matches. Blood lactate was 5.0 and 5.9 mmol after the first and second halves for high-school referees; college values were 5.2 and 6.4 mmol. This reports match demands, not treatment effects.
• PTRCT2018Reduced Hip Adduction Is Associated With Improved Function After Movement-Pattern Training in Young People With Chronic Hip Joint Pain.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyIn 28 young adults with chronic hip pain, movement-pattern training plus strengthening was followed by improved function. Larger reductions in hip adduction during a single-leg squat were associated with better Harris Hip Scores, but the study cannot separate training from strengthening or prove it works.
• PTOther2018A study to assess whether fixed-width beam walking provides sufficient challenge to assess balance ability across lower limb prosthesis users.Clinical rehabilitationNo single beam width challenged all 30 lower limb prosthesis users. Each person had at least one appropriate beam. Performance stabilized by trials 9 to 10 for all and by trials 7 to 10 for more than 90%.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2017A Systematic Review of Exercise Systematic Reviews in the Cancer Literature (2005-2017).PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSupervised moderate to vigorous exercise generally improved fatigue, fitness and function in adults with cancer, according to 51 reviews. Exact dose and long-term effects remain unclear.
• Narrative Review2017Skeletal muscle mechanics: questions, problems and possible solutions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThis review argues that standard muscle models are incomplete because they ignore the protein titin and misclassify aponeuroses as series elastic elements. It states we currently cannot accurately measure or predict individual muscle forces in humans during movement.
• SLPOther2017Narrative Language and Reading Comprehension in Students With Mild Intellectual Disabilities.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesWithin their narratives, students with mild intellectual disabilities showed stronger story introductions, character details and conflict/resolution than mental-state language, referencing and cohesion. Story-level narrative ability was linked to reading comprehension beyond decoding and sentence-level language.
• SLPOther2017Effects of Simulated Hearing Loss on Bilingual Children's Consonant Recognition in Noise.Ear and hearingNo clear difference between English-dominant Spanish-English bilingual children and monolingual peers in English consonant recognition in quiet and noise. Simulated mild-to-moderate hearing loss lowered recognition similarly for both groups, and age affected bilingual children more.
• Narrative Review2017Making Cancer Rehabilitation Services Work for Cancer Patients: Recommendations for Research and Practice to Improve Employment Outcomes.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationThis paper proposes a framework for integrating cancer rehabilitation into oncology care to help patients keep working. It calls for routine symptom screening and multidisciplinary referrals but reports no new clinical trial results or patient outcomes.
• SLPOther2017Relationship Between Peripheral and Psychophysical Measures of Amplitude Modulation Detection in Cochlear Implant Users.Ear and hearingIn cochlear implant users, nerve responses grew stronger as modulation rate increased, but listeners' ability to detect modulation worsened at higher rates. Nerve and perception measures agreed only at middle rates.
• Narrative Review2017A Guide to Inpatient Cancer Rehabilitation: Focusing on Patient Selection and Evidence-Based Outcomes.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationThis guide explains how to navigate Medicare rules for admitting cancer patients to inpatient rehab. It highlights that while cancer is not a listed diagnosis, complications like brain injury or amputation often qualify. It outlines triage factors like therapy tolerance.
• SLPOther2017Reading comprehension of ambiguous sentences by school-age children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchSchool-age children with autism spectrum disorder understood ambiguous sentences less accurately than peers, but both groups used context to access meanings. Difficulty appeared when selecting meanings afterward. Word recognition, word meaning knowledge, and age were associated with performance.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2017A Focused Review of Safety Considerations in Cancer Rehabilitation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationCancer rehabilitation safety depends on treatment-related risks: blood counts, cardiopulmonary toxicity, neuropathy, lymphedema, frailty, bone metastases, neurologic changes, and emergencies. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.