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 361 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPSurvey2020Maternal knowledge and views regarding early hearing detection and intervention in children aged 0-5 years at a semi-urban primary care clinic in South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMothers at a clinic with active hearing services mostly knew hearing loss can be tested early and would seek medical help. They largely rejected traditional causes like curses, favouring biomedical treatment such as hearing aids, showing readiness for early detection programmes.
• SLPSurvey2020South African speech-language therapists' opinion of their training in cleft lip and palate and craniofacial deformities.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsSouth African speech-language therapists reported little clinical exposure to cleft and craniofacial care, and 97% wanted dedicated academic training programmes.
• SLPOther2020The Binaural Interaction Component of the Auditory Brainstem Response Under Precedence Effect Conditions.Trends in hearingIn ten normal-hearing adults, the brainstem response to an echo disappeared when a leading sound preceded it by 8.4 ms. This suggests binaural processing in the brainstem contributes to how we suppress echoes and localize sound.
• OTOther2020The effects of a two-minute original exercise program supported by the workplace unit on the workers' work engagement: the "Bipoji" exercise.Journal of physical therapy scienceEmployees whose workplace supported a two-minute posture exercise for eight weeks reported higher work engagement than those who decided alone. Gains appeared in energy, concentration and total engagement, not dedication.
• Other2020Identification of amygdala-expressed genes associated with autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismMost high-confidence autism genes are active in the amygdala during early brain development. In adult autistic brains, these genes show altered activity in excitatory neurons and astrocytes, suggesting these cells are key sites where genetic risk translates to social difficulties.
• OTOther2020Visual fatigue during control room work in process industries.Work (Reading, Mass.)Operators rated tired eyes and blurred vision higher than double vision or sore eyes. Mental workload was the highest strain. Screens were brighter than the surrounding light in eight of nine control rooms.
• SLPPilot2020Improving Developmental Abilities in Infants With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Pilot Behavioral Intervention Study.Infants and young childrenScores changed unevenly in five infants with tuberous sclerosis complex who completed a 12-week parent-mediated JASPER program, with controlled seizures and variable outside services such as speech therapy. This small single-group pilot cannot show JASPER caused the changes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Interventions for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Clinical Practice Guideline From the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy of APTA.Physical therapyGuideline recommends prospective surveillance and supervised progressive exercise as safe early interventions. For established lymphedema, complete decongestive therapy is standard, but manual lymphatic drainage may be omitted without losing volume reduction. Compression garments are first-line for early stages.
• OTQualitative2020Referral Prioritization in Home Care Occupational Therapy: A Matter of Perspective.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieHome care OTs prioritized falls and safety, while older people and adults with disabilities valued getting out and showering for independence, dignity and participation. OTs said this safety focus clashed with client-centered practice.
• OTOther2020Exploring augmented grasping capabilities in a multi-synergistic soft bionic hand.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new soft bionic hand allowed amputees to switch grips without opening the hand first. They moved faster on precision tasks than with the previous model, but found it harder to lift heavy cans. This was a small pilot with just three users.
• PTCase-Control2020Rectus femoris hyperreflexia contributes to Stiff-Knee gait after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter stroke stiff-knee gait, people whose knee bent less during swing had a stronger thigh-muscle stretch reflex at toe-off. This reflex was larger than when healthy people deliberately tightened the same muscle, so voluntary overactivity alone may not explain it.
• SLPCohort2020Perception of One's Own Voice After Hearing-Aid Fitting for Naive Hearing-Aid Users and Hearing-Aid Refitting for Experienced Hearing-Aid Users.Trends in hearingFirst-time hearing aid users reported significantly more problems with the sound of their own voice after fitting, with agreement rising from 7% to 45%. Experienced users reported fewer own-voice problems after refitting, though most still had some complaints. Voice control issues were linked more to hearing loss than to the aids.
• PTCase Report2020Does elongation training effectively improve motor function?-a single-case design verification study.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 90-year-old man with Parkinson’s syndrome showed improved hip strength, range of motion, and walking speed after two weeks of home-based elastic band exercises. These gains partially reversed when the band was removed. This single-case report suggests the band may aid safe home training, but does not prove it works for others.
• Other2020Elevated de novo protein synthesis in FMRP-deficient human neurons and its correction by metformin treatment.Molecular autismIn fragile X human neural cells grown in the lab, metformin corrected excess protein synthesis and reduced excessive progenitor proliferation, but it did not fix neurite growth deficits or correct Akt and ERK changes.
• OTSurvey2020Knowledge about Computer Vision Syndrome among Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.Occupational therapy international211 bank workers had heard about computer vision syndrome, but 95 had poor knowledge and 63 had good knowledge. Working experience was associated with knowledge. OTs who advise office workers may need to check breaks, lighting, positioning, and glasses.
• OTOther2020The Development and Psychometric Properties of the Visuospatial Working Memory Assessment (VWMA) for Children.Occupational therapy internationalA new visuospatial working memory test for children was rated as relevant by experts and gave stable scores when repeated, but it separated children with ADHD from other children on some tasks and not all.
• OTSurvey2020A Survey of Occupational Therapists on a New Tool for Sensory Processing.Occupational therapy internationalAll 20 occupational therapists surveyed said they would use The Sensory Form in practice, finding it helpful for linking sensory issues to participation. However, responses were mixed on whether parents or teachers could use it effectively, with many noting it requires professional training.
• PTOther2020The effects of decreased inspiratory capacity on postural stability during backward reach.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 13 healthy young men, reducing the amount of air they inhaled shortened how far they could reach backward while rotating the trunk. The shortest reach was 14.8 cm versus 18.9 cm at normal breathing.
• PTOTCohort2020Pushing the Rehabilitation Boundaries: Hand Motor Impairment Can Be Reduced in Chronic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIntensive multi-finger pressing training improved finger independence and hand function in 18 adults with chronic stroke, especially pinch, with gains still present at 6 months, though there was no control group.
• OTCohort2020Mortality of people with intellectual disabilities during the 2017/2018 influenza epidemic in the Netherlands: potential implications for the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRDuring the 2017/2018 influenza epidemic, deaths rose 15.2% among Dutch adults with intellectual disabilities versus 5.4% in the general population. Excess deaths were not only respiratory; diabetes and Down syndrome contributed. ID should not be assumed low risk.
• PTPilot2020Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test and its two abbreviated versions in persons with mild to moderate spinocerebellar ataxia: A pilot study.NeuroRehabilitationFor people with mild to moderate spinocerebellar ataxia, the full BESTest is the most reliable balance assessment. Changes must exceed 8.7 points on the full test, 4.1 on the Mini-BESTest, or 5.2 on the Brief-BESTest to count as real improvement rather than measurement error.
• OTSurvey2020Clinical Relevance and Psychometric Properties of the Swedish Version of the Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument.Occupational therapy internationalSwedish occupational therapists rated a cultural competence self-assessment tool as highly relevant to their practice. The study validated a shortened 13-item version that measures openness, workplace support, and interaction skills to help therapists better serve international clients.
• Other2020Quantitative proteomic analysis of Rett iPSC-derived neuronal progenitors.Molecular autismThis lab study found protein changes in Rett syndrome stem cells as early as day 3 of neuronal development. These changes were in cell structure and metabolism. It identifies biological targets for future research, not clinical treatments.
• SLPOther2020Development of a Deep Neural Network for Speeding Up a Model of Loudness for Time-Varying Sounds.Trends in hearingEach loudness prediction took 0.3 ms on one computer processor. Errors were below 0.5 phons, a difference that would not be detectable. It was tested on sounds, not patients, so it does not change therapy.
• PTOther2020Reliability of measurement reliability and optimal number of measurements for mental arithmetic reaction time test.Journal of physical therapy scienceMental arithmetic reaction times stayed consistent when older adults answered simple math while standing or walking freely. Using 10 valid questions gave stable readings in both conditions.
• OTCohort2020The role of time in the relation between perceived job insecurity and perceived job performance.Work (Reading, Mass.)Fear of job loss was not linked to core task performance. It was linked to a more than two times larger self-reported productivity loss at baseline and after two years.
• PTOther2020Self-selected step length asymmetry is not explained by energy cost minimization in individuals with chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChanging step length asymmetry did not alter energy cost in 10 people with chronic stroke. Unimpaired controls used more energy when asymmetric, so stroke asymmetry was not explained by energy saving.
• PTOther2020Posterior shoulder tightness; an intersession reliability study of 3 clinical tests.Archives of physiotherapyThree clinical tests for posterior shoulder tightness remained consistent when repeated 6 to 10 weeks later in healthy adults. Side-to-side differences exceeding 10 degrees in two tests, or 20 degrees in one, likely reflect true tightness rather than measurement error.
• PTOTPilot2020Metrics extracted from a single wearable sensor during sit-stand transitions relate to mobility impairment and fall risk in people with multiple sclerosis.Gait & postureAdding a single thigh sensor to the 30-second chair stand test helped identify people with multiple sclerosis at risk of falls more accurately than counting repetitions alone. The sensor captured how slowly and cautiously participants stood up, which correlated with balance confidence and fatigue scores.
• Narrative Review2020Copy number variants (CNVs): a powerful tool for iPSC-based modelling of ASD.Molecular autismSome autism cases carry copy number variants, and patient stem-cell neurons can model some biological changes. This review reports no clinical outcomes or therapy changes.
• PTOTOther2020Mental health guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFor people with spina bifida, mental health guidelines recommend screening for depression, anxiety, bullying, and risk behaviors at all ages. They also recommend family support, physical and social activity, self-care, and transition planning. These are consensus recommendations, not proven treatments.
• SLPOther2020Effect of Directional Microphone Technology in Hearing Aids on Neural Correlates of Listening and Memory Effort: An Electroencephalographic Study.Trends in hearingExperienced hearing aid users with severe hearing loss reported less listening and memory effort, and showed better memory performance, when using narrow directional microphones compared to wide ones. EEG data confirmed reduced brain activity associated with effort for the narrow setting.
• SLPOther2020Dysphagia services in the era of COVID-19: Are speech-language therapists essential?The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsThis article discusses the risks and benefits of continuing dysphagia assessments during the pandemic. It argues for prioritising services but offers no new data or evidence to change clinical practice.
• OTPilot2020Reducing lumbar spine flexion using real-time biofeedback during patient handling tasks.Work (Reading, Mass.)Novice caregivers trained with a video and wearable feedback showed less near-maximal lower-back bending during simulated patient handling after feedback was turned off. The change was in the most flexed postures, not in typical bending.
• OTOther2020The Validity of the Danish Version of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.Occupational therapy internationalThe Danish Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores showed no meaningful overlap with tests of health, well-being, or general occupational behavior. This confirms it captures unique client priorities that other common assessments miss, so it cannot be replaced by generic health measures.
• SLPOther2020Impact of Aging and the Electrode-to-Neural Interface on Temporal Processing Ability in Cochlear-Implant Users: Amplitude-Modulation Detection Thresholds.Trends in hearingOlder cochlear implant users were worse at detecting sound-volume changes in the implant signal. Electrode-to-neural estimates did not explain this. Age-related timing limits may affect speech understanding.
• PTNarrative Review2020Physiotherapy management of patients with trunk trauma: A state-of-the-art review.The South African journal of physiotherapySmall studies support early physiotherapy for adults with chest trauma: mobilisation, breathing exercises, coughing and multidisciplinary pathways may shorten hospital stay. Evidence is limited, and post-discharge rehabilitation is rarely reported.
• OTOther2020Final Year Students' Knowledge on Basic Manual Wheelchair Provision: The State of Occupational Therapy Programs in Colombia.Occupational therapy internationalNo final year occupational therapy students at 7 Colombian universities reached the 70% passing threshold on a basic wheelchair provision test. Fitting and user training were weakest. Graduates may need stronger wheelchair education before practice.
• Other2020Continuous supplementary tactile feedback can be applied (and then removed) to enhance precision manipulation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy people lifting a fragile virtual cube performed better when fingertip feedback matched grip force, even if feedback faded after lift. It did not test prosthetic users or therapy, so it is a device design result, not a treatment finding.
• PTQualitative2020Perceived Barriers Before and After a 3-Month Period of Modified Ride-On Car Use.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationFamilies reported more barriers after 3 months of modified ride-on car use without ongoing researcher support. Environmental and device concerns were common, and car use was low. Therapists may need to help families plan around these issues.
• SLPOther2020No Influence of Musicianship on the Effect of Contralateral Stimulation on Frequency Selectivity.Trends in hearingMusicianship did not change how noise in the opposite ear affected hearing sharpness. The noise reduced sharpness in both groups, but the effect was similar for musicians and nonmusicians.
• PTRCT2020Subtle Motor Signs as a Biomarker for Mindful Movement Intervention in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPSome motor and symptom measures improved after the 8-week multi-component mindful movement program, but motor persistence did not. With no control group, this cannot show the program caused the changes.
• SLPOther2020Auditory Attention and Spatial Unmasking in Children With Cochlear Implants.Trends in hearingChildren with bilateral cochlear implants can ignore speech in the opposite ear as well as adults do, but gain no benefit when noise comes from both ears. Longer delays between first and second implant correlate with greater difficulty ignoring noise in the first-implanted ear.
• PTOther2020Short stature and the effect of human growth hormone: Guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineGuidelines for spina bifida recommend tracking growth and pubertal changes, using arm span if height cannot be measured, and referring to endocrinology if growth concerns arise. They do not recommend routine growth hormone without documented deficiency.
• PTSLPOther2020Developmental status of human immunodeficiency virus-exposed uninfected premature infants compared with premature infants who are human immunodeficiency virus unexposed and uninfected.The South African journal of physiotherapyAmong premature infants, HIV-exposed uninfected babies had similar cognitive scores and higher language and motor scores than HIV-unexposed uninfected babies. The unexposed group had more meningitis and jaundice, which are documented causes of neurological impairment.
• OTOther2020Occupational Therapy Goal Achievement for People with Stroke: A Retrospective Study.Occupational therapy internationalMost goals written for stroke patients were not functional and lacked specific details like timeframes. Only 54% of goals were achieved. Therapists should write SMART goals focusing on daily activities to improve outcomes.
• Narrative Review2020Dysregulation of protein synthesis and dendritic spine morphogenesis in ASD: studies in human pluripotent stem cells.Molecular autismNo original methods or results are reported in this autism stem cell review, so there is nothing to change clinical practice.
• OTOther2020Computer Vision-Based Approach for Quantifying Occupational Therapists' Qualitative Evaluations of Postural Control.Occupational therapy internationalComputer vision scores matched therapists' qualitative judgments of postural control better than duration time alone. The visual method also worked well with only 20 seconds of video, suggesting assessments could be shorter and less tiring for children.
• Other2020Decreased nuclear Pten in neural stem cells contributes to deficits in neuronal maturation.Molecular autismMouse neural stem cells with a PTEN mutation linked to autism had low nuclear Pten, made excess immature neurons, and failed to mature normally. BDNF partly rescued maturation in culture. This is not a therapy result.
• Other2020Targeting Gamma-Related Pathophysiology in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Transcranial Electrical Stimulation: Opportunities and Challenges.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe paper argues that gamma brain wave abnormalities in autism might eventually be treated with electrical stimulation, but it reports no clinical trials or patient outcomes. It is a proposal for future research, not evidence for current therapy.