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 374 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPCohort2021An Assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the GHQ-12 in an English Population of Autistic Adults Without Learning Difficulties.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe GHQ-12 is an acceptable and reliable measure of distress for autistic adults without learning disabilities. It works best when scored using the 'Chronic' method, which accounts for long-standing symptoms and provides the clearest picture of severity in this population.
• PTCase Series2021Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation to Promote Recovery in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSeven people with chronic spinal cord injury who had plateaued after intensive outpatient therapy completed training with electrical spinal cord stimulation without serious adverse events. Many showed changes in strength, sensation, or walking tests, but it was a small case series.
• PTOTOther2021Measuring freezing of gait during daily-life: an open-source, wearable sensors approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA wearable sensor algorithm detects freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease with good accuracy for episodes lasting two seconds or more, but it is unreliable for very brief episodes. In daily life, people who reported freezing spent more time freezing and turned less completely than those who did not.
• PTNarrative Review2021Aging, Osteo-Sarcopenia, and Musculoskeletal Mechano-Transduction.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAging bone and muscle cells lose their ability to sense mechanical load, requiring heavier weights to trigger growth. This review suggests that while resistance exercise is essential, it may not fully reverse this loss of sensitivity, pointing to cellular mechanisms as future therapeutic targets.
• Qualitative2021Perceptions of barriers to effective family planning services among women with disabilities.Disability and health journalAlmost all women with disabilities interviewed said inaccessible clinics, costs, and providers who avoided contraception talk made family planning hard. They also struggled to find methods that worked with their disability-related side effects and physical limits.
• OTQualitative2021The meaning of social support for persons with serious mental illness: A family member perspective.Rehabilitation psychologyFamily members said support for someone with serious mental illness meant validating feelings, respecting choices, joining community activities, managing health, and helping with daily living. These are described supports, not proven outcomes.
• SLPCohort2021Pregnancy outcomes among visually impaired women in Washington State, 1987-2014.Disability and health journalVisually impaired women had a 3.8-fold increased risk of severe pre-eclampsia and higher rates of preterm labor and induction. However, most other outcomes, including cesarean delivery and low birth weight, showed no increased risk compared to women without visual impairment.
• OTSurvey2021Associations between frequent pain or headaches and neurobehavioral symptoms by gender and TBI severity.Brain injuryAdults with TBI reported more frequent symptoms overall. Adults with frequent pain or headaches reported more mood, fatigue, and thinking symptoms. Women reported pain most often, and transgender or other gender participants reported the most mood and fatigue symptoms.
• PTQualitative2021Patient values in physiotherapy practice, a qualitative study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyPatients with musculoskeletal pain value being seen as unique individuals rather than cases. They expect physiotherapists to be technically skilled, morally conscientious, and compassionate. Treatment should foster partnership and empowerment, respecting autonomy and addressing vulnerability in personal and physical boundaries.
• PTOTOther2020Construct Validity of a Task-Oriented Bimanual and Unimanual Strength Measurement in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.Physical therapyA new measure of task-oriented strength in children with unilateral cerebral palsy correlates moderately with grip strength but poorly with functional skill scores. It captures strength during lifting tasks, not general manual dexterity or parent-reported performance, so it adds distinct information rather than replacing existing assessments.
• PTSystematic Review2020Operational Considerations for Physical Therapy During COVID-19: A Rapid Review.Physical therapyThis rapid review synthesizes operational strategies for physical therapy departments during pandemics, such as creating separate staff teams to limit exposure, shifting to tele-rehabilitation, and defining criteria for essential in-person care. It reports no clinical outcomes or treatment effects.
• PTSurvey2020Subacromial impingement syndrome: a survey of Italian physiotherapists and orthopaedics on diagnostic strategies and management modalities.Archives of physiotherapyItalian musculoskeletal physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons manage subacromial impingement differently. Physiotherapists rely on history and physical exam, while surgeons lean on imaging and injections. Both agree exercise is the best conservative treatment, but disagree on its primary goal.
• PTRCT2020"I Have Everything to Win and Nothing to Lose": Patient Experiences of Mobilization Out of Bed Immediately After Abdominal Surgery.Physical therapyAfter immediate postoperative mobilization, patients described clearer thinking, easier breathing, and feeling safer when staff were competent and prepared them. They wanted to get home, but some could not remember the mobilization and focused on cancer results.
• OTSLPSurvey2020Short report: Social communication difficulties and restricted repetitive behaviors as predictors of anxiety in adults with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAmong 742 autistic adults, self-reported repetitive sensory-motor and routine or insistence-on-sameness behaviors were linked to anxiety symptoms. Social communication difficulties were not once these behaviors were considered.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2020How can care settings for people with intellectual disabilities embed health promotion?Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPeople with intellectual disabilities and their support networks prioritized 'encouraging support' (29%) and a 'supportive network' (13%) as the most critical assets for healthy living. Practical, visible help from staff was valued far more by clients than abstract organizational policies or environmental changes.
• OTSLPCase-Control2020Computer Vision Analysis of Reduced Interpersonal Affect Coordination in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchYouth with autism smiled less and coordinated their smiles less with conversation partners than typically developing peers. This reduced coordination was associated with lower parent-rated social skills and empathy, suggesting a link between facial synchrony and daily social functioning.
• SLPRCT2020Peer engagement in toddlers with autism: Community implementation of dyadic and individual Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation intervention.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceToddlers with autism improved joint engagement with adults and peers during supported play in a dyadic JASPER adaptation. However, they did not show significant gains in independent peer interaction without adult support. Individual JASPER remains effective for core skills, while peer engagement requires scaffolding.
• PTSystematic Review2020Restoring lumbar lordosis: a systematic review of controlled trials utilizing Chiropractic Bio Physics® (CBP®) non-surgical approach to increasing lumbar lordosis in the treatment of low back disorders.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn three controlled trials, programs that included lumbar extension traction alongside other rehabilitation increased lumbar lordosis and helped pain and function last to 6 months more than comparison care. Evidence is preliminary, and the review authors have ties to the method.
• PTOTOther2020People with Parkinson disease with and without freezing of gait respond similarly to external and self-generated cues.Gait & postureListening to music increased walking variability in all groups, while mental singing did not. People with Parkinson's and freezing of gait responded like those without freezing. Those with the highest baseline variability improved the most when cued.
• SLPOther2020Integrating the Early Start Denver Model into Israeli community autism spectrum disorder preschools: Effectiveness and treatment response predictors.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren in Israeli autism preschools using the Early Start Denver Model made larger gains in language and overall development than children in usual multidisciplinary preschools. Gains were not seen in every adaptive area, and the study did not show which programme parts caused them.
• Other2020A balanced approach to decision-making in supporting people with IDD in extraordinarily challenging times.Research in developmental disabilitiesThis paper proposes a framework for balancing health safety with rights and inclusion for people with IDD during crises. It offers no data, trials, or clinical outcomes to guide specific therapeutic interventions.
• SLPOther2020A multi-level developmental approach to exploring individual differences in Down syndrome: genes, brain, behaviour, and environment.Research in developmental disabilitiesNeither family socioeconomic status nor the APOE ε4 gene predicted early vocabulary differences in 84 children with Down syndrome. Wide individual variation remains unexplained by these common factors, suggesting the genetic syndrome itself drives most of the variability.
• OTSLPOther2020Autism spectrum disorder/Takiwātanga: An Integrated Data Infrastructure-based approach to autism spectrum disorder research in New Zealand.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceNew Zealand linked data identified 9555 children and young people with autism. The identified group had much higher co-occurring intellectual disability and disruptive behaviours than non-autistic children, but the method likely undercounts cases.
• PTOTRCT2021Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on posture, movement planning, and execution during standing voluntary reach following stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCathodal stimulation over premotor areas did not improve the startle-related posture response in stroke patients. It reduced it at both tested sound timings, while stimulation over motor cortex increased it only at 500 ms before the go cue.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Optimizing Recruitment Strategies and Physician Engagement for Stroke Recovery Research.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTA 'customer service' recruitment model using physician champions and trained student recruiters raised stroke trial enrollment from 6% to 19%. Early face-to-face contact and consistent communication streamlined screening and retention without requiring new medical devices.
• Narrative Review2021The importance of seasonal influenza vaccination for people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.Disability and health journalThis article argues that people with disabilities face higher risks from influenza and specific barriers to vaccination, especially during the pandemic. It calls for accessible communication and alternative vaccination sites, but provides no new evidence on treatment efficacy.
• PTOTOther2021One-to-One and Group-Based Teleconferencing for Falls Rehabilitation: Usability, Acceptability, and Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesFalls rehab via smartphone video was acceptable but unreliable for delivering exercises. Poor connectivity, phone overheating, small screens, and safety concerns outweighed benefits; it may support follow-up calls, not replace face-to-face visits.
• PTOTRCT2021User-centred assistive SystEm for arm Functions in neUromuscuLar subjects (USEFUL): a randomized controlled study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationArm supports help people with muscular dystrophy, but the benefit depends on residual strength. Those with moderate weakness improved with both devices, while those with severe weakness needed the adjustable semi-active device. Patients with slight strength saw no functional gain.
• OTSLPCohort2021Using phecode analysis to characterize co-occurring medical conditions in autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practicePeople with ASD had more constipation, dental problems, hearing loss, convulsions, sleep disorders, anxiety, conduct disorders and developmental delay than matched controls, with more frequent and longer visits. Later first ASD code was linked to more respiratory, gut and psychiatric conditions.
• PTCase Report2021An Improvised Pulmonary Telerehabilitation Program for Postacute COVID-19 Patients Would Be Feasible and Acceptable in a Low-Resource Setting.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationOne patient recovered from severe COVID-19 completed a 3-week WhatsApp-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in a low-resource setting. His shortness of breath, fatigue, and health status scores all improved significantly, and he returned to work.
• SLPPilot2021Mentoring Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Evaluation of Role-Specific Workshops for Mentors and Mentees.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMentors who completed disability awareness training improved their knowledge scores, but training did not improve mentee knowledge. Both groups rated the workshops highly, with mentors asking for more specific strategies to support students with intellectual disabilities in their weekly meetings.
• Other2021Shoulder kinematics plus contextual target information enable control of multiple distal joints of a simulated prosthetic arm and hand.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding target location data to shoulder-motion control allowed able-bodied users to steer a virtual prosthetic arm with near-natural speed and minimal body compensation. Without this context, control was slow and forced large, tiring trunk movements.
• PTPilot2021Electromyography-Driven Exergaming in Wheelchairs on a Mobile Platform: Bench and Pilot Testing of the WOW-Mobile Fitness System.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesFour people with spinal cord injury used a home wheelchair exercise system with muscle sensors, armbands, and a spinning device for 8 weeks. They spent 89 to 267 minutes weekly on it and rated it useful, but fitness was not tested.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Return-to-work self-efficacy after occupational rehabilitation for musculoskeletal and common mental health disorders: Secondary outcomes of a randomized clinical trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding a workplace meeting to standard rehabilitation did not improve return-to-work self-efficacy more than the standard programme alone. However, patients who ended rehabilitation with higher self-efficacy scores had fewer sick leave days in the following year.
• PTOTRCT2021Behavioral and neurophysiological effects of an intensified robot-assisted therapy in subacute stroke: a case control study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding intensive robot-assisted arm training to standard inpatient rehabilitation did not improve upper limb function more than standard care alone in subacute stroke patients. Both groups improved significantly, but the extra training offered no clinical advantage over the conventional therapy they already received.
• PTOther2020Predicative factors of the effect of Body Weight Support Treadmill Training in stroke hemiparesis patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceBody weight support treadmill training did not show an immediate improvement in gait measures in 21 stroke patients. A pre-training measure of leg support symmetry was linked to more improvement in symmetry, so it may help choose patients.
• PTQualitative2020"A Necessary Investment in Future Health": Perceptions of Physical Activity Maintenance Among People With Rheumatoid Arthritis.Physical therapyPeople with rheumatoid arthritis who maintained physical activity described it as a long-term investment requiring a mindset shift, strict habit planning, and peer monitoring. They valued gym facilities that offered social connection and easy access, viewing these as essential for sustaining activity after formal support ended.
• PTOther2020Normative ability of young females to control the lumbopelvic curvature during active knee extension in sitting.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn healthy young women, the lower back typically curves inward slightly when extending a leg while sitting. A flat or outward-curving back during this test may signal poor spinal control, warranting further assessment for low back pain risk.
• SLPCohort2020Alexithymic and autistic traits: Relevance for comorbid depression and social phobia in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn adults with autism, difficulty identifying emotions predicted depression, but autistic traits did not. Conversely, autistic traits predicted social anxiety, while difficulty identifying emotions did not. Assessing emotional awareness is crucial for spotting depression risk in this population.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Factors related to physical and mental components of quality of life in the community-dwelling frail older persons.Journal of physical therapy scienceDeclines in physical quality of life were linked to reduced lung function, while declines in mental quality of life were linked to depression and swallowing problems. Therapists should monitor breathing capacity, mood, and swallowing to protect overall well-being.
• Other2020Sex-related patterns of intrinsic functional connectivity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceGirls with autism showed a link between brain connectivity and early symptom history that boys did not. Typical sex differences in brain network connectivity, seen in neurotypical children, were absent in those with autism. This suggests autism may alter how the brain develops along typical male or female lines.
• PTOther2020Generalization of motor module recruitment across standing reactive balance and walking is associated with beam walking performance in young adults.Gait & postureBallet dancers shared more muscle coordination patterns between standing balance and walking than novices. This overlap correlated with better beam-walking proficiency, but not normal walking speed, suggesting shared neural strategies help maintain balance during challenging tasks.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020A web-based daily care training to improve the quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial.Research in developmental disabilitiesMothers of children with severe cerebral palsy who added a 12-week web-based care training to routine occupational therapy reported better physical health quality of life and less musculoskeletal pain. Anxiety, depression, and stress did not improve more than with routine care alone.
• PTCohort2020Laterality of toe grip strength in Kendo players.Journal of physical therapy scienceKendo players had significantly stronger toe grip in their front foot compared to their rear foot. This asymmetry matches the sport's specific stance and striking mechanics. Clinicians should expect this pattern in Kendo athletes rather than assuming equal strength.
• PTOther2020Comparison of Kristjansson Respiratory Score and Wang Respiratory Score in infants with bronchiolitis in a hospital emergency department.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoThe Kristjansson Respiratory Score showed better agreement between a physician and a physiotherapist than the Wang score when assessing infant bronchiolitis in an emergency department. Both scores correlated only fairly with oxygen saturation, so SpO2 alone should not determine severity.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020The effects of visual feedback balance training on the pain and physical function of patients with chronic degenerative knee arthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceBoth muscle-strengthening exercises and visual feedback balance training reduced pain and improved function in older adults with knee arthritis. However, adding visual feedback to standard therapy did not show a significant advantage over standard therapy alone.
• PTProtocol2020Standing up against office sitting: A study protocol.The South African journal of physiotherapyNo results are available. This paper describes the plan for a future study testing whether sit-stand desks and health messages reduce sitting time and heart disease risk in office workers, but the research has not yet been conducted.
• PTPilot2020Immediate effects of muscle energy technique and stabilization exercise in patients with chronic low back pain with suspected facet joint origin: A pilot study.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoOne session of muscle energy technique was no better than stabilization exercise for pain, disability, or movement in chronic low back pain. Both groups had similar pain relief, but neither treatment showed a clear advantage over the other.
• PTCohort2021Association Between Therapeutic Alliance and Outcomes Following Telephone-Delivered Exercise by a Physical Therapist for People With Knee Osteoarthritis: Secondary Analyses From a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn people with knee osteoarthritis receiving telephone-delivered physical therapy, a stronger alliance rated by the patient was weakly linked to better pain and function scores. However, these statistical links were so small they are unlikely to matter clinically. Therapist ratings of the alliance showed no such association.
• SLPOther2021Explaining Variance in Social Symptoms of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong 49 verbal autistic children, parent-reported emotional contagion tracked ADOS social symptoms more closely than theory of mind, biological motion, social reward, or anxiety. Theory of mind was not the main predictor, so social difficulties may not all stem from mindreading deficits.