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 380 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTCohort2021Predictive validity of general work ability assessments in the context of sickness insurance.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe person’s own rating of work ability predicted future sickness benefits. Most physician ratings in the general work ability assessment did not, except vision, hearing or speech problems predicted insurance decisions.
• PTOther2021Effects of prolonged load carriage on angular jerk of frontal and sagittal knee motion.Gait & postureCarrying 15 or 30 kg while walking made knee motion less smooth, especially side-to-side. After 60 minutes, side-to-side motion became more abrupt. This was a lab study in 18 healthy adults, not people with knee injury.
• PTOTSurvey2021Musculoskeletal symptoms among adult smartphone and tablet device users: a retrospective study.Archives of physiotherapyMost users reported neck stiffness or discomfort starting within 30 minutes. Tablet use over 30 minutes per session was linked to more symptoms in young adults, but smartphone duration was not. People who rested their device on a stand reported fewer symptoms than those holding it.
• SLPCase-Control2021"Reading the Mind in the Eyes" in Autistic Adults is Modulated by Valence and Difficulty: An InFoR Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults and controls did not differ overall on the Eyes Test. Group differences emerged only for easy items and positive items, so a total score alone may hide these patterns.
• SLPOther2021Improving autism and developmental screening and referral in US primary care practices serving Latinos.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceA low-intensity training program in primary care clinics significantly increased autism and developmental screening rates and billing. However, the proportion of children with positive screens referred to early intervention did not change, meaning more children were screened but not necessarily referred at higher rates.
• PTRCT2021Clinical utility of the over-ground bodyweight-supporting walking system Andago in children and youths with gait impairments.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 18 children with walking impairments, Andago was practical to set up, generally accepted, and produced more varied step timing than treadmill walking. It does not prove the device improves walking.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Examining Environmental Predictors of Community Participation for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor adults with autism, access to bus stops and religious organizations predicted better social participation and service use. Population density did not. Daily living skills remained the strongest predictor, suggesting interventions should target both skills and local transport access.
• PTOTSLPOther2021COVID-19: Patient Characteristics in the First Phase of Postintensive Care Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients arriving for post-ICU rehabilitation after severe COVID-19 had profound weakness, with 72.7% showing severe muscle loss in most major groups. Forty percent had swallowing difficulties requiring tube feeding or modified food, and 38.3% experienced low oxygen levels during exercise.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Do Patients With COVID-19 Benefit from Rehabilitation? Functional Outcomes of the First 100 Patients in a COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPost-acute COVID patients in a specialized rehab unit improved motor function and independence during a 10-day stay. However, at discharge, their daily living skills remained lower than before infection, and grip strength stayed below normal values. Severe cases showed similar or greater functional gains.
• PTPilot2021Carbon Dioxide Expiration and Performance Fatigability Following Aerobic Exercise Training: A Longitudinal, Observational, Pilot Study.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalIn 20 healthy adults, four weeks of vigorous cycling reduced fatigue-related performance decline, and extra carbon dioxide expired above metabolic needs was linked to fatigue and aerobic capacity.
• PTSurvey2021Physiotherapists' use of airway clearance techniques during an acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis: a survey study.Archives of physiotherapyPhysiotherapists routinely prescribe airway clearance techniques during bronchiectasis exacerbations, favoring directed huffing, physical exercise, and oscillating PEP devices. They base these choices on patient presentation and contraindications rather than evidence, despite perceiving these specific techniques as highly effective.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Factors Associated with Risk of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia in Patients with Dysphagia: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaProphylactic antibiotics did not reduce pneumonia risk. Metoclopramide and multidisciplinary swallowing care appeared protective, but data were limited. PPI use was linked to higher risk. Nasogastric tube evidence was inconsistent. Mobility and dysphagia severity were strong risk markers.
• SLPOther2020Efficacy of Videostroboscopy and High-Speed Videoendoscopy to Obtain Functional Outcomes From Perioperative Ratings in Patients With Vocal Fold Mass Lesions.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationHSV+DKG gave more usable and more consistent ratings of vocal fold vibration than videostroboscopy. Videostroboscopy could not rate 14.5% of observations because images were asynchronous, so HSV+DKG may help when stroboscopy fails.
• SLPRCT2020Efficacy of Voice Therapy in Improving Vocal Function in Adults Irradiated for Laryngeal Cancers: A Pilot Study.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationVocal function exercises plus hygiene counseling improved the physical domain of voice handicap and several objective measures, while hygiene alone did not. The small sample size and unequal group attention mean these results are preliminary and cannot confirm efficacy.
• SLPCase Report2020Longitudinal Case Study of Transgender Voice Changes Under Testosterone Hormone Therapy.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationIn one transmasculine speaker, testosterone lowered pitch but preserved singing range in semitones. Listeners perceived the voice as male after 37 weeks. Voice quality remained healthy despite some acoustic changes. This single case suggests pitch range loss is not inevitable, but findings cannot be generalized.
• PTCohort2020Relationship between physical activity and job stress among public office workers.Journal of physical therapy sciencePhysical activity levels showed no significant difference in overall job stress among 448 male public office workers. Only one subcategory, organizational system, had a weak positive correlation. This suggests no clear link between exercise habits and job stress in this group.
• SLPOther2020Vocal Fundamental Frequency and Sound Pressure Level in Charismatic Speech: A Cross-Gender and -Language Study.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationPolitical leaders adjust pitch and volume to match their audience. They use higher pitch and wider ranges when addressing large groups to persuade, but lower pitch and narrower ranges when speaking to peers or in informal interviews. This suggests vocal dominance is context-dependent.
• SLPOther2020Method for Vertical Calibration of Laser-Projection Transnasal Fiberoptic High-Speed Videoendoscopy.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationA new calibration method allows a laser-projection endoscope to measure vertical vocal fold movement with 1.7% to 4.7% error. Accuracy is highest when the scope is close to the tissue, but this is a technical validation, not a clinical trial.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Assessing the requirements of prenatal UBE3A expression for rescue of behavioral phenotypes in a mouse model for Angelman syndrome.Molecular autismRestoring UBE3A expression in mice just before birth prevented Angelman-like behavioral deficits. Paternal gene loss during prenatal development had no significant effect on behavior, suggesting early postnatal intervention may be sufficient for rescue in this model.
• PTOther2020Morphological changes in the long axis of the lower leg muscles during isometric contraction in the sitting position.Journal of physical therapy scienceDuring seated plantar flexion, muscle cross-sectional area shifts along the leg rather than swelling uniformly. The soleus and medial gastrocnemius shrink in the mid-belly while the tibialis anterior expands. This means measuring thickness at one spot can miss what is actually happening.
• SLPCase Report2020Transmasculine Voice Modification: A Case Study.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationA single session of manual laryngeal therapy with active voicing lowered pitch and resonance in one transmasculine client, making the voice sound more masculine to listeners. These changes disappeared after three days, so this is not evidence the technique works long-term.
• PTSurvey2020A questionnaire survey of difficulties in clinical practice perceived by physical therapy students.Journal of physical therapy scienceStudents reported the highest difficulty with obtaining supportive guidance and appropriate learning environments, regardless of their achievement level. Those with lower clinical achievement specifically struggled more with communication, clinical reasoning, and patient management.
• Other2020Racial and Ethnic Differences in Behavioral Problems and Medication Use Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesWhite children with autism were more likely to receive medication for behavioral issues than minority children, despite similar reported problem scores. Sleep medications were prescribed equally across all groups. Clinicians should check that parent-report tools fit the family's culture before assuming a lack of need for treatment.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2021Early Physical Therapist Interventions for Patients With COVID-19 in the Acute Care Hospital: A Case Report Series.Physical therapyPhysical therapists managed severe instability by moving patients very slowly and stopping exercises before coughing triggered oxygen drops. Anxiety worsened breathlessness, requiring active listening and education alongside movement. Family video calls helped reorient delirious patients when visits were banned.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021Immersive virtual reality health games: a narrative review of game design.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost virtual reality health games rely on simple points and scoring rather than engaging game design. Therapists should not assume immersion alone drives adherence; without compelling mechanics, these tools may fail to sustain long-term patient engagement.
• PTOTOther2021Inception cohort of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study (SwiSCI): Design, participant characteristics, response rates and non-response.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThis cohort describes newly injured spinal cord patients but has a 47.5% response rate. Participants were younger, male, and more independent than non-responders. Treat findings as representative of those who engaged, not all patients.
• PTOTCohort2021Evidence for a Window of Enhanced Plasticity in the Human Motor Cortex Following Ischemic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn people after mild to moderate ischemic stroke, a brain-stimulation test showed the opposite side of the motor cortex was more changeable around two weeks, then less so. The injured side showed no clear early change. This was a measure, not a treatment.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Peripheral electrical stimulation to reduce pathological tremor: a review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeripheral electrical stimulation, including functional electrical stimulation and nerve stimulation, sometimes reduced hand tremor in essential tremor and Parkinson disease trials. Results varied widely across 27 studies, most with 20 or fewer participants, so this is not enough to change therapy on Monday.
• RCT2021User training for machine learning controlled upper limb prostheses: a serious game approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNeither game-based nor conventional coaching training improved EMG pattern quality or functional prosthesis use in four adults with upper limb absence. Direct control with their own prosthesis consistently outperformed machine learning control at these training levels.
• PTRCT2021Implicit and Explicit Motor Learning Interventions Have Similar Effects on Walking Speed in People After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyIn people after stroke, walking speed improved similarly with home training using analogies or detailed verbal instructions. Neither method was better.
• SLPOther2021Laser-Calibrated System for Transnasal Fiberoptic Laryngeal High-Speed Videoendoscopy.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationA green laser grid fitted to a flexible laryngoscope is designed to provide calibrated horizontal and vertical measurements in high-speed vocal fold recordings. It was tested only for visibility in one male subject.
• SLPOther2021Effects of Varying Lengths and Diameters During Straw Phonation on an Excised Canine Model.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationIn excised canine larynges, straws of 5-25 cm and 9-15 mm diameter lowered the pressure needed to start phonation. The 3 mm diameter often blocked airflow entirely. These findings explain the mechanics of straw phonation but do not prove clinical benefit in humans.
• SLPOther2021Different Vibratory Conditions Elicit Different Structural and Biological Vocal Fold Changes in an In-Vivo Rabbit Model of Phonation.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationIn rabbits, phonation with vocal fold contact produced the most disrupted mucosal blanket, thinner epithelium than control, and greater blood vessel labeling than non-contact phonation. Both phonation patterns compressed deeper tissue. The vibration patterns did not model human voice therapy.
• OTQualitative2021The value of competitive employment: In-depth accounts of people with intellectual disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSix people with intellectual disabilities described competitive work as vital for feeling normal and useful. However, they faced stigma that made them feel dependent or insecure. Some hid their disability to fit in, while others struggled with low pay compared to colleagues.
• PTOther2021The construct and concurrent validity of brief standing sway assessments in children with and without cerebral palsy.Gait & postureFor children with cerebral palsy, brief standing sway tests of 5 to 25 seconds can match the validity of the standard 30-second test. This applies specifically to eyes-closed measures in the side-to-side or rotational directions, potentially helping clinicians assess children who cannot stand still long enough for traditional protocols.
• PTOTPilot2021Preliminary Improvements in Dynamic Postural Control after A Group-based Intervention Program for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Brief Report.Developmental neurorehabilitationA 10-week group program improved dynamic balance but not static balance in 12 children with DCD. Nine participants improved their dynamic control scores. The lack of a control group and small sample size mean this is preliminary evidence, not proof the program works.
• PTMeta-Analysis2021Effect of tai chi on glycaemic control, lipid metabolism and body composition in adults with type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis and systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineTai chi improved several diabetes risk markers versus usual care, but versus aerobic exercise it did not reduce fasting glucose, cholesterol or BMI; only long-term blood sugar was borderline and good cholesterol slightly better.
• SLPOther2021Medial Surface Dynamics as a Function of Subglottal Pressure in a Canine Larynx Model.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationIn excised dog larynges, the timing difference between the top and bottom of the vocal folds changes with air pressure, contradicting fixed clinical assumptions. Current video methods miss the top fold's movement during closing, limiting how we understand voice production mechanics.
• SLPRCT2021Employing Evidence-Based Practices for Children with Autism in Elementary Schools.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn schools receiving coaching and feedback, teachers used autism evidence-based practices more consistently, and children made greater progress on individualized IEP goals, especially communication and academic goals. Overall school quality and test scores did not differ.
• SLPCase-Control2021Effects of Vocal Intensity and Fundamental Frequency on Cepstral Peak Prominence in Patients with Voice Disorders and Vocally Healthy Controls.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationLouder voice production significantly increases the acoustic measure of voice quality (CPPS), independent of pathology. A quiet speaker may score lower than a loud one with the same vocal health. Clinicians must control for sound pressure level when interpreting these scores.
• SLPRCT2021Visual Preference for Biological Motion in Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Eye-Tracking Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPeople with autism looked less at biological motion than controls but still preferred it over random dots. They also took longer to start looking at anything. This reflects reduced attention to social cues, not a lack of interest.
• PTOTRCT2021Effectiveness of robotic balance training on postural instability in patients with mild Parkinson's disease: A pilot, single blind, randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBoth robotic and conventional balance training improved postural stability in mild Parkinson's disease. The robotic group showed greater improvement on balance scales and retained these gains at one-month follow-up, whereas the conventional group's balance scores returned toward baseline.
• PTPilot2021Pre-Operative Scapular Rehabilitation for Arthroscopic Repair of Traumatic Rotator Cuff Tear: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.International journal of sports physical therapyBefore arthroscopic traumatic rotator cuff repair, adding six weeks of scapular and core stabilization, proprioception and pain-control exercises to mobility work was associated with better abduction and lower WORC scores, but DASH and internal rotation did not differ.
• OTQualitative2021A multiple case study investigating changes in organizations serving residents with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDStaff in residential disability services described changes as messy when self-organizing teams reduced routine support and information about residents. Relocations and role changes also left staff, managers and psychologists distant, and staff said resident-staff trust and behaviour management became harder.
• PTOTCohort2021Outcome prediction in patients with putaminal hemorrhage at admission to a convalescent rehabilitation ward based on hemorrhage volume assessed with computed tomography during acute care.Journal of physical therapy scienceCT hemorrhage volume predicted motor independence and stay length only when age was the only other factor. Once admission motor scores and days since onset were included, CT volume no longer predicted either outcome.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Impairments of cortico-cortical connectivity in fine tactile sensation after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients showed disrupted brain connectivity patterns when feeling cotton fabric, with activity spreading to attention areas instead of staying focused on sensation. This suggests the brain recruits extra networks to process touch, but does not prove any treatment works.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Association Between Dysphagia and Inpatient Outcomes Across Frailty Level Among Patients ≥ 50 Years of Age.DysphagiaHospitalized adults 50 and older with dysphagia stayed longer, cost more, and had more complications than those without, regardless of frailty level. This held true even for non-frail patients. Dysphagia is an independent risk factor for poor outcomes, not just a marker of being frail.
• PTRCTAn Implementation Approach Comparison of a Child Care Center-Based Obesity Prevention Program.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPBoth delivery methods changed some eating habits in child care centers, but neither improved body mass index growth. The program included policies, lessons, teacher role modeling, and parent workshops.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Prevalence of pain and interference with daily activities and sleep in adults with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTwo-thirds of adults with cerebral palsy report pain, with back pain most common. Pain is significantly underreported when proxies report for patients, especially those with communication difficulties. Clinicians must ask patients directly about pain rather than relying on caregivers.
• Qualitative2021Experiences and needs of direct support staff working with people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A thematic analysis.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDDirect support staff described profound fear of infecting their own families while working without protective equipment. They faced intense time pressure covering day services and felt invisible compared to hospital staff. However, they valued team connectedness and appreciated when managers or psychologists proactively checked in on their well-being.