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 403 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTSystematic Review2021Six-minute walk test protocol variations in low-resource settings - A scoping review.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn low-resource settings, 24 studies adapted the six-minute walk test, most by changing course length or layout, often because space was limited. Reporting was poor, so adapted distances may not be comparable.
• OTPilot2021Combined Effects of Virtual Reality and Computer Game-Based Cognitive Therapy on the Development of Visual-Motor Integration in Children with Intellectual Disabilities: A Pilot Study.Occupational therapy internationalThirteen children with intellectual disabilities improved on motor skills and visual perception tests after combined VR and computer game therapy. However, the specific visual-motor integration score showed no significant change. Do not assume this combination works for integration.
• OTSLPSurvey2021Social identities and mental well-being in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults who feel a stronger sense of belonging to their autistic identity, their family, or multiple social groups report lower depression and higher positive mental health. However, autistic traits were a much stronger predictor of well-being than social identity, and having fewer groups was common.
• OTProtocol2021Understanding work participation among employees with common mental disorders: What works, for whom, under what circumstances and how? A systematic realist review protocol.Work (Reading, Mass.)No findings are reported.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Taxi drivers and modifiable health behaviors: Is stress associated?Work (Reading, Mass.)Most taxi drivers had poor nutrition and low physical activity. Stress predicted sleep disturbances and smoking, but not diet or exercise. These behaviors mostly occurred independently, suggesting separate interventions are needed for each problem rather than a single stress-reduction program.
• SLPOther2021Sports audiology: Ear hygiene practices of gym users who wear earphones.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsGym users who wore earphones reported varied hygiene: 47 cleaned their ears, 29 used earbuds, and 32 cleaned earphones. Exams found 11 ears fully blocked by wax and 2 ears with bony growths.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Prospective and detailed behavioral phenotyping in DDX3X syndrome.Molecular autismChildren with DDX3X syndrome show severe delays in walking, talking, and self-care, often with low muscle tone and unusual gait. They frequently meet criteria for autism and ADHD, and seek intense sensory input rather than avoiding it. Expect profound developmental support needs.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021The Systemic Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyBlood flow restriction training improves strength and aerobic capacity with low loads, but dosing varies widely. It appears safe for healthy adults and some cardiac patients, though it increases perceived exertion and discomfort initially. Evidence for older adults and long-term systemic effects remains limited.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Accuracy of the SWAY Mobile Cognitive Assessment Application.International journal of sports physical therapyThe SWAY cognitive app produced similar reaction time scores across iPhone and Samsung devices, but only one iPad and two Pixel tests were run. It correlated weakly to moderately with the ImPACT QT, meaning the two apps are not interchangeable for clinical decisions.
• SLPPilot2021Preliminary reliability of South African adaptation and Northern Sotho translation of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsThe two versions of an autism screen gave almost the same answers from 21 caregivers in a small pilot. Two toddlers needed follow-up questions, then screened low risk. Most preferred English.
• PTOTCohort2021Dynamic balancing responses in unilateral transtibial amputees following outward-directed perturbations during slow treadmill walking differ considerably for amputated and non-amputated side.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWhen pushed outward on the amputated side while walking slowly, amputees cannot use ankle strategies to stabilize. They must wait for the non-amputated leg to step across, causing large body shifts. On the non-amputated side, their balance response matches people without amputation.
• SLPCase-Control2021The Frequency of Atypical and Extreme Values for Pharyngeal Phase Swallowing Measures in Mild Parkinson Disease Compared to Healthy Aging.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRPeople with mild Parkinson disease showed no more swallowing impairments than healthy older adults. Both groups had similar rates of slow swallowing and residue. Differences found favored compensation, not deficit. Small sample size means these results are preliminary.
• SLPOther2021Gauging facial feature viewing preference as a stable individual trait in autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchViewing preferences for eyes, nose and mouth become stable when enough movie clips are analyzed. High-functioning autistic males were less consistent and more variable than typical peers, looked less at faces and the nose, but not less at eyes or mouths.
• SLPNarrative Review2021Mental State Language Use in Children with Down Syndrome and the Role of Caregivers.Seminars in speech and languageShared storybook reading is a promising context for caregivers to support mental state language in school-age children with Down syndrome, but evidence for this specific intervention is currently preliminary.
• PTOTQualitative2021A day in the life: a qualitative study of clinical decision-making and uptake of neurorehabilitation technology.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTherapists at a tech-rich hospital rarely used devices because setup took too long and games did not match functional goals. They chose familiar tasks instead. Developers must prove devices save time and directly support daily living activities to be adopted.
• PTOTRCT2021Efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA with standardized occupational therapy for treatment of pediatric upper limb spasticity: Phase III placebo-controlled randomized trial.NeuroRehabilitationOnabotulinumtoxinA plus occupational therapy significantly reduced upper limb spasticity in children compared to placebo plus occupational therapy. However, it did not significantly improve overall clinical impression of change or active functional goals at the primary time point, though passive goals showed some benefit.
• PTOTOther2021A standardized protocol for the comprehensive assessment of dental hygiene work.Work (Reading, Mass.)A new video protocol allows accurate, standardized observation of dental hygiene tasks. It achieved good-to-excellent reliability for posture and activity coding, offering a tool to identify specific musculoskeletal risk factors in this high-prevalence profession.
• SLPOther2021Characterizing the Richness of Maternal Input for Word Learning in Neurogenetic Disorders.Seminars in speech and languageThis paper proposes a method for analyzing how mothers support word learning in children with Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome, illustrated by three case examples. It does not test an intervention or report clinical outcomes, so there is nothing here to change your practice on.
• OTSystematic Review2021Coaching Parents of Children with Sensory Integration Difficulties: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalCoaching parents of children with autism and sensory difficulties showed promise in four small studies, improving parent competence and child behavior. However, evidence is preliminary, designs varied widely, and long-term maintenance is unproven.
• Cohort2021Testing the extreme male brain hypothesis: Is autism spectrum disorder associated with a more male-typical brain?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic individuals showed slightly more male-typical brain shapes than controls, but this difference disappeared once brain size was accounted for. The apparent link between brain maleness and autism symptoms was driven by larger brain size, not shape.
• PTNarrative Review2021Lumbar spondylolisthesis: STATE of the art on assessment and conservative treatment.Archives of physiotherapyThis is a clinical overview of lumbar spondylolisthesis, not a study with new results. It summarizes existing evidence on how to assess and treat the condition, so it offers no new data to change your practice.
• OTSurvey2021Unemployment and mental health in a community population from a border city in Mexico.Work (Reading, Mass.)Unemployed adults in a Mexican city reported worse mental health than those working, studying, or retired. Housewives had the next-worst scores. Women reported worse mental health than men. Education level made no difference. Being temporarily stopped from work was linked to the best scores.
• OTSLPRCT2021Randomized controlled trial of sulforaphane and metabolite discovery in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Molecular autismSulforaphane did not significantly improve the primary measure of autism severity compared to placebo. However, caregivers reported significant improvements in behavior problems at 15 weeks. Blood markers showed the compound reached the body and altered inflammation and mitochondrial function.
• PTOTPilot2021A smartphone-based online system for fall detection with alert notifications and contextual information of real-life falls.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA smartphone system detected 27 of 37 reported falls over 90 days, but missed 10 and raised 45 false alerts. It captured fall location, weather, and activity context.
• SLPOther2021Potential Destructive Binaural Interaction Effects in Auditory Steady-State Response Measurements.Trends in hearingSound-field hearing aid verification using ASSR is generally robust if the child moves their head, but fails if a unilateral hearing aid introduces specific delays. These delays can artificially suppress the response by 10 dB, leading to false referrals for poorly fitted aids.
• OTQualitative2021(Dis)Ability-informed Mentors Support Occupational Performance for College Students with Learning Disabilities and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders through Problem Solving and a Focus on Strengths.The British journal of occupational therapyMentors with disability knowledge co-created strategies with students, moving beyond academics to cover executive function, adult life skills, and stress. This holistic support helped students manage LD/ADHD challenges across social and daily contexts, not just in class.
• PTOTNarrative Review2021Understanding the Process and Challenges for Return-to-Work Post-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation from a Musculoskeletal Perspective: A Narrative Review.Occupational therapy internationalUsing a musculoskeletal return-to-work model for post-HCT patients is expert consensus, not tested evidence. Functional capacity evaluation and job evaluation can guide individualized plans, with monitoring for unpredictable complications.
• PTOther2021The Non-injured Leg Can Be Used as a Reference for the Injured Leg in Single-legged Hop Tests.International journal of sports physical therapyThe non-injured leg performed like the healthy leg in hop tests, so it can be used as a reference when deciding return to high-impact sports. The injured leg performed worse on some hops, but those differences were small.
• SLPOther2021Autism symptoms in anorexia nervosa: a comparative study with females with autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismWomen with anorexia nervosa showed intermediate autism symptoms compared to those with autism spectrum disorder. Recovered women scored similarly to acute patients, suggesting these traits persist beyond starvation. However, only quality of social response clearly distinguished the two conditions.
• PTPilot2021Item-level and Composite-level Interrater Reliability of Functional Movement Screen™ Scores Following Condensed Training in Novice Raters.International journal of sports physical therapyA two-hour training session helped novice raters score four FMS tests reliably, but not three others. The total composite score was reliable, but individual item scores varied widely depending on the specific movement test.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health, wellbeing, and access to services of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Research in developmental disabilitiesMore than half of caregivers in Chile and over 40% of adults with intellectual disabilities in the U.S. reported worsening mental health during the pandemic. Loss of disability services and physical health problems were linked to increased mental health symptoms in the U.S. sample.
• SLPOther2021Effect of Channel Interaction on Vocal Cue Perception in Cochlear Implant Users.Trends in hearingTriplet stimulation degraded voice perception and speech intelligibility in noise, but Paired stimulation did not. This suggests Paired modes may save battery life without harming speech performance, though the study used only high-performing users.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021Emerging Role of Ultrasound in Dysphagia Assessment and Intervention: A Narrative Review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesUltrasound shows promise for bedside dysphagia screening, measuring hyoid movement and guiding injections. However, diagnostic accuracy varies widely, and no standard protocols exist. Use it only as a supplementary tool, not a replacement for formal swallowing assessments.
• OTSurvey2021Occupational Therapy Services in School-Based Practice: A Pediatric Occupational Therapy Perspective from Ireland.Occupational therapy internationalIrish school-based OTs mostly deliver one-to-one therapy and see schools monthly, but lack specific training and guidelines. They value collaboration but struggle to implement it due to time and workload constraints.
• OTSurvey2021Selection of Comprehensive Assessment Categories Based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health for Elderly Patients with Heart Failure: A Delphi Survey among Registered Instructors of Cardiac Rehabilitation.Occupational therapy internationalJapanese cardiac rehabilitation experts selected 58 ICF categories for assessing elderly heart failure patients. They prioritised body function and activity items, but chose far fewer environmental factors than international core sets. This list is a consensus proposal, not a validated tool.
• PTOTOther2021Stabilization Strategies for Fast Walking in Challenging Environments With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with incomplete spinal cord injury maintained lateral stability when walking fast, even in a balance-challenging environment. They achieved this by taking more steps and time to complete side maneuvers, prioritizing safety over speed. This suggests they naturally adopt cautious strategies to avoid falls.
• PTOther2021Association between post-concussion symptoms and oculomotor deficits among adolescents.Brain injury88% of adolescents with persistent concussion symptoms had an eye movement or focusing deficit, and poorer eye focusing tracked with higher symptom scores. It does not show that treating the deficit reduces symptoms.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Safety and Effectiveness of a Perturbation-based Neuromuscular Training Program on Dynamic Balance in Adolescent Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of sports physical therapyA five-week perturbation training program was safe for adolescent females but did not improve dynamic balance, strength, proprioception, or flexibility compared to normal activity. The primary outcome was null.
• SLPOther2021Pathogenic oral bacteria in hospitalised patients with dysphagia: The silent epidemic.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsIn 40 hospitalised patients with dysphagia, 62.5% carried bacteria not normally found in the mouth and all had oral hygiene problems; worse swallowing scores were linked to more pathogenic bacteria. Check oral care during dysphagia management.
• SLPSystematic Review2021Contextualising clinical reasoning within the clinical swallow evaluation: A scoping review and expert consultation.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsClinical reasoning in swallow assessments is driven more by experience than training. Experts argue that rigid protocols fail in low-resource settings, requiring flexible, context-aware decision-making to adapt to patient needs and limited equipment.
• PTOther2021To What Extent Do Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Biomarkers Relate to Pain, Flexibility, Strength, and Function in Individuals With Chronic Symptomatic Achilles Tendinopathy?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesUltrasound markers showed only weak links to pain, flexibility, strength, or function, although they could distinguish a symptomatic Achilles tendon from the other side.
• SLPOther2021The Role of Interaural Differences, Head Shadow, and Binaural Redundancy in Binaural Intelligibility Benefits Among School-Aged Children.Trends in hearingSchool-aged children with normal hearing did not reach adult-like speech-in-noise performance by age 15. The main gap was using timing and level differences between ears, while the head shadow effect was already mature.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Autistic traits are associated with faster pace of aging: Evidence from the Dunedin study at age 45.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMiddle-aged adults with more autistic traits showed faster biological aging, older facial appearance, and poorer health ratings. This association persisted after controlling for childhood IQ and socioeconomic status, suggesting autistic traits may be an independent risk marker for accelerated aging.
• PTOTRCT2021Exoskeleton gait training to improve lower urinary tract function in people with motor-complete spinal cord injury: A randomized pilot trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineExoskeleton walking was feasible for people with complete spinal cord injury, with high adherence and one minor adverse event. Urinary function changes were minor and variable, though incontinence improved in the Lokomat group. No clear benefit for bladder health was established.
• Other2021The Usability of the Preliminary ICF Core Set for Hospitalized Patients After a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation From the Perspective of Nurses: A Feasibility Study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNurses found a new checklist of daily-life issues useful for talking with stem cell transplant patients. They said it helped spot problems early and improved team communication, but admitted it took extra time and needed training.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021The Dynamic Innovative Balance System Improves Balance Ability: A Single Blind, Randomized Controlled Study.International journal of sports physical therapyHealthy men training on a device with moving foot platforms improved forward reach distance and single-leg stability more than those using standard balance boards. The effect appeared only after eight weeks. Use this to challenge weight shift in athletes, but do not expect it to fix side-to-side balance deficits.
• SLPQualitative2020Supporting Early Communication Skills of Children with Developmental Disorders in South Africa: Caregiver and Clinician Perspectives about Mobile Health Applications.Infants and young childrenCaregivers and speech-language pathologists in South Africa had different views on a communication app. Caregivers wanted it to teach them strategies. Pathologists worried it would replace human interaction. Both agreed the app must be free, use little data, and be in the family's first language.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Functional Consequences of Poor Binaural Hearing in Development: Evidence From Children With Unilateral Hearing Loss and Children Receiving Bilateral Cochlear Implants.Trends in hearingChildren with unilateral hearing loss had similar language, academic, and visuospatial memory deficits as peers with bilateral deafness using cochlear implants. Normal hearing in one ear did not prevent these developmental delays. Balance issues were equally common in both hearing loss groups.
• SLPRCT2021Effectiveness of Computer-Based Auditory Training for Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Randomized Crossover Study.Trends in hearingComputer-based auditory and visual training improved performance on the specific exercises but did not help adults with cochlear implants understand speech in noise or improve cognition. A temporary quality-of-life boost after auditory training faded after three months.
• PTOTCohort2021Coffee consumption and psychological wellbeing among Japanese auto factory workers.Work (Reading, Mass.)Coffee consumption was not significantly associated with poor psychological wellbeing in male Japanese factory workers. Regular exercise and longer sleep were protective factors, particularly for older workers aged 45–60 years.