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 408 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOther2022Opioid use and social disadvantage in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPatients with chronic musculoskeletal pain on long-term opioids were more likely to live in socially disadvantaged areas and report worse depression, anxiety, and pain interference than patients not routinely prescribed opioids. This is an association, not proof opioids caused disadvantage.
• PTOTOther2022Intra- and Interrater Reliability of Remote Assessment of Transfers by Wheelchair Users Using the Transfer Assessment Instrument (Version 4.0).Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationRemote video scoring of wheelchair transfers matched in-person ratings for most items. However, remote raters gave higher scores for the quick flight/landing phase, likely because they could replay video. Use caution when comparing remote and in-person scores.
• PTOTRCT2022Effectiveness of Group Wheelchair Maintenance Training for People with Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationGroup training improved wheelchair users' ability to perform maintenance and their actual maintenance behavior, with gains sustained up to one year. Knowledge scores did not improve for manual wheelchair users, and improvements for power wheelchair users faded by one year.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Important-performance analysis to conceptualize goal priorities in community dwelling stroke survivors.Topics in stroke rehabilitationFor stroke survivors living in the community, goals like hand function, driving, balance, memory, and arm strength were consistently prioritized when rated against their current performance. Speech goals did not emerge as a priority for this group, likely because most participants already performed well in this area.
• SLPCase Series2022Training flexible conceptual retrieval in post-stroke aphasia.Neuropsychological rehabilitationEleven people with post-stroke aphasia improved on association items they practised with feedback over six sessions. Gains were weak or absent for novel items, and individual responses varied.
• OTSLPOther2022The impact of prolonged disorders of consciousness on family caregivers' quality of life - A scoping review.Neuropsychological rehabilitationCaregivers of people with prolonged disorders of consciousness face severe practical and emotional burdens, including financial strain, social isolation, and grief without death. Qualitative studies highlight these lived experiences, which quantitative measures often miss, suggesting support must address daily realities, not just mental health symptoms.
• OTCohort2022Identifying Return to Work Self-Efficacy Trajectories in Employees with Mental Health Problems.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEmployees with mental health problems follow six distinct self-efficacy trajectories. Those with anxiety disorders were more likely to experience decreasing confidence and lower return-to-work rates. Younger employees and those with stress-related issues showed increasing confidence. This suggests tailored support is needed rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
• PTQualitative2022Interrelations between factors related to physical activity in inactive adults with knee pain.Disability and rehabilitationInactive adults with knee pain linked physical activity to pain, mood, environment, social expectations, knowledge, and resources. Females more often reported fear, fatigue, sleep, social perception, and exercise uncertainty; males reported sports and tracking.
• PTOTSurvey2022Factors Influencing Incidence of Wheelchair Repairs and Consequences Among Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOver half of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury needed repairs in six months, and 42% of those experienced adverse consequences like being stranded or missing appointments. Power wheelchair users, those with older chairs, and Black individuals faced significantly higher risks.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Lesion location may attenuate response to strategy training in acute stroke.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationStrategy training helped fewer patients when stroke damaged specific deep brain regions linked to goal-setting. This lesion pattern was rare, found in only 25 of 173 patients. The finding is an association, not proof that location causes the poor response.
• PTOTCohort2022Shoulder pain and ultrasound findings: A comparison study of wheelchair athletes, nonathletic wheelchair users, and nonwheelchair users.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationWheelchair athletes did not have more shoulder pain or ultrasound-detected pathology than nonathletic wheelchair users. Athletes exercised their shoulders more often. Basketball players reported higher pain scores, but the study was too small to confirm this as a risk.
• PTRCT2021Effects of a home-based rehabilitation program in community-dwelling older people after discharge from hospital: A subgroup analysis of a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationThe home-based rehabilitation program did not improve physical performance or physical activity overall. In older adults with moderate pre-admission mobility restriction, it improved physical performance, walking difficulty, stair difficulty and fear of falling.
• PTOTRCT2021Physical activity on prescription in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding a written exercise prescription and follow-up appointments to standard advice did not increase physical activity more than advice alone over six months. Both groups improved self-reported activity and symptoms, but accelerometer data showed no change.
• PTOTCohort2021Relationship Between Nursing Home Compare Improvement in Function Quality Measure and Physical Recovery After Hip Replacement.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe average change per 10 days in a nursing home function score rose from 1.00 to 1.06 points after the quality measure was added. Self-care, mobility, and balance also rose, but this study cannot show the measure caused the change.
• OTSystematic Review2021Treatments for sleep disturbances in individuals with acquired brain injury: A systematic review.Clinical rehabilitationCognitive behavioral therapy packages for sleep problems after chronic acquired brain injury improved self-reported sleep in small studies; melatonin, amitriptyline and acupuncture showed limited or short-term benefit.
• RCT2021Barriers and Facilitators for Implementing Motivational Interviewing as a Return to Work Intervention in a Norwegian Social Insurance Setting: A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation.Journal of occupational rehabilitationCaseworkers found motivational interviewing hard to master and resource-intensive, with fidelity scores below proficiency for empathy. However, 99% of sick-listed workers reported satisfaction with the sessions, and caseworkers valued the early one-on-one contact for building trust.
• PTOTRCT2021The effectiveness of a family-centred intervention after traumatic brain injury: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding an eight-session family intervention to standard outpatient rehabilitation did not improve mental health quality of life, caregiver burden, or family functioning compared to standard care alone. Both groups improved over time, but the family sessions provided no extra benefit.
• PTOTOther2021Measurement Properties of the Full and Brief Version of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire in Persons with Physical Disabilities.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe Dutch Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire is reliable for groups but too noisy for tracking individual patient progress. The full and brief versions do not match closely enough to swap between them. Use one version consistently if you must monitor change, though group-level research remains valid.
• Cohort2021Is perceived social support more important than visual acuity for clinical depression and anxiety in patients with age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy?Clinical rehabilitationPerceived social support, not visual acuity, was independently linked to anxiety and depression in patients with age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Poorer social support predicted higher mental health symptom levels, suggesting clinicians should assess support networks alongside vision.
• OTCohort2021Inability to Work Fulltime, Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Applicants for Work Disability Benefit.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAmong 30,177 Dutch disability benefit applicants, 39.4% were assessed as unable to work full time. Most of these could work only about 4 hours per day. Higher age, female gender, higher education, and multimorbidity were associated with this limitation, varying by disease group.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021'Somebody stuck me in a bag of sand': Lived experiences of the altered and uncomfortable body after stroke.Clinical rehabilitationStroke survivors described their affected body as feeling 'disappearing', 'reappearing', 'uncontrollable' and 'isolated'. These strange sensations caused physical and psychological discomfort. Patients struggled to describe these experiences to clinicians, often feeling abandoned and unsure if any treatment could help.
• OTCohort2021'Return to Work' Coordinator Model and Work Participation of Employees: A Natural Intervention Study in Finland.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMunicipalities using return-to-work coordinators saw higher sickness absence rates but lower disability retirement risks than those without. The coordinators appeared to keep people in the workforce with temporary leave rather than allowing permanent exits.
• PTOTCohort2022The Influence of Race, Sex, and Social Disadvantage on Self-reported Health in Patients Presenting With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationLiving in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods was linked to worse physical function, pain interference, anxiety, and depression in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Black race was linked only to higher anxiety, and female sex only to lower physical function. These associations were independent of age and opioid use.
• Other2022Creating a Resident Research Track in Synergy With the Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training Program.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationThis paper describes an educational program for physicians, not a clinical intervention. It offers no evidence on patient care or therapeutic outcomes, so it has no impact on daily clinical practice for therapists.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022A Worksite Self-management Program for Workers with Chronic Health Conditions Improves Worker Engagement and Retention, but not Workplace Function.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with chronic conditions improved their sense of engagement and reduced thoughts of quitting after a group self-management program. However, the program did not improve their actual ability to perform job tasks or meet physical and time demands.
• PTOTOther2022Knee extensor power predicts six-minute walk test performance in people with transfemoral amputations.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationKnee extensor power strongly predicted walking distance and efficiency in people with transfemoral amputation. Isometric strength correlated with distance but not metabolic cost. Power may be a better target than strength for improving community mobility and reducing walking effort.
• PTOTCohort2022Functional motor improvement during inpatient rehabilitation among older adults with traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMost older adults with TBI in inpatient rehab made meaningful motor gains: 84.1% improved by at least nine points and 68.6% by 17 points on a 13-to-91 motor independence score. Lowest baseline scores could reach 17-point gains if stay exceeded 10 days.
• Survey2022Evidence-Based Medicine Training in United States-Based Physiatry Residency Programs.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationMost responding US physiatry programs teach evidence-based medicine basics, but fewer teach how to apply and evaluate it. Few have dedicated courses or assessments, and no program reported using a structured, systematic approach.
• PTRCT2022Treatment decisions after interdisciplinary evaluation for nonarthritic hip pain: A randomized controlled trial.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationInterdisciplinary evaluation did not significantly increase physical therapy inclusion compared to standard care, but patients reported lower decisional conflict. The study was underpowered, so these findings suggest potential benefits for shared decision-making rather than proving superior treatment planning.
• PTOTOther2022Changes in Internet Use Over Time Among Individuals with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationInternet use among people with traumatic spinal cord injury rose from 77.7% in 2012 to 88.1% in 2018, and mobile internet use rose from 40.7% to 77.3%, though age, income, education and injury level gaps remained.
• Cohort2022Investigating whole-brain metabolite abnormalities in the chronic stages of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationWhole-brain scans found no significant global metabolic differences between men with chronic TBI and controls. Isolated regional trends appeared but vanished after statistical correction, offering no confirmed biological markers for pain or fatigue.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Spatial neglect treatment: The brain's spatial-motor Aiming systems.Neuropsychological rehabilitationPatients with 'Aiming' spatial neglect (movement initiation deficits) improved on functional tasks with bromocriptine or prism adaptation. Those with 'Where' deficits (perceptual/attentional) did not. Standard paper-and-pencil tests miss this distinction, potentially hiding treatment responders.
• OTCohort2022Employees Receiving Inpatient Treatment for Common Mental Disorders in Germany: Factors Associated with Time to First and Full Return to Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAfter inpatient treatment for common mental disorders, employees with negative return expectations, longer prior absence, or needing individual support had slower return. Worse leadership was linked to slower full return.
• PTOTRCT2021Using a bimanual lever-driven wheelchair for arm movement practice early after stroke: A pilot, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding 30 minutes of daily bimanual lever-wheelchair training did not significantly improve arm recovery compared to standard exercises. The primary outcome showed no difference, though feasibility data suggests it can increase movement volume without increasing pain or tone.
• Pilot2021Acute Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor DNA Methylation Trajectories in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Associations With Outcomes Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Adults.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn severe traumatic brain injury, higher DNA methylation of the BDNF gene in spinal fluid was linked to better outcomes at 3 and 12 months. This association was suggestive only and did not meet strict significance thresholds after correcting for multiple tests.
• PTOTCohort2021Associations of Multiple Chronic Conditions With Physical Performance and Falls Among Older Adults With Back Pain: A Longitudinal, Population-based Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with back pain and multiple chronic conditions experienced faster physical decline and higher fall risk over six years. Arthritis was the most consistent predictor of worsening function and falls. Screen for arthritis and multimorbidity to identify patients at highest risk of mobility loss.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Predictors of nasogastric tube removal in patients with stroke and dysphagia.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationA four-item model using admission Barthel score, lip closure, ability to answer simple questions, and pre-stroke independence predicted nasogastric tube removal. A score above the cutoff had 85.45% sensitivity and 73.44% positive predictive value for returning to oral feeding.
• Other2021COVID-19 case-fatality disparities among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Evidence from 12 US jurisdictions.Disability and health journalCase-fatality rates were significantly higher for people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings than the general population. Results were mixed for those living at home, with rates sometimes higher, similar, or lower than the state average.
• OTSystematic Review2021The Role of the Employer in Supporting Work Participation of Workers with Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review Using an Interdisciplinary Approach.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with disabilities were reported to return to work or stay employed more often when employers offered accommodations and supervisors gave support. Company size and sector were inconsistent. These are associations, not proof that one accommodation caused the outcome.
• PTOther2021Do physical activity and social cognitive theory variable scores differ across symptom cluster severity groups in multiple sclerosis?Disability and health journalDevice-measured activity did not differ by MS symptom cluster severity. Self-reported activity and some confidence, support, expectation and functional limitation measures were lower in more severe clusters.
• PTOTRCT2021Boxing vs Sensory Exercise for Parkinson's Disease: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSensory exercise improved Parkinson's motor symptoms and gait, with benefits lasting after the program stopped. Boxing worsened motor scores during the same period. Both groups reported better quality of life, but only sensory exercise showed objective clinical improvement that persisted.
• OTSurvey2021Indicators of poor mental health and stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic, by disability status: A cross-sectional analysis.Disability and health journalIn April and May 2020, US adults with any disability reported more depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, substance use, and stress than adults without disability: 56.8% versus 18.4% had depressive symptoms, and 20.7% versus 4.1% had suicidal thoughts.
• PTSurvey2021Changes in physical activity and basic psychological needs related to mental health among people with physical disability during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.Disability and health journalPeople with physical disabilities in Norway reported reduced physical activity and health during pandemic restrictions. Changes in perceived competence were strongly linked to both activity levels and mental health, suggesting therapy should focus on building patients' confidence in their abilities.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Beyond Physical Capacity: Factors Associated With Real-world Walking Activity After Stroke.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke survivors with higher walking speed, balance confidence, cognitive scores, and lower area deprivation walked significantly more daily steps. Those in the highest activity class had the fastest speed, highest confidence, and best cognition. Assessing these factors, not just physical capacity, may help target interventions to increase real-world walking.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Linking AM-PAC Cognition to PROMIS Cognitive Function.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe AM-PAC and PROMIS cognitive tests measure the same underlying ability. A new crosswalk allows clinicians to convert scores between them. This enables tracking of patient progress even when switching from one tool to the other or comparing data across different clinics.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Postconcussion Exercise Volume Associations With Depression, Anxiety, and Dizziness Symptoms, and Postural Stability: Preliminary Findings.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationConcussed patients reporting high exercise volume had lower depression, anxiety, and dizziness scores and faster tandem gait times than those with low volume. Because this was a secondary analysis of a trial, exercise volume was self-reported and not randomized, so causality cannot be inferred.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Functional Gains in Children Receiving Inpatient Rehabilitation After Brain Tumor Resection.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationChildren recovering from brain tumor surgery showed significant functional gains during inpatient rehab and continued improving three months after discharge. Earlier admission and older age predicted better outcomes, but tumor location and neurological risk scores did not add predictive value beyond basic patient characteristics.
• PTOTOther2022Identifying Clinically Relevant Functional Strata to Direct Mobility Preservation Among Patients Hospitalized With Medical Conditions.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationExperts established four mobility levels and one cognition flag for the FAMCAT tool to guide hospital triage. The calibration sample was mostly high-functioning, with no patients scoring in the lowest mobility strata. These cut-points help direct mobility preservation programs.
• PTOther2022Examination of the Measurement Equivalence of the Functional Assessment in Acute Care MCAT (FAMCAT) Mobility Item Bank Using Differential Item Functioning Analyses.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe FAMCAT mobility item bank gave hospitalized patients similar mobility scores across age, gender, and education overall. A few stair-climbing and strenuous items were harder for older people or women, but total scores were not affected.
• PTRCT2022Cost-Effectiveness of High-intensity Training vs Conventional Therapy for Individuals With Subacute Stroke.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationHigh-intensity walking cost $309 more than conventional therapy but produced significantly greater walking speed gains. The cost per 0.1 m/s improvement was $155, with a greater than 90% probability of being cost-effective if clinics are willing to pay $300 for that speed gain.