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 457 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2022Strength of Attentional Modulation on Cortical Auditory Evoked Responses Correlates with Speech-in-Noise Performance in Bimodal Cochlear Implant Users.Trends in hearingBimodal cochlear implant users with stronger attentional modulation of auditory evoked responses performed better on speech-in-noise tests. The neural measure correlated with behavioral scores, suggesting attentional filtering capacity may explain variability in listening outcomes.
• Other2022Linking Process and Outcome Measures to Improve Employment Support Programs for Individuals With the Most Significant Disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper proposes linking how employment programs are delivered to their results. It does not test this approach or report patient outcomes. There is no evidence here to change clinical practice.
• PTOther2022Maximal Respiratory Pressure Reference Values for Hopi Children Ages 4-13.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalExisting Navajo and Caucasian prediction equations did not match respiratory pressure values measured in Hopi children. The study derived Hopi-specific equations for respiratory muscle strength testing.
• OTQualitative2022Return to work of employees with low levels of education: The employers' role and perspective.Work (Reading, Mass.)Employers of low-educated Dutch workers described themselves as directive, leaving employees little room to influence their return to work. They viewed staff as passive and distrustful of their intentions, often prioritizing speed over individual preferences. This perspective highlights a power imbalance rather than patient outcomes.
• Other2022Imbalance of flight-freeze responses and their cellular correlates in the Nlgn3-/y rat model of autism.Molecular autismRats lacking the NLGN3 protein show less freezing but more escape when afraid. This isn't due to poor memory or pain sensitivity, but a brain circuit bias toward flight over freeze. It highlights that reduced freezing in autism models may reflect altered fear expression, not absent fear.
• Other2022What Can We Learn From a Human-Rights Based Approach to Disability for Public and Patient Involvement in Research?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper argues that research involving disabled people should follow human rights frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It provides guidance for researchers on making studies inclusive and accessible, rather than reporting clinical results or treatment outcomes.
• PTOther2022A tool to evaluate physiotherapy clinical education in South Africa.The South African journal of physiotherapyA new tool for evaluating physiotherapy clinical education programmes was developed and tested. It was deemed useful and feasible by most respondents, but its length (58 questions) was its main drawback. The tool has not yet been tested for its ability to predict student outcomes.
• Other2022Personal factors understood through the Ecological-Enactive Model of Disability and implications for rehabilitation research.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper outlines a theoretical framework for understanding disability as an interaction between a person's capabilities and their environment. It does not test an intervention or report clinical outcomes, so there is no evidence here to change treatment protocols.
• SLPOther2022Modification of a Method for Diagnosing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Sustained During Military Service.Trends in hearingA modified method for diagnosing military noise-induced hearing loss markedly improves specificity compared to the original M-NIHL method, reducing false positives. It maintains high sensitivity, offering a better balance for medico-legal assessments by requiring stricter audiometric criteria.
• SLPOther2022Investigating Markers of Rapport in Autistic and Nonautistic Interactions.Autism in adulthoodAutistic pairs reported similar rapport to nonautistic pairs despite using less backchanneling. Mixed pairs reported significantly lower rapport and less mutual gaze. This suggests rapport does not depend on typical social cues like frequent nodding or eye contact.
• SLPCohort2022Establishment of Reference Values for Early Auditory Preverbal Skills of Children with Cochlear Implants.Trends in hearingEarly implantation leads to faster auditory gains, with children reaching higher scores later. Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome predicts better early skills, while auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder predicts worse. Reference values for Mandarin-speaking children are now available to guide post-implant expectations.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Experiences of Sensory Overload and Communication Barriers by Autistic Adults in Health Care Settings.Autism in adulthoodAutistic adults reported significant distress from background noise and feeling misunderstood in health care. Qualitative feedback highlighted that providers often misread nonverbal cues or lacked autism knowledge. Simple environmental changes and literal communication can reduce barriers.
• PTOTCohort2022Geriatric Vulnerabilities Among Obese Older Adults With and Without Sarcopenia: Findings From a Nationally Representative Cohort Study.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Obese older adults with sarcopenia had 6.4 times the odds of being frail and twice the odds of social isolation, depression, and pain compared to obese peers without sarcopenia. Screen for these vulnerabilities before prescribing weight loss or exercise.
• OTPilot2023Preliminary evaluation of an automated robotic transfer assist device in the home setting.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyAfter six weeks at home, users and caregivers reported less physical demand and work using a robotic bed to chair transfer system. Standard health and quality-of-life scores did not change overall, and social functioning decreased.
• OTRCT2022Healthy Minds: Group Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Sustainable Return to Work After a Sick Leave Due to Depression.Journal of occupational rehabilitationIn a small pilot, the work-focused group CBT did not clearly reduce depressive or anxiety symptoms more than control. Work productivity scores improved in the intervention group from baseline to post-intervention and six-month follow-up, but this was a pilot with 30 participants.
• SLPCohort2021Association Between TBI-Related Hearing Impairment and Cognition: A TRACK-TBI Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAmong adults after TBI, self-reported hearing impairment at 2 weeks was associated with worse executive-function scores at 6 months, but not with processing-speed scores. The association was small and based on self-report, not audiometry.
• SLPSurvey2023Brain-Computer interfaces for communication: preferences of individuals with locked-in syndrome, caregivers and researchers.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyPeople with locked-in syndrome, their caregivers and brain-computer interface researchers agreed on top communication uses: direct conversation, private writing and general computer use. They disagreed on preferred mental strategies and when to introduce information.
• OTSurvey2023Factors influencing perceived function in the upper limb prosthesis user population.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPerceived function in upper limb prosthesis users was associated with satisfaction, pain with prosthesis, and proximal amputation level. It was not associated with age, education, gender, employment status, or prosthesis type.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Predictors of cognitive gains during inpatient rehabilitation for older adults with traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationOlder adults with TBI made clinically meaningful cognitive gains in inpatient rehab. Younger age, female sex, higher motor function, longer stays, and freestanding facilities predicted better recovery. Black and Hispanic patients had lower odds of favorable outcomes.
• PTOTSLPOther2023A high prevalence of manual wheelchair rear-wheel misalignment could be leading to increased risk of repetitive strain injuries.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyMost manual wheelchairs in this community sample had rear-wheel misalignment, with 61% showing toe angles over 0.5 degrees. Combined with underinflated tires, this creates resistance equivalent to carrying extra weight, which may increase propulsion effort and injury risk.
• SLPPilot2023Evaluating the perspectives of those with severe physical impairments while learning BCI control of a commercial augmentative and alternative communication paradigm.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNAExperiences varied widely while four people with ALS learned brain-computer spelling: satisfaction followed better control for A1 and A3, and lower frustration for A2 and A4. Mental effort was high for some, fatigue ratings changed little. This small study cannot show the system works.
• OTQualitative2023Benefits and challenges of mobility and medical alert service dogs for caregivers of service dog recipients.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyCaregivers of mobility and medical service dog recipients described family emotional support and caregiver bonding, but also time, grooming, travel and unexpected costs. Waitlist caregivers expected fewer family benefits and more task benefits than caregivers with a dog described.
• PTCohort2023Feasibility of an intensive interprofessional lifestyle medicine program for patients with musculoskeletal conditions in the setting of lifestyle-related chronic disease.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation21 of 26 patients finished the program, and 13 of 21 who finished met their personal goal. Anxiety scores fell by 3.5 points, but physical function, weight and other measures did not show clear change. This shows feasibility, not that the program works.
• PTOTSurvey2023Body image and perception among adults with and without phantom limb pain.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAdults with phantom limb pain reported more negative body image and higher awareness of the missing limb than pain-free peers. However, they did not experience more perceptual distortions, such as feeling the limb was disowned or altered in size.
• PTPilot2022Evaluating the use of a thermoplastic socket in Kenya: A pilot study.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalWalking test times improved in the 10 of 26 Kenyan adults who returned for follow-up, but socket satisfaction and comfort decreased, and the ambulation scale did not show a clear change.
• PTOTOther2022Validating a wheelchair in-seat activity tracker.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNAA new wheelchair cushion sensor detects weight shifts with 81% precision and 80% recall in a lab setting. It identifies partial leans that provide blood flow benefits, offering users feedback without requiring individual training for each person.
• SLPSurvey2022Reading behaviors and text-to-speech technology perceptions of people with aphasia.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNAAfter guided practice, 87.5% of people with aphasia expressed interest in text-to-speech for reading, particularly for longer materials. They did not anticipate using it for short texts like calendars. Individual preferences varied widely, so exposure and personal choice should drive adoption rather than assumptions.
• OTSystematic Review2022Participant Engagement in Supported Employment: A Systematic Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationSupported employment engagement relies on three linked elements: the provider empowering the participant, the participant making self-determined choices, and a collaborative working alliance. Engagement is a continuous process throughout the intervention, not a one-time state achieved at the start.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022The use of wearable sensors to assess and treat the upper extremity after stroke: a scoping review.Disability and rehabilitationWearable sensors can track upper extremity motion after stroke, but the review found no evidence that they improve recovery. They map arm use, impairment, and training cues; clinical benefit still needs testing.
• PTCohort2022Factors associated with unplanned transfers among cancer patients at a freestanding acute rehabilitation facility.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn cancer inpatient rehab, factors were linked to more unplanned transfers to acute care: gastrointestinal cancer, a 6-minute walk under 90 meters, and a previous unplanned transfer.
• PTOTOther2022Reliability and validity of subjective radiologist reporting of temporal changes in lumbar spine MRI findings.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationRadiologists rarely agreed on temporal changes in lumbar MRI findings, with poor reliability for reporting changes despite high agreement on no changes. False positives were rare but present. Clinicians should avoid basing decisions on these subjective temporal changes.
• SLPOther2022Better long-term speech outcomes in stroke survivors who received early clinical speech and language therapy: What's driving recovery?Neuropsychological rehabilitationStroke survivors with severe or moderate aphasia who received clinical speech therapy in the first month showed better naming ability and patient-reported improvement at one year compared to those who did not. However, the study cannot prove the therapy caused this, as patients with better recovery potential may have been prioritized for treatment.
• PTQualitative2022Barriers and facilitators to implementation of early mobilisation of critically ill patients in Zimbabwean and South African public sector hospitals: a qualitative study.Disability and rehabilitationPhysiotherapists in Zimbabwean and South African ICUs identified 23 barriers to early mobilisation. Key obstacles included unclear team roles, low staff motivation due to pay, inconsistent referrals, and lack of equipment. Facilitators included dedicated staffing, awareness programmes, and clear protocols.
• PTOTCohort2022The association between sleep deficits and sedentary behavior in people with mild Parkinson disease.Disability and rehabilitationPeople with mild Parkinson disease slept less and were more sedentary than healthy adults. More sleep linked to less sitting time in both groups. But sleep did not predict step count or active minutes. Treat sitting and moving as separate issues when addressing sleep.
• PTOTRCT2022Work Ability After Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion Followed by a Structured Postoperative Rehabilitation: Secondary Outcomes of a Prospective Randomized Controlled Multi-Centre Trial with a 2-year Follow-up.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAdding structured postoperative rehabilitation did not improve work ability more than standard care two years after cervical fusion surgery. Both groups improved similarly, suggesting recovery is driven by the surgery itself rather than the specific physiotherapy programme.
• OTOther2022The association between hand disease severity and fatigue in individuals with systemic sclerosis: a scoping review.Disability and rehabilitationJoint involvement was the hand disease severity element most linked to fatigue in systemic sclerosis. Digital ulcers themselves were not linked to fatigue, but their perceived interference with daily activities was.
• PTOTCohort2022Racial and ethnic amputation level disparities in veterans undergoing incident dysvascular lower extremity amputation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationBlack veterans in the Continental region had higher odds of a high-level amputation than White veterans if they had not received prior revascularization. Hispanic veterans in the Southeast had higher odds than White veterans regardless of revascularization or diabetes status.
• Other2022Preparing participants for the use of the tongue visual sensory substitution device.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyTraining on a tongue-based visual device showed huge individual differences. Half of those with acquired blindness and two-thirds of those with congenital blindness reached letter recognition. Progress in the first two sessions predicted later success, but many dropped out due to discomfort or lack of interest.
• PTOTOther2022The Dutch Multidisciplinary Occupational Health Guideline to Enhance Work Participation Among Low Back Pain and Lumbosacral Radicular Syndrome Patients.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe guideline advises starting with work-focused information and advice, using risk and prognostic factors to guide care. If sick leave persists after six weeks, add physiotherapy, workplace modifications, or cognitive behavioural therapy. Multidisciplinary vocational rehabilitation is considered after twelve weeks if full work participation is not achieved.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Exploring Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening in Adults With Persistent Complaints After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAdults with persistent mild TBI symptoms showed worse vestibular screening scores and poorer balance/gait than controls. However, these screening scores correlated strongly with self-reported dizziness but weakly with actual physical performance, suggesting they measure different things.
• PTRCT2022Using gait robotics to improve symptoms of Parkinson's disease: an open-label, pilot randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMain cognitive and mood outcomes showed no significant between-group difference. In this pilot, the same exercise program plus an exoskeleton was associated with better memory scores and longer six-minute walk distance than exercise alone or wait-list.
• OTOther2023Pain sensitivity and perceptual sensitivity are associated with severity of emotional dysregulation in children with ADHD: a cross-sectional analysis using the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire.Disability and rehabilitationChildren with ADHD who react strongly to minor pain or notice small environmental changes more often had severe emotional outbursts. Parents reported these children were more likely to cry when hurt or be upset by a small cut, correlating with higher irritability and anger scores.
• PTSystematic Review2023Toward a Standardized and Individualized Laboratory-Based Protocol for Wheelchair-Specific Exercise Capacity Testing in Wheelchair Athletes: A Scoping Review.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationNo standard way to test wheelchair athletes' exercise capacity exists. Reviews found huge differences in equipment, protocols, and outcomes, making comparisons impossible. The authors propose a new standardized, individualized protocol to fix this inconsistency.
• PTOther2023Novel lower-extremity dexterity assessment for Parkinson's disease: validation against measures of arm dexterity and general mobility.Disability and rehabilitationA seated toe-tapping test tracked walking, timed get-up-and-go, and pegboard scores in 33 people with Parkinson's disease, and task performance improved after medication. It may help assess foot control, but not yet proven for treatment decisions.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Experiences of receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.Disability and rehabilitationPeople with MS described diagnosis as a period of shock, fear, and anger, often worsened by impersonal communication and unbelieved symptoms. They needed clear, timely information and ongoing emotional support from clinicians, but many felt these needs were unmet.
• PTOTCohort2023The minimal clinically important difference of the motricity index score.Topics in stroke rehabilitationIn 69 patients assessed early after stroke, a 13-point rise on the 0-99 Motricity Index arm score was the cutoff for meaningful recovery compared with another upper-limb test.
• PTOTOther2023Evaluation of Weight Shift and X-Factor During Golf Swing of Veterans With Lower Limb Loss.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationVeterans with above-knee amputations showed poorer weight shift during golf swings than those with below-knee amputations. Those with lead-limb loss had better trunk rotation but worse weight transfer. These biomechanical deficits suggest specific targets for adaptive sports rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Postamputation Cognitive Impairment Is Related to Worse Perceived Physical Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Prosthesis Users.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMiddle-aged and older prosthesis users with cognitive impairment reported worse perceived physical function than those without. Screening for cognitive changes during rehabilitation may help identify patients who need tailored support to improve mobility outcomes.
• PTOTOther2022Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Timing in Fatigued and Nonfatigued Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAdults with MS and fatigue took fewer steps and spent less time in moderate-to-vigorous activity than non-fatigued adults. Both groups were most active in the morning and midday, and most sedentary in the evening. Fatigued adults maintained activity longer into the day.
• Qualitative2022A Context Analysis with Stakeholders' Views for Future Implementation of Interventions to Prevent Health Problems Among Employees with a Lower Socioeconomic Position.Journal of occupational rehabilitationStakeholders in Dutch occupational health described a system where no one takes responsibility for employees' complex health and life problems. Occupational services are seen as business advice, prevention is underfunded, and occupational and curative care do not collaborate.