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 480 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPOther2023Low-Cost Technology-Aided Programs for Supporting People With Motor, Visual, and Intellectual Disabilities in Functional Forms of Occupation and Communication: Proof-of-Concept Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesFour adults with severe motor, visual, and intellectual disabilities independently used low-cost smartphone and tablet systems to choose music, send voice messages or video calls, and answer questions about brief stories. Baseline support was withdrawn after practice, and all participants managed these tasks without help.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023The consideration of post-exercise impact on SCAT3 scores in athletes immediately following a head injury.Brain injuryRugby players without head injuries reported significantly more symptoms immediately after a match than at rest, overlapping with those who had head injuries. Clinicians should interpret sideline symptom scores cautiously, recognizing that intense exercise and contact alone can elevate symptom reporting.
• PTOTPilot2023Steering-by-leaning: Feasibility of Utilising Dynamic Backrests to Control Steering in Manual Wheelchairs.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA simple hinged backrest allowed wheelchair users to steer a virtual target more accurately than a complex shifting mechanism. The study found no minimum level of trunk strength or movement range was required to use the device effectively, suggesting broad potential for users with varied disabilities.
• PTOTCohort2023Age-related changes in gait domains: Results from the LonGenity study.Gait & postureAs older adults age, walking pace and step time worsen faster, especially in people with cognitive impairment or mobility disability. Variability rises gradually. This helps PTs and OTs identify at-risk older adults.
• SLPCohort2023Variability, accuracy, and cross-linguistic transfer in bilingual children speaking Jamaican Creole and English.Clinical linguistics & phoneticsBilingual Jamaican Creole and English speaking children produced speech sounds more consistently when they were more accurate. The study found no evidence that higher variability helps children learn new speech sounds. Many apparent errors in English were actually normal transfers from their other language.
• PTOTCohort2023Clinical measures of balance and gait cannot differentiate somatosensory impairments in people with lower-limb amputation.Gait & postureStandard balance and gait tests distinguish people with lower-limb amputation from able-bodied individuals, but they fail to detect differences in somatosensory integrity within the amputation group. Sensation loss was not associated with worse scores on these common clinical measures.
• OTOther2023The systematic and participatory development of a patient decision aid about terminal devices for people with upper limb absence: The PDA-TULA.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalA decision aid for upper limb terminal devices was built into prescribing software after stakeholder feedback. It is designed to help patients compare preferences with device categories, but its effect on choices or acceptance is untested.
• SLPQualitative2023"Peas in a pod": Oral History Reflections on Autistic Identity in Family and Community by Late-Diagnosed Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersLate-diagnosed autistic adults described building shared identity through 'peas in a pod' recognition in family and finding 'tribes' in online and face-to-face autistic communities. These connections validated their experiences, though some faced rejection from partners or health professionals.
• SLPOther2022The Acoustic Change Complex Compared to Hearing Performance in Unilaterally and Bilaterally Deaf Cochlear Implant Users.Ear and hearingIn cochlear implant users, a passive brain response to a large tone frequency change tracked speech-in-noise hearing and frequency discrimination. It may help assess patients who cannot reliably complete behavioral tests.
• PTOTRCT2022The effectiveness of the median nerve neurodynamic mobilisation techniques in women with mild or moderate bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome: A single-blind clinical randomised trial.The South African journal of physiotherapyMedian nerve gliding combined with carpal bone mobilisation reduced pain and improved hand function more than placebo joint mobilisation in women with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. Both groups improved, but the neurodynamic approach showed greater gains in pain and function.
• PTQualitative2022Doing things you never imagined: Professional and ethical issues in the U.S. outpatient physical therapy setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.Musculoskeletal science & practiceOutpatient physical therapists reported that safety measures like masking and distancing compromised their ability to use touch and communicate empathy. They faced ethical pressure to prioritize productivity over care quality, and struggled to manage patient conflicts over masks and vaccines.
• Cohort2022Niemann-Pick type C disease as proof-of-concept for intelligent biomarker panel selection in neurometabolic disorders.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA bloodspot biomarker panel accurately identified Niemann-Pick type C in a cohort of children with suspected neurometabolic disease. Using multiple markers together, rather than one alone, reduced false positives and distinguished affected patients from those with other genetic conditions.
• PTCohort2022Physical therapists and public perceptions of telerehabilitation: An online open survey on acceptability, preferences, and needs.Brazilian journal of physical therapyBrazilian therapists lacked confidence in telerehabilitation and doubted its effectiveness, while the public was willing to participate but feared losing hands-on correction. Both groups preferred videoconferencing and viewed remote care as a supplement, not a replacement.
• PTOther2022Applying patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in physiotherapy: an evaluation based on the QUALITOUCH Activity Index.Archives of physiotherapyPatients receiving physiotherapy reported less pain and easier household tasks over follow-ups in 11,948 patients. This dataset created diagnosis-specific reference ranges to compare individual progress, not evidence that any particular treatment caused improvement.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Age-related High-frequency Hearing Loss Is Not Associated With Horizontal Semicircular Canal Function.Ear and hearingHigh-frequency hearing loss did not predict horizontal semicircular canal function in adults aged 24 to 85. Hearing declined with age, but vestibular responses on caloric and vHIT testing did not. Do not assume age-related hearing loss implies horizontal canal dysfunction.
• PTOther2022Diastasis recti in the Beninese population: Cross-sectional study from normal values to diagnosis.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn Beninese postpartum women, a slack linea alba detected by palpation was linked to weaker abdominal muscles and endurance, even when the muscle gap measured by calipers was below the standard threshold for diastasis recti. Palpation should be used alongside gap measurement to identify women needing rehabilitation.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Barriers and Facilitators to the Adoption of Evidence-Based Interventions for Adults Within Occupational and Physical Therapy Practice Settings: A Systematic Review.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn occupational and physical therapy implementation studies, available resources were the most common barrier, and clinicians' knowledge and beliefs were the most common facilitator. Adoption barriers varied by setting, and the review did not test actual uptake.
• Other2023Validation of the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) 5.0 for use among youth in mental health services.Child: care, health and developmentThe TRAQ 5.0 works for youth in mental health services, but its 'Managing Daily Activities' subscale is unreliable. Clinicians should use the updated TRAQ 6.0, which removes that problematic section, to better assess transition readiness.
• PTOTPilot2023Combined Aerobic Exercise and Virtual Reality-Based Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Intervention for Chronic Stroke: Feasibility and Preliminary Effects on Physical Function and Quality of Life.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTen chronic stroke survivors completed 18 sessions of aerobic exercise plus virtual reality arm training with no dropouts. Arm impairment showed a small change that did not reach the clinical importance threshold, but aerobic capacity and self-reported strength improved substantially.
• OTOther2023Development and 5-year Evaluation of Diagnosis-Specific Protocols for Visual Neuro-Rehabilitation in a Multicenter Inpatient Rehabilitation Network.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationInpatient vision rehab protocols for hemineglect, field cuts, and nerve palsies were feasible for therapists and perceived beneficial for 63% of patients. This describes a service model and survey opinions. It does not prove the treatments work.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Effect of Postoperative Oral Intake Status on Sarcopenia Six Months After Esophageal Cancer Surgery.DysphagiaEsophageal cancer patients who needed tube feeding at discharge were more likely to develop sarcopenia six months after surgery. Low preoperative BMI and weak handgrip strength also predicted muscle loss. Clinicians should prioritize nutritional support and strength monitoring for these high-risk groups.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty predict somatic symptoms in autistic and non-autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults reported more physical symptoms than non-autistic peers, but this was not caused by autism itself. Instead, difficulty identifying emotions and intolerance of uncertainty predicted the symptoms. Treating these psychological traits may help reduce physical distress in autistic patients.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Brain volumes and functional outcomes in children without cerebral palsy after therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren without cerebral palsy after neonatal cooling had smaller whole-brain grey and white matter volumes than controls. Smaller hippocampal and thalamic volumes correlated with lower IQ and motor scores in these children. No significant differences remained when accounting for total brain size.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Factors Predicting Return to Work After Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Follow-up Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStroke survivors who viewed returning to work as important, had no language impairment, and scored well on walking and thinking tests at rehab discharge were more likely to return to work. Office workers and those with fewer other health problems also had higher odds.
• SLPRCT2023Improving Swallowing Function and Ability in Post Stroke Dysphagia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.DysphagiaAdding anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the supramarginal gyrus to standard behavioral therapy significantly improved swallowing function and ability in post-stroke dysphagia compared to sham stimulation. The real group showed greater gains in functional oral intake and swallowing ability scores at one-month follow-up.
• OTSystematic Review2023Proxy-reported sensory measures for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyOnly the Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire had clear evidence its caregiver questions were relevant, complete, and understandable for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Most other sensory questionnaires lacked this evidence, so check the evidence before using them.
• PTQualitative2023Patient Choice After Referral to Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain and Knee Osteoarthritis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationVeterans referred to physical therapy for back pain or knee osteoarthritis described appointment confusion, long waits, travel or work barriers, and doubts that physical therapists could diagnose or provide effective treatment as barriers to starting care.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023A Systematic Review of Outcomes Measured Following New Wheelchair and Seating-Prescription Interventions in Adults.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationWheelchair and seating studies mostly measured how much the device was used and user satisfaction. Goal attainment, cost, environmental factors and major life events were less commonly measured, and many tools were made just for each study.
• OTSLPQualitative2022Parents' perceptions of children's emotional well-being during spring 2020 COVID-19 restrictions: A qualitative study with parents of young children in England.Child: care, health and developmentParents of preschoolers in England described children losing sleep and having more tantrums when nursery closed. Some children bonded more with family. Parents struggled to create routines without external support. These are reported perceptions, not measured outcomes.
• SLPQualitative2022'I think that's what I heard? I'm not sure': Speech and language therapists' views of, and practices in, phonetic transcription.International journal of language & communication disordersGeneralist speech therapists often use broad transcription and refer complex cases to specialists. They report lacking confidence in narrow transcription and struggle with telehealth audio. Services rarely fund training or support recording tools, leaving transcription as a low priority.
• SLPSystematic Review2022A qualitative systematic review of the role of families in supporting communication in people with dementia.International journal of language & communication disordersFamilies with dementia shift roles to protect the person's identity, often becoming gatekeepers or interaction buffers. Helpful strategies include scaffolding comprehension and using non-verbal cues. Unhelpful habits like asking test questions or overcompensating cause breakdowns. These patterns inform family-centred speech therapy.
• SLPPilot2022Brief Report: A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of PEERS® for Adolescents Telehealth for Autistic Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adolescents who completed a 16-week social skills program online showed better social knowledge, more get-togethers, and lower caregiver-reported autistic symptoms. Without a control group, this pilot suggests feasibility but cannot confirm the treatment caused these changes.
• PTOther2022Prevalence of psychological symptoms and their correlates among physiotherapy clinical students: A cross-sectional study.The South African journal of physiotherapyMost physiotherapy students in Nigeria reported symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress. Financial worries, social isolation and fear of failing were linked to these symptoms. This is a screening survey, not a diagnostic study, so it cannot confirm clinical disorders.
• OTCohort2022Pathways to adaptive functioning in autism from early childhood to adolescence.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchHigher ADHD symptoms in early childhood and adolescence were associated with lower adaptive functioning in autistic teenagers. Autism social communication difficulties also predicted lower functioning, but behavioral and emotional problems did not.
• PTOther2022Perceptions of students and educators regarding a once-off pre-clinical ICU simulation activity.The South African journal of physiotherapyStudents rated a single high-fidelity ICU simulation as highly relevant and confidence-building. Educators observed improved handling skills and confidence in suction and manual hyperinflation, but noted that equipment shortages and supervisor experience often block transfer to real practice.
• PTOTNarrative Review2022Spreading the word: pediatric pain education from treatment to prevention.Archives of physiotherapyPain education for children shows mixed early results, with some studies finding improvements in knowledge and fear, while others showed no change in pain intensity. It is currently an emerging field requiring further high-quality trials.
• PTOTSLPOther2022A perspective on the use of the cervical flexion rotation test in the physical therapy management of cervicogenic headaches.Archives of physiotherapyThe cervical flexion-rotation test is unreliable for diagnosing cervicogenic headache because its reference standard is flawed. Use it instead to track upper neck movement loss and guide manual therapy, not to confirm the diagnosis.
• SLPQualitative2022The perspectives of Australian speech pathologists in providing evidence-based practices to children with autism.International journal of language & communication disordersAustralian speech pathologists working in private practice rarely read journal articles, citing time and cost. They rely heavily on colleagues, workshops, and social media for evidence, often accepting imperfect sources. Outcome measurement is hindered by client diversity and poor stakeholder collaboration, with data collection frequently delegated to parents and teachers.
• SLPNarrative Review2022Implementation Science: Increasing the Public Health Impact of Audiology Research.American journal of audiologyNo original study results are reported. This audiology tutorial introduces implementation science concepts and cites other studies.
• SLPOther2022Autistic people outperform neurotypicals in a cartoon version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults matched neurotypicals on the standard Reading the Mind in the Eyes test but outperformed them on a cartoon version. Neurotypicals scored worse on cartoons, while autistic performance remained consistent across both formats.
• SLPOther2022The Acoustics of Instant Ear Tips and Their Implications for Hearing-Aid Fitting.Ear and hearingInstant ear tips vary widely in how much they block sound, depending on the tip type and the user's ear canal. Open tips reduce occlusion but leak low-frequency gain. Closed tips fit better acoustically but feel more plugged. Real ear verification is essential to match the patient's needs.
• PTOther2023Exploring Physical Activity During the Discharge Transition Phase in People With Acquired Brain Injury-An Observational Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEight people with acquired brain injury wore accelerometers around discharge. Daily active time was 5:49 hours. Five who had both hospital and home data showed a walking dip within 1 or 2 days after discharge, then some recovered.
• PTOTOther2023A core outcome set for lower limb orthopaedic surgery for children with cerebral palsy: An international multi-stakeholder consensus study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyInternational consensus identified 19 outcomes across 8 domains to measure after lower limb surgery in children with cerebral palsy. These include pain, walking, independence, and self-esteem. Adverse events and assistive device use were excluded from the core set.
• SLPOther2023Tongue and Lip Acceleration as a Measure of Speech Decline in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Tongue acceleration variability correlates with speech decline in ALS, explaining up to 32% of variance. This measure detects motor control issues earlier than standard speed or displacement metrics, offering a precise tool for monitoring bulbar function.
• PTCase Series2023Robotic-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT) in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStroke patients who received robotic gait training with an exoskeleton or end-effector plus conventional stroke rehabilitation had improved walking test scores, but the study was small, non-randomized, and cannot separate device effects from usual care.
• SLPNarrative Review2023COVID-19 and Dysphagia in Children: A Review.DysphagiaThis paper is a review of existing reports, not a study of patients. It describes how dysphagia may occur in children with MIS-C or after intubation, but it contains no original data to verify these risks or test any interventions.
• PTOTCohort2023Longitudinal development of hand use in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy from 18 months to 18 years.Developmental medicine and child neurologyHand function in unilateral CP stabilizes around age 7 and remains steady through adolescence. Higher-functioning children reach their plateau earlier, but all groups maintain their bimanual ability. Regular follow-ups are essential because individual variation remains large.
• PTNarrative Review2023Assisted reproductive technology: Short- and long-term outcomes.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMultiple embryo transfer and preterm birth carry the clearest neurodevelopmental risk in ART-conceived children, not ART alone. Neurodevelopmental outcomes are mostly reassuring.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Self-determination of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFor people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, preferences may be shown through body movements, sounds, facial expressions, or turning away. The review asks clinicians to learn each person's signals with trusted supporters, not assume speech is needed for self-determination.
• SLPCohort2023Using Mahalanobis Distances to Investigate Second Dialect Acquisition: A Study on Quebec French.Language and speechNewcomers to Quebec City subtly shifted their vowel pronunciation toward local norms over one year, even when starting with no obvious accent difference. The changes were small and uneven, proving dialect adaptation begins as fine-grained acoustic drift rather than sudden, obvious mimicry.