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 484 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Use of the Digital Assistant Vigo in the Home Environment for Stroke Recovery: Focus Group Discussion With Specialists Working in Neurorehabilitation.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesSpecialists said this stroke home app suited only a small group of patients. They wanted therapist assessment, adjustable exercises, voice or video instead of chat text, and caregiver support.
• OTSLPQualitative2023Summative content analysis of the recommendations from Project ECHO Ontario Autism.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesProject ECHO Ontario Autism recommendations most often advised clinicians to connect families with community supports and make referrals, including occupational therapy and speech-language pathology. These are recommendation topics, not tested outcomes.
• PTCase Report2023Long-term body-weight-supported treadmill training for incomplete cervical spinal cord injury: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne man with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury received home body-weight-supported treadmill training plus usual physiotherapy for over ten years. Leg strength and body-weight support improved or held, then worsened. This is one person, not proof the training works.
• SLPOther2023The Test of Mastication and Swallowing Solids and the Timed Water Swallow Test: Reliability, associations, age and gender effects, and normative data.International journal of language & communication disordersHealthy adults who took longer to drink 150 ml of water also took longer to eat a cracker, and those who used more swallows on one test used more on the other. These tests provide age and gender norms, not proof of a swallowing disorder.
• Pilot2023ADEPT-CARE: A pilot, student-led initiative to improve care for persons with disabilities via a novel teaching tool.Disability and health journalMedical students exposed to a disability-focused teaching tool were more likely to have a consistent strategy for assessing disabled patients. However, their self-reported confidence in providing equal quality of care did not significantly improve, and the study did not test actual clinical skills.
• PTOTQualitative2023Addressing racism in the workplace through simulation: So much to unlearn.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTherapists described an anti-racism simulation as clarifying how to interrupt microaggressions, but admitted they still fear damaging colleague relationships. They valued having specific phrases ready, noting that speaking up feels risky even when silence harms patient care.
• SLPQualitative2022Deaf Student-Interpreter Relationships and Feedback Practices in K-12 Mainstream Deaf Education.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationDeaf students and interpreters said a trusting personal relationship made interpreted school work more usable. Without training in giving feedback, many students preferred raising concerns through a coordinator rather than telling the interpreter directly.
• RCT2022The effectiveness of an attention-based intervention for school-aged autistic children with anger regulating problems: A randomized controlled trial.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAn attention-based anger intervention reduced temper tantrums and arguing in autistic children, as seen by parents. It did not reduce physical violence or destruction, nor improve teacher-rated aggression, child-reported coping, or secondary outcomes like parental stress and quality of life.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2022Synthesising existing research on complicated grief in intellectual disability: findings from a systematic review.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRComplicated grief affects one-third of bereaved adults with intellectual disability. Symptoms often start late and separation distress dominates. Carers underestimate this pain. Self-report scales detect more symptoms than proxy reports. No evidence-based treatments exist yet.
• SLPOther2022Moment-to-Moment Processing of Complex Sentences by Adults with and without Developmental Language Disorder.Journal of communication disordersAdults with developmental language disorder understood complex sentences as accurately as typical peers, but their moment-to-moment listening times differed. They were less influenced by noun expectations, and their verbal working memory scores were lower.
• SLPOther2022Language Contact, Language Ecology, and Intonational Variation in the Yami Community.Language and speechThis paper describes how Yami speakers' question intonation shifts when they are bilingual in Mandarin. It is a linguistic analysis of sound change and identity. It does not evaluate any therapy, diagnostic tool, or clinical outcome.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Association between early and current gastro-intestinal symptoms and co-morbidities in children and adolescents with Angelman syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRIn children with Angelman syndrome, current frequent gastrointestinal symptoms are strongly linked to a history of gastroesophageal reflux and night-time urinary incontinence. Excessive night-time sweating also predicts these symptoms. Clinicians should investigate GI issues when patients present with these specific co-morbidities.
• OTCohort2022Sensory processing in 16p11.2 deletion and 16p11.2 duplication.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with 16p11.2 deletion or duplication often had sensory differences similar to autistic children, especially body position and not noticing sensory input. Scores varied widely, so assess each child's sensory profile rather than assume one pattern.
• OTSLPCase-Control2022Reexamining empathy in autism: Empathic disequilibrium as a novel predictor of autism diagnosis and autistic traits.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults reported an imbalance between emotional and cognitive empathy, specifically higher emotional empathy than cognitive empathy. This pattern predicted autism diagnosis and social traits more strongly than total empathy alone. The findings challenge the view that autism is characterized by a lack of empathy.
• SLPCohort2022Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross-sectional findings.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOver two to three years, autistic adults had smaller average hippocampal volumes and faster decline than neurotypical adults. In the same group, 33% showed clinically meaningful short-term verbal memory decline, compared with 4% of neurotypical adults.
• PTOTCohort2022The five times sit-to-stand test: safety, validity and reliability with critical care survivors's at ICU discharge.Archives of physiotherapyThe Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test is safe and highly reliable for high-functioning ICU survivors, but only 30% could perform it. A time over 23.5 seconds predicted ICU readmission with 99% sensitivity, identifying patients at risk for longer stays and poorer function.
• PTOTPilot2023Relative and absolute reliability of gait variables obtained from gait analysis with trunk acceleration in community-dwelling individuals with chronic stroke: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceTrunk acceleration sensors reliably track gait changes in chronic stroke patients, especially during fast walking. Clinicians can trust small improvements measured this way, as the sensor noise is low enough to distinguish real progress from measurement error.
• PTOther2023Effects of low-level laser therapy on inflammatory symptoms in an arthritis rat model.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn rats with induced arthritis, seven days of low-level laser therapy reduced knee swelling and pain sensitivity compared to untreated arthritis. This animal study does not provide evidence for human treatment, but suggests laser therapy may help limit acute inflammatory pain and hyperalgesia.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Development of simple descriptions of the ICF Generic-30 Set in different languages: laying the foundation for an ICF-based clinical tool for Europe.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe ICF Generic-30 Set now has language-specific simple descriptions for Croatian, Flemish/Dutch, Greek, Polish and Turkish. These versions were developed by rehabilitation experts to make the tool usable in local clinical settings.
• PTOTOther2023Psychometric properties of Upper-body Dressing Scale in people with stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineTiming how long it takes a stroke patient to put on a shirt distinguishes them from healthy adults with high accuracy. The standard score failed to do this because patients with good cognition needed no help. Use the time taken, not the cue count, to track recovery.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Effects of water exercise on body composition and components of metabolic syndrome in older females with sarcopenic obesity.Journal of physical therapy scienceWater exercise reduced leg body fat in older women with sarcopenic obesity but did not increase muscle mass or improve metabolic syndrome markers. Knee extension strength increased in both groups. Do not expect body composition or metabolic changes from water exercise alone.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Satisfaction analysis of overground gait exoskeletons in people with neurological pathology. a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAcross 23 studies, people with stroke, spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis reported generally positive satisfaction with overground gait exoskeletons, especially safety, efficacy and comfort. Fitting, removal, weight, size and ease of use were the weakest points.
• PTCase Series2023Changes in physical function and ambulatory state after Achilles tendon lengthening for diabetic foot ulcers.Journal of physical therapy scienceGait independence scores did not change after Achilles tendon lengthening, hospitalization, physical therapy, and foot off-loading in 10 patients, although ankle dorsiflexion rose from 3.0 to 13.5 degrees and plantar load fell from 11.5 to 9.3 kgf.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Possible solutions to enhance evidence-based practice proposed by rehabilitation professionals in Japan: a Delphi study.Journal of physical therapy scienceJapanese PTs, OTs, and STs agreed on 10 ways to promote evidence-based practice, such as communication skills, accessible guidelines, continuous support, flexible training, and observing clinicians using it. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• SLPQualitative2023The oral language and emergent literacy skills of preschoolers: Early childhood teachers' self-reported role, knowledge and confidence.International journal of language & communication disordersEarly childhood teachers felt confident supporting literacy but unsure about language milestones. This uncertainty made them reluctant to raise concerns with parents. They reported limited practical training in language development, relying instead on collegial support and personal experience.
• SLPOther2023Dutch translation and validation of the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB)-short form.International journal of language & communication disordersThe Dutch short form of the Communicative Participation Item Bank is a reliable 10-question tool for adults with speech disorders. It measures communicative participation separately from speech handicap, giving therapists a specific view of social involvement.
• PTRCT2023Unilateral Strength Training after Total Knee Arthroplasty Leads to Similar or Better Effects on Strength and Flexibility than Bilateral Strength Training - A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineUnilateral strength training after knee replacement worked as well as bilateral training for the operated leg, but improved flexibility more and strength in the healthy leg. Both groups gained function. The study was small, so treat this as a promising option rather than proof.
• PTNarrative Review2023Evidence for the Efficacy of Commercially Available Wearable Biofeedback Gait Devices: Consumer-Centered Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesMost commercially available wearable biofeedback gait devices have little published efficacy evidence. Only 4 of 11 had small studies. Websites often rely on testimonials and claim benefits for groups not tested.
• PTCase Report2023Short-term effects of pedaling exercise combined with integrated volitional control electrical stimulation in an older patient hospitalized for subacute stroke: ABA single-case design.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn one older subacute stroke patient, stride consistency and sideways trunk sway changed most during the pedaling plus IVES phase; other trunk sway measures changed most during pedaling alone. This single case cannot show the treatment works.
• PTOther2023Fundamental motor skill proficiency among 7- to 10-year-old children with Down syndrome.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 7- to 10-year-olds, children with Down syndrome scored much lower than matched peers on running, jumping, throwing and catching skills, with movement age of three to four years.
• SLPCohort2023Lidcombe Program translation to community clinics in Australia and England.International journal of language & communication disordersCommunity speech therapists in Australia and England achieved stuttering reduction outcomes similar to those in randomized trials. Interestingly, clinicians who deviated from the treatment manual due to workplace pressures still achieved these results at 9 months. This suggests the Lidcombe Program is robust to therapist drift in the short term.
• PTOTQualitative2023"Kind of empowered": Perceptions of socio-emotional development in children driving ride-on cars.Rehabilitation psychologyCaregivers described ride-on cars as helping their children feel empowered and equal to peers. They viewed the cars as a fun toy rather than a medical device, which reduced stigma and allowed for more natural social interaction and autonomy.
• SLPOther2023Development of a holistic communication score (HoCoS) in patients treated for oral or oropharyngeal cancer: Preliminary validation.International journal of language & communication disordersA new 24-item self-report score captured communication problems after oral or oropharyngeal cancer. In 25 patients it matched a separate communication-impact grouping, but it needs testing in more patients before routine use.
• SLPOther2022Separate scoring algorithms for specific identification priorities optimize the screening properties of the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers (STAT).Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAdding examiner ratings of social engagement and atypical behavior to the STAT screening tool increased sensitivity for identifying autism risk in two-year-olds. This approach helps catch more at-risk children but lowers specificity, meaning more false positives.
• SLPCohort2022Replication study for ADOS-2 cut-offs to assist evaluation of autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchADOS-2 cut-offs rarely miss autism but wrongly flag many non-autistic children. Nearly one third of the non-ASD group were misclassified. Do not rely on ADOS-2 scores alone to diagnose. Combine them with clinical history and other assessments to avoid false positives.
• SLPQualitative2022Serving young children with communication disabilities from Latinx backgrounds and their families with equity: Provider perspectives.Journal of communication disordersProviders serving Latinx children struggle with standardized tests that misidentify language difference as disorder. They rely on family reports and clinical experience to bridge the gap, but face systemic barriers like lack of interpreters, insufficient training, and agency requirements that prioritize test scores over accurate diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Dietary intake in children on the autism spectrum is altered and linked to differences in autistic traits and sensory processing styles.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism ate lower-quality diets than their siblings and unrelated peers, with less variety and more nutrient-poor foods. However, siblings shared some poor habits, and sensory hypersensitivity or seeking was linked to healthier eating, suggesting family and sensory factors drive diet more than diagnosis alone.
• SLPNarrative Review2022Research to Advance Health and Health Care Equity for People With Communication Disabilities: An Overview of Research Symposium Papers.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRThere is no clinical finding to act on. This overview introduces symposium papers on communication disability equity and reports no original methods, participants, or outcomes.
• SLPSurvey2022Associations between co-occurring conditions and age of autism diagnosis: Implications for mental health training and adult autism research.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults diagnosed at 21 or older reported more lifetime psychiatric diagnoses than those diagnosed in childhood. They also reported fewer language delays or speech articulation problems. Do not use absent language or speech problems to rule out autism.
• OTSurvey2022The relationship between subjective socioeconomic status and health in adults with and without intellectual disability.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdults with intellectual disability rated their social position lower (median rung 4 vs 6). Higher ladder scores were associated with better self-rated health only in proxy-reported participants. Employment, not ladder scores, was associated with better health-related quality of life in both intellectual disability groups.
• Cohort2022Maternal risk factors vary between subpopulations of children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism grouped by co-occurring conditions were associated with different maternal pregnancy claim patterns. The patterns were mostly unique, so these findings do not tell therapists how to treat a child.
• PTOTCase-Control2023Physical functions associated with health-related quality of life in older adults diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn older adults awaiting knee surgery, slow sit-to-stand and walking speed tracked lower physical and social quality of life, but not mental well-being. Pain on joint loading also correlated with poorer physical quality of life. Assess these specific functions to target rehab.
• SLPOther2023The impact of developmental language disorder in a defendant's description on mock jurors' perceptions and judgements.International journal of language & communication disordersTelling mock jurors a defendant had developmental language disorder did not change guilty verdicts or sentence length. It did make jurors view him as more honest, likeable and less blameworthy, but also as having worse cognitive ability.
• PTOTCohort2023Reliability and validity of the Hebrew version of the International Spinal Cord Injury Activities and Participation Basic Data Set.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 47 people with spinal cord injury, the Hebrew activities and participation questionnaire gave similar answers when repeated, and self-care scores tracked disability well. Mobility, occupation, and relationship scores were less dependable, so interpret those parts cautiously.
• Other2023Toward deeper understanding and wide-scale implementation of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThis paper is a theoretical commentary, not a study. It explains what NDBIs are and how to use them, but reports no new patient data or outcomes. There is no finding here to change your clinical practice.
• SLPSurvey2023The impact of a positive autism identity and autistic community solidarity on social anxiety and mental health in autistic young people.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFeeling positive about being autistic linked to better mental health, but did not significantly reduce social anxiety once autism traits were accounted for. Solidarity with other autistic people improved well-being but had no effect on social anxiety. Self-reported autism traits were the strongest predictor of social anxiety.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Perceived shared decision-making among patients undergoing lower-limb amputation and their care teams: A qualitative study.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalPatients with lower-limb amputation often felt excluded from decisions about whether to amputate or at what level. Providers recognized the value of shared decision-making but cited patient illness and emotional distress as barriers. Patients valued clear, sensitive communication.
• Narrative Review2023State-of-the-art therapies for Rett syndrome.Developmental medicine and child neurologyRett syndrome has no cure. This review says current treatments only relieve symptoms, while gene replacement, gene editing and X-chromosome reactivation are preclinical strategies that need more work.
• PTOther2023Mechanical adaptations in walking using carbon fiber ankle foot orthoses for patients with peripheral artery disease.Gait & postureCarbon fiber ankle foot orthoses immediately reduced ankle motion and push-off power during self-paced walking in PAD with calf claudication. Walking speed and calf muscle recruitment did not change, and 12 weeks of practice did not alter these effects.
• PTCohort2023Online monitoring of focal spasticity treatment with botulinum toxin in people with chronic stroke or hereditary spastic paraplegia: a feasibility study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA smartphone app for daily spasticity self-report was feasible for hereditary spastic paraplegia, median adherence 63%, but much harder for stroke, median 20%. Users valued graphs; clinicians wanted tailored items and integration with records.