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 511 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTQualitative2024Physical rehabilitation for people with advanced dementia who fracture their hip - expert consensus process.Disability and rehabilitationExperts agreed that rehab for advanced dementia after hip fracture is less about exercise and more about setting the scene. They prioritized managing pain, nutrition, and hydration, plus ensuring safety and comfort, before attempting any physical movement.
• Other2024Development of an ontology to characterize mental functioning.Disability and rehabilitationThis paper outlines a new classification system for mental functioning to help software read medical records for disability claims. It does not test any therapy or report patient outcomes, so it offers no evidence to change clinical treatment.
• PTOTCohort2024Orthosis use and ambulation in adults with myelomeningocele after orthotic management from childhood.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalAdults with myelomeningocele who received intensive orthotic management from childhood showed high rates of continued orthosis use and ambulation. Orthosis types shifted frequently as patients grew, with most adults maintaining some form of mobility support.
• SLPCase Series2023Exploring the Efficacy of the Effortful Swallow Maneuver for Improving Swallowing in People With Parkinson Disease-A Pilot Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationResponses to four weeks of effortful swallow practice, tongue-pressure feedback, and liquid-thickening instruction were mixed in five people with Parkinson disease who completed the program. Some safety scores improved, but no consistent pattern emerged.
• OTOther2023A Digital Box and Block Test for Hand Dexterity Measurement: Instrument Validation Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesA digital hand dexterity box scored lower than the standard Box and Block Test and did not track it closely in healthy adults. It may help automate timing and counting, but it is not yet tested in patients.
• PTMeta-Analysis2023Erector Spinae Muscle Activation During Forward Movement in Individuals With or Without Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAdults with chronic low back pain showed higher erector spinae muscle activity during forward walking or running than healthy adults. Seven case-control studies found the same direction, but the studies do not show pain caused the change.
• PTOTPilot2023Effects of Real-Time Pressure Map Feedback on Confidence in Pressure Management in Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury: Pilot Intervention Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesReal-time pressure feedback significantly improved wheelchair users' confidence in knowing how far to lean to relieve pressure. It did not improve confidence in performing weight shifts frequently or for long enough. Standard education alone also increased confidence in preventing skin breakdown.
• PTOTOther2023Going beyond PA: Assessing sensorimotor capacity with wearables in multiple sclerosis-a cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSmartwatch data from 90 people with MS linked movement patterns to clinical severity, but not reliably to specific upper-limb skills. One metric tracked grip strength independently of disability scores, while others mixed activity volume with ability.
• PTOTRCT2023Rehabilitation therapy using the HUBER platform in chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineHUBER platform exercises did not improve trunk strength more than standard rehab, the primary outcome was null. However, patients using the platform reported significantly less disability. Both groups improved, but the platform's specific benefit was on self-reported function, not measured strength.
• PTOTOther2023"The Days Are Long But the Nights Are Even Longer": A Mixed-Method Study of Sleep Disturbances Among Patients in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Program.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients on an inpatient rehabilitation ward reported significantly poorer sleep than before admission, with 75% classified as poor sleepers. However, sleep quality did not predict functional recovery speed. Staff identified noise, pain, and lack of routine sleep assessments as key barriers.
• PTOTCohort2023Predictive factors for home discharge after femoral fracture surgery: a prospective cohort study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFemale sex, higher preoperative cognition, more physiotherapy sessions, higher exercise self-efficacy, and caregiver availability predicted home discharge after hip fracture surgery. These factors identified patients likely to return home versus needing institutional care.
• PTSurvey2023Risk Factors Associated With Suicidal Ideation in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAmong 246 people with chronic spinal cord injury, 27 reported thoughts of self-harm in the last 2 weeks, and 6 of those had a plan. Higher depressive symptoms, lower resilience, and lower physical independence were linked to these thoughts.
• PTOTCase Report2023A Case Report Illustrating the Combined Use of Cryoneurolysis and Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy in the Treatment of Longstanding Spastic Shoulder Contractures After Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn a single stroke patient with longstanding pectoralis contracture, chest nerve freezing gave an immediate 20 degree increase in shoulder range, and at 8 weeks after also freezing leg nerves and cutting chest tendon she reported easier dressing, less pain, and better walking.
• PTCase Report2023Comprehensive Assessment of the Activity Level of the ICF Using Both Capacity and Performance Measures: A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTracking daily steps with a smartwatch helped a patient with Susac syndrome identify barriers like anxiety and sleep. This guided a self-management plan that improved walking speed and endurance over 4 months.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Electromagnetic radiation therapy for Parkinson's disease tremor reduction- systematic reviews and Bayesian meta-analyses for comparing the effectiveness of electric, magnetic and light stimulation methods.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLight, magnetic, and electrical stimulation all reduced Parkinson's tremor in pooled analyses. However, the evidence relies on small studies with mixed designs. The authors state these results should not guide clinical practice yet.
• PTOTCohort2023Baseline Characteristics and Outcomes for People With and Without COVID-19 Diagnoses Receiving Inpatient Rehabilitation Care Across the US in 2020-2021.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients with COVID-19 diagnoses in inpatient rehabilitation were more medically complex, stayed longer, and were less likely to go home, but they made larger mobility and self-care gains and had similar fall rates.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023The diagnostic value of physical examination tests in adhesive capsulitis: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNo single physical exam test reliably diagnoses adhesive capsulitis. Coracoid Pain Test and Distension Test showed high accuracy in initial studies but results were inconsistent or unreproduced, leaving clinicians without a definitive bedside diagnostic tool.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Finding functionality: Rasch analysis of the Functionality Appreciation Scale in community-dwelling adults in the US.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe Functionality Appreciation Scale measures one single trait, but it is too easy for most healthy adults. Many score the maximum, so the test cannot tell the difference between someone with high appreciation and someone with moderate appreciation.
• PTCase Report2023A Case Report of Cryoneurolysis for Dorsal Foot Pain and Toe Clawing in a Patient With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn one patient with MS, cryoneurolysis of the FDL motor branch and superficial fibular nerve relieved dorsal foot pain and toe clawing for five and a half months. Symptoms returned, requiring retreatment. This is a single case, not proof the treatment works for others.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation for dysphagia patients during recovery stage of stroke: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFor stroke patients with swallowing difficulties, adding four weeks of intermittent theta-burst stimulation to standard therapy improved swallowing function more than sham stimulation. This benefit held for both supratentorial and brainstem strokes, while continuous theta-burst stimulation showed inconsistent effects depending on stroke location.
• PTOTRCT2023Assessing walking ability using a robotic gait trainer: opportunities and limitations of assist-as-needed control in spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA robotic gait trainer's knee support level during swing predicted walking speed in ambulatory SCI patients. However, the model failed for non-ambulatory and able-bodied users, and reliability was poor due to learning effects. It is not yet ready for clinical assessment.
• PTOTProtocol2023The Critical Period After Stroke Study (CPASS) Upper Extremity Treatment Protocol.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationForty-nine participants completed at least 15 hours of a 20-hour upper-extremity shaping protocol within 42 days after stroke, mostly in outpatient settings, using activities they chose for daily life.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Available Assistive Technology Outcome Measures: Systematic Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAssistive technology outcome measures are numerous but unevenly used. Most tools cover wheelchairs and function, while satisfaction, communication, participation, and caregiver burden are assessed with fewer, less common measures. Choose a tool matched to the device and outcome.
• OTQualitative2024What is the Meaning of Paid Employment for Well-Being? A Focus Group Study on Differences and Similarities Between Autistic Adults With and Without Employment.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAutistic adults said paid work can support well-being through recognition, purpose, contact, structure and income, but also said work can cause burnout. Not having paid work was linked to shame and exclusion; disability benefits brought relief but also fear of losing them.
• SLPOther2024Clinical feeding assessment: An effective screening test to predict aspiration in children in low resource settings.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA clinical feeding assessment is a sensitive screening tool for aspiration in children. A negative result reliably rules out aspiration, allowing clinicians to avoid invasive instrumental testing. However, a positive result has low specificity, meaning many children are falsely flagged and require further evaluation.
• PTCohort2024Management of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria and Urinary Tract Infections in Patients With Neurogenic Bladder and Factors Associated With Inappropriate Diagnosis and Treatment.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn veterans with neurogenic bladder, over a third of UTI diagnoses were actually asymptomatic bacteriuria treated with unnecessary antibiotics. Nearly half of true UTIs received inappropriate treatment, often broad-spectrum drugs. Patients seen by rehab specialists had lower rates of errors.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Graded motor imagery and its phases for individuals with phantom limb pain following amputation: A scoping review.Clinical rehabilitationMost research on graded motor imagery for phantom limb pain tests only mirror therapy, not the full three-phase protocol. Dosing varies wildly with no standard best practice, and evidence for the complete three-phase approach is extremely limited.
• Narrative Review2023Activity based restorative therapy considerations for children: medical and therapeutic perspectives for the pediatric population.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper reviews Activity Based Rehabilitation for children with spinal cord injury, emphasizing high-intensity, play-based therapy. It presents two case examples showing functional gains but provides no controlled evidence that this approach outperforms standard care.
• PTOther2023Automated calibration of somatosensory stimulation using reinforcement learning.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe AI tool matched an expert on mapping time and sensation quality, but used fewer stimulations and was faster than the inexperienced and brute-force methods. It was tested in a small group of healthy and neuropathic people, so it is not proof of patient benefit.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Effect of oxygen therapy duration on cognitive impairment 12 months after hospitalization for SARS-COV-2 infection.Journal of rehabilitation medicineShorter oxygen therapy during acute hospitalization predicted persistent cognitive impairment at 1 year. A Mini-Mental State Examination score below 28 at 3 months also flagged this risk, though patients often lacked awareness of their deficits.
• PTOTCohort2023Intermittent self-catheterization training and effects on treatment adherence and infection.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineWhether patients learned self-catheterization immediately or a day later did not change adherence or complications over 12 months. However, patients who skipped or added catheterizations had significantly more urinary tract infections, and those with multiple sclerosis had higher infection rates and poorer technique.
• PTOTCohort2023Unraveling the interplay between daily life fatigue and physical activity after subarachnoid hemorrhage: an ecological momentary assessment and accelerometry study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter subarachnoid hemorrhage, fatigue and movement tracked each other in daily life. When participants moved more than usual, fatigue rose soon after; when fatigue rose, they moved less soon after. These are daily associations, not tested treatment effects.
• PTOTOther2023Visual Exploration While Walking With and Without Visual Cues in Parkinson's Disease: Freezer Versus Non-Freezer.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairVisual cues like floor lines improved gait in people with Parkinson's, regardless of whether they had freezing of gait. Eye-tracking showed cues made people look more frequently but with slower, shorter eye movements, suggesting the brain works harder to focus on the cue.
• PTOTOther2023A robot-based interception task to quantify upper limb impairments in proprioceptive and visual feedback after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA robot-based task revealed that most stroke survivors have impaired rapid motor corrections, even in their unaffected arm. The task detected deficits that standard clinical scales missed, suggesting therapists should assess feedback processing separately from basic strength or movement range.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Virtual Reality for Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Comprehensive Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThis review of 32 studies suggests virtual reality can help with breathing exercises for anxiety and lung conditions. Most participants reported feeling more relaxed and better able to control their breathing. However, the studies were small, short-term, and mixed healthy people with patients, so this is not proof that VR works as a standalone treatment.
• OTOther2023Psychometric Assessment of the Swedish version of the Work Ability Index in Patients with Chronic Pain in Specialized Care.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFor patients with chronic pain in specialized care, the Swedish Work Ability Index worked best as one overall score. Its single work-ability item tracked the full index closely, so it may serve as a quick stand-in.
• PTOTCohort2023Myoelectric Arm Orthosis Assists Functional Activities: A 3-Month Home Use Outcome Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFirst-time MyoPro users with chronic stroke completed grasp and transfer tasks faster and more successfully with the device than without it over three months. Task improvement was not linear, and the study did not control for the amount of therapy each participant received.
• PTOther2023PROClass: The Development and Validation of a Novel Prosthetic Component Sophistication Classification System.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA new system sorted prosthetic feet and knees into basic, intermediate, or advanced from prescription records. In 30 cases, experts and trained assistants agreed almost perfectly, but it does not show better components improve mobility.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Effectiveness of the "Evidence-Based Scientific Exercise Guidelines" in Increasing Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cardiometabolic Health, and Muscle Strength in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAerobic exercise did not significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness in acute spinal cord injury. However, functional electrical stimulation cycling reduced muscle loss and increased lean body mass. Strength training improved peak torque and perceived function. These interventions appear safe but evidence remains limited.
• PTPilot2023Development of an Elliptical Perturbation System that provides unexpected perturbations during elliptical walking (the EPES system).Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe EPES prototype elliptical perturbation system and camera software detected shoulder and trunk balance responses in two young adults. It does not show that training reduces falls in older adults.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Gait analysis comparison between manual marking, 2D pose estimation algorithms, and 3D marker-based system.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOpenPose tracked knee angles accurately but failed at the ankle. Kinovea was consistent but slow and biased. MediaPipe was too inaccurate for gait analysis. No tool replaced the 3D marker system, though OpenPose is a promising, faster alternative for knee motion.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Developing a serious game for gaze stability rehabilitation in children with vestibular hypofunction.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with vestibular hypofunction found a new gaze-stability video game safe and highly satisfying. Their vision during head movements and balance scores improved, but the study combined the game with standard physiotherapy, so the game's specific effect cannot be separated.
• OTCase Report2023Serotonin Syndrome Precipitated by Amantadine in a Patient With Persistent Post Concussive Symptoms - A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA 22-year-old with persistent post-concussive symptoms developed serotonin syndrome 10 days after starting amantadine while taking duloxetine, bupropion, gabapentin, and receiving botulinum toxin. Symptoms resolved after stopping amantadine and bupropion and lowering duloxetine. This is one case, not proof amantadine caused it.
• PTOther2023Effects of ankle-foot orthosis on gait pattern and spatiotemporal indices during treadmill walking in hemiparetic stroke.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationTreadmill walking with an ankle-foot orthosis reduced forefoot contact, circumduction and contralateral vaulting in 40 people with hemiparesis after stroke, but increased excessive hip external rotation. Only the double-stance timing asymmetry changed among timing and step measures.
• Other2023Anti-Nogo-A Antibody Therapy Improves Functional Outcome Following Traumatic Brain Injury.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairRats given anti-Nogo-A antibody after brain injury recovered skilled reaching and walking better than controls. Recovery appeared at six weeks, linked to new nerve connections crossing the brain midline. This is animal data only; no human evidence exists.
• PTOther2023Virtual reality-enhanced walking in people post-stroke: effect of optic flow speed and level of immersion on the gait biomechanics.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHead-mounted VR during treadmill walking changed post-stroke gait: slower cadence, longer stride time and longer unaffected stance. Optic flow speed altered walking speed, but changes were small and short-lived.
• PTOther2023A guide to inter-joint coordination characterization for discrete movements: a comparative study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNo single motion-capture metric was clearly best for upper-limb joint coordination. Angle-angle plots and timing measures can distinguish strategies, but results depend on task, data size, and angle extraction.
• Other2023Emerging theory of sensitization in post-stroke muscle spasticity.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper proposes that muscle sensitization drives post-stroke spasticity. It reviews evidence for shockwave therapy and dry needling but presents no original data. It offers a theory for why these treatments might work, not proof that they do.
• SLPSystematic Review2024A scoping review of research on potential impact of implicit bias in healthcare settings for children with acquired brain injuries.Rehabilitation psychologyThree studies of children under three with brain injuries found racial disparities in how suspected abuse was evaluated. Minority children were screened more often for abuse, while white children’s abuse was missed more often. This suggests provider bias may affect diagnosis.
• PTOTSurvey2024Clinician perspectives on postamputation pain assessment and rehabilitation interventions.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalMost clinicians use pain intensity scales but lack tools to measure how pain affects function. They report that patient openness and motivation drive engagement with non-drug therapies like mirror therapy, while poor compliance and belief in the treatment are common barriers to success.