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 519 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2024Patient Outcomes After Peripheral Nerve Injury Depend on Bimanual Dexterity and Preserved Use of the Affected Hand.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairBetter patient outcomes after hand nerve injury depend on dexterity in the non-dominant hand and continued use of the affected hand. Standard tests miss hand dominance, so clinicians should assess both hands separately and encourage using the injured hand.
• Other2024Relevance and use of health policy, health systems and health services research for strengthening rehabilitation in real-life settings: methodological considerations.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThis paper reports no original methods or results, so there is no finding to change clinical practice.
• SLPNarrative Review2024Methodologies for assessing morphosyntactic ability in people with Alzheimer's disease.International journal of language & communication disordersThe method used to assess language structure in Alzheimer's disease changes what is found. Narrative speech tasks often show simplified but relatively preserved structure, while structured tasks and offline comprehension tests often show deficits, and memory demands remain debated.
• PTCohort2024Quality of Life in Children With Achondroplasia Undergoing Paired Limb Lengthening With an External Fixator and Modified Distraction Control: Observational Nonrandomized Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesChildren with a rod fixator reported less pain and a smaller drop in physical activity and mood early after limb lengthening. By 6 and 18 months, both fixator groups reported similar quality of life.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024The Life After Stroke In Northern Sweden Study (LASINS): Methodology, cohort demographics and initial results.NeuroRehabilitationStroke survivors in northern Sweden, averaging three years post-stroke, mostly reported mild to moderate recovery. They completed a comprehensive survey on sleep, mood, fatigue, and activity, establishing a baseline for future research rather than testing a treatment.
• Other2023Personalized robots for long-term telerehabilitation after stroke: a perspective on technological readiness and clinical translation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo patient outcomes or methods are reported, so there is no finding here to change practice.
• PTOTNarrative Review2023When, where, and why should we look for vestibular dysfunction in people with diabetes mellitus?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeripheral vestibular dysfunction is common in people with diabetes even without dizziness. However, the link to balance problems is unproven. Do not routinely screen for vestibular issues unless balance deficits are present.
• SLPOther2023Effect of Auditory Distractors on Speech Recognition and Listening Effort.Ear and hearingUnexpected sounds lowered word recognition only in quiet, not in competing noise, but they slowed spoken responses in both. Quiet is not always safer: distractors can hurt recognition there, while noise still adds effort.
• SLPOther2023Acoustically Evoked Compound Action Potentials Recorded From Cochlear Implant Users With Preserved Acoustic Hearing.Ear and hearingA rising chirp sound produced a clearer, larger auditory nerve response than clicks at loud levels, while 500 Hz tones often did not. This is a test-method finding, not a treatment result.
• SLPOther2023Differential Cue Weighting in Mandarin Sibilant Production.Language and speechNative Mandarin speakers vary in how they produce sibilant sounds, with some merging categories and relying on different acoustic cues. This is a basic phonetic analysis with no clinical implications.
• Other2023Autism Traits and Cognitive Performance: Mediating Roles of Sleep Disturbance, Anxiety and Depression.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with more autistic traits reported more anxiety and depression and showed reduced global processing bias. Sleep and anxiety did not significantly mediate the link between autistic traits and working memory, though a non-significant trend suggested they might. These findings relate to subclinical traits in a general population sample.
• SLPOther2023Quantitative Analysis of Temporal Parameters Correlated with Aspiration and Lesion Location in Stroke Patients.DysphagiaIn stroke patients, longer laryngeal closure duration was linked to aspiration, but this association was borderline in the final model. Lesion location changed swallowing timing: supratentorial strokes had longer oral phases, while infratentorial strokes had longer upper sphincter opening.
• SLPCase-Control2023Social Cognition in Adolescents with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): Evidence from the Social Attribution Task.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with developmental language disorder described a social animation with fewer emotional terms and missed key social cues compared to peers. However, these social cognition scores did not predict parent-reported peer or emotional problems, suggesting the task measures language-linked interpretation rather than social difficulty directly.
• Pilot2023Impact of Respite Care Services Availability on Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Military Parents who have a Child on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMilitary parents who had respite care reported lower stress and anxiety/depression scores than those without, after adjusting for family factors. This was a small survey, so it suggests an association, not proof respite care causes improvement.
• PTOTPilot2023Feasibility of a new intervention addressing group-based balance and high-intensity training, physical activity, and employment in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA multidisciplinary balance and exercise programme was feasible and safe for employed people with MS, but showed no benefit over usual care. Participants reported fewer work barriers within the group, but the trial was too small to prove the intervention works.
• SLPRCT2023A Randomized Controlled Trial for Audiovisual Multisensory Perception in Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOn average, eight half-day computerized sight-and-sound timing sessions did not make autistic youths better at judging whether speech sounds and mouth movements happened together versus camp-only control. Higher IQ/language participants improved. Lower IQ participants worsened.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Adaptive outdoor physical activities for adults with mobility disability: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParticipation in adaptive outdoor activities depends less on the disability itself and more on program design. Barriers include cost, lack of trained staff, and inaccessible transport. Facilitators involve equipment that looks like standard gear, shared control options, and peer mentors.
• SLPRCT2023Effects of Social Skills Training for Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Adaptation of the PEERS® Intervention via Hybrid and In-Person Delivery.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents on the autism spectrum who received the adapted PEERS package improved in social skills knowledge and parent-reported peer socialization more than those waiting. Hybrid online and in-person delivery produced similar gains, but the trial was small.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Screening for Autism Spectrum Condition Through Inner City Homeless Services in the Republic of Ireland.Journal of autism and developmental disordersKeyworkers screening homeless adults in Dublin found 3% had likely autism and 9% had possible traits, much higher than the general population. These clients faced more self-neglect and medication non-adherence. Screening by staff observation is not a diagnosis, but it highlights a critical gap in recognizing autism in homeless services.
• SLPCohort2023Examining Treatment Outcomes Across Contexts: How Do Child Baseline Characteristics Impact Measurement of Treatment Response?Journal of autism and developmental disordersBaseline age and IQ predicted social communication improvement in toddlers with autism, but not restricted behaviors. Scores from parent-child play and clinician interactions matched for social outcomes but diverged for repetitive behaviors, suggesting the context of assessment changes how a child's progress is measured.
• OTSurvey2023Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Contexts Associated with Emotional Outbursts.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBrazilian caregivers described three recurring contexts for emotional outbursts in children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, similar to English patterns. Existing English profiles did not reliably sort Brazilian responses, so local context patterns should guide assessment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Vestibular Vertigo and Disparities in Healthcare Access Among Adults in the United States.Ear and hearingAdults with vestibular vertigo face significantly higher barriers to care than those without. Uninsured individuals were far more likely to skip medications or delay specialist visits due to cost. African Americans with vertigo were also more likely to delay care due to transportation issues.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023The effect of unpredictability on the perception of breathlessness: a narrative review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesExperimental studies found that unpredictable breathlessness triggers more sustained fear and anxiety than predictable breathlessness. This constant threat worsens the unpleasantness of the sensation, even if the physical intensity remains unchanged, suggesting that managing patient expectations and control is as vital as treating the breathing itself.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Walking test outcomes in adults with genetic neuromuscular diseases: a systematic literature review of their measurement properties.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe 6-minute walk test is the most studied measure for adults with genetic neuromuscular diseases. It reliably tracks distance but lacks data on detecting change over time. The 10-meter walk is a strong alternative for assessing speed and functional change.
• PTOTRCT2024Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation in rehabilitation of upper extremity hemiparesis following stroke: a pilot study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation to standard therapy and brain stimulation did not improve upper-limb recovery more than brain stimulation and therapy alone. Both active groups improved significantly more than the sham group, but the added peripheral stimulation offered no extra benefit.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Facilitators to alleviate loneliness and social isolation as identified by individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders: A qualitative study.Rehabilitation psychologyVeterans with spinal cord injuries identified eight strategies to ease loneliness, ranging from pursuing hobbies and getting outside to connecting with peers who share their experience. They emphasized that acceptance of their new normal and finding a sense of purpose were critical internal shifts.
• SLPOther2024Natural language processing techniques for studying language in pathological ageing: A scoping review.International journal of language & communication disordersMost studies use computer language analysis to tell dementia speech from healthy speech, but methods and reporting are so inconsistent that no tool is ready for clinical use.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Measuring Neuroplasticity in Response to Cardiovascular Exercise in People With Stroke: A Critical Perspective.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairCurrent biomarkers for measuring neuroplasticity after cardiovascular exercise in stroke survivors are inconsistent and rarely linked to functional recovery. While exercise shows promise, no specific marker reliably predicts clinical benefit, so treatment decisions should remain based on patient function rather than biological measures.
• PTOTPilot2024Reminiscent music therapy combined with robot-assisted rehabilitation for elderly stroke patients: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding reminiscent music to robot therapy improved self-efficacy and positive emotions more than robot therapy or usual care alone. However, the primary outcome of daily living activities showed no significant difference between the three groups. All groups improved from their own baselines.
• SLPRCT2024White Matter Hyperintensities as a Predictor of Aphasia Recovery.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn people with recent stroke and aphasia, periventricular white matter hyperintensities predicted less naming improvement only in those receiving active tDCS. Deep white matter hyperintensities predicted less content production only in the sham group. Baseline white matter health may influence treatment response, but results are inconsistent.
• SLPSurvey2024The positive side of living with tinnitus: a cross-sectional study.International journal of audiologyOver one-third of US adults with chronic tinnitus reported positive experiences, mostly changes in outlook and personal development. Younger age and less hearing disability predicted these reports. Positive thinking did not correlate with reduced depression, anxiety, or insomnia, suggesting it does not protect against the condition's psychological burden.
• PTOther2024Fall risk classification with posturographic parameters in community-dwelling older adults: a machine learning and explainable artificial intelligence approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTrunk sway measured by a tracker and a computer model sorted older adults into fall-risk groups better when risk was defined by a Timed Up and Go time of 10 seconds or more than by a fall in the past year.
• SLPOther2023Pink1-/- Rats Demonstrate Swallowing and Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in a Model of Prodromal Parkinson Disease.DysphagiaRats modeling early Parkinson's disease chewed slower and had poor bolus control before motor signs appeared. They also showed delayed gut transit and constipation-like changes. This confirms swallowing and gut issues are early disease markers, not just late complications.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Barriers and facilitators of public transport use among people with disabilities: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with disabilities face barriers at every step of public transport use, from walking to the stop to riding the bus. Physical issues like steep ramps and social issues like driver attitudes were common. Travel training may help improve confidence and reduce fear.
• PTOTSurvey2023Factors affecting social integration after road traffic orthopaedic injuries in Rwanda.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTwo years after Rwandan road traffic orthopaedic injuries, most survivors reported no limitations, but lifting, mobility, household and community tasks were hardest. Older age, female sex, no rehabilitation and longer stays were linked to worse integration.
• SLPCohort2023Defining Normal Sequential Swallowing Biomechanics.DysphagiaDuring repeated sips, healthy adults did not all use the same hyolaryngeal pattern. Older adults more often kept the airway closed between swallows, and second swallows were slower. Sequential swallowing is a variable challenge task, not a uniform pattern.
• SLPOther2023Relationships Between the Auditory Nerve's Ability to Recover From Neural Adaptation, Cortical Encoding of and Perceptual Sensitivity to Within-channel Temporal Gaps in Postlingually Deafened Adult Cochlear Implant Users.Ear and hearingCortical responses to silence gaps were significantly larger than behavioral detection thresholds, suggesting objective measures overestimate difficulty. However, the speed or amount of auditory nerve recovery from adaptation did not predict these gap detection thresholds at individual electrode sites.
• SLPCohort2023Characteristics of the Summating Potential Measured Across a Cochlear Implant Array as an Indicator of Cochlear Function.Ear and hearingCochlear implant patients with a large positive sustained electrical response recorded during surgery had better preoperative phoneme scores than patients with minimal or negative responses, but the differences were modest and not definitive.
• PTOTCohort2023Investigating how Explicit Contextual Cues Affect Predictive Sensorimotor Control in Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersExplicit visual cues about ball bounciness did not improve interceptive performance in autistic adults. Autistic participants continued to show lower hit rates and restricted arm movements compared to controls, regardless of whether they received advance information about the environment.
• OTOther2023The Associations Between Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities, more light, moderate, or vigorous activity was linked to better quality of life or self-concept. Vigorous activity was linked to lower self-concept. Only 13.7% met the 60-minute moderate-to-vigorous guideline.
• OTSLPCase-Control2023Discrimination and Harassment Experiences of Autistic College Students and Their Neurotypical Peers: Risk and Protective Factors.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic college students did not report more discrimination or harassment than their non-autistic peers. However, participating in campus groups was linked to higher rates of negative experiences, especially for autistic students. Strong faculty support and academic problem-solving skills were associated with fewer incidents for everyone.
• SLPOther2023Absorbance Measurements From Normal-hearing Ears in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2016 and 2017-2020.Ear and hearingAbsorbance and impedance angle measurements from normal-hearing ears are consistent across race, sex, and ear side, with only small age-related differences. These wideband acoustic immittance norms are suitable for clinical use, though 20% of measurements were excluded due to leaks or errors.
• SLPPilot2023PEERS® for Preschoolers preliminary outcomes and predictors of treatment response.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost children showed improved social skills after a caregiver-mediated group intervention, but gains were not sustained for half at follow-up. Fewer showed reduced behavioral difficulties, and those gains generally disappeared. The study lacked a control group, so maturation cannot be ruled out.
• RCT2023Idiographic Coping Outcomes in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Co-Occurring Anxiety: Results from the TAASD Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers reported that youth with autism and anxiety coped better with specific fears after receiving CBT compared to usual care. However, the youth themselves did not report significantly greater coping improvements than those in usual care. This highlights a gap between parent and child perspectives on treatment gains.
• SLPOther2023Content Analysis of Abstracts Published in Autism Journals in 2021: The year in Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMental health was the most common autism research topic in 2021, with 221 articles. Social communication and social skills followed. This maps abstract counts, not treatment effects.
• SLPCase-Control2023Disentangling Language Disorder and Bilingualism in Children with Developmental Language Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from Writing.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBilingual children with ASD misplaced stress marks and punctuation far more often than peers with DLD, who instead omitted them and made more spelling errors. Vocabulary size predicted spelling accuracy in both groups, while Greek exposure predicted punctuation use.
• SLPOther2023Evaluation of Two Spectro-Temporal Ripple Tests and Their Relation to the Matrix Speech-in-Noise Sentence Test in Cochlear Implant Recipients.Ear and hearingTwo ripple tests both predicted speech-in-noise scores equally well, despite one being faster. However, many participants scored above the limit where the cochlear implant can accurately transmit these signals, meaning the tests may be measuring artifacts rather than true hearing resolution.
• OTSurvey2023Attitudes to Interpersonal Touch in the Workplace in Autistic and non-Autistic Groups.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEmployed autistic adults reported more negative attitudes to general, social and workplace touch, plus greater loneliness and lower wellbeing. Workplace touch attitudes did not predict loneliness or wellbeing; general touch attitudes and touch’s role at work did.
• SLPOther2024Predictability Associated With Reduction in Phonetic Signals Without Semantics-The Case of Glossolalia.Language and speechGlossolalia syllables are not random. Frequent and predictable syllables are spoken faster and shorter, mirroring natural speech patterns. This suggests motor programs for syllables are shaped by practice frequency, not meaning, offering a model for studying speech planning without semantics.
• OTOther2024Sensory Reactivity of Infants at Elevated Likelihood of Autism and Associations with Caregiver Responsiveness.Journal of autism and developmental disordersInfants who seemed to miss sensory cues received less caregiver reaction, unless they also showed strong negative reactions. When strong negative reactions were present, more missed cues went with more caregiver reaction.