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 543 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPSystematic Review2024Studies assessing domains pertaining to structural language in autism vary in reporting practices and approaches to assessment: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceResearch on language in autism is too inconsistent to guide practice. Studies use different definitions and tests, so findings cannot be compared. Clinicians should not assume a single assessment result reflects a patient's full language profile.
• OTQualitative2024Preferences for Participation Measurement Among Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer: A Qualitative Content Analysis.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPatients preferred short screening tools like PROMIS for busy clinic visits but found them too vague to explain their daily struggles. Detailed measures like CPI and PM-3D4D were liked for deeper reflection but felt too long for routine care. Community engagement questions were often irrelevant.
• SLPPilot2024Breathing mode assessment with thermography: a pilot study.CoDASInfrared thermography distinguished nasal from mouth breathing in four adults. Mouth temperatures were consistently higher than nose temperatures. The study suggests this non-contact method could objectively assess breathing mode, but the tiny sample means it is not yet a clinical tool.
• SLPCohort2024Assessment of verb and sentence processing deficits in stroke-induced aphasia: the Italian version of the Northwestern Assessment of Verbs and Sentences (NAVS-I).AphasiologyThe Italian NAVS-I accurately detects verb and sentence deficits in aphasia. The Verb Naming Test is the only subtest that distinguishes agrammatic from fluent aphasia, with agrammatic speakers struggling more with complex verbs. Non-canonical sentences were difficult for all groups.
• OTSurvey2024Investigation of the Consumer Perspective on Leisure in Mental Health Inpatient Units.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPeople admitted to locked mental health inpatient units valued leisure highly, but rated their ability to engage lower. They named motivation, sedation, staff time, and limited activities as barriers, and asked for simple social or independent activities.
• Survey2024Family Support Services and Reported Parent Coping Among Caregivers of Children with Emotional, Behavioral, or Developmental Disorders.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAdequate care coordination and emotional support services were associated with better coping in caregivers of children with special health care needs. This association was strongest for caregivers without any emotional support. However, caregivers with only informal support reported the highest coping rates.
• OTOther2024Bimanual coordination and spinal cord neuromodulation: how neural substrates of bimanual movements are altered by transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTranscutaneous cervical spinal cord stimulation did not improve most reaching tasks in 12 healthy adults, but it lowered movement error during a bimanual common-goal task. Brain activity changes were inconsistent, and the study did not test people with spinal cord injury or stroke.
• PTOTCohort2024Babycare Assistance Needs of Parents With Physical Disabilities: An Observational Study.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthParents with physical disabilities needed verbal prompts more than hands-on help to bathe babies and find care information. Planning steps and interpreting baby cues were the main bottlenecks, even when adaptive equipment was available.
• SLPCohort2024Increased anticholinergic medication use in middle-aged and older autistic adults and its associations with self-reported memory difficulties and cognitive decline.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMany middle-aged and older autistic adults took medications that block acetylcholine, and those taking more reported more everyday memory failures. Higher medication load was also associated with self-reported decline over follow-up, but not consistently.
• PTOTSurvey2024Orthotist involvement in early gait rehabilitation after stroke: A cross-sectional survey of orthotists in the United Kingdom.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalMost orthotists felt they should be routinely involved in early stroke gait rehabilitation without a specific referral, but only 5% reported being involved that way. They were confident in prescribing ankle-foot orthoses but less confident advising on broader therapy.
• PTRCT2024Comparison between effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and manual myofascial release on pain, range of motion and function in myofascial pain syndrome of upper trapezius - A randomized controlled trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoBoth instrument-assisted and manual soft tissue release reduced pain, improved mobility, and lowered disability in upper trapezius myofascial pain. The instrument group reported significantly less pain than the manual group, but there was no difference in range of motion, pressure tolerance, or function.
• SLPSurvey2024Evaluating measures to assess loneliness in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults said widely used loneliness questionnaires were not fully suitable. Items assumed non-autistic norms, missed online, pet or professional relationships, and unclear wording made absolute scores potentially misleading.
• SLPProtocol2024Towards a better diagnosis of mouth breathing: validity and reliability of a protocol for assessing the awake breathing pattern in preschool children.CoDASThe adapted awake breathing grid sorted children similarly to a mouth air sensor and was consistent between raters. It can confirm a preschool child's breathing pattern, but it is weaker for screening every mouth breather.
• Survey2024Childcare Disruptions and Parental Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPCaregivers who experienced more disruptions to their children's lives, such as school or daycare closures, reported significantly higher levels of stress. Women, those with lower household incomes, and caregivers with a history of adverse childhood experiences were also at greater risk for pandemic-related stress.
• SLPRCT2024Focusing on Positive Listening Experiences Improves Speech Intelligibility in Experienced Hearing Aid Users.Trends in hearingExperienced hearing aid users who texted a daily summary of positive listening experiences for two weeks improved their speech-in-noise scores significantly more than controls. The intervention asks users to actively notice and report good sounds, shifting focus away from difficulties.
• SLPNarrative Review2024Impaired oral health: a required companion of bacterial aspiration pneumonia.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPoor oral health and plaque biofilms are a required pillar of bacterial aspiration pneumonia in at-risk patients. Daily toothbrushing and organized professional oral care may reduce pneumonia, febrile days, and death.
• PTOther2024Reliability of an Instrumented Pressure Walkway for Measuring Walking and Running Characteristics in Young, Athletic Individuals.International journal of sports physical therapyThree one-way passes over a pressure walkway gave consistent walking and running measurements in 38 young, active adults; stride width was the least repeatable walking measure across days.
• OTOther2024Occupation in the Anthropocene and Ethical Relationality.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieNo patients, outcomes, or tested interventions are reported. This theoretical paper examines occupation, the Anthropocene, interspecies justice, Indigenous worldviews, and ethical relationality, so it offers no practice-changing finding.
• SLPCase Series2024Central auditory processing and self-perception questionnaire after acoustically controlled auditory training in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury.CoDASIn 10 people with mild TBI, some hearing-test scores and self-reported listening were better after 10 sound-booth training sessions. Self-reported gains matched some test gains, but not all. There was no control group, so training cannot be shown to have caused the changes.
• SLPOther2023Self-Report Measurement of Well-Being in Autistic Adults: Psychometric Properties of the PERMA Profiler.Autism in adulthoodThe PERMA Profiler reliably measures overall well-being in autistic adults, but its five separate subscales are not distinct. Clinicians should use the total score rather than individual domain scores. The measure works well for this group, though the Engagement subscale is weaker.
• SLPOther2023The biosocial correlates and predictors of emotion dysregulation in autistic adults compared to borderline personality disorder and nonclinical controls.Molecular autismAutistic adults reported higher emotion dysregulation than nonclinical controls, but lower than those with borderline personality disorder. Across all groups, borderline traits, emotional vulnerability and difficulty identifying feelings were the strongest predictors of dysregulation, not autism-specific traits.
• OTPilot2023"Kickstart to Recovery": An Irish Football Program for Mental Health Service Users.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthThe main recovery and football meaning scores did not show a clear change. Some energy scores moved positively and new participants' illness-management scores changed, but this pilot was too small to confirm.
• PTNarrative Review2024A Biomechanical Review of the Squat Exercise: Implications for Clinical Practice.International journal of sports physical therapySquat mechanics can be adjusted to bias the hip or knee. The trunk and tibia relationship can indicate which extensors are emphasized. This review gives expert recommendations, not tested clinical outcomes.
• PTPilot2024The relationship between sleep quality and gait in people with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoIn 41 adults with MS, poorer sleep was linked to gait. Lower sleep efficiency related to shorter steps, and more awakenings related to slower walking and shorter step time.
• OTSLPCohort2024Impact of the Great Recession on Adults With Autism and Their Mothers.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesThe Great Recession caused an immediate spike in problem behaviors for autistic adults and depressive symptoms for their mothers. While employment and physical health remained stable, the recession halted the gradual improvement in behavior that had been occurring prior to 2007.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Co-design of a walking activity intervention for stroke survivors.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStroke survivors rarely walk just for exercise. They need walking linked to valued social goals, supported by objective step feedback and carer involvement. A new co-design toolbox provides these elements, but efficacy is untested.
• PTOTSurvey2024Needs Assessment of Self-Management for Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury/Disease.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPeople with chronic spinal cord injury ranked virtual meetings and group discussions as the most important features for a self-management program. Psychological health and coping were rated the top content priority, far ahead of respiratory or autonomic issues.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Validity and Responsiveness of a Modified Balance Error Scoring System Assessment Using a Mobile Device Application in Patients Recovering from Ankle Sprain.International journal of sports physical therapyA smartphone app scoring static balance distinguished acute ankle sprains from healthy controls and tracked improvement after four weeks of rehab. The single-leg stance on the injured side was the most sensitive test position. This offers a portable, objective alternative to manual balance error counting.
• PTOTOther2024Biomechanical Demands and User Preference Associated with Wall-Mounted and Rim-Mounted Grab Bars.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieOlder adults with bathing difficulty bent forward significantly more and pushed harder on rim-mounted grab bars than on wall-mounted vertical bars. The vertical bar was rated safer and easier. If a client must use a rim bar, ensure it is set to the highest position to reduce forward bending.
• SLPOther2024Agreement Between Two Behavioral Rating Scales in Preschoolers Born Very Preterm.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn preschoolers born very preterm, parent ratings on BASC and CBCL matched best for attention, hyperactivity, and overall behavior. They matched less for anxiety, depression, and physical complaints. Use clinical judgment rather than one scale alone.
• PTOTOther2024Utilizing Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and Ulnar Nerve Pathology.International journal of sports physical therapyMusculoskeletal ultrasound provides a non-invasive, real-time view of the ulnar nerve at the elbow, helping clinicians visualize structural issues like nerve instability or compression. It serves as a useful adjunct to physical exams and nerve conduction studies, particularly when the diagnosis is unclear or anatomical variations are suspected.
• SLPOther2024Implications of Using the BRIEF-Preschool With School-Age Children With Down Syndrome.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesFor school-age children with Down syndrome, preschool executive-function scores based on cognitive or language age agreed with the school-age questionnaire on some parts, but not all, so use caution.
• OTCohort2024Exploring the impact of cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and shortness of breath on activities of daily life after COVID-19 infection, until 1-year follow-up.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAt 12 months, participants still reported fatigue, cognitive problems, or breathlessness limiting daily activities. Hospital patients scored worse on tests. Primary-care patients reported more fatigue and cognitive complaints, and 39% had fully returned to work versus 54%.
• SLPOther2024The Value of a Virtual Assistant to Improve Engagement in Computerized Cognitive Training at Home: Exploratory Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHealthy older adults rated a Wizard-of-Oz virtual assistant during cognitive training more favorably than young adults, reporting better comprehension and less fatigue. This pilot confirms user interest in the interface but proves no cognitive benefit.
• PTOTCohort2024The association between physical activity and neck circumference with cardiovascular disease risk in older wheelchair users.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOlder wheelchair users with low physical activity and large neck circumferences had significantly higher estimated cardiovascular disease risk. These factors remained independent predictors even when adjusted for each other. Screening for both activity levels and neck size may help identify high-risk patients.
• OTOther2024Does the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) Capture the Complex Experiences of Cancer Survivors? A Mixed Methods Approach.Occupational therapy in health careThe COPM identifies specific daily tasks cancer survivors struggle with, but misses the complex emotional and social impacts of their diagnosis. Survivors reported issues like fatigue and memory loss affecting work and relationships that the scores did not capture. Use it for task goals, not for understanding the whole person.
• PTRCT2024Effect of Kinesio taping versus mechanical cervical traction combined with physiotherapy program on chronic neck pain in young female university students.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoFor young female students with chronic neck pain, adding cervical traction to a six-week heat, massage, stretching and strengthening program reduced pain and disability more than adding Kinesio tape or the program alone. All groups got the program, so traction's benefit is the main point.
• SLPOther2024Language Skills Influence Transition Planning in Adolescents With Fragile X Syndrome.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesHigher language scores were linked to mothers reporting future work or education plans. Autism traits were not linked to these plans. 38.3% of mothers did not discuss work or education plans.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Relationship between bite force, occlusal contact area, and three-dimensional facial soft tissue in dentofacial deformities.CoDASPatients with Class II or Class III dentofacial deformities had significantly lower bite force and occlusal contact area than healthy controls. Increased chin height was associated with weaker bite force. These morphological deficits exist before surgery and may inform myofunctional therapy planning.
• SLPSurvey2024Parental perspectives on the impact of screen time on the language skills of typically developing Indian children.CoDASParents of Indian children aged 6 to 10 reported mixed effects of screen time on language. Most children used devices for 1 to 2 hours daily, often without limits. Supervised viewing and sharing experiences with parents were associated with better vocabulary and social communication.
• PTCohort2024Quadriceps and Hamstrings Activation Peaks Earlier as Athletes Repeatedly Hop, but There are Differences Depending on ACL Reconstruction Technique.International journal of sports physical therapyDuring 30-second maximal single-leg hopping, quadriceps and hamstring activation peaks moved earlier in the hop cycle as athletes repeated hops. Injured legs after ACL reconstruction also showed lower peak quadriceps activation, with both graft types.
• PTCohort2024Usefulness of the cardiopulmonary exercise test up to the anaerobic threshold for pati-ents aged ≥ 80 years with cardiovascular disease on cardiac rehabilitation.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients aged 80 and over with cardiovascular disease who could do an exercise test up to anaerobic threshold had mostly similar test results to patients aged 70 to 79, except lower heart rate and worse breathing efficiency at rest.
• SLPOther2024On the Feasibility of Using Behavioral Listening Effort Test Methods to Evaluate Auditory Performance in Cochlear Implant Users.Trends in hearingListening effort tests detected group differences but failed to distinguish individual changes from normal test variability. Standard speech intelligibility tests were more reliable for identifying the best cochlear implant setting for a specific patient.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Robot-aided assessment and associated brain lesions of impaired ankle proprioception in chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost adults with chronic stroke showed impaired ankle position and motion sense on robotic testing. These deficits were linked to lesions in the insula and temporoparietal regions. Standard clinical scales may miss these subtle proprioceptive losses that affect balance.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Experiences of chain of care and rehabilitation after stroke: a qualitative study of persons discharged to skilled nursing facilities before returning home.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors discharged to skilled nursing facilities reported lacking information on fatigue and prevention, and felt excluded from rehabilitation planning. They valued immediate provision of aids upon returning home, but faced delays in mobility services and inconsistent training support.
• PTOTOther2024Enhancing fall risk assessment: instrumenting vision with deep learning during walks.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new AI tool automatically tracks where pregnant women look while walking over obstacles in a lab. It accurately identifies gaze on hazards, helping clinicians see if distraction contributes to fall risk without manual video review.
• PTNarrative Review2024Tissue Flossing: A Commentary on Clinical Practice Recommendations.International journal of sports physical therapyThis commentary proposes starting points for tissue flossing practice, including safety precautions and monitoring. It summarizes existing literature but reports no new trials or patient outcomes. There is no evidence here to change your clinical practice on.
• SLPNarrative Review2024Perceptual Consequences of Cochlear Deafferentation in Humans.Trends in hearingWhen standard hearing tests are normal, weaker measures of cochlear nerve input were sometimes linked to tinnitus and speech-in-noise difficulty, especially in older adults or people with noise exposure. This does not prove cause or a tested treatment.
• PTOther2024Developing and assessing the measurement properties of an instrument to assess the impact of musculoskeletal pain in children aged 9 to 12-the pediatric musculoskeletal pain impact summary score.Brazilian journal of physical therapyA four-item pain impact score in children aged 9 to 12 did not hold together well enough to recommend it for clinical use. It did separate children with frequent pain from those with infrequent pain, but the evidence for it was limited.
• SLPCohort2024Does Intraoperative Extracochlear Electrocochleography Correlate With Postoperative Audiometric Hearing Thresholds in Cochlear Implant Surgery? A Retrospective Analysis of Cochlear Monitoring.Trends in hearingIntraoperative electrocochleography failed to predict postoperative hearing preservation. Threshold changes were minimal and unrelated to final hearing loss, while amplitude patterns showed no significant correlation. Clinicians should not rely on these signals to anticipate residual hearing outcomes.