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 548 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTSurvey2024Undergraduate students' choices around community service and internship: A single faculty study.The South African journal of physiotherapyFor community service and internship, students' most common first choices were Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Rural placement was divided, and reported factors were supervision, safety, home proximity and social support.
• PTOTPilot2024Foot offloading associated with carbon fiber orthosis use: A pilot study.Gait & postureThree carbon fiber orthoses shifted foot loading from the forefoot to the hindfoot in healthy adults. The stiffer full-length orthoses significantly reduced peak forefoot forces, while all three increased hindfoot loading. These findings suggest caution for patients at risk of skin breakdown.
• PTNarrative Review2024The role of the physiotherapist in concussion.The South African journal of physiotherapyThis article reviews concussion mechanisms and physiotherapy roles but presents no new research findings. It summarises existing knowledge on symptoms, assessment tools, and treatment approaches, offering no evidence that changes clinical practice.
• SLPCohort2024Elderly people with hearing loss and cognitive decline: speech perception performance in noise.CoDASCognitive decline did not worsen speech-in-noise perception in elderly people with hearing loss. Instead, the degree of hearing loss and education level determined performance. Clinicians should prioritize audiological and educational factors over cognitive status when assessing these patients.
• OTCohort2024Preschoolers' Self-Regulation and Behavior Problems in the Midst of Caregiver Depression and Chaos.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with better self-regulation before the pandemic had fewer behavior problems during it. This protection held up even when caregivers were depressed or homes were chaotic. It only weakened when both stressors occurred together.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Supported self-management in long-term conditions in an African context.The South African journal of physiotherapySelf-management strategies imported from Western contexts often fail in Africa because they ignore collective cultural values like Ubuntu. Therapists should co-design care with patients and communities, focusing on family and social support rather than just individual compliance.
• Other2024Adapting suicide safety plans for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDNo findings are reported. There is no tested result to change practice on.
• SLPCase Series2024Recursive Self-feedback Improved Speech Fluency in Two Patients with Chronic Nonfluent Aphasia.AphasiologyTwo patients with chronic nonfluent aphasia improved speaking rate and reduced initiation delay after self-directed script practice. A recursive self-feedback method worked as well as standard control training, but neither was superior. This pilot does not prove one approach is better.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Auditory and academic skills self-perception in adults.CoDASIn 646 university adults, self-reported auditory struggles like hearing in noise were associated with academic complaints about concentration, memory, and planning. The study cannot prove one causes the other, but suggests that when an adult reports listening difficulty, you should also ask about their learning and executive function challenges.
• PTCohort2024Static posture weightbearing joint angle differences in patients with varus ankle osteoarthritis.Gait & postureWeightbearing CT found different static joint angles in varus ankle osteoarthritis. Compensated ankles had more inverted subtalar joints than non-compensated and healthy ankles, and midtarsal angles differed from healthy ankles. No rotation-angle differences were found. These are alignment differences, not evidence that treatment works.
• Case Series2024Individuals With Prior Chronic Pain and Long-Term Opioid Treatment May Experience Persistence of That Pain Even After Subsequent Complete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Suggestions From a Prospective Case-Controlled Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFour of seven patients with complete cervical spinal cord injury reported that their pre-existing chronic pain persisted unchanged despite total loss of sensation below the injury. All four had prior long-term opioid use. The three patients without persistent pain had no such history.
• SLPOther2024Measuring quality of life of adults with intellectual disabilities: Psychometric evaluation of the personal outcomes scale in the United Kingdom.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDIn UK adults with intellectual disability, Personal Outcomes Scale scores did not match the intended quality-of-life model. Item answers correlated poorly, and interviewer clustering accounted for 25.50% of score variation.
• OTCohort2024Satisfaction with social connectedness is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in neurodiverse first-semester college students.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceLower satisfaction with social connections predicted higher depression symptoms across the semester, regardless of how much students wanted social interaction. However, low social satisfaction did not predict later anxiety, though it was linked to anxiety at the same time. This association held for both autistic and non-autistic students.
• SLPCohort2024Racial and ethnic disparities in the co-occurrence of intellectual disability and autism: Impact of incorporating measures of adaptive functioning.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAdding adaptive behavior scores to IQ tests reduced the estimated prevalence of co-occurring intellectual disability in autistic preschoolers from 62.9% to 38.0%. This change also reduced racial disparities, with no group showing significantly higher odds than White children when both criteria were used.
• PTCase Report2024Cryoneurolysis for the Treatment of Knee Arthritis to Facilitate Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationLess knee pain and faster walking were reported after cryoneurolysis, but she was also receiving rehabilitation, bracing, ankle weights, and earlier IVIG, prednisone, and dexamethasone, so no effect can be attributed.
• PTOther2024Transhumeral prosthesis use affects upper body kinematics and kinetics.Gait & posturePeople with transhumeral limb loss had greater arm swing asymmetry and altered trunk motion than controls, whether the prosthesis was on or off. Gait speed did not differ from controls.
• PTOTCohort2024The Targeted Motor Control Screening Tool Is Valid for 4-Year-Old Children.Physical therapyThe Targeted Motor Control screening tool correlates moderately with a detailed assessment in 4-year-olds. A score below 9 flags children at risk of motor delay. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to administer. The sensory items showed weaker agreement than motor items.
• SLPSurvey2024Vocal risk mapping in classical singers: an analysis of the self-perception of voice quality, vocal fatigue, and singing voice handicap.CoDASClassical singers reported low overall voice handicap but higher vocal fatigue and avoidance when they used their voices to demonstrate examples for students. Cool-down practices were also associated with higher restriction scores. This suggests that teaching demands, not just singing, drive perceived vocal strain.
• OTNarrative Review2023Use of Gamification for Adult Physical Rehabilitation in Occupational Therapy; A Novel Concept?Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTNo original methods or outcomes are reported. This commentary defines gamification and reviews examples in adult physical rehabilitation, so there is no new finding to change practice.
• OTOther2023Assessment of sensory impairment of the upper limb post-stroke by occupational therapists within the acute setting: A mixed methods study exploring current clinical practice.The British journal of occupational therapySurveyed acute stroke occupational therapists reported standardised sensory assessment use: always 3, usually 11, sometimes 21, rarely 33, never 13. Time and resources made full assessment hard, despite therapists seeing it as their role.
• OTSurvey2023The relationship between typically developing school-age children's screen time, participation and physical activity: An exploratory study.The British journal of occupational therapyScreen time was not linked to physical activity in school-age children. Educational screen time was linked to less assistance with daily tasks and higher parent satisfaction.
• OTOther2023The standardised Malay version of purdue pegboard test: Content validity and test-retest reliability testing.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe Malay wording of the Purdue Pegboard Test was accepted by experts, but one trial gave poor repeat scores. Three trials made scores steadier, though retest scores rose, likely practice.
• OTSLPQualitative2024A qualitative exploration of an autism-specific self-compassion program: The ASPAA.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults found a self-compassion program helpful for reducing self-criticism and feeling connected, but also described it as difficult and sometimes emotionally distressing. They valued autism-specific adaptations like lived-experience videos and flexible exercises, while noting sensory triggers and the need for professional support.
• PTOTRCT2024Functional and perceptive differences between conventional and advanced ankle foot orthoses in community ambulators post-limb trauma: the injuries managed with advanced bracing of the lower extremity (IM ABLE) study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdvanced AFOs did not improve walking speed or distance compared to conventional ones, but users reported less effort and strongly preferred them for long-term use.
• PTPilot2024Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Virtual Rehabilitation for Middle and Older Aged Veterans With Mobility Limitations: A Pilot Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationVeterans with mobility limits completed virtual physical therapy. Reported mobility and physical activity improved through 24 weeks, while balance and exercise confidence did not.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Insights on Telecommunication Use by Rehabilitation Therapists Before, During, and Beyond COVID-19.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTherapists significantly increased phone, text, and video use during the pandemic, but planned future video use did not rise significantly. They believe discussion-based tasks work remotely, while orthotics and manual assessments require in-person care.
• SLPCohort2024The use of psychotropic medications in autistic individuals (21 years and younger) in Western Australia: A preliminary investigation.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn a Western Australian autism registry, 66 of 239 young autistic people reported psychotropic medication use. Stimulants and antidepressants were common, often for attention or challenging behaviours. Parent reports suggested some helped, but timing and reasons were unclear.
• PTOTRCT2024Long-Term Follow-Up of a Person-Centered Prehabilitation Program Based on Cognitive-Behavioral Physical Therapy for Patients Scheduled for Lumbar Fusion.Physical therapyPrehabilitation before lumbar fusion surgery did not improve long-term disability or pain compared to conventional care. Both groups improved similarly over two years. Patients did not increase physical activity despite gaining strength and walking capacity. The intervention offers no long-term advantage over standard preoperative advice.
• SLPCohort2024Influence of Neonatal Ankyloglossia on exclusive breastfeeding in the six first months of life: a cohort study.CoDASHealthy term infants with asymptomatic tongue-tie were weaned from exclusive breastfeeding earlier than those without it. The chance of stopping before six months was almost 4.5 times higher. This finding applies to infants who did not need surgery.
• PTOther2024Goggle Versus Remote-Camera Video Head Impulse Test Device Comparison.Ear and hearingRemote-camera vHIT gave lower eye movement scores than goggles in people with vestibular dysfunction. The normal versus abnormal classification matched except for a vertical canal.
• Other2024Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor-induced macrophages of individuals with autism spectrum disorder adversely affect neuronal dendrites through the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.Molecular autismMacrophages from people with autism shortened neuron dendrites more than those from controls. This damage was caused by secreted inflammatory cytokines. Blocking these cytokines in the lab prevented the shortening.
• SLPCohort2024Speech perception in patients submitted to cochlear reimplantation.CoDASMost cochlear implant users recover speech perception after reimplantation. Children all recovered. Adults recovered less often. Younger age at first implant and longer total device use predicted better outcomes. Deprivation time did not affect recovery.
• PTOther2024National Health Insurance interprofessional practice implementation in hand rehabilitation service delivery in South Africa.The South African journal of physiotherapyThis commentary describes the author's experience establishing an interprofessional hand rehabilitation team in a South African public hospital. It outlines how physiotherapists and occupational therapists can collaborate using the ICF framework but reports no patient outcomes or evidence that this specific model improves function.
• OTSurvey2024Associations of endurance, muscle strength, and balanced exercise with subjective sleep quality in sedentary workers: A cross-sectional study.Work (Reading, Mass.)Sedentary workers who exercised only for endurance or balance, or both, reported better sleep than those who did not exercise. Muscle strength training was not associated with better sleep. This is an association, not proof that exercise improves sleep.
• PTOther2024Attention and sensory integration for gait in young adults with autism spectrum disorder.Gait & postureNo overall gait difference appeared between adults with autism and neurotypical adults. However, those with autism shortened steps during both reaction tasks, while controls shortened only during the choice task, and varied more on carpet.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Occupational therapy and cooking: A scoping review and future directions.Scandinavian journal of occupational therapyCooking is a core occupational therapy activity used across the lifespan for assessment and intervention. The literature shows therapists use it to build skills and address cognitive or environmental barriers, but rigorous evidence for its specific health effects remains limited.
• PTOTCohort2024Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction who received usual care: a multicenter prospective cohort study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients with acute cerebral infarction receiving usual care, poor functional outcome was predicted by higher initial stroke severity (NIHSS >4) and reinfarction, not by the timing of first mobilization. Age and rehabilitation intensity were not independent predictors.
• SLPSystematic Review2024Diversity of Research Participant Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Communication Sciences and Disorders: A Systematic Review and Quantitative Synthesis of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Publications in 2020.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsOnly 33.7% of ASHA journal articles in 2020 reported race, and only 13.8% reported ethnicity. When race was reported, White participants were 76.1% of samples, above the US census figure of 61.6%.
• Protocol2024Defining Trajectories of Linguistic, Cognitive-Communicative, and Quality of Life Outcomes in Aphasia: Longitudinal Observational Study Protocol.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThis is a protocol for a study that will track 400 people with aphasia over 18 months. It describes the plan to measure recovery and predict outcomes using genetics and brain scans. No results are reported.
• Other2024Measuring Early Relational Health Using PediaTrac TM in a Diverse Sample of Infant-Caregiver Dyads.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPCaregiver ratings on PediaTrac gave consistent scores for parent-infant relational health from birth through 12 months in 571 diverse dyads. Items grouped into parent distress, parenting stress, parenting efficacy, parent-child relationship, sensitivity, and parent perceptions of the child.
• SLPSurvey2024Awareness, attitudes and perceptions of students towards leisure noise in Durban, South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings84.6% of 462 Durban education students knew noise could harm hearing, but 48.3% were unsure whether sounds over 80 dB cause permanent damage.
• PTOTQualitative2024Rehabilitation Professionals' Perspectives on Human Rights, Disability, and Science: A Qualitative Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost rehabilitation professionals for spinal cord injury did not know UN human rights conventions, though all knew the Americans with Disabilities Act. They saw barriers like equipment denial and transport as policy issues, not rights violations, yet were open to learning how to frame them as rights.
• PTOTOther2024Effect of age on ankle biomechanics and tibial compression during stair descent.Gait & postureOlder adults showed lower peak tibial compression than young adults during stair descent, but similar total load over time. Ankle stiffness did not predict compression. The older group’s reduced ankle strength likely limits their ability to absorb impact forces, potentially increasing fracture risk despite lower peak loads.
• OTCase Series2023The Impact of Weighted Blanket Use on Adults with Sensory Sensitivity and Insomnia.Occupational therapy internationalFour adults with sensory sensitivity and insomnia reported lower insomnia scores after using a weighted blanket. Daily sleep diaries showed mixed results for duration and quality, with no clear pattern across participants. This small study cannot confirm if the blanket caused the changes.
• OTQualitative2023"Surthriving" Hand Rehabilitation: Proposing Interventions to Support Novice Occupational Therapists Working in Underserved Contexts.Occupational therapy internationalNovice occupational therapists in underserved South African public services described being submerged by poverty, strained systems, inadequate hand care, and insurmountable caseloads. They moved from no idea to some idea and said they needed immediate supervision, resources, and emotional support.
• OTSystematic Review2023Predictors of Academic and Fieldwork Performance in Occupational Therapy Students: A Systematic Review.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapy students with higher admission grades and strategic study habits tended to do better academically. In fieldwork, higher GRE scores, emotional reasoning and managing others' emotions, and interaction management were the most consistent predictors, but the evidence was low quality.
• OTOther2023Is Birth Method Associated with Sensory Hyperreactivity in Children 3-4 Years in an Upper-Middle-Income Country?Occupational therapy internationalChildren born vaginally had significantly more sensory hyperreactivity than those born by caesarean section. This contradicts the hypothesis that birth method causes the condition. The finding is likely confounded by socioeconomic status, as most vaginal births occurred in lower-income groups with higher baseline rates of sensory issues.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Machine learning for automating subjective clinical assessment of gait impairment in people with acquired brain injury - a comparison of an image extraction and classification system to expert scoring.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA computer model scored arm movement abnormality during walking as consistently as three experienced physiotherapists. It correctly identified impaired versus unimpaired movement in 84% of cases, matching human judgment without the usual disagreement between different clinicians.
• Narrative Review2024CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder: Some Lessons Learned 20 Years After the First Description.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesThis review outlines the clinical features and management consensus for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, a severe genetic epilepsy. It highlights the need for multidisciplinary care and notes that current treatments poorly control seizures and other symptoms, but it reports no new trial results.
• OTCohort2024Impact of employment status and work setting on body weight and health behaviors among people with obesity.Work (Reading, Mass.)Adults with obesity who worked from home partially gained more weight than those working from home completely. Unemployment was linked to higher weight, but this association disappeared after adjusting for demographics. Stress, depression, and poor eating habits were strong predictors of weight gain.