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 552 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTCohort2024Multiple sclerosis and spasticity: the role of anaesthetic nerve blocks on rectus femoris muscle. When should stiff knee be treated with botulinum toxin?Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn 14 people with MS and stiff knee, a diagnostic nerve block predicted who would improve after botulinum toxin. Those with more severe disability saw the block match toxin results across all walking tests. Those with milder disability saw the block underestimate improvement in agility tasks.
• Other2024Shank3 deficiency elicits autistic-like behaviors by activating p38α in hypothalamic AgRP neurons.Molecular autismIn mice with a genetic mutation linked to autism, blocking a specific signaling pathway in brain neurons reduced repetitive behaviors and improved social interaction. This identifies a potential biological target for future drug development, but the findings are strictly preclinical and do not apply to human patients or current therapy.
• PTOther2024Impact of direct access on the quality of primary care musculoskeletal physiotherapy: a scoping review from a patient, provider, and societal perspective.Archives of physiotherapyDirect-access physiotherapy for musculoskeletal problems did not clearly improve pain, quality of life, or function compared with GP referral. It was linked to shorter waiting, higher compliance, and less medication, imaging, and cost.
• PTOther2024Effects of technological running shoes versus barefoot running on the intrinsic foot muscles, ankle mobility, and dynamic control: a novel cross-sectional research.Brazilian journal of physical therapyExperienced barefoot runners had thicker plantar fascia and larger quadratus plantae and abductor digiti minimi cross-sectional areas, and greater ankle dorsiflexion than technological-shoe runners; dynamic balance was similar. This compares groups, not proves footwear caused the differences.
• SLPNarrative Review2024A Perspective on Auditory Wellness: What It Is, Why It Is Important, and How It Can Be Managed.Trends in hearingA normal audiogram does not guarantee good listening. Many adults with good hearing wellness report trouble hearing, poorer speech in noise, and social communication problems. The paper proposes self-check tools, but does not show they improve outcomes.
• SLPSurvey2024The mediating role of psychological safety on humble leadership and presenteeism in Japanese organizations1.Work (Reading, Mass.)Humble leadership did not directly reduce presenteeism, but it increased team psychological safety, which then lowered productivity loss. For therapists, this suggests fostering a safe environment where staff can admit errors may help maintain performance better than leadership style alone.
• SLPCase Report2024Case Report: Benefits of LSVT LOUD in a multilingual patient with hypokinetic-hyperkinetic dysarthria and suspected progressive supranuclear palsy.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne multilingual man with suspected progressive supranuclear palsy had louder, clearer speech after 16 LSVT sessions, and his spouse reported better communication. Three months later, vocal quality and intelligibility remained, but loudness and reported communication benefit did not.
• OTOther2024Influence of brick laying height on biomechanical load in masons: Cross-sectional field study with technical measurements.Work (Reading, Mass.)In 12 masons, bricklaying at shoulder or above shoulder height increased upper trapezius load, while knee-height work produced the most forward trunk bending. Hip height had lower trapezius load than shoulder or above-shoulder work and less trunk bending than knee-height work.
• PTOther2024Preliminary translation of 'Reducing Disability in Alzheimer's Disease' among individuals with intellectual disabilities and caregiver dyads.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDThe adapted RDAD-KC home program did not show a significant change in physical activity, behavioral severity, caregiver distress, unmet needs, or strain. It was small, unpowered, and had no comparison group.
• SLPCohort2024An electrophysiological and behavioral investigation of feedback-based learning in aphasia.AphasiologyPeople with aphasia learned new words from feedback, but the brain signal for error detection did not predict this learning. Instead, attention and updating skills predicted retention. Feedback is helpful, but cognitive demands may hinder its use.
• OTSLPQualitative2024"A perfect storm": Autistic experiences of menopause and midlife.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic participants described menopause as a period of intense sensory and emotional overwhelm, often compounded by late autism diagnosis. They reported feeling dismissed by healthcare providers who lacked understanding of both autism and perimenopause, leading to significant distress and barriers to accessing support.
• SLPOther2024Pharyngeal phase of swallowing in post-stroke dysphagia: videoendoscopy and speech-language-hearing assessment.CoDASChronic stroke patients with swallowing complaints showed more tongue weakness, food left in the throat after swallowing, and food entering below the vocal folds than dysphagia patients without stroke, including with thickened liquids and solid food.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Mapping the costs and socioeconomic characteristics involved in traumatic brain injuries: a scoping review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost studies link lower socioeconomic status to higher costs and worse outcomes after traumatic brain injury, but the evidence is sparse and inconsistent. Only two studies fully measured social position, so current data cannot reliably guide clinical decisions on individual patients.
• OTOther2024Technical-tactical behavior analysis of general duty police officers during non-compliant suspect apprehensions: A novel approach to establish minimum force requirements.Work (Reading, Mass.)Police officers rarely struck suspects during apprehension simulations. They used grappling moves, especially two-hand pulls. The wrist required 54 kg of force to destabilize. Forearm, chest, and back needed less. This informs physical employment standards for law enforcement.
• PTOTPilot2024Effects of electrical stimulation of antagonist muscles on shoulder joint adduction force and grip strength.Journal of physical therapy scienceStimulating the deltoid muscle lowered the force needed to hold a healthy young man's shoulder in adduction. Stimulating the finger extensor did not lower grip strength. This was done in 15 healthy adults, not patients, so it cannot yet guide care for bedridden older adults.
• PTOTCohort2024Association between regional phase angle and level of locomotion among older females requiring long-term care in a health facility.Journal of physical therapy scienceRegional phase angle in the lower limbs decreased significantly across three levels of mobility, from walking to assisted wheelchair use. This suggests phase angle may reflect physical decline in immobile older women, offering a potential marker for monitoring muscle quality without requiring active effort.
• PTOTCohort2024Motor difficulties in 16p11.2 copy number variation.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchDeletion carriers showed more reported clumsiness and slower motor speed than duplication carriers, but less tremor and better scores on some direct motor tasks. Motor difficulty did not predict autism diagnosis.
• PTRCT2024Analyzing muscle thickness changes in lateral abdominal muscles while exercising using virtual reality.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 22 healthy men, seated virtual-reality reaching produced greater transverse abdominis thickness changes during same-side reaches than real-space reaching. Other abdominal muscles and opposite-side reaches did not differ. This is a muscle-thickness signal, not a proven clinical effect.
• OTSLPQualitative2024"I have to charge my social battery": Perspectives from autistic young adults on Quality of Life.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic young adults wanted close connections but needed time alone to recharge their social battery. They valued family, pets, peers, direct support, routines, sensory-friendly places, and pursuing interests. Generic quality-of-life measures may miss these.
• OTSurvey2024Work-related quality of life of occupational therapists in Ireland.The British journal of occupational therapyIrish occupational therapists reported work-related quality of life below NHS healthcare worker norms. High workload and organisational constraints were linked to lower quality of life, and lower quality of life was linked to turnover intentions.
• SLPOther2024Prospective Teacher's Voice Questionnaire (PTVQ): Development of a Questionnaire to Assess Training-Related Voice Symptoms Among Prospective Teachers.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationThe Prospective Teacher's Voice Questionnaire (PTVQ) is a new tool for student teachers. Pilot testing showed high relevance and clarity. It helps identify voice risks during training, allowing early prevention before they start working in noisy classrooms.
• Case ReportComplex ADHD Challenging Case: When Simple Becomes Complex: Managing Clinician Bias and Navigating Challenging Family Dynamics in a 6-Year-Old Girl with ADHD and Developmental Delays.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParent-reported social and behavioral difficulties were not observed during assessment in a child diagnosed with ADHD. The case commentary describes how family dynamics and trauma can complicate autism and ADHD diagnosis.
• Other2024Identifying strategies and related principles supporting a co-design approach in an assistive device service delivery and research platform.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences
• OTSurvey2024Perceptions of black and minoritised ethnic occupational therapists on mentoring: A survey.The British journal of occupational therapyBlack and minoritised ethnic occupational therapists valued mentoring but found it hard to access mentors who shared their background. They sought safe, confidential spaces to discuss racism and career barriers, with most saying a mentor from their own ethnic group was important.
• PTOther2024Center of Pressure Velocity and Dynamic Postural Control Strategies Vary During Y-Balance and Star Excursion Balance Testing.International journal of sports physical therapyDynamic balance tests yield different strategies. The Y-Balance Test and its modified version produced slower sagittal plane center of pressure velocities than the Star Excursion Balance Test, indicating greater stability from the reach indicator's feedback. No differences appeared in frontal plane velocities.
• SLPCohort2024Trajectory of depressive symptoms over adolescence in autistic and neurotypical youth.Molecular autismAutistic youth reported higher depression symptoms at age 10 than neurotypical peers, but these symptoms decreased through middle adolescence. Neurotypical youth started with lower symptoms that rose sharply after age 13. The two groups' symptom levels converged around age 14.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Application of the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model: A Scoping Review.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthA scoping review of 109 articles found the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model is widely used to frame research and practice across diverse populations. It helps clinicians map how personal and environmental factors interact to influence performance, though definitions of participation vary.
• SLPOther2024Neural Decoding of the Speech Envelope: Effects of Intelligibility and Spectral Degradation.Trends in hearingUnderstanding speech gave a small boost to brain tracking of the speech envelope. Degraded sound quality did not change this pattern. English was tracked better than Dutch, but the difference was small.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Clinical and neurophysiological effects of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG-guided neurofeedback in Parkinson's disease: a randomized, four-arm controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining brain stimulation with neurofeedback improved Parkinson's motor symptoms more than either alone. However, neither treatment changed walking speed, balance, or finger tapping speed. The effect on quality of life was positive but based on a small, unblinded sample.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Hearing Loss for Children and Adolescents from 1990 to 2019: A Trend Analysis.Trends in hearingGlobal hearing loss in children dropped slightly from 1990 to 2019, but mild cases rose. Adolescent girls aged 15-19 saw a significant increase in moderate hearing loss, driven by noise exposure and ear infections, requiring targeted prevention.
• SLPCase-Control2024Auditory time perception impairment in children with developmental dyscalculia.Research in developmental disabilitiesChildren with developmental dyscalculia were less precise when judging how long sounds lasted. They heard short and longer sounds as less distinct than age-matched peers, but their average time estimates were not shifted.
• Narrative Review2024Measurement Invariance in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesNo clinical findings are reported. This is a methodological commentary on whether test scores mean the same thing across groups in intellectual and developmental disability research.
• SLPOther2024The relationship between gamma-band neural oscillations and language skills in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their first-degree relatives.Molecular autismBrain responses to speech were stronger in autistic youth than in typical peers, and stronger responses tracked with weaker language skills. Unaffected siblings sat between the groups. This is a brain measure, not a therapy target.
• PTOTPilot2024Neuromuscular conditions in post-stroke ankle-foot dysfunction reflected by surface electromyography.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSurface EMG showed reduced muscle activation on the affected side and increased coordination on the unaffected side in post-stroke patients. These differences were not seen in traditional clinical assessments, suggesting EMG may reveal hidden neuromuscular compensation.
• SLPCohort2024Gender diversity in autistic and neurotypical youth over adolescence and puberty: A longitudinal study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic girls assigned female at birth reported and showed higher gender diversity scores than typically developing girls, with patterns shifting during puberty. Boys assigned male at birth showed stable gender diversity scores regardless of diagnosis. Parent and self-reports did not correlate, suggesting both perspectives are needed.
• PTOTRCT2024Effect of electrode attachment location for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pain relief in lumbar vertebral body fractures.Journal of physical therapy scienceTENS applied to the lumbar region or lower limbs reduced pain during movement for the first two weeks after bed rest began. Placement on the arms had little effect. Pain relief did not improve daily function or reduce fear of pain, and benefits disappeared by week three.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Risk factors and hearing outcomes in infants and young children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsRecurrent ear infections and HIV were the most common risks in this South African cohort, appearing in 43% and 16% of files. The standard US screening list missed these local drivers, meaning risk checks must be adapted to the region to catch preventable hearing loss.
• SLPOther2024The Impact of Trained Conditions on the Generalization of Learning Gains Following Voice Discrimination Training.Trends in hearingGains from voice discrimination training did not transfer better than no training for combined voice cues, although the trained task itself improved. Only training with background noise improved sentence recognition in noise more than no training, so the training environment mattered.
• SLPCohort2024Factors associated with oropharyngeal dysphagia in individuals with cardiovascular disease and COVID-19.CoDAS51.4% of hospitalized adults with cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 had swallowing impairment. Older age and prone positioning stayed linked to it after accounting for other factors. Oxygen support and ICU care were less certain.
• SLPOther2024Proximal auditory AR rehabilitation: system integration and wellness applications-from hearing support up toward vestibular rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesHealthy young adults standing on a balance board swayed sideways more when hearing sounds move between distant speakers through an open-ear headset. This specific setup increased tilt in their standing posture compared to closed headphones or bone-conduction devices.
• OTNarrative Review2024Applying Concepts of Curriculum Design and Cultural Adaptation: Collaborating on a Dual-Degree Occupational Therapy Program in Mainland China.Occupational therapy internationalNo patient outcome finding is reported. There is nothing here to change patient care.
• PTCohort2024Objective measurement of movement variability using wearable sensors predicts ASD outcomes in infants at high likelihood for ASD and ADHD.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchLower ankle movement variability was associated with later ASD at 18, 24, and 36 months in a family-risk cohort. It added prediction beyond family history but did not separate ASD from ADHD concerns or predict ADHD.
• PTCase Report2024Nonsurgical Management of Adductor-related groin pain with Ultrasound-Guided Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection and Physical Therapy in a Competitive Soccer Player: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA 17-year-old soccer player with adductor-related groin pain returned to sport at six weeks after an ultrasound-guided injection of platelet-rich plasma with lidocaine and Depo Medrol, plus physical therapy. This is a case report, not proof the injection caused the improvement.
• PTSurvey2024Screening for Incidence and Effect of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in College-Aged Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyOlder athletes, swimmers, and those reporting more pelvic-floor knowledge had higher symptom scores. Of 53 college athletes, 13 scored 3 or more; 92.3% of them had abnormal pelvic-floor muscle activity, and 69% reported embarrassment, anxiety/worry and annoyance while 77% reported personal-life impact.
• OTOther2024Smart ArM: a customizable and versatile robotic arm prosthesis platform for Cybathlon and research.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSmart ArM is a customizable trans-humeral robotic prosthesis research platform, not a proven clinical treatment. It lets researchers reprogram elbow, wrist, and hand control, but battery life and the need for supervision limit daily use.
• PTOther2024The Effects of TMR® Fab 6 on Hamstring Flexibility in Healthy Subjects; An Exploratory Observational Investigation.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 20 healthy athletes, one TMR Fab 6 session increased hamstring flexibility more than a sham movement, and the gain remained at 24 hours.
• OTOther2024Public and professional involvement in a systematic review investigating the impact of occupational therapy on the self-management of rheumatoid arthritis.The British journal of occupational therapyInvolving patients and therapists throughout a systematic review improved the search strategy and interpretation of findings. Partners valued clear roles and timely feedback but noted online-only meetings missed under-served voices. Researchers should plan involvement from the start and evaluate it immediately after key phases.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of conditioned pain modulation and pain in fibromyalgia: CPM as an effect modifier of pain changes over time.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyFibromyalgia patients with poor baseline pain inhibition showed greater improvement in pain and function over time than those with strong inhibition. However, this was a small, exploratory secondary analysis of an ongoing trial, so these findings are hypothesis-generating and not yet clinically actionable.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Unraveling attrition and retention: A qualitative study with rehabilitation professionals.Work (Reading, Mass.)Rehabilitation professionals stay when their work aligns with their values and they feel supported by colleagues and managers. They leave when they experience bullying, excessive administrative burdens, or conflicts with regulatory bodies that make them feel policed rather than protected.
• Cohort2024Prospective association of the infant gut microbiome with social behaviors in the ECHO consortium.Molecular autismMost early-life gut microbiome links to later social behavior scores were weak or absent. Some bacterial gene pathways for short-chain fatty acids and menaquinone showed small prospective signals, but findings were not consistently replicable.