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 560 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress in women with and without brain injuries due to intimate partner violence: Psychometric evaluation of measurement approaches and group comparisons.Rehabilitation psychologyCommon mental health screens work well for women with brain injuries from partner violence. Differences in depression and PTSD symptoms between those with and without injuries disappeared when accounting for the severity of the violence itself.
• OTSLPQualitative2025"I'm completely off base here on what this child is capable of": A qualitative analysis of how medical ableism manifests in PICU clinicians' care of children with severe neurological impairment.Disability and health journalPICU clinicians admitted they often underestimate children with severe neurological impairment because they only see them at their sickest. They suggested using photos of the child at home and asking parents specific questions to correct these biases and provide more personalized care.
• PTOTCohort2025The relationship of hip strength to walking and balance performance in unilateral lower limb prosthesis users differs by amputation level.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFor transtibial users, residual limb hip strength predicts walking and balance. For transfemoral users, only intact limb hip abductor strength matters. Rehabilitation should target the specific hip muscles associated with the patient's amputation level.
• SLPCohort2025Concussion acutely disrupts auditory processing in division I football student-athletes.Brain injuryFootball players tested 24 to 72 hours after concussion had reduced brain responses to pitch and speech sounds compared with their own preseason baseline. The drop covered both pitch and the features that distinguish speech sounds.
• Survey2025Attitudes of support people: a key element when implementing technologies for people with intellectual and visual disabilities.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologySupport people’s attitude predicted their intention to use technology more strongly than how easy they thought it was. This held regardless of the person’s level of support needs. Older support people had less positive attitudes, but age itself did not predict intention once attitude was considered.
• PTOTQualitative2025Influencers of participation in social roles and activities among women veterans with lower extremity amputations: an exploratory qualitative study.Disability and rehabilitationWomen Veterans with leg amputations described sweat inside the prosthesis, body-image worries, and limited footwear as barriers to going out and daily activities. They also said prosthetic care often ignored women's needs.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024High-Frequency rTMS Broadly Ameliorates Working Memory and Cognitive Symptoms in Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke patients receiving high-frequency rTMS over the left prefrontal cortex for two weeks showed significantly better working memory scores than those receiving sham stimulation. These improvements in memory, attention, and daily living tasks persisted for four weeks after treatment ended.
• PTOther2024Effects of ankle joint degree of freedom of knee-ankle-foot orthoses on loading patterns and triceps surae muscle activity on the paretic side in individuals with subacute severe hemiplegia: a retrospective study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLetting a KAFO ankle bend up to 20 degrees increased front-to-back movement of foot pressure and outer calf activity in the second half of stance. Most foot loading and soleus measures did not change.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2024Increased Auditory Dual Task Cost During Gait Initiation in Adult Patients With Persistent Concussion Symptoms.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAdults with persistent concussion symptoms showed greater dual-task cost during gait initiation than healthy controls. They reduced forward and lateral movement when adding a cognitive task, suggesting they prioritize hearing over balance. This may increase fall risk in noisy environments.
• Other2024Does a service provide safe, effective rehabilitation? An evaluation method for providers and purchasers.Clinical rehabilitationThis paper proposes a framework for defining expert rehabilitation services but tests it on no patients. It offers no evidence that the proposed capabilities improve care, so it cannot guide clinical decisions about which services to refer to or how to practice.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024An overview of the effects and mechanisms of transcranial stimulation frequency on motor learning.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTranscranial alternating current stimulation effects on motor learning vary widely by frequency, timing, and brain location. Alpha and beta sometimes improve learning but can impair consolidation depending on age and site. Gamma shows mixed results, with high frequencies often aiding retention while slow frequencies disrupt it. No universal protocol exists.
• PTOTCohort2024Analysis of a newly developed multidisciplinary program in the Middle East informed by the recently revised spina bifida guidelines.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn a Qatar spina bifida clinic, shunts, continence problems, and mobility-device needs were common among 117 patients. Recorded gaps included orthotics, wheelchairs, school access, and catheter supplies. This is descriptive, not outcome evidence.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Brain-Hand Function Relationships Based on Level of Grasp Function in Chronic Left-Hemisphere Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairHand function relates to different brain networks depending on severity. In severe grasp impairment, contralesional connectivity matters most. In moderate impairment, corticospinal tract integrity predicts function. In mild impairment, neither motor connectivity nor tract integrity correlated with hand function.
• PTOTCohort2024Associations Between Rehabilitation Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Costs Among Older Adults With Breast Cancer in the United States.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder breast cancer survivors who used rehab in the first year had higher average out-of-pocket costs than those who did not. However, they had lower median costs and less spending on hospital stays and equipment. The overall difference was too small to be clinically meaningful.
• PTOTCase Report2024"Virtual reality fixed me": A case report of the use of virtual reality during intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA child in intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment described virtual reality as helping her move, reduce pain focus, and feel safe. Therapists observed improvements, but this is a single person, not proof virtual reality works.
• PTCohort2024Disability Moderates Dual Task Walking Performance and Neural Efficiency in Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairOlder adults with more MS disability had higher prefrontal brain activity while walking alone and smaller increases when walking while reciting letters than those with lower disability. Both groups improved across repeated trials, but no rehabilitation was tested.
• PTOther2024Carry-Over Effect of Deep Cerebellar Stimulation-Mediated Motor Recovery in a Rodent Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn rats with traumatic brain injury, four weeks of deep cerebellar stimulation improved paw dexterity, paw use, and ladder coordination. Most gains persisted after stimulation stopped for two weeks. This is an animal study, not a human therapy.
• PTOTOther2024Combined knee osteoarthritis and diabetes is associated with reduced muscle strength, physical inactivity, and poorer quality of life.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOlder adults with both knee osteoarthritis and diabetes had significantly lower muscle strength and physical activity than those with either condition alone. However, diabetes did not worsen knee pain, and the combined group did not show higher fall risk than those with knee pain alone.
• Narrative Review2024The standards and tools of the European Union of Medical Specialists Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Section and Board for rehabilitation management and care: an evidence brief for rehabilitation practitioners.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNo original patient outcomes are reported. This evidence brief describes rehabilitation standards and tools for recording patient functioning, so there is nothing here to change your practice on.
• PTOther2024Human-exoskeleton interaction portrait.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new 'interaction portrait' metric shows how users adapt to exoskeletons. In able-bodied walkers, an adaptive controller reduced effort and disagreement, encouraging active movement. This suggests it suits rehabilitation, while a hybrid controller led users to yield control, suiting power augmentation.
• Other2024The new hospital discharge form for inpatient rehabilitation in Italy: a step forward to promote the role of rehabilitation in the healthcare system.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThis paper describes a new administrative reporting form for inpatient rehabilitation in Italy. It contains no patient data or clinical results, so it offers nothing to change how you treat patients.
• PTSystematic Review2024Simulating space walking: a systematic review on anti-gravity technology in neurorehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAnti-gravity treadmill training, sometimes combined with conventional physiotherapy, was reported to improve gait, balance, or endurance in some of 16 studies of stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy, but evidence quality was low and no dose recommendation was possible.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025A Role for Health Literacy in Protecting People With Limited English Proficiency Against Falling: A Retrospective, Cohort Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationLimited English proficiency nearly tripled fall odds in rehab. Inadequate health literacy raised that risk fourfold, while adequate literacy kept risk comparable to English speakers. Language barriers and reading difficulty, not cognition alone, drove falls.
• OTSurvey2025The role of perceived social support in subjective wellbeing among working-age U.S. adults with and without limitations in activities of daily living.Disability and health journalWorking-age U.S. adults with activities of daily living limitations reported lower happiness, meaning in life, and life satisfaction than peers without limitations. Perceived emotional and instrumental support were linked to better wellbeing, but support did not erase all differences.
• SLPSurvey2025Self-reported hearing loss and health during a pandemic: Findings from a cross-sectional analysis using a 2021 household survey.Disability and health journalAdults in Wisconsin who reported hearing loss had significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and fair or poor general health during the pandemic compared to those without hearing loss. This association persisted after adjusting for age, gender, and race.
• PTOTSurvey2025Predicting adherence to ankle-foot orthoses in people with stroke: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalStroke survivors who felt confident using their ankle-foot orthosis and held positive attitudes were significantly more likely to wear it as recommended. Social pressure from others did not predict adherence. Clinicians should focus on building patient confidence and ensuring a positive initial fitting experience.
• Other2025Model of Care for Chronic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationBeHEALTHY outlines a proposed team-based model for chronic brain injury care. It covers education, screening, treatment, and community supports, but gives no tested outcomes.
• PTOTQualitative2024Assessment of mood after severe acquired brain injury: Interviews with UK clinical psychologists and medical professionals.Clinical rehabilitationClinical psychologists and medical professionals assessing mood after severe brain injury described no agreed method. They adjusted standardised measures, relied on simple conversation, team and family observations over time, and formulation, and warned that injury symptoms can look like depression.
• PTSystematic Review2024Evidence evaluation of acupuncture and its related therapies for female urinary incontinence: an overview and quality assessment of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAcupuncture was reported better than sham or other treatments for female urinary incontinence in seven reviews, but evidence quality ranged from moderate to very low. Consider it possible adjunct, not replacement for pelvic floor training.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Effectiveness of telerehabilitation versus face-to-face pulmonary rehabilitation on physical function and quality of life in people with post COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFace-to-face pulmonary rehabilitation improved physical function and quality of life more than telerehabilitation or usual care. Telerehabilitation also helped compared to usual care, but the evidence for it was less certain. Choose the delivery method that best suits the patient's access and preferences.
• Other2024Distinct and additive effects of visual and vibratory feedback for motor rehabilitation: an EEG study in healthy subjects.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding visual and vibratory feedback to motor imagery significantly increased brain activity in motor areas compared to imagery alone. The combination produced the strongest effect, though this was measured in healthy people, not patients.
• PTOTRCT2024Efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea; a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding 20 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise to positive airway pressure therapy improved walking distance, daily living activities, and sleep-related oxygen levels in patients with both COPD and sleep apnea, compared to airway pressure therapy alone.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Exploring the perspectives of health care professionals on digital health technologies in pediatric care and rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationClinicians planning to use more digital tools valued their patient benefits but worried they might harm the therapeutic relationship. Ease of use predicted successful adoption, while lack of training and poor infrastructure predicted failure. Barriers differed by technology type.
• PTOTOther2024Shaping corticospinal pathways in virtual reality: effects of task complexity and sensory feedback during mirror therapy in neurologically intact individuals.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationUnilateral mirroring and complex tasks increased brain-to-muscle excitability in healthy adults. However, adding visuo-tactile stimulation decreased excitability. This suggests complex tasks may prime therapy, but sensory feedback before mirroring might inhibit the neural response.
• OTCohort2024Early predictors of long-term participation in patients with severe acquired traumatic injury discharged from Intensive Rehabilitation Unit.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 60 severe TBI survivors, median long-term community integration was 11 of 28, with productive activity lowest; younger age was the only early factor associated with higher scores.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Efficacy of selective neurotomy for focal lower limb spasticity: a systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSelective neurotomy reduced leg muscle tone in 95% of treated patients and often improved walking speed and pain. However, 25 of 26 included studies were low quality with high risk of bias, so these results are not yet reliable evidence that the surgery works.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024A new modular neuroprosthesis suitable for hybrid FES-robot applications and tailored assistance.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new modular FES system worked in four people with stroke or spinal cord injury, but kinematic changes varied. Removing gastrocnemius stimulation improved dorsiflexion in one case. This is a device test, not proof of clinical benefit.
• RCT2024Providing Emotional Support During the Process of Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis (PrEliMS): A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.Clinical rehabilitationEmotional support at MS diagnosis did not reduce stress or anxiety compared to usual care. Nurse-led sessions often focused on medication rather than emotional coping, suggesting support needs a different delivery model or workforce.
• PTOTOther2024Simulated real-world feasibility and feedback session for a lift assistance device, Raymex™: a mixed-method descriptive study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParticipants found the Raymex lift useful for getting up from the floor and as a walker. They also raised design concerns, including confusing brake buttons, seat comfort, noise, weight, and price. This was feedback on this device version, not proof it prevents falls.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core sets for deafblindness, part II of the systematic review: linking data to the ICF categories.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineDeafblindness in adults is characterized by challenges in listening, seeing, and hearing, alongside emotional impacts. Communication assistive technology and interpersonal relationships are central to functioning. Current classification systems miss key personal factors and accessibility needs, requiring more specific coding.
• PTOTOther2024Cortical activity during online motor control in children with and without developmental coordination disorder: a cross-sectional functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with DCD took significantly longer to correct reaching movements when a target shifted. They showed less brain activation in the left superior parietal cortex during these corrections. This reduced activation correlated with their slower movement times, suggesting a difficulty processing real-time sensory feedback.
• PTSurvey2024Usage, Attitudes, Facilitators, and Barriers Toward Digital Health Technologies in Musculoskeletal Care: Survey Among Primary Care Physiotherapists in Norway.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOnly 46% of Norwegian physiotherapists use digital tools, mostly for treatment. They avoid them for diagnosis due to limited physical exams. Positive attitudes exist, but lack of training and reimbursement barriers persist. Private practice uses them more than municipal services.
• OTOther2024Strategic insights from a Delphi study: enhancing employment for multiply marginalized people with disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesExperts prioritized emergency preparedness training, disability-aware education, assistive technology, accommodations, benefit rules, and poverty supports to improve employment for multiply marginalized disabled people.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024The Minimal assessment Protocol for Cerebral Stroke 2020 (PMIC2020): a multicenter feasibility study in post-stroke inpatient rehabilitation.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe updated stroke assessment protocol took about 27 minutes at admission and 18 minutes at discharge. It was feasible in eight rehabilitation centers, with less than 10% dropouts. Severe disability predicted longer administration times, but most clinicians rated the tool as good or very good.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Heart rate variability activity in soccer athletes after a musculoskeletal injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineInjured soccer players showed altered heart rate variability patterns compared to when they returned to play, specifically lower LF power and LF/HF ratio with higher HF power immediately after injury. These autonomic shifts suggest HRV could help detect injury or guide return-to-play decisions.
• PTRCT2024The dose effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave on plantar flexor spasticity of ankle in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationDoubling the shockwave dose improved walking time and daily function more than the standard dose, but it did not reduce muscle spasticity scores any further. Both groups received traditional rehabilitation alongside the shockwave treatment.
• Other2024Optimality of multisensory integration while compensating for uncertain visual target information with artificial vibrotactile cues during reach planning.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVibration on the arm helped healthy people hit uncertain visual targets more often at 30° and 60° uncertainty. It worked less well when people had to judge which of two vibrating motors was stronger.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025New-onset hydrocephalus in an adult with cerebral palsy: A case report and review of the literature.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA 27-year-old woman with cerebral palsy developed new hydrocephalus, causing severe spasms and pain. An MRI revealed enlarged ventricles. Shunt surgery resolved her symptoms rapidly. This case suggests clinicians should investigate neurologic causes for new or worsening hypertonia in adults with cerebral palsy.
• PTOTOther2025Crosswalking 4 Pain Impact Measures in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adults With Back Pain.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationEquations and tables allow researchers to convert scores between four common back pain measures. The Oswestry Disability Index and PEG translate well to the Impact Stratification Score. The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire translates less accurately.
• PTOTRCT2025A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection for the treatment of upper limb spasticity in adults after stroke or traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn adults with upper limb spasticity after stroke or TBI, at Week 6 the highest DAXI dose lowered muscle tone more than placebo, but physician-rated overall improvement did not.