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 565 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2025Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial of the Toolkit for Optimal Recovery After Concussion: A Live Video Program to Prevent Persistent Concussion Symptoms in Young Adults With Anxiety.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationBoth live video programs were feasible for young adults after concussion with anxiety. Scores improved in both groups, but the trial did not compare them, so it cannot show either program prevented persistent symptoms.
• Survey2025Quality of Life in Hungarian Parents of Autistic Individuals.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHungarian parents of autistic individuals reported lower quality of life than parents of neurotypical individuals, especially mothers. Income, mood, feeling life is understandable, support, and fewer challenging behaviours were linked to better quality of life.
• PTOther2024Distinguishing pain profiles among individuals with long COVID.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences31 of 153 adults in a long COVID clinic were classified as having neuropathic pain. That group reported more headache, confusion, and muscle weakness and lower quality of life scores. It did not test treatment.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Comparison of synergy extrapolation and static optimization for estimating multiple unmeasured muscle activations during walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor two post-stroke walkers, a new computer method estimated missing muscle activity more accurately than standard static optimization. It produced smoother, more realistic muscle force predictions, but this was a small technical validation, not a clinical trial.
• PTOTOther2024Role of joint interactions in upper limb joint movements: a disability simulation study using wearable inertial sensors for 3D motion capture.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRestricting one upper limb joint significantly reduced range of motion at other, non-instructed joints in healthy adults. This confirms that joint interactions heavily influence movement, suggesting clinicians should assess and treat the whole kinetic chain rather than isolated joints.
• PTRCT2024Is lateral external perturbation training more beneficial for protective stepping responses than voluntary stepping training in stroke? A pilot randomized control study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSideways push training helped the non-paretic leg start recovery steps faster than voluntary step training, but neither training improved step characteristics with the paretic leg.
• PTCohort2024Use of primary health care services among children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy used general practitioner and urgent care services more often than children without cerebral palsy. The higher use was seen even when motor impairment was mild. Many visits were coded as general or unspecified conditions, so reasons for contact were unclear.
• PTOther2024A machine learning approach for the design optimization of a multiple magnetic and inertial sensors wearable system for the spine mobility assessment.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA machine-learning method identified a smaller wearable sensor set that still classified trunk movements in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, but it did not test clinical diagnosis or patient outcomes.
• PTPilot2024Detecting muscle fatigue among community-dwelling senior adults with shape features of the probability density function of sEMG.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 30 older adults doing a handgrip test, a shape measure of the muscle electrical signal rose during fatigue, while common amplitude and frequency measures were less consistent. It may help flag low-effort fatigue, but this was a lab pilot.
• OTSLPSurvey2024The characterization of feeding challenges in autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFeeding challenges in autistic children often start earlier than diagnosis. Caregiver reports show that early difficulties with transitions and ongoing diet restriction predict more severe sensory and behavioral feeding issues later, suggesting these are key markers for early intervention.
• OTSurvey2024School participation of autistic youths: The influence of youth, family and school factors.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceProblems with the physical school environment were the only factor linked to lower school participation after handling missing data. Age was linked to more participation in original data, but not after handling missing data. Family factors and autistic traits were not linked.
• PTOTCohort2024Rest the brain to learn new gait patterns after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors with mild impairment learned a new gait pattern more slowly than controls during practice. However, they gained more performance overnight while controls lost it. This suggests scheduling rest between sessions may help stroke patients consolidate motor learning.
• PTQualitative2024Capabilities for Using Telemonitoring in Physiotherapy Treatment: Exploratory Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPhysiotherapy lecturers identified 16 capabilities needed to use telemonitoring, focusing on interpreting data, coaching patients, and protecting privacy. They noted that remote monitoring requires new skills in statistics and context, not just clinical knowledge. These findings guide education, not patient outcomes.
• OTPilot2024Responses of several measures to different intensity levels of upper limb exergames in children with neurological diagnoses: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn children with neurological diagnoses playing upper limb exergames, heart rate variability, movement repetitions per minute, and Borg perceived exertion changed with therapist-set intensity. Skin conductance did not.
• SLPPilot2024Feasibility of the Autism Navigator® JumpStart to Coaching in Everyday Activities course in South Africa.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSixteen of 26 South African autism service providers finished a web-based caregiver coaching course in an average of 5.58 months. Completers rated it feasible, but language barriers and slow completion are practical concerns.
• OTSLPSurvey2024What are the autism research priorities of autistic adults in Scotland?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults in Scotland prioritized mental health, diagnosis, and lifespan services, while ranking genetic and behavioral intervention research lowest. They explicitly rejected therapies aimed at making them less autistic, favoring support that improves daily life and accessibility instead.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Instrumented assessment of lower and upper motor neuron signs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using robotic manipulation: an explorative study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA robotic wrist test detected signs of upper motor neuron loss in ALS patients. The machine measured increased reflexive force feedback, which correlated with clinical severity scores. This offers a potential objective tool to distinguish upper from lower motor neuron damage, though the sample was small and exploratory.
• OTSLPOther2024Mainstream Technologies in Facilities for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Multiple-Methods Study Using the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability Framework.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStaff said residents need individually adapted devices and caregiver time. Communication was the clearest benefit, but people who cannot state what they want may be left out. Disability-specific caregiver confidence was low.
• SLPPilot2024Development and preliminary evaluation of a grid design application for adults and children using scanning and bci-based augmentative and alternative communication.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNAFive people experienced with BCI-AAC research designed personal scanning or BCI-AAC grids in an iPad app. Each made a unique display, and all rated it easy and enjoyable. They chose varied highlighting and layout settings, not one standard grid.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024The effectiveness and costs of intensive stroke rehabilitation and improvements in patient pathway in Finland: a retrospective benchmarking controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke pathway changes in Lahti and Päijät-Häme were linked to more patients discharged home, fewer institutionalized, shorter episodes and lower costs, but mortality did not improve.
• PTPilot2024Immersive virtual reality for learning exoskeleton-like virtual walking: a feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy adults learned to trigger more virtual steps after immersive VR training. Feedback and viewpoint did not clearly improve step triggering, and usability was only marginal.
• OTSLPCohort2025Examining the Process and Impact of Social Problem Solving in Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn autistic children, identifying that a social problem exists predicted better parent-reported social skills more strongly than choosing good goals or solutions. Therapists should prioritize helping children recognize when a social conflict is happening before teaching specific resolution strategies.
• Other2025Schizophrenia in Autistic People with Intellectual Disabilities. Treatment and Interventions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTwenty-six autistic adults with intellectual disabilities and schizophrenia received broad treatment including medication, adapted daily activities, and caregiver training. Proxy-rated symptoms of psychosis, anxiety, and challenging behaviors dropped significantly by the end of treatment and stayed lower a year later. No comparison group means we cannot know if treatment caused this.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Parental Perspectives on Early Life Screening and Genetic Testing for ASD: A Systematic Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents generally view genetic testing for autism positively, citing benefits like early intervention and understanding causes. However, the most common barriers were lack of provider recommendation and high cost, leaving many families unaware of testing options.
• PTOTRCT2025Causal Mediation Analysis of Factors Influencing Physical Activity and Community Access Among People With Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson Disease.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationBaseline walking self-efficacy predicted increased physical activity, and walking capacity predicted broader community access. However, non-motor symptoms like back pain and cognitive flexibility did not mediate these relationships, suggesting direct behavioral and physical capacities drive outcomes more than indirect symptom pathways.
• OTSLPPilot2025"Optimizing Wellness and Neurorehabilitation with Mindfulness (OWNMindfulness)": feasibility of a novel mindfulness-based rehabilitation intervention for Persisting Symptoms after Concussion.Disability and rehabilitationA mindfulness program for persistent concussion symptoms was feasible and well-liked. Participants reported feeling validated and less symptomatic. However, most were receiving other rehab at the same time, so this study cannot prove the mindfulness itself caused the improvement.
• SLPCase Series2025The Lighter Touch: Less-Restriction in Sequentially Implemented Behavioral Sleep Interventions for Children with Rare Genetic Neurodevelopmental Conditions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor eight children with rare genetic conditions, sleep problems improved when behavioral interventions were tried in order from least to most restrictive. Circadian changes alone resolved issues for one child, but most needed added strategies, including modified extinction, to stop night wakings.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Influences on the physical activity behaviour of inpatients after stroke outside of staff-led rehabilitation sessions: a systematic review.Clinical rehabilitationAfter stroke, inpatient activity outside therapy was influenced by staff time, usable ward spaces, family visitors, and rules about moving. Some supported activity; others kept patients inactive.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Validating the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Sets for Autism in a Sample of Australian School-Aged Children on the Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver ratings matched autism core sets for attention and social tasks, but missed key facilitators like assets and motivation. Many ICF terms were unclear to parents, requiring simplified definitions before clinical use.
• OTSurvey2024Occurrence and predictors of lifetime suicidality and suicidal ideation in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAmong 1164 autistic adults, 80% reported lifetime suicidal thoughts or attempts; among 421 who completed more items, half had thoughts in the past month. Loneliness, psychiatric comorbidity, and more autistic traits were associated with lifetime suicidal behavior.
• PTSurvey2024A survey of the experiences of delivering physiotherapy services through telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPhysiotherapists felt video calls were better than phone calls for education and exercise guidance, but safety, balance training, pain, and limited client technology access remained big problems.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Using Q-sort method to explore autistic students' views of the impacts of their anxiety at school.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students reported anxiety most strongly impacted schoolwork, making it hard to start, concentrate, or do their best. They also described freezing, masking feelings, and struggling to listen. These varied impacts mean a single anxiety profile does not fit all students.
• OTOther2024Career progression for autistic people: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults often wanted career progression but were underemployed and poorly matched to roles. Barriers included stigma, disclosure fears, organisational gaps and inaccessible promotion. Employment support and tailored pathways were reported as helpful, not proven fixes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Evaluation of Visual Disturbances After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury-A One-Year Follow-up Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOne year after mild brain injury, visual symptoms like tired eyes and blurred vision improved for most patients. However, specific eye coordination problems, particularly with distance fusion and dynamic visual acuity, remained common, suggesting these deficits do not always resolve spontaneously.
• SLPRCT2024Effects of different types of high-definition transcranial electrical stimulation on visual working memory and contralateral delayed activity.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy adults, one session of high-definition stimulation to the left prefrontal cortex improved visual working memory capacity compared to sham. Auditory working memory and reaction times did not change, and the benefit was measured immediately after stimulation in people without cognitive impairment.
• PTOTRCT2024Rehabilitation and care after hip fracture: a cost-utility analysis of stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding intensive physiotherapy and empowerment support to usual hip fracture care produced a tiny quality-of-life gain but cost significantly more. It was not cost-effective overall. However, for patients discharged to their own homes, it may be viable without extra cost.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Mortality risk among Autistic children and young people: A nationwide birth cohort study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children and young people in this large New Zealand cohort faced more than double the mortality risk of their non-Autistic peers. The risk was substantially higher for females and for those with co-occurring intellectual disability, highlighting a critical need for targeted health and safety support.
• PTOTCohort2024Patient satisfaction with rehabilitation services following traumatic brain injury: a quality registry study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBelief in recovery was the strongest predictor of satisfaction with TBI rehabilitation, increasing odds by 2.73 times. Longer wait times decreased satisfaction odds by 61% for outpatient clinics and 50% for primary care. Higher symptom burden predicted lower satisfaction with specialized outpatient care.
• PTRCT2024Efficacy observation of combined transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on gait in 169 subacute stroke patients.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn subacute stroke, combined taVNS and tDCS before rehabilitation produced larger gains in walking, balance and daily function than either alone or control. All groups also received standard rehabilitation.
• SLPQualitative2024Social media shaping autism perception and identity.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults found social media more helpful than official health sites for understanding their own experiences, especially women who lacked representation. However, they reported that online communities often felt unwelcoming due to aggressive debates over language and interventions.
• PTPilot2024A fuzzy-logic approach for longitudinal assessment of patients' psychophysiological state: an application to upper-limb orthopedic robot-aided rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEight post-surgery patients doing robot arm and virtual-reality upper-limb therapy mostly had estimated positive states. Across sessions, estimated excitement fell while relaxation rose, and boredom or stress stayed rare. This describes estimated perception of the treatment, not that it improved recovery.
• OTSurvey2024Camouflaging, not sensory processing or autistic identity, predicts eating disorder symptoms in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn 180 autistic adults, camouflaging (hiding autistic traits) uniquely predicted eating disorder symptoms. Sensory processing was related but did not uniquely predict, and autistic identity showed no association.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Impact of disability-based discrimination in healthcare on parents of children with medical complexity.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents of children with medical complexity reported that disability-based discrimination in healthcare erodes trust, increases caregiving burden through forced advocacy, and harms parental mental health. Racism and poverty-based discrimination compound these effects.
• Other2024Counting the costs: understanding the extra costs of living with disability in Indonesia to advance inclusive policies within the SDG framework.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper analyzes economic costs of disability in Indonesia to shape government policy. It reports no clinical outcomes or intervention effects. There is nothing here to change how you treat patients.
• PTOTCohort2024Epidemiological investigation of traumatic spinal cord injury caused by object strike in China: strategies for workplace safety improvement.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost spinal cord injuries from object strikes happened to male manual labourers aged 30–44. They mostly had complete paraplegia, high complication rates, and long hospital stays. Work injury insurance coverage was low, leaving many to pay out-of-pocket.
• OTOther2024Suicide risk in transition-aged autistic youth: The link among executive function, depression, and autistic traits.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAbout one-third of autistic transition-aged youth reported lifetime suicidal thoughts. Depression and everyday executive-function challenges each tracked suicide risk separately. Screening should assess mood and executive-function difficulties.
• OTSLPCohort2025Friendship in Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Related to Diverse Developmental Changes Between Toddlerhood and Adolescence.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with ASD who had friends did not show worsening social communication severity and had larger gains in socialization and daily living skills. Those without friends showed worsening social communication severity. School setting, ADHD, and anxiety did not separate the groups.
• PTRCT2025Unveiling the benefits of stretch-shortening cycle exercise for children with obstetric brachial plexus injury: a clinical trial assessing muscle strength, bone mineral density, and functional capacity.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTwelve weeks of explosive stretch-shortening cycle exercise improved upper-limb strength, bone density, and arm function in children with obstetric brachial plexus injury more than standard therapy. Add this to your routine for children aged 10 to 16 with Erb's palsy.
• PTOTCohort2025Sensorimotor Features and Daily Living Skills in Autistic Children With and Without ADHD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children with ADHD showed lower movement skills and more often sought sensory input or had strong reactions to it. Daily living skills were better explained by each child's autism and ADHD features than by ADHD group status.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Understanding factors influencing exercise program adherence for youth with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS).Brain injuryYouth with persistent concussion symptoms identified four key drivers for sticking to exercise programs: social support, accountability, goal setting, and structure. Weekly check-ins and clear progression templates helped overcome fear of symptom exacerbation and prioritization barriers.