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 570 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSystematic Review2025Ethnicity and health-related quality of life in the post stroke population: a systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEight of 11 stroke studies found better quality of life in majority ethnic groups; 2 found better outcomes in minority groups, and 1 found no difference. Asians scored better in two studies. Where measured, differences were small or moderate.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy versus health education for sleep disturbance and fatigue following stroke and traumatic brain injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineCognitive behavioral therapy improved sleep quality more than health education immediately after treatment. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups at 2 or 4 months follow-up. Both groups showed similar long-term gains, suggesting health education may be sufficient for sustained improvement.
• PTRCT2025Efficacy of brain-computer interface training with motor imagery-contingent feedback in improving upper limb function and neuroplasticity among persons with chronic stroke: a double-blinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn chronic stroke, contingent-feedback BCI with electrical stimulation and virtual hand feedback plus conventional therapy improved wrist extensor strength more than independent-feedback BCI with electrical stimulation and virtual hand feedback plus conventional therapy, but wrist extension range did not differ significantly between groups.
• PTOTSurvey2025Self-reported physical activity more than 1 year after stroke and its determinants in relation to the WHO recommendations.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationTwo-thirds of stroke survivors reported physical activity levels below WHO recommendations over a year after onset. Those needing home help, using mobility devices, living alone, or who were older were significantly less active. Stroke type and time since onset did not predict activity levels.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Exploring the role of the rock climbing Treadwall as a novel therapy tool in physical rehabilitation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationNine children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy used a rotating climbing wall for 10 minutes daily. They climbed significantly farther and faster after three weeks. Upper limb function scores improved. The study confirms feasibility and safety but cannot prove the wall caused the gains.
• PTOTOther2025Development of the Italian version of the Motricity Index and evaluation of its reliability in adults with stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Italian Motricity Index reliably measures motor impairment on the more affected side after stroke, but shows poor agreement between therapists on the less affected side. Expect measurement error of 9-25% on the affected side, so small score changes are not true improvements.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2025MAGEL2 (patho-)physiology and Schaaf-Yang syndrome.Developmental medicine and child neurologySchaaf-Yang syndrome is diagnosed by a paternally inherited MAGEL2 variant and can cause hypotonia, feeding and breathing problems, joint contractures, developmental delay, autism, and endocrine dysfunction. Treatment evidence is limited.
• PTCohort2025Increasing prevalence of cerebral palsy in children born very preterm in Denmark.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCP prevalence among Danish children born very preterm increased by 3.5% annually from 2003 to 47.8 per 1000 live births in 2013, while neonatal mortality fell. This is a population trend, not evidence that therapy changes CP risk.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Does rehabilitation improve work participation in patients with chronic spinal pain after spinal surgery: a systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation for chronic spinal pain after surgery showed mixed work results. One comparison against no treatment found higher return-to-work rates; the randomized trial found no employment change. Evidence is too limited for firm recommendations.
• PTOTPilot2025Effectiveness of Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance for autistic children with developmental coordination disorder.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTwenty-six autistic children improved their self-rated performance and satisfaction on chosen motor goals after Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance. Independent ratings confirmed better movement quality. Standardised motor proficiency scores did not show clinically meaningful change.
• PTOTCohort2025Characteristics of subacute stroke patients who achieve earlier independence in real-life walking performance during hospitalization.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAfter subacute stroke, younger age, higher cognition, and better walking ability on admission predicted earlier independence in real ward walking; low daily-living ability or no walking ability predicted slower achievement.
• SLPOther2025The role of circadian rhythms and sleep in the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: New evidence from bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceGenetic liability to a later peak of daily activity was linked to higher odds of ASD and ADHD. ADHD was also potentially linked to more night-time sleep episodes. This is genetic evidence about diagnosis risk, not proof that changing sleep treats either condition.
• SLPSurvey2025Should Parents Only Use One Language with Their Autistic Children? The Relations Between Multilingualism, Children's Social Skills, and Parent-Child Communication.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents who communicated with their autistic child in a foreign language rather than their mother tongue felt significantly less comfortable and authentic. However, the language used at home did not affect the children's social skills, suggesting parents should choose the language they feel most natural using.
• SLPQualitative2025Autistic adults' perspectives and experiences of diagnostic assessments that include play across the lifespan.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults said play may help diagnostic assessments, but it should not decide diagnosis alone. Tailor play use to age, gender and masking, ask about experiences, and describe differences and strengths rather than deficits.
• PTOTCase Report2024Neurovisual Training With Acoustic Feedback: An Innovative Approach for Nystagmus Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA woman with downbeat nystagmus reported less reliance on a rollator after combined audiovisual, balance, gait, strength, proprioception, trunk control, and treadmill training plus fampridine. Scores improved more when assessed without fampridine, but the mix cannot show which part helped.
• SLPQualitative2024Educational Values of Latino Families Participating in a School Readiness Intervention: Hopes and Implications for Pediatrics.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPLatino parents view pediatricians as trusted partners for school readiness, requesting more time and direct guidance during visits. They seek help connecting to community resources like speech therapy and preschool, and want practical strategies to teach early skills at home.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024The meaning of autistic movements.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults describe movement as a way to regulate senses and emotions. Stimming and exercise serve the same functions but face stigma. Clinicians should explore how patients use movement for well-being rather than suppressing it.
• Qualitative2024Striving to establish patient participation in rehabilitation: the challenges experienced by nursing staff when changing practice to include the patient's perspective.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNursing staff in spinal injury rehabilitation found conversations with patients valuable, but tight task schedules, interrupted time and unclear authority made it hard to listen calmly. They asked for protected conversation time and formal priority in the care pathway.
• SLPCohort2024Associations Among Race, Ethnicity, and Clinical Profiles of Young Children Evaluated for Autism in the Primary Care Setting.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPLatine children referred for autism evaluation were more likely to receive an autism diagnosis than non-Latine White children. They also showed lower developmental and adaptive functioning scores. This suggests current referral pathways may miss less impaired children or reflect systemic biases in assessment.
• OTSLPCohort2024Description and predictors of self-determination in males and females with fragile X syndrome on the verge of adulthood.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregivers rated young adults with fragile X syndrome as having low ability to set and pursue their own goals, but many chances at home. School chances varied. Lower everyday skills and poorer social communication were linked to less goal-setting ability and fewer school chances.
• SLPSurvey2024Perceptions of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder on How Health Care Providers Address Sexual Health.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPYoung adults with autism reported less sexual health counseling and abuse screening from providers than adults without autism, despite similar access to care and comfort discussing these topics.
• OTPilot2025ENGAGE-TBI: adaptation of a community-based intervention to improve social participation after brain injury.Brain injuryAdapting a community-based stroke participation programme for brain injury was feasible in a small pilot. Participants showed improved social participation and mental health, but social isolation and physical health did not change. It cannot show the programme works.
• PTMeta-Analysis2025Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationIn plantar fasciitis, PRP injections gave better pain relief and foot function at 3 to 6 months than corticosteroid injections, often with local anesthetics. They did not help more at 1 month or 1 year for pain, and did not reduce fascia thickness more.
• Narrative Review2025MetaRehabVerse: The Great Opportunity to Put the Person's Functioning and Participation at the Center of Healthcare.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairThis paper outlines a theoretical vision for using metaverse technologies in rehabilitation. It proposes concepts like virtual avatars and AI-driven therapy but reports no clinical trials or patient outcomes. There is no evidence here that these tools work.
• Cohort2025Brain MRI findings in paediatric genetic disorders associated with white matter abnormalities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyBrain MRI patterns in 83 children with genetic white matter disorders show that corpus callosum thinning is common across many disease types. Specific combinations of white matter changes, calcifications, or restricted diffusion can help distinguish between rare diagnoses.
• SLPCohort2025The long-lasting benefits of pre-kindergarten education on autistic children's working memory development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children who attended pre-K showed higher auditory working memory scores from spring of first grade through spring of third grade. In all children, pre-K was linked to higher scores at kindergarten entry and spring of first grade, but not later.
• Other2025Why we need a representative organization of academic PRM in Europe, and why we need it now.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThis paper argues for creating a new European organization to support academic rehabilitation medicine. It discusses policy, governance, and advocacy for medical education. It contains no clinical data, patient outcomes, or evidence about treatments.
• Other2025Muscle contracture in children with cerebral palsy: Mechanosensitive pathways and cellular dysfunction.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn muscle cells from children with cerebral palsy, stiffness alone did not fix poor fusion. Cells kept intrinsic defects that blocked muscle growth, suggesting mechanical therapies may need to target cellular pathways too.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Factors associated with aspects of functioning one year after hospitalization due to COVID-19.Clinical rehabilitationFatigue three months after hospitalization for COVID-19 predicted lower walking capacity a year later, alongside older age and female sex. Interestingly, how severe the initial infection was did not predict long-term function, meaning patients with mild cases may still face significant recovery challenges.
• PTOther2025Should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speeds.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 24 healthy adults walking on a treadmill, faster speed without handrails increased brain activity and connectivity in frontoparietal areas. Holding the handrails flattened these speed differences. This is a neuroimaging finding, not evidence that either method improves clinical gait outcomes.
• PTRCT2025Optimizing transcutaneous spinal stimulation: excitability of evoked spinal reflexes is dependent on electrode montage.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor transcutaneous spinal stimulation, placing anodes over the umbilicus or iliac crests activates spinal circuits at lower intensities than midline placements. This may improve tolerability and reduce skin risk, though these montages did not produce larger reflex responses at matched intensities.
• PTOTCohort2025Physical function and perceived pain following inpatient intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment for children and adolescents.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationChildren and adolescents in a 4-week inpatient interdisciplinary pain program showed large improvements in physical function, motor proficiency, and occupational performance, alongside reduced pain. Without a control group, these gains cannot be definitively attributed to the program alone.
• PTOTCohort2025Enhancing safety monitoring in post-stroke rehabilitation through wearable technologies.Clinical rehabilitationStroke survivors took much longer to complete the Timed Up and Go test, but their movements appeared smoother than healthy controls. This suggests they consciously trade speed for stability. Wearable sensors detected this cautious strategy, potentially offering a way to monitor fall risk in real time.
• Other2025Visual and auditory attention in individuals with DYRK1A and SCN2A disruptive variants.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchPeople with DYRK1A variants showed little difference in brain response to new sounds, while people with SCN2A variants did not look more at a speaker addressing them. The two rare genetic groups differed, but these findings do not guide therapy.
• PTOTOther2025The MyGuide Web-Based Self-Management Tool for Concussion Rehabilitation: Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesEight adults with concussion and eight clinicians described MyGuide as easy to use and helpful for basic recovery information. Participants found it reassuring, but many stopped once they understood enough, and some wanted more detail.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Trajectories of positive affect in autistic individuals during the transition to adulthood.Autism : the international journal of research and practicePositive affect in autistic adults followed varied paths, not just one. Lower positive affect linked to more autism features and less daily living skill. Higher positive affect tied to work, friends, and independent living. Caregiver reports matched self-reports less as adults gained independence.
• PTCohort2025Acute and Longitudinal Effects of Concussion on Reactive Balance in Collegiate Athletes.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairCollegiate athletes within 72 hours of concussion took longer to steady themselves during a push-and-release balance task while also doing a mental task. The deficit was not seen after symptoms resolved in the main group comparison.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025User Acceptance of a Home Robotic Assistant for Individuals With Physical Disabilities: Explorative Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPeople with severe physical disabilities wanted a robot to fetch dropped items and drinks, but not for personal care. They preferred voice control and a human-like but not uncanny appearance. They saw the robot as a backup for human carers, not a replacement.
• SLPCohort2024The relationship between distress tolerance and behavioral activation on anxiety and depression symptomatology in autistic youth: Leveraging self and caregiver perspectives.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn autistic adolescents, lower distress tolerance and behavioral activation were associated with more severe anxiety and depression. Sex differences emerged, with adolescents assigned female at birth showing lower distress tolerance and higher anxiety. These findings are cross-sectional and preliminary.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Efficacy of different spinal orthoses for pain management, functional improvement, and quality of life in osteoporotic vertebral fractures: a mini review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesEvidence for spinal braces in osteoporotic fractures is inconsistent. Dynamic braces like Spinomed show promise for pain and strength, but rigid and soft braces perform similarly to no brace. High risk of bias in included studies means no specific orthosis is proven superior.
• SLPPilot2024Assessing the acceptability of a culturally adapted group-based pediatric intervention, Kokajjiriri, for Marshallese mothers and infants to improve nutrition and prevent childhood obesity.Child: care, health and developmentAll 17 mothers who tried the pilot said the nutrition information was useful and accurate, and all said the group sessions were suitable for Marshallese mothers. They asked for clearer guidance on colostrum, starting solids at six months, and rice portions.
• Other2024Short report: Examining race, ethnicity, sex, and gender among autistic youth and their educators who participated in school-based research.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSchool-based autism research samples included more White autistic youth and fewer Latine and Black youth than expected from their schools. School staff were also less diverse than the students they served.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Effectiveness of a 5-day adapted swim instruction program for children with disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMost children with disabilities improved their swim skill level after a 5-day adapted camp. Fearfulness stopped progress for many autistic children, while those with Down syndrome needed more practice time. Older children with Down syndrome showed greater improvement.
• OTOther2024Enhancing shared street accessibility in heritage sites for individuals with visual disabilities: a Canadian perspective.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParticipants in co-design sessions said flat shared streets remove tactile cues for people with visual disabilities. They asked for tactile strips, clear crossings, and removable bollards for winter. These design ideas were proposed but not tested.
• OTCohort2024Laboratory-based measures of executive function and daily living skills in young children with Down syndrome: informing future interventions.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRIn young children with Down syndrome, scores on brief play-based executive function tasks were linked to higher caregiver-reported daily living skills, especially after 1 year. The study did not test whether improving these skills changes daily living skills.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Experts' Views on Children's Access to Community-Based Therapeutic and Education Services After Genomic Sequencing Results.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPCalifornia service providers stated that genetic diagnoses do not determine eligibility for therapy or education. Access relies on observed behavioral deficits and adaptive function. Families with greater resources and self-advocacy skills are more successful in navigating the complex system to obtain services.
• PTCase-Control2025The trunk segmental motion complexity and balance performance in challenging seated perturbation among individuals with spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with thoracic spinal cord injury showed less variable trunk movement, more variable balance recovery, and greater reliance on their arms during wheelchair perturbations, especially backward. This describes their control strategy, not evidence a treatment works.
• SLPQualitative2025"Together is no longer completely together": Exploring the influence of social cognition problems on partner relationships following acquired brain injury.Clinical rehabilitationCouples described social cognition problems after brain injury as making partners feel unheard and lonely, while the injured person felt insecure and ashamed. Participants linked fatigue and overstimulation to more difficulty. Couples valued psychoeducation and strategies for managing conversations.
• PTOTSurvey2025Model of Fear of Movement/(Re)injury Runs Clockwise From Catastrophizing: Evidence From a Sample of Outpatients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationHigher pain catastrophizing scores tracked with greater fear of movement, disability, depressive symptoms, and pain in 180 outpatients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. This does not prove catastrophizing caused these symptoms.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Return to sports after pediatric traumatic brain injury: An expert panel survey.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationExpert opinions on when children with serious brain injuries can return to sports vary widely. Risk of the activity mattered more than injury severity for most scenarios. For severe injuries and high-contact sports, many experts recommended waiting months or never returning, highlighting the need for individualized decision-making.