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 633 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2026Application of variance ratios to assess heterogeneity of spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low back pain: A meta-epidemiological study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSpinal manipulative therapy did not show greater variability in patient response than sham treatment for chronic low back pain. This suggests there is no strong evidence that specific subgroups of patients respond differently to the therapy compared to others.
• SLPCase-Control2026The Behavioral Presentation of Autistic Adults in a Forensic Interview.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults used longer speech hesitations and interpreted figurative language more literally than non-autistic adults, but showed no significant differences in eye contact, gestures, or repetitive movements. These specific verbal behaviors may unfairly bias credibility judgments in forensic interviews.
• OTOther2026Unintentional Drowning Incidents Involving Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Treated in US Emergency Departments, 2016-2020.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism are more likely than other children to end up in the emergency department for drowning, and more likely to die or be admitted. Drownings in this group occur more often in pools, natural water, and bathtubs, and affect older children more frequently.
• OTSLPQualitative2026What Factors Have Been the Most Helpful and Harmful and When? Identifying Key Impacts on Psychosocial Development According to Autistic Adults and Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults and caregivers said relationships mattered most. Speech therapy, daily living supports, jobs, hobbies and education were helpful at different ages, but the study reports experiences, not proof that they work.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2026Novel CTNNB1 Gene Variants in Spanish CTNNB1 Syndrome Patients: Clinical and Psychological Manifestations.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 25 Spanish patients with CTNNB1 syndrome, delayed speech, motor milestones, sleep problems, ASD symptoms and maladaptive behaviours were common. Early motor and language milestones were associated with better current function.
• OTSLPCase Report2025Visual ERP-based brain-computer interface use with severe physical, speech and eye movement impairments: case studies.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor seven people with severe speech, physical and eye movement impairments, a visual brain-computer interface worked best when they used their natural gaze. Forced central fixation often failed. Calibrating while they looked at targets helped some perform better.
• Other2025The importance of better natural history studies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyThis commentary argues that current natural history studies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy are flawed because they mask patient variability and rely on young cohorts. It calls for better prospective studies but presents no new evidence.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Technologies for the three-dimensional assessment and treatment of unilateral spatial neglect in individuals with stroke: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality is the dominant 3D technology for neglect, but evidence remains weak. Randomised trials show inconsistent results, with many failing to find significant differences against conventional therapy. Robotics are rarely used alone, and most studies are small pilots without clear efficacy.
• Narrative Review2025The fetal neurologist: Strategies to improve training, practice, and clinical care.Developmental medicine and child neurologyNo original findings are reported. Expert recommendations for fetal neurology services and training are given, but there is no evidence here to change therapist practice.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Long-lasting neurobehavioral disorders after traumatic brain injury: potential predictors and functional outcomes.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 54 survivors of severe traumatic brain injury, longer post-traumatic amnesia, lower cognitive function at rehabilitation admission, traumatic axonal injury, and less education were associated with more neurobehavioral disorders at 12 months. These disorders correlated with worse functional outcomes.
• PTRCT2025Effect of robot-assisted gait training combined with electroacupuncture on lower limb motor function and brain network characteristics in stroke: an EEG study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding scalp electroacupuncture to robot gait training, on top of usual medication and rehabilitation, did not improve leg movement more than robot training alone after 3 weeks. Both groups improved, and no adverse reactions were reported.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Interrelationship between fatigue and recovery of physical function in stroke survivors: a longitudinal mixed-methods study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineHigher fatigue was linked to poorer physical function over six months after stroke. Survivors described fatigue as shifting between physical and mental, and seven participants said health professionals gave little guidance.
• PTSLPOther2025Higher Cardiovascular Risk Factor Burden Associated With Cumulative Concussion History and Age-Related Differences.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationIn former professional football players aged 50 or younger, a higher number of prior concussions was associated with greater odds of hypertension and high cholesterol. This association was not found in players older than 50.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Seizures in childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy.Developmental medicine and child neurologySeizures occurred in 29% of boys with childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, linked to higher MRI lesion scores and functional impairment. No seizures occurred with a Loes score under 6. X-ALD should be considered in boys presenting with first-time seizures.
• OTSLPQualitative2025The design of the "autistics in (educational) space: building our own futures" doctoral project.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFour autistic university students described teachers who did not seem prepared to support them, and one contrasted strict classroom rules with more freedom to move and stim at home. They also used masking and rehearsing words before speaking to fit in.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Development and validation of interpretability cutoffs for the short forms of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust Personality Questionnaires (BIRT-PQs).European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNew score cutoffs identify when personality changes after brain injury deviate significantly from healthy norms. For patients, low motivation scores above 25 linked to lower satisfaction across all life domains. For caregivers, emotional regulation scores above 13 linked to higher burden. These thresholds help interpret short-form questionnaires.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Mobility device use in children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy used more mobility devices as they aged, with wheelchair likelihood increasing yearly. Lower-extremity braces were the most common device across all severity levels. Walkers and standers were underused compared to clinical need, suggesting gaps in equipment access rather than prescription.
• PTOTPilot2025Non-invasive assessment of muscle spasticity in children with cerebral palsy undergoing botulinum toxin treatment using near-infrared spectroscopy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMuscle oxygenation measured by NIRS rose significantly after botulinum toxin injections in children with cerebral palsy, peaking at 6 to 10 weeks and returning to baseline by 6 months. These changes correlated with reduced spasticity scores, suggesting NIRS could track treatment response.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Parental perspectives on family-centered care in pediatric neurology: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents of children with neurological conditions rated respectful care highly but general information poorly. They felt responsible for coordinating care across therapists and schools, often seeking answers online due to gaps. Quality of life scores were lower for older children and families facing access barriers.
• PTOther2026Convergent validity of physical and neurological examination of subtle signs (PANESS) gaits and stations with performance-based and self-reported balance measures.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn adolescents, PANESS Gaits and Stations scores did not move with self-reported balance confidence, but they did move with a standard balance test at a moderate level.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Parent Perspectives on Water Safety for Children with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of autistic children described constant vigilance and avoidance of water due to elopement risks and poor danger awareness. They reported that standard swim lessons often fail because instructors lack autism-specific training, sensory-friendly environments, and adaptive communication strategies.
• PTOTCohort2026No increased risk of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak after spinal manipulative therapy: A retrospective cohort study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSpinal manipulative therapy by chiropractors did not increase the risk of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks compared to physical therapy exercise. The study included 178,084 adults. Both groups had an identical leak rate of 0.03%. This suggests the leaks were likely caused by underlying symptoms prompting the visit, not the treatment.
• PTOTCohort2026Association of arthritis and total joint arthroplasty with self-reported function in former professional American-style football players.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFormer professional football players with arthritis or hip/knee replacements reported worse physical function and more pain interference than those without. Mental function scores did not differ between groups. Older age, higher BMI, and playing lineman were associated with these joint conditions.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Autism Early Intervention Providers: Their Priorities, Use of Empirically Supported Practices, and Professional Development Needs.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAustralian early intervention providers mostly used evidence-based practices but often mixed them with unsupported ones, especially for sensory needs. Confidence in addressing sensory and motor domains was low, while priority and training interest focused on communication, behavior, and social skills.
• OTSLPOther2026A Cross-National Reliability Study of Catatonia in Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersExperienced psychiatrists initially disagreed on the catatonia diagnosis in five of twenty patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. Agreement required extensive discussion and additional data. Clinicians should suspect catatonia when behavior changes from baseline, especially if agitation is present alongside intellectual disability.
• PTRCT2026Evaluating modified socket casting and molding vs. total surface bearing techniques in unilateral transtibial amputation: Effects on rotational control, socket fit satisfaction, and interface pressure.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalSocket-liner interface pressure did not differ between modified and total surface bearing sockets. Participants reported greater stability and preferred the modified socket, and it had less lateral rotation after walking.
• Case-Control2026Attention to Social and Non-Social Stimuli in a Continuous Performance Test in Autistic and Typically Developed Participants: An ERP Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersDuring a face attention task, autistic participants showed smaller brain responses linked to attention and preparation than typically developed participants. No such difference appeared for letters. This is a lab finding, not evidence that a treatment works.
• SLPSystematic Review2026The Inclusion of Fathers in Parent Coaching Interventions for Young Autistic Children: A Systematic Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOnly 2 of 94 parent-child dyads in these home-based coaching studies were fathers. The 5 studies all reported positive outcomes, but with so few fathers and only single-subject or medium-quality designs, this tells us almost nothing about how coaching works for dads.
• PTOTQualitative2026Perspectives of early mobility in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit: an interpretive description study.Clinical rehabilitationClinicians in a cardiac surgery ICU described a gap between what they think early mobility means and what they actually do. This mismatch creates uncertainty about safety and timing, leading to inconsistent mobilization practices and rationales for keeping patients in bed.
• SLPQualitative2026Experiences and Needs of Leaders Supporting Multilingual ABA Staff: A Qualitative Exploration.Journal of autism and developmental disordersABA leaders supporting multilingual staff said language access depended on employer choices, not goodwill. Translation, hiring, culture matching, and pay helped, but training gaps, tokenization, and staff shortages left multilingual autistic families underserved.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Digital Horizons: Enhancing Autism Support with Augmented Reality.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost augmented reality studies in autism rely on subjective reports and lack control groups, so evidence for effectiveness is weak. While some interventions target social skills and communication, the overall quality of evidence remains low due to small samples and varied methods.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2026Self-perceived fatigue in relation to activity and participation in adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy living in urban South Africa.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAdolescents and adults with cerebral palsy in urban South Africa reported similar levels of self-perceived fatigue to their typically developing peers. Fatigue was not associated with how accomplished or satisfied they felt in daily activities, challenging assumptions derived from high-income country studies.
• PTOTRCT2025Adaptive control ankle robotics training durably improves gait biomechanics in chronic hemiparetic stroke and footdrop.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAnkle robotics training improved toe clearance and heel-strike patterns in chronic stroke survivors. These gains persisted two months after training ended, alongside delayed increases in knee and hip flexion. The study was single-arm, so improvements cannot be compared against standard care.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Tools and methods for assessing the usability and related aspects of usability of extended reality and telerehabilitation technologies in stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost usability studies of stroke technology, including virtual reality and remote rehabilitation, used questionnaires, especially the System Usability Scale and custom forms. Many studies combined tools to cover different aspects, so check motivation, motion sickness, workload and patient experience when choosing technology.
• OTOther2025Autism Spectrum Disorder Phenotypes Based on Sleep Dimensions and Core Autism Symptoms.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFour sleep-symptom profiles emerged: one baseline group; similar sleep problems with fewer autism and ADHD symptoms; insufficient and disturbed sleep with sensory and ADHD symptoms; daytime sleepiness with older age, anxiety, depression, and weaker writing and math. Screen sleep patterns, not just sleep complaints.
• OTCohort2025The screening Hand Assessment for Infants: Feasibility, validity, and reliability based on parents' recordings.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents recorded a short play session at home, and the screening Hand Assessment for Infants scored similarly to the clinic version. Trained raters agreed strongly on total hand scores, and most parents found the session easy. This is about assessment, not treatment.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025'I shouldn't have to educate their school about what autism is': Community attitudes and parent reports of autistic primary and secondary school experiences in Australia.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost Australians support school adjustments for autistic students, but parents report these are rarely provided. While 90% back staff training and peer education, fewer than 1 in 8 schools deliver them. This gap forces parents to constantly advocate, often resulting in school changes and distress.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Scoping Review of Socio-Ecological Factors Contributing to Sleep Health Disparities in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSleep problems in children with autism are linked to anxiety, ADHD, and low family income, not just autism itself. Most research ignores race and poverty, so current guidelines may not fit diverse or underserved families.
• Narrative Review2025Zebrafish in neurodevelopmental disorders studies: Genetic models and pathological involvement of microglia.Developmental medicine and child neurologyThere is no clinical finding to act on. This is a review of zebrafish as an animal model for neurodevelopmental disorders and microglia, with no patients or outcomes.
• Other2025Advancing first-contact, primary care physiotherapist practice: the value of integrating point-of-care diagnostic tools.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis article argues that physiotherapists should use electrodiagnostic testing and ultrasound imaging to improve first-contact care. It provides no patient data or clinical results, so it offers no evidence to support specific diagnostic or treatment decisions.
• OTSLPCohort2025Comparing Emotional Development in Persons With Intellectual Disability With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with intellectual disability and autism showed lower emotional development scores than those with intellectual disability only. This pattern held across all eight domains of the assessment tool, suggesting autism adds specific challenges to emotional growth.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Can wearable real-time biofeedback gait training devices improve gait speed, balance, functional mobility and activities of daily living (ADL) in individuals post-stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable biofeedback gait training improved walking speed, balance, and mobility compared to standard care, but showed no benefit for daily living activities. Evidence quality is low to moderate, with no significant effect found for the most common auditory feedback setups.
• OTOther2025Innovation through networking: the single contact points for employers in the German vocational rehabilitation and participation system.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesEmployers' single contact points in a German region were connected mainly to public agencies, not employers' or business associations. Partners rated cooperation solid and information quick, but the study did not test whether this helps people with disabilities get or keep work.
• PTCase-Control2025Intersegmental dynamics imbalance in gait impairments of children with spastic hemiplegia: insights from different torque contribution.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with spastic hemiplegia rely excessively on active muscle contraction rather than passive forces like gravity during walking. This inefficient strategy increases energy cost and rigidity. Rehabilitation should target coordination and passive torque utilization, not just strength.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Standardizing the Measurement and Definition of Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: Implications for Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairThere is no agreed-upon definition or standard measurement for post-stroke cognitive impairment. This variability makes it hard to compare studies or identify which patients need specific rehabilitation. Experts recommend creating a consensus definition, similar to how mild cognitive impairment was standardized, to improve care.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Autism Spectrum Disorder and Health-Determining Behaviors: Assessing Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep with the National Survey of Children's Health.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children rarely meet health guidelines, especially for screen time and sleep. Physical activity rates matched peers when measured as daily activity, but autistic children were less likely to be active four or more days a week. Irregular bedtime linked to poorer outcomes.
• PTOTRCT2026Cardiorespiratory fitness in kidney transplant recipients: A pilot randomised controlled trial of structured home-based rehabilitation and a nested case-control analysis.Clinical rehabilitationA 12-week home-based aerobic and resistance programme improved peak oxygen uptake by 1.50 mL/kg/min in kidney transplant recipients compared to guideline care. The trial was a pilot, so these fitness gains require confirmation in larger studies before changing practice.
• OTOther2026Beyond the Wrist: Finger-Worn Accelerometers Enhance Assessment of Post-Stroke Motor Performance.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn 24 stroke survivors, a finger-worn sensor matched clinical hand scores better than a wrist sensor, especially in moderate impairment. It may help assess real-world arm and hand use, but it is not proven to improve treatment.
• SLPSurvey2026The Relationship Between Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Orthorexia Nervosa in Their Mothers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong 104 children with autism, more maternal orthorexia symptoms were linked to more child avoidant/restrictive eating symptoms, especially fear about eating. Taste, smell, and touch reactions were also linked. It did not show a cause.
• SLPCase-Control2026Some (but not all) Pragmatic Inferences are Difficult for Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children with typical language skills struggled with spontaneous pragmatic inferences but understood metaphors as well as peers. This suggests they may need explicit scaffolding to access pragmatic skills they already possess, rather than lacking the ability.