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 640 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOther2026Development and clinical validation of a stroke-specific Gait Deviation Index.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA stroke-specific gait score fit observed gait curves better than the standard GDI, but both scores were similar and their links to clinical impairment and walking speed were weak. This is not evidence it changes rehabilitation outcomes.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026The healthcare experiences of middle and older age autistic women in the United Kingdom.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMiddle-aged and older autistic women described healthcare as exhausting and dismissive. Professionals often misread their autism as mental illness or ignored sensory needs. Women masked their difficulties to avoid conflict, leading to delayed diagnoses and avoidance of preventive screening like mammograms.
• SLPPilot2026Visual-perceptual features of augmentative and alternative communication displays affect efficiency of motor reaching by individuals with Down syndrome: a pilot study.Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md. : 1985)Distributed color placement in AAC arrays was associated with less accurate reaching than clustered placement, mainly in six participants with Down syndrome. Display layout is a practical variable to check when direct selection seems slow or inaccurate.
• OTRCT2026A Blinded, Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Neck Muscle Vibration in Patients with Post-Stroke Spatial Neglect.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairNeck vibration plus general computer training did not improve post-stroke spatial neglect more than standard neglect therapy plus placebo vibration. Both groups improved similarly on neglect tests and daily activities, so this small trial does not show vibration is superior.
• PTOTOther2026Does cognition affect supervised and unsupervised mobility differently in people with Parkinson's disease? A cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 105 people with Parkinson's, longer time on a word-colour interference test went with slower clinic walking and fewer home steps. After age, motor severity, sex and medication were included, cognition did not predict mobility.
• PTCohort2026Longitudinal decline in upper-limb range of motion in adults with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyPassive upper-limb range of motion steadily declines throughout adulthood in people with cerebral palsy. The loss is fastest in those with the most limited hand function, where wrist extension can drop by more than a degree every year.
• OTSLPPilot2025Modulation of Pharyngoesophageal Motility Characteristics During Concurrent Oral Feeding in Infants: Novel Pilot Observations.DysphagiaThickened formula changed swallowing rhythm and made it less coordinated in 12 high-risk infants, especially with faster-flow nipples. This pilot measured swallowing rhythm, not whether thickening is safer.
• SLPOther2025On the Difficulty of Defining Duration of Deafness for Adults With Cochlear Implants.Ear and hearingThe term "duration of deafness" is too vague for adult cochlear implant research. The authors propose using "duration of severe-to-profound hearing loss" and estimating it separately for each ear to improve consistency, but offer no new clinical data.
• OTSLPOther2025Analysis of Adjusted Exposure Levels Based on Different Kurtosis Adjustment Algorithms and Their Performance Comparison in Evaluating Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.Ear and hearingFor workers in noisy industries, standard hearing loss predictions often underestimate damage from complex, impulsive noise. Using a geometric averaging method to adjust exposure levels based on noise 'kurtosis' significantly improves prediction accuracy. This helps identify higher risk for those exposed to sporadic, high-intensity sounds.
• PTOther2025Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy alters plantar pressure distribution in chronic plantar fasciitis: a biomechanical analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAfter four weekly shock wave sessions, pressure shifted from the heel to the front of the foot on both sides in 42 people with chronic plantar fasciitis. Pain and function were not measured, so this does not prove symptom relief.
• SLPSystematic Review2025The Psychometric Properties of Emotional Development Assessment tools in Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRTwo tools, the SAED and SED-S, are the only reliable ways to assess emotional development in people with intellectual disabilities. The SAED offers the most detailed picture, while the SED-S is quicker for routine use.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Perspectives and experiences of physical activity among autistic adults in middle adulthood.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described avoiding exercise because trainers focused on weight loss and competition rather than their needs. Sensory environments like gym noise and lighting caused exhaustion and burnout. Trust was hard to build due to past trauma, leading many to prefer solitary activity over group classes.
• OTSLPOther2025Screen to Screen Versus Face to Face: Evaluating Telehealth Autism Diagnostic Assessments for Young Children in a Diverse Clinical Setting.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchA home telehealth assessment matched the in-person autism diagnosis for 19 of 21 children with limited words. It may help clinicians observe autism signs in familiar settings, but the sample was small and not all children were autistic.
• SLPQualitative2025Specific manifestations of sandwich generation effect in deaf parents and CODA families.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationGrandparents and hearing children often bridged communication with the hearing world in these deaf families. Many CODAs interpreted for parents from childhood, including at doctors, offices and courts, and some said this took away part of their childhood.
• OTSLPPilot2025Scale of Emotional Development-Questionnaire: A Systematic Approach to Improving Performance.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRA self-report interview for emotional development showed low agreement with the proxy version it was based on. It distinguishes emotional development from autism traits and mentalisation. The tool needs item revisions before clinical use.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Navigating family messaging: Qualitative experiences of Black caregivers of children with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceBlack caregivers of autistic children described family messages ranging from denial and blame to supportive acceptance. Denial often manifested as treating the child as neurotypical, which caregivers noted could inadvertently minimize their need for specific accommodations and support.
• SLPQualitative2025Communicative participation of school-aged children with cochlear implants: parental perceptions.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationParents of children with cochlear implants described a gap between global satisfaction and daily reality. While children managed to communicate, parents reported specific struggles with vocabulary, syntax, and figurative language. Background noise and group settings severely limited participation, requiring constant adaptation from both child and parent.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Dysphagia and Muscle Weakness Caused by Botulinum Toxin Poisoning after Cosmetic Injection: Three Case Reports and Clinical Warnings.DysphagiaThree patients developed severe swallowing and speech difficulties after cosmetic botulinum toxin injections at non-medical facilities. Symptoms included muscle weakness and choking. All three required hospitalization, antitoxin treatment, and swallowing rehabilitation, with significant recovery achieved.
• SLPOther2025Does Reducing Videofluoroscopy Frame Rate Affect DIGEST Grades in Modified Barium Swallow Studies?DysphagiaGraders reached very similar DIGEST safety and efficiency scores when lower-frame-rate versions of the videos were graded. The study did not test real lower-radiation imaging, so it does not support a change in standard practice.
• PTOTCohort2026Correlation between controlled-pressure provocative test duration and electrodiagnostic severity in carpal tunnel syndrome.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe time it takes for symptoms to appear during a controlled-pressure test does not predict carpal tunnel syndrome severity. A quick reaction does not mean worse nerve damage. Clinicians should not use test duration to grade severity or guide treatment decisions.
• Other2026Electrical or magnetic nerve stimulation enhance the BoNT/A-mediated muscle paralysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn mice, applying electrical or magnetic nerve stimulation within two minutes of botulinum toxin injection increased muscle paralysis and duration of effect, but only at lower doses. No human data is reported, so this does not yet change clinical practice.
• SLPOther2026Leamos Juntos! Bilingual books support Latine parents' Spanish language use during book-sharing interactions.Journal of child languageLatine parents used significantly more Spanish in their own talk when sharing English-Spanish bilingual books compared to English-only books. This occurred regardless of the parent's Spanish proficiency level. Bilingual text appears to prompt home language use during shared reading.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Personalized care of paediatric drug-resistant epilepsy in Africa: A single-centre pilot study utilizing mobile health and genetic testing.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCaregivers reported far fewer seizures via an app than appeared in clinic records. Wearables revealed significantly lower physical activity and sleep quality than parents realized, though engagement dropped by half over six months.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Surgical and health outcomes of non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy and severe scoliosis: A population-based, longitudinal study.Developmental medicine and child neurologySpinal fusion in non-ambulatory children with severe cerebral palsy scoliosis corrected curves and improved seating and pain for most, but carried high complication and mortality risks. Caregivers of survivors reported high satisfaction, though non-surgical children were too frail for comparison.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Healthcare Utilisation and Barriers and Facilitators of Healthcare Access for Young People With Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRYoung people with intellectual disability have higher rates of hospital admissions, emergency visits, and longer stays than peers. Key barriers include staff lacking specific skills, communication difficulties, and low family income. Facilitators include visual aids, simple language, and acknowledging parent expertise.
• OTSLPPilot2026Ecological Momentary Intervention for Memory in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: Findings From a Mixed-Methods Pilot and Feasibility Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationA text-message memory tool delivered in short, twice-daily sessions over a week led to significantly better long-term recall in adults with chronic TBI than a single weekly session. The spaced format was rated more acceptable and engagement remained high.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Approaches to managing ototoxicity in the workplace.International journal of audiologyExpert consensus proposes a six-step workplace protocol for managing ototoxicity. It combines self-report questionnaires with auditory and vestibular screening to detect damage that standard pure-tone audiometry often misses, guiding referrals and exposure controls.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Promoting agency and communication through powered mobility: a single-group, repeated measures intervention using the explorer mini in toddlers with motor disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTen toddlers with motor disabilities used a powered mobility device for 12 sessions. They showed significant gains in cognition and receptive language on standardized tests, and increased joyful vocalizations during play, though expressive language changes were mixed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Trajectory of Irritability in Autistic and Typically Developing Youth From Early Childhood to Adolescence.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic girls kept high irritability from early childhood to late adolescence, unlike autistic boys and all typically developing peers who improved. Higher early cognitive ability and lower adolescent psychopathology predicted better outcomes. This suggests monitoring irritability specifically in autistic girls is critical.
• SLPNarrative Review2025Consciousness Disorders and Swallowing Difficulties.DysphagiaPatients with consciousness disorders almost universally have severe swallowing difficulties. Bedside tools like SWADOC and FOTT allow assessment without patient cooperation, while FEES and VFSS guide clinical decisions on oral intake. Treatment options exist but lack evidence specific to this population.
• PTOther2025Usability and expert validation of a virtual reality system for post-mastectomy rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences28 physiotherapy students and three practising physiotherapists rated a tennis-based virtual reality shoulder exercise as easy to use, comfortable, and low in discomfort. It was not tested in post-mastectomy patients, so it cannot show clinical benefit.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Assessment of Dysphagia Management Competence among Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review.DysphagiaNo standardized protocol exists for assessing dysphagia management competence in healthcare providers. Existing tools vary widely in focus and scoring, often relying on self-reports or narrow skill checks without validated reliability, leaving a gap in consistent professional training evaluation.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025A Systematic Study on Prenatal Opioid Exposure: A Review of Neurodevelopmental Consequences.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with prenatal opioid exposure showed consistent delays in language, motor, and socioemotional skills. Sensory processing was the most affected domain. These findings suggest therapists should screen for neurosensory and communication delays in this population, regardless of age.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Supporting effective alternative access for individuals with physical disabilities: state of the science, emerging technologies, and future research directions.Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md. : 1985)Access method and settings matter for people with physical disabilities. Typing speed varied widely, averaging 12.6 words per minute on standard keyboards, 6.8 on touchscreens, and 2.1 with switch scanning. Measure each person's speed and accuracy, then adjust or trial options.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Quality of Life in Autistic Children: Discrepancies Between Self- and Caregiver-Proxy Reports and Associations With Individual Characteristics.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCaregivers and autistic children disagreed significantly on quality of life. Autism and ADHD features predicted caregiver ratings but not child self-reports. Sensory and sleep difficulties predicted both. Do not assume caregiver proxy scores reflect the child's own experience.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Characterizing Developmental and Behavioral Profiles in Developmental Synaptopathies to Inform Clinical Trial Endpoints.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesStandard IQ and autism tests often fail in children with severe intellectual disability because scores hit the bottom of the scale. Adaptive behavior measures like the Vineland worked for everyone, making them more reliable for tracking progress in clinical trials.
• OTSLPRCT2025Effect of Oral Neuromuscular Training on Tracheostomy Decannulation and Swallowing Function in Patients with Severe Acquired Brain Injury: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.DysphagiaNo clear difference in time to decannulation when IQoro was added to usual care for tracheostomized patients with severe acquired brain injury. Usual care alone improved swallowing scores more, and one residue measure favoured usual care.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Deaf children's experiences of hearing in everyday life: a systematic review.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationDeaf children's hearing experiences vary widely and are shaped by noise, device use, and social context. Listening fatigue and misperceptions about their abilities often limit participation in school and social activities. Ask each child directly what accommodations help them.
• PTSLPCohort2025Head Lifting Strength is Associated with Pharyngeal Residuals in Older Inpatients with Suspected Dysphagia.DysphagiaOlder inpatients who could perform fewer head lifts from a lying position had more food and liquid left in their throat after swallowing. This simple test, requiring no special equipment, correlates with swallowing residue.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Exploring Clinicians' Suggestions for Addressing Discrimination Towards Children and Youth With Disabilities With Multiple Minoritized Identities.Child: care, health and developmentClinicians recommended specific anti-ableism training for youth, not just adults. They urged funding for transport and interpreters to remove access barriers. They emphasized co-designing services with disabled youth and ensuring resources reflect diverse cultural backgrounds to reduce discrimination.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Ideational and conceptual apraxia by cerebral infarction in the left basal ganglia and right pons: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA patient with no limb paralysis or aphasia lost the ability to operate complex machinery and ATMs after strokes in the left basal ganglia and right pons. Standard apraxia tests missed this deficit, which appeared only when assessing abstract, multi-step tasks.
• PTOTCase Report2025Case Report: Focused shockwave therapy (fESWT) in thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis: a single case study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn one woman with thumb osteoarthritis, focused shockwave therapy was followed by less pain, better grip and lower disability over a year. This is a single case, so it cannot show the treatment works.
• SLPOther2025Assessing Anxiety in Autistic and Non-Autistic Youth: Validation of the German Parent Version of the Anxiety Scale for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe German parent-report anxiety scale for autistic youth reliably identifies anxiety symptoms, with half of the autistic group scoring above clinical cut-offs. However, the scale's original four-part structure did not hold up, as the separation anxiety component failed to replicate in this sample.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Exploring behavioral dynamics: an in-depth analysis of adult students with disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParents and teachers most often described introversion and communication patterns among students with disabilities, with aggression, attachment, empathy, envy, and inappropriate sexual behavior also reported. These are proxy reports, not treatment outcomes.
• Narrative Review2026Brain-computer interface commercialization.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThis is a commercialization commentary about brain-computer interfaces, not a patient study. It discusses Argus II's market failure and Onward Medical's phased strategy, with no clinical outcomes to change therapy.
• Cohort2026Parental counselling and autopsy results: A retrospective diagnostic cohort study at a multidisciplinary fetal neurology clinic.Developmental medicine and child neurologyPrenatal imaging matched autopsy findings in 79% of fetuses terminated for brain abnormalities. Microscopic examination provided valuable new information in 41% of cases, sometimes changing the diagnosis or revealing disruptive causes instead of malformations.
• PTOTOther2026Beyond proportional recovery in wake-up stroke: unsupervised recovery clusters based on the NIHSS.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke recovery did not follow one proportional rule. Clustering 201 wake-up stroke patients by NIHSS recovery found six groups, from full recovery to worsening, and early recovery at 7 days was associated with 90-day disability.
• PTOTCohort2026Staying Active: Promoting Activity Engagement for Poststroke Pain Management With Insights From Ecological Momentary Assessment.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPoststroke pain rose during physical activity and hospital visits but dropped afterward. Social connection and workplace engagement also linked to lower pain. These small shifts may not be clinically meaningful, so do not assume activity alone will resolve pain without broader support.
• PTOTQualitative2026Fall experiences of ambulatory children and adults with cerebral palsy: A qualitative study using thematic content analysis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyPeople with cerebral palsy described embarrassment and anxiety as more worrying than physical injuries. They often avoid crowds or public spaces. Clinicians should ask about emotional impacts and teach safe falling techniques, as fear of falling limits independence.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Escitalopram promotes recovery from hand paresis in cortical sensori-motor stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled longitudinal study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEscitalopram plus occupational therapy improved fine finger dexterity and brain activation patterns more than placebo plus therapy over nine months in acute stroke. However, the study was tiny, so this is a signal for larger trials, not a reason to change practice.