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 644 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2026Alpha-Synuclein Lesions in the Peripheral Nervous System of the Larynx in Parkinson's Disease.DysphagiaParkinson’s larynx tissue from 20 postmortem cases showed alpha-synuclein lesions in nerves, muscles, and mucosa. Speech severity matched these laryngeal changes; swallowing severity did not. These are tissue findings, not treatment evidence.
• SLPCohort2026Central auditory testing in young Tanzanian children: feasibility and relationship to cognition.International journal of audiologyIn young Tanzanian children, most could complete speech-in-noise and dichotic listening tests, and better test performance was linked to higher nonverbal cognitive scores. The gap detection test was not feasible for almost all children.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026The effect of robot-assisted gait training on physical activity outcomes in people with spinal cord injury: A systematic review.Clinical rehabilitationPeople with spinal cord injury did more walking, took more steps, and increased their speed during robot-assisted training sessions as time went on. However, the evidence for this improvement is very low because most studies had no control group and were small.
• OTOther2026Optimizing electrotactile stimulation intensity for responses under cognitive load.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn able-bodied adults, reactions to electrotactile stimuli were faster than to visual stimuli. Larger intensity steps made responses quicker and more accurate. Cognitive load slowed responses but did not change average accuracy.
• PTOTOther2026Altered walking gaze behavior after stroke: more than meets the eye.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors look at the floor more than healthy walkers, fixing their gaze closer to their feet. This downward gaze tracks with poor balance and fear of falling, not just slow walking. It reflects instability, not a strategy to plan steps.
• SLPPilot2026Adaptation of the Italian Version of the Mealtime Assessment Scale in Pediatric Population (MAS-p).DysphagiaThe adapted Italian Mealtime Assessment Scale for children showed good reliability and consistency in a small pilot. It helps speech-language pathologists observe safety and efficacy during meals in real-life settings, though further validation is needed before clinical use.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Outcomes of selective dorsal rhizotomy in ambulatory children and young people with cerebral palsy: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost research on selective dorsal rhizotomy measures muscle tone and movement, ignoring patient goals and daily participation. Only four studies tracked individualized goals and two explored family perspectives, leaving a major gap in understanding what matters to patients.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2026Impact of peer-support programs for individuals with autism: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic participants in peer-support programs consistently described feeling understood, empowered, and less alone. However, no study used a control group, so these improvements cannot be separated from time or natural development. The evidence is promising but not proven.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026The use of botulinum toxin for spasticity in people with spinal cord injury: a scoping review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineEvidence for botulinum toxin in spinal cord injury spasticity is sparse and inconsistent. Most studies lack clear definitions, goal setting, or injection details. Clinicians should use consensus definitions, involve patients in goal setting, and employ instrumental guidance for injections.
• SLPQualitative2025"I Don't Have to Say That They Are Dying Now": Professionals' Perspectives on Death-Related Communication With Children and Young People With Intellectual Disabilities in Paediatric Palliative Care in Germany.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSeven paediatric palliative care professionals described adapting death communication to each child's ability rather than their diagnosis. They relied on waiting for the child to initiate, using play and nature symbols, and reading non-verbal cues. Parents' beliefs and professionals' own assumptions heavily shaped these conversations.
• SLPPilot2025Explicit tier two vocabulary instruction for young deaf children.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationDeaf children with low-average vocabulary learned most target words in this small group intervention. Children with very low vocabulary learned and retained far fewer, suggesting grade-level words may be too advanced for them without significant adjustments.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Enhancing assistive technology knowledge through WHO's training in assistive products (TAP): a pre-post quasi-experimental study in Italian undergraduate healthcare education.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesUndergraduate physiotherapy, nursing, and developmental therapy students improved their knowledge of assistive products after completing WHO's TAP training. Gains were largest for mobility and transfer devices. The study measured test scores only, so it does not show that these students became better clinicians.
• SLPQualitative2025'Why Aren't We Fighting Our Case?': Speech and Language Therapists' Perspectives on Intervention for Preschool Children With Oral Comprehension Difficulties.International journal of language & communication disordersSpeech and language therapists described a constant tension between adapting to each child's needs and being constrained by service limits. Lack of time and staffing forced some to use rigid blocks or indirect models they felt were inadequate for oral comprehension difficulties.
• SLPQualitative2025Stakeholder Perspectives on the Responsible Innovation in Health Framework for Addressing Stigma-Based Health Inequalities Among People Who Stutter.International journal of language & communication disordersStakeholders designing stigma-reducing stuttering interventions prioritized secure platforms, professional delivery, accessible communication, diversity, engaging visuals and flexible group therapy. These ideas were rated for importance and practicality, not tested.
• SLPCohort2025Lower Cortical Activation and Altered Functional Connectivity Characterize Passive Auditory Spatial Attention in ASD.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with ASD showed lower brain activation and different connectivity patterns when hearing sounds change location, even while ignoring them. These neural differences correlated with autism severity and auditory sensory symptoms, suggesting distinct processing of spatial audio cues.
• Other2025Altered Primary Somatosensory Neuron Development in a Pten Heterozygous Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMouse models of PTEN-related ASD showed enhanced mechanical and thermal sensitivity, delayed tactile responses, and shifted sensory neuron subtype proportions, with defects arising early in development.
• SLPCohort2025Caregiver Perspectives on the Use of Tele-Assessment for Toddlers with Developmental Concerns.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers were highly satisfied with remote diagnostic assessments for toddlers, regardless of the result. Even families who received unexpected diagnoses reported similar satisfaction to those whose concerns were confirmed. Remote assessments appear acceptable and feasible for community screening.
• SLPSurvey2025'AAC Isn't a Take It or Leave It': The Augmentative and Alternative Communication Training Experiences of Australian Speech-Language Pathologists Working in Paediatrics.International journal of language & communication disordersAustralian paediatric speech pathologists rated university AAC training inadequate and wanted practical, face-to-face training. They said AAC is not optional because nearly all surveyed SLPs already support AAC users.
• SLPQualitative2025'It feels like a blessing' - The experience of Hebrew-English bilingualism among autistic children: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children in this study described Hebrew-English bilingualism as a source of pride, social connection, and religious meaning. They disliked being told to speak only one language, with one child reporting distress after being barred from Hebrew classes.
• PTOTCohort2026Predictors of Success for 60-Day Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Used for Treatment of Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Multicenter Retrospective Chart Review.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationMost patients with chronic shoulder pain reported at least 50% pain relief after 60 days of peripheral nerve stimulation. Success was higher when stimulation lasted over 45 days and used both sensory and motor fibers. Diabetes reduced success unless motor stimulation was included.
• OTOther2026A Therapeutic Conversational Agent (Solace) for Management of Chronic Pain: Acceptability and Usability Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPeople with chronic pain found a new AI chatbot easy to use and acceptable, and reported a strong working relationship after at least 25 minutes. This is not evidence it treats pain.
• PTOTRCT2026Preventing slowing down of alpha rhythms in stroke patients through modulation of cortical excitatory-inhibitory balance: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding bilateral tDCS to virtual reality upper-limb training helped stroke patients keep improving for 12 weeks after discharge, while the sham group stalled. However, this benefit came from the combination with standard rehab, and the mechanism was not the predicted change in brain rhythms.
• SLPOther2026Short-Term Evaluation of the APrevent® VOIS Implant: Outcomes at 7 Weeks Post-Implantation.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)A new adjustable implant for vocal fold paralysis improved voice quality and closure in 32 patients at 7 weeks. Postoperative adjustments were possible without surgery. Results are short-term and lack a control group, so long-term stability remains unknown.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Latent trajectories in autistic individuals: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic development is not uniform. Most individuals show stable core traits, but repetitive behaviors often worsen while adaptive skills improve. Baseline cognition predicts these paths. Regularly assess multiple domains over time rather than assuming a single fixed trajectory.
• SLPOther2026The Role of Phonological Factors in the Processing of Polish Phonotactics.Language and speechPolish adults judged made-up words more possible when final consonant pairs followed Polish sound rules and existed in Polish. Vowel type also mattered: /a/ and /ɛ/ increased acceptance, while /ɔ/ was judged fastest but accepted least often.
• PTOTQualitative2026Exploring Barriers and Enablers for the Intention to Use Assistive Robotics Among People With Spinal Cord Injury and Those Involved in Their Care: Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPeople with spinal cord injury hesitate to use assistive robotics due to fluctuating pain, high costs, and fear of looking "robotic." They prefer low-tech aids. Enablers exist only if devices are simple, reliable, and discreet. Current designs often fail to meet these everyday needs.
• PTRCT2026The effect of early mobilization of post-cardiac surgery patients on delirium: a pilot study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineEarly mobilization did not significantly reduce delirium incidence compared to usual care. However, it shortened delirium duration and showed a trend toward lower incidence on day 2. The protocol was safe, with no severe adverse events, though tachycardia occurred in 13% of patients.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026A clinical roadmap for lateropulsion after stroke based on a realist review strategy.Clinical rehabilitationClinicians can use this roadmap to assess lateropulsion, choose interventions by lesion and verticality deficits, and anticipate slower recovery after right hemisphere stroke. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Neurorehabilitation in the 21st Century: New Science, New Strategies, New Expectations.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairThe brain stays plastic all life. Recovery means restoring a skill's key features, not its old muscle patterns. Therapists should pair practice with methods that boost or guide this plasticity.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Exploring the Influence of Digitalization on Multidisciplinary Poststroke Rehabilitation Practice: Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesTherapists described videoconferencing and digital tools for coordination after discharge, but written reports still dominated cross-service communication. They worried digital support could weaken relationships, especially for psychosocial care and complex motor rehab.
• SLPOther2026Using Machine Learning for the Automated Segmentation and Detection of Swallows Obtained by Digital Cervical Auscultation in Preterm Neonates.DysphagiaA machine learning model identified 94% of swallows in preterm neonates from neck sounds. It was more accurate for bottle feeds than breast feeds. This could help automate cervical auscultation, but it has not yet been tested against actual aspiration.
• Other2026Understanding eye care access for autistic adults and families: A convergent mixed-methods study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults and parents reported sensory overload, rushed appointments, and medical jargon as major barriers to eye care. They identified staff autism training, plain language, longer appointment times, and visual aids as key supports. Financial costs for glasses and specialist care also prevented access.
• PTOTCohort2026Long-term outcomes following a pulmonary telerehabilitation trial for people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID: a 12-month follow-up study.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with long-COVID breathing symptoms improved in lower-limb strength, respiratory symptom burden, and quality of life over 12 months, but the primary measure of functional capacity showed no significant change. Higher body mass index was linked to less improvement in fatigue.
• OTSystematic Review2025Front Line Leadership in Organisations for Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPractice leadership is the dominant model studied in disability services, linking to better staff support and user engagement. However, its effectiveness collapses without high-quality management, and frontline managers face significant barriers like funding cuts, high turnover, and administrative overload.
• SLPCohort2025Hearing Threshold Estimation With Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Growth Functions in People With Intellectual Disabilities in an Outreach Setting.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRDistortion product otoacoustic emission growth functions (DPOAEgf) are a feasible objective hearing test for adults with mild intellectual disability in community settings. At the standard 20 dB HL cutoff, the test is highly sensitive but lacks specificity, often overestimating hearing loss. Raising the referral cutoff to 30 dB HL improves accuracy.
• Narrative Review2025From learned helplessness to motor recovery: integrating intensive neurorehabilitation in poststroke spastic paresis-clinical insights from over 10 years of practice.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis is a theoretical overview and clinical commentary, not a research study. It describes an intensive rehabilitation approach for poststroke spastic paresis using composite patient stories. It provides no empirical evidence or trial results to support specific clinical changes.
• SLPProtocol2025The Influence of Physical Exercise on Head and Neck Structures and Functions Related to Swallowing: A Scoping Review Protocol.International journal of language & communication disordersThis paper is a plan for a future study, not a report of results. It outlines how researchers will search for evidence on whether physical exercise affects swallowing muscles, but no data has been collected or analyzed yet.
• Qualitative2025Experiences and Support Needs of Siblings of Individuals With Prader-Willi Syndrome- Findings From a Two-Stage Qualitative Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSiblings of people with Prader-Willi syndrome describe feeling 'second place' and developing complex relationships with food, such as hiding hunger or feeling guilt. Support needs shift with age: younger siblings seek advocacy, while older siblings need peer networks and specialist counselling.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Language, Speech, and Oral Motor Performance in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Systematic Review.International journal of language & communication disordersChildren with developmental coordination disorder often have subtle speech and oral motor deficits that standard articulation tests miss. Look for slower articulation and breakdowns during complex speech tasks, not just isolated sound errors.
• OTOther2025Psychological Intervention in Parents of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders Using a Brief Protocol Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents of children with intellectual disabilities who completed a three-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy workshop reported less psychological inflexibility and better general health. They also self-reported fewer punitive and more supportive interactions with their children, with changes maintained at three-month follow-up.
• SLPOther2025Preferences and Listening Efficiency of Adults With Cochlear Implants During Online Communication.Ear and hearingAdults with cochlear implants strongly prefer captions during video calls. Captions improve listening efficiency by about 14% over video alone. However, even with captions, they remain less efficient than normal-hearing peers and report missing facial cues due to attention shifts.
• OTSurvey2025Eyes of Understanding: Ophthalmologists' Attitudes Towards Caring for People With Intellectual Disabilities in Clinical and Nonclinical Settings.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDOphthalmologists surveyed in Taiwan reported positive general attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities, but scores for a complex eye-care case were below the neutral point for several items. They still had higher clinical-case scores than optometrists/opticians and other professionals.
• SLPCohort2025Consonant Proficiency in Children With and Without Hearing Impairment Assessed With Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills - Swedish (PEEPS-SE).International journal of language & communication disordersChildren with hearing impairment had fewer established consonants at 24 and 30 months. Their consonant accuracy was lower at 24 months, but at 30 months it did not separate the groups.
• SLPSurvey2025Exploring Staff Perceptions and Experiences in Services Providing Different Levels of Active Support.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRStaff said they were skilled, but most defined skill as having done training or stayed in the job, not as using specific techniques. Training in communication support was rare despite high need, and no link was found between staff training and the quality of support observed.
• PTRCT2026Efficacy of High-Intensity Laser Therapy Combined With Plantar Fascia Stretching Exercises in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis: Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAdding high-intensity laser therapy to standard plantar fascia stretching exercises did not reduce pain or improve function any more than sham laser plus stretching. Both groups improved similarly, suggesting the stretching program itself drives the clinical benefit.
• PTOTCohort2026Three-year outcomes of repeated botulinum neurotoxin A injections to the lower extremities in young children with spastic cerebral palsy in GMFCS levels I to III.Developmental medicine and child neurologyRepeated botulinum toxin injections did not improve gross motor function in young children with spastic cerebral palsy over three years. Range of motion outcomes slightly favoured the group that did not receive injections.
• OTSurvey2026Brief Report: The Vocational and Educational Activities of Transition-Aged Autistic Youth With Low IQ.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRAmong 91 autistic youth with low IQ who had exited high school, 32 had no vocational or educational activity and 17 had minimal activity; only 14 worked in community jobs.
• SLPCohort2026Swallowing Guidance with FEES May Alleviate Symptoms in Functional Dysphagia.DysphagiaFEES, video explanation, and swallowing guidance lowered median EAT-10 scores in all patients and in functional dysphagia, but 40% reported relief, 50% no change, and quality of life did not improve.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Epidemiology of progressive intellectual and neurological deterioration in UK children.Developmental medicine and child neurologyUK surveillance found that inborn errors of metabolism cause most progressive neurodegeneration in children, with genetic testing now driving diagnosis. Pakistani and Bangladeshi families had much higher rates of parental cousin marriage, linking this to inherited recessive diseases.
• Protocol2026Increasing physical activity in moderate-severe traumatic brain injury: protocol for a two-stage randomized controlled trial of a remote, mHealth-enhanced intervention.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo results are reported yet. This is a protocol for a two-stage randomized trial of remote physical activity coaching with a chatbot in adults with chronic moderate-severe traumatic brain injury.