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 645 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPRCT2026At-Home Delivery of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Task-Specific Training Improves Performance of High-Priority Activities in Persons With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury or Stroke.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationFourteen people with chronic stroke or spinal cord injury completed 36 at-home sessions pairing vagus nerve stimulation with self-selected daily tasks. Time to complete trained tasks dropped by 19.8% in stroke and 33.8% in spinal cord injury, but this open-label study cannot separate the stimulation's effect from practice alone.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Parents' experiences of having a child who had a stroke: A systematic review and meta-ethnography.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents describe childhood stroke as a sudden, shocking event worsened by low awareness among professionals. They report feeling abandoned after discharge, forcing them to self-educate. Support needs change over time, with fathers and siblings often overlooked.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Effectiveness of physical therapy techniques for cancer-related pain: a systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPhysical therapy interventions like electroacupuncture and structured exercise reduced pain and neuropathy symptoms in cancer patients, but results were inconsistent across trials. Evidence is low certainty and applies mainly to chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, not all cancer pain.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in Australian First Nations infants: The transdiagnostic utility of early screening tools.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA combined trajectory of early movement scores (MOS-R) and neurological exams (HINE) predicted neurodevelopmental delays and autism at 12 months with 74% accuracy. This transdiagnostic utility allows therapists to identify high-risk First Nations infants earlier, even before a formal diagnosis is confirmed.
• SLPMeta-Analysis2026Suicide and Self-Harm in Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRThe first results found no significant difference in suicide death or self-harm risk for people with intellectual disability. After removing outlier studies, suicide death risk was lower and self-harm risk higher.
• SLPOther2026The effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and experiences of interventions to reduce suicidality for autistic people: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceResearch on reducing suicidality in autistic people is in its early stages. Interventions like safety planning and adapted therapies are being developed, but there are too few completed trials to determine if they work or are cost-effective.
• PTOTCase Report2026Maintaining Seated Posture With Feedback Control of Trunk Musculature Via the Networked Neuroprosthesis After Paralysis: A Case Report.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationA woman with cervical spinal cord injury used implanted stimulation to return to upright sitting from a lean. The system activated automatically when she tilted too far. This single case shows the technology can restore posture without chest straps.
• PTCohort2026Differential increase in peak oxygen uptake with cardiac rehabilitation among patients with stage B versus C heart failure.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients with earlier-stage heart failure gained fitness from cardiac rehabilitation faster than those with advanced heart failure. Peak oxygen uptake increased by 0.36 mL/kg/min per month in stage B versus 0.22 in stage C. Both groups improved, but the difference was significant.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2026Alleviating Hypotension With Implanted Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Seated Stabilization: A Case Report in SCI.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationIn one woman with cervical spinal cord injury, activating implanted trunk stimulation raised systolic blood pressure from 62.6 to 115.8 mmHg and resolved morning lightheadedness. This is a single case. It suggests trunk muscle activation may help seated stabilization, but does not prove efficacy.
• PTCase-Control2026The relationship between lower limb proprioception and balance performance in children with cerebral palsy: a multisystem and multi-joint approach.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTotal lower-limb joint position errors were not associated with overall balance scores, but hip joint position errors were associated with poorer balance in children with cerebral palsy, especially limits of stability, transitions, sensory orientation and gait.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Associations among epilepsy phenotypes and pain, sleep interference, and dissociative symptoms.Rehabilitation psychologyHow much epilepsy interferes with daily life predicted pain, sleep, and dissociative symptoms more strongly than specific comorbidity profiles. Veterans with polytrauma or chronic disease phenotypes reported higher pain, while those with polytrauma or bipolar/SUD reported more sleep interference.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Examining Transdiagnostic Patterns of Motor Differences: Preliminary Findings From the Consortium for Motor Behavior in Neurodivergence (COMBINE).Journal of autism and developmental disordersAcross 262 children with autism, ADHD, DCD or CAS, 77% scored in the clinical range for motor impairment. DCD predicted lower total scores, while ADHD predicted higher total and balance scores. Autistic children had lower aiming and catching scores, and girls had lower aiming scores.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Acoustic Metrics of the Strain Dimension of Voice Quality: A Scoping Review.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationNo single acoustic measure reliably identifies vocal strain. Spectral sharpness and relative fundamental frequency show promise but lack specificity. Clinicians should use multiple acoustic metrics alongside perceptual ratings to assess strain, rather than relying on one instrument.
• SLPCohort2025Dynamics in the Transimpedance Matrix and Electrically Evoked Compound Action Potentials in Cochlear Implant Users With a Lateral-Wall Electrode Array.Ear and hearingIn cochlear implant users, a sharper electrical field peak in the basal cochlea correlated with lower nerve response thresholds after surgery. This suggests tissue growth may focus stimulation, potentially allowing clinicians to predict threshold changes from transimpedance matrix measurements.
• SLPQualitative2025Transforming Access to Hearing Care: Community Perspectives on School-Based Telehealth in Rural Appalachia.Ear and hearingSchool hearing screening in rural Kentucky was described as inconsistent, under-resourced, and poorly communicated, with outdated equipment and limited staff. Educators, parents, and providers wanted clearer school-to-clinic coordination and telehealth follow-up.
• SLPOther2025Age-Related Hearing Decline and Resting-State Networks.American journal of audiologyOlder adults and those with high-frequency hearing loss showed weaker connectivity in brain networks handling salience and speech. This may explain why listening in noise feels more effortful, even when the person does not report hearing problems.
• PTSLPSurvey2025Managing Facial Palsy After Stroke: Results From an Online Survey of Health Professionals.International journal of language & communication disordersMost UK clinicians rely on informal observation rather than standardised tools for facial palsy after stroke. Speech and language therapists and physiotherapists are the primary providers, but they lack clear guidelines, training, and resources.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025Personal, Social and Vocational Outcomes of Inclusive University for People With Intellectual Disability.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRInclusive university programmes for people with intellectual disability are linked to gains in autonomy, confidence, social skills and employment. However, friendships with non-disabled peers often did not extend beyond the programme, and most studies were small, single-site and US-based.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Prioritisation Systems Used in Adult Speech and Language Therapy Settings: A Scoping Review.International journal of language & communication disordersIn adult speech and language therapy, prioritisation often puts swallowing first and communication or voice lower. 10 included studies showed inconsistent systems with little detail, so diagnosis labels can delay people whose needs are severe.
• PTOther2026Interpretable Machine Learning for Stroke Recovery: Predicting Discharge and 3-Month Functional Outcomes.NeuroRehabilitationIn 116 stroke patients, age and initial stroke severity were consistent predictors of poor function at discharge and three months. For three months, discharge destination was selected by the models. This is a prediction model, not evidence that treatment changes outcome.
• PTQualitative2026Development of Mobile Software "SRCardioCare" Prototype for Implementing Home-Based Exercise Program Among Patients After Adult Cardiac Surgical Revascularization: Qualitative Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHealth care professionals interviewed about a prototype home-based cardiac rehabilitation app described it as useful and safe to suggest, but flagged manual vital entry and clinician reply time as feasibility problems.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Enhancing Knee Joint Proprioception in Healthy Adults Through Exergame Training With Augmented Feedback: Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHealthy adults using an exergame with sound feedback improved knee position accuracy more than those using visual feedback alone. However, participants could see their legs during testing, so the study proves better motor learning, not necessarily improved proprioception.
• OTRCT2026Three-dimensional assessment of finger individuation reveals finger- and joint-specific selective motor control deficits in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with cerebral palsy had lower ability to isolate finger forces, especially index and ring fingers. In the preferred hand, better finger control went with better pegboard, block, and manipulation scores. This is an assessment finding, not a treatment effect.
• OTCohort2026Preverbal visual assessment for screening cerebral visual impairment: Diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA caregiver questionnaire for infants under two years caught almost every child who was later diagnosed with cerebral visual impairment. However, it also flagged many who did not have it. Treat any concern on the form as a reason for a full eye and brain assessment.
• Other2026A bio-ecological model for early screening of developmental coordination disorder.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA model using birth, family and health-record data could flag preschool children at higher DCD risk, but its performance was only moderate and weaker at ages 6 to 10. It is a triage aid, not a diagnosis.
• Cohort2026Race, ethnicity, and nativity differences in pregnancy and birth outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled women with disabilities.Disability and health journalAmong Medicaid-enrolled women with disabilities, Black mothers faced higher risks of preterm birth and low birthweight than White mothers. Foreign-born Hispanic mothers had lower risks of these adverse outcomes than U.S.-born Hispanic mothers, despite having less education and shorter Medicaid enrollment.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Pharyngolaryngeal Abnormalities viewed via nasoendoscopy associated with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults: A Scoping Review.DysphagiaScoping review of 117 articles links specific pharyngolaryngeal abnormalities seen on FEES to dysphagia. Unilateral vocal fold impairment and edema show consistent associations with aspiration. Most other abnormalities lack statistical evidence, so treat FEES findings as part of a broader assessment rather than definitive causes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The Effect of Genotype on Self-Reported Dysarthria and Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease: A Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative Study.International journal of language & communication disordersPatients with SNCA and GBA mutations self-reported worse speech and swallowing problems than those with LRRK2 mutations after the first two years. All groups started with similar mild symptoms. Motor phenotype did not predict these self-reported communication or swallowing difficulties.
• SLPCase Report2025Toward Acoustic-Based Normalization of Laryngeal EMG for Improved Interspeaker Consistency in Muscle-to-Acoustic Mapping.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationIn a single healthy voice user, acoustic-based EMG normalization made laryngeal muscle-to-pitch maps more consistent across four sessions than peak-based normalization. The method is not yet ready for clinical use.
• PTOTQualitative2025Play Together? Unveiling Facilitators and Barriers to Inclusive Outdoor Play for Dutch Children With and Without Disabilities: A Qualitative Study.Child: care, health and developmentChildren with disabilities, especially those in special schools, face the most barriers to outdoor play. Key obstacles include lack of nearby peers, inaccessible playgrounds, and pity from other children. Familiarity and growing up together were the strongest facilitators for inclusive play.
• OTQualitative2025Empower Our Growth as Athletes: Voices of Swedish Athletes With Intellectual Disability.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSwedish athletes with intellectual disability described belonging when coaches made training understandable, checked in on feelings, respected their goals, and built a club where disability was not judged.
• SLPNarrative Review2025Translating the Power of Precision Medicine Into the World of Communication Disorders.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRIn infants with classic galactosemia, SLP-coached parent-led Babble Boot Camp before 6 months had higher babble complexity than typically developing controls at 12 to 16 months and higher than the 15-month start group at 15 months. No later speech or language outcomes were reported.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Influence of Speech and Language Therapy on Quality of Life in People With Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Scoping Review.International journal of language & communication disordersSpeech therapy for primary progressive aphasia often improves communication confidence, but this does not reliably translate to better quality of life. Most evidence comes from small case series, so no single therapy is proven to boost wellbeing.
• SLPSurvey2025Use of the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour Model and Theoretical Domains Framework to Understand Barriers and Enablers of Research Capacity and Culture for Speech and Language Therapy Staff.International journal of language & communication disordersSpeech and language therapy staff were motivated to do research and confident in basic evidence-based tasks like literature searches. They struggled with advanced skills like ethics applications and data analysis software. Key barriers were lack of time, supervision and unclear funding or career pathways.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2025Divergent aperiodic slope and alpha dynamics expose cortical excitability gradients in fragile X syndrome.Molecular autismEEG scans revealed brain patterns indicating high excitability in males with fragile X syndrome, but not in females. This sex-specific difference suggests that treatments targeting brain excitability may need to be tailored differently for boys and girls.
• Cohort2025Different exploration strategies along the autism spectrum: diverging effects of autism diagnosis and autism traits.Molecular autismAdults with autism explored less in a complex decision task, switching faster to known high-value options. They did not perform worse than controls. In adults without autism, higher autism traits did not predict reduced exploration, challenging the idea that traits alone mirror diagnostic effects.
• SLPRCT2025Effects of Body Posture on Voice Range Profile Performance in Untrained Vocally Healthy Individuals.International journal of language & communication disordersSitting or standing does not change Voice Range Profile results in healthy untrained adults. Clinicians can measure in either position without affecting reliability. Repeating the test immediately caused no training effect, so the order of postures does not bias the data.
• OTSystematic Review2025Natural Setting Interventions to Increase Physical Activity Level in Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPhysical activity programmes in familiar settings were implemented, but effects were mixed. The only study judged low risk of bias found no significant increase.
• OTSLPMeta-Analysis2025Autistic traits are associated with lower perceived executive function but not poorer executive function task performance in the general population: complementary meta-analytic evidence.Molecular autismPeople with more autistic traits report worse executive function on questionnaires, but their actual performance on cognitive tasks is not impaired. This gap suggests the difficulty lies in how they perceive their own abilities, not in the abilities themselves.
• SLPPilot2025Goal Setting in Speech-Language Pathology: A Pilot Test of a 'One-Size-Fits-All' Planning Framework.International journal of language & communication disordersSpeech-language pathologists who learned the THIMS framework wrote significantly more specific and measurable treatment goals. Scores rose from a median of 10 to 15 on a 17-point scale. This was a small pilot using a new, unvalidated scoring system.
• SLPOther2025Be Cognative: Cognates in the Rehabilitation of Cochlear Implant Users with German as a Second Language - A Computer-Based Experiment.International journal of language & communication disordersMultilingual cochlear implant users recognized cognates faster and more accurately than non-cognates in words and sentences. Proficiency level did not affect this benefit. Using cognates could make auditory training more accessible for patients with German as a second language.
• SLPCase-Control2025Maternal Linguistic Input to Infants Born to Mothers With and Without Postpartum Psychosis and Infant Language Skills: A Preliminary Study.American journal of speech-language pathologyMothers with recent postpartum psychosis gave less verbal input to their infants than controls. However, their infants showed no differences in language skills at 6 to 12 months. This pilot suggests a gap in interaction, but not yet in the child's development.
• SLPCohort2025Harsh Parenting, Maternal Depression, and Executive Function in Early Childhood.Child: care, health and developmentHarsh parenting and maternal depression at 30 months predicted lower inhibitory control and attention at 42 months. These factors independently affected attention, but not inhibitory control, when both were in the same model. The study shows an association, not that one causes the other.
• Systematic Review2025Advanced Quantitative Microstructure Imaging in Autism: A Review of Methodology, Group Differences, and Associations With Developmental Outcomes.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAdvanced brain scans in autism show inconsistent results. Some studies found lower nerve fiber density in key areas, while others found higher complexity or no difference. These scans are not yet reliable enough to diagnose autism or predict outcomes in a clinical setting.
• PTOTPilot2026Multimodal machine learning mobility assessment in Parkinson's disease within supervised and unsupervised settings.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding muscle sensors to standard motion trackers improved walking detection accuracy from 87.52% to 94.47% in ten people with Parkinson's. This multimodal approach revealed that free-living walking is slower, more variable, and requires higher muscle effort than clinic assessments.
• PTOTPilot2026Drumming with BEAT: a pilot study on the impact of drum set playing on motor control and quality of life in Parkinson's disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThree people with Parkinson's disease played a drum set for six weeks. All showed some improvement in balance and upper limb speed, but mood and quality of life scores were inconsistent. The program was feasible and engaging, but this small study cannot prove it works.
• PTOTOther2026Associations between activity limitations and participation restrictions in people with late effects of polio.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationActivity limitations and participation restrictions are only weakly associated in people with late effects of polio. Assess both separately during rehabilitation. Focusing on performance alone misses the broader participation issues that affect daily life.
• SLPPilot2026Super-Supraglottic Swallow Combined with Head Flexion Strengthens Laryngeal Closure.DysphagiaAdding head flexion to the super-supraglottic swallow significantly shortened the distance between the epiglottis and arytenoid in healthy adults, increasing complete laryngeal closure. However, participants found the combined maneuver harder to perform than the super-supraglottic swallow alone.
• SLPOther2026Exploring the Predictive Role of Lexical Stress Discrimination in the Phonological and Grammatical Skills of Teenagers With Down Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRWord stress discrimination did not predict phonological scores in teenagers with Down syndrome, but it predicted better grammar scores.
• Case Report2026Red-light flashing pens and seizures in children.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTwo children with previously undiagnosed photosensitive epilepsy had seizures triggered by a flashing red-light pen. Treatment with valproic acid and blue-tinted polarized lenses stopped further seizures in both cases, but this evidence comes from just two people.