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 654 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPSurvey2025Nursing personnel and speech-language therapists communication practices in dysphagia management.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsNurses reported that written instructions were their top preference for dysphagia care, followed by face-to-face verbal exchange. While most felt respected, a minority struggled to understand verbal instructions. Brief, unambiguous written notes paired with direct conversation appeared to support safe implementation.
• PTOTOther2025What are the characteristics of outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have reduced physical activity as a result of low-frequency pulmonary rehabilitation?Journal of physical therapy scienceMale COPD patients with low lung function or hilly homes were more likely to step less after low-frequency rehab. Screen for these factors early to adjust frequency or plan home visits.
• OTOther2025Assessing the Right to Interpersonal Relationships, Home and Family for People With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPeople with intellectual disabilities agreed less with items about marriage, children and choosing family size than with items about friendship and meeting people. The short seven-item rights scale produced consistent answers.
• Case Report2025Sexual Health and Transition Needs in an Adolescent Girl With Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Smith-magenis Syndrome.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPThis paper describes the care plan for one adolescent with Smith-Magenis syndrome and ADHD. It lists recommended evaluations and therapies but reports no results. No evidence is provided that these interventions improved the patient's function or symptoms.
• PTOTOther2025Trajectory and asymmetry of lower limb joint moments during normal and blindfolded gait.Journal of physical therapy scienceBlindfolding healthy men caused their gait trajectory to deviate left and their pelvis and thorax to rotate left. This was accompanied by reduced asymmetry in ankle and knee joint moments. The findings suggest trunk proprioception influences straight-line walking and lower-limb mechanics.
• PTOther2025Gait asymmetry characteristics: relationship between lateral deviation of the thorax in the standing position and asymmetry indices during gait.Journal of physical therapy scienceMost healthy men stood with their chest shifted left relative to their pelvis. This resting asymmetry correlated with greater leftward body sway during walking. A simple standing check may flag gait asymmetry, but the study included only young men and did not test interventions.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2025The Efficacy of Closed Versus Open Kinetic Chain Exercise in Knee Osteoarthritis-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyClosed kinetic chain exercises like squats and lunges reduced knee pain and improved function slightly more than open kinetic chain exercises in the short term. Quality of life scores showed no difference between the two groups. The benefit was small.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Phonetic changes, dental occlusion and their relationships in individuals with cleft lip and palate undergoing orthognathic surgery.CoDASMaxillary surgery improved some speech distortions and lisps, but hypernasality worsened on oral texts. No sound became 100% normal. Patients still need speech therapy after surgery to address remaining errors and new resonance issues.
• PTOTCohort2025Presence of transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy influences the prognosis of patients with acute decompensated heart failure undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients with heart failure and transthyretin amyloidosis had similar physical function gains from rehab but much higher death and rehospitalization rates. Good discharge scores did not predict their poor outcomes. Clinicians should not assume rehab success means a safe prognosis in this group.
• SLPOther2025Incidence and nature of functional voice disorders.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsAt a South African voice clinic, 86 of 516 adults had a functional voice disorder. Muscle tension dysphonia, hoarseness, high voice handicap scores and reflux were common. Occupational and non-occupational voice users were similar on the comparisons made.
• SLPCohort2025A description of feeding and swallowing in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsNeonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy often delay full oral feeding, especially if severely injured and untreated with cooling. Most achieved full feeds within 5 days. Oral phase difficulties like reduced endurance and weak sucking were common. Pharyngeal issues may be under-detected without instrumental assessment.
• PTCohort2025General movements and head magnetic resonance imaging to predict cerebral palsy in preterm and low birth weight infants.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 154 very-low-birth-weight infants, abnormal head MRI plus definitely abnormal general movements flagged 92.9% of infants who had cerebral palsy and correctly excluded 97.9% who did not. Alone, each was less accurate.
• SLPQualitative2025Feeding and swallowing difficulties in previously hospitalised premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit: Perspectives from South African caregivers.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMothers of premature infants with feeding difficulties described feeling helpless and guilty. They reported that NICU restrictions and their inability to feed their babies orally made bonding difficult. Information gaps about their child's swallowing prognosis left them searching for answers on social media.
• PTRCT2025The Role of Functional Electrical Stimulation in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Preliminary Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyAdding functional electrical stimulation to standard gait training did not improve mobility, walking speed, or daily living independence more than standard training alone in stroke survivors with foot drop. Both groups improved similarly.
• SLPQualitative2025Exploring final-year nursing students' experiences in dysphagia management at an Eastern Cape University.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsTwelve final-year nursing students said they felt unprepared to manage swallowing difficulties. They described brief lectures, uneven ward exposure, and uncertainty about feeding, choking, and when to refer to speech-language pathologists.
• SLPQualitative2025Perceived readiness of South African community service speech-language therapists to manage complex paediatric dysphagia.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsCommunity service speech therapists in South Africa reported low confidence managing complex paediatric dysphagia. They cited insufficient clinical exposure, lack of senior mentorship, and resource shortages like missing thickening agents. Caregiver beliefs, language barriers, and poverty further hindered effective therapy delivery.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Association between walking space and physical activity for hospitalized patients with stroke: a cross-sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke patients allowed to walk in the ward or hospital had more light activity and less sitting than those walking only in their room. Room-bound independence matched dependent patients. Set mobility goals by space, not just walking ability.
• PTOther2025Examination of the gait evaluation index using shoes with built-in motion sensors: intra-rater reliability during comfortable walking and fastest walking.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 13 healthy young adults, sensor-embedded shoes measured gait consistently over one week during both comfortable and fastest walking. Changes larger than the reported minimal detectable error can be considered true improvements rather than measurement noise.
• SLPQualitative2025Feeding and swallowing in cerebral palsy: Caregiver burden, quality of life and support needs.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMothers of children with cerebral palsy and feeding difficulties reported that feeding dominates their lives, causing financial, physical and emotional strain regardless of whether the child eats orally or via a tube. They urgently need practical coaching, accessible professional contact and peer support.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Exploring the autism and functional neurological disorder association: Considerations from biopsychosocial, neuropsychological and computational models.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThis theoretical review links autism and functional neurological disorder through shared traits like sensory overload and difficulty identifying emotions. It suggests clinicians should screen for autism in FND patients to avoid misdiagnosis, but offers no tested interventions or outcome data.
• Other2026Simulation of prosthetic vision with the PRIMA system and enhancement of face representation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSighted users identified emotions 48.4% accurately with image enhancements versus 25.5% without. This software update helps prosthetic vision patients see faces by thickening features and correcting contrast, but requires testing in actual patients.
• PTOther2026Brain adaptations in challenging walking task of people with stroke: an experimental study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationDuring challenging walking tasks like balancing on a board or walking blindfolded, people with stroke showed suppressed low-frequency brain activity and enhanced mid-to-high-frequency connectivity. This neural shift reflects increased cognitive demand and sensorimotor integration, though no behavioral data confirmed if this improved actual walking performance.
• PTCohort2026Key factors for successful gait acquisition in individuals with severe hemiplegic subacute stroke using a single-legged gait-training assistance robot: a retrospective cohort study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn severe subacute stroke, patients who started Welwalk earlier and had better trunk stability and leg position sense were more likely to walk with supervision after 4 weeks of robot training within a usual rehabilitation program.
• SLPQualitative2026'Breaking down a barrier': Autistic young people see virtual reality as a possible social support, but not a substitute for in-person interactions.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic young people see VR as a safe 'first step' for high-stakes interactions like dates or interviews, because it filters sensory noise and allows control over appearance. However, they reject VR as a substitute for in-person contact, citing missing non-verbal cues and safety concerns.
• SLPOther2026The Interplay Between Language, Executive Functioning, Theory of Mind and Socio-Emotional Functioning - A Comparison Between Adolescents With and Without DLD.International journal of language & communication disordersAdolescents with DLD had lower receptive vocabulary and lower scores on understanding what others think, and lower parent-reported socio-emotional functioning than typically developing peers. When all abilities were considered together, only understanding what others think was associated with socio-emotional functioning.
• PTPilot2026Expansion of attentional scope modulates postural control, motor strategies, and attentional network connectivity in healthy adults: a proof-of-concept mixed-methods study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding whole-body attentional prompts to plantar sensory training increased immediate postural stability scores in healthy adults, while plantar training alone did not. The change was small and did not reach the threshold for individual meaningful change.
• OTSLPCase Series2026Appropriateness and Impact of a Vocal Cord Vibration Switch for Children with Complex Communication Needs: Case Series.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThree children with complex communication needs used a vocal cord vibration switch for two years. Mothers and teachers reported lower effort and higher satisfaction compared to previous devices, and all three children continued using the switch after the main study period.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Bringing the Computer-Based Instrument for Low Motor Language Testing to Canada: A Survey of Caregiver and Clinician Perspectives.International journal of language & communication disordersCanadian caregivers and clinicians say current language comprehension assessments for children with cerebral palsy lack accuracy, creating a critical gap. Both groups view the new C-BiLLT-CAN tool as highly promising, but flag that it currently lacks the response methods, like auditory access and specific switches, that many children need to actually complete the test.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Quality of rehabilitation care in Portuguese stroke units: findings from 2017-2018 and 2023 national cross‑sectional surveys.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePortuguese stroke units improved multidisciplinary meetings and discharge coordination over six years. However, fully staffed teams remained rare, weekend assessments lagged significantly behind weekdays, and neurogenic bladder screening was almost never performed.
• Meta-Analysis2026Parenting Practices in Families of Children With Comorbid ADHD and Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Child: care, health and developmentFamilies of children with both ADHD and anxiety showed more overprotective parenting and less positive engagement than those with ADHD alone. No difference was found in harsh or inconsistent discipline. This suggests targeting anxiety-specific family dynamics rather than general behavior management.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026A Scoping Review to Map Health Outcomes in Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction.International journal of language & communication disordersAcross 49 studies on inducible laryngeal obstruction, outcome measures varied widely with no standard set. Patient-reported questionnaires dominated, but few captured environmental or personal factors. Current tools miss key life impacts, so results cannot be reliably compared across studies.
• PTPilot2026Assessment of the influence of lower limb cycling on arm muscle coordination during upper limb cycling: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding leg cycling to arm cycling did not significantly change how ten healthy women's arm muscles worked together. Changing arm crank resistance also did not. This pilot found no clinical outcome and cannot show rehabilitation benefit.
• PTOTCohort2026Predicting self-reported injury status among runners training for the New York City Marathon.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFor runners already modifying training due to injury, models predicted next week's injury status well. For runners not yet modifying training, prediction was poor. Current pain and injury status were the strongest predictors. Training load metrics like ACWR showed weaker associations.
• OTSystematic Review2026Continued Involvement: A Scoping Review on Family Members' Needs and Experiences Collaborating With Support Staff for Relatives With Intellectual Disabilities Living Outside the Family Home.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRFamily members of people with intellectual disabilities living outside the family home wanted clear information, consistent staff, and recognition as partners. They often felt sidelined when staff changed or communication was poor.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation for the Upper Extremity and Scapula: Review and Update on Rehabilitation of Shoulder Pathology.International journal of sports physical therapyPNF patterns help shoulder rehab, but evidence is strongest when combining upper limb and scapular movements. Using them separately does not reliably reduce pain or fix scapular position. Clinicians should integrate these diagonal patterns into broader programs rather than relying on them alone.
• OTOther2025The Effects of a SWELE Program on Mental Wellbeing Among Children and Adolescents With Special Educational Needs and Disabilities: A Quasi-Experimental Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDChildren and adolescents with special educational needs had higher mood, lower anxiety, better self-regulation, social skills and playfulness after a school-based outdoor free play and mindfulness program. Without a control group, this cannot prove the program caused the changes.
• PTOther2025Is Deceleration the Key Element in Vertical Jump Performance to Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Hamstring Graft? A Preliminary Study.International journal of sports physical therapyAt six months after ACL reconstruction, deceleration symmetry did not show a clear group difference, but jump force and power symmetry were lower than controls. The reconstructed limb also had lower force, power, and deceleration than the other limb.
• SLPOther2025From delay to detection: Dysphagia patterns in tracheostomised ICU patients in South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsIn 42 tracheostomised ICU patients, 66.6% had dysphagia and 28.6% had silent aspiration. Swallowing assessments took an average of 32.45 days after admission, meaning patients spent weeks with undetected swallowing problems.
• PTOther2025Three-dimensional motion analysis of the trailing limb in obstacle crossing during gait in young adults: foot trajectory changes with the height of obstacles.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy young adults kept the trailing foot's clearance about the same as obstacles rose, but the foot stayed in the air longer and its path shifted from two peaks to one peak at higher obstacles.
• SLPQualitative2025Developing a FEES service in South Africa: Interdisciplinary reflections for dysphagia care.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsFour dysphagia clinicians reflected that building a bedside FEES service depended on ENT, SLT and nursing collaboration, protected scheduling, shared endoscope access, and education to overcome scepticism. They described FEES helping guide diet and feeding decisions, but gave no patient outcomes.
• SLPOther2025Executive, behavioural and emotional functioning in Spanish children with dyslexia.CoDASSpanish children with dyslexia had higher parent and teacher reported anxiety, depression and aggression, and poorer executive functioning. Executive functioning was associated with emotional problems, but no intervention was tested.
• Other2025Dim light at night disrupts the sleep-wake cycle and exacerbates abnormal EEG activity in Cntnap2 knockout mice: implications for autism spectrum disorders.Molecular autismIn mice modeling autism, dim light at night fragmented sleep and doubled abnormal brain activity. Wild-type mice also developed these electrical spikes under dim light. This suggests environmental light may worsen neurological instability, though human effects are unproven.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Interventions to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in farmworkers: a scoping review.International journal of audiologyMailing or placing hearing protection directly on equipment improved self-reported use more than education alone. However, objective hearing thresholds rarely changed in short-term studies, and many trials lacked untreated control groups.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Current trends and identified gaps in dysphagia research in Africa: A scoping review.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsDysphagia research in Africa is sparse, heavily skewed towards South Africa, and focused on clinical practice rather than teaching or prevalence. Nurses and doctors often lack the knowledge to identify swallowing difficulties, leaving speech-language therapists to manage complex cases with limited multidisciplinary support.
• OTQualitative2026"It Changed My Perspective": Embedding Occupational Therapy Within an Early Childhood Education Centre Provides Inclusive Developmental Support and Access to Early Intervention.Child: care, health and developmentTeachers and parents described embedded occupational therapy as removing the wait for help and the shame of pulling children out. They valued immediate classroom-based problem solving over traditional referral pathways, though this pilot reports their perceptions rather than child outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Responsiveness of the "PROM Pediatric Physical Therapy" in Dutch Pediatric Physical Therapy Practices.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationThe PROM-ppt questionnaire tracks progress well for children with motor problems but fails to reflect change for those with pain-related issues. Therapists should use it to monitor goal attainment in motor cases, but rely on other measures when pain is the primary complaint.
• PTOTOther2026Telerehabilitation Following Stroke: Development of Training Content and Evaluation of an App-Based Training Program.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients with moderate-to-severe stroke rated a new app-based exercise program as user-friendly, but adherence to the exercises was low during the one-week test. Therapists liked the system, yet the study cannot show whether it improves recovery.
• SLPRCT2026A Liquid Thickener Presentation Format for the Therapeutic Management of Dysphagia-A Promising Step Forward in Addressing the Challenges Associated With Thickened Fluids in Swallowing Disorders?International journal of language & communication disordersPatients with swallowing difficulties rated drinks thickened with a new liquid concentrate as significantly more pleasant and easier to use than their usual powdered thickener. They drank more fluid on average and reported fewer gastrointestinal symptoms, though the study was small and short.
• PTOTOther2026Resting-state and task-state fNIRS fusion assessment method for upper limb motor function in stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining resting and hand-grasp fNIRS measures with clinical data predicted upper-limb Fugl-Meyer scores better than either fNIRS measure alone. Cortical stroke predictions were closest. Subcortical stroke predictions remained less accurate.
• Other2026Teacher-Student Relationship Quality and Classroom Climate From the Student Perspective: Adaptation of the SPARTS-E in the Spanish Context7.Child: care, health and developmentThe Spanish student-reported teacher-relationship scale works for Closeness and Conflict but fails for Negative Expectations. Teachers and students agreed on conflict but not on closeness, as teachers view it through classroom management while students view it through emotional availability.