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 662 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2026Face-to-face vs. telerehabilitation for thoracic hyperkyphosis in children- A randomized controlled pilot study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineTelerehabilitation did not differ from face-to-face care for thoracic kyphosis angle after six weeks in 20 children. Both groups improved angle and discomfort, but the pilot was small and had no longer follow-up.
• PTOTRCT2026Sensory and cortical biomarkers unveil pain modulation mechanisms induced by targeted multisensory neurostimulation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFour days of VR synchronized with foot nerve stimulation cut neuropathic pain scores from 33 to 9 on a 100-point scale in 10 patients. VR alone did nothing. The combination also improved foot sensation and brain wave markers of pain.
• PTOTNarrative Review2026Missed opportunities in post-total knee arthroplasty rehabilitation in Indonesia: a narrative review of insurance-driven delays in functional recovery.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIndonesia’s national insurance caps physiotherapy at two sessions weekly and requires administrative steps that delay start-up. This prevents patients from receiving the early, intensive rehabilitation needed to regain knee motion and strength after total knee replacement.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2026Upper limb motor recovery using a digital health-driven IoT rehabilitation system: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA stroke patient with high baseline independence used a digital IoT system for two weeks. His arm movement quality improved slightly, and he stayed engaged. Because he started so capable, the system could not show further gains in how often he used his arm.
• PTOTRCT2026Effect of an ERAS-based pulmonary rehabilitation exercise program on perioperative outcomes in liver resection patients: a prospective study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAfter liver resection, a nurse-led pulmonary rehabilitation bundle added to routine care improved lung function, daily activity, and walking, and reduced atelectasis and clots. Do not credit one component alone.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026On the correlation between training modalities and recovery stages in poststroke robotic rehabilitation of the upper limb: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobotic therapy choices should match the stroke recovery stage. Assistive modes with electrical stimulation worked best for chronic patients. Active-assistive modes with bio-signal triggers yielded greater gains for subacute patients. Evidence for the acute phase remains too limited to guide practice.
• PTCohort2026Do predictors of motor recovery differ between robotic and conventional post-stroke rehabilitation?Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBaseline motor severity predicted recovery in both groups. Age mattered only for conventional therapy, while neglect and wrist strength mattered only for robotic therapy. These differences suggest treatment choice may depend on specific patient profiles rather than one-size-fits-all.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Relationship between lower limb muscle coordination and knee flexion angle during the swing phase of gait in post-stroke individuals.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients with fewer muscle coordination patterns had significantly lower knee flexion during the swing phase. These patients merged ankle and hip/knee control into one pattern, unlike those with more complex control who kept ankle push-off separate.
• PTOTCase Report2026Bionicohand: a collaborative, open-source myoelectric prosthetic hand designed with and for its user.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe open-source Bionicohand performed comparably to the user's commercial prosthesis in most tasks, achieving second place in the Cybathlon. It offered better force modulation but slower movement speeds and lacked the ability to distinguish object hardness without feedback.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026The past, present and future of control architectures in lower-limb cable-driven robots for gait rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost evidence for cable-driven gait robots comes from short tests on healthy people, not patients. While advanced controls improved walking symmetry during use, the review found no proof these changes last after the device is removed or lead to better long-term function.
• PTPilot2026Emotional Training via Telerehabilitation After Surgical Treatment for Facial Palsy: Prospective, Assessor-Blinded, 2-Arm Pilot Cohort Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThe two delivery modes showed no clear difference on facial symmetry, disability, or anxiety scores. Both in-person and telerehabilitation emotional training after triple innervation surgery were feasible, with no dropouts.
• PTOTCase Report2026Robotic exoskeleton rehabilitation in incomplete L2 paraplegia: functional gains contrast with metabolic challenges - a multidimensional case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne young man with incomplete paraplegia gained function and bone density over six months of exoskeleton training. However, his visceral fat rose sharply and muscle asymmetry worsened. This single case shows functional gains can coexist with metabolic decline and uneven recovery.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Post-stroke lower limb rehabilitation: a comparative study between exoskeleton robots and traditional gait training.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot-assisted gait training may speed short-term recovery in severe post-stroke walking deficits, while traditional training better supports active movement learning. Most evidence lacked follow-up beyond six months.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Treatment of residual and phantom limb pain using percutaneous ablation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPercutaneous ablation reduced phantom and residual limb pain in small case series, but the only randomized trial found no significant improvement with cryoablation. Evidence for thermal and pulsed radiofrequency is limited to uncontrolled reports, so efficacy remains unproven.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The impact of continued inpatient therapies on functional recovery and community discharge in patients with acquired brain injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients with acquired brain injury continuing rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility after inpatient rehab showed significant functional gains in mobility, daily activities, and cognition. Eighty-eight percent were discharged to the community. Higher admission mobility scores and an ischemic stroke diagnosis predicted community discharge.
• PTOTRCT2026Outcomes of an Exercise Intervention in Adults With Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Disease: A Secondary Analysis.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRA 12-month remote exercise program was safe for adults with Down syndrome and congenital heart disease, with no increase in adverse events compared to those without heart disease. Participants improved cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity, though results are preliminary.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with computerized cognitive training improves global cognition and functional independence post-stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining hyperbaric oxygen with computerized cognitive training improved global cognition and daily living independence more than either alone or standard care in stroke patients. Gains appeared across memory, attention, and orientation. The contribution of each component cannot be separated.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Neurosurgery to restore function in cerebral palsy: current practice and emerging therapies.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis review maps neurosurgical options for cerebral palsy movement disorders. It notes SDR helps spasticity but can unmask dystonia, while DBS and spinal cord stimulation remain investigational for children. Outcomes vary by phenotype, requiring individualized selection and intensive rehab.
• PTOther2026Using explainable AI to identify disease-relevant and deep brain stimulation treatment-sensitive gait features in Parkinson's disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStep width variability, step width asymmetry, arm-leg coordination and forward-back balance were the most consistent candidate gait markers distinguishing Parkinson's disease from controls and pre-DBS from post-DBS. Post-surgery recordings included medication and stimulation, so this does not isolate deep brain stimulation.
• OTPilot2026Understanding the impact of perceived app usability on the efficacy of mobile health intervention for traumatic brain injury caregivers.Rehabilitation psychologyPush notifications reduced depression scores only in caregivers who found the app easy to use. For those who found it difficult, messages slightly worsened depression scores. Usability, not just the content, determines whether these tools help or harm.
• OTRCT2026Clinical Efficacy and Preliminary Cost-Utility of Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Versus Sham Stimulation for Neurogenic Overactive Bladder in Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairActive rTMS lowered stroke-related overactive bladder symptoms more than sham at weeks 4 and 8 (1.66 and 1.81 points on the bladder symptom score). This difference was under the 3-point clinical threshold, but treated participants improved 4.31 points.
• PTOTRCT2026Neuromechanics of Nonuse and Compensation: Implications for Rehabilitation After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairTrunk compensation after stroke is often a smart effort-saving strategy, not just bad habits. Patients who gain function or reduce effort by compensating should focus on shoulder strength. Those who do not gain from compensating are candidates for therapies that restrict movement.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Hands-free control of an assistive robotic arm for high-level paralysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHead, tongue, and facial muscle controls let people reach targets with a robotic arm as fast as a hand-operated joystick. Voice control was slower. These hands-free options may offer people with high-level paralysis a safer, cheaper alternative to brain implants.
• PTOther2026Muscle synergy asymmetry between the affected and unaffected limbs during the stance phase in unilateral flatfoot.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with one flat foot showed different muscle coordination patterns on the affected side compared to the unaffected side. The affected limb relied more on the inner calf muscle, while the unaffected limb relied more on the front shin muscle. Both sides maintained similar overall stability.
• PTOther2026The Use of 3D Printing Technology in Rehabilitation for Adults Living With Neurological Conditions: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStudies of 3D-printed neurorehabilitation devices came only from upper-middle-income or high-income countries, mostly orthoses for stroke. The review mapped tools and outcome measures, not whether they improve recovery.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026User Requirements of the Integrated Home-Based Rehabilitation Tool, Neurorehabilitation Ecosystem for Sustained Therapy: Multicenter Focus Group Study With Stroke Survivors, Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStroke survivors, caregivers, and therapists agree that home rehabilitation apps need therapist-led setup, simple interfaces, and customizable games. Caregivers want to support without becoming therapists. The system must be an addition to clinic care, not a replacement, with ongoing monitoring to keep patients engaged.
• OTRCT2026Effects of semi-independent bedside rehabilitation of the upper limb assisted with a mobile wrist-hand exoneuromusculoskeleton (ENMS) for inpatients with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial (RCT).Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSubacute stroke inpatients who did Bobath therapy plus bedside wrist-hand robot training improved more on the primary upper-limb motor test than those doing Bobath plus cycling robot or Bobath plus PNF, while using less therapist time.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Clinical characteristics, functional impact and caregivers' priorities in Malaysian children with dystonic cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineCaregivers rated sitting, hygiene, and speech as top priorities even when impact was mild. Fine motor issues showed high impact and priority. Dystonia severity correlated with functional impact, but functional level alone did not predict priority.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence for the Assessment and Rehabilitation of Spatial Neglect: A Systematic Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairAugmented reality and AI show promise for assessing spatial neglect, with some diagnostic accuracy exceeding standard tests. However, evidence for rehabilitation effectiveness is very low, with only one small trial. Current tools lack personalization and real-world validation.
• PTSurvey2026Latent profile analysis for kinesiophobia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMost patients undergoing CABG had moderate fear of movement. A small high-fear group showed strong danger beliefs and avoidance. These profiles show that fear of movement differs between patients.
• PTOTOther2026Acute effects of upper-limb blood flow restriction training on dual-task postural control and physiological correlates in older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding blood flow restriction to arm exercise improved balance during a dual-task in older adults. Reaction time and accuracy did not change. The benefit was limited to postural control, not the cognitive part of the task.
• OTOther2026Lateral armrest support improves postural alignment, respiratory mechanics, and shoulder girdle loading during seated eating in healthy young adults: a multidimensional biomechanical evaluation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLateral armrests during simulated bed sitting reduced upper trapezius stiffness and increased vital capacity compared with unsupported sitting, and were more comfortable with less neck extension than forward elbow support in 40 healthy young adults.
• PTOTQualitative2026The concerns of mothers of female youth with physical disabilities in transitioning to adulthood: A qualitative study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineMothers of girls with physical disabilities worry most about independence, empowerment, relationships, health, and legal adulthood. They use patience and outside support for skills, but feel helpless against stigma and insurance barriers. This highlights needs for transition planning and social work support.
• PTOTOther2026Validity of FuncUseRatio for ecological monitoring of functional arm use after stroke: toward precision neurorehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWrist sensors accurately track functional arm use in stroke survivors. The FuncUseRatio metric matched video analysis almost perfectly in daily tasks like eating and dressing. This tool validates home monitoring of paretic arm use, helping clinicians detect non-use behaviors early.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Effects of incentive spirometer added to standard rehabilitation in previously hospitalized adults with post-COVID-19 condition: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding an incentive spirometer to standard rehabilitation improved peak expiratory flow and reduced breathlessness compared with rehabilitation alone. However, it did not improve walking distance, strength, or quality of life more than the standard programme. Use it as an adjunct for respiratory symptoms, not a replacement for comprehensive rehab.
• SLPOther2026Discrepancies between feeling and expressing: Perceptions of autistic and non-autistic emotional expressions by non-autistic observers.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults reported feeling emotions as strongly as non-autistic adults. Non-autistic observers were less accurate at recognizing happiness in autistic faces, but rated autistic sadness and anger as more intense. Software classified mild autistic faces as more neutral than non-autistic faces.
• SLPCohort2026Quantitative but Not Qualitative Differences: A Longitudinal Analysis of Grammatical Marker Development in Mandarin-Speaking Autistic Children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMandarin-speaking autistic children acquired grammatical markers in the same order as typically developing peers, but at a slower pace. Autism severity and initial language ability did not change this sequence. This supports targeting general language skills, as specific grammar instruction may not be needed early on.
• Other2026Bridging Perspectives: Guiding the Selection of Patient-Centered Outcomes in Rehabilitation Learning Health Systems.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Adipose-derived and bone marrow aspirate concentrate injections for osteoarthritis: A scoping review.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAdipose and bone marrow injections showed mixed results versus PRP, saline, steroids or exercise in trials, and most evidence is observational with inconsistent methods, so they cannot be recommended as proven better treatments.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Factors Contributing to Screen Exposure in Preschool Children and Its Associated Outcomes: A Systematic Review.Child: care, health and developmentParents' own excessive screen use and lack of clear rules are the strongest predictors of high screen time in preschoolers. While most studies link high exposure to language and social delays, a few report benefits when use is interactive and educational. The evidence is observational, so causality is not proven.
• PTOther2026Efficacy of radial shock wave therapy for ankle spasticity in patients with stroke within 3 months of onset: a prospective quasi-experimental study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn adults within three months of stroke, radial shock wave plus physical, occupational, and speech therapy was linked to lower ankle tone and greater passive range of motion for up to five weeks. With no control group, natural recovery may explain the gains.
• PTCohort2026Early neurodevelopmental outcome in newborns with mild hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyForty newborns with mild HIE and normal aEEG showed no cerebral palsy at 12 months. 60% had above-average Griffiths scores, 30% were within the expected range, and 10% were borderline. This describes a low-risk group, not all mild HIE.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Nanomaterial-enabled physical rehabilitation: mechanisms, evidence, and translational pathways.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNanomaterials can localize heat, sound, or magnetic fields to target pain and tissue repair more precisely than current modalities. However, this remains preclinical. Long-term safety data for repeated exposure is missing, so there are no clinical protocols to adopt yet.
• PTOTCohort2026Physical activity levels are low in the days, weeks, and months following dysvascular major lower limb amputation.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePhysical activity increases over the first nine months after dysvascular major lower limb amputation, but remains low. Older age and undernutrition were associated with less activity, while higher grip strength was linked to more. Most activity occurred during leisure time via walking or wheeling.
• OTSLPMeta-Analysis2026Examining the Relationship Between Social Motivation and Internalizing Symptoms in Autistic People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAcross 15 studies, autistic people with lower social motivation reported significantly higher anxiety and depression. The link was strongest for social anxiety. Because the data is cross-sectional, this shows an association, not that low motivation causes mental health difficulties.
• OTPilot2026Multigesture Electromyographic Control Complexity in Upper Limb Prostheses Actuated via Single Sensor Input Contraction Magnitude: Qualitative Study for Evaluating Performance and Cognitive Load.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAble-bodied novice users were most accurate with 1 gesture and least accurate with 5. 3 gestures were more usable than 5, and progressive practice matched static practice except at 3 gestures, where static practice scored higher.
• PTSLPSystematic Review2026The adoption of innovative technologies in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine: state of the art and unmet needs.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMost mapped rehabilitation technology studies covered neurological conditions and motor recovery. Virtual reality, non-invasive brain stimulation, robotics and tele-rehabilitation were common, but quality appraisal was absent.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Characteristics of unilateral cerebral palsy according to gestational age at birth: A retrospective study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost children with unilateral cerebral palsy were born at term. Premature birth did not predict later impairments, but focal brain injuries like stroke were linked to fewer cognitive and communication issues, yet higher rates of epilepsy, compared to white matter injuries.
• Other2026Use of emergency medical services by adults with developmental disabilities receiving integrated or usual care.Disability and health journalAdults with developmental disabilities in integrated care were less likely to use the emergency department or be hospitalized than those in usual care, but this cannot prove integrated care caused it.
• Pilot2026Smartphone App-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Concussion in Adolescents (MBI-4-mTBI): Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesA mindfulness app for teens with concussion was feasible but had low adherence. Only 60% of users met the minimum engagement target, dropping to 39% by week 4. The study was too small to prove the app reduces symptoms or improves recovery.