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 664 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2026Foot-specific exercise intervention for forefoot deformity in individuals with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy: A randomized controlled clinical trial with 3-year follow-up.Brazilian journal of physical therapyFoot care, stretching, strengthening, and toe-extension prevention practice did not reduce forefoot deformity progression in type 2 diabetes with neuropathy over 3 years compared with shoulder exercise. Most participants' joint angles stayed stable.
• PTOTRCT2026Non-inferiority of digitally assisted outpatient rehabilitation in patients with back pain: 12-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineDigital back school delivered remotely was not worse than in-person sessions for pain self-efficacy at 12 months. Scores were similar across groups. Therapists can offer the digital option to patients who need flexibility, knowing the long-term effect matches conventional care.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Perspectives of young people with neuromotor disabilities on shared digital portals in paediatric rehabilitation: A descriptive-interpretive qualitative study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyYoung people with disabilities described shared digital portals as tools to reduce repetitive care and support autonomy. They wanted control over who sees their data, practical home exercise guides, and peer connection, while warning against surveillance and pressure from unmet goals.
• PTCohort2026Prognostic profiles for discharge destination identified during intensive care unit admission: a decision tree analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSimple ICU variables identified discharge profiles. APACHE II score under 20 with ICU stay under 8.3 days had 86% probability of home discharge. FSS-ICU below 5 with APACHE II 20 or higher had 18%.
• PTPilot2026Closed-loop movement-paired transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for upper-limb rehabilitation: a feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPatients with upper-limb weakness could set up a wearable ear stimulation device themselves, therapists found it easy to use, and it automatically stimulated during movements more often than manual triggering. Motor changes were modest and not proof of efficacy.
• Other2026Cholecystokinin upregulation in mPFC leads to social defeat-induced anxiety susceptibility in neuroligin 3 R451C knockin mice.Molecular autismIn autistic mice, a brain peptide called CCK stayed high in the prefrontal cortex into adulthood. This caused exaggerated anxiety after social bullying. Removing CCK in this brain area reversed the anxiety, suggesting a specific biological target for stress sensitivity.
• SLPOther2026Acceptability of a Digital Early Years Language Support Service for Caregivers of Children Who Have SLCN and/or Are Multilingual.International journal of language & communication disordersCaregivers rated weekly language support videos and online speech therapy as highly acceptable. They valued brief, practical content and human contact, but said videos needed more representation of diverse development, languages and family circumstances.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Collaborative practice to support community-based physical activity for young people with childhood-onset physical disability: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyNine strategies helped healthcare and community providers collaborate to support physical activity for young people with disability. However, these strategies were rarely defined clearly enough to copy, and none were evaluated for their effect on participation.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Love and People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Meta-Ethnography of Qualitative Research in the United Kingdom.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdults with intellectual disabilities clearly articulated love as companionship and mutual support. They faced barriers like staff control, lack of privacy, and stigma that hindered relationships. Services must actively protect romantic autonomy rather than ignoring it.
• Narrative Review2026Outcome measures for ambulant children with cerebral palsy after limb extremity orthopedic surgery: What should be measured and who should decide?Developmental medicine and child neurologyThis commentary discusses a separate study on core outcome measures for children with cerebral palsy after orthopedic surgery. It reports no original methods, participants, or results, so there are no findings here to change clinical practice.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Instrumental assessment of Sit-to-Stand in Parkinson's disease: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost instrumented sit-to-stand research in Parkinson's uses expensive clinical sensors and the Timed Up and Go test, not standalone sit-to-stand or home smartphones. Consumer devices cannot yet capture complex movement data unsupervised, so routine home monitoring is not yet validated.
• Qualitative2026Enhancing Perinatal Care for Women With Intellectual Disabilities: Clinician Insights on Involving Family Caregivers.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDClinicians often learned a woman had an intellectual disability only after meeting her, and they were unsure whether her family caregiver had legal decision authority. Caregivers were seen as valuable support, but could also override the woman's wishes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026The use of high-density surface electromyography in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHigh-density surface EMG can non-invasively detect muscle twitches and motor unit changes in ALS, but no single measure reliably distinguishes ALS from other conditions. Inconsistent recording methods across studies prevent current clinical use as a diagnostic or progression tool.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Interventions for children with developmental coordination disorder: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost interventions for children with coordination difficulties reported improved motor performance, but few measured real-life participation or social impact. Delivery in groups, schools, or one-to-one sessions all showed benefits, though diagnostic criteria were often poorly reported.
• OTOther2025Reliability Analysis of In-person and Virtual Goniometric Measurements for Select Shoulder and Forearm Motions.International journal of sports physical therapyShoulder internal rotation and forearm pronation/supination measured from screenshots were very consistent among three examiners. The study used 20 adults and static images, not live telehealth visits, so it does not establish accuracy in your caseload.
• Case Report2025Complex Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a 15-year-old With a Substance Use Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPExpert recommendations for managing a teen with ADHD and substance use, focusing on cultural sensitivity and confidentiality. No outcomes are reported, so this describes one clinician's approach rather than evidence that the treatment worked.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Agreement of Clinical Grade and Laboratory Grade Force Plates for Countermovement Jump Metrics in Youth Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyClinical force plates agree with lab equipment on jump height and peak force in youth athletes, but differ significantly on impulse measures. Do not swap impulse data between systems, as the numbers are not interchangeable.
• PTCohort2025Musculoskeletal Injuries and Illness in Professional British Tennis Players: An Injury Surveillance Study.International journal of sports physical therapyAmong 33 players, medical illness was the most frequent problem, wrist injuries were the most common ongoing issue, and ankle injuries had the highest average time lost or modified per injury.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Postoperative education for patients after hip/knee arthroplasty: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Archives of physiotherapyPostoperative education after hip or knee replacement showed no meaningful benefit over usual care for pain, function, or quality of life. It may slightly reduce anxiety and depression, but evidence is low certainty. Do not rely on it alone to improve physical recovery.
• OTSurvey2026Examining the Predictors of Life Satisfaction in College Students With Intellectual Disability.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRStudents with intellectual disability in college reported high anxiety and depression. A stronger sense of belonging predicted higher life satisfaction, even after accounting for mental health symptoms. Living independently also linked to greater satisfaction, while access to campus mental health services linked to lower anxiety.
• SLPCase-Control2026Communicative Adaptations After Laryngectomy: Syntactic Complexity and Gesture Use.International journal of language & communication disordersLaryngectomy patients use comparable syntax and gestures to healthy controls but pause more and speak fewer words. They rely on silent pauses to breathe and plan rather than verbal fillers, which may make it harder to hold the floor in conversation.
• SLPOther2026An Observational Examination of Circumlocution Ability in Acute Left-Hemisphere Stroke Survivors as a Possible Estimative Behavioral Measure of Very Mild Aphasia.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAcute left-hemisphere stroke survivors produced fewer informative object descriptions than controls, and survivors with aphasia on standardized testing produced fewer than survivors without. Circumlocution may help spot very mild aphasia when standardized scores do not identify it, but this is preliminary.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Supporting a 'good life' for autistic children: Autistic adults' and parents' perspectives.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults and parents identified four pillars for a 'good life' in autistic children: unconditional acceptance, pursuing personal interests, having autonomy over choices, and sensory-safe environments. They emphasized that social connection and happiness look different for each child, challenging neurotypical norms.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Factors Associated With Social Inclusion and Labour Status in People With Intellectual Disabilities, From Urban and Rural Areas of Peru.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDHaving a job linked to better social inclusion, while caregiver burden and older age linked to worse. Self-determination and verbal communication predicted employment. Urban participants had higher social inclusion than rural, but unemployment rates were high in both regions.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Priorities for change for autistic people across Europe.Molecular autismEducation, public awareness, funding, and employment were the top priorities for change across all groups. Autistic people ranked bullying and financial hardship higher than parents or professionals did, while parents prioritised daily living support and early intervention.
• PTRCT2026Effectiveness of a Physical Therapist-Administered Physical Activity Intervention After Total Knee Replacement: A Randomized Trial.Physical therapyAdding Fitbit step goals to standard physical therapy after knee replacement did not increase moderate-to-vigorous activity more than therapy alone. Both groups improved similarly over six months. Step goals alone may not be enough to change high-intensity movement in this population.
• PTOTCohort2026Treatment outcomes across curve patterns and severities in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with a pattern-specific CAD-CAM brace.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA custom 3D-scanned brace helped 91% of girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis avoid curve progression. Outcomes were similar across different spine curve patterns and severity levels. The study included only females aged 10 to 14 with moderate to severe curves.
• PTRCT2026Addition of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, Based on the Level of Excitability, to an Intradialytic Twice-Weekly Cycling Protocol: A Randomized Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyAdding electrical stimulation to cycling during dialysis did not improve muscle strength, sit-to-stand capacity, breathing muscle strength, neuromuscular excitability, or quality of life versus cycling alone in a very small trial.
• Case-Control2026Association of glymphatic dysfunction, free water, white matter integrity and long-term memory performance in aging autistic adults.Molecular autismAutistic adults showed lower long-term memory scores and brain imaging signs of impaired waste clearance compared to neurotypical adults. These changes were concentrated in the memory-related fornix and hippocampus, with higher free water accumulation increasing with age in the autistic group.
• SLPQualitative2026Impact of hearing aid usage on the quality of life of the older adult in KwaZulu-Natal.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsOlder adults with hearing aids reported better daily functioning and social connections, but psychological changes were minimal. Most struggled with device comfort or complex listening environments. Financial support through medical aid was the primary factor enabling consistent use.
• SLPCase-Control2026Nonword Repetition Assessing Auditory and Cognitive Abilities in Adult Cochlear Implant Users.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRAdult cochlear implant users repeated significantly fewer nonwords than normal-hearing peers, especially after age 67. Poorer performance was predicted by reduced spectral resolution and weaker reading or vocabulary skills, not working memory, suggesting bottom-up auditory limits drive phonological difficulties.
• SLPOther2026Event-Related Potentials as Markers of Age-Related Changes of Spatial Hearing in Normal-Hearing Adults.Trends in hearingMiddle-aged and older adults with normal hearing scores had worse localization and speech-in-noise perception than younger adults. The brain's mismatch response did not track these age-related spatial declines, but early cortical responses to sounds did correlate with age and behavioral deficits.
• PTOTCohort2026Capacity Versus Performance of Volitional Head Turns After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationPeople with mild traumatic brain injury turned their heads slower in the lab but not in daily life. However, their daily head movements were far less variable than healthy controls. Lab tests did not predict daily behavior. Wearables reveal deficits in movement flexibility that standard tests miss.
• PTOther2026Beyond en-bloc turning: dynamics of head-pelvis coordination in 360° turns in people with Parkinson's.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's and freezing of gait did not move their head and pelvis more together during 360° turns. They took more steps, and head-pelvis movement varied more, but that difference disappeared when disease severity and balance were considered.
• PTNarrative Review2026Neuro-immune contributors to persistent musculoskeletal pain: from mechanisms to clinical assessment and management.Musculoskeletal science & practiceThis review outlines how nerve and immune system interactions may contribute to persistent musculoskeletal pain. It summarises existing evidence on assessment tools like bedside testing and imaging, but reports no new clinical trial results or patient outcomes.
• SLPOther2026Metacognition for Listening in Noise: The Role of Age and Hearing Loss.Ear and hearingAge alone did not impair listening awareness or confidence in this study. However, older adults with mild hearing loss reported lower self-efficacy and used adaptive strategies less often than those with normal hearing. The hearing loss itself, not age, drove these differences.
• PTOTOther2026Causal Links Between Sleep Duration and Sarcopenia-Related Phenotypes: A Mendelian Randomization and Shared Genetic Mechanism Study.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationLonger sleep was linked to lower odds of sarcopenia in adults aged 16–55, especially women. Genetic analyses suggested sleep duration and muscle traits share biological pathways. These are observational and genetic associations, not proof that sleeping more prevents muscle loss.
• SLPPilot2026Delivering a Voice Education Program to School-Age Children through the Lens of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)A STEM-based voice education program significantly increased students' voice care knowledge immediately after training. One year later, scores remained similar to post-training levels, though individual item retention varied. The study was a small pilot without a control group.
• SLPOther2026Conversational Topic Shifts and Topic Maintenance in Autistic and Neurotypical Children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic and neurotypical children maintained conversation topics similarly. In this Spanish-speaking sample, autistic children shifted topics more often, and adults rated their shifts as less natural.
• PTCohort2025Injury and Illness Surveillance at the 2024 Hockey Australia U/18 National Championships.International journal of sports physical therapyYouth hockey athletes reported many injuries and illnesses during the tournament. Self-report identified 135 new injuries, while first-aid officers recorded 13. Knee, lower leg/achilles and ankle were the most common injury areas.
• PTOTSLPOther2025The Effect of Executive Cognitive Distraction on Sustaining a Volitional Preemptive Abdominal Contraction During a Unipedal Functional Movement in Healthy Participants.International journal of sports physical therapyHealthy participants successfully maintained abdominal bracing during a single-leg reach test even while distracted by an auditory task. However, distraction reduced reach distance in the posteromedial direction, suggesting complex movements may be more vulnerable to cognitive load than simple ones.
• PTOther2025From the International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy to the International Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy Association: Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy.International journal of sports physical therapyThis article reviews the 25-year history of the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy and its rebranding to the International Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy Association. It outlines organizational milestones and future strategic goals but contains no clinical data or patient outcomes to guide treatment decisions.
• PTMeta-Analysis2025Is resistance training with external loads superior to unloaded exercise in the management of chronic low back pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Archives of physiotherapyAdding external load to exercise for chronic low back pain did not clearly reduce pain or disability compared to unloaded exercise. While loaded training improved back muscle endurance, these physical gains did not consistently translate into better symptom relief for patients.
• PTOther2025No Difference in Static Postural Stability Bilaterally or Versus Control at 12 Weeks after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyAt 12 weeks after ACL reconstruction, single-leg static balance was no worse in the operated leg than the other leg or healthy controls. This test alone does not show full recovery.
• PTOTRCT2026Effectiveness of a Mobile Health Exercise Program for Adults With Mobility Disabilities: A Randomised Controlled Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAdults with mobility disabilities who used a home-based exercise app with social networking reported more moderate-to-vigorous activity than controls for 24 weeks. Gains were not sustained at 48 weeks. The added social features and coaching drove the difference, while physical function saw only minor changes.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026The effect of combined motor and cognitive rehabilitation on motor performance in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineCombined motor and cognitive training did not clearly improve functional mobility over motor training in Parkinson's disease. Sequential protocols reported an improvement in daily activities; simultaneous protocols reported better quality of life, but evidence was limited.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Functions and Sensors of Smart Walkers From 2015 to 2024: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesSmart walkers use many sensors, but most were tested in labs with younger adults without symptoms. Gait and balance measurements were often not checked against reference systems, so they cannot yet guide clinical decisions.
• SLPPilot2026Smartphone-Based Grading and Rehabilitation in Patients With Facial Palsy Using Computer Vision: Prospective Validation Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients with acute facial palsy used a smartphone app for grading and training over four weeks. The app's automated score matched clinical assessments well and users rated it highly usable, but improvements likely reflect natural recovery rather than the app's therapeutic effect.
• SLPQualitative2026'I Didn't Know That in the Background They Write Reports About Me': Understanding the Health Literacy Implications of Allied Health Reports through the Experiences of People With Lifelong Communication Disability.International journal of language & communication disordersSome people with lifelong communication disability did not know reports were written about them, and those who received them found them hard to understand. They asked for accessible copies, plain language, accurate strengths-based representation, and feedback.
• SLPNarrative Review2026Camouflaging and autism: Conceptualisation and methodological issues.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCamouflaging research is inconsistent in definitions and measurements. The main tool, the CAT-Q, may not distinguish camouflaging from social anxiety or self-presentation. Clinicians should not use it for screening and should consider these other explanations for patient behaviours.