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 665 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Exploring clinician-reported assessments of capacity and performance qualifiers in the ICF: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOnly five studies were found that properly linked clinician assessments to ICF capacity and performance qualifiers, all focused on walking or lifting. The methods used were inconsistent and rarely validated, so there is currently no standard way to code these qualifiers.
• PTOTQualitative2026Clinical gait analysis use in management of children with cerebral palsy: Qualitative study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyClinicians and caregivers found gait analysis valuable for validating clinical impressions and guiding complex decisions, but resource limitations, lack of standardized protocols, and interpretation barriers prevented consistent access and timely follow-up.
• PTCase Report2026Cyberlegs X-Leg at CYBATHLON 2024: insights on the control development of an active transfemoral prosthesis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA single user with a transfemoral amputation completed a powered prosthesis race course in under six minutes after 46 hours of training. The pilot reported discomfort and needed to compensate during stair climbing and sit-to-stand tasks, despite successful walking.
• PTPilot2026Effects of Aquatic Physiotherapy on Pain and Sleep Quality in Women With Fibromyalgia: A Pre-Post Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyThirteen women with fibromyalgia reported pain halving from severe to moderate and sleep quality improving significantly after eight weeks of supervised aquatic physiotherapy in a school clinic. Without a control group, these changes cannot be separated from natural fluctuation or other concurrent care.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Seizures in children with Dravet syndrome in extreme heat: A qualitative study of parental perspectives.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents described heat as a constant seizure trigger, noting children could not sweat or cool down. They avoided pools and sudden temperature shifts, kept children indoors, and gave fever medication when skin turned red, even without fever, to prevent seizures.
• SLPOther2026Performance of Nonlinear Energy Difference Ratio and Voice Type Component Profile Across Phoneme, Relative Sound Pressure Level, and Environment.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationNEDR stayed mostly stable for vowels and voiced fricatives, but changed with /s/, very soft speech, and noise. VTCP moved more with loudness, sound type, and recording environment. Use the same sound and quiet room when interpreting them.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Ethical Challenges and Considerations in Dysphagia Management: A Scoping Review.International journal of language & communication disordersDysphagia ethics literature focuses heavily on recognising dilemmas but rarely on how to act on them. Clinicians often know the right choice but lack support to advocate against institutional risk-aversion, especially in telepractice and complex cultural cases.
• PTOTCohort2026Effects of a Multimodal Neurorehabilitation Program on Gross Motor Function and Activity and Participation Performance in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A 9-Month Longitudinal Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyChildren in GMFCS levels I–III improved gross motor function, mobility and social function over nine months. Levels IV–V improved only in sitting, with no change in daily activity performance. Since all children received multiple therapies together, the specific contribution of any single treatment cannot be separated.
• Other2026Altered Brain Structure in an ATRX-Deficient Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn mice with autism-related gene loss, male brains were smaller than controls. Both sexes showed reduced hippocampus and cerebellum volume but enlarged cortex and thalamus. These structural changes suggest disrupted brain connectivity pathways.
• PTSurvey2026Independent risk factors associated with a history of exercise associated muscle cramps (EAMC) among 21460 cycling race entrants (SAFER XXXVI): a descriptive cross-sectional study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyAmong 21460 cyclists, 30.5% reported a lifetime history of exercise-associated muscle cramps. Risk was significantly higher in those with more chronic diseases, allergies, medication use before or during events, and a history of cycling injuries. These factors were independent of age and sex.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026How are School-aged Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Digital Media? A Qualitative Study of Families' Lived Experiences.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPFamilies described digital media as a double-edged sword. It offers relief, deep interest exploration, and social connection, but creates safety concerns and caregiver guilt. Rules must be highly individualized and flexible, as one-size-fits-all restrictions fail in diverse home and school settings.
• PTOTCase Report2026Innovative therapeutic approach in becker muscular dystrophy. From murine model to focal muscle vibration: a case report assessment through gait analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne man with Becker muscular dystrophy showed improved gait symmetry and muscle activation after focal muscle vibration, but the gains faded without repeated treatment. This is a single case, not proof the therapy works for others.
• SLPCohort2026Maternal Child-Directed Speech Toward Children With Infantile Spasm or West Syndrome.International journal of language & communication disordersMothers of children with West Syndrome used more emotional exclamations and fewer questions than mothers of typically developing children. This shift toward affective speech may help sustain engagement but could limit opportunities for language learning by reducing referential scaffolding.
• SLPOther2026The Effects of Daily Life Auditory Demands on Listening Effort, Affect, and Fatigue as a Function of Hearing Loss.Trends in hearingIn daily life, moments with more listening demand raised effort and fatigue, especially in people with worse hearing. Effort, not mood, explained the demand-fatigue link.
• Other2026Can the goals of rehabilitation and disability be reconciled? A discussion paper.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThere is no finding to act on. This is a discussion paper, not a study of patients.
• PTPilot2026Exploration of the center of mass kinematics correlation with established gait measures in post-spinal cord injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCenter of mass symmetry tracked walking speed and strength in five people with spinal cord injury, but not balance or assistive device use. This single measure may offer a quick snapshot of gait quality, though it is not yet ready for clinical use.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Trends in Rehabilitation Insurance Benefit Exhaustion Among Older Adults in the United States and Associations With Racial Identity.Physical therapyIn 2022, 27.9% of older adults who completed rehabilitation reported exhausting insurance benefits. Rates fell since 2015, but after adjustment Non-Hispanic Black adults had a 9.3 percentage point higher estimated chance of reporting exhaustion than Non-Hispanic White adults.
• SLPMeta-Analysis2026Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Speech and Voice Changes in Parkinson's Disease: a Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.CoDASCombining six small studies, tDCS did not significantly improve speech or voice in Parkinson's. The overall result was null, with high variability between studies. Do not assume tDCS works for these symptoms based on this evidence.
• SLPOther2026Large-scale neural network compensation associated with camouflaging in trait autism and its potential mental health costs.Molecular autismIn adults with high autistic traits, frequent social camouflaging linked to stronger brain network connectivity between self-reflection and control systems. This specific neural pattern mediated the link between camouflaging and higher anxiety and depression scores. The study describes an association in healthy adults, not a causal mechanism.
• PTOTPilot2026Accuracy in the Estimation of Self-Reported Knee Brace Wear Time in Young Adults With a Symptomatic Knee Following ACL Reconstruction: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesSelf-reported knee brace wear time varied widely from sensor data day-to-day, with differences up to 3.5 hours. However, averaging self-reports over the entire 6-week period or using 7-day rolling averages significantly improved accuracy compared to daily logs.
• SLPSurvey2026Predictive Value of Mindfulness and Coping With Stress Styles on Depression, Anxiety and Stress Levels of Adults Who Stutter.International journal of language & communication disordersIn 47 adults who stutter, lower mindfulness and more frequent use of helpless or submissive coping styles predicted higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Active coping styles did not significantly predict these outcomes. Stuttering severity was not related to psychological distress.
• SLPOther2026Effects of inspiratory muscle training for 28 days on the voice of women without vocal complaints.CoDASNo perceptual voice change was seen, but acoustic stability and noise measures improved, along with maximum phonation times, diadochokinesis, and self-rated voice quality of life, handicap, and symptoms after 28 days of Respiron training in 22 vocally healthy women.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Targeted ankle proprioceptive training improves balance, gait, and functional mobility in chronic stroke survivors: a multicenter randomized controlled trial with longitudinal follow-up.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTargeted ankle proprioceptive training improved balance and walking more than standard care in chronic stroke survivors. The robotic-assisted discrimination tasks and weight-bearing challenges produced gains that were maintained at six months.
• PTSurvey2026Prevalence of Hamstring Injuries in Collegiate Softball Players and Comparison to Collegiate Baseball Players.International journal of sports physical therapyCollegiate softball players self-reported hamstring problems more often than baseball players, but the overall difference was not significant. Injured softball players had worse hamstring symptom scores, and softball pitchers reported more hamstring injury than baseball pitchers.
• PTOther2026FES-Cycling at the Cybathlon 2024: assessing accuracy of power-pedals for low power output in a virtual race scenario.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPower pedals used in electrical stimulation cycling races overestimated output by 14.7% to 66.6% compared with the smart trainer. Ankle orthoses worsened errors. Adjusting settings helped, but neither system was reliable at the low powers typical of spinal cord injury cycling.
• SLPOther2026Exploring Microstructure Measures and Topics in Personal Narratives of Turkish School-Age Children: Findings From the Global TALES-TR Protocol.International journal of language & communication disordersThe Global TALES protocol is feasible for assessing Turkish children's personal narratives. The 'Problem' prompt was the most challenging, requiring the most follow-up prompts. Current data are descriptive only and cannot be used as diagnostic cut-offs.
• Other2026The potential for successful autistic ageing: Proposing a lifespan developmental psychology approach.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThis paper proposes a theoretical framework for understanding autistic ageing based on lifespan development psychology. It argues that autistic older adults may experience growth and adaptation rather than just decline. However, it presents no clinical data or tested interventions.
• PTRCT2026Immediate Effects of Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Versus PNF Stretching in Shortened Hamstring Syndrome: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyThe pilot found both techniques safe, but four of twelve hypopressive participants dropped out during training. After one session, hamstring flexibility improved in both groups, and the two groups ended with similar flexibility scores.
• PTOTSurvey2026Importance of physiotherapy and occupational therapy according to people with multiple sclerosis-results from an online survey.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with MS in the Netherlands valued physiotherapy for movement, pain, and motivation, and occupational therapy for energy, assistive devices, and daily-life strategies. They wanted therapists who know MS and adapt care as symptoms change.
• SLPCohort2026The effects of smoking on the dynamic vocal range of male smokers.CoDASMale smokers had a smaller vocal range than non-smokers, hitting lower top notes and unable to whisper as quietly. Longer smoking history and higher daily cigarette counts were linked to these reductions. This suggests smoking physically limits vocal flexibility.
• SLPRCT2026Implicit and Explicit Voice Training Effects on Speech-on-Speech Perception and Listening Effort.Ear and hearingNeither voice training method improved speech intelligibility. However, both methods reduced listening effort in specific difficult conditions. Explicit training generally required less cognitive load than implicit training. These benefits appeared only when background noise levels were unfavorable, with no overall performance gain.
• OTSLPOther2026Developmental stuttering with common and complex phenotypes.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost people who stutter present with a common phenotype. A distinct 10% subgroup has a complex presentation marked by severe stuttering, high rates of neurodevelopmental disorders, lower non-verbal intelligence, and greater negative impact. This group requires multidisciplinary support.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The Prevalence of Infection and Sepsis Associated Dysphagia in Hospitalised Patients: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study.DysphagiaSepsis and infection were associated with new-onset dysphagia in hospitalised patients. Sepsis carried a higher risk than infection alone. Older patients and those with dementia, delirium or Parkinson's disease were most likely to develop swallowing difficulties during admission.
• PTOTRCT2026Study on the effectiveness and safety of balance instrument training on balance and lower limb motor function in patients with ischemic stroke hemiplegia.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding Pro-Kin balance system training to routine care improved balance and lower limb function more than routine care alone in stroke patients. The experimental group achieved higher Berg Balance Scale scores and faster walking times, with no adverse events reported.
• SLPOther2026Evidence for an integrated bilingual language system from discourse tasks in aphasia.AphasiologyIn 13 bilinguals with aphasia, error types were identical in both languages, but the weaker language had more errors. Switching into the stronger language was common. This supports a shared language system where the stronger language is easier to access.
• PTOther2026Validation of the 10-Item Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS-10) for Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyThe 10-item LEFS matched the full 20-item version and was stable over 7 days in 100 Brazilian Portuguese-speaking adults with knee osteoarthritis. A change of 3 points or more is considered meaningful.
• Pilot2026Feasibility and Preliminary Impacts of a Stress Reduction Intervention for Caregivers of Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDA 12-week programme combining yoga and support groups was feasible for caregivers of adolescents and young adults with disabilities. Participants reported feeling less alone, but stress scores and cortisol changes were small and the study was not powered to prove effectiveness.
• Narrative Review2026Redefining mild hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy: A fundamental step to therapeutic progress.Developmental medicine and child neurologyThis commentary argues that current definitions of mild hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy are too subjective and miss early neurological changes, leading to inconsistent trial results. It suggests that adding objective measures like brain activity monitoring could better identify infants at risk who might benefit from future treatments.
• Cohort2026Mixed Evidence for Impact of Early Infant Gut Microbiome and Later Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the MARBLES Prospective Cohort Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchEarly infant gut microbiome composition at 0 to 7 months did not differ between children later diagnosed with autism, non-typical development, or typical development. Delivery mode and feeding type had stronger effects on microbiome diversity than neurodevelopmental outcome.
• PTOther2026User experiences of DiTA (dita.org.au): A database of studies of diagnostic test accuracy.Brazilian journal of physical therapyDiTA was rated above average for usability. Physical therapy clinicians and researchers liked its diagnostic test accuracy content, but many struggled with search fields and syntax, so expect to troubleshoot searches.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Structured modulations in high-density EMG patterns from a single muscle enable simultaneous control of natural and extra degrees of freedom.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy adults could rotate a virtual cursor using EMG signals from a single biceps muscle while simultaneously controlling force. However, they achieved this by drastically increasing muscle activation rather than modulating neural inputs, and none could hold the rotated position for the required time.
• PTOTOther2026Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination for early detection of cerebral palsy in Ethiopia: A feasibility and knowledge translation study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn a low-resource hospital, training residents to use the HINE identified 36% of at-risk infants as having cerebral palsy or high probability, with referral at a mean age of 10.6 months.
• PTOTCohort2025Relationship between musculoskeletal factors in the shoulder and upper limb function in patients with stroke: A cross-sectional study.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoIn chronic stroke, a wider shoulder gap and thinner supraspinatus and deltoid muscles on the affected side correlated with slower hand function and lower manual ability scores. These structural changes tracked with functional limits, but the study shows association only, not that treating them restores function.
• PTRCT2025Effectiveness of a standardised stroke upper extremity rehabilitation program with shortened Fugl-Meyer assessment stratification: A randomised controlled trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoStratifying stroke upper-limb therapy by a 6-item Fugl-Meyer score did not improve arm movement, hand function or daily independence more than conventional physiotherapy. Both groups improved.
• PTCase Report2026Rehabilitation Incorporating a Stroke Efficiency Analysis in a Male Tennis Player with Scapular Dyskinesis: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA tennis coach with shoulder pain and scapular dyskinesis completed 20 physical therapy sessions over four months. His pain dropped to 0/10, and he returned to serving and coaching without symptoms at six-month follow-up.
• SLPOther2026The Link Between Syntactic Complexity and Stuttering-Like Disfluencies in French Speaking Adults.International journal of language & communication disordersIn 12 French adults who stutter, disfluencies rose with longer and more complex sentences, but the link was weak. Sentence length tracked disfluencies best. This did not test treatment.
• SLPCase Series2026Deep learning-derived measures of sound-level accuracy in primary progressive apraxia of speech: A feasibility pipeline with descriptive evidence from two cases.Clinical linguistics & phoneticsDeep learning measures of sound accuracy tracked the specific speech errors of two people with apraxia of speech. The tool distinguished between articulatory and timing subtypes in these cases, but results from delayed feedback and rate changes were inconsistent.
• Other2026Robotic Technologies for Hand Recovery After Stroke: A Reflection on Research Paths in Honor of Dr. Steven Wolf.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairThis article reflects on the history of robotic hand therapy and its conceptual links to Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy. It offers no new clinical evidence, trial results, or patient outcomes to guide treatment decisions.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2026Eye-Tracking Technologies for Cognitive Assessment After Acquired Brain Injury: Systematic Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesEye tracking may reveal gaze differences linked to attention and executive control after acquired brain injury, but small, varied studies do not show it routinely outperforms standard cognitive tests.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Instruments for screening and assessing oral language in preschool children via digital health: a scoping review.CoDASMost digital language tools tested with young children matched in-person results, but validation was inconsistent. Teachers and community health workers screened accurately via apps, though internet limits and low specificity in some tools remain barriers to routine use.