TOPIC

Women's health research

Everything we have read on women's health. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

137 PAPERS · PAGE 3 OF 3 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2025Parental magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of fetuses with brain anomalies.Developmental medicine and child neurologyWhen a fetus had a brain anomaly similar to a parent's MRI, the child usually developed typically. This was especially true for isolated corpus callosum issues. Parents of fetuses with these 'concordant' findings were more likely to continue the pregnancy.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Cerebral palsy characteristics in term-born children with and without detectable perinatal risk factors: A cross-sectional study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTerm-born children with cerebral palsy and no detectable perinatal risk factors had milder motor and communication impairments than those with risk factors. They were more likely to have unilateral spastic CP and focal brain injuries, particularly venous stroke, despite normal birth histories.
• PTNarrative Review2024Women's Health Across the Lifespan: A Sex- and Gender-Focused Perspective.Physical therapyMost physical therapy guidelines are not sex or gender specific, while reported health risks, care patterns, and outcomes for women differ from pregnancy through older age.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Incontinence: Assessment and Toileting Issues.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRStandard incontinence questionnaires are often unusable for adults with intellectual disabilities due to complex wording and high rates of 'don't know' responses. Open-ended questions and accessible tools are needed to accurately identify toileting issues and avoid diagnostic overshadowing.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025A qualitative meta-synthesis of the perinatal healthcare experiences of people with disability.Disability and health journalPeople with disability described perinatal care as fragmented, inaccessible, and judgmental, with clinicians often questioning their parenting capacity. Fear of child protective services led some to hide disabilities or avoid postpartum mental health support. Self-advocacy and peer support were key coping mechanisms.
• PTOTSurvey2025Pregnancy after amputation: A national survey of prosthetic and mobility outcomes in women with lived experience.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalMost women with lower-limb amputation reported mobility changes during pregnancy, including falls and poor prosthesis fit. Many needed a wheelchair postpartum. Seven advised arranging a back-up mobility plan before delivery, as resuming prosthesis use within days was not guaranteed.
• PTSystematic Review2024Adverse events related to physiotherapy practice: a scoping review.Archives of physiotherapyAcross 58 studies, physiotherapy interventions were associated with adverse events including increased pain, falls, and haemodynamic instability. Musculoskeletal care most frequently reported pain and stiffness, while cardiorespiratory and neurological settings saw falls and vital sign changes. These events were attributed to the physiotherapy intervention.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and pelvic floor signs and symptoms: a scoping review of the literature.Archives of physiotherapyScoping 104 studies, researchers found high prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Diarrhea was the most common indirect symptom, while lower urinary tract symptoms were the most frequent direct issue. These findings suggest clinicians should ask about COVID history during assessments.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Comparative Analysis of Phenotypic and Genotypic Differences Between Individuals Affected by Regressive and Non-Regressive Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism who lost skills showed lower IQ and daily living abilities than those who did not. Mental health scores were identical. Clinicians should anticipate greater cognitive and adaptive support needs for patients with a history of skill loss.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Reproductive Education and Sexual Abuse Among Individuals With Spina Bifida: A Mixed Methods Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost adults with spina bifida are sexually active but lack specific health education. Many do not know they can have children, leading to low contraception use. High rates of abuse were reported, with patients urging providers to speak to them privately without caregivers present.
• PTQualitative2025The Experience of People With Urinary Incontinence Using Invasive Devices in Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: A Qualitative Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyPeople with urinary incontinence often found internal devices initially uncomfortable or unnatural, especially when undressed in front of a physiotherapist. Trust, gradual exposure, clear explanation and active focus on contraction helped acceptance. Cost, privacy and device design remained barriers.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Mothers' Ideas About Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Differences Over Time and by Household Experience with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of children with autism were more likely to blame biological causes like genetics or vaccines, while those without autism blamed lifestyle or diet. Over 13 years, belief in vaccines causing autism decreased, while belief in genetics increased.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025A survey of urinary incontinence and health literacy among female rehabilitation professional therapists.Journal of physical therapy scienceNearly half of the 73 female rehabilitation therapists surveyed reported urinary incontinence. Symptoms were linked to childbirth and work tasks like lifting, not low health literacy. Therapists should screen colleagues and advocate for better restroom access.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Obstetric Care and Pregnancy Health in Autistic Individuals and Those with Other Developmental Disabilities in an Integrated Healthcare Setting in California.Autism in adulthoodAutistic and developmentally disabled patients in an integrated system had higher rates of therapeutic abortion, severe vomiting, preterm birth, and perinatal depression than general population peers. They also used emergency departments more often and had lower odds of live birth.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Dual-Task Predictors in Graduate Healthcare Students with Athletic Backgrounds.International journal of sports physical therapyConcussion history did not predict worse dual-task performance or academic scores in 32 graduate students. Unexpectedly, those with no reported concussion history had higher dual-task costs. More years in contact sports predicted lower undergraduate GPA, but the study was underpowered and relied on self-report.
• PTRCT2025Effectiveness of telehealth pelvic-abdominal mechanics training rehabilitation program for pelvic floor rehabilitation in puerperal women: a randomized controlled study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePelvic floor symptom distress was similar to routine care at one week, but lower at 42 days with a multi-component telehealth pelvic-abdominal program. Knowledge and self-efficacy were higher in the program group; pelvic floor muscle strength was not.
• PTCohort2025Racial disparities in patients with amputation in an acute care setting in the immediate postoperative period.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationRace or ethnicity was not linked to discharge to inpatient rehabilitation after amputation. Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients had longer acute hospital stays than White patients. Age and a PM&R consult were tied to rehabilitation discharge.
• PTOTRCT2026Multiple eumenorrheic cycles are necessary to observe a significant increase in estrogen exposure and ovulation in exercising women with functional hypothalamic oligo/amenorrhea undergoing a nutritional intervention: Insights from the REFUEL study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIncreasing energy intake led to menstrual recovery in 58% of exercising females. However, significant estrogen exposure increases and reduced relapse rates were only observed after three consecutive normal cycles. A single period was insufficient for hormonal recovery.
• PTCase Report2025Case Report: Electrophysiological characteristics of the pelvic floor in spinal epidural lipomatosis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn one young man with saddle pain and urinary retention, pelvic floor electrophysiology detected nerve damage months before MRI confirmed spinal epidural lipomatosis. The sympathetic skin response was the earliest abnormality. This case report describes the findings in one person, not a pattern of efficacy.
• PTSLPNarrative Review2025Foetal disruptive brain injuries: Diagnosing the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms with cranial ultrasonography.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCranial ultrasound patterns can help separate foetal brain injury causes, such as haemorrhage, stroke, infection, genetic or metabolic disease. Recognising the pattern guides cause testing and counselling, not treatment efficacy.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025A Systematic Study on Prenatal Opioid Exposure: A Review of Neurodevelopmental Consequences.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with prenatal opioid exposure showed consistent delays in language, motor, and socioemotional skills. Sensory processing was the most affected domain. These findings suggest therapists should screen for neurosensory and communication delays in this population, regardless of age.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Case Report: Intensive multidisciplinary motor-cognitive rehabilitation treatment in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne woman with Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome completed four weeks of intensive motor-cognitive rehabilitation. Her walking, balance, hand dexterity, speech clarity and swallowing safety all improved during admission, though she still needed her walker and caregiver support.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Rehabilitation in Neurological Disorders: Bridging Pathophysiology With Multidisciplinary Approaches-A Focused Mini-Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairConservative rehabilitation, particularly pelvic floor muscle training, is recommended as first-line therapy for neurogenic urinary dysfunction in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. Evidence supports its use alone or combined with biofeedback, electrical stimulation, or nerve stimulation to improve continence and quality of life.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2026Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for post-partum bell's palsy associate with anti-phospholipid syndrome: a case report, literature review, and mechanistic insights.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne postpartum woman with antiphospholipid syndrome and steroid-resistant Bell's palsy recovered fully after 12 hyperbaric oxygen sessions. Her facial function score rose from 33% to 100%. No other treatments were added during this period.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Effectiveness of kinesio tape in people with low back pain. A systematic review with meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineKinesio tape reduces short-term pain and improves function in acute low back pain compared to no treatment, but shows little benefit over placebo. Physical therapy outperforms tape for long-term chronic pain. Tape may help pregnant women with pain, but evidence for radiating pain is uncertain.
• PTRCT2026Kinesio taping effectively improved pain and disability in postpartum women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTwo weeks of Kinesio taping over the posterior oblique sling reduced pain and pelvic girdle disability more than sham taping in postpartum women. Benefits were measured only after two weeks.
• PTNarrative Review2025Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in the Evaluation of the Rectus Abdominis.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper describes how to perform and interpret musculoskeletal ultrasound of the rectus abdominis. It does not report patient outcomes, diagnostic accuracy, or treatment effects, so it offers no evidence to guide clinical decisions.
• PTOTSurvey2026Pregnancy occurrence, intendedness, and outcomes among U.S. females with and without disability, 2011-2019.Disability and health journalFemales with disability reported more unintended pregnancies, miscarriages and other non-live birth outcomes than females without disability. Younger disabled females (15-25) were no more likely than peers to have an unintended pregnancy, but had more miscarriages.
• PTCohort2026Immediate Effect of Four Exercises on Linea Alba Thickness, Distortion and Inter-Recti Distance in Parous Women.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyNo exercise narrowed the gap between the abdominal muscles more than the others. The crunch stretched the linea alba most; the drawing-in, pelvic floor and de Gasquet exercises kept it closer to rest. These are immediate ultrasound changes only.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Maternal Responsiveness, Parenting Self-efficacy, and Economic Empowerment: Determinants of Infant Development in Pakistan.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPMore responsive, more confident mothers had lower odds of their baby showing developmental delay at six weeks, in communication, problem solving and personal-social skills. One check-up of 400 Pakistani mothers and babies, so it cannot show which came first.
• PTMeta-Analysis2026The effects of core stabilizing exercise in postpartum women with lumbopelvic pain: A systematic review with meta-analysis.Brazilian journal of physical therapyCore stabilizing exercise cut pain and disability more than general exercise or passive care in women with lumbopelvic pain after childbirth. Home-based and supervised programmes both worked. Quality-of-life gains were small and vanished once one trial was removed from the analysis.
• PTRCT2022Effectiveness of face-to-face physiotherapy training and education for women who are undergoing elective caesarean section: a randomized controlled trial.Archives of physiotherapyWomen taught physiotherapy exercises and incision care before their elective caesarean reported far less pain 48 hours afterwards than women given standard care alone: 1.7 out of 10 against 4.2 out of 10. They needed fewer extra painkillers and went home sooner.
• PTRCT2026Autonomous bladder training for neurogenic bladder: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFour weeks of a five-part bladder training programme, added to usual rehabilitation, cut post-void leftover urine by 55.8 mL more than usual care in adults with neurogenic bladder. Fewer needed antibiotics for urinary infections, but that was judged clinically, not by culture.
• PTMeta-Analysis2021What is the evidence for abdominal and pelvic floor muscle training to treat diastasis recti abdominis postpartum? A systematic review with meta-analysis.Brazilian journal of physical therapyExercise programs for postpartum diastasis recti do not show a reliable benefit over minimal intervention. The one small gap reduction (0.63 cm) rests on two pilot studies rated very low quality. Pelvic floor training specifically showed no effect.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Early Intervention Enrollment Among Substance-exposed Infants in Massachusetts: A Population-level Analysis.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPSubstance-exposed infants in Massachusetts were referred to early intervention at high rates, but only 49.5% of those referred enrolled. The gap was widest for infants without a NAS diagnosis, where 38.2% of referred children enrolled.
• PTOTSurvey2026Disability, race, and risk of perinatal intimate partner violence: Findings from a nationally representative U.S. sample.Disability and health journalWomen with disabilities had significantly higher odds of physical IPV both before and during pregnancy across every racial and ethnic group studied. The gap was largest for American Indian/Alaska Native and Black women with disabilities, and persisted after adjusting for age, education, and insurance.
• PTOther2026Characterisation of Pelvic Floor Muscle Activation in Adults With Intellectual Disability Using Surface Electromyography: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdults with intellectual disability produced significantly lower and more variable pelvic floor muscle contractions than matched controls, even without current incontinence. After adjusting for age, sex, and body size, the difference remained, pointing to the disability itself as the factor.