OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Research for occupational therapy

Papers an occupational therapist can act on, across daily living, mental health, hand therapy, paediatrics and rehabilitation, each read in full rather than from its abstract.

10,853 PAPERS · PAGE 108 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2022Sex and Age Group Focus on Outcomes after Multimodal Rehabilitation for Patients with Chronic Pain in Northern Sweden.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMultimodal rehabilitation improved pain and emotional health for all groups, but men’s gains faded by one year while women’s persisted. Social support decreased for everyone, suggesting patients became more independent. Clinicians should plan post-programme support specifically for men to sustain their results.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Effects of inpatient rehabilitation after acute care on functional and quality-of-life outcomes in children with severe traumatic brain injury.Brain injuryChildren with severe TBI and low consciousness scores at discharge who went to inpatient rehab had better global function at 12 months than those who did not. No difference was found for those with higher consciousness scores or for quality of life.
• PTOTOther2022A Prospective Assessment of an Adjustable, Immediate Fit, Subischial Transfemoral Prosthesis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEighteen people with transfemoral limb loss rated an adjustable subischial prosthesis significantly better than their conventional socket for comfort and fit after a two-week trial. Most kept the device, and none reported falls or skin breakdown.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Referrals to Early Specialized Rehabilitation after Traumatic Brain Injury during the Covid-19 Pandemic.Journal of rehabilitation medicineReferral to early specialized rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury remained stable during the pandemic. Direct transfers were predicted by younger age, better pre-injury health and severe disability, not by the pandemic status.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Cross-validation of predictive models for functional recovery after post-stroke rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA machine learning model predicted stroke rehabilitation outcomes with 79% accuracy using admission data. Trunk control, communication level, and absence of pressure ulcers were the strongest predictors of functional improvement.
• PTOTCohort2023Identification and Characterisation of Trajectories of Sickness Absence Due to Musculoskeletal Pain: A 1-Year Population-based Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers on sick leave for musculoskeletal pain follow one of six distinct return-to-work paths over a year. Expectancy of returning to work and prior sick leave days were the strongest markers of persistent absence, while pain intensity and age were not.
• PTOTCohort2023Longitudinal Associations Between Falls and Risk of Gait Decline: Results From the Central Control of Mobility and Aging Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults who had multiple falls in one year showed faster decline in walking pace and greater variability than those who did not fall. However, falls were not associated with the risk of developing clinically observable gait abnormalities during the study period.
• PTOTCohort2023Risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults aging with vision impairment: The role of the neighborhood environment.Disability and health journalAmong adults with vision impairment, more broadband, optical stores, grocery stores, or fitness centers were linked to lower type 2 diabetes risk. More hospitals were linked to higher risk. In older adults, more high-speed roads or intersections were linked to higher risk.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Perceived Community Participation and Associated Factors in People With Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationCommunity participation after stroke is strongly linked to supportive environments, and moderately linked to less depression, less fatigue, and better mobility. Rehabilitation should address these non-neurologic factors and environmental barriers, not just physical function.
• PTOTRCT2022Goal Attainment after Treatment with Abobotulinumtoxina and a Tailored Home Therapy Programme in Children with Upper Limb Spasticity: Descriptive, Exploratory Analysis of a Large Randomized, Controlled Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineChildren achieved their upper limb goals when botulinum toxin was paired with a tailored home therapy programme. Goal attainment was generally maintained across three treatment cycles, but dropped below expectations in the fourth cycle for children with more severe motor impairment.
• PTOTSLPOther2022The Early Functional Abilities-revised may bridge the gap between the disorder of consciousness and the functional independence scales: evidence from Rasch analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineA revised 12-item version of the Early Functional Abilities scale measures early recovery in disorders of consciousness on a single reliable scale. It correlates strongly with both consciousness and functional independence measures, filling the gap between them.
• PTOTCohort2022Comparison of Self-Reported vs Objective Measures of Long-Term Community Ambulation in Lower Limb Prosthesis Users.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSelf-reported changes in walking ability do not match objective step counts for prosthesis users. Clinicians cannot rely on patient recall of weekly mobility changes to detect functional decline or improvement, as these subjective reports correlate poorly with actual walking data.
• PTOTCohort2022Ultrasound Assessment of Changes in Muscle Architecture of the Brachialis Muscle After Stroke-A Prospective Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn the first 7 months after stroke, the brachialis muscle on the affected arm thinned and its quality worsened, while the unaffected arm stayed stable. Older patients lost more muscle. Spasticity appeared to temporarily protect muscle mass at 1 month, but this faded by 6 months.
• PTOTPilot2022Hand Use and Grasp Sensor System in Monitoring Infant Fine Motor Development.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA sensor-equipped toy system tracked 12 infants at home and captured how their grasping changed as they grew. Peak force, grasp duration, and bimanual use increased with age, while force variability and hand-use asymmetry decreased, mirroring typical fine motor maturation.
• PTOTCohort2022Development and Validation of a Nomogram to Predict Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain in Patients With Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA prediction tool using five admission findings accurately forecasts hemiplegic shoulder pain in stroke patients. Shoulder subluxation, low Brunnstrom stage, sensory loss, spasticity, and hand edema each independently raise risk, allowing clinicians to identify high-risk patients early.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Pre-rehabilitation scores of functioning measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule in persons with nonspecific low back pain: a scoping review.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationPeople with chronic low back pain seeking rehab score moderately impaired on the WHODAS, worse than those with acute pain. The data is sparse, mostly from high-income countries, so these scores are a rough guide rather than a standard benchmark.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Traumatic Brain Injury After Music-Associated Head Banging: A Scoping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThirteen case reports describe moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries, including subdural hematomas and artery dissections, in young men headbanging to music. No mild injuries were reported. These are isolated anecdotes, not evidence of how common or predictable this injury is.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Rehabilitation to Improve Gaze and Postural Stability in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairNeither vestibular gaze training nor standard strength and aerobic exercise was superior for reducing dizziness in people with MS. Both groups improved significantly and maintained gains at 10 weeks. Choose the exercise type based on patient preference and accessibility.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Determining the Agreement Between Common Measures Related to Vestibulo-ocular Reflex Function After a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSymptom provocation during vestibular screening did not agree with performance-based tests of eye-head coordination in children with concussion. Clinicians should not use one to infer the other, as they likely measure different things.
• OTOther2022Testing Precision and Accuracy of an Upper Extremity Proprioceptive Targeting Task Assessment.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationClosing the eyes made upper limb targeting much less accurate and consistent in healthy right-handed adults. With eyes closed, both hands performed similarly, so one hand can serve as the other hand's comparison.
• PTOTRCT2022Influence of Manual Diaphragm Release Technique Combined with Inspiratory Muscle Training on Selected Persistent Symptoms in Men with Post-Covid-19 Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding manual diaphragm release to inspiratory muscle training improved inspiratory strength, reduced breathlessness and fatigue, and lowered blood pressure more than training alone in men with post-COVID symptoms. The study was small, single-gender, and excluded those with other major conditions.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Effects of intervention combining transcranial direct current stimulation and foot core exercise on sensorimotor function in foot and static balance.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining foot exercises with brain stimulation improved toe strength and ankle sensation in healthy young adults. It did not improve static balance. The added stimulation helped the exercises work better on the foot itself, but not on standing stability.
• PTOTNarrative Review2022Understanding and Measuring the Cognitive Load of Amputees for Rehabilitation and Prosthesis Development.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAmputees experience extra mental strain from emotional fatigue and neural fatigue, not just physical effort. There is no standard clinical test to measure this load yet. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy shows promise for measuring it during actual prosthesis use.
• PTOTRCT2022Hybrid robot-assisted gait training for motor function in subacute stroke: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding a hybrid robot gait system to routine inpatient rehabilitation did not improve walking ability or balance compared with extra conventional therapy. However, it produced greater gains in lower-limb motor function scores at 3 months. Both groups improved similarly in independence.
• PTOTRCT2023A Multi-component Intervention (NEXpro) Reduces Neck Pain-Related Work Productivity Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Swiss Office Workers.Journal of occupational rehabilitationA 12-week workplace programme combining ergonomics, education and neck exercises cut neck-pain-related productivity loss by 2.8 percentage points in Swiss office workers. The effect was small and below the threshold for individual clinical importance, but saved CHF 27.40 per person weekly.
• OTSurvey2023Housing insecurity of medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.Disability and health journalAmong Medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities who rented or had a mortgage, 26.3% were behind on payments, compared with 16.6% of other people with disabilities and 9.1% of nondisabled people; 20.6% were not at all confident about their next payment.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Self-management of falls in people with multiple sclerosis: A scoping review.Clinical rehabilitationSelf-management programs for falls in multiple sclerosis are common but poorly defined. Randomized trials showed no reduction in falls, though some improved daily activities. Most programs target ambulatory patients, leaving non-ambulatory needs unaddressed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Correlations between Disease Severity and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Patients Recovering from Covid-19 Infection.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePost-acute COVID-19 patients with severe disease started rehabilitation with lower function but reached similar independence to milder cases at discharge. They needed longer hospital stays and more rehabilitation time to catch up, suggesting early referral is critical for those with prolonged acute illness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Psychological and Cognitive Functioning Among Patients Receiving Outpatient Rehabilitation for Post-COVID Sequelae: An Observational Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAmong patients seeking outpatient rehabilitation for post-COVID symptoms, severe anxiety, depression, PTSD, and cognitive impairment were common. Poverty and Black race were strongly linked to worse psychological and cognitive outcomes, while acute infection severity predicted depression and cognitive issues but not PTSD.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Effectiveness of Team and Organisational Level Workplace Interventions Aimed at Improving Sustainable Employability of Aged Care Staff: A Systematic Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkplace interventions in aged care improved staff knowledge and physical health but failed to boost energy or motivation. Interventions only worked when they directly targeted that specific outcome, rather than hoping for a side effect.
• PTOTOther2022Accuracy and comparison of sensor-based gait speed estimations under standardized and daily life conditions in children undergoing rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA single ankle sensor estimates children's gait speed accurately, but only if you average four walking trials. Children walk at different speeds in daily life compared to a 10-metre test, so clinical assessments may not reflect their real-world mobility.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022The association between global cognitive function and walking capacity in individuals with broad ranges of cognitive and physical function: Are there sex differences?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesWalking distance predicted cognitive scores, but sex did not change this link. Males scored 2.9 points lower on the MoCA than females across all walking distances. This suggests males may need more cognitive support even when physical capacity is similar.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Determining optimal mobile neurofeedback methods for motor neurorehabilitation in children and adults with non-progressive neurological disorders: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAcross 30 studies in 223 adults, brain-computer interface training improved motor scores, but gains were inconsistent and often not clinically significant. More sessions correlated with better outcomes, but no single feedback method proved superior.
• PTOTOther2022Mental health problems among adolescents and young adults with childhood-onset physical disabilities: A scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesDepression, anxiety and social difficulties were the most common concerns mapped among adolescents and young adults with physical disabilities, but reported rates varied widely and few people received mental health care. Stigma, family caregiver mental health, and missing peer or vocational supports shaped access.
• PTOTCohort2022ICF-based prediction of return to work after trauma rehabilitation: Results of the icfPROreha study in patients with severe musculoskeletal injuries.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPain at rest and financial concerns at rehab admission strongly predicted failure to return to work 78 weeks after trauma. A model using these and other factors identified at-risk patients with 65.6% sensitivity, enabling early targeted intervention for delayed return to work.
• OTRCT2022Effects of Alternating Bilateral Training Between Non-Paretic and Paretic Upper Limbs in Patients with Hemiparetic Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAlternating training between hands did not improve paretic hand speed more than paretic-only training overall. However, it significantly improved non-paretic hand speed. Subgroup analysis suggested alternating training helped paretic hand speed only in patients with left hemiparesis, but this requires confirmation.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2022Strategies for enhancing social skills of individuals with intellectual disability: A systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSome social skills interventions improved participants' skills, but gains often did not generalise. For intellectual disability, no single approach is proven, so clinicians should treat any intervention as tentative and monitor real-world use.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022"Sympathy" vs."Empathy": Comparing experiences of I2Audits and disability simulations.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParticipants described disability simulations as embarrassing and sympathy-inducing, while I2Audits were seen as empowering because people with disabilities led them. This qualitative study suggests shifting from mimicking disability to partnering with disabled community members for environmental change.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Perspectives of Participation in Daily Life From Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationCancer survivors defined participation as doing valued activities, driven by control, social connection, context, and joy. They did not emphasize societal barriers or community engagement, unlike other disability groups. Rehabilitation providers should assess these personal aspects to better understand survivors' priorities and distress when restricted.
• PTOTRCT2022Multi-center, single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing functional electrical stimulation therapy to conventional therapy in incomplete tetraplegia.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFunctional electrical stimulation was not better than conventional therapy for self-care independence. Both groups improved by about 2 points, a meaningful change, but there was no significant difference between them. The study was underpowered due to pandemic interruptions.
• PTOTRCT2023Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Rehabilitation for Upper Limb Motor Impairment and Function After Chronic Ischemic Stroke: Subgroup Analysis of the Randomized, Blinded, Pivotal, VNS-REHAB Device Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPairing vagus nerve stimulation with rehabilitation improved arm function more than sham stimulation, and this benefit was consistent across age, sex, time since stroke, and impairment severity. You do not need to screen for specific subgroups to predict who will respond.
• PTOTOther2023Ultrasound Assessment of Spastic Muscles in Ambulatory Chronic Stroke Survivors Reveals Function-Dependent Changes.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAmbulatory chronic stroke survivors had thinner muscles on the affected side than on the unaffected side, especially in the arm. Greater wrist flexor muscle loss tracked weaker grip, and greater thigh muscle loss tracked worse walking times.
• PTOTSurvey2023Disability Phenotypes and Job Accommodations Utilization Among People with Physical Disability.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost workers with physical disabilities used only two accommodations, often flexible hours or telework. Those with severe multi-domain disability used more, while those with high physical disability alone used fewer equipment modifications. Self-employed individuals and wheelchair users secured more accommodations overall.
• PTOTCase Series2022The distribution of acquired peripheral nerve injuries associated with severe COVID-19 implicate a mechanism of entrapment neuropathy: a multicenter case series and clinical feasibility study of a wearable, wireless pressure sensor.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 34 severe COVID-19 survivors, focal nerve injuries were found at sites vulnerable to compression, especially ulnar, fibular and sciatic nerves. A wireless elbow pressure sensor was tested in 2 ICU patients and recorded pressure at different positions.
• OTSLPCohort2022Exploring Sensory Subgroups in Typical Development and Autism Spectrum Development Using Factor Mixture Modelling.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver reports on a sensory questionnaire separated autistic children into different patterns. Two more atypical patterns had more anxiety and sleep problems at the first visit; later differences were weaker. It did not test treatment.
• PTOTCohort2022Music-based intervention drives paretic limb acceleration into intentional movement frequencies in chronic stroke rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParetic limb acceleration increased significantly during music-based training, indicating better voluntary control. Clinical scores also improved, but the link between movement mechanics and functional gains was weak. Accelerometers offer real-time feedback during therapy, not just pre- and post-test results.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Reduction in school individualized education program (IEP) services during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNearly half of students with Individualized Education Programs experienced reduced service frequency during the pandemic. Unmet needs were highest for occupational and physical therapy. Clinicians should ask families about service gaps to support advocacy for compensatory education.
• PTOTOther2022An Early Biopsychosocial Intervention Design for the Prevention of Low Back Pain Chronicity: A Multidisciplinary Empirical Approach.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThis paper describes the design of a new multidisciplinary intervention to prevent low back pain becoming chronic. It outlines how experts created the plan using existing literature and clinical experience. No patients were treated and no outcomes were measured, so it offers no evidence that the intervention works.
• PTOTRCT2022Feasibility and psychophysical effects of immersive virtual reality-based mirror therapy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEleven stroke survivors completed an immersive VR mirror therapy pilot with no adverse events. Nine showed motor improvement, and participants reported high concentration and acceptance. This demonstrates feasibility for a larger trial, not proven efficacy.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Increased cognitive load in immersive virtual reality during visuomotor adaptation is associated with decreased long-term retention and context transfer.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy adults learned a reaching task slower in VR than on a screen, and forgetting was greater after 24 hours. Higher mental effort during VR training linked to more forgetting, suggesting VR may need extra practice time to build lasting skills.