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 109 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2022Quantitative measurement of resistance force and subsequent attenuation during passive isokinetic extension of the wrist in patients with mild to moderate spasticity after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA custom wrist device measured spasticity in 17 stroke patients. It found no link between peak resistance and clinical scores, but the rate of force drop-off correlated with severity, especially when finger spasticity was included in the assessment.
• PTOTOther2022A unified scheme for the benchmarking of upper limb functions in neurological disorders.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThis paper proposes a standardized framework for assessing upper limb movement using sensors and robots. It defines specific motor skills, abilities, and measurement protocols for research and clinical use. The framework has not yet been tested in patients, so it is a proposal for future validation rather than a proven assessment tool.
• PTOTOther2022Development and validation of a military fear avoidance questionnaire.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA new questionnaire helps Army clinicians spot fear avoidance in soldiers with musculoskeletal pain. It reliably tracks these concerns in a military context, offering a practical tool to guide early rehabilitation and reduce pain-related disability.
• PTOTCohort2022Post-Intensive Care Syndrome Prevalence Six Months after Critical Covid-19: Comparison between First and Second Waves.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSix months after ICU for severe COVID-19, post-intensive care syndrome affected 51.5% in the first wave and 52% in the second wave, with no wave difference. Women and people with diabetes were more likely to have it, and those affected reported worse symptoms.
• PTOTPilot2022Preliminary analysis of reliability and validity of the Life Space Questionnaire as a real-world mobility measure for people with lower limb loss: A technical note.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalFor people with lower limb loss, the Life Space Questionnaire showed moderate stability over one month. It did not track balance or walking speed, but it strongly reflected overall health status. It measures community access as distinct from physical ability.
• PTOTRCT2023Estimating the cost consequence of the early use of botulinum toxin in post-stroke spasticity: Secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationEarly botulinum toxin after stroke did not raise total NHS costs over six months. Contracture-related costs were lower, but overall costs did not differ.
• OTSLPOther2023The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Psychological Distress in Family Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disability in the UK.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities reported higher psychological distress than those of typically developing children. Distress was linked to child challenging behaviours and coping styles like denial and behavioural disengagement. Caregivers felt unsupported and struggled to explain pandemic rules to children.
• PTOTCohort2023Responsiveness and trajectory of changes in the rating of everyday arm-use in the community and home (REACH) scale over the first-year post-stroke.Clinical rehabilitationAbout 87% of participants used their affected arm more by 12 months, with the biggest gains by three months. People with severe baseline arm weakness started lower and improved differently. Arm-use scores changed with arm capacity and self-reported change.
• PTOTOther2023Development of a candidate item bank for measuring mobility of lower limb orthosis users.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationClinicians cannot yet use this new mobility survey for orthosis users. The researchers built a 100-item draft based on patient interviews, but it has not been tested to see if it accurately measures walking ability or detects small changes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Efficacy of Early Inpatient Rehabilitation of Post-COVID-19 Survivors: Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationPost-COVID patients in early inpatient rehab made significant functional gains. Most recovered lung function and swallowing. Cognitive deficits persisted in 30% of ventilated patients and 60% of non-ventilated patients. Patients who needed ventilation had higher rates of acute care transfer and skilled nursing discharge.
• PTOTCohort2022Results from the International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey: The Lived Experience of People with Spinal Cord Injury in South-Eastern Brazil.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with spinal cord injury in south-eastern Brazil reported spasticity as their most problematic health condition (33%) and neuropathic pain (13%). Public spaces and long-distance transport were major environmental barriers.
• PTOTPilot2022Muscle mass and physical function in patients with bladder cancer-Data from a prematurely terminated prospective cohort study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo patients met standard sarcopenia criteria, but 64% had slow walking speed. Slow walking appeared more common than low muscle mass or strength, suggesting standard tests may miss functional decline in bladder cancer patients.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Pandemic intake questionnaire to improve quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of outpatient neurologic and developmental care at the Kennedy Krieger institute during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesGuardians of children with neurodevelopmental disorders reported worsened mood, behavior, sleep, and therapy-access problems during the pandemic. A pre-visit questionnaire surfaced these concerns, and Five out of six program directors found it helpful.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Is Exercise Beneficial in Patients with Low Back Pain? - A Cochrane Review Summary with Commentary.Journal of rehabilitation medicineExercise helps chronic low back pain more than doing nothing, but the benefit is small. It is slightly better than some other treatments like education or electrotherapy, but no better than manual therapy. The gains in pain and function did not reach the threshold for clinical importance.
• PTOTPilot2022Metabolic Cost and Mechanical Efficiency of a Novel Handle-Based Device for Wheelchair Propulsion.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA new handle-based propulsion device let wheelchair users reach higher power outputs with less physical strain than standard push-rims. In this small study, both paraplegic and non-disabled participants showed better mechanical efficiency and lower heart rates when using the handle device.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Frequency and Characteristics of Medical Complications in Rehabilitation Settings: A Scoping Review.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople in inpatient rehabilitation often experienced medical complications, especially infections and neurological changes. Some needed transfer back to acute care. This review maps how common they are, not whether any treatment prevents them.
• OTPilot2022Improving sleep apnea treatment adherence after traumatic brain injury: A nonrandomized feasibility study.Rehabilitation psychologyThirteen of seventeen veterans with brain injury and sleep apnea completed a four-module telehealth program to improve CPAP use. Retention and therapeutic alliance were high. Sleepiness and fatigue scores did not change significantly. The study tested feasibility, not whether the treatment works.
• PTOTPilot2022Compliance with a personalised home exercise programme in chronic low back pain patients after a multidisciplinary programme: A pilot randomised controlled trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding a personalised home exercise calendar did not improve compliance compared to standard advice alone. Both groups exercised similarly over 12 weeks. The pilot's results are unreliable due to extreme data loss, with only 15 of 30 participants completing the logbooks.
• PTOTPilot2022Effects of nordic walking exercise on gait, motor/non-motor symptoms, and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in individuals with Parkinson's disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTwelve people with Parkinson's disease improved their walking endurance and motor symptoms after six weeks of Nordic walking. These gains were still present three months later when they continued exercising on their own, and no falls occurred during the study.
• PTOTOther2022Perspectives on the Direction of Cancer Prehabilitation in the Pandemic and Beyond.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA home-based cancer prehabilitation program using phone calls and a digital diary improved walking distance, leg strength, and anxiety in 188 patients. It remained feasible during lockdowns, but without a control group, it is unclear if the program itself caused these gains.
• PTOTNarrative Review2022Utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the assessment of spinal cord injury: Current status and future directions.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTMS can objectively measure corticospinal connectivity and silent periods in spinal cord injury, detecting residual function missed by clinical exams. However, inconsistent findings, high measurement error, and unknown clinical meaning limit its current use for guiding individual therapy.
• OTPilot2022Combining elements of the CO-OP Approach™ with education to promote healthy eating among older adults: A pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOlder adult volunteers found a diet group that combined education and self-set goals feasible and mostly helpful. Food tracking became burdensome, and they wanted more peer support and individualization; this did not test whether diets or dementia risk changed.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System: Identifying Barriers, Facilitators, and Strategies for Implementation in Research, Education, and Clinical Care.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationClinicians wanting to use the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) mostly lack time and accessible examples. They need concrete, discipline-specific templates integrated into electronic health records, not just theoretical manuals, to make the system usable in daily practice.
• PTOTNarrative Review2023Integrative Prevention at Work: A Concept Analysis and Meta-Narrative Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationIntegrative prevention at work requires coordinating primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention with health promotion, engaging stakeholders, and securing resources. The consequences are largely speculative and not formally demonstrated, so treat this as a framework for planning rather than proven efficacy.
• PTOTCohort2023Time-matched accelerometers on limbs and waist in children with CP give new insights into real-life activities after botulinum toxin treatment: A proof of concept study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAfter botulinum toxin injections plus home training, children with cerebral palsy walked less from three weeks through three months. In children injected in an arm, the more affected arm was not used more; the better arm was used more.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Balancing Fidelity and Flexibility: Usual Care for Young Children With an Increased Likelihood of Having Autism Spectrum Disorder Within an Early Intervention System.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEarly intervention providers serving toddlers with autism or suspected autism report using naturalistic strategies but often lack formal training in manualized programs. Parent-led goals, contractor pay and limited guidance make training hard, so usual care is flexible but variable.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Developmental Skills of Individuals with Angelman Syndrome Assessed Using the Bayley-III.Journal of autism and developmental disordersExpressive communication was a weakness in children with Angelman syndrome regardless of genetic subtype. Deletion subtypes had lower receptive communication and motor scores than other genetic subtypes. Bayley-III did not credit gestures, signs or AAC.
• PTOTRCT2023Preventing Pain and Stress-Related Ill-Health in Employees: A 6-Months Follow-Up of a Psychosocial Program in a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitationNeither a supervisor-employee communication program nor psychoeducation reduced sick leave days or improved health outcomes in employees with pain and stress. The communication program showed no benefit over the educational lectures.
• PTOTCohort2023Age at Onset of Spinal Cord Injury is Associated with Increased Inpatient Care Needs, Reduced Independence at Discharge and a Higher Risk of Institutionalization after Primary Inpatient Rehabilitation.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOlder age at spinal cord injury onset predicts more daily nursing hours and lower independence at discharge, but does not change length of stay or daily therapy time. For each additional year of age, the odds of needing institutional care after discharge rise by 1.03-fold.
• PTOTRCT2023Effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on upper-limb impairment after stroke: A randomized, controlled, single-blind trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation to standard stroke rehabilitation did not improve upper limb motor recovery more than sham stimulation. The primary outcome showed no significant difference between groups.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Functioning and Disability in Community-Living People with Perceived Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: A Mixed Methods Study using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule.Journal of rehabilitation medicineNext-of-kin rated people with cognitive impairment as having far more difficulty in daily life than the patients did themselves. Both groups agreed mobility was the least problematic area. Patients relied heavily on homecare and day centres to stay independent.
• PTOTOther2023Promoting Positive Health Outcomes in an Urban Community-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Preschool Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPreschoolers with autism improved ball skills and upper body strength after 12 weeks of community-based physical activity. Locomotor skills and daily physical activity levels did not change. The intervention combined motor training, behavioral coaching, and group play.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Executive Function in Autism: Association with ADHD and ASD Symptoms.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children with autism, executive function problems tracked with ADHD severity, not autism severity. Flexibility and emotional control were unrelated to either diagnosis. This suggests ADHD symptoms, not autism itself, drive most observed executive function deficits.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Early, Intense Rehabilitation Fails to Improve Outcome After Intra-Striatal Hemorrhage in Rats.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairEarly, intense rehabilitation failed to improve skilled reaching or reduce brain injury in rats with striatal hemorrhage. Neither timing nor duration of treatment provided benefit, challenging the assumption that high-intensity early rehab drives recovery in this specific injury model.
• OTCase Series2022Experiences of Persons With Executive Dysfunction in Disability Care Using a Social Robot to Execute Daily Tasks and Increase the Feeling of Independence: Multiple-Case Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesParticipants and caregivers described Tessa's spoken reminders as giving structure, prompting tasks, and reducing reliance on others. Some found it irritating or missed messages. The study combined Tessa with caregiver training and goal setting, so the robot alone was not tested.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Post-concussive symptoms mediate the relationship between sleep problems and participation restrictions among veterans with mild traumatic brain injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSleep problems link to participation restrictions in veterans with mild TBI, but the path depends on the symptom type. Cognitive symptoms mediate both social and productivity restrictions. Mood symptoms affect only social participation, while vestibular symptoms affect only productivity. Screen for sleep issues to target these specific barriers.
• PTOTOther2022Limb accelerations during sleep are related to measures of strength, sensation, and spasticity among individuals with spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSleep movement data from ankle accelerometers predicted strength and sensation scores with high accuracy. This suggests passive overnight monitoring could offer a new, unobtrusive way to assess impairment in spinal cord injury without requiring active patient participation.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022A review of user needs to drive the development of lower limb prostheses.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationUsers prioritize safety, comfort, and social integration over pure function. They need to walk without constant visual attention, manage pain and heat, and feel the leg is part of their body. Current prostheses often fail these needs, driving dissatisfaction and rejection.
• OTSLPQualitative2023Clothes, Sensory Experiences and Autism: Is Wearing the Right Fabric Important?Journal of autism and developmental disordersTen autistic adults described fabrics as central to their daily comfort, not just aesthetics. They avoided abrasive textures like hessian and spandex, preferring satin and cotton. These choices helped them manage distress and maintain focus in educational settings.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2023Education on the consequences of traumatic brain injury for children and adolescents with TBI and families/caregivers: a systematic scoping review.Brain injuryPediatric TBI education mostly reached caregivers, not children alone. Written discharge instructions were common, and adding verbal or multimedia support appeared better for recall.
• OTQualitative2023A Self-Determination Theory Approach to Work Motivation of Autistic Adults: A Qualitative Exploratory Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor 12 employed autistic adults, work motivation centered on income, daily routine, and social connection rather than intrinsic interest. Competence relied on explicit feedback, while autonomy required stable structure and clear choices to be felt.
• OTOther2023Exploring the Health and Economic Burden Among Truck Drivers in Australia: A Health Economic Modelling Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe model estimated 6067 work-related deaths among Australian male truck drivers, AU$485 million healthcare costs and AU$2.6 billion productivity loss over 10 years. A hypothetical 10% health-burden reduction modelled AU$263 million in productivity savings.
• OTQualitative2023The Influence of Teleworking in a Pandemic Context on the Work Experience of Individuals with Physical Disabilities: A Quebec Qualitative Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPandemic telework was described as helpful for flexibility, transport, and home control, but harmful when equipment, manager support, quiet space, or social contact were lacking. These themes point to environmental and support gaps to check.
• OTSurvey2023Workplace Mental Health Disclosure, Sustainable Employability and Well-Being at Work: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Military Personnel with Mental Illness.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWhether military personnel disclosed their mental illness to a supervisor did not predict their work well-being. However, those who had a positive experience with that decision, typically due to supervisor support, reported better work ability and lower burnout. Stigma remained a risk.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023A Qualitative Exploration into the Sensory Experiences of Autistic Mothers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSeven autistic mothers described how pregnancy and childcare intensified sensory overwhelm, making touch and sound painful. Late diagnosis prevented them from understanding these reactions. They relied on downtime and online peer support, often feeling misunderstood by healthcare professionals.
• PTOTOther2022Automated patient-robot assignment for a robotic rehabilitation gym: a simplified simulation model.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn simulations of robotic gyms, algorithmically scheduling patients across robots produced higher total simulated skill gain than keeping patients on one robot or switching halfway. This does not show real patient benefit.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Neuro-cognitive assessment of intentional control methods for a soft elbow exosuit using error-related potentials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA soft elbow exosuit's control errors were detected from brain and muscle signals in five healthy people. The device did not restrict arm movement during a tracking task. This shows errors can be sensed, but the study was too small to prove clinical benefit.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Head movement kinematics are altered during balance stability exercises in individuals with vestibular schwannoma.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPatients with vestibular schwannoma showed significantly more unstable head motion than healthy controls during eyes-closed balance exercises, both before and after surgery. A simple sensor-based score from these exercises distinguished the groups, but surgical deafferentation did not improve head kinematics at 6 weeks.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2022Serum Vitamin D, Folate and Fatty Acid Levels in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had significantly lower vitamin D levels than controls, but folate levels showed no significant difference. The vitamin D finding had very high variability between studies, so it should not be treated as a consistent biological marker.
• PTOTCase-Control2022Reach-to-grasp kinematics and kinetics with and without visual feedback in early-stage Alzheimer's disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with early-stage Alzheimer's disease reached and grasped objects more slowly and less accurately than healthy adults. These differences were most pronounced when they could not see their own hands, suggesting they rely heavily on visual feedback to compensate for motor control deficits.