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 130 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPQualitative2023What is 'successful rehabilitation'? A multi-stakeholder nominal group technique study to inform rehabilitation outcome measurement.Clinical rehabilitationClinicians, managers and consumer representatives defined successful rehabilitation as person and family centred above all else. They prioritised individualised care, interprofessional teamwork and meaningful goals over standardised metrics. This suggests routine outcome measures should capture patient experience and context, not just impairment.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Establishing General Working Population Norms for the Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorking adults in the Netherlands reported an average score of 25.1 on a 0-100 scale for work-related cognitive symptoms. Scores were stable across age groups except for the youngest adults, who reported more symptoms. These norms help therapists judge if a cancer survivor's self-reported cognitive complaints are unusual.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Development and validation of the MAnchester Needs Tool for Injured Children (MANTIC).Clinical rehabilitationThe MANTIC questionnaire helps injured children and their families identify specific rehabilitation needs like pain, education and equipment. It correlates with quality of life and is free to use, though it flags needs without saying if they are met.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Differences in Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Following Later-Life Traumatic Brain Injury in Veteran and Civilian Populations.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationTraumatic brain injury after age 68 strongly increased the risk of Alzheimer's diagnosis, but this risk dropped significantly with each passing year. The elevated danger appeared to fade roughly five years after the injury, suggesting the link is short-term rather than permanent.
• PTOTCohort2023Odds of Influenza in Patients Receiving Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injections: A Cohort Study.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationInfluenza risk was not higher overall after intra-articular steroid injections. However, unvaccinated patients who received large joint injections during flu season had significantly higher odds of influenza. Vaccination appeared to mitigate this risk.
• PTOTCohort2023Does Spasticity Correlate With Motor Impairment in the Upper and Lower Limbs in Ambulatory Chronic Stroke Survivors?American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationIn ambulatory chronic stroke survivors, upper limb spasticity correlated with greater motor impairment and weaker grip strength. Lower limb spasticity did not correlate with motor impairment or gait speed. Clinicians may need to prioritize weakness over spasticity when addressing lower limb walking function.
• PTOTOther2023Preventing a Scarring Start into the Labor Market: Integration Strategies for Young Persons with Disabilities.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAllocation to vocational programs is driven by disability type and education, not just need. Mental disabilities lead to sheltered workshops; musculoskeletal to in-firm training. Structural factors like local market conditions heavily influence these pathways, often predefining career trajectories.
• OTCohort2023Residual Work Capacity and (In)Ability to Work Fulltime Among a Year-Cohort of Disability Benefit Applicants Diagnosed with Mental and Behavioural Disorders.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost disability applicants with mental disorders retain some work capacity, but outcomes vary sharply by diagnosis. Schizophrenia and mood disorders predict no capacity, while adjustment and anxiety disorders predict full-time ability. Diagnosis matters when assessing work disability.
• PTOTCohort2023The association between sleep and physical activity with persisting postconcussion symptoms among adolescent athletes.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAdolescent athletes who exercised more frequently in the first two weeks after a concussion were less likely to develop persisting symptoms. Objective tracking showed that the number of exercise sessions mattered more than total daily steps or sleep duration.
• OTPilot2023An evaluation of 3D printable elastics for post stroke dynamic hand bracing: a pilot study.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNAFive stroke survivors rated a 3D-printed dynamic hand brace similarly to a commercial brace. However, some prototype braces reduced pinch force, and prototype and commercial braces reduced block transfers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Neck Symptoms and Associated Clinical Outcomes in Patients Following Concussion.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationPatients with more severe neck symptoms after concussion took longer to recover, averaging 40 days versus 30 days. Neck pain was reported by nearly half of all patients, with higher rates in non-sports injuries like falls and motor vehicle accidents compared to sports-related concussions.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Economic Evaluation of Inpatient Multimodal Occupational Rehabilitation vs. Outpatient Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Sick-Listed Workers with Musculoskeletal- or Common Mental Disorders.Journal of occupational rehabilitationInpatient multimodal rehabilitation cost more upfront but saved society money over two years compared to outpatient therapy. It gained 43.4 extra workdays per patient at a cost of 278 euros per day, which is below the average daily wage of 339 euros.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023A Systematic Review of Workplace Physical Activity Coaching.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkplace physical activity coaching increased activity in all 17 included interventions, but the studies were too diverse to combine. The most effective approaches combined face-to-face contact with digital tools and focused on goal setting, self-monitoring, and problem solving.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Integrated Mental Healthcare and Vocational Rehabilitation for People on Sick Leave with Anxiety or Depression: 24-Month Follow-up of the Randomized IBBIS Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitationFor people on sick leave with anxiety or depression, an integrated mental health and vocational rehabilitation program did not improve return-to-work rates or self-reported health at 24 months compared to standard services. Differences were only seen when compared to a mental-health-only arm, not usual care.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Turning apathy into action in neurodegenerative disease: Development and pilot testing of a goal-directed behaviour app.Neuropsychological rehabilitationPatients with mild dementia used a goal-setting app for four weeks and achieved significantly more self-identified goals, particularly in brain health and housework. However, this did not translate to improved daily functioning or reduced caregiver burden, and the study lacked a control group.
• PTOTRCT2024Associations between baseline cognitive status and motor outcomes after treadmill training in people with Parkinson's disease: a pilot study.Disability and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's and mild cognitive impairment improved their gait speed as much as those with normal cognition after treadmill training. However, better memory scores at the start predicted larger speed gains. Motor severity also mattered: lower baseline symptoms linked to greater improvement.
• OTPilot2024A Decision Aid to Support Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals Offering Tailored Care to Benefit Recipients with a Long-Term Work Disability: A Feasibility Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationVocational rehabilitation professionals found a new decision aid helpful for spotting return-to-work barriers, with all ten agreeing it improved this step. However, it did not help them choose suitable interventions, with six of ten neutral on this. The tool is feasible for assessment but not yet for prescribing care.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Patients' strategies for numeric pain assessment: a qualitative interview study of individuals with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.Disability and rehabilitationPatients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome often report pain numbers strategically rather than accurately. They lower scores to avoid being labeled drug-seeking or inflate them to prove therapy is working. A single number is rarely a direct reflection of their pain intensity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Referent Values for Commonly Used Clinical Mobility Tests in Black and White Adults Aged 50-95 Years.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMobility tests show significant performance declines starting in the 80s for Black and White adults in the Southeastern US. Use these race and sex-specific reference values to identify fall risk, but note the cohort was highly educated and may perform better than your patients.
• OTOther2023Measuring Resilience in Long-term Sick-listed Individuals: Validation of the Resilience Scale for Adults.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe Resilience Scale for Adults works in long-term sick-listed workers, but only if one item is moved to the family cohesion subscale. Scores cannot be directly compared to students because sick-listed individuals interpret some items differently.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Perspectives of health professionals on physical activity and sedentary behaviour in hospitalised adults: A systematic review and thematic synthesis.Clinical rehabilitationHospital staff said physical activity was not a priority, despite knowing its benefits. Bed rest culture, limited staff and time, unclear roles, and safety policies pushed them to keep patients in bed.
• PTOTOther2023The Job Leeway Scale: Initial Evaluation of a Self-report Measure of Health-Related Flexibility and Latitude at Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with chronic health conditions reported more fatigue and lower self-efficacy when they felt less flexibility at work. The new Job Leeway Scale correlates with these outcomes, but it is an untested measure of perception, not proof that granting flexibility improves health.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Clinical practice recommendations for management of lateropulsion after stroke determined by a Delphi expert panel.Clinical rehabilitationExperts agreed on 119 recommendations for lateropulsion care, prioritising tactile cues and active self-correction over passive correction. They rejected routine use of novel tech like VR. No consensus was reached on optimal therapy dose, leaving that to clinical judgement.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Promoting Resilience After Stroke in Dyads (ReStoreD): A Supplemental Analysis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationResilience scores improved significantly in people with stroke after a 8-week dyadic activity programme. Care partners showed no significant change. The waitlist control group dropped out, so the analysis was single-arm and cannot confirm the programme caused the improvement.
• OTRCT2023Pressure Injury Data Reconciliation in a Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMedical record review found 82% of serious pressure injuries, while scheduled skin checks found 37%. Phone interviews missed many injuries, especially in patients with multiple wounds. Researchers must reconcile data from multiple sources to avoid underreporting.
• PTOTOther2023Daily Vibrotactile Stimulation Exhibits Equal or Greater Spasticity Relief Than Botulinum Toxin in Stroke.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationDaily vibrotactile stimulation reduced hand spasticity in stroke survivors, with effects matching or exceeding botulinum toxin injections. Relief persisted one month after stopping the glove. Active finger extension improved significantly during use, unlike with injections.
• PTOTSurvey2023Functional Limitations in Individuals With Long COVID.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost people with long COVID reported substantial declines in global health, mobility, and daily activities. Fatigue affected 94% of participants. While symptoms improved over time, functional limitations remained severe for many, highlighting a need for rehabilitation interventions.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023A systematic review examining the effect of vitamin D supplementation on functional outcomes post-stroke.Clinical rehabilitationVitamin D after stroke showed mixed functional effects: some studies reported better balance, walking, daily living or impairment scores, but others did not. The studies were small and inconsistent, so no reliable clinical conclusion can be drawn.
• OTSurvey2023Return to Work Experiences of Ontario Public Safety Personnel with Work-Related Psychological Injuries.Journal of occupational rehabilitationOntario public safety personnel with psychological injury claims described stigma, confusing compensation systems and unsupportive employers as major barriers. They valued occupational therapy when it was practical, community based and linked to coping and return to work.
• PTOTCohort2023Burden of Cardiovascular Risk in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury and Its Association With Rehabilitation Outcomes: Results From the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationSpinal cord injury patients leaving rehab have high cardiovascular risk. Better breathing, mobility, and independence scores link to healthier cholesterol. Clinicians should consider screening these patients for heart risk before discharge, especially those with lower function.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Iterative Development of the Caregiver Wellness After Traumatic Brain Injury Program (CG-Well).The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationCaregivers of adults with severe traumatic brain injury rated a new web-based support program as highly acceptable and feasible. Feedback focused on health literacy and delivery preferences. The program is ready for efficacy testing but does not yet prove clinical benefit.
• PTOTCohort2023The Prevalence of Mental Health Service Use in Australian Workers with Accepted Workers' Compensation Claims for Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationOnly 9.7% of workers with compensated low back pain accessed mental health services. Use rose sharply with claim duration, reaching 39.4% for claims over 76 weeks. Access varied by jurisdiction, with Western Australia lowest at 6.7% and Victoria highest at 12.0%.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Dose, Content, and Context of Usual Care in Stroke Upper Limb Motor Interventions: A Systematic Review.Clinical rehabilitationUsual care dose for stroke upper limb recovery is highly variable. Time on task ranged from 8 to 44 minutes per day, and repetitions from 15 to 282 per day. Patients with severe upper limb impairment or cognitive issues received less active practice time.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023The Employment Quality of Persons with Disabilities: Findings from a National Survey.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with disabilities in Canada reported worse job conditions than those without, including higher rates of wage theft and job lock. They were also far less likely to have flexible schedules or training opportunities, though more likely to be in unions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Does Not Significantly Affect Midlife Cognitive Functioning Within the General Population: Findings From a Prospective Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMidlife cognitive tests showed no meaningful difference between people with a history of mild traumatic brain injury and those without. Any small initial gap in processing speed disappeared once childhood IQ, education, and substance use were accounted for.
• PTOTCohort2024Is More Always Better? Financially Motivated Therapy and Patient Outcomes in Skilled Nursing Facilities.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationTherapy minutes just over payment thresholds were linked to slightly higher chances of functional improvement and community discharge. The community discharge association was strongest for patients receiving under 500 weekly therapy minutes.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A Descriptive Analysis of Access to Assistive Technology in Children With Acquired Brain Injury: The Right to Assistive Devices.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOnly 55% of prescribed assistive devices reached patients, with an average delay of 69.4 days. Insurance barriers caused most non-deliveries. Clinicians should anticipate significant delays and actively track device status rather than assuming prescriptions are fulfilled.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Associations of Prior Head Injury With Mild Behavioral Impairment Domains.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMultiple prior head injuries are associated with higher rates of impulse dyscontrol and affective dysregulation in older adults. These behavioral symptoms appeared decades after the injury. Single injuries showed no such association. Screen for mood and behavioral changes in patients with a history of repeated head trauma.
• PTOTSurvey2024Gender differences in prosthesis-related outcomes among veterans: Results of a national survey of U.S. veterans.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationWomen veterans reported slightly lower self-reported mobility than men, but satisfaction with their prosthesis, fit, and service quality did not differ significantly. Women were also less likely to use their prescribed prosthesis in the past year. These findings suggest comparable care experiences despite mobility differences.
• OTCohort2024Training for Supervisors to Improve Sustainable Employment of Employees with a work Disability: A Longitudinal Effect and Process Evaluation from an Intervention Study with Matched Controls.Journal of occupational rehabilitationSupervisor training showed no clear improvement in employees' sustainable employment over 12 months. Supervisors gained knowledge and confidence, but workplace behavior did not clearly change, and one isolated employment difference appeared at 8 months.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Trajectories of Daily Postconcussion Symptoms in Children.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren with moderate or high acute concussion symptoms often had persistent symptoms at 45 days. Specific early symptoms like headache, balance problems, and fogginess predicted slower recovery. Daily symptom monitoring may help identify children needing early rehabilitation referrals.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Racial and Ethnic Inequities in the Return-to-Work of Workers Experiencing Injury or Illness: A Systematic Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers from non-White and racial/ethnic minority groups were less likely to return to work after a non-occupational injury or illness compared to White workers. Evidence for occupational injuries was insufficient to draw conclusions.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Climb up! Head up! Climbing improves posture in Parkinson's disease. A secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationSport climbing improved forward-stooped posture in Parkinson's disease, reducing the distance from the neck to the wall by 1.7 cm. This physical change did not improve quality of life or reduce fear of falling, but offers a concrete option for correcting spinal flexion.
• OTCohort2023Who Returns to work? Exploring the Role of Interpersonal Problems in Occupational Rehabilitation.Journal of occupational rehabilitationHostile and dominant interpersonal traits predicted a lower chance of returning to work after rehabilitation, but overall interpersonal problems did not. A one-point higher score on this specific trait was associated with a 56% lower chance of returning to work.
• OTSLPCohort2023Identification of Factors in Moderate-Severe TBI Related to a Functional Decline in Cognition Decades After Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOnly 11% of moderate-severe TBI survivors showed functional cognitive decline over 20 years. Older age at injury and longer post-traumatic amnesia were the key predictors. Health behaviors like alcohol use or income did not add predictive value beyond these injury factors.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Which items of the modified Barthel Index can predict functional independence at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation? A secondary analysis retrospective cohort study.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationIndependence in personal hygiene and bladder control on admission strongly predicted better functional outcomes at discharge for both neurological and orthopedic patients. Neurological patients also benefited from independence in feeding and transfers, while orthopedic patients benefited from independence in dressing.
• PTOTCohort2023Physical Activity and Fitness Levels of Individuals With Ataxia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost people with ataxia in this study were sedentary, and those who were active had higher fitness. In sedentary people, lower fitness tracked with more severe ataxia, but the study cannot show activity changes ataxia.
• PTOTOther2023Greater engagement in valued activities is associated with less barriers to quitting smoking among smokers with mobility impairments.Disability and health journalSmokers with mobility impairments who engaged in more valued activities reported less depression and higher confidence to quit. Finding a replacement for activities lost to disability was linked to lower depressive symptoms and greater self-efficacy, though this does not prove the activities caused these benefits.
• PTOTOther2023Development of a Short Form Assessment Combining the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity and the Wolf Motor Function Test for Evaluating Stroke Recovery.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationA new 15-item upper extremity assessment combines items from two common stroke tests. It measures a single construct of functional capacity and can distinguish five different levels of recovery. It is not yet proven to track change over time or work well for severe impairment.
• PTOTRCT2023Efficacy of supervised home-based, real time, videoconferencing telerehabilitation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineSix weeks of supervised video-call exercise lowered blood sugar markers and improved walking distance, strength, and waist size in people with type 2 diabetes. The control group, which received only general advice, showed no such changes.