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 132 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRCT2023Autonomy support encourages use of more-affected arm post-stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors allowed to choose their own task difficulty during reaching training used their more-affected arm significantly more in the lab. However, this did not transfer to real-world daily activities. High repetition alone improved motor performance, but only autonomy support changed spontaneous arm choice.
• PTOTOther2023The BE-UJI hand function activity set: a reduced set of activities for the evaluation of the healthy and pathological hand.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA 10-task hand assessment set was found to capture similar hand movement patterns as the full 20-task Sollerman test. It could potentially halve testing time for clinicians monitoring hand kinematics in healthy people and those with hand arthritis.
• PTOTOther2023Effects of a soft robotic exosuit on the quality and speed of overground walking depends on walking ability after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA soft robotic exosuit increased walking speed in slower walkers poststroke but not in faster walkers. It improved propulsion and foot landing without increasing energy cost or reducing muscle activity. These were immediate, single-session effects, not evidence of long-term recovery.
• OTOther2023Measurement of Sleep in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: Relationship Between Self-report and Actigraphy.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationWrist monitor sleep duration and awakenings did not predict self-rated sleep quality or fatigue in adults with chronic moderate-severe TBI. Short morning diaries did show their self-reported sleep duration closely matched monitor data.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Construct validity, responsiveness, and interpretability of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) in patients admitted to inpatient geriatric rehabilitation.Clinical rehabilitationThe Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) is a valid observational tool for older adults in inpatient geriatric care. It detects meaningful physical improvement at 14.5 points and screens cognitive function without burdening patients with interviews.
• PTOTQualitative2024Return-to-Work Experiences in Ontario Policing: Injured But Not Broken.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPolice officers described return-to-work processes as designed for physical injuries, failing them when recovering from mental health conditions. Stigma, lack of confidentiality, and inflexible accommodations delayed treatment and reintegration, with workers fearing career damage if they took time off.
• PTOTQualitative2024Physical rehabilitation for people with advanced dementia who fracture their hip - expert consensus process.Disability and rehabilitationExperts agreed that rehab for advanced dementia after hip fracture is less about exercise and more about setting the scene. They prioritized managing pain, nutrition, and hydration, plus ensuring safety and comfort, before attempting any physical movement.
• PTOTCohort2024Orthosis use and ambulation in adults with myelomeningocele after orthotic management from childhood.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalAdults with myelomeningocele who received intensive orthotic management from childhood showed high rates of continued orthosis use and ambulation. Orthosis types shifted frequently as patients grew, with most adults maintaining some form of mobility support.
• OTOther2023A Digital Box and Block Test for Hand Dexterity Measurement: Instrument Validation Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesA digital hand dexterity box scored lower than the standard Box and Block Test and did not track it closely in healthy adults. It may help automate timing and counting, but it is not yet tested in patients.
• PTOTPilot2023Effects of Real-Time Pressure Map Feedback on Confidence in Pressure Management in Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury: Pilot Intervention Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesReal-time pressure feedback significantly improved wheelchair users' confidence in knowing how far to lean to relieve pressure. It did not improve confidence in performing weight shifts frequently or for long enough. Standard education alone also increased confidence in preventing skin breakdown.
• PTOTOther2023Going beyond PA: Assessing sensorimotor capacity with wearables in multiple sclerosis-a cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSmartwatch data from 90 people with MS linked movement patterns to clinical severity, but not reliably to specific upper-limb skills. One metric tracked grip strength independently of disability scores, while others mixed activity volume with ability.
• PTOTRCT2023Rehabilitation therapy using the HUBER platform in chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineHUBER platform exercises did not improve trunk strength more than standard rehab, the primary outcome was null. However, patients using the platform reported significantly less disability. Both groups improved, but the platform's specific benefit was on self-reported function, not measured strength.
• PTOTOther2023"The Days Are Long But the Nights Are Even Longer": A Mixed-Method Study of Sleep Disturbances Among Patients in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Program.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients on an inpatient rehabilitation ward reported significantly poorer sleep than before admission, with 75% classified as poor sleepers. However, sleep quality did not predict functional recovery speed. Staff identified noise, pain, and lack of routine sleep assessments as key barriers.
• PTOTCohort2023Predictive factors for home discharge after femoral fracture surgery: a prospective cohort study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFemale sex, higher preoperative cognition, more physiotherapy sessions, higher exercise self-efficacy, and caregiver availability predicted home discharge after hip fracture surgery. These factors identified patients likely to return home versus needing institutional care.
• PTOTCase Report2023A Case Report Illustrating the Combined Use of Cryoneurolysis and Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy in the Treatment of Longstanding Spastic Shoulder Contractures After Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn a single stroke patient with longstanding pectoralis contracture, chest nerve freezing gave an immediate 20 degree increase in shoulder range, and at 8 weeks after also freezing leg nerves and cutting chest tendon she reported easier dressing, less pain, and better walking.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Electromagnetic radiation therapy for Parkinson's disease tremor reduction- systematic reviews and Bayesian meta-analyses for comparing the effectiveness of electric, magnetic and light stimulation methods.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLight, magnetic, and electrical stimulation all reduced Parkinson's tremor in pooled analyses. However, the evidence relies on small studies with mixed designs. The authors state these results should not guide clinical practice yet.
• PTOTCohort2023Baseline Characteristics and Outcomes for People With and Without COVID-19 Diagnoses Receiving Inpatient Rehabilitation Care Across the US in 2020-2021.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients with COVID-19 diagnoses in inpatient rehabilitation were more medically complex, stayed longer, and were less likely to go home, but they made larger mobility and self-care gains and had similar fall rates.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023The diagnostic value of physical examination tests in adhesive capsulitis: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNo single physical exam test reliably diagnoses adhesive capsulitis. Coracoid Pain Test and Distension Test showed high accuracy in initial studies but results were inconsistent or unreproduced, leaving clinicians without a definitive bedside diagnostic tool.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Finding functionality: Rasch analysis of the Functionality Appreciation Scale in community-dwelling adults in the US.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe Functionality Appreciation Scale measures one single trait, but it is too easy for most healthy adults. Many score the maximum, so the test cannot tell the difference between someone with high appreciation and someone with moderate appreciation.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation for dysphagia patients during recovery stage of stroke: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFor stroke patients with swallowing difficulties, adding four weeks of intermittent theta-burst stimulation to standard therapy improved swallowing function more than sham stimulation. This benefit held for both supratentorial and brainstem strokes, while continuous theta-burst stimulation showed inconsistent effects depending on stroke location.
• PTOTRCT2023Assessing walking ability using a robotic gait trainer: opportunities and limitations of assist-as-needed control in spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA robotic gait trainer's knee support level during swing predicted walking speed in ambulatory SCI patients. However, the model failed for non-ambulatory and able-bodied users, and reliability was poor due to learning effects. It is not yet ready for clinical assessment.
• PTOTProtocol2023The Critical Period After Stroke Study (CPASS) Upper Extremity Treatment Protocol.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationForty-nine participants completed at least 15 hours of a 20-hour upper-extremity shaping protocol within 42 days after stroke, mostly in outpatient settings, using activities they chose for daily life.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Available Assistive Technology Outcome Measures: Systematic Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAssistive technology outcome measures are numerous but unevenly used. Most tools cover wheelchairs and function, while satisfaction, communication, participation, and caregiver burden are assessed with fewer, less common measures. Choose a tool matched to the device and outcome.
• OTQualitative2024What is the Meaning of Paid Employment for Well-Being? A Focus Group Study on Differences and Similarities Between Autistic Adults With and Without Employment.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAutistic adults said paid work can support well-being through recognition, purpose, contact, structure and income, but also said work can cause burnout. Not having paid work was linked to shame and exclusion; disability benefits brought relief but also fear of losing them.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Graded motor imagery and its phases for individuals with phantom limb pain following amputation: A scoping review.Clinical rehabilitationMost research on graded motor imagery for phantom limb pain tests only mirror therapy, not the full three-phase protocol. Dosing varies wildly with no standard best practice, and evidence for the complete three-phase approach is extremely limited.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Effect of oxygen therapy duration on cognitive impairment 12 months after hospitalization for SARS-COV-2 infection.Journal of rehabilitation medicineShorter oxygen therapy during acute hospitalization predicted persistent cognitive impairment at 1 year. A Mini-Mental State Examination score below 28 at 3 months also flagged this risk, though patients often lacked awareness of their deficits.
• PTOTCohort2023Intermittent self-catheterization training and effects on treatment adherence and infection.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineWhether patients learned self-catheterization immediately or a day later did not change adherence or complications over 12 months. However, patients who skipped or added catheterizations had significantly more urinary tract infections, and those with multiple sclerosis had higher infection rates and poorer technique.
• PTOTCohort2023Unraveling the interplay between daily life fatigue and physical activity after subarachnoid hemorrhage: an ecological momentary assessment and accelerometry study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter subarachnoid hemorrhage, fatigue and movement tracked each other in daily life. When participants moved more than usual, fatigue rose soon after; when fatigue rose, they moved less soon after. These are daily associations, not tested treatment effects.
• PTOTOther2023Visual Exploration While Walking With and Without Visual Cues in Parkinson's Disease: Freezer Versus Non-Freezer.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairVisual cues like floor lines improved gait in people with Parkinson's, regardless of whether they had freezing of gait. Eye-tracking showed cues made people look more frequently but with slower, shorter eye movements, suggesting the brain works harder to focus on the cue.
• PTOTOther2023A robot-based interception task to quantify upper limb impairments in proprioceptive and visual feedback after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA robot-based task revealed that most stroke survivors have impaired rapid motor corrections, even in their unaffected arm. The task detected deficits that standard clinical scales missed, suggesting therapists should assess feedback processing separately from basic strength or movement range.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Virtual Reality for Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Comprehensive Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThis review of 32 studies suggests virtual reality can help with breathing exercises for anxiety and lung conditions. Most participants reported feeling more relaxed and better able to control their breathing. However, the studies were small, short-term, and mixed healthy people with patients, so this is not proof that VR works as a standalone treatment.
• OTOther2023Psychometric Assessment of the Swedish version of the Work Ability Index in Patients with Chronic Pain in Specialized Care.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFor patients with chronic pain in specialized care, the Swedish Work Ability Index worked best as one overall score. Its single work-ability item tracked the full index closely, so it may serve as a quick stand-in.
• PTOTCohort2023Myoelectric Arm Orthosis Assists Functional Activities: A 3-Month Home Use Outcome Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFirst-time MyoPro users with chronic stroke completed grasp and transfer tasks faster and more successfully with the device than without it over three months. Task improvement was not linear, and the study did not control for the amount of therapy each participant received.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Effectiveness of the "Evidence-Based Scientific Exercise Guidelines" in Increasing Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cardiometabolic Health, and Muscle Strength in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAerobic exercise did not significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness in acute spinal cord injury. However, functional electrical stimulation cycling reduced muscle loss and increased lean body mass. Strength training improved peak torque and perceived function. These interventions appear safe but evidence remains limited.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Gait analysis comparison between manual marking, 2D pose estimation algorithms, and 3D marker-based system.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOpenPose tracked knee angles accurately but failed at the ankle. Kinovea was consistent but slow and biased. MediaPipe was too inaccurate for gait analysis. No tool replaced the 3D marker system, though OpenPose is a promising, faster alternative for knee motion.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Developing a serious game for gaze stability rehabilitation in children with vestibular hypofunction.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with vestibular hypofunction found a new gaze-stability video game safe and highly satisfying. Their vision during head movements and balance scores improved, but the study combined the game with standard physiotherapy, so the game's specific effect cannot be separated.
• OTCase Report2023Serotonin Syndrome Precipitated by Amantadine in a Patient With Persistent Post Concussive Symptoms - A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA 22-year-old with persistent post-concussive symptoms developed serotonin syndrome 10 days after starting amantadine while taking duloxetine, bupropion, gabapentin, and receiving botulinum toxin. Symptoms resolved after stopping amantadine and bupropion and lowering duloxetine. This is one case, not proof amantadine caused it.
• PTOTSurvey2024Clinician perspectives on postamputation pain assessment and rehabilitation interventions.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalMost clinicians use pain intensity scales but lack tools to measure how pain affects function. They report that patient openness and motivation drive engagement with non-drug therapies like mirror therapy, while poor compliance and belief in the treatment are common barriers to success.
• PTOTOther2024Circumstances of falls among older adult walker users in long-term care and the associated walker design deficits.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNASideways falls with two-wheeled walkers happened while turning. Backward falls with rollators happened during transfers when brakes failed to stop rolling. Design fixes for lateral stability and easier braking are needed to prevent these injuries.
• PTOTCohort2024Defining Clinically Meaningful Cut Points for Leg Power Impairment Using Physical Performance in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis From Boston RISE.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationSex-specific leg power thresholds identified: 3.07 Watts/kg for men and 2.59 Watts/kg for women. Falling below these values on the Stair Climb Power Test strongly associates with mobility limitation. These cut points help clinicians identify older adults at high risk for adverse health outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2024Maximal daily stepping cadence partially explains functional capacity of individuals with end-stage knee osteoarthritis.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationVeterans with severe knee osteoarthritis spent only 3.6 minutes a day walking briskly. This low volume of brisk walking, along with older age and higher pain, partially explained their reduced ability to walk for six minutes. Pain did not change how strongly brisk walking related to this capacity.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Quality of life, satisfaction with care, and the experiences of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities before and during COVID-19.Disability and health journalSelf-reported quality of life dropped during the pandemic, but this disappeared when accounting for who reported it. Care partners reported higher quality of life than the adults themselves. Satisfaction with care services remained stable across both time points.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A roadmap for research in post-stroke fatigue: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairExperts recommend assessing every stroke survivor for fatigue using a structured interview tool to identify modifiable causes like sleep, mood, or medication side effects. For research, they propose a specific 7-item scale, noting current evidence for treatments is conflicting and insufficient to guide practice.
• PTOTCase Report2024Oculomotor screening and neuro-visual rehabilitation following pediatric brain tumor resection.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA neuro-visual rehabilitation program using prescribed glasses with tint and prism, eye exercises, and follow-up reduced a visual symptom score from 41 to 29 with normal below 16 after brain tumor surgery in one boy. This is one case, not proof it works.
• PTOTRCT2023Foam roller-based self-induced myofascial therapy in patients with hemophilic knee arthropathy: a multicenter, single-blind, randomized clinical study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineDaily foam rolling for 8 weeks reduced knee bleeding frequency and pain in men with hemophilic arthropathy. Range of motion improved between groups but not within them. Strength did not change. The effect on bleeding was the most consistent finding.
• OTOther2023The assisting hand assessment for children and youth with brachial plexus birth injury: a study of validity and item hierarchy of AHA-Plex.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA 15-item version of the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA-Plex) reliably measures bimanual hand use in children with brachial plexus birth injury. It correlates almost perfectly with the original 20-item test but scores faster and provides a difficulty hierarchy to guide therapy planning.
• PTOTPilot2023Restoring natural upper limb movement through a wrist prosthetic module for partial hand amputees.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor one partial hand amputee, total Jebsen-Taylor time was lower with the Re-fill prosthetic hand and wrist rotation module, 331.46 seconds, than without the module, 516.37 seconds, but still longer than the intact hand, 73.33 seconds.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Motor-cognitive functions required for driving in post-stroke individuals identified via machine-learning analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA machine-learning model accurately predicted driving aptitude in post-stroke individuals using a subset of cognitive tests. Key predictors included time orientation, sustained attention, and visual neglect. This suggests a shorter, targeted screening battery could replace the current week-long assessment.
• OTSLPCase Series2023Enabling people with intellectual and other disabilities to make verbal requests using cardboard chips with mini objects or pictures and a smartphone.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSix adults with intellectual, sensory and motor disabilities used cardboard chips to make smartphone verbal requests. All made multiple requests during intervention, and staff rated the system positively.
• OTCohort2023Daily patterns of fatigue after subarachnoid haemorrhage: an ecological momentary assessment study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAfter subarachnoid haemorrhage, patients’ fatigue often rose across the day and was higher on working days than weekends. Fatigue also varied between people, so one-time questionnaire scores may miss daily patterns.