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 133 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2023Clinical presentation of patients with lower limb spasticity undergoing routine treatment with botulinum toxin: baseline findings from an international observational study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAmbulatory patients with lower limb spasticity face widespread difficulties with dressing, walking, and daily activities, alongside high rates of sensory, cognitive, and communication impairments. Most prioritize locomotion goals, but complex comorbidities require comprehensive assessment before treatment.
• PTOTCase Series2023Stabilizing leaning postures with feedback controlled functional neuromuscular stimulation after trunk paralysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn three people with spinal cord injury, a feedback-controlled implanted stimulator held forward leaning postures and increased forward reach by 10.2, 46.7, and 16 cm compared with no stimulation. Lateral reaches did not improve.
• PTOTRCT2023Feasibility and outcomes of supplemental gait training by robotic and conventional means in acute stroke rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding extra gait training to standard care is feasible and safe. Both robotic and conventional methods improved walking and function similarly. Neither was significantly better, but the robotic group needed fewer sessions to achieve gains.
• PTOTOther2023Using volunteers to improve access to community rehabilitation in palliative care: the St Christopher's Living Well at Home Team.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTrained volunteers delivered supervised home rehabilitation for palliative patients who could not travel to the hospice. Those who completed the programme reported better mobility, wellbeing, and goal achievement, suggesting a feasible way to extend care into homes.
• PTOTSurvey2024Prosthetic device and service satisfaction, quality of life, and functional performance in lower limb prosthesis clients.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalOnly 56% of lower limb prosthesis users were satisfied with their device. Satisfaction was linked to functional mobility and balance confidence, not just the prosthesis itself. Dissatisfaction stemmed from skin irritation, pain, and cost.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A translational roadmap for transcranial magnetic and direct current stimulation in stroke rehabilitation: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third stroke recovery and rehabilitation roundtable.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairExperts identified five barriers preventing brain stimulation from becoming routine in stroke care. They recommend stricter reporting, better animal models, and larger trials to prove which patients benefit before clinicians change practice.
• OTSurvey2024Understanding the Unmet Accommodation Needs of People Working with Mental or Cognitive Conditions: The Importance of Gender, Gendered Work, and Employment Factors.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWomen and workers with mental or cognitive conditions reported more unmet workplace flexibility, modification, and health benefit needs before job conditions were considered. Most differences narrowed after job type and working conditions were included.
• OTSurvey2024Work Adjustments by Types of Occupations Amongst People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Survey Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost employed people with MS reported no need for work adjustments (69.5%), despite invisible limiting symptoms. Adjustments were linked to disclosure, higher MS severity and invisible symptoms, and differed by occupation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Post-stroke Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Performances: A Network Analysis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMood was the most central depressive symptom, while executive function dominated the cognitive network. Psychomotor functioning and attention acted as bridges between the two. This suggests targeting mood and executive function may help resolve co-occurring post-stroke depression and cognitive issues.
• OTSLPOther2024Exploring Work Absences and Return to Work During Social Transition and Following Gender-Affirming Care, a Mixed-Methods Approach: 'Bridging Support Actors Through Literacy'.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost transgender and gender diverse people in Belgium returned to work after gender-affirming care, with 90.2% resuming employment. However, they faced significant gaps in navigating occupational health services and social insurance, leading to high stress and poor support experiences.
• OTOther2024Improving Work Participation Outcomes Among Unemployed People with Mental Health Issues/Mental Illness: Feasibility of a Stigma Awareness Intervention.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe disclosure decision aid and stigma awareness training were feasible to deliver. Clients found the aid useful, but few discussed it with employment specialists, and many specialists stopped using it after a year.
• PTOTCohort2024Reliability and validity of the Greek adaptation of the Modified Barthel Index in neurorehabilitation patients.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe Greek Modified Barthel Index was stable and matched other daily function scores well in stroke and spinal cord injury rehab, but it did not fit as a single score. Use transfers and daily activities plus mobility separately.
• PTOTCohort2023ToulGaitViz: a tool for the systematic description of lower limb clearance during the swing phase of hemiparetic gait after stroke. A cohort study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePost-stroke walkers rely heavily on compensatory movements to clear the ground, unlike healthy walkers who use natural limb shortening. A new software tool quantifies this compensation. It helps clinicians identify if gait issues stem from stiffness or excessive compensation, guiding targeted treatment.
• PTOTQualitative2023A qualitative study to elicit user requirements for lower limb wearable exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation in spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with spinal cord injury and clinicians have different priorities for exoskeletons. Patients want home use and psychological benefits, while clinicians worry about workload and cost. Both groups agree devices must be adjustable and easy to put on. This study reports their preferences, not clinical outcomes.
• OTCohort2023Effect of sense of coherence on long-term work participation among rehabilitation patients: a longitudinal study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation patients with a stronger sense that life is comprehensible, manageable and meaningful were more likely to work three years later, especially those with musculoskeletal diagnoses.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Feasibility, safety, and efficacy of task-oriented mirrored robotic training on upper-limb functions and activities of daily living in subacute poststroke patients: a pilot study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdding 30 minutes of mirrored robotic training to usual care improved arm function and daily living scores more than usual care alone in 32 subacute stroke patients. The study was a small pilot with no randomisation, so treat these gains as preliminary rather than proven.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2023Effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation on balance and gait in patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationtDCS improved walking speed and functional gait compared to sham, but did not improve static balance or patient-reported walking difficulty. The benefit was moderate, but evidence quality is low due to high variability between studies and potential publication bias.
• PTOTOther2023HIV in MOTION: a community of practice on physical rehabilitation for and by people living with HIV and their allies.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople living with HIV and clinicians described an online community as a space where patient stories challenged somber medical narratives. Participants reported increased knowledge and new collaborations, though the project lacked long-term funding and faced team burnout.
• PTOTOther2024A programme evaluation of 'First Steps': A peer-conceived, developed and led self-management intervention for people after a Parkinson's diagnosis.Clinical rehabilitationA peer-led Parkinson's self-management programme did not improve anxiety, depression, daily functioning, quality of life or carer strain compared with usual care. People in the programme group increased their physical activity, but this was not better than usual care.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Predicting the functional outcome of intensive inpatient rehabilitation after stroke: results from the RIPS Study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdmission scores on six items predict discharge function after stroke rehab. Younger age, higher independence, fewer comorbidities, better cognition, lower stroke severity, and higher motor function at admission linked to better discharge outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2024Management of severe congenital femoral deficiency: Does surgical intervention enhance prosthetic function?Prosthetics and orthotics internationalNo significant differences in prosthetic function or quality of life were found between patients with severe congenital femoral deficiency who had surgery and those who did not. A small subgroup undergoing hip reconstruction showed better scores, but the study was too small to confirm this.
• PTOTCohort2024Relation Between Cognitive Assessment and Clinical Physical Performance Measures After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn people with mild traumatic brain injury, cognitive scores correlated strongly with complex physical tasks like agility and high-level mobility, but not with simple walking or dual-tasking. Dual-task performance reflected prioritization strategies rather than cognitive ability.
• PTOTRCT2024Enhanced recovery after surgery combined with quantitative rehabilitation training in early rehabilitation after total knee replacement: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineStructured, phased rehabilitation after knee replacement led to better knee function, shorter hospital stays, and higher patient satisfaction than conventional exercises. Patients in the structured group had slightly more pain in the first three days but recovered well by two weeks. The benefit was in the planning and tracking, not just the exercises.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Impact of Prescription Medicines on Work-Related Outcomes in Workers with Musculoskeletal Disorders or Injuries: A Systematic Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEarly, long-term, or high-dose opioid use is consistently linked to slower return to work and longer disability in injured workers. Evidence for non-opioid medicines like NSAIDs and muscle relaxants is conflicting, with some studies suggesting they may also delay recovery.
• PTOTRCT2024The influence of prehabilitation in patients with liver cirrhosis before liver transplantation: a randomized clinical trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePrehabilitation improved liver frailty and Child-Pugh scores after one month, but very low patient adherence prevented any conclusions at three months. The study could not determine if prehabilitation is more effective than standard care for patients awaiting liver transplantation.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Adjustable prosthetic sockets: a systematic review of industrial and research design characteristics and their justifications.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdjustable prosthetic sockets split into four design types: inflatable bladders, moveable panels, circumferential adjustment, and variable length. Commercial devices mostly use panels or circumferential straps, while research favours bladders. Most commercial designs lack published clinical evidence.
• PTOTOther2023Testing spasticity mechanisms in chronic stroke before and after intervention with contralesional motor cortex 1 Hz rTMS and physiotherapy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter rTMS plus physiotherapy, chronic stroke patients had less reflex-mediated wrist stiffness and better arm scores. Passive tissue stiffness did not change. Because both treatments were given together, rTMS alone cannot be credited.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Quadriceps strength, patellar tendon quality, relative load exposure, and knee symptoms in male athletes before the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMale athletes awaiting ACL surgery had significant quadriceps weakness and knee pain, but their patellar tendon quality was identical to the healthy leg. Clinicians should not assume the injured tendon has degraded structurally, as the uninjured side is a valid reference for recovery.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Relationship between resting-state functional connectivity and change in motor function after motor imagery intervention in patients with stroke: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAcross 13 studies, changes in resting-state brain connectivity correlated with motor function improvement after motor imagery or brain-computer interface interventions in stroke patients. This suggests a neural basis for these treatments but does not prove they cause the recovery.
• PTOTOther2023Post-stroke deficits in the anticipatory control and bimanual coordination during naturalistic cooperative bimanual action.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with right-hemisphere stroke showed the poorest anticipatory force scaling when lifting a weighted box. Both stroke groups had impaired coordination in the paretic hand, but adding weight improved how well the two hands worked together, suggesting some capacity was masked by low demand.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Essential training variables of arm-hand training in people with cervical spinal cord injury: a systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineArm-hand training programmes for cervical spinal cord injury showed better before-after gains in programmes that used skill practice, real-life tasks, both hands and lasted at least 8 weeks.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Understanding stroke survivors' preferences regarding wearable sensor feedback on functional movement: a mixed-methods study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors found wearable sensor reports easy to understand and motivating, but no single metric was preferred. They wanted real-time feedback tied to personal goals and emphasized that clinicians are still needed to interpret data and maintain accountability.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Applications of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Upper Limb Motor Performance After Stroke: A Systematic Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairMost stroke rTMS trials still suppress the unaffected hemisphere, but this often fails to improve motor function. Evidence suggests matching the stimulation to the patient's specific nerve damage is critical, as suppressing the unaffected side can worsen outcomes in severely impaired patients.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Person-centered care for people with aphasia: tools for shared decision-making.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAphasia does not automatically prevent shared decision-making. Supported conversation, written key words, yes/no choices, and co-created communication plans can help people with aphasia express preferences. Training and ongoing team support are needed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule versus Functional Independence Measure in Traumatic Brain Injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineProxy WHODAS-12 scores differentiated mild from moderate traumatic brain injury more accurately than the Functional Independence Measure. Participation restrictions were more severe than activity limitations, especially in milder injuries, suggesting a need to assess social and community involvement specifically.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Healthcare resource utilization and costs among patients with post-stroke spasticity before and after spasticity management including onabotulinumtoxina.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn 735 adults with post-stroke spasticity, healthcare costs dropped significantly after starting spasticity management including onabotulinumtoxinA. This was driven by fewer hospitalizations, despite increased outpatient visits and pharmacy costs. The study did not prove the drug caused these savings.
• PTOTPilot2024Neurophysiological underpinnings of an intensive protocol for upper limb motor recovery in subacute and chronic stroke patients.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTwo weeks of robotic arm training improved clinical scores in both subacute and chronic stroke patients. Subacute patients also showed smoother, faster movement and specific brain-wave changes, suggesting true motor recovery. Chronic patients improved clinically but without these kinematic or neural markers.
• PTOTCase Report2024Multidisciplinary physical rehabilitation program of individuals with spinal muscular atrophy in an inclusive school setting.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA nine-year-old girl with type 2 SMA improved in sitting and rolling after a year of combined physiotherapy and hippotherapy. She sustained sitting for five minutes and gained strength, but could not walk. This single case cannot prove the treatment works.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Neuropathic-like pain in knee osteoarthritis: exploring differences in knee loading and inflammation. A cross-sectional study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients with knee osteoarthritis and signs of neuropathic-like pain walked with higher dynamic load on the inner knee. They also reported worse pain and function. These are cross-sectional associations, so it is unknown if the load causes the pain or the pain changes the walking.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Cognitive-motor dual-task training improves dynamic stability during straight and curved gait in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdding cognitive-motor dual-task training to conventional therapy improved dynamic balance and head stability during walking in people with multiple sclerosis. These gains persisted two months after training ended, offering a concrete way to enhance gait safety beyond standard exercises.
• PTOTPilot2024Text messaging intervention for fatigue self-management in people with stroke, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis: A pilot study.Disability and health journal25 of 27 people with MS, stroke, or spinal cord injury completed a 12-week fatigue text program, with 93% retention and 85.17% text response among completers. This is feasibility, not proof fatigue improved.
• PTOTOther2024Do patients with neurological disorders benefit from immersive virtual reality? A scoping review on the emerging use of the computer-assisted rehabilitation environment.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineSeven studies on immersive VR show it safely improves gait, balance, and some cognitive skills in neurological patients. However, evidence on emotional symptoms is conflicting, and high costs mean this technology is not yet ready for routine clinical use.
• OTOther2024Disability and COVID-19: Challenges, testing, vaccination, and postponement and avoidance of medical care among minoritized communities.Disability and health journalAdults with a disability were more likely to postpone or avoid medical care and report food, housing, medication, and transportation problems. Disability was not linked to lower COVID vaccination or testing, so access barriers did not show up as vaccine hesitancy.
• PTOTPilot2024Ankle proprioception in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with cerebral palsy needed larger ankle position differences to detect movement than peers. However, their consistency in judging positions was normal. This suggests the deficit is a shift in where they perceive neutral, not random error in sensing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Effects of an inpatient rehabilitation programme on functional capacity, quality of life and psychological distress in patients with post covid-19 condition: an observational study.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with post-COVID-19 condition walked 100.8 m further on average after a 3-week inpatient rehabilitation programme. Those with weaker breathing muscles who received respiratory muscle training improved more than those who did not, but the programme included many other therapies, so the specific effect of the breathing training cannot be separated from the rest.
• PTOTCohort2023The Evolution of Hand Proprioceptive and Motor Impairments in the Sub-Acute Phase After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairHand proprioception and motor function often recover independently after stroke. Only 42% of patients showed matched changes in both. Patients with poor hand use at baseline had less proprioceptive recovery. Assess and treat these systems separately rather than assuming one drives the other.
• PTOTOther2023Lesion-specific cortical activation following sensory stimulation in patients with subacute stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFocal vibration of the biceps activated the sensorimotor cortex in patients with subcortical stroke but not in those with cortical or mixed stroke. Basal ganglia hemorrhage showed stronger activation than ischemia. This suggests vibration effects depend heavily on lesion location.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Immersive virtual reality gameplay detects visuospatial atypicality, including unilateral spatial neglect, following brain injury: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationImmersive VR gameplay was feasible for acute inpatient brain injury, with minimal motion sickness and acceptable usability. It detected visuospatial atypicality in 61.5% of patients versus 22.2% of controls, identifying attention problems missed by standard pen-and-paper neglect tests.
• PTOTCohort2023Duration of rehabilitation therapy to achieve a minimal clinically important difference in mobility, walking endurance and patient-reported physical health: an observational study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineExercise duration needed for clinically important improvement ranged from 8 to 88 hours. Neurological patients with MS or Parkinson's required significantly more time than those recovering from knee or hip surgery. Patient-reported health improved with less exercise than mobility or walking endurance measures.
• PTOTOther2023Upper extremity asymmetry due to nerve injuries or central neurologic conditions: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationUpper extremity asymmetry is mostly assessed in stroke and cerebral palsy using clinical kinematics and strength tests. Real-world data collection is increasing but remains limited. Most studies rely on low-level evidence, with few randomized trials or cohort studies.