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 135 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTPilot2023A Pilot Feasibility Trial of an Upper Extremity Assistive System.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSome participants with wrist weakness after neurologic injury showed meaningful improvement in their own OT goals while using a custom powered hand sleeve and occupational therapy. The sleeve and therapy were given together, so their separate effects cannot be separated.
• PTOTRCT2023Effectiveness of ultrasound guided interfascial hydrodissection with the use of saline anesthetic solution for myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius: a single blind randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesUltrasound-guided interfascial hydrodissection and dry needling both reduced myofascial pain in the upper trapezius. Hydrodissection provided significantly greater pain relief immediately and up to 30 minutes after treatment. However, there was no difference between the two groups in pain scores or quality of life from one week to six months.
• PTOTCohort2023Preliminary Findings on Cognitive Dysfunction in University-Educated Patients After Mild COVID-19 Disease.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationUniversity-educated patients with persistent symptoms after mild COVID-19 showed significant memory and processing speed deficits compared to their estimated pre-illness functioning. These cognitive issues persisted an average of 18 months post-infection, with half scoring below expected norms on verbal memory tests.
• PTOTOther2023Hip joint and muscle loading for persons with bilateral transfemoral/through-knee amputations: biomechanical differences between full-length articulated and foreshortened non-articulated prostheses.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFull-length prostheses allow faster walking but increase hip joint forces and muscle effort. Short stubby prostheses reduce peak hip loads but require more strides per distance. Neither design is clearly safer for long-term joint health in this small group.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Older Adults' Engagement and Mood During Robot-Assisted Group Activities in Nursing Homes: Development and Observational Pilot Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn a pilot study, older adults in nursing homes showed high engagement and positive mood during robot-led group activities. Staff noted the robot allowed them more time for individual care, but this does not prove the robot improves health outcomes.
• PTOTRCT2024Effects of anodal tDCS on resting state eeg power and motor function in acute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding anodal tDCS to physical therapy improved lower-limb function in acute stroke patients with mild impairment, but did not improve upper-limb function or change brain activity compared to sham. The benefit was seen immediately and lasted one month.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Mechanisms of Post-Stroke Fatigue: A Follow-Up From the Third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPost-stroke fatigue likely has distinct subtypes with different biological drivers, meaning a single treatment rarely works for everyone. Inflammation, dopamine pathways, and sensory network dysfunction are key suspects, but current evidence is too limited to recommend specific interventions beyond general exercise and careful assessment.
• PTOTRCT2024Effects of an assist-as-needed equipped Tenodesis-Induced-Grip Exoskeleton Robot (TIGER) on upper limb function in patients with chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAssist-as-needed TIGER robot training plus task-specific motor training improved Fugl-Meyer scores from baseline in 16 chronic stroke patients, but the original constant-assistance TIGER showed greater gains, so the new mode was not superior.
• PTOTPilot2024Optimizing exoskeleton assistance to improve walking speed and energy economy for older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTen healthy older adults walked faster and used less energy with personalized ankle exoskeleton assistance. The speed increase met clinical thresholds for meaningful change. However, participants required extensive training to adapt, and the device was tethered to a lab computer.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024A review of combined functional neuroimaging and motion capture for motor rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining motion capture with brain imaging shows promise for assessing movement, but the field is in its infancy. Most studies are small, use healthy participants, and lack clinical validation, so there is no evidence yet that this changes patient outcomes.
• PTOTOther2023Prediction of Discharge Destination After Inpatient Rehabilitation for Stroke Using Mobility and Self-Care Assessment in Section GG of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility - Patient Assessment Instrument.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFor stroke patients leaving inpatient rehab, having a caregiver at home was the strongest predictor of going home rather than to a skilled nursing facility. Admission Section GG scores above 33.5 predicted discharge to home with homecare, and scores above 36.5 predicted home with outpatient therapy.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Whole Body Vibration Therapy for Children with Disabilities: A Survey of Potential Risks and Benefits.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationWhole body vibration machines may pose risks to children with disabilities. Many studies used intensities exceeding safety limits, and long-term effects are unknown. Clinicians should avoid unsupervised use and prioritize low-intensity protocols with strict safety monitoring.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Effect of Post-stroke Depression on Functional Outcomes of Patients With Stroke in the Rehabilitation Ward: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStroke patients with depression had lower functional independence scores at discharge and stayed in rehabilitation longer. However, their total improvement in independence during the stay was similar to patients without depression. Depression slowed recovery speed but did not stop progress.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Managing Fatigue: Experiences From a 6-week Course for Adults With Cerebral Palsy.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEight adults with cerebral palsy found a fatigue course helpful for understanding their condition and connecting with peers. However, they struggled to implement the strategies because the homework was confusing and the information overload increased their fatigue.
• PTOTQualitative2023Ultrasound image guided injection of botulinum toxin for the management of spasticity: A Delphi study to develop recommendations for a scope of practice, competency, and governance framework.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationExperts agreed that ultrasound guidance for botulinum toxin injections in spasticity requires specific competencies in needle visualization and infection control, not full diagnostic sonography. They recommend a tightly defined scope of practice to facilitate safe, accessible treatment delivery.
• PTOTCohort2023Relationship of Age And Mobility Levels During Physical Rehabilitation With Clinical Outcomes in Critical Illness.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOlder ICU patients gained mobility more slowly across the first three rehab sessions, with a rate of 0.3 versus 0.6 points per session. Higher initial mobility and faster early improvement were linked to shorter ICU stays and greater likelihood of discharge home.
• PTOTOther2023Range of Motion Limitations in Middle-aged Adults With Cerebral Palsy.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMiddle-aged adults with cerebral palsy have widespread joint mobility limitations, especially in the hips and shoulders. These restrictions are more severe in those with higher GMFCS levels and dyskinetic CP, but do not worsen with age in this group.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Developing and Evaluating Data Infrastructure and Implementation Tools to Support Cardiometabolic Disease Indicator Data Collection.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationMost inpatients did not recall being taught about aerobic exercise or having their lipids checked, and fewer than half of outpatients met activity guidelines. An AI tool extracted survey data with less than 1% error, but this quality improvement project reports no evidence that the interventions changed outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Change characteristics of health-related quality of life and its association with post-stroke fatigue at four-year follow-up.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost stroke survivors had stable high function at four-year follow-up, but fatigue clustered in trajectories with poorer or worsening quality of life. Some improved, and some deteriorated, between the first and fourth year.
• PTOTOther2024Social participation, resilience, and coping tendency in a sample of stroke survivors: a multi-centre cross-sectional study in China.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors with higher resilience reported better social participation. For those with low resilience, using positive coping strategies was linked to less frequent participation, not more. Assess resilience before targeting coping skills.
• PTOTQualitative2023Providing Insights into the Challenges of Implementing Activity-Based Therapy in Canada: A Comparative Analysis Using Focus Group Interviews with Key Interest Groups.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationClinicians, patients, and administrators in Canada identified six barriers to activity-based therapy for spinal cord injury: gaps in training, lack of standardization, unclear timing, difficulty achieving high dosage, funding constraints, and poor measurement tools.
• PTOTCase Series2023Combinatorial Effects of Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation and Task-Specific Training to Enhance Hand Motor Output after Paralysis.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationCombining hand grip training with transcutaneous spinal stimulation improved grip strength in six people with spinal cord injury or stroke. Neither training nor stimulation alone worked well. This preliminary evidence suggests the combination is necessary for gains.
• PTOTSLPOther2023What Is the Pathway to the Best Model of Care for Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury? Evidence-Based Guidance.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationA new care pathway for traumatic spinal cord injury maps the full journey from acute trauma to lifelong community living. It prioritizes team-based navigation, equity, and peer support, giving clinicians a structured model to coordinate transitions and reduce service gaps.
• PTOTPilot2023Using Risk Scores to Estimate Lower Extremity Fragility Fracture Risk among Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Preliminary Model.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationA preliminary risk score using five clinical factors estimates 5-year lower extremity fracture risk in chronic spinal cord injury. Prior fracture and duration of injury drive the score. The model is not validated for clinical use due to small sample size.
• PTOTQualitative2023Designing an Egocentric Video-Based Dashboard to Report Hand Performance Measures for Outpatient Rehabilitation of Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationTherapists prioritized seeing video clips and movement quality to judge home hand use, while physicians preferred numerical trends. All seven clinicians wanted summarized data to save appointment time and requested patient diaries to understand barriers like pain or frustration.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Persistent Dysphonia in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationAt least three months after discharge, 25% of ICU patients and 10.3% of ward patients had persistent voice problems. In ICU survivors, voice trouble strongly tracked with swallowing difficulty. Most ICU cases showed vocal cord weakness or paralysis, while ward cases mostly showed cord thinning.
• PTOTPilot2024Decoding hand and wrist movement intention from chronic stroke survivors with hemiparesis using a user-friendly, wearable EMG-based neural interface.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA wearable EMG sleeve decoded 12 hand and wrist movements in seven chronic stroke survivors with 77.1% accuracy. Decoding worked best when visible movement was present. For severe impairments, binary intent detection achieved 86.7% accuracy, though no physical therapy outcome was tested.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Use of the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour model (COM-B) to Understand Interventions to Support Physical Activity Behaviour in People with Stroke: An Overview of Reviews.Clinical rehabilitationInterventions combining at least two COM-B elements (capability, opportunity, motivation) improved physical activity after stroke, while single-element interventions often failed. Most evidence involved adults with mild stroke in community settings, leaving gaps for those with severe disability.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Which information derived from the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised provides the most reliable prediction of clinical diagnosis and recovery of consciousness? A comparative study using machine learning techniques.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFor patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness, the detailed scores from each subscale of the CRS-R predicted recovery of consciousness and diagnosis at discharge more reliably than the overall CRS-R total score or the initial clinical diagnosis alone. Use subscale profiles for prognostication.
• PTOTSurvey2024Early mobilization of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage: a national survey of french intensive care units.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEarly mobilization for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage varies widely across French intensive care units. Ninety percent of units lack a written protocol, and many prohibit out-of-bed movement due to unstandardized safety concerns rather than evidence.
• PTOTRCT2024Mirror visual feedback as therapeutic modality in unilateral upper extremity complex regional pain syndrome type I: randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineSix weeks of daily mirror therapy reduced pain and improved hand function and quality of life in adults with complex regional pain syndrome type I. The effect was linked to the number of days the exercises were performed, and gains persisted at 30-day follow-up.
• PTOTOther2024Rasch analysis of the forgotten joint score in patients with total hip arthroplasty.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Italian Forgotten Joint Score works well for hip replacement patients, but only if you group the questions into five specific sub-scores. This adjustment fixes measurement errors, allowing you to accurately track how aware patients are of their new joint.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Co-designing solutions to enhance access and engagement in pediatric telerehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFamilies and therapists proposed a pre-session phone call to build rapport and clarify expectations before virtual visits. They suggested summarizing next steps at the end of sessions and tailoring follow-up information to avoid overwhelming parents with generic resources.
• PTOTSLPOther2023A commentary on the healthcare transition policy landscape for youth with disabilities or chronic health conditions, the need for an inclusive and equitable approach, and recommendations for change in Canada.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesYouth with disabilities and clinicians recommend flexible age limits for transfer to adult care, rather than a fixed cutoff. They advise starting transition planning years early and including social and educational supports, not just medical ones.
• PTOTOther2023Simplified functioning assessment for low back pain: ICF-based item response theory modelling.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineA shortened Chinese low back pain questionnaire can score functioning as no problem or problem and rank activities by difficulty, helping PTs and OTs choose rehabilitation targets; it has not been tested for improving outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Utility of Structured Oculomotor, Balance, and Exercise Testing in Civilian Adults With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationEye tracking and exercise tests found physical deficits in most adults with mild brain injury, even when patients reported few symptoms. These objective measures reveal problems that questionnaires miss, suggesting clinicians should not rely on patient reports alone to guide treatment.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Systematization of rehabilitation interventions for neuro-oncological patients using international classification of health interventions: a scoping review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBrain tumour rehabilitation papers named 47 interventions, but broad labels such as physiotherapy and speech therapy were too general to code. Ask which specific tasks and targets were used, because the review did not show whether any intervention improves function.
• OTCohort2024Profiles of executive functioning following traumatic brain injury and stroke using the assessment of participation and executive functions: combined cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe A-PEX assessment identified worse executive functioning in traumatic brain injury patients compared to stroke patients during inpatient rehabilitation. Standard tests failed to detect these differences. The A-PEX also tracked patient progress over one month, offering a more sensitive view of daily participation deficits.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Rehabilitation with intensive attention training early after acquired brain injury promotes better long-term status on health-related quality of life, daily activities, work ability and return to work.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients starting intensive attention training within 4 months of brain injury had better long-term quality of life, work ability, and return-to-work rates than those starting later. The specific type of training made little difference overall, though early process-based training showed minor advantages.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Criteria and Indicators for Centers of Clinical Excellence in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation: A Global Consensus Facilitated by ISRRA.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSeven consensus criteria for stroke rehabilitation centers were agreed, led by outstanding rehabilitation, then research culture, patient partnership, knowledge exchange, leadership, education, and equitable access.
• OTSLPQualitative2023'If I don't Do It, I'm Out of Rhythm and I Can't Focus As Well': Positive and Negative Adult Interpretations of Therapies Aimed at 'Fixing' Their Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours in Childhood.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFour autistic adults described childhood therapies aimed at stopping harmless stimming as distressing and isolating. They reported that stopping these behaviours disrupted their focus and emotional regulation. Positive outcomes came from supportive relationships and accepting their own needs, not from having their behaviours fixed.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Understanding and Supporting Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Primary School Classroom: Perspectives of Children with ADHD and their Teachers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with ADHD often cannot explain their own diagnosis, describing it only as trouble concentrating. Teachers knew the symptoms but missed the cognitive reasons behind them. Both groups relied on visual aids and movement, yet children hid fidgeting strategies from staff.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Evidence-based position paper on physical and rehabilitation medicine professional practice for persons with COVID-19, including post COVID-19 condition: the European PRM position (UEMS PRM Section).European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTherapists should join interdisciplinary teams led by PRM physicians for all COVID-19 and post-COVID patients with functional limits. Care requires early, tailored interventions like swallowing and breathing training, with follow-up for at least three months in children and twelve months in adults.
• OTSLPOther2023Sex as a Moderator Between Parent Ratings of Executive Dysfunction and Social Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn girls with autism, higher parent-reported executive difficulty was linked to more social and communication problems. In boys, that link was not seen. Clinicians assessing girls may need to consider executive functioning alongside social communication.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Outcomes in critically ill patients after diaphragmatic stimulation on ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineDiaphragm stimulation improved muscle strength measures like maximum inspiratory pressure, but did not shorten ventilator time or reduce death rates. The evidence is weak and inconsistent, so it cannot yet be recommended as a standard treatment for preventing ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Effects of Intersectionality Along the Pathway to Diagnosis for Autistic Children With and Without Co-occurring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Nationally-Representative Sample.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBlack non-Hispanic children received ASD diagnoses 10 months later than White non-Hispanic children. Co-occurring depression delayed diagnosis by 13.5 months, while behavioral problems sped it up by 18 months. Wait times averaged two years regardless of whether ADHD was also present.
• OTOther2024A multi-perspective study of Perceived Inclusive Education for students with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTeachers rated inclusive practices significantly higher than students and parents did. Students reported the lowest scores for preparation for unstructured social situations and early communication of schedule changes, while parents rated staff knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders as low.
• PTOTRCT2024Inpatient multimodal rehabilitation and the role of pain intensity and mental distress on return-to-work: causal mediation analyses of a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineInpatient multimodal rehabilitation nearly doubled the likelihood of sustainable return-to-work compared with outpatient care. This benefit occurred regardless of whether pain, anxiety, or depression improved. Reducing symptoms at the end of treatment was not necessary for patients to return to work.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Upper limb intention tremor assessment: opportunities and challenges in wearable technology.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors and smartphone tasks can quantify upper limb tremor, but intention tremor remains hard to measure accurately. Current tools often fail to separate the tremor from the voluntary movement, requiring new algorithms and tasks designed specifically for goal-directed actions.
• PTOTOther2024Biopsychosocial rehabilitation in the working population with chronic low back pain: a concept analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA biopsychosocial rehabilitation programme for working adults with chronic low back pain requires 11 key components. These include therapeutic exercise, psychological support, education, personalization, self-management, participation, follow-up, practice standards, goal-setting, social support, and dietary advice.