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 139 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Evidence-based position paper on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) professional practice on telerehabilitation. The European PRM position (UEMS PRM Section).European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTelerehabilitation outcomes often match in-person care for stroke, COPD, and knee pain, but evidence is low-certainty for shoulder pain and low vision. Remote exams miss manual findings, so use it when in-person is unavailable, not as a full replacement.
• PTOTOther2024The influence of prosthetic suspension on gait and cortical modulations is persons with a transfemoral amputation: socket-suspended versus bone-anchored prosthesis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBone-anchored and socket-suspended prostheses produced identical gait patterns in highly active users. However, EEG data suggest socket users rely more on intact-limb monitoring and control to maintain stability. This implies the fixed bone anchor may reduce cognitive load during walking, even if gait looks the same.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Revision of the brief international classification of functioning, disability and health core set for multiple sclerosis: a study of the comprehensive icf core set for multiple sclerosis with participants referred for work ability assessment.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn people with MS referred for work ability assessment, memory and temperament impairments were common but missed by the current Brief ICF Core Set. The study suggests replacing higher-level cognitive and emotional categories with memory and temperament to better capture disability.
• OTOther2024Evaluating the Experiences of Occupational Therapists and Children Using the SensoGrip Pressure-Sensitive Pen in a Handwriting Intervention: Multimethods Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOccupational therapists and children accepted the SensoGrip pressure-sensitive pen, with 80% of children giving it the highest satisfaction rating. Therapists found it useful for visualizing handwriting pressure and guiding therapy, though it is a prototype with some technical faults.
• PTOTSLPProtocol2023Content validation of the decannulation protocol for adult tracheostomized patients.CoDASExperts validated a decannulation protocol for adults, removing the blue-dye test and oral diet as prerequisites. They agreed that patients with dysphagia can still be decannulated if they can protect their airways, shifting focus to secretion management and clinical assessment.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Cognitive-motor dual-task interference in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and prodromal neurodegeneration: A scoping review.Gait & postureWalking while doing a mental task causes bigger drops in gait and thinking speed for people with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's than for healthy adults. This interference worsens as disease progresses, but no single test predicts it reliably yet.
• PTOTCohort2023Using the Standing and Walking Assessment Tool at Discharge Predicts Community Outdoor Walking Capacity in Persons With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.Physical therapyDischarge SWAT stage 3B or higher predicted outdoor walking one year later. Stage 4 predicted independent walking without aids. Lower stages predicted non-walking. Use these cutoffs to guide equipment prescription and discharge planning for spinal cord injury patients.
• OTCohort2024Dynamics of Perceived Social Isolation, Secondary Conditions, and Daily Activity Patterns Among Individuals With Stroke: A Network Analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment Data.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAdults after stroke who reported feeling worthless were more likely to report perceived social isolation later. Isolation also happened alongside being home and alone. In one model, isolation was followed by stress, then leaving home.
• PTOTRCT2024Evaluation of treatment parameters for focused-extracorporeal shock wave therapy in knee osteoarthritis patients with bone marrow lesions: a pilot study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn this small pilot, knee osteoarthritis pain and function improved most with 3000 shocks over 6 sessions, while 4-session groups showed worsening or inconclusive trends. However, bone marrow lesions, bone density, and inflammatory blood markers did not change. This suggests symptom relief without altering underlying joint pathology.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Prevalence and trajectories of neuropsychological post-COVID-19 symptoms in initially hospitalized patients.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost hospitalized COVID-19 survivors had persistent cognitive complaints or severe fatigue at 9 and 15 months. About one in three developed new symptoms later. These symptoms did not significantly change in prevalence over time, though depression scores rose slightly while remaining below clinical thresholds.
• PTOTCohort2024Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity and Screen-Time in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Seven-Country Observational Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAcross 1,165 youth with autism, better parent-rated neighborhood environment, social network, and home support were linked to more physical activity; bedroom media and lower neighborhood trust were linked to more screen-time. These are associations, not proof of cause.
• OTSLPCohort2023Associations between executive function and attention abilities and language and social communication skills in young autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn young autistic children, weaker working memory and planning were linked to poorer social communication, and poorer inhibition and shifting were linked to more social pragmatic problems. Stronger expressive vocabulary was linked to better sustained attention during a video.
• PTOTOther2023Uneven surface and cognitive dual-task independently affect gait quality in older adults.Gait & postureUneven ground and reciting alternate letters each made older adults' walking slower, less rhythmic and less smooth. Combining the two did not produce extra gait change beyond the effects of each alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Sleep Problems, Circadian Rhythms, and Their Relation to Behavioral Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children with autism, objective measures showed that poor sleep and unstable daily rhythms were linked to higher anxiety, aggression, and self-injury. Treating sleep fragmentation may help manage behavioral difficulties, though this study cannot prove cause.
• PTOTCohort2024Predicting Delayed In-Hospital Recovery of Physical Function After Total Knee Arthroplasty.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA prediction model for delayed recovery after knee replacement performed poorly. Preoperative walking aid use and mobility scores were associated with recovery time, but the model could not reliably distinguish high-risk patients from low-risk patients.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Resilience and adolescence-transition in youth with developmental disabilities and their families: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesResilience in teens with neurodevelopmental disabilities relies on emotional regulation, social competence, and family support. Current interventions target these but miss key factors like self-advocacy and caregiver well-being. Online and group formats may improve accessibility.
• PTOTOther2024A Prospective Intervention Study With 6 Months Follow-up of the Effect of Reablement in Home Dwelling Elderly: Patient-reported and Observed Outcomes.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHome-dwelling older adults receiving a reablement package of exercises, goal-based ADL practice, supportive communication, and nurse coordination had better function, health rating, and fewer home-care hours at 6 months than usual care.
• OTSLPOther2024What Are You Worried About? Content and Extent of Worry in Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults reported significantly higher levels of worry than non-autistic adults across all domains. Interviews revealed this worry often centers on social missteps and uncertainty, impacting daily functioning and independence in ways standard questionnaires may miss.
• PTOTOther2024Five Functional Classes Identified Among Patients Hospitalized for Pneumonia Characterized by Activity Limitations With Mobility and Self-Care Tasks.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPneumonia patients split into five activity patterns. The globally impaired group had the lowest estimated chance of going home without services (.47), and the independent group had the highest (.89).
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Biomarkers of tic severity in children with Tourette syndrome: Motor cortex inhibition measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTourette syndrome children did not show different brain inhibition compared to typically developing peers. However, within the Tourette group, worse tics linked to lower inhibition in the motor cortex. This suggests motor cortex activity reflects tic severity, not just the diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Centroid position estimating method for observational analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceWatching the upper body move opposite to the lower body helps estimate center of mass without lab equipment. Clinicians can visually judge joint stress by observing if the trunk is anterior or posterior relative to the hips and knees.
• OTCase Report2024Musician's dystonia in a percussionist - clinical video analysis and botulinum toxin intervention: a case report.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAfter shockwave therapy, glucocorticoid injection, and medication trials did not relieve a percussionist's involuntary finger movements, a 10-unit botulinum toxin injection was followed by subjective 60% better conga playing at 4 weeks. Benefit started to fade after 6 weeks. This is a single case, not proof.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Autism community priorities in diverse low-resource settings: A country-wide scoping exercise in India.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIndian autism families ranked self-help skills as the top priority for training and speech and language therapy as the most needed intervention. Mental health counselling was second, but parents sought it for themselves rather than their children.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Characterizing Sensory Phenotypes of Subgroups with a Known Genetic Etiology Pertaining to Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers reported that children with specific genetic causes of autism or intellectual disability all showed poor sensory registration, meaning they needed intense stimuli to respond. Seeking behaviors varied by gene, but these sensory profiles did not reliably distinguish genetic subgroups from idiopathic autism in clinical practice.
• OTSurvey2024Factors associated with fatigue among people who have returned to work after stroke: an exploratory study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAmong people back at work one year after stroke, 43% reported fatigue. The strongest links were to perceived memory and thinking problems, high job demands and low control at work. This survey shows associations, not causes.
• PTOTRCT2024360° immersive virtual reality-based mirror therapy for upper extremity function and satisfaction among stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineWith conventional physical therapy, 360° immersive mirror therapy improved upper limb movement more than traditional mirror therapy. Traditional mirror therapy did not improve the upper limb motor score more than conventional physical therapy alone. Patients liked the 360° version more.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Feasibility of a Self-directed Upper Extremity Training Program to Promote Actual Arm Use for Individuals Living in the Community With Chronic Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFifteen people with chronic stroke completed a self-directed home arm training program. While retention and safety were high, only a third met the daily practice duration target. Participants reported improved arm use and satisfaction, but the study was not designed to prove the training caused these changes.
• PTOTOther2024Accuracy of Video-Based Gait Analysis Using Pose Estimation During Treadmill Walking Versus Overground Walking in Persons After Stroke.Physical therapySagittal video of overground walking tracked hip and knee motion more accurately than treadmill video. Treadmill video matched overground for step length and time but struggled with ankle angles and asymmetry. Use sagittal overground views for kinematics if space allows.
• PTOTCase Report2023Kinematic effects of lateral wedged insoles in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceLateral wedged insoles did not restore normal knee rotation in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis. Instead of correcting the abnormal movement, the insoles increased external rotation of the tibia, potentially placing more strain on the knee joint during standing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Factors associated with improvement in impaired consciousness during the acute phase of cerebral infarction: a prospective observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceYounger age, no worsening, and doing standing practice were linked to consciousness improvement in acute stroke. However, patients who started with milder impairment showed less improvement, likely because they had little room to get better. This is an association, not proof that standing practice causes recovery.
• PTOTOther2023Individual endogenous pain modulation profiles within a multidimensional context of people with cervicogenic headache - A retrospective exploratory study.Musculoskeletal science & practiceMost people with cervicogenic headache showed altered pain sensitivity or psychosocial factors, not just neck mechanics. Half had widespread pressure sensitivity. This suggests a one-size-fits-all manual therapy approach may miss the mark for many patients.
• OTSurvey2023Positive and negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on families of young children in rural Colombia and implications for child outcome research.Child: care, health and developmentFamilies of 70 preschool children in rural Colombia reported many pandemic losses, yet most rated overall family impact as positive. Caregivers described improved family closeness, while income loss and distress remained common.
• OTSLPCohort2024Using Life Course Theory to Explore the Association Between Autistic Traits, Child, Family, and School Factors and the Successful Transition to Secondary School.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigher autistic traits were associated with better quality of life, mental health, and school belonging in 51 students transitioning to secondary school. Female students and school refusal were linked to poorer outcomes.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Concurrent validity of walking speed measured by a wearable sensor and a stopwatch during the 10-meter walk test in individuals with stroke.Gait & postureWearable sensors measured walking speeds about 0.07 m/s slower than a stopwatch in people with stroke. You cannot use these two methods interchangeably. If you switch tools mid-rehab, the drop in speed might be measurement error, not the patient getting worse.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Hospitalization and Mortality for Insured Patients in the United States with COVID-19 with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with autism had higher odds of dying from COVID-19 than those without, even after accounting for other health conditions. The link to hospitalization disappeared once other chronic illnesses were considered, suggesting comorbidities drive hospital risk more than autism itself.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Cognitive assessment to optimize prediction of functional outcome in subacute hip fracture: a short-term prospective study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn hip fracture patients who passed a basic cognitive screen, a more detailed MoCA test predicted discharge independence. Patients with a seven-point lower MoCA score had about half the odds of reaching a successful rehabilitation outcome. Adding other cognitive tests did not improve this prediction.
• OTSurvey2024Financial Capability and Financial Well-Being Challenges and Vulnerabilities of Adults Living With Acquired Brain Injury: A Pilot Survey.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAdults with acquired brain injury described needing help with money tasks, and some felt financially exploited. Close others reported stress with financial forms. This pilot survey describes challenges, not tested interventions.
• OTCohort2023Feeding difficulties in patients with Phenylketonuria.CoDASCaregivers reported similar rates of feeding difficulties in children with and without PKU. However, children with PKU showed significantly less self-feeding autonomy, were breastfed less often, and relied on bottles more frequently than healthy controls.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023The Effects of Substance Misuse on Auditory and Vestibular Function: A Systematic Review.Ear and hearingSubstance misuse, particularly opioids and alcohol, is linked to hearing and balance problems in case reports. Opioid use often causes permanent, profound hearing loss. Alcohol misuse is associated with high-frequency hearing loss and central balance deficits. Evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.
• PTOTOther2023Does the painDETECT questionnaire identify impaired conditioned pain modulation in people with musculoskeletal pain? - a diagnostic accuracy study.Archives of physiotherapyPainDETECT scores below 19 correctly ruled out impaired pain modulation in most people. However, the questionnaire failed to identify those with the impairment, showing low sensitivity and accuracy. It screens for neuropathic symptoms but does not detect pain modulation deficits.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Video games and disability-a risk and benefit analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesVideo games can be used with people with disabilities for rehab, learning, pain, and exercise, but risks like overuse and violent content mean clear goals, careful content choice, and supervision are needed.
• PTOTRCT2024A wearable system for visual cueing gait rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease: a randomized non-inferiority trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineWearable knee-pad visual cues were not inferior to floor stripes for gait in Parkinson's. Both groups improved similarly on the primary outcome. The device was rated easy and motivating by most patients, supporting its use when floor cues are impractical.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Opioid prescription patterns among commercially insured children with and without cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with cerebral palsy were prescribed opioids more often and for more days than peers without CP. Median supply was 7 to 8 days annually. This pattern suggests acute pain management rather than chronic use, though overall exposure rates remain higher in the CP group.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Prevalence of dual sensory impairment in veterans: a rapid systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesReported prevalence of dual sensory impairment in veterans varied widely from 5.0% to 34.6%. This inconsistency stems from different definitions and measurement methods, not necessarily true differences in risk.
• OTOther2024Assessing Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours in Online-Sampled Autistic and Non-autistic Individuals: Factor Structure of the Repetitive Behaviours Questionnaire for Adults (RBQ-2A).Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe RBQ-2A seems to measure four related areas of restricted and repetitive behaviours in autistic and non-autistic adults: repetitive motor behaviours, interest in sensations and objects, insistence on sameness, and restricted interests. Do not score items 1 and 9.
• OTSurvey2024Caregivers' Role in In-Home Video Telehealth: National Survey of Occupational Therapy Practitioners.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesVHA OT practitioners said caregivers often join in-home video visits, mainly to run the camera and microphone, help patients hear or understand, and provide history. Poor internet and caregiver burden can block the visit.
• PTOTPilot2024Non-immersive virtual reality based treatment for children with unilateral cerebral palsy: Preliminary results.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineSix children with unilateral cerebral palsy accepted a non-immersive virtual reality upper-limb programme; some found it boring or tiring. Motor scores and daily hand use improved, but no control group means the VR treatment cannot be shown to cause the gains.
• PTOTOther2023Longitudinal Invariance Testing Of The Knee Injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score For Joint Replacement Scale (KOOS-JR).International journal of sports physical therapyThe KOOS-JR is valid for comparing knee health between groups, but its stiffness item causes measurement bias over time. Use the six-item version (KOOS-JR-6) to track patient recovery longitudinally. The full seven-item scale should not be used to measure change.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Community-based physical activity interventions for adolescents and adults with complex cerebral palsy: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCommunity exercise is safe for people with severe cerebral palsy. Across 17 studies, serious injuries were rare and dropouts low. Most pain or fatigue was minor and resolved quickly, suggesting therapists can confidently prescribe activity in community settings.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Association between reasons for employment and burnout tendencies among rehabilitation technology professionals.Journal of physical therapy scienceRehabilitation therapists who worked mainly for money reported significantly higher burnout than those working for satisfaction. This association held even after accounting for income, self-esteem, and social support. However, as a cross-sectional survey, it cannot prove that financial motivation causes burnout.