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 140 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2024Extended reality to assess post-stroke manual dexterity: contrasts between the classic box and block test, immersive virtual reality with controllers, with hand-tracking, and mixed-reality tests.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual and mixed-reality box-and-block tests correlate strongly with the traditional test in stroke survivors, but score lower. Hand-tracking and mixed-reality versions were rated as more usable and similar in difficulty to the classic test than the controller-based version.
• PTOTCohort2024Two-year course of walking adaptability in persons living with late effects of polio.Journal of rehabilitation medicineWalking adaptability did not change over two years in people with late effects of polio who had good balance. This suggests the condition progresses slowly, so short-term assessments may miss decline. Clinicians should expect stability in these specific skills over brief intervals.
• OTCohort2024Trajectories of fatigue and related outcomes following mild acquired brain injury: a multivariate latent class growth analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAfter mild brain injury, 53% had mild, decreasing fatigue and no other problems. 29% had persistent fatigue, cognitive complaints and low participation satisfaction. 11% had persistent fatigue with mood and cognitive complaints. 7% had improving fatigue with mood problems.
• OTPilot2024Implications of EMG channel count: enhancing pattern recognition online prosthetic testing.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIncreasing EMG channels from 8 to 16 did not significantly improve virtual prosthesis failure rates, but virtual movements became faster and more direct. Only two transradial users completed physical testing.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Conservative non-pharmacological treatments for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies in women treated for breast cancer: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNon-drug treatments for chemotherapy nerve damage in breast cancer survivors showed mixed evidence. Some trials of acupuncture, exercise, cryotherapy and yoga reported improvements, but other trials did not show improvement, and the review could not support a standard recommendation.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Using Pivotal Response Treatment to Improve Language Functions of Autistic Children in Special Schools: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdding Pivotal Response Treatment motivational strategies to standard language therapy helped autistic children with intellectual disabilities improve requesting, labeling, repeating, and listening. These gains held up three weeks later and appeared in new settings, unlike standard therapy alone.
• PTOTCohort2024Are tactile function and body awareness of the foot related to motor outcomes in children with upper motor neuron lesions?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAssessing how well children with upper motor neuron lesions can locate touch on a foot diagram, rather than on their own foot, correlated with their walking ability and motor control. Simple touch threshold tests did not relate to motor outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2024Exploring the Major Barriers to Physical Activity in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: Observational Longitudinal Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesLess active people with MS reported needing more family and friend support than active peers. Higher depression and fatigue scores linked to more perceived barriers. However, barrier scores did not predict whether someone hit standard step or activity thresholds.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Comparison between the socio-educational profiles of children with verbal and non-verbal Autism Spectrum Disorder.CoDASChildren with verbal autism scored higher than those with non-verbal autism across all seven developmental areas, including imitation, perception, motor skills, and cognition. Age differences between the groups likely influenced these results, so the gap may not be due to language alone.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Reliability and Concurrent Validity of a Markerless, Single Camera, Portable 3D Motion Capture System for Assessment of Glenohumeral Mobility.International journal of sports physical therapyA single-camera 3D motion capture system showed good agreement with goniometers for shoulder flexion and external rotation, but poor reliability for abduction and internal rotation. It is not yet a consistent replacement for standard tools.
• OTCase-Control2023Neuropsychiatric phenotypes in children with Noonan syndrome.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents reported more attention, executive function, social, and aggression difficulties in children with Noonan syndrome. ADHD and oppositional symptoms were common, but objective cognitive differences did not persist after accounting for IQ.
• OTOther2024Item Understanding of Common Quality of Life Measures for use with Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults understood and consistently answered the five-item Satisfaction With Life Scale. The WHO quality-of-life measures were harder, especially sex life, medical treatment, transport, and two-week time references. Simplified disability versions helped, but social items still caused confusion.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024School participation among young people with craniofacial microsomia and other childhood-onset disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFor children with craniofacial microsomia or other disabilities, school environmental support and fewer physical problems linked to better participation. Caregiver strategies amplified the link between support and attendance, but not involvement. Behavioral problems showed no direct effect.
• PTOTPilot2024Neck muscle spasticity in patients with disorder of consciousness: a pilot study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNeck spasticity is very common in patients with severe brain injury and disorders of consciousness, affecting 91.7% of those studied. In patients who are unresponsive, severe neck stiffness predicted worse neurological and functional recovery after six months of rehabilitation.
• OTSLPCase-Control2024Acoustic and Semantic Processing of Auditory Scenes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism detected changes in complex sounds and understood speech in noise as well as peers matched for IQ, but worse than age-matched peers. Both groups used meaning and sound cues similarly, suggesting autism alone does not impair auditory scene processing.
• PTOTCohort2024Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE-Schroth) can reduce the risk for progression during early growth in curves below 25°: prospective control study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdolescents with mild scoliosis who did specific exercises five times a week had a 12.9% progression rate and 9.8% brace need, compared to 74.1% progression and 67.2% brace need in controls. Compliance was key: fully compliant patients had only 7.7% progression.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Development of core sets for deafblindness: an international expert survey on functioning and disability of individuals living with deafblindness using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineExperts named communication, daily routine, mobility, mental and sensory functions, and support and relationships as key functioning areas for people living with deafblindness. This maps what to assess, not proof that treatment works.
• OTCohort2024Visual-motor integration in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: application of the computer-aided measure of visual-motor integration.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with unilateral cerebral palsy showed poorer visual-motor integration when copying shapes. A computer-aided measure detected subtle errors in square copying that standard pass/fail tests missed. This suggests square copying is a key early indicator of visual-motor difficulties in this group.
• OTSLPCohort2024Developmental Skills Moderate the Association Between Core Autism Features and Adaptive Behaviour in Early Childhood.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe link between social autism features and adaptive behaviour was not clearly changed by developmental skills. Developmental skills were more strongly linked to adaptive behaviour than social features were. Social features were linked only when developmental quotient was 48.33 or lower.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Injury, Training, Biomechanical, and Physiological Profiles of Professional Breakdancers.International journal of sports physical therapyElite breakers reported knee, elbow and shoulder injuries. They trained about 24 hours weekly, mostly breaking, with little strength work. Shoulder strength exceeded overhead sport norms, but hip and jump tests showed no clear injury links. Data is pilot-only, not clinical guidance.
• PTOTCohort2024Prefrontal Cortex Activity During Gait in People With Persistent Symptoms After Concussion.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairAdults with persistent concussion symptoms showed greater prefrontal cortex activity during walking than healthy controls. This increased brain activity correlated with worse symptom severity and specific gait variability measures, suggesting the brain is working harder to maintain automatic walking patterns.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2024The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVisual skills training improved global cognition and daily living tasks, but showed only small effects on executive functions. The evidence is inconsistent and often confounded by other therapies, so do not assume visual training alone drives these gains.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Repetitive temporal interference stimulation improves jump performance but not the postural stability in young healthy males: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRepetitive temporal interference stimulation improved vertical jump height in healthy young men but did not improve dynamic postural stability. The stimulation appeared to enhance transient explosive power without affecting fatigue resistance or balance control.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Exploring the sexual experiences and challenges of individuals with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineMost adults with cerebral palsy in this survey had sexual experience, but positioning difficulty and pain were common barriers. Participants reported that healthcare providers rarely discuss sexuality, despite a strong desire for body-positive guidance and practical solutions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Occupational performance one to five years after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost patients rated as having a good recovery after a brain haemorrhage still reported difficulty with daily activities one to five years later. These problems persisted regardless of initial severity scores, affecting leisure and work most heavily.
• PTOTRCT2024Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation-Enhanced Physical Therapist Intervention for Functional Posterior Shoulder Instability (Type B1): A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyAdding motion-triggered electrical stimulation to physical therapy improved shoulder instability scores more than physical therapy alone. The stimulation group reached 64% versus 51% for standard care, a difference large enough to change patient-reported function and satisfaction.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Treatment of balance with Computerised Dynamic Posturography therapy in chronic hemiplegic patients.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdding computerized balance training to standard therapy did not improve overall balance scores in stroke patients with a history of falls. Only one specific sensory test score improved. Standard therapy alone produced similar changes, so the computer's added value is unproven.
• OTRCT2024Parent, child, and family outcomes following Acceptance And Commitment Therapy for parents of autistic children: A randomized controlled trial.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceA three-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy workshop reduced parent depression and family distress. These gains were maintained at four-month follow-up. However, the workshop did not improve child mental health or overall family functioning.
• PTOTCase Report2024Use of an upright power wheelchair in spinal cord injury: a case series.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFour people with spinal cord injuries used a standing wheelchair for 12 weeks. It was safe and users felt stable and comfortable standing, but transferring was difficult. Bowel, bladder, and pain outcomes varied widely between individuals, with no consistent improvement.
• PTOTCohort2024Improved Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores after myoelectric arm orthosis use at home in chronic stroke: A retrospective study.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalIn 19 adults with chronic stroke, using a myoelectric arm orthosis at home was associated with a mean DASH score improvement of 18.07 points. Most participants reported better function, but this uncontrolled study cannot confirm the device caused the change.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024A scoping review of autism research conducted in Central Asia: Knowledge gaps and research priorities.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceOnly 11 autism studies exist from Central Asia, mostly from Kazakhstan. There is no evidence on adult outcomes or surveillance systems. Clinicians cannot rely on local data for diagnosis or treatment, as most research focuses on parent experiences or biology rather than clinical interventions.
• PTOTOther2024Deep learning model for classifying shoulder pain rehabilitation exercises using IMU sensor.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA deep learning model correctly identified 11 different shoulder exercises from wrist sensor data in patients with shoulder pain. It achieved 92.5% accuracy on new data, though it occasionally confused similar band exercises. This suggests automated monitoring is possible, but clinical validation is still needed.
• PTOTCohort2024Can minimum toe clearance predict community-based trips by older adults?Gait & postureLaboratory measurements of minimum toe clearance did not predict how often older adults tripped in the community once fall history was accounted for. A prior history of falls was a much stronger predictor, suggesting standard gait metrics may miss real-world trip risk.
• PTOTPilot2024A usability study on mobile EMG-guided wrist extension training in subacute stroke patients-MyoGuide.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSeven subacute stroke survivors rated a mobile EMG wrist-training app as good to excellent for usability. They liked the game and feedback, but most could not put the armband on or navigate the tablet alone, so home use needs better design and support.
• PTOTCohort2024Functional outcomes following surgery for spastic hip adductor muscles in ambulatory and non-ambulatory adults.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSeventeen of 22 adults who had obturator nerve surgery for spastic hip adductor muscles were responders for their main patient-defined goal at follow-up. Objective walking results varied, and no control group means the surgery cannot be proven to cause the gains.
• OTCohort2024Concussion symptom presentation and clinical recovery among pediatric athletes: comparing concussions sustained during school and summer months.Brain injuryChildren and teens with sport-related concussion seen in summer reported fewer total and cognitive symptoms than those seen during school year. Time to symptom resolution did not differ, but summer injuries were cleared for return to sport sooner.
• OTSLPOther2024Caregivers' Assessment of the Sensory Processing Patterns Exhibited by Children with Autism in the Gulf Region.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver ratings showed children with mild or high-functioning autism had widespread sensory differences, especially touch, body position, movement, hearing and oral input. Visual processing was typical. Older age was linked to slightly fewer symptoms.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Clinical outcomes associated with speech, language and swallowing difficulties post-stroke.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsDysphagia after stroke was linked to greater disability, and swallowing difficulty with aspiration was linked to poorer oral intake in 68 South African adults. Links with referral timing and aspiration pneumonia risk factors were not clear.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Prevalence and trends for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with cerebral palsy: A birds-eye view.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with cerebral palsy live in urban or regional areas, but one in five are in remote locations. Birth prevalence declined recently, though not significantly, while preterm rates remained stable. This data supports culturally safe, accessible services in both city and remote settings.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Barriers and facilitators for increased accessibility to quality rehabilitation services in low- and middle- income countries: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation access in low- and middle-income countries was limited most often by cost, facilities and workforce. Across 42 included papers, insurance, government or NGO funding, community-based programs and training were reported facilitators.
• PTOTOther2024Graph modeling of relational structures among functioning variables with low back pain: an exploratory analysis based on International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineA network analysis of low back pain patients identified lifting and carrying objects and temperament functions as central hubs. Dysfunction in these areas correlates strongly with issues in emotional stability, joint stability, and self-care, suggesting these are key targets for comprehensive management.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Validating the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales-Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist (CSBS-DP ITC) Beyond Infancy in the CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe CSBS-DP ITC accurately distinguishes children with CDKL5 deficiency disorder by communication and motor abilities, but scores cluster at the bottom. Use the total score, not the three subscales, and expect limited sensitivity to small changes.
• OTRCT2024Virtual Interview Training Among BIPOC Autistic Transition-Age Youth: A Secondary Analysis of an Initial Effectiveness RCT.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBIPOC autistic youth using a virtual interview simulator alongside standard transition services showed improved interview skills and lower anxiety. They were more likely to get competitive jobs (27.3%) than those in standard services alone (0%). The sample was very small.
• OTSystematic Review2024Mental Health Professionals' Experiences of Adapting Mental Health Interventions for Autistic Adults: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersClinicians adapting mental health interventions for autistic adults described highly individualised work: concrete language, slower pacing, special interests, and involving others, but limited training, time, and rigid services often made it harder.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Leisure, Employment, Community Participation, and Quality of Life in Primary Caregivers of Autistic Children: A Qualitative Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of autistic school-aged children described their quality of life as limited by the constant need to manage therapies, funding, and school crises. They identified employment and respite as key to reclaiming time, but navigating services often added to their workload.
• PTOTCase Series2024Utilizing combination intrathecal baclofen and analgesic medication to manage spasticity and pain in patients with pediatric-onset disability: Case series.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAfter bupivacaine, morphine, or clonidine were added to intrathecal baclofen in patients with severe pediatric-onset spasticity and pain, families reported improvements in spasticity, pain, function, and quality of life. This is a case series, not evidence that the combination works.
• PTOTCohort2024Quadriceps femoris muscle ultrasound in sarcoidosis: an observational case-control study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineWomen with stable sarcoidosis had thinner thigh muscles than healthy controls, but their hand grip strength was normal. Fatigue and lower leg function were linked, suggesting early muscle loss may not show up in standard strength tests.
• PTOTCohort2023Grip strength as a predictor for home discharge in convalescent rehabilitation patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceHigher grip strength at discharge was associated with discharge to home or serviced senior housing. Low grip strength may help flag patients who are less likely to be discharged home.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Improvement of frailty prevalence: difference in factors affecting frailty prevalence among 75 year-old individuals between 2006 and 2019.Journal of physical therapy scienceFrailty in 75-year-olds dropped from 24.3% in 2006 to 15.2% in 2019. This improvement was driven by better mobility, daily activities, and cognition. However, choking and dry mouth became more common, signaling new oral health risks in this population.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024"I'm pulling through because of you": injured workers' perspective of workplace factors supporting return to work under the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board scheme.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesInjured workers who sustained return to work described pushing through pain and fatigue because they had no choice. They valued supervisors who checked in, trusted their pace, and modified duties, while feeling abandoned by managers who ignored their struggles.