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 141 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Trajectory research in children with an autism diagnosis: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThis review maps how autism research tracks child development over time. It found inconsistent methods and sample sizes, with many studies failing to report results by child age. This makes it hard to compare findings or determine what typical developmental paths look like for specific outcomes.
• OTSLPQualitative2024A Qualitative Examination of the Impact of COVID-19 on Transition Services for Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersVirtual meetings increased caregiver and provider attendance but reduced student participation. Community-based vocational training stopped, hindering independent living skills. Outside agency connections improved virtually, yet transition programming was deprioritized during the pandemic.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Demystifying the Digital Divide: Disparities in Telerehabilitation Readiness Among Older Adults in the United States.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationTwo in three older rehabilitation users were ready for video visits. Readiness was significantly lower among Black, Hispanic, financially strained, and rural patients. Lack of device ownership or tech skills, not sensory loss, was the main barrier.
• PTOTRCT2024Synergistic efficacy of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation on central intermittent theta burst stimulation for upper limb function in patients with stroke: a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding peripheral magnetic stimulation to brain stimulation did not improve overall upper limb function more than brain stimulation alone. Both groups improved similarly. Only the combined group showed a significant gain in one grasp subtest, but this difference did not reach statistical significance when comparing the two groups directly.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Community perspectives on the appropriateness and importance of support goals for young autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults, parents and professionals in New Zealand and Australia agreed that supporting the adults around the child, reducing harmful behaviours and improving quality of life were the top priorities for young autistic children. Goals targeting autism characteristics, play and participation were rated lowest priority, with autistic adults finding many of these inappropriate.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Evidence-based recommendations for the rehabilitation and management of the ageing population with spinal cord injury: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMost spinal cord injury guidelines lack specific advice for older adults. The few recommendations that exist are mostly low-quality evidence, leaving major gaps in managing mobility, pain, and social participation for patients ageing with or acquiring SCI.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Longitudinal Analysis of Dysphagia and Factors Related to Postoperative Pneumonia in Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer.DysphagiaAfter esophagectomy, pharyngeal residue and vocal fold immobility worsened, with residue linked to pneumonia. Hyoid movement and vocal fold issues persisted at three months, though all patients returned to a full diet and no aspiration occurred.
• OTPilot2023Effectiveness of knee pad as an additional device for wheelchairs in improving upper-limb dexterity during seated tasks: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy men inserted more pegs and rated tasks easier with knee pads. However, they leaned forward more, not less. This pilot suggests stability aids dexterity, but results cannot be applied to wheelchair users.
• PTOTOther2023Influence of hand dominance, gender, and body mass index on hand grip strength.The South African journal of physiotherapyDominant hands were stronger than non-dominant hands in all groups. Grip strength correlated with height and BMI, but not weight. These norms for Ghanaian students can help set realistic targets for hand rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2023Neurological and vestibular findings in three cases of Multiple Sclerosis.CoDASThree women with MS showed varied vestibular signs. Two had central nystagmus and balance issues; one had altered dynamic balance. All had abnormal vHIT gains. These cases show MS can cause central vestibular dysfunction, but do not prove a treatment works.
• PTOTOther2024Development of a multidimensional military readiness assessment.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA new virtual reality test for injured soldiers measures physical and cognitive readiness together. Four evaluators rated it highly relevant for return-to-duty decisions. It is not yet validated, so do not use it to make clinical judgments.
• PTOTCohort2024The Effect of Prosthetic Limb Sophistication and Amputation Level on Self-reported Mobility and Satisfaction With Mobility.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationProsthesis sophistication affects mobility and satisfaction differently by amputation level. For transtibial amputees, higher sophistication improved satisfaction but not advanced mobility. For transfemoral amputees, higher sophistication improved advanced mobility but not satisfaction.
• PTOTQualitative2024The meaningfulness of exploring one's own limits through interactions and enjoyment in outdoor high-intensity physiotherapy for people with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with MS described the outdoor sessions in a multi-component physiotherapy programme as meaningful. They valued pushing limits with running/walking, detailed exercises, group support, outdoors and tailored physiotherapist interaction.
• PTOTSurvey2024Quantifying active travel among people with disabilities in the US.Disability and health journalOnly 14.55% of adults with disabilities walked or wheeled for travel on the survey day, but those who did averaged more than 40 minutes daily. Active travel was linked to no car, urban density, and prior physical activity.
• PTOTCohort2024Minimal detectable change of gait and balance measures in older neurological patients: estimating the standard error of the measurement from before-after rehabilitation data thanks to the linear mixed-effects models.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationGait speed and total TUG time are reliable enough to track change in older neurological patients. Use a three-repetition protocol: discard the first, average the next two. A real change requires about 15% improvement or decline. Inertial sensor metrics for sit-to-walk and turning were too noisy to be useful.
• OTQualitative2024Support in Daily Living for Young Adults with Neurodevelopmental Conditions in Sweden: A Qualitative Description of Current Practice.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSupport workers described Swedish housing support for young adults as practical help with routines, finances, work and community life. Practice varied widely by municipality. Support workers said continuity, predictable hours and clear plans mattered.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Associations of formal childcare use with health and human capital development for adolescent mothers and their children in South Africa: A cross-sectional study.Child: care, health and developmentIn South Africa, adolescent mothers whose children used formal childcare were more likely to be in school or work, pass a grade, and report positive future goals. Their parenting scores were higher. Children's language, cognitive and motor scores were higher at older ages in childcare.
• PTOTCase Series2024Mechanical loading of bone-anchored implants during functional performance tests in service members with transfemoral limb loss.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn four active service members with bone-anchored leg prostheses, sharp turns and side-steps generated peak implant loads up to 181% higher than straight walking. These transient spikes approach the device's fail-safe release thresholds, highlighting the need for personalized component design.
• PTOTOther2023Differences in the Timed Up and Go Test under different measurement conditions in young healthy adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor young healthy adults, Timed Up and Go times did not change with chair height, armrest use, or testing in a narrow corridor versus a large classroom. This flexibility was not tested in older patients or those with disabilities.
• OTSLPOther2024Factor structure of the VABS-3 Comprehensive Parent/Caregiver form in autistic individuals: Poor fit of three-factor and unidimensional models.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThe VABS-3 parent questionnaire did not support its usual three adaptive behavior areas or a single overall score in autistic people. The scores may not separate communication, daily living, and socialization as intended.
• OTSurvey2024Examining a model of anxiety in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThe proposed anxiety model was not supported across both groups together. In autistic adults, an adjusted model linked uncertainty, emotion regulation and sensory differences to anxiety. In non-autistic adults, uncertainty and difficulty identifying emotions linked to anxiety, but emotion regulation did not.
• OTOther2024Re-examining the association between the age of learning one is autistic and adult outcomes.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceLearning you are autistic at a younger age does not predict better quality of life or well-being in adulthood. Once other factors are considered, the age of diagnosis or learning is irrelevant. Autistic traits and co-occurring mental health conditions are the strong predictors.
• OTSLPOther2024Parent perspectives on treatment: A mixed methods analysis of PEERS® for Preschoolers.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of autistic preschoolers who completed PEERS® for Preschoolers reported changed parenting and described their children's peer interactions as improved. Preparing children and environments before social opportunities was the strategy most linked to better long-term parent and child outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2024Identifying changes in dynamic plantar pressure associated with radiological knee osteoarthritis based on machine learning and wearable devices.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable insoles and machine learning correctly distinguished between people with radiological knee osteoarthritis and those without in 82.61% of cases. The key differences were lower peak pressures in the big toe and heel, and greater variability in foot balance during walking.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Is There an Association Between Injury History and Lower Extremity Joint Injury During Canada Games Competition?International journal of sports physical therapyAthletes with a history of neck or back injuries were six times more likely to sustain ankle or knee injuries during competition. A history of joint or bone trauma was associated with patellofemoral injuries, and ligament or tendon issues linked to hip injuries.
• PTOTOther2024A portable system to measure knee extensor spasticity after spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTwo wireless sensors on the thigh and shin measured knee spasticity as accurately as lab cameras in people with spinal cord injury. The portable system matched clinical scores and held steady across days, offering a cheaper, simpler way to track changes over time.
• PTOTRCT2024Can cerebellar theta-burst stimulation improve balance function and gait in stroke patients? A randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdding cerebellar theta-burst stimulation to physical therapy improved balance, walking speed, and daily living independence more than physical therapy alone in stroke patients. Both groups improved, but the stimulation group showed greater gains in key walking metrics like stride length and velocity.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Motor problems in autism: Co-occurrence or feature?Developmental medicine and child neurologyMotor problems affect most autistic individuals but are documented in only 1% clinically. Screening tools like the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire can identify these issues early, prompting assessment and intervention before age 5.
• PTOTRCT2024Unsupervised robot-assisted rehabilitation after stroke: feasibility, effect on therapy dose, and user experience.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTwelve of thirteen subacute stroke inpatients used a hand robot unsupervised without safety issues. They averaged 77% attendance and added about 6 hours of therapy over two weeks. Usability scores did not drop when the therapist left the room.
• OTOther2024Uncovering employment outcomes for autistic university graduates in the United Kingdom: An analysis of population data.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic UK graduates were half as likely to be in full-time work as non-disabled peers and earned less. They were over-represented in Creative Arts and Computer Science, but under-represented in STEM jobs, challenging the assumption that autism naturally aligns with technical careers.
• PTOTCohort2024Visual-Motor Integration Deficits in 3q29 Deletion Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIndividuals with 3q29 deletion syndrome showed severe visual-motor integration deficits, averaging 69.3 on a scale where 100 is typical. Motor coordination was the most impaired area. These difficulties were independent of intellectual disability, ADHD, anxiety, or executive function.
• OTOther2024Characterizing Attention Resource Capacity in Autism: A Multiple Object Tracking Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOn a standard attention test, autistic and neurotypical participants did not differ. Tracking speed was lower in autistic participants, but that difference disappeared after fluid reasoning IQ was included.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Assessments and interventions on body functions, structures and activity to prepare adults with acute spinal cord injury or disease for participation: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesEarly therapy after spinal cord injury is safe and assessments like SCIM III and ISNCSCI are usable in the acute phase. However, evidence for specific interventions to improve muscle or hand function is weak, with trials showing no significant benefit over control groups.
• OTOther2024Disability Inclusion in Corporate Supplier Diversity Initiatives.Journal of occupational rehabilitationDisability inclusion in corporate supplier diversity programs has grown significantly. Among the top 100 companies, 89% now include disability, compared to 15% in 2005. However, spending on disability-owned businesses remains under 1% of diverse supplier budgets.
• PTOTOther2024Does an alternative breast support garment provide symptomatic relief for larger breasted women with chronic non-specific back pain?Prosthetics and orthotics internationalAn alternative breast support garment significantly reduced pain prevalence and stiffness in larger-breasted women with back pain, outperforming a standard professionally fitted bra. While both improved fit, the alternative design provided greater symptomatic relief and functional improvement after four weeks of wear.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2024A Practice Pathway for the Treatment of Night Wakings in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNight wakings in children with autism spectrum disorder are common, but treatment evidence is mostly low or very low. Melatonin and parent or behavioral approaches had mixed results, so start with screening and checking medical contributors rather than assuming a single fix.
• PTOTOther2024Clinical effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation and barriers to completion in patients of low socioeconomic status in rural areas: A mixed-methods study.Clinical rehabilitationOnly 11.2% of eligible rural separations completed cardiac rehabilitation. Completion was associated with lower risk of death or cardiovascular admission, while commencing without completing was not associated with lower risk.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Dropping the mask: It takes two.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described socialising authentically as a shared effort. It required non-autistic partners to accept different communication styles, avoid demanding eye contact, and ask for clarification instead of assuming rudeness. These interactions reduced anxiety and exhaustion compared to masking.
• PTOTOther2024Impaired proprioception and magnified scaling of proprioceptive error responses in chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with chronic stroke have significantly impaired proprioception across a wide range of movement speeds and distances. They consistently misjudge slow movements as fast and fast movements as slow, and struggle most with short, slow tasks like brushing teeth.
• OTCohort2024Patterns of equipment use for autistic children in multi-sensory environments: Time spent with sensory equipment varies by sensory profile and intellectual ability.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn a 5-minute free play session, autistic children with higher non-verbal IQ and sensory sensitivity spent more time on touch-responsive boards, while those with lower IQ and high sensory seeking preferred the passive bubble tube. Equipment choice varied by profile.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Alignment of Canada's COVID-19 policy response with barriers and facilitators for coping reported by caregivers of youth with developmental delays, disorders, and disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCaregivers of youth with disabilities described pandemic coping barriers including lost routines, aggression, service gaps, and school disruption. Facilitators included stable routines, virtual therapy access, outdoor space, financial supports, and family/community help. Policies often failed to address these specific needs.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023A scoping review of prehabilitation interventions for arthroplasty patients.The South African journal of physiotherapyPrehabilitation before joint replacement showed mixed results across 34 studies. Most included strengthening exercises, but few targeted balance, proprioception, or foot pain, which are common issues in patients waiting for surgery.
• PTOTRCT2024Differences in Daily Activity Performance Between Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility and Home Among Stroke Survivors.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke survivors scored significantly worse on daily activities in their own homes than in the rehab facility, even just days before discharge. This gap suggests that facility-based tests overestimate real-world independence, particularly for stairs and bathing.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Positive and challenging themes in parents' perceptions of their relationships with their child with autism: Comparison between mothers and fathers.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of boys with autism described their relationships using more positive themes than challenging ones, regardless of their child's symptom severity or cognitive level. Mothers emphasized love and difficulties, while fathers highlighted joint play and guidance. Fathers alone reported limited time with the child.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Sensitive Identification of Asymmetries and Neuromuscular Deficits in Lower Limb Function in Early Multiple Sclerosis.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople with early MS and normal manual muscle strength showed reduced single-leg jump performance compared to healthy controls. This objective test detected subclinical asymmetries and deficits that standard clinical exams missed.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Implementing neurodevelopmental follow-up care for children with congenital heart disease: A scoping review with evidence mapping.Developmental medicine and child neurologyStructured neurodevelopmental follow-up for children with congenital heart disease is highly variable and often absent outside the USA. Where programmes exist, they improve access to therapies and parental satisfaction, but there is no evidence they improve long-term developmental outcomes.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Using mobile health technology to assess childhood autism in low-resource community settings in India: An innovation to address the detection gap.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceA tablet app assessing social, sensory and motor tasks identified 78% of children correctly across autism, intellectual disability and typical development groups. It was feasible for non-specialists in homes, but did not separate autism from intellectual disability.
• OTSystematic Review2024A systematic review of instrumented assessments for upper limb function in cerebral palsy: current limitations and future directions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationInstrumented upper limb assessments in cerebral palsy are mostly research tools, not ready guides for therapy. Studies rarely linked movement data to clinical outcomes and often missed children with bilateral or severe impairment.
• PTOTCohort2024Gait speed at the acute phase predicted health-related quality of life at 3 and 12 months after stroke: a prospective cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors who walked faster in the acute phase reported better health-related quality of life at 3 and 12 months. Those in the fastest group had significantly higher quality-of-life scores and fewer problems with mobility, self-care, and daily activities than those in the slowest group.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Bachmann-Bupp syndrome and treatment.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn the first patient with Bachmann-Bupp syndrome, DFMO treatment led to hair regrowth within two months. By four months, the child began sitting unassisted and self-feeding. Follicular cysts stopped recurring in two treated patients. This is single-case evidence, not proof of efficacy.