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 145 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTOther2023Rapid Reviews to Support Practice: A Guide for Professional Organization Practice Networks.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieNo patient outcomes or completed review results are reported. This paper is a guide for occupational therapy networks to run rapid reviews.
• OTSLPPilot2023A Unique Clinical Tool for the Evaluation of Oral Feeding Skills in Infants.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieIn 16 premature infants, adding a nipple monitoring device to bottle feeds did not change feed duration, intake volume, or rate of transfer compared with feeds without it, and no adverse events occurred.
• OTSLPCohort2023Distinct neurocognitive profiles and clinical phenotypes associated with copy number variation at the 22q11.2 locus.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchPeople with a 22q11.2 deletion made more cognitive errors but responded faster than those with a duplication. The duplication group was slower across all tasks. Speed, not accuracy, best distinguished the two genetic groups and correlated with social functioning in the duplication carriers.
• PTOTCohort2024Factors associated with independent ambulation at 3 months after putaminal hemorrhage: an observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceThree months after putaminal hemorrhage, hip movement ability, cognitive score, and ventricular rupture predicted independent walking. A hemiplegia grade of 6 or higher was the strongest predictor, with 100% specificity for ambulation.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Social motor synchrony in autism spectrum conditions: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic people showed lower movement synchrony than non-autistic pairs in most tasks. Differences were largest when tasks required intentional coordination or unfamiliar partners. Synchrony increased over time in rhythmic therapy when the same therapist and child worked together.
• PTOTRCT2024Diaphragmatic strengthening exercises for patients with post COVID-19 condition after mild-to-moderate acute COVID-19 infection: a randomized controlled study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding 8 weeks of incentive spirometry or diaphragmatic breathing to standard care improved breathlessness in post-COVID patients with diaphragm dysfunction. Incentive spirometry yielded better walking distance and diaphragm thickness than breathing exercises.
• OTQualitative2024MeTooOT: Sexual Harassment Experiences of Occupational Therapy Academics and Recommendations for Systemic Change.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthFemale occupational therapy academics described sexual harassment as escalating from blurred boundaries to severe personal and professional penalties, while perpetrators faced minimal consequences. Participants cited fear of retaliation and a lack of supportive reporting systems as primary reasons for silence.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Slower pace in early walking onset is related to communication, motor skills, and adaptive function in autistic toddlers.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic toddlers walked slower than peers even when matched for age and ability. Slower walking speed was linked to lower scores in communication, daily living skills, and motor function. Clinicians should assess gait quality, not just the age walking started, as delayed onset is not required for motor differences.
• OTPilot2024Enabling People With Intellectual and Sensory Disabilities to Trigger a Tablet's Delivery of Task Instructions by Walking to the Tablet: Proof-of-Concept Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies6 adults with intellectual and sensory disabilities performed near or above 11.5 of 12 correct steps per session with a combined camera-triggered tablet system using pictures, verbal phrases, positive feedback, praise words and videos.
• OTSurvey2023An Exploratory Study: Undergraduates' Perspectives on how Threshold Concepts Influence Professional Identity.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieFinal-year OT students valued client-centred and occupation-based practice but felt unsure about clinical reasoning and theory. Placements were key to linking these concepts to professional identity, though students struggled to apply them when workplace culture differed.
• OTOther2023Revisiting the Do-Live-Well Health Promotion Framework: A Citation Content Analysis.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieOnly 17 published works applied the Do-Live-Well framework between 2017 and 2022. Most used it as a theoretical lens for qualitative research rather than a clinical tool. Adoption remains limited primarily to occupational therapy circles in Canada and the United States.
• OTCase-Control2023Mediated Online Awareness Among Adolescents With and Without ADHD: Using the Occupational Performance Experience Analysis (OPEA).OTJR : occupation, participation and healthAdolescents with ADHD gave shorter, less coherent descriptions of recent tasks than peers without ADHD. A brief guided questioning session improved the time-ordering and coherence of their descriptions, but did not change the main actions they reported.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Feasibility of Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Veterans Managing Chronic Pain.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieVeterans with chronic pain who completed a 12-week mindfulness program reported less catastrophic thinking about their pain, but their actual pain intensity scores did not significantly decrease. High dropout rates and the lack of a control group mean these results are preliminary and cannot confirm the program works.
• OTSurvey2023Profiling the Research Activities of Canadian Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science Faculty Members.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieCanadian occupational therapy faculty reported studying participation, adults, and urban settings, mostly qualitatively. Federal and provincial grants were the largest funding sources. This maps research activities, not patient outcomes.
• OTProtocol2023Efficacy and Feasibility of the CO-OP Approach in Parkinson's Disease: RCT Study Protocol.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieNo participant outcomes are reported, so there is nothing here to change practice on.
• OTOther2023Exploring the multidimensional nature of repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBI) in autism: neuroanatomical correlates and clinical implications.Molecular autismRepetitive behaviors in autism fell into three clusters: motor/sensory, rigidity/ordering, and OCD-like symptoms. Brain-volume links did not hold up after the authors' checks, so they do not yet guide therapy.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024A profile of spatial abilities in people with Down syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with Down syndrome showed uneven spatial abilities compared to ability-matched children. They struggled significantly with understanding horizontality and verticality, and with mentally rotating objects. However, their skills in recognizing static shapes and taking visual perspectives were similar to their matched peers.
• PTOTCohort2024Relationship between the floating toe and the center-of-pressure position in an upright posture among students.Journal of physical therapy scienceChildren with floating toes stood with their weight shifted back toward their heels. A higher center-of-pressure position was linked to better toe contact. This suggests a backward stance may contribute to the condition, though the study only shows an association.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Correlation between the sacral tilt measured with an inclinometer and the pelvic tilt as a tool for assessing the pelvic position.Journal of physical therapy scienceA quick inclinometer reading on the sacrum correlates with pelvic tilt in young athletes. This offers a cheap, fast alternative to complex equipment for checking pelvic position, though it measures skin surface, not bone.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Evaluating a new supported employment internship programme for autistic young adults without intellectual disability.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic interns and employers valued a supported internship for building confidence and breaking down workplace barriers. However, mismatches in skills and expectations occurred, and parents questioned if the high level of support reflected real-world work conditions.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Opportunities for play in paediatric healthcare environments: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPlay spaces in hospitals help children cope and connect, but current designs often ignore adolescents and children with disabilities. Therapists should advocate for play opportunities in general areas like hallways and bedrooms, not just designated rooms.
• OTSystematic Review2024Occupational Therapists in Patient Navigation: A Scoping Review of the Literature.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPatient navigation programs rarely specify occupational therapy expertise. Across ten studies, navigation roles focused on coordination and advocacy, leaving the core OT competency of assessing occupational barriers largely absent from current job descriptions.
• OTOther2023Clinical measurement of functional dart thrower's motion in patients with unilateral wrist conditions undergoing nonoperative or postoperative hand therapy.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsPatients with wrist conditions show large losses in functional dart thrower's motion compared to their unaffected side. This loss was greater in postoperative patients and correlated slightly with functional impairment, supporting the use of this specific goniometric measure in clinical hand therapy assessments.
• PTOTCohort2023Functional Ability, Psychological Factors, and Rehabilitation Outcomes After Elective Total Hip Replacement.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieOlder adults in rehab after hip replacement improved their function but did not regain their pre-surgery level. Higher positive affect predicted shorter hospital stays, but did not predict better functional ability at discharge.
• OTSurvey2023Management of Chronic Pain by Occupational Therapist: A Description of Practice Profile.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieMost Quebec occupational therapists treating chronic pain work in private practice or secondary care, rarely in family medicine groups or tertiary settings. They frequently use individual interventions like energy conservation and task adaptation, but seldom use group therapy.
• OTOther2023Technology for Adults with Intellectual Disability: Secondary Analysis of a Scoping Review.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieAdults with intellectual disability used many technologies in occupational therapy literature, including prompts, schedules, smartphones, communication supports, and mobility aids. This maps what has been described, not evidence that any technology improves outcomes.
• PTOTSurvey2023Patient satisfaction with telehealth vs in-person hand therapy: A retrospective review of results of an online satisfaction survey.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsThe study did not find a difference in satisfaction between telehealth and in-person hand therapy. Patients rated both groups highly, with scores from 4.7 to 5.0 at initial evaluations and 4.8 to 5.0 at follow-ups on a 5-star scale.
• OTProtocol2024Occupational Performance Coaching for Children With Neurodisability: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieNo results are reported. There is no finding here that can change clinical practice.
• PTOTCohort2024Comparison of difficulty in stair ascent and descent after total knee replacement.Journal of physical therapy scienceThree months after total knee replacement, patients found descending stairs significantly harder than ascending. More used handrails and step-by-step patterns when going down, and took longer to descend. Rehabilitation should prioritize stair descent skills.
• OTSurvey2024Participation of Children With Autism During COVID-19: The Role of Maternal Participation.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthDuring COVID-19, school-aged children with autism participated more at home than in the community, and mothers wanted change in 71% of activities. Mothers' own health-promoting activities were linked to greater child involvement at home, not community.
• OTCase-Control2024Risk factors and clinical correlates of sensory dysfunction in preschool children with and without autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchA provider sensory diagnosis was reported in 23.7% of preschool children with autism, 8.6% with other developmental delay, and 0.8% of population controls. Maternal anxiety during pregnancy and neonatal jaundice were associated with sensory diagnosis.
• OTSurvey2024Effect of Physical Activity on Association between COVID-19 and Personal Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Occupational therapy in health careAmong older adults, a reported decrease in walking or exercise was more strongly linked to worse daily life status than quarantine or hospitalization. Occupational therapists may ask about activity loss.
• OTQualitative2024Evidence-Based Practice: Implementing REIS Findings in South African Aged Care Facilities.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthFacility managers identified staff development and understanding resident needs as key priorities for implementing environmental assessments. They reported that existing biomedical routines and financial constraints hindered person-centered care, and that the assessment tool did not account for facility budgets.
• PTOTOther2024Automatic gait events detection with inertial measurement units: healthy subjects and moderate to severe impaired patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAn algorithm using foot-worn sensors accurately detected gait events in healthy people and in patients with multiple sclerosis or post-stroke foot deformity. It matched the gold standard without needing extra equipment, offering a practical tool for clinical gait analysis.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Enablers and barriers to implementing an interdisciplinary experiential learning program for university students in a Canadian rehabilitation centre.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStakeholders identified key barriers to implementing interdisciplinary student programs in rehab centres: clinician workload, logistical complexity, and the need for dedicated coordination. They suggested embedding these programs early in curricula and appointing a champion to manage the transition between university and hospital settings.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Survival and predictive factors of clinical outcome in patients with severe acquired brain injury.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients with severe brain injury who had tracheostomies survived as long as those without, but remained heavily disabled. Younger age predicted better survival and walking ability, yet most patients could not walk or eat by mouth after discharge.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Enriching the lives of children with acquired brain injury and their caregivers: experiences from peer mentorship sports camps.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesChildren with brain injury and their caregivers described a sports camp as a way to manage fatigue, build confidence, and reduce isolation. Caregivers reported becoming less overprotective and more hopeful after meeting peer mentors who shared similar experiences.
• PTOTOther2023Experiences of Exergaming for Upper Extremity Exercises in People With Systemic Sclerosis.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPeople with systemic sclerosis found an upper-extremity exergaming device highly usable and enjoyable. They reported temporary pain and fatigue in nearly half the group. The study examined user experience, not whether the device improved hand function or adherence to home exercise.
• PTOTCohort2024Muscle Activations of the Upper Extremity and Core during Elevation and Rotational Movements in Overhead Throwing Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyInjured overhead athletes showed lower upper trapezius activity during rotational arm movements compared to healthy peers. While mean muscle activation was similar during elevation tasks, injured athletes relied more on the supraspinatus and infraspinatus, suggesting compensatory stability mechanisms.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Pulmonary rehabilitation in follow-up and inpatient rehabilitation for Long COVID: twelve months of follow-up.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineLong COVID patients improved during 21-day pulmonary rehabilitation, but fatigue and mental health problems worsened again by follow-up. Among those employed at baseline, 86.9% of inpatient rehabilitation and 88.6% of follow-up rehabilitation patients had returned to work at 12 months.
• OTQualitative2024Preferences for Participation Measurement Among Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer: A Qualitative Content Analysis.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPatients preferred short screening tools like PROMIS for busy clinic visits but found them too vague to explain their daily struggles. Detailed measures like CPI and PM-3D4D were liked for deeper reflection but felt too long for routine care. Community engagement questions were often irrelevant.
• OTSurvey2024Investigation of the Consumer Perspective on Leisure in Mental Health Inpatient Units.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPeople admitted to locked mental health inpatient units valued leisure highly, but rated their ability to engage lower. They named motivation, sedation, staff time, and limited activities as barriers, and asked for simple social or independent activities.
• OTOther2024Bimanual coordination and spinal cord neuromodulation: how neural substrates of bimanual movements are altered by transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTranscutaneous cervical spinal cord stimulation did not improve most reaching tasks in 12 healthy adults, but it lowered movement error during a bimanual common-goal task. Brain activity changes were inconsistent, and the study did not test people with spinal cord injury or stroke.
• PTOTCohort2024Babycare Assistance Needs of Parents With Physical Disabilities: An Observational Study.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthParents with physical disabilities needed verbal prompts more than hands-on help to bathe babies and find care information. Planning steps and interpreting baby cues were the main bottlenecks, even when adaptive equipment was available.
• PTOTSurvey2024Orthotist involvement in early gait rehabilitation after stroke: A cross-sectional survey of orthotists in the United Kingdom.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalMost orthotists felt they should be routinely involved in early stroke gait rehabilitation without a specific referral, but only 5% reported being involved that way. They were confident in prescribing ankle-foot orthoses but less confident advising on broader therapy.
• OTOther2024Occupation in the Anthropocene and Ethical Relationality.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieNo patients, outcomes, or tested interventions are reported. This theoretical paper examines occupation, the Anthropocene, interspecies justice, Indigenous worldviews, and ethical relationality, so it offers no practice-changing finding.
• OTPilot2023"Kickstart to Recovery": An Irish Football Program for Mental Health Service Users.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthThe main recovery and football meaning scores did not show a clear change. Some energy scores moved positively and new participants' illness-management scores changed, but this pilot was too small to confirm.
• OTSLPCohort2024Impact of the Great Recession on Adults With Autism and Their Mothers.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesThe Great Recession caused an immediate spike in problem behaviors for autistic adults and depressive symptoms for their mothers. While employment and physical health remained stable, the recession halted the gradual improvement in behavior that had been occurring prior to 2007.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Co-design of a walking activity intervention for stroke survivors.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStroke survivors rarely walk just for exercise. They need walking linked to valued social goals, supported by objective step feedback and carer involvement. A new co-design toolbox provides these elements, but efficacy is untested.
• PTOTSurvey2024Needs Assessment of Self-Management for Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury/Disease.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPeople with chronic spinal cord injury ranked virtual meetings and group discussions as the most important features for a self-management program. Psychological health and coping were rated the top content priority, far ahead of respiratory or autonomic issues.