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 147 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2024Social interaction links active musical rhythm engagement and expressive communication in autistic toddlers.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic toddlers showed lower active engagement with music than nonautistic peers. In autistic children, higher child music engagement linked to better social skills, while parent-child music-making linked to better expressive communication. These relationships were cross-sectional and did not prove that music interventions cause communication gains.
• PTOTCohort2024Health-related quality of life and participation after inpatient rehabilitation of sepsis survivors with severe sequelae: a cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThree months after intensive rehab, 69% of severe sepsis survivors lived at home. They reported moderate quality of life and participation. Younger patients with stronger legs and earlier walking ability had better outcomes.
• OTQualitative2024"But at a certain point, the lights literally went out": A qualitative study exploring midlife women's experiences of health, wellbeing, and functioning in relation to paid work.Work (Reading, Mass.)Midlife women described exhaustion arising when menopausal symptoms collided with inflexible work and unpaid care duties. Many concealed symptoms to avoid stigma. Autonomy helped some manage, but most resorted to individual fixes like reducing hours or changing jobs rather than structural support.
• OTNarrative Review2023Home environment design theories and models related to the occupational performance, participation and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities: A scoping review.The British journal of occupational therapyThis review maps design theories for homes of people with intellectual disabilities. It highlights four principles: offering safety and comfort, providing control to manage stress, supporting skill acquisition, and fostering person-environment reciprocity. These inform assessment and advocacy, but do not prove that specific designs improve outcomes.
• OTQualitative2023Bringing therapy home: Exploring parents' experiences of telehealth for children with developmental coordination disorder.The British journal of occupational therapyParents of children with DCD valued telehealth for its flexibility and the insight it gave them into their child's abilities. However, they disliked taking on the therapist role and missed professional guidance. They wanted telehealth to support, not replace, face-to-face therapy.
• OTQualitative2023'It is never-ending work': Colombian occupational therapists' experiences of working in stroke rehabilitation.The British journal of occupational therapyColombian occupational therapists described stroke care as uneven: insurers and short hospital stays caused delays and lost rehabilitation, while a Bogotá centre of excellence was described as offering early, consistent occupational therapy. They also said colleagues often mistake occupational therapy for childlike play.
• OTPilot2023Cognitive Functional Remote Group intervention for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A feasibility study.The British journal of occupational therapyFive adults with ADHD completed a 16-week remote occupational therapy group. All stayed, rated it helpful, and reported better quality of life scores. This proves the format works for a trial, not that it treats ADHD.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Made to feel different: Families perspectives on external responses to autism and the impacts on family well-being and relationships.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFamilies described being made to feel different by schools and communities. Sensory overload and bullying at school led to home meltdowns and isolation. Parents and adolescents wanted support groups and professionals who understood autism’s impact on the whole family unit.
• PTOTOther2024Validity and reliability of the chronic composite XA, an upper limb motor assessment using Active Range of Motion in patients with chronic stroke.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 28 chronic stroke patients, a quick arm movement score against resistance tracked standard arm tests and stayed stable on retesting. Adding shoulder and forearm measurements improved the score. A gain above 64 degrees was needed to call change real.
• OTCohort2024Relationship between duration of sick leave and time variation of words used in return-to-work programs for depression.Work (Reading, Mass.)In records from a depression return-to-work program, social and emotional words increased over time, and the rise was greater for shorter sick leave. Depression scores did not track sick leave duration.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Brain glutathione and GABA+ levels in autistic children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchBrain scans found no difference in glutathione or GABA levels between autistic and non-autistic children. Higher GABA in motor and thalamus regions correlated with ADHD inattention scores, but this secondary finding was not adjusted for multiple comparisons.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Noninvasive analysis of overactive muscle structure and elasticity after botulinum toxin type A injection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineBotulinum toxin injections temporarily improve muscle elasticity at four weeks, but show no structural change at short-term. At long-term, muscle volume decreases in children with cerebral palsy. This suggests caution regarding reinjection timing in this population.
• PTOTOther2024Musculoskeletal complaints, physical work demands, and functional capacity in individuals with a brachial plexus injury: An exploratory study.Work (Reading, Mass.)For people with one working arm, four video-based ergonomic tools agreed on workload scores, but their risk ratings did not. A self-report questionnaire did not match any tool. Pain in the healthy arm was not linked to workload or measured capacity, so these tools cannot explain who develops pain.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Selective orthotic constraint of lower limb movement during walking reveals new insights into neuromuscular adaptation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesWalking in a rigid ankle orthosis caused immediate and progressive drops in muscle activation on the treated leg, while the untreated leg showed increased activity. This reveals a bilateral neuromuscular adaptation to mechanical constraint in healthy adults, not a treatment effect for patients.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Characterising the social interaction style of autism in young adult males with fragile X syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRYoung men with fragile X syndrome and autism split evenly between active and passive social styles. Crucially, neither style predicted their cognitive, language, or adaptive skills. A passive presentation does not mean lower ability; do not underestimate a patient's capacity based on how they initiate social interaction.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Stroke survivors' long-term participation in paid employment.Work (Reading, Mass.)Half of stroke survivors with pre-stroke jobs still had employment contracts at 30 months, but many were on sick leave. Those who stayed in the workforce reported better quality of life and communication, yet non-work participation remained restricted and less satisfying.
• OTSurvey2024Differences in how women and men in a Swedish population-based sample think about sick leave: A cross-sectional vignette study.Work (Reading, Mass.)Men were more likely than women to say it was not reasonable for a person with mild to moderate depression symptoms to be sick-listed for a couple of weeks. The man or woman named in the written case did not change this judgement.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Nil per os in the management of oropharyngeal dysphagia-exploring the unintended consequences.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNil per os (NPO) does not reliably prevent aspiration pneumonia and causes significant harm, including dehydration, muscle wasting, and reduced quality of life. Clinicians should avoid using NPO as a default intervention and instead weigh the transfer of risk to other body systems.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Associations between Executive Functions and Sensorimotor Performance in Children at Risk for Learning Disabilities.Occupational therapy internationalPoor standing balance and weak sentence repetition were the strongest predictors of being at risk for learning difficulties in preschoolers. These two factors predicted risk better than IQ or age, suggesting clinicians should screen for balance and verbal working memory alongside cognitive tests.
• OTOther2024Adolescent/Young Adult Self-Management and Independence Self-Report Scale: Preliminary psychometric findings.Child: care, health and developmentIn 159 adolescents and adults with spina bifida, preliminary data support the AMIS II SR self-report scale. It separated everyday independence from condition-specific self-management, and participants reported more independence for condition tasks.
• OTOther2024Examining the associations among knowledge, empowerment, and advocacy among parents of transition-aged youth with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEmpowerment, not just knowledge, strongly predicts whether parents advocate for their children. Parents who feel empowered are more likely to move from individual to peer and systemic advocacy. Interventions should prioritize building confidence and control over simply teaching service rules.
• PTOTOther2024The Functional Dexterity Test in Adult Populations: An Exploration of a Simplified Test Protocol and Parameters Guided by Statistical Outcomes.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsA simplified Functional Dexterity Test scored as speed, without penalties, showed dexterity declines linearly with age in healthy adults. Dominant hands were faster by 0.054 pegs per second, and males faster by 0.047 pegs per second.
• PTOTOther2024Cultural adaptation and Sepedi translation of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsThe Sepedi version of a balance-confidence questionnaire was culturally adapted and gave stable results when given again to 32 older rural adults. It can help assess balance confidence, but this study did not test whether it predicts falls.
• OTCohort2024Atypical pattern separation memory and its association with restricted interests and repetitive behaviors in autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children showed weaker memory for distinguishing similar objects than neurotypical peers. This difficulty varied across individuals, with some children over-generalizing and others under-generalizing. More severe repetitive behaviors were linked to over-generalizing, suggesting memory profiles may need to be assessed to tailor learning strategies.
• PTOTSurvey2024Patient-reported outcome survey of user-experiences in the spinal cord injured-community with MPPT for treating wounds and pressure injuries and for controlling soft tissue infection caused by osteomyelitis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSpinal cord injury patients reported a 100% closure rate for wounds and control of fistula symptoms using MPPT powder. Most treated themselves without nursing support. These are self-reported experiences from a small group, not proof of efficacy.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Neural basis of lower-limb visual feedback therapy: an EEG study in healthy subjects.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWatching video feedback of a moving leg activated the brain's motor areas, but adding mental imagery or physical movement to the viewing caused much stronger brain activity and post-movement validation signals. Passive watching alone did not trigger these stronger effects.
• PTOTPilot2024A Feasibility Study of a Physical and Occupational Therapy-Led and Parent-Administered Program to Improve Parent Mental Health and Infant Development.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsA therapist-led program teaching parents massage and motor exercises was feasible and acceptable. Parent anxiety, depression, and sense of competence improved significantly from admission to discharge, but without a control group, it is impossible to know if the program caused these changes or if parents simply felt better as their infants improved.
• PTOTOther2024Use of cortical hemodynamic responses in digital therapeutics for upper limb rehabilitation in patients with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding brain activation data to digital rehab scores improved the accuracy of classifying stroke patients' motor impairment severity. Patients with limited function showed increased brain activity in motor and planning areas, while those with better function showed no significant activation.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Validity and Reliability of Dynamic and Functional Balance Tests in People Aged 19-54: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyThe Y-Balance Test, Star Excursion Balance Test, and one-arm Functional Reach Test are valid and reliable for assessing dynamic balance in healthy adults aged 19-54. Different tests measure distinct skills, so scores cannot be directly compared between them.
• OTQualitative2023Exploring the usability of a smartphone application to monitor fatigue and activity for people with acquired brain injury.The British journal of occupational therapySeven people with acquired brain injury found a fatigue-tracking app easy to use, especially the energy battery metaphor. Carrying a second phone and quiet notifications were major barriers. Self-monitoring changed how they understood fatigue, but sensor data failed because phones were kept in bags.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Prioritising patients for hospital occupational therapy to reduce inpatient falls: A retrospective case-control study to identify predictive patient falls risk factors.The British journal of occupational therapyEarly occupational therapy input was associated with an 81% reduction in falls within the first 48 hours of admission. Key risk factors for early falls included impaired balance, reduced muscle strength, impulsivity, and mobilising without assistance.
• OTPilot2023Usability of a mobile phone application to enhance activities of daily living in occupational therapy services for breast cancer survivors.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTTwenty-nine breast cancer survivors rated the MAIA app 63 out of 100 for usability after one month. The app lets occupational therapists send activity advice, but the app study measured usability only.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Analyzing Time Use by Occupation Area between Weekdays and Weekends by Gender of Parents in Single-Parent Families.Occupational therapy internationalSingle parents spent 197.65 more minutes on work weekdays than weekends. Weekends brought more sleep, leisure, and home care. Women used weekends for media and relationships. Men chose outdoor activities. These patterns show where time deficits occur for this group.
• OTQualitative2024Teaching and Evaluating an Occupational Perspective in Canada: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieCanadian OT educators describe teaching an occupational perspective as a fluid, lifelong process shaped by students, families, and practice realities. They struggle to grade this evolving lens, suggesting traditional assessments fail to capture how students internalize occupation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Phenotyping Down syndrome: discovery and predictive modelling with electronic medical records.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRElectronic records show people with Down syndrome have high rates of speech disorders, coordination issues and hypothyroidism. A model accurately predicted heart surgery needs based on pre-existing heart and breathing conditions, though diagnostic codes can be inaccurate.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Inter-joint coordination with and without dopaminergic medication in Parkinson's disease: a case-control study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's disease showed reduced knee movement and delayed hip flexion during walking, particularly at preferred speeds. Dopaminergic medication improved hip kinematics only at preferred speed and did not resolve these coordination deficits. Walking faster than usual may improve gait regularity.
• PTOTOther2024Intelligent ankle-foot prosthesis based on human structure and motion bionics.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new bionic ankle-foot prosthesis prototype mimics human rolling-sliding joint motion and stores/releases energy efficiently. Lab tests showed it matches human toe trajectories and recovers 88.96% of stored energy, but it has not yet been tested on amputees.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Mapping Effectiveness Studies of Occupational Therapy in Africa: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalEffectiveness studies of occupational therapy in Africa are emerging, mostly from South Africa. Most reported positive outcomes, particularly in physical rehabilitation and hand therapy. Paediatric evidence was less consistent. Systematic reviews are now feasible to determine actual strength of evidence.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Effectiveness of Robotics in Stroke Rehabilitation to Accelerate Upper Extremity Function: Systematic Review.Occupational therapy internationalRobot-assisted therapy did not significantly speed up overall upper limb recovery compared to conventional therapy alone. However, gains were faster in the first 25 hours, suggesting robots may help early in rehabilitation before progress plateaus.
• OTQualitative2023"Being Holistic Is a Lot to Ask": A Qualitative, Cross-National Exploration of Occupational Therapists' Perceptions and Experiences of Holistic Practice.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapists across 13 countries struggle to define and deliver "holistic" care, citing time pressures, resource limits, and conflicting expectations. They view holism as central to their identity but find it often unrealistic in practice, particularly in hospital settings with high caseloads.
• OTQualitative2023The Lived Experience of Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries Engaging in Remote Work: A South African Perspective.Occupational therapy internationalFour people with spinal cord injuries in remote jobs described remote work as allowing schedule changes, better bladder and bowel management, and less commuting. They also reported social isolation, less mobility, and dependence on employer support.
• PTOTSurvey2024An International and Multidisciplinary Consensus on the Labeling of Spatial Neglect Using a Modified Delphi Method.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationExperts reached consensus on 'spatial neglect' as the preferred label, because 'unilateral' implies one-sided deficits while impairment follows a gradient. Use it when communicating the diagnosis.
• PTOTOther2024Precision Rehabilitation After Neurostimulation Implantation for Multifidus Dysfunction in Nociceptive Mechanical Chronic Low Back Pain.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationExpert rehabilitation guidance after multifidus neurostimulation for chronic mechanical low back pain protects the implant, often starts formal rehab around six weeks, and restricts manual therapy, ultrasound, diathermy, and dry needling near leads. These are expert recommendations, not a tested protocol.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Are Middle- or Older-Aged Adults With a Spinal Cord Injury Engaging in Leisure-Time Physical Activity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationLeisure activity in adults over 45 with spinal cord injury varies wildly. While the average moderate-to-heavy activity was 173 minutes per week, between 27% and 64% of participants reported doing none at all. This gap means you cannot assume your patients are active enough to protect their heart health.
• PTOTPilot2024Adapting the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite for Telehealth Administration Using Videoconference Delivery: Methodological Considerations and Interrater Reliability.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTwo raters agreed on scores from the tele-MSFC, participants accepted it, and no adverse events occurred in 61 adults with MS. It is not ready as a trial endpoint.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2024Health and Education Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with autism experienced significantly more disruptions to therapy and school than peers with other disabilities. They faced greater barriers with telehealth and masking. Clinicians should anticipate that these families may have missed critical interventions and need tailored support to restart care.
• OTPilot2024The impact of measurement on clinical trials: Comparison of preliminary outcomes of a brief mobile intervention for autistic adults using multiple measurement approaches.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults' anxiety and depression scores fell slightly after the plan and monitoring, but other scales did not change, weekly anxiety improved then worsened, and momentary use was linked to slower increases in sadness and agitation.
• OTOther2023Sensory modulation interventions for adults with mental illness: A scoping review.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMost studies included in this review were pilot, qualitative, mixed-method or single-case reports. They described reduced distress, anxiety or agitation, but did not prove the interventions work.
• PTOTNarrative Review2023The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's occupations.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTPandemic restrictions disrupted children's occupations: outdoor and structured play fell, screen time rose, sleep became irregular, and remote schooling reduced learning and peer contact. These are patterns, not tested interventions.
• OTCohort2023Consistency between two subjective assessments of activities of daily living: Patient- and occupational therapist-reported judgments.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn subacute stroke, patient and OT ADL ability ratings matched moderately, but their ratings of change matched poorly. At discharge, OTs judged ADL ability higher than patients and than actual ADL performance.