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 148 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2024Association Between Depression Symptoms and Disability Outcomes in Older Adults at Risk of Mobility Decline.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationDepression symptoms linked to worse physical function and participation in older adults at risk of mobility decline. However, depression did not predict how quickly these abilities declined over two years. Treat depression as a concurrent marker of current disability, not necessarily a driver of future rapid decline.
• PTOTCase Series2024Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Functional Outcomes and Disposition After Liver Transplant.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAfter liver transplant, 107 patients averaged a 35.7-point FIM gain on the 18-to-126 FIM scale, and 83% ultimately discharged to community. With no comparison group, this cannot show rehabilitation caused the gains.
• PTOTPilot2024Foot offloading associated with carbon fiber orthosis use: A pilot study.Gait & postureThree carbon fiber orthoses shifted foot loading from the forefoot to the hindfoot in healthy adults. The stiffer full-length orthoses significantly reduced peak forefoot forces, while all three increased hindfoot loading. These findings suggest caution for patients at risk of skin breakdown.
• OTCohort2024Preschoolers' Self-Regulation and Behavior Problems in the Midst of Caregiver Depression and Chaos.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with better self-regulation before the pandemic had fewer behavior problems during it. This protection held up even when caregivers were depressed or homes were chaotic. It only weakened when both stressors occurred together.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Supported self-management in long-term conditions in an African context.The South African journal of physiotherapySelf-management strategies imported from Western contexts often fail in Africa because they ignore collective cultural values like Ubuntu. Therapists should co-design care with patients and communities, focusing on family and social support rather than just individual compliance.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Auditory and academic skills self-perception in adults.CoDASIn 646 university adults, self-reported auditory struggles like hearing in noise were associated with academic complaints about concentration, memory, and planning. The study cannot prove one causes the other, but suggests that when an adult reports listening difficulty, you should also ask about their learning and executive function challenges.
• OTCohort2024Satisfaction with social connectedness is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in neurodiverse first-semester college students.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceLower satisfaction with social connections predicted higher depression symptoms across the semester, regardless of how much students wanted social interaction. However, low social satisfaction did not predict later anxiety, though it was linked to anxiety at the same time. This association held for both autistic and non-autistic students.
• PTOTCohort2024The Targeted Motor Control Screening Tool Is Valid for 4-Year-Old Children.Physical therapyThe Targeted Motor Control screening tool correlates moderately with a detailed assessment in 4-year-olds. A score below 9 flags children at risk of motor delay. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to administer. The sensory items showed weaker agreement than motor items.
• OTNarrative Review2023Use of Gamification for Adult Physical Rehabilitation in Occupational Therapy; A Novel Concept?Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTNo original methods or outcomes are reported. This commentary defines gamification and reviews examples in adult physical rehabilitation, so there is no new finding to change practice.
• OTOther2023Assessment of sensory impairment of the upper limb post-stroke by occupational therapists within the acute setting: A mixed methods study exploring current clinical practice.The British journal of occupational therapySurveyed acute stroke occupational therapists reported standardised sensory assessment use: always 3, usually 11, sometimes 21, rarely 33, never 13. Time and resources made full assessment hard, despite therapists seeing it as their role.
• OTSurvey2023The relationship between typically developing school-age children's screen time, participation and physical activity: An exploratory study.The British journal of occupational therapyScreen time was not linked to physical activity in school-age children. Educational screen time was linked to less assistance with daily tasks and higher parent satisfaction.
• OTOther2023The standardised Malay version of purdue pegboard test: Content validity and test-retest reliability testing.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe Malay wording of the Purdue Pegboard Test was accepted by experts, but one trial gave poor repeat scores. Three trials made scores steadier, though retest scores rose, likely practice.
• OTSLPQualitative2024A qualitative exploration of an autism-specific self-compassion program: The ASPAA.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults found a self-compassion program helpful for reducing self-criticism and feeling connected, but also described it as difficult and sometimes emotionally distressing. They valued autism-specific adaptations like lived-experience videos and flexible exercises, while noting sensory triggers and the need for professional support.
• PTOTRCT2024Functional and perceptive differences between conventional and advanced ankle foot orthoses in community ambulators post-limb trauma: the injuries managed with advanced bracing of the lower extremity (IM ABLE) study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdvanced AFOs did not improve walking speed or distance compared to conventional ones, but users reported less effort and strongly preferred them for long-term use.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Insights on Telecommunication Use by Rehabilitation Therapists Before, During, and Beyond COVID-19.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTherapists significantly increased phone, text, and video use during the pandemic, but planned future video use did not rise significantly. They believe discussion-based tasks work remotely, while orthotics and manual assessments require in-person care.
• PTOTRCT2024Long-Term Follow-Up of a Person-Centered Prehabilitation Program Based on Cognitive-Behavioral Physical Therapy for Patients Scheduled for Lumbar Fusion.Physical therapyPrehabilitation before lumbar fusion surgery did not improve long-term disability or pain compared to conventional care. Both groups improved similarly over two years. Patients did not increase physical activity despite gaining strength and walking capacity. The intervention offers no long-term advantage over standard preoperative advice.
• OTSurvey2024Associations of endurance, muscle strength, and balanced exercise with subjective sleep quality in sedentary workers: A cross-sectional study.Work (Reading, Mass.)Sedentary workers who exercised only for endurance or balance, or both, reported better sleep than those who did not exercise. Muscle strength training was not associated with better sleep. This is an association, not proof that exercise improves sleep.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Occupational therapy and cooking: A scoping review and future directions.Scandinavian journal of occupational therapyCooking is a core occupational therapy activity used across the lifespan for assessment and intervention. The literature shows therapists use it to build skills and address cognitive or environmental barriers, but rigorous evidence for its specific health effects remains limited.
• PTOTCohort2024Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction who received usual care: a multicenter prospective cohort study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients with acute cerebral infarction receiving usual care, poor functional outcome was predicted by higher initial stroke severity (NIHSS >4) and reinfarction, not by the timing of first mobilization. Age and rehabilitation intensity were not independent predictors.
• PTOTQualitative2024Rehabilitation Professionals' Perspectives on Human Rights, Disability, and Science: A Qualitative Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost rehabilitation professionals for spinal cord injury did not know UN human rights conventions, though all knew the Americans with Disabilities Act. They saw barriers like equipment denial and transport as policy issues, not rights violations, yet were open to learning how to frame them as rights.
• PTOTOther2024Effect of age on ankle biomechanics and tibial compression during stair descent.Gait & postureOlder adults showed lower peak tibial compression than young adults during stair descent, but similar total load over time. Ankle stiffness did not predict compression. The older group’s reduced ankle strength likely limits their ability to absorb impact forces, potentially increasing fracture risk despite lower peak loads.
• OTCase Series2023The Impact of Weighted Blanket Use on Adults with Sensory Sensitivity and Insomnia.Occupational therapy internationalFour adults with sensory sensitivity and insomnia reported lower insomnia scores after using a weighted blanket. Daily sleep diaries showed mixed results for duration and quality, with no clear pattern across participants. This small study cannot confirm if the blanket caused the changes.
• OTQualitative2023"Surthriving" Hand Rehabilitation: Proposing Interventions to Support Novice Occupational Therapists Working in Underserved Contexts.Occupational therapy internationalNovice occupational therapists in underserved South African public services described being submerged by poverty, strained systems, inadequate hand care, and insurmountable caseloads. They moved from no idea to some idea and said they needed immediate supervision, resources, and emotional support.
• OTSystematic Review2023Predictors of Academic and Fieldwork Performance in Occupational Therapy Students: A Systematic Review.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapy students with higher admission grades and strategic study habits tended to do better academically. In fieldwork, higher GRE scores, emotional reasoning and managing others' emotions, and interaction management were the most consistent predictors, but the evidence was low quality.
• OTOther2023Is Birth Method Associated with Sensory Hyperreactivity in Children 3-4 Years in an Upper-Middle-Income Country?Occupational therapy internationalChildren born vaginally had significantly more sensory hyperreactivity than those born by caesarean section. This contradicts the hypothesis that birth method causes the condition. The finding is likely confounded by socioeconomic status, as most vaginal births occurred in lower-income groups with higher baseline rates of sensory issues.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Machine learning for automating subjective clinical assessment of gait impairment in people with acquired brain injury - a comparison of an image extraction and classification system to expert scoring.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA computer model scored arm movement abnormality during walking as consistently as three experienced physiotherapists. It correctly identified impaired versus unimpaired movement in 84% of cases, matching human judgment without the usual disagreement between different clinicians.
• OTCohort2024Impact of employment status and work setting on body weight and health behaviors among people with obesity.Work (Reading, Mass.)Adults with obesity who worked from home partially gained more weight than those working from home completely. Unemployment was linked to higher weight, but this association disappeared after adjusting for demographics. Stress, depression, and poor eating habits were strong predictors of weight gain.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024State-of-the-art therapies for fragile X syndrome.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCurrent therapies for fragile X syndrome manage symptoms but do not cure the underlying genetic cause. Pharmacological options like stimulants and SSRIs target specific behaviors, while gene therapies remain in preclinical stages.
• PTOTOther2024The Spanish adaptation of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart: psychometric evidence in cardiac rehabilitation patients.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe Spanish Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart works well as a total score but fails as a four-part breakdown. Use the overall score to gauge fear of movement in cardiac patients, but do not rely on individual subscales or item-level data for clinical decisions.
• PTOTQualitative2024Technology Use for Home-Based Stroke Rehabilitation in Switzerland From the Perspectives of Persons Living With Stroke, Informal Caregivers, and Therapists: Qualitative Interview and Focus Group Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStroke survivors and therapists in Switzerland want home technology but lack clear guidance on which tools to use. Reimbursement uncertainty and a heavy burden on informal caregivers hinder adoption, with survivors relying on therapists to filter options.
• OTQualitative2024Occupational Therapy and Public Safety Personnel: Return to Work Practices and Experiences.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieOccupational therapists working with injured first responders report feeling pressured to document exposure therapy and return-to-work goals even when inappropriate. Stigma and poor communication with insurers block progress. Therapists build rapport by using clients' language and dark humour.
• OTSurvey2024Influence of kindergarten principals' contingent rewards on teachers' creative teaching performance: Testing a moderated-mediated model.Work (Reading, Mass.)Kindergarten teachers reported higher creative teaching when principals used contingent rewards, but this worked indirectly through organizational support and culture. Supportive cultures boosted creativity, while bureaucratic ones reduced it. Teachers with strong ideological contracts benefited more.
• OTOther2024Caregiver and youth inter-rater assessment agreement in autism spectrum disorder, developmental coordination disorder, and typical development.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCaregivers and children often disagreed about anxiety and ADHD symptoms. Children reported more anxiety. Caregivers reported more ADHD in autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder groups. Using only one report can miss clinically elevated symptoms.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Caregiving occupations, health and well-being of Chinese mothers of children with disabilities living in Australia, Singapore and Taiwan.The British journal of occupational therapyChinese mothers' health and well-being scores did not differ across Australia, Singapore and Taiwan. Mothers who spent time on emotional regulation or behaviour supervision had worse mental health. Therapists should screen for distress in these cases and assess the family support network.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Sensory experiences questionnaire unravels differences in sensory profiles between MECP2-related disorders.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with MECP2 duplication show significantly higher sensory hypersensitivity and seeking than those with Rett syndrome, especially in tactile and vestibular areas. Both groups score above typical ranges, but Rett scores are more homogeneous and closer to typical levels.
• PTOTCohort2024Influence of virtual reality and task complexity on digital health metrics assessing upper limb function.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor people with MS, virtual reality assessments were more responsive to rehabilitation changes than physical tasks, despite the physical tasks having lower variability and higher usability. Neither method proved significantly more reliable or valid for detecting upper limb function.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Effects of running with surgical masks on cardiopulmonary function in healthy male university students.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy young men ran to exhaustion on a treadmill wearing surgical masks. They stopped sooner than without masks, despite breathing and heart rates dropping. Their maximum oxygen use did not change, suggesting the mask limited how long they could run rather than their total aerobic capacity.
• OTQualitative2024Autistic Adults' Priorities for Future Autism Employment Research: Perspectives from the United Kingdom.Autism in adulthoodAutistic adults prioritized research into career progression, workplace stigma, and systemic change over simple employment rates. They emphasized that studies must address the full employment lifecycle and be co-produced with autistic people to drive tangible workplace adjustments.
• OTOther2024Job stressors in relation to burnout and compromised sleep among academic physicians in India.Work (Reading, Mass.)High job stressor loads were linked to burnout and poor sleep in academic physicians. Specific modifiable factors included working 7 days/week, lacking genuine rest breaks, and having no time for non-clinical duties. These conditions were associated with increased personal and work-related burnout.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Work-related stress is associated with low work ability, but not with poor self-rated health: A cross-sectional study in primary healthcare.Work (Reading, Mass.)High work-related stress was associated with low work ability, but not with poor self-rated health. Interference between work and leisure time showed the strongest link to reduced work ability. Clinicians should assess work-life balance and recovery needs in patients seeking care for stress-related symptoms.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Is there any job for me? Qualitative exploration of support needs among young Swedish adults with psychosis envisioning productive activities.Work (Reading, Mass.)Young adults with psychosis wanted a worker role but needed support to get there. They valued flexible workplaces, understanding mentors, and help managing stress. They felt stuck between wanting to contribute and fearing failure, needing structure at home first. This describes their experience, not a proven treatment effect.
• PTOTCohort2024Active use of local exercise facilities can improve physical performance of community-dwelling older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults using community exercise rooms at least 48 times over two years maintained grip strength, while those who never used them declined. Balance and walking speed did not improve for any group. Simply having a place to exercise supported strength maintenance.
• OTCase Report2024Efficacy of mental practice on paralyzed upper extremity function in the acute phase of stroke: a case study.Journal of physical therapy scienceA patient with acute stroke palsy received mental practice combined with mirror therapy. Her upper limb function scores improved from zero to 25 on the Fugl-Meyer assessment. This single case does not prove the treatment works, but suggests early combined therapy is feasible.
• PTOTRCT2024Differential training benefits and motor unit remodeling in wrist force precision tasks following high and low load blood flow restriction exercises under volume-matched conditions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn young adults, low-load blood flow restriction training improved wrist force precision, while high-load training produced greater strength gains. Neither protocol was superior for both outcomes; the training load determines whether you gain steadiness or raw power.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Hybrid approaches to allied health services for children and young people: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHybrid in-person and remote allied health services for children and young people were inconsistently defined and mostly mental health or CBT studies. PT, OT and SLP evidence was sparse, and controlled evidence was limited, so do not assume remote works for hands-on care.
• OTOther2023The Impact of Raising Children with Barth Syndrome on Parental Health-Related Quality of Life and Family Functioning: Preliminary Reliability and Validity of the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module.Occupational therapy internationalThe PedsQL Family Impact Module reliably distinguishes parents of children with Barth syndrome from others, showing significantly lower family functioning scores in the Barth syndrome group. One subscale on communication was less reliable, so interpret those specific scores with caution.
• OTQualitative2023Usability of Public Play Spaces for Children with Disabilities.Occupational therapy internationalChildren with disabilities in Indonesia described public play spaces as vital for fun and connection, but physical barriers and bullying made them feel unsafe. They sought challenging equipment and nature, while caregivers prioritized safety fences and softer surfaces to allow independent play.
• OTOther2023Requirements for Universally Accessible Upper-Body Exercise Equipment: The Case of People with Spinal Cord Injuries in Korea.Occupational therapy internationalFive wheelchair users tested four upper-body machines. Transfers were slow and risky on strength equipment, while arm ergometers were easier. Low satisfaction scores for posture support highlight the need for adjustable seats, clear instructions at eye level, and stable wheelchair fixes.
• PTOTSLPOther2024The Occupational Therapy Profession in Saudi Arabia.Occupational therapy internationalSaudi Arabia has one occupational therapist per 10,000 people. Services exist only in hospitals, not primary care or schools. Most doctors and therapists do not refer patients because they cannot distinguish occupational therapy from physiotherapy.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Giving insights into an ICF training: evaluation of an in-person interactive ICF training in Germany.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParticipants reported the training improved their ICF skills and met expectations. However, many struggled with the classification's hierarchical structure and specific qualifiers. Therapists should expect to need extra practice or time to master coding and linking methods.