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 150 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTOther2024Technical-tactical behavior analysis of general duty police officers during non-compliant suspect apprehensions: A novel approach to establish minimum force requirements.Work (Reading, Mass.)Police officers rarely struck suspects during apprehension simulations. They used grappling moves, especially two-hand pulls. The wrist required 54 kg of force to destabilize. Forearm, chest, and back needed less. This informs physical employment standards for law enforcement.
• PTOTPilot2024Effects of electrical stimulation of antagonist muscles on shoulder joint adduction force and grip strength.Journal of physical therapy scienceStimulating the deltoid muscle lowered the force needed to hold a healthy young man's shoulder in adduction. Stimulating the finger extensor did not lower grip strength. This was done in 15 healthy adults, not patients, so it cannot yet guide care for bedridden older adults.
• PTOTCohort2024Association between regional phase angle and level of locomotion among older females requiring long-term care in a health facility.Journal of physical therapy scienceRegional phase angle in the lower limbs decreased significantly across three levels of mobility, from walking to assisted wheelchair use. This suggests phase angle may reflect physical decline in immobile older women, offering a potential marker for monitoring muscle quality without requiring active effort.
• PTOTCohort2024Motor difficulties in 16p11.2 copy number variation.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchDeletion carriers showed more reported clumsiness and slower motor speed than duplication carriers, but less tremor and better scores on some direct motor tasks. Motor difficulty did not predict autism diagnosis.
• OTSLPQualitative2024"I have to charge my social battery": Perspectives from autistic young adults on Quality of Life.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic young adults wanted close connections but needed time alone to recharge their social battery. They valued family, pets, peers, direct support, routines, sensory-friendly places, and pursuing interests. Generic quality-of-life measures may miss these.
• OTSurvey2024Work-related quality of life of occupational therapists in Ireland.The British journal of occupational therapyIrish occupational therapists reported work-related quality of life below NHS healthcare worker norms. High workload and organisational constraints were linked to lower quality of life, and lower quality of life was linked to turnover intentions.
• OTSurvey2024Perceptions of black and minoritised ethnic occupational therapists on mentoring: A survey.The British journal of occupational therapyBlack and minoritised ethnic occupational therapists valued mentoring but found it hard to access mentors who shared their background. They sought safe, confidential spaces to discuss racism and career barriers, with most saying a mentor from their own ethnic group was important.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Application of the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model: A Scoping Review.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthA scoping review of 109 articles found the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model is widely used to frame research and practice across diverse populations. It helps clinicians map how personal and environmental factors interact to influence performance, though definitions of participation vary.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Clinical and neurophysiological effects of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG-guided neurofeedback in Parkinson's disease: a randomized, four-arm controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining brain stimulation with neurofeedback improved Parkinson's motor symptoms more than either alone. However, neither treatment changed walking speed, balance, or finger tapping speed. The effect on quality of life was positive but based on a small, unblinded sample.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Hearing Loss for Children and Adolescents from 1990 to 2019: A Trend Analysis.Trends in hearingGlobal hearing loss in children dropped slightly from 1990 to 2019, but mild cases rose. Adolescent girls aged 15-19 saw a significant increase in moderate hearing loss, driven by noise exposure and ear infections, requiring targeted prevention.
• PTOTPilot2024Neuromuscular conditions in post-stroke ankle-foot dysfunction reflected by surface electromyography.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSurface EMG showed reduced muscle activation on the affected side and increased coordination on the unaffected side in post-stroke patients. These differences were not seen in traditional clinical assessments, suggesting EMG may reveal hidden neuromuscular compensation.
• PTOTRCT2024Effect of electrode attachment location for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pain relief in lumbar vertebral body fractures.Journal of physical therapy scienceTENS applied to the lumbar region or lower limbs reduced pain during movement for the first two weeks after bed rest began. Placement on the arms had little effect. Pain relief did not improve daily function or reduce fear of pain, and benefits disappeared by week three.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Risk factors and hearing outcomes in infants and young children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsRecurrent ear infections and HIV were the most common risks in this South African cohort, appearing in 43% and 16% of files. The standard US screening list missed these local drivers, meaning risk checks must be adapted to the region to catch preventable hearing loss.
• OTNarrative Review2024Applying Concepts of Curriculum Design and Cultural Adaptation: Collaborating on a Dual-Degree Occupational Therapy Program in Mainland China.Occupational therapy internationalNo patient outcome finding is reported. There is nothing here to change patient care.
• OTOther2024Smart ArM: a customizable and versatile robotic arm prosthesis platform for Cybathlon and research.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSmart ArM is a customizable trans-humeral robotic prosthesis research platform, not a proven clinical treatment. It lets researchers reprogram elbow, wrist, and hand control, but battery life and the need for supervision limit daily use.
• OTOther2024Public and professional involvement in a systematic review investigating the impact of occupational therapy on the self-management of rheumatoid arthritis.The British journal of occupational therapyInvolving patients and therapists throughout a systematic review improved the search strategy and interpretation of findings. Partners valued clear roles and timely feedback but noted online-only meetings missed under-served voices. Researchers should plan involvement from the start and evaluate it immediately after key phases.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of conditioned pain modulation and pain in fibromyalgia: CPM as an effect modifier of pain changes over time.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyFibromyalgia patients with poor baseline pain inhibition showed greater improvement in pain and function over time than those with strong inhibition. However, this was a small, exploratory secondary analysis of an ongoing trial, so these findings are hypothesis-generating and not yet clinically actionable.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Unraveling attrition and retention: A qualitative study with rehabilitation professionals.Work (Reading, Mass.)Rehabilitation professionals stay when their work aligns with their values and they feel supported by colleagues and managers. They leave when they experience bullying, excessive administrative burdens, or conflicts with regulatory bodies that make them feel policed rather than protected.
• PTOTOther2024Perspectives on the comparative benefits of body-powered and myoelectric upper limb prostheses.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBody-powered and myoelectric prostheses showed no consistent functional advantage. Performance depended more on the specific task and individual factors like cause of limb loss than device type. Prescription should focus on patient needs rather than assuming one design is superior.
• OTQualitative2024Translation and initial cross-cultural adaptation of the tool for support-gradual return-to-work for persons with chronic musculoskeletal pain to the Swedish setting.Work (Reading, Mass.)Swedish occupational therapists found a Canadian gradual return-to-work instruction guide and planning worksheet relevant and usable for chronic pain, but wanted a shorter guide, clearer language, psychosocial content, and an 11-point discomfort scale.
• PTOTCase Series2024Feedback control of heart rate during robotics-assisted tilt table exercise in patients after stroke: a clinical feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA feedback system automatically adjusted exercise intensity to keep stroke patients' heart rate at a target during robot-assisted tilt-table stepping. In 12 patients, heart rate tracking was accurate, with an average error of 2.00 beats per minute. The system was feasible, but this was not a clinical trial.
• OTSurvey2024A Profile of Occupational Therapists Working in School-Based Practice in Australian Primary Schools.Occupational therapy internationalMost school therapists in this sample worked one-on-one with young students, funded by the NDIS. Few used whole-class or school-wide approaches, and many did not contribute to student education plans. The service model varied greatly by state and employer.
• OTOther2024Effectiveness of mixed reality-based rehabilitation on hands and fingers by individual finger-movement tracking in patients with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChronic stroke patients using an MR board for four weeks improved hand function, finger movement, and perceived recovery. No control group means we cannot know if this training caused the changes.
• OTSurvey2024Developing Client Self-Advocacy in Occupational Therapy: Are We Practicing What We Preach?Occupational therapy internationalMost occupational therapists say self-advocacy is very important but do not write it into client goals. Instead, they address it indirectly by teaching communication skills and educating clients on their rights. Few therapists learned specific intervention strategies during their education.
• OTQualitative2024Adding value for clients during work disability assessments: A qualitative exploration from the perspective of medical examiners.Work (Reading, Mass.)Medical examiners identified four themes for adding value during disability assessments: coherent processes, interdisciplinary collaboration, client-centred interaction, and clear information provision. They reported barriers including strict laws, lack of time, and poor collaboration.
• OTOther2024Hyper-focus, sticky attention, and springy attention in young autistic children: Associations with sensory behaviors and cognitive ability.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic and non-autistic young children were similar in how slowly they looked away from a central shape. Among autistic children, often returning to that old shape was linked to lower thinking and learning scores and seeming unaware of other stimuli.
• OTQualitative2024The evolution of new and emerging occupational health and safety risks: A qualitative review.Work (Reading, Mass.)Workplace safety literature before 2000 and from 2020 onwards keeps returning to changing work, workforce, materials and technology. Newer papers add heat, climate change and viruses. This maps hazards and suggested controls, not tested patient treatments.
• OTOther2024"Pain is not typically taken into consideration due to him being nonverbal"- emergency department experiences among persons with disabilities: a mixed methods study in Kingston, Ontario.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with disabilities were more likely than the comparison group to say emergency staff gave their needs too little attention, that they felt judged, and that better understanding of their situation, identity, and culture was needed.
• OTQualitative2024Stigma and Stigma Resilience: Role of the Undergraduate and the Campus Environment.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthStudents with learning disabilities described stigma as constant invalidation from peers and instructors. Resilience came from knowing their specific strengths, finding supportive mentors, and shifting advocacy from disclosing diagnoses to explaining learning needs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Categorizing and identifying preferred interests in autistic toddlers.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic toddlers were more likely to have parent-reported preferred interests than peers with delays or no diagnosis. However, the specific types of interests did not differ between groups. Clinicians should assess how intensely a child engages with an interest, not just what the interest is.
• OTOther2024Verification of the usefulness of shape acquisition using plastic casts during fabrication of a metal strut ankle-foot orthosis.Journal of physical therapy sciencePlastic casts save significant time compared to plaster bandages but add thickness due to stockinette layers. Trace methods are fastest but produce smaller, less accurate dimensions. Plaster remains most reproducible for shape. Choose the method based on whether time efficiency or dimensional accuracy is the priority for the specific patient.
• OTQualitative2024Employer representatives' experiences of supporting employees with cognitive impairments in a digital work environment.Work (Reading, Mass.)Six Swedish employer representatives described supporting employees with cognitive impairments in digital workplaces as an ongoing struggle. They felt isolated and unsupported by occupational health services, which they said focused on physical ergonomics and medical check-ups while ignoring cognitive demands.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Cognitive and self-regulation skills for employment among people with brain injury: A comparison of employed and non-employed people using mixed analysis.Work (Reading, Mass.)Employed adults with brain injury reported specific daily failures and used detailed strategies like reviewing schedules. Unemployed adults often denied symptoms or gave vague reports. Standard cognitive tests showed no difference between groups. Rehabilitation should target self-awareness and strategy use rather than assuming cognitive deficits are the barrier.
• OTSLPOther2024Child Age at Time of First Maternal Concern and Time to Services Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn children with autism, maternal race/ethnicity was not linked to first concern age, but children of non-Latino Black or non-Latino other race mothers had longer time to services. Earlier concern was linked to longer wait.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A proposed evidence-guided algorithm for the adjustment and optimization of multi-function articulated ankle-foot orthoses in the clinical setting.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper proposes a 30-minute clinical algorithm for adjusting multi-function articulated AFOs. It uses slow-motion smartphone video to guide iterative changes to alignment and resistance settings. The authors state there is currently no evidence proving this specific method improves patient outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Telerehabilitation from the perspective of patients and healthcare providers: A 3-year follow-up study.NeuroRehabilitationPatients rated telerehabilitation as highly effective and satisfying, with most preferring it to in-person care. Providers agreed it helped treatment but strongly preferred face-to-face sessions, citing difficulties with remote physical and cognitive assessments.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Effects of simultaneous short-term neuromuscular electrical stimulation and static stretching on calf muscles.Journal of physical therapy scienceFour minutes of simultaneous static stretching and electrical stimulation improved ankle flexibility in healthy young adults. The change exceeded measurement error. Because there was no control group, it is unclear if this is better than stretching alone.
• OTSystematic Review2024Effects of occupational health promotion interventions on health-related outcomes among employees of small businesses and self-employed individuals: A systematic review.Work (Reading, Mass.)The evidence was mixed. Active supervision sometimes reduced distress, but one-time education did not reduce distress, and physical activity findings were inconsistent; no included trial was high quality.
• PTOTCohort2024Early Play Behaviors of Infants at Elevated Likelihood for Autism Spectrum Disorder.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationSix-month-old infants later diagnosed with autism had lower overall play scores than those who were not. Atypical movement patterns did not differ between the groups, though asymmetrical reflexes were seen in more infants with autism. This pilot suggests play quality may offer early clues.
• OTQualitative2024Older workers and extended working life - Managers' experiences and age management.Work (Reading, Mass.)Managers said they rarely discussed age, preferred talking about experience, and left retirement planning to human resources. They lacked systems to transfer skills from older workers, and saw raised retirement age as a human resources issue rather than a workplace discussion.
• PTOTOther2024Examination of a practical method to quantitatively evaluate the rolling over movement in a clinical setting.Journal of physical therapy scienceWearable sensors on the forehead, sternum, and abdomen matched 3D motion capture for measuring neck and trunk angles during rolling over in two healthy adults. This offers a practical, low-cost way to assess movement quality in clinics, but needs testing in patients.
• OTSLPOther2024Profiles of minimally verbal autistic children: Illuminating the neglected end of the spectrum.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMinimally verbal autistic children are not a single group. They split into three distinct profiles: one with global delays, one with strong cognition but weak speech, and one with strong social communication but lower cognition. Treatment should match the profile, not just the word count.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Use of primary healthcare services before and after specialized rehabilitation and its relation to changes in health and functioning: a longitudinal cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients used more GP and physiotherapy services before specialized rehabilitation, then visits gradually decreased. Those reporting poorer health used services more frequently, but high use did not guarantee better long-term functioning. This reflects service patterns, not treatment effectiveness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Changes in COPD-related anxiety symptoms during pulmonary rehabilitation: a prospective quantitative and qualitative study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCOPD-related anxiety dropped significantly after 9 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation. However, this drop did not correlate with improvements in walking distance or quality of life. Patients described developing four coping strategies: planning, problem-solving, confronting, and accepting.
• OTCohort2024The Bead Maze Hand Function Test for Children.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationThe Bead Maze Hand Function Test showed excellent agreement between raters and correlated with standard hand speed measures in 23 typically developing children. Force measures changed with age and task complexity, offering information that time-based tests alone do not capture.
• OTOther2024Ayres Sensory Integration® Intervention for Autistic Children: A Telehealth Adaptation.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationEight experienced telehealth and occupational therapy experts reviewed a new manual for delivering Ayres Sensory Integration via video. They rated it feasible and clear, but asked for better parent coaching tools and simpler assessment guides before it could be used in practice.
• OTSLPOther2024Measuring self and informant perspectives of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours (RRBs): psychometric evaluation of the Repetitive Behaviours Questionnaire-3 (RBQ-3) in adult clinical practice and research settgs.Molecular autismAdults waiting for autism assessment and their informants agreed on repetitive behaviours, and both lined up with clinician interview ratings. Autistic adults scored higher than non-autistic adults. Use the questionnaire to guide assessment, not to diagnose alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024How to remain in working life with hearing loss - health factors for a sustainable work situation.Work (Reading, Mass.)Workers with hearing loss who stayed employed reported better work climates, less noise distraction, and lower mental strain than those on sick leave. The specific job type mattered less than the workplace environment and the cognitive demands of the daily tasks.
• OTSLPCohort2024Enhanced interest in letters and numbers in autistic children.Molecular autismOver a third of autistic preschoolers develop an intense interest in letters and numbers, often despite minimal speech. This interest emerges at the same age as in typical children but is non-social. Clinicians should ask parents explicitly about it.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in early neurodevelopmental traits in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study.Molecular autismEarly difficulties in social and communication skills at age three were associated with receiving a diagnosis of almost all neurodevelopmental conditions later in childhood. These traits were not neatly aligned with specific diagnoses, suggesting broad developmental challenges predict diverse outcomes.