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 153 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2024Research Letter: Relationship of Blood Biomarkers of Inflammation With Acute Concussion Symptoms and Recovery in the CARE Consortium.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationBlood inflammation markers did not predict how long concussion recovery took. However, higher levels of one marker (IL-1RA) in the first two days were linked to more depression and somatic symptoms, particularly in male athletes.
• PTOTPilot2025Understanding Work Ability in Employees with Pain and Stress-Related Ill-Health: An Explorative Network Analysis of Individual Characteristics and Psychosocial Work Environment.Journal of occupational rehabilitationSymptom catastrophizing and perceived stress were the strongest factors linked to other issues in employees with pain or stress. Pain-disability risk was the only factor directly connected to work ability six months later. Work environment factors showed weaker links.
• OTSurvey2025The Relationship Between Strategic Human Resource Management Practices and the Employment of Vulnerable Workers: A Two-Wave Study Among Employers.Journal of occupational rehabilitationDutch employers that reported using inclusive mission statements, job creation, internships, or government financial supports were more likely to employ vulnerable workers nine months later. General workplace well-being practices showed no such link.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Community participation disparities among people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.Disability and rehabilitationPeople with disabilities faced larger gaps in employment, income and education than others. Disabled Black and Hispanic/Latino adults had the largest disparities. Disabled people were more likely to attend in-person medical appointments, possibly because remote options were less accessible.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Development and content validity of the cognition in daily life scale (CDL).Neuropsychological rehabilitationExperts confirmed the new Cognition in Daily Life scale accurately covers six key areas like attention and memory. The 65-item tool is validated for content, but clinicians must wait for reliability testing before using it to diagnose or track progress.
• PTOTOther2025The feasibility, acceptability, safety, and effects of early weight bearing in humeral fractures - a scoping review.Disability and rehabilitationEarly weight bearing after humeral fracture surgery may be feasible and safe, but the review found no standard protocol, no patient perspective, and no firm evidence of effect.
• OTQualitative2025Music Upper Limb Therapy - Integrated (MULT-I) supports a positive transformation in sense of self post stroke: a thematic analysis.Disability and rehabilitationStroke survivors described a three-stage shift in self-perception during group music therapy. Enjoyment and autonomy in playing instruments engaged them, peer support helped process distress, and a sense of belonging fostered acceptance of their changed abilities and strengths.
• OTOther2025Sustainable Employability of People with Limited Capability for Work: The Participatory Development and Validation of a Questionnaire.Journal of occupational rehabilitationA participatory process adapted an employability questionnaire for people with limited work capacity. Cognitive interviews with six men and analysis of 248 employees yielded a valid instrument. The original Utrecht Work Engagement scale showed the weakest fit.
• PTOTOther2024Pittsburgh Impairment Testing Tool for Spina Bifida Can Predict Ambulation and Transfer Ability in Adults With Spina Bifida.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationThe Pittsburgh Impairment Testing Tool predicted ambulation and transfer ability with over 80% accuracy in adults with spina bifida. It outperformed other neurological scales for ambulation. Anatomic level and sensory level were less useful predictors than motor level.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024The relationship between patient-specific factors and functional progression of COVID-19 survivors admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPatients recovering from severe COVID-19 in inpatient rehab made significant gains in mobility, self-care, and cognition. Older age predicted smaller gains in mobility and self-care, while those with more severe acute illness or lower starting function showed greater improvement.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Life expectancy and long-term survival after traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePeople with traumatic spinal cord injury live significantly shorter lives than the general population. Survival depends heavily on injury level and severity, with tetraplegia and high-level lesions carrying the greatest mortality risk.
• OTRCT2024Community Participation Transition After Stroke (COMPASS) Randomized Controlled Trial: Effect on Adverse Health Events.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke survivors who received home modifications and self-management training from an OT had fewer deaths and nursing home admissions. Falls and 30-day readmissions were not significantly reduced. This safety benefit was a secondary finding, not the trial's primary aim.
• PTOTPilot2024The feasibility and acceptability of integrating dogs into inpatient rehabilitation therapy with children with acquired brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationDogs were feasible to add to inpatient PT/OT for 16 children with acquired brain injury: dogs attended 56 of 59 PT and 55 of 59 OT dog sessions, with no adverse events and high satisfaction from families and therapists.
• PTOTSurvey2024Discovering Provider Awareness of Mobility Assistive Technologies and Clinical Guidelines-A Comparative Analysis With Consumer Responses.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationProviders generally knew more about new mobility devices and assessment tools than consumers, but this varied by product. Providers favored specialized websites and journals, while consumers relied on general internet searches and friends for information.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024"They Just Love Me"-An Examination of Social Support Experiences and Values Among People With TBI.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationPeople with TBI described good support as reliable, loving relationships, not just help with tasks. They valued doing things together, contributing to others, and feeling genuinely cared for. Tangible help was often available, but emotional closeness and dependable inclusion were harder to find.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Elements of Return-to-Work Interventions for Workers on Long-Term Sick Leave: A Systematic Literature Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationVocational rehabilitation can help people on long-term sick leave return to work, but no specific intervention elements explain why some programs succeed while others fail. Effective interventions varied widely in duration and intensity, meaning there is no single recipe for success.
• OTCohort2025Inability to Work Fulltime and the Association with Paid Employment One Year After the Work Disability Assessment: A Longitudinal Register-Based Cohort Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationBeing assessed as unable to work fulltime was not associated with paid employment one year later after adjustment. The chance was higher for working musculoskeletal applicants and lower for some cancer and respiratory applicants.
• PTOTCohort2025How Much Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, and Osteopathy Care Do Compensated Australian Workers with Low Back Pain Receive? A Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost compensated Australian workers with low back pain attend physical therapy, with 82% seeing a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath. Median attendances were 13 for physiotherapy only, 8 for chiropractic only, 10 for osteopathy only, and 31 for multiple professions. Jurisdiction strongly influenced care patterns.
• OTQualitative2025Struggling with Fitting in: Clients Mixed Experiences of Receiving Job Support and Getting a Job When Participating in Individual Placement and Support in Norway.Journal of occupational rehabilitationTen people with severe mental illness described mixed experiences of job support. They valued accessible specialists but felt let down by poor job matches and insufficient on-site guidance. Many struggled with workplace triggers and called for more flexible, hands-on support to sustain employment.
• PTOTPilot2025Examining patient reported outcome measures for phantom limb pain: measurement use in a sample of Veterans with amputation.Disability and rehabilitationPhantom limb pain ratings did not line up strongly with pain interference in this pilot of 50 Veterans. General pain ratings did, so phantom limb pain scores may miss how much pain affects daily life.
• PTOTOther2025Therapeutic Approaches for the Prevention of Upper Limb Repetitive Strain Injuries in Work-Related Computer Use: A Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationErgonomic equipment was the most common prevention strategy found, but evidence for its effectiveness was mixed. Multi-component approaches combining equipment, training, and policy showed more promise than single interventions alone.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Resilience and coping: a qualitative analysis of cognitive and behavioral factors in adults with osteogenesis Imperfecta.Disability and rehabilitationAdults with Osteogenesis Imperfecta described building resilience by separating their identity from their diagnosis and reframing physical limitations as opportunities for growth. They relied heavily on social support, planning ahead, and acceptance of pain rather than trying to control what they could not change.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Temporal Profile of Serum Neurofilament Light (NF-L) and Heavy (pNF-H) Level Associations With 6-Month Cognitive Performance in Patients With Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationElevated serum pNF-H levels measured 16 to 90 days after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury predict worse cognitive performance at six months. This association held even after adjusting for age and education. Acute levels and NF-L were not predictive.
• PTOTQualitative2024The perceptions of nurses and physicians in primary care of rehabilitation for frail older adults.Clinical rehabilitationNurses and physicians knew what PTs and OTs offer but were unsure who to call or how to refer. They wanted PTs and OTs on-site and regular team meetings. Better communication routes, not more education, are the missing link for frail older adults.
• OTMeta-Analysis2024The effectiveness of social prescribing in the management of long-term conditions in community-based adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical rehabilitationSocial prescribing did not significantly improve HbA1c levels in the pooled analysis. However, some studies reported benefits for quality of life, physical activity, and diabetes-related distress. Most included trials had a high risk of bias and used varying outcome measures, limiting confidence in these positive findings.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Elevated blood pressure in children with cerebral palsy and its relationship with adiposity and physical activity.Disability and health journalChildren with cerebral palsy had higher diastolic blood pressure than matched typically developing peers. This elevation was linked to visceral fat, not body mass index or physical activity levels. Standard BMI screening may miss this risk, suggesting blood pressure checks are vital for this group.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Psychological distress and mental health diagnoses in adults by disability and functional difficulty status: Findings from the 2021 national health interview survey.Disability and health journalAdults with functional difficulty had 3.63 times greater odds of anxiety and 3.82 times greater odds of depression than those without. Psychological distress remained significantly higher in disabled adults even after controlling for these diagnoses, suggesting unmet mental health needs beyond current treatment.
• PTOTRCT2024Distal Versus Proximal Arm Improvement After Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy After Chronic Stroke.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPaired vagus nerve stimulation improved distal arm function (hand/wrist) significantly more than sham stimulation in chronic stroke patients. Proximal arm function (shoulder/elbow) improved similarly in both groups. This suggests VNS specifically targets fine motor recovery when paired with intensive therapy.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Silent Struggles: Traumatic Brain Injuries and Mental Health in Law Enforcement.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMost officers in one county reported head injuries, but screening for PTSD showed no difference between those with and without them. Depression scores were higher in officers with head injuries, yet the cross-sectional design cannot prove the injuries caused this.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Remotely Assessing Motor Function and Activity of the Upper Extremity After Stroke: A Systematic Review of Validity and Clinical Utility of Tele-Assessments.Clinical rehabilitationNo remote upper-limb assessment for stroke met the threshold for clinical utility. While some tools showed good reliability or validity, all required special equipment or training, and none scored high enough to be recommended for routine use.
• PTOTOther2025A Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation of the Maastricht Work-Related Support Intervention for Healthcare Professionals in Clinical Care.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWork-related support was poorly adopted by clinicians. Only 47% of potentially working patients had work status discussed, and clinicians cited time constraints despite positive patient reports when support was provided.
• PTOTOther2025Falls in people with mobility limitations: a cross-sectional analysis of a US registry of assistive device users.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyHalf of adults seeking mobility devices reported a fall in the past three months. Those with progressive conditions like Parkinson's or osteoarthritis fell most often, while many still used only canes or no device.
• PTOTCohort2025Is the Level of Consent to a National Research Registry Associated With Patient Outcomes After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury? A Population-Based Study From the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAfter traumatic spinal cord injury, people who gave only minimal registry consent or withdrew consent were more likely to stay longer in acute care, develop pressure injuries, and be discharged away from home. This is an association, not proof consent caused worse care.
• OTRCT2025Process Evaluation of Individual Placement and Support and Participatory Workplace Intervention to Increase the Sustainable Work Participation of People with Work Disabilities.Journal of occupational rehabilitationImplementing these employment interventions in a municipal welfare setting was difficult. Job coaches struggled to integrate with healthcare services for the IPS programme and rarely completed the structured steps required for the PWI programme.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Telerehabilitation - Historical Perspectives and Conceptual Framework in Reference to Neurological Disorders: A Narrative Review.NeuroRehabilitationThis review maps the history of telerehabilitation for neurological disorders, noting it began with speech therapy and now includes video, apps, and sensors. It identifies barriers like poor digital literacy and limited physical exam options, but does not test whether these methods improve patient outcomes.
• OTQualitative2025Lifestyle Dimensions of Public Safety Personnel Families: There's No Life Like It.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPublic safety personnel families face unique lifestyle pressures in logistics, risks, and identities. Shiftwork disrupts routines, trauma exposure causes emotional disengagement, and community expectations create tension. These factors compound normal family stressors, requiring tailored support rather than generic advice.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025The functional secondary effect after an integrated rehabilitative intervention to learn reading and writing in a girl with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA girl with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome improved in reading, writing, and digital communication after years of multidisciplinary therapy. Her test scores remained below norms, but she gained autonomy in daily life. This shows what one patient achieved, not that the method works for others.
• OTQualitative2025Including 'Work as a Treatment Goal' in the Care for Patients with Chronic Diseases : The Development of a Generic Care Model-A Descriptive Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationExperts put work goals into chronic illness care. Their model adds a work-oriented plan to treatment, starts work discussions at diagnosis, and accepts partial or no return as a valid outcome. It is not tested.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Experiences with hospital-to-home transitions: perspectives from patients, family members and healthcare professionals. A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.Disability and rehabilitationPatients and families struggle with discharge because they don't know who to call, get overwhelmed by bad information, and feel abandoned. Professionals lack time and clear roles. Success relies on early planning, knowing exactly who coordinates care, and providing simple, timely support rather than just handing over paperwork.
• OTOther2025Evaluation of the Accuracy of the Smart Work Injury Management (SWIM) System to Assist Case Managers in Predicting the Work Disability of Injured Workers.Journal of occupational rehabilitationSWIM did not predict actual sick leave or permanent disability for 442 Hong Kong injury claims. It matched only a 4-year case manager's non-litigated sick-leave estimate.
• OTCohort2025Longitudinal associations of time-varying homeboundness and life satisfaction after traumatic brain injury.Rehabilitation psychologyAfter moderate to severe TBI, people who spent more time homebound reported lower life satisfaction. Becoming homebound between follow-up visits was also linked with lower satisfaction. Asking how often patients leave home may flag a participation problem.
• PTOTSurvey2024Barriers to and enablers of physical activity participation in lung cancer survivors.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMost lung cancer survivors in this survey did not meet exercise guidelines, citing fatigue and breathlessness as main barriers. Despite this, 63% were interested in community exercise programs, preferring walking and exercising alone. Higher income and self-efficacy were linked to more activity.
• PTOTCohort2024The Kinematics of 3D Arm Movements in Sub-Acute Stroke: Impaired Inter-Joint Coordination is Attributable to Both Weakness and Flexor Synergy Intrusion.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn sub-acute stroke, impaired arm coordination is driven by both weakness and flexor synergy intrusion. Weakness alone can lower Fugl-Meyer scores without synergy presence, meaning clinical scales may reflect distinct underlying deficits depending on the patient.
• PTOTRCT2024Feasibility of a home-based home videogaming intervention with a family-centered approach for children with cerebral palsy: a randomized multiple baseline single-case experimental design.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEleven children improved on at least one chosen upper-limb daily activity after an 8-week home program that included videogame play, weekly monitoring calls and family goal setting. Only three of 13 met their weekly active playtime goal for six weeks.
• PTOTCohort2024Telemedicine impact on patient disparities and physician practice patterns in cancer rehabilitation: A multicenter retrospective study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationTelemedicine visits resulted in fewer referrals for physical and occupational therapy than in-person visits. Prescribing medications was equally likely in both settings. Older patients and those identifying as Black or White were less likely to receive telemedicine care.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Incidence and outcomes of pediatric patients with dual diagnosis of traumatic spinal cord injury and brain injury on an inpatient rehabilitation unit.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPediatric patients with spinal cord injury and suspected brain injury showed no significant difference in functional recovery compared to those with spinal injury alone. However, agitation and attention problems appeared only in the suspected brain injury group, suggesting these symptoms may signal an undiagnosed concurrent condition.
• PTOTSurvey2024The hidden crisis: Long COVID's association with housing stability and home accessibility among people with disabilities.Disability and health journalAmong adults with disabilities surveyed, those reporting Long COVID more often had unstable housing, cost worries, poor home conditions, and homes that did not support them. Therapists should ask about home access and money when planning care.
• PTOTCohort2024Nonopioid analgesic use in older patients admitted for orthopedic rehabilitation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationOlder patients in orthopedic rehab who received nonopioid pain meds were younger, had higher BMI, and prior opioid use. They got higher opioid doses than those who did not receive nonopioids, suggesting these drugs were not used to spare opioids.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Employing the International Classifications of Functioning, Disability, and Health to identify relevant categories for disability evaluation in older adults from the research perspective: a systematic review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineResearch on older adults' disability focuses almost entirely on self-care, mobility, and housework. Mental functions appear frequently, but environmental factors are largely missing from existing measures. This gap suggests current evaluations overlook how physical and social surroundings act as barriers or facilitators to daily life.
• PTOTOther2024Early Daily Activity: Development and description of an occupation-based intervention for surgically repaired distal radius Fractures.Clinical rehabilitationEarly Daily Activity is a new protocol for wrist fracture rehab that replaces prescribed exercises with light daily tasks like cooking or folding laundry. It has not been tested for effectiveness, so use it only as a structured framework for discussion, not as proven care.