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 154 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2025Racial disparities in prosthesis abandonment and mobility outcomes after lower limb amputation from a dysvascular etiology in a veteran population.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationOverall prosthesis abandonment was low, but rural Black veterans abandoned their prostheses far more often than others. Urban Black veterans were less likely to achieve advanced mobility. Depression strongly worsened these disparities in both groups.
• OTCohort2025Transitioning vision rehabilitation patients from over-the-counter magnifiers to prescribed aids.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyMost patients who bought their own magnifiers found them unhelpful, yet clinicians successfully prescribed better aids to them. Trying an over-the-counter magnifier predicted a higher chance of receiving and keeping a prescribed optical or electronic device, rather than blocking further care.
• PTOTCohort2025Disability severity and risk of new or recurrent intimate partner violence - Evidence from a cohort study in rural Pakistan.Disability and health journalIn rural Pakistan, mothers with medium or high disability severity faced a higher risk of psychological, physical, and sexual intimate partner violence in the following year compared to those with low severity. The risk was elevated for all violence types, suggesting disability severity predicts future IPV.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Centering the person in development of a model of care for people with Parkinson's disease: a qualitative study.Disability and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's and their care partners described feeling overwhelmed by fragmented care. They wanted a single coordinator to manage referrals, clear information on daily life and medications, and community groups to reduce isolation and stigma.
• PTOTSurvey2025Clinician perceptions of a novel wearable robotic hand orthosis for post-stroke hemiparesis.Disability and rehabilitationMost therapists said they would use this prototype hand device for both therapy and daily tasks. They preferred supervised clinical settings over home use and wanted setup to take under five minutes. This reflects their opinions on a video demonstration, not proven patient outcomes.
• OTPilot2025Development and pilot administration of the amputation-related pain and sensation assessment tool.Disability and rehabilitationAn illustrated tool helped 50 Veterans with lower limb amputation describe residual limb pain, phantom limb sensation, and phantom limb pain. Many used overlapping words, so pictures may help clinicians sort the experiences. It is not yet tested for reliability or validity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Socioeconomic factors in inflicted traumatic brain injury: Examining the area deprivation index.Rehabilitation psychologyIn children with inflicted brain injury, a neighborhood deprivation index did not predict death, intensive care stay, or follow-up visits. Hispanic/Latino children lived in more deprived neighborhoods. Older children were more likely to die, stay longer in intensive care, and have fewer visits.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024What factors at discharge predict physical activity and walking outcomes 6 months after stroke? A systematic review.Clinical rehabilitationPhysical capability at discharge predicts walking and activity outcomes up to six months after stroke, but explains only part of the result. Cognitive function and pre-stroke activity levels also contribute significantly. Clinicians should assess these factors to tailor discharge planning and anticipate needs for ongoing care.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Relationships between physical activities performed under free-living conditions and non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical rehabilitationIn people with Parkinson's, more everyday physical activity was associated with better cognition and fewer anxiety, depression or apathy symptoms, but not with sleep, fatigue or pain. These are associations, not proof that activity improves symptoms.
• PTOTCohort2024Learning-to-learn as a metacognitive correlate of functional outcomes after stroke: a cohort study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors who improved their motor learning speed during a brief computerized task achieved greater gains in daily independence. This link was strongest in younger participants. The association weakened with age, suggesting learning capacity may decline as a predictor of recovery in older adults.
• PTOTCohort2024Accuracy of Physiotherapist Predictions for Independent Walking After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPhysiotherapists accurately predicted if stroke patients would walk independently by 26 weeks but were poor at predicting when. The TWIST tool was more accurate than clinicians for early recovery timeframes. Experience and confidence did not improve prediction accuracy.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Considerations for developing complex post-stroke upper limb behavioural interventions: An international qualitative study.Clinical rehabilitationExperts and stroke survivors agreed that upper limb recovery needs complex, personalised interventions where engagement, content, dose, and the therapist's skill interact. They warned against treating any single element in isolation, emphasizing that real-world participation matters as much as impairment scores.
• PTOTCohort2024Identifying discriminant factors between phantom limb pain, residual limb pain, and both in people with lower limb amputations: a cross-sectional study.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationPeople with above-knee amputations had 2.7 times higher odds of phantom limb pain alone compared to those with below-knee amputations. However, having both phantom and residual limb pain did not worsen functional independence or walking participation compared to having just one type of pain.
• PTOTCohort2025Peripheral neuropathy prevalence and effect on mobility 12 months after prosthesis prescription among individuals with dysvascular lower extremity amputation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationVeterans with dysvascular lower limb amputation and peripheral neuropathy were less likely to achieve independent basic and advanced mobility with a prosthesis 12 months after prescription. The risk was higher for those with transfemoral amputation or major depressive disorder. Screen for neuropathy and depression early in rehabilitation.
• PTOTCohort2025Predictive utility of self-efficacy in early stroke rehabilitation.Topics in stroke rehabilitationIn 30 stroke patients, higher self-efficacy on admission predicted greater functional independence gains during inpatient rehab. This link held for the whole group but disappeared once age and stroke timing were considered. It only predicted recovery in those with moderate to severe arm weakness.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025A Directed Content Analysis for Greatest Problems Among People With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPeople with TBI identified financial management and relationship adjustments as their greatest recent problems. Unlike other groups, their top concerns were emotional and cognitive abilities rather than just participation barriers. This suggests care should prioritize addressing mood, family dynamics, and daily functioning challenges alongside physical rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress in women with and without brain injuries due to intimate partner violence: Psychometric evaluation of measurement approaches and group comparisons.Rehabilitation psychologyCommon mental health screens work well for women with brain injuries from partner violence. Differences in depression and PTSD symptoms between those with and without injuries disappeared when accounting for the severity of the violence itself.
• OTSLPQualitative2025"I'm completely off base here on what this child is capable of": A qualitative analysis of how medical ableism manifests in PICU clinicians' care of children with severe neurological impairment.Disability and health journalPICU clinicians admitted they often underestimate children with severe neurological impairment because they only see them at their sickest. They suggested using photos of the child at home and asking parents specific questions to correct these biases and provide more personalized care.
• PTOTCohort2025The relationship of hip strength to walking and balance performance in unilateral lower limb prosthesis users differs by amputation level.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFor transtibial users, residual limb hip strength predicts walking and balance. For transfemoral users, only intact limb hip abductor strength matters. Rehabilitation should target the specific hip muscles associated with the patient's amputation level.
• PTOTQualitative2025Influencers of participation in social roles and activities among women veterans with lower extremity amputations: an exploratory qualitative study.Disability and rehabilitationWomen Veterans with leg amputations described sweat inside the prosthesis, body-image worries, and limited footwear as barriers to going out and daily activities. They also said prosthetic care often ignored women's needs.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024High-Frequency rTMS Broadly Ameliorates Working Memory and Cognitive Symptoms in Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke patients receiving high-frequency rTMS over the left prefrontal cortex for two weeks showed significantly better working memory scores than those receiving sham stimulation. These improvements in memory, attention, and daily living tasks persisted for four weeks after treatment ended.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2024Increased Auditory Dual Task Cost During Gait Initiation in Adult Patients With Persistent Concussion Symptoms.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAdults with persistent concussion symptoms showed greater dual-task cost during gait initiation than healthy controls. They reduced forward and lateral movement when adding a cognitive task, suggesting they prioritize hearing over balance. This may increase fall risk in noisy environments.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024An overview of the effects and mechanisms of transcranial stimulation frequency on motor learning.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTranscranial alternating current stimulation effects on motor learning vary widely by frequency, timing, and brain location. Alpha and beta sometimes improve learning but can impair consolidation depending on age and site. Gamma shows mixed results, with high frequencies often aiding retention while slow frequencies disrupt it. No universal protocol exists.
• PTOTCohort2024Analysis of a newly developed multidisciplinary program in the Middle East informed by the recently revised spina bifida guidelines.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn a Qatar spina bifida clinic, shunts, continence problems, and mobility-device needs were common among 117 patients. Recorded gaps included orthotics, wheelchairs, school access, and catheter supplies. This is descriptive, not outcome evidence.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Brain-Hand Function Relationships Based on Level of Grasp Function in Chronic Left-Hemisphere Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairHand function relates to different brain networks depending on severity. In severe grasp impairment, contralesional connectivity matters most. In moderate impairment, corticospinal tract integrity predicts function. In mild impairment, neither motor connectivity nor tract integrity correlated with hand function.
• PTOTCohort2024Associations Between Rehabilitation Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Costs Among Older Adults With Breast Cancer in the United States.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder breast cancer survivors who used rehab in the first year had higher average out-of-pocket costs than those who did not. However, they had lower median costs and less spending on hospital stays and equipment. The overall difference was too small to be clinically meaningful.
• PTOTCase Report2024"Virtual reality fixed me": A case report of the use of virtual reality during intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA child in intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment described virtual reality as helping her move, reduce pain focus, and feel safe. Therapists observed improvements, but this is a single person, not proof virtual reality works.
• PTOTOther2024Combined knee osteoarthritis and diabetes is associated with reduced muscle strength, physical inactivity, and poorer quality of life.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOlder adults with both knee osteoarthritis and diabetes had significantly lower muscle strength and physical activity than those with either condition alone. However, diabetes did not worsen knee pain, and the combined group did not show higher fall risk than those with knee pain alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025A Role for Health Literacy in Protecting People With Limited English Proficiency Against Falling: A Retrospective, Cohort Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationLimited English proficiency nearly tripled fall odds in rehab. Inadequate health literacy raised that risk fourfold, while adequate literacy kept risk comparable to English speakers. Language barriers and reading difficulty, not cognition alone, drove falls.
• OTSurvey2025The role of perceived social support in subjective wellbeing among working-age U.S. adults with and without limitations in activities of daily living.Disability and health journalWorking-age U.S. adults with activities of daily living limitations reported lower happiness, meaning in life, and life satisfaction than peers without limitations. Perceived emotional and instrumental support were linked to better wellbeing, but support did not erase all differences.
• PTOTSurvey2025Predicting adherence to ankle-foot orthoses in people with stroke: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalStroke survivors who felt confident using their ankle-foot orthosis and held positive attitudes were significantly more likely to wear it as recommended. Social pressure from others did not predict adherence. Clinicians should focus on building patient confidence and ensuring a positive initial fitting experience.
• PTOTQualitative2024Assessment of mood after severe acquired brain injury: Interviews with UK clinical psychologists and medical professionals.Clinical rehabilitationClinical psychologists and medical professionals assessing mood after severe brain injury described no agreed method. They adjusted standardised measures, relied on simple conversation, team and family observations over time, and formulation, and warned that injury symptoms can look like depression.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Effectiveness of telerehabilitation versus face-to-face pulmonary rehabilitation on physical function and quality of life in people with post COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFace-to-face pulmonary rehabilitation improved physical function and quality of life more than telerehabilitation or usual care. Telerehabilitation also helped compared to usual care, but the evidence for it was less certain. Choose the delivery method that best suits the patient's access and preferences.
• PTOTRCT2024Efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea; a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding 20 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise to positive airway pressure therapy improved walking distance, daily living activities, and sleep-related oxygen levels in patients with both COPD and sleep apnea, compared to airway pressure therapy alone.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Exploring the perspectives of health care professionals on digital health technologies in pediatric care and rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationClinicians planning to use more digital tools valued their patient benefits but worried they might harm the therapeutic relationship. Ease of use predicted successful adoption, while lack of training and poor infrastructure predicted failure. Barriers differed by technology type.
• PTOTOther2024Shaping corticospinal pathways in virtual reality: effects of task complexity and sensory feedback during mirror therapy in neurologically intact individuals.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationUnilateral mirroring and complex tasks increased brain-to-muscle excitability in healthy adults. However, adding visuo-tactile stimulation decreased excitability. This suggests complex tasks may prime therapy, but sensory feedback before mirroring might inhibit the neural response.
• OTCohort2024Early predictors of long-term participation in patients with severe acquired traumatic injury discharged from Intensive Rehabilitation Unit.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 60 severe TBI survivors, median long-term community integration was 11 of 28, with productive activity lowest; younger age was the only early factor associated with higher scores.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Efficacy of selective neurotomy for focal lower limb spasticity: a systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSelective neurotomy reduced leg muscle tone in 95% of treated patients and often improved walking speed and pain. However, 25 of 26 included studies were low quality with high risk of bias, so these results are not yet reliable evidence that the surgery works.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024A new modular neuroprosthesis suitable for hybrid FES-robot applications and tailored assistance.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new modular FES system worked in four people with stroke or spinal cord injury, but kinematic changes varied. Removing gastrocnemius stimulation improved dorsiflexion in one case. This is a device test, not proof of clinical benefit.
• PTOTOther2024Simulated real-world feasibility and feedback session for a lift assistance device, Raymex™: a mixed-method descriptive study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParticipants found the Raymex lift useful for getting up from the floor and as a walker. They also raised design concerns, including confusing brake buttons, seat comfort, noise, weight, and price. This was feedback on this device version, not proof it prevents falls.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core sets for deafblindness, part II of the systematic review: linking data to the ICF categories.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineDeafblindness in adults is characterized by challenges in listening, seeing, and hearing, alongside emotional impacts. Communication assistive technology and interpersonal relationships are central to functioning. Current classification systems miss key personal factors and accessibility needs, requiring more specific coding.
• PTOTOther2024Cortical activity during online motor control in children with and without developmental coordination disorder: a cross-sectional functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with DCD took significantly longer to correct reaching movements when a target shifted. They showed less brain activation in the left superior parietal cortex during these corrections. This reduced activation correlated with their slower movement times, suggesting a difficulty processing real-time sensory feedback.
• OTOther2024Strategic insights from a Delphi study: enhancing employment for multiply marginalized people with disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesExperts prioritized emergency preparedness training, disability-aware education, assistive technology, accommodations, benefit rules, and poverty supports to improve employment for multiply marginalized disabled people.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024The Minimal assessment Protocol for Cerebral Stroke 2020 (PMIC2020): a multicenter feasibility study in post-stroke inpatient rehabilitation.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe updated stroke assessment protocol took about 27 minutes at admission and 18 minutes at discharge. It was feasible in eight rehabilitation centers, with less than 10% dropouts. Severe disability predicted longer administration times, but most clinicians rated the tool as good or very good.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Heart rate variability activity in soccer athletes after a musculoskeletal injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineInjured soccer players showed altered heart rate variability patterns compared to when they returned to play, specifically lower LF power and LF/HF ratio with higher HF power immediately after injury. These autonomic shifts suggest HRV could help detect injury or guide return-to-play decisions.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025New-onset hydrocephalus in an adult with cerebral palsy: A case report and review of the literature.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA 27-year-old woman with cerebral palsy developed new hydrocephalus, causing severe spasms and pain. An MRI revealed enlarged ventricles. Shunt surgery resolved her symptoms rapidly. This case suggests clinicians should investigate neurologic causes for new or worsening hypertonia in adults with cerebral palsy.
• PTOTOther2025Crosswalking 4 Pain Impact Measures in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adults With Back Pain.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationEquations and tables allow researchers to convert scores between four common back pain measures. The Oswestry Disability Index and PEG translate well to the Impact Stratification Score. The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire translates less accurately.
• PTOTRCT2025A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection for the treatment of upper limb spasticity in adults after stroke or traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn adults with upper limb spasticity after stroke or TBI, at Week 6 the highest DAXI dose lowered muscle tone more than placebo, but physician-rated overall improvement did not.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Health outcomes of former division I college athletes.Brain injuryFormer collision sport athletes reported more cognitive complaints, impulsivity, rage, and sleep apnea than non-collision athletes. However, the 6.2% response rate means these findings may reflect selection bias, so they do not prove collision sports cause these health issues.
• PTOTRCT2024Immersive visualization of movement in patients with hemophilic ankle arthropathy. Multicenter, single-blind, randomized clinical trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineWatching 15-minute immersive ankle movement videos daily for 4 weeks reduced joint pain in patients with hemophilic ankle arthropathy. Pain scores dropped by about 1 point on a 10-point scale, a change seen in 75% of participants.