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 157 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Recommendations for long-term follow-up care of secondary health conditions in spinal cord injury/disorder: a systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo existing guidelines cover all long-term health risks for spinal cord injury. Specialists should coordinate care to catch issues early, as missing follow-up visits triples mortality risk. Annual check-ups are recommended, though evidence for specific intervals remains limited.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Effects of virtual reality rehabilitation after spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality after spinal cord injury improved walking index and balance on some measures, but not lower-limb motor scores or daily living independence. Evidence is limited and mixed, so it may be an add-on, not a replacement.
• PTOTCohort2024Ambulation recovery prediction after hip fracture surgery using the Hip Fracture Short-Term Ambulation Prediction tool.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThree simple factors predict hip fracture recovery at three months. Age, pre-injury walking ability, and discharge walking status accurately forecast who will regain independence or their baseline mobility, helping therapists plan discharge and home modifications.
• OTOther2024The Gestalt of functioning in autism revisited: First revision of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Sets.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceUpdated autism ICF Core Sets add sensory, fine hand use, daily activity, and environment codes; the common brief set is not recommended until further notice.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Neurological assessment tool for screening infants during the first year after birth: The Brief-Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA shortened neurological exam for infants detected cerebral palsy with high accuracy in a retrospective study. Scores below specific age-based cut-offs identified most infants who later developed CP, supporting its use as a quick screening tool to trigger full examination.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Behavior change theory and behavior change technique use in cancer rehabilitation interventions: a secondary analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineOnly 14% of cancer rehabilitation trials explicitly reported using behavior change theory. While specific techniques like goal setting and social support appeared in more successful interventions, the total number of techniques used did not predict better functional outcomes.
• OTQualitative2024Everyday executive function issues from the perspectives of autistic adolescents and their parents: Theoretical and empirical implications.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceExecutive function struggles in autistic teens are highly context-dependent, driven by anxiety, motivation and instruction clarity rather than fixed deficits. Teens and parents report that demands often outpace development, creating tension between the teen's need for autonomy and the parent's role in organising daily life.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Dynamical network-based evaluation for neuromuscular dysfunction in stroke-induced hemiplegia during standing.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients show rigid, overly coupled muscle coordination during standing, especially without vision. This stiffness correlates with poor balance. The unaffected side compensates heavily, while the affected side's muscles contribute less, suggesting targeted training for the weak side may be needed.
• OTOther2025Atypical Impact of Action Effect Delay on Motor Performance in Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersImmediate visual feedback made key-press responses faster in both adults with autism and adults with typical development. Adults with autism did not slow down more as feedback delay increased. This is a lab timing difference, not a tested treatment effect.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Comparison of synergy extrapolation and static optimization for estimating multiple unmeasured muscle activations during walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor two post-stroke walkers, a new computer method estimated missing muscle activity more accurately than standard static optimization. It produced smoother, more realistic muscle force predictions, but this was a small technical validation, not a clinical trial.
• PTOTOther2024Role of joint interactions in upper limb joint movements: a disability simulation study using wearable inertial sensors for 3D motion capture.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRestricting one upper limb joint significantly reduced range of motion at other, non-instructed joints in healthy adults. This confirms that joint interactions heavily influence movement, suggesting clinicians should assess and treat the whole kinetic chain rather than isolated joints.
• OTSLPSurvey2024The characterization of feeding challenges in autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFeeding challenges in autistic children often start earlier than diagnosis. Caregiver reports show that early difficulties with transitions and ongoing diet restriction predict more severe sensory and behavioral feeding issues later, suggesting these are key markers for early intervention.
• OTSurvey2024School participation of autistic youths: The influence of youth, family and school factors.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceProblems with the physical school environment were the only factor linked to lower school participation after handling missing data. Age was linked to more participation in original data, but not after handling missing data. Family factors and autistic traits were not linked.
• PTOTCohort2024Rest the brain to learn new gait patterns after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors with mild impairment learned a new gait pattern more slowly than controls during practice. However, they gained more performance overnight while controls lost it. This suggests scheduling rest between sessions may help stroke patients consolidate motor learning.
• OTPilot2024Responses of several measures to different intensity levels of upper limb exergames in children with neurological diagnoses: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn children with neurological diagnoses playing upper limb exergames, heart rate variability, movement repetitions per minute, and Borg perceived exertion changed with therapist-set intensity. Skin conductance did not.
• OTSLPSurvey2024What are the autism research priorities of autistic adults in Scotland?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults in Scotland prioritized mental health, diagnosis, and lifespan services, while ranking genetic and behavioral intervention research lowest. They explicitly rejected therapies aimed at making them less autistic, favoring support that improves daily life and accessibility instead.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Instrumented assessment of lower and upper motor neuron signs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using robotic manipulation: an explorative study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA robotic wrist test detected signs of upper motor neuron loss in ALS patients. The machine measured increased reflexive force feedback, which correlated with clinical severity scores. This offers a potential objective tool to distinguish upper from lower motor neuron damage, though the sample was small and exploratory.
• OTSLPOther2024Mainstream Technologies in Facilities for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Multiple-Methods Study Using the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability Framework.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStaff said residents need individually adapted devices and caregiver time. Communication was the clearest benefit, but people who cannot state what they want may be left out. Disability-specific caregiver confidence was low.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024The effectiveness and costs of intensive stroke rehabilitation and improvements in patient pathway in Finland: a retrospective benchmarking controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke pathway changes in Lahti and Päijät-Häme were linked to more patients discharged home, fewer institutionalized, shorter episodes and lower costs, but mortality did not improve.
• OTSLPCohort2025Examining the Process and Impact of Social Problem Solving in Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn autistic children, identifying that a social problem exists predicted better parent-reported social skills more strongly than choosing good goals or solutions. Therapists should prioritize helping children recognize when a social conflict is happening before teaching specific resolution strategies.
• PTOTRCT2025Causal Mediation Analysis of Factors Influencing Physical Activity and Community Access Among People With Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson Disease.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationBaseline walking self-efficacy predicted increased physical activity, and walking capacity predicted broader community access. However, non-motor symptoms like back pain and cognitive flexibility did not mediate these relationships, suggesting direct behavioral and physical capacities drive outcomes more than indirect symptom pathways.
• OTSLPPilot2025"Optimizing Wellness and Neurorehabilitation with Mindfulness (OWNMindfulness)": feasibility of a novel mindfulness-based rehabilitation intervention for Persisting Symptoms after Concussion.Disability and rehabilitationA mindfulness program for persistent concussion symptoms was feasible and well-liked. Participants reported feeling validated and less symptomatic. However, most were receiving other rehab at the same time, so this study cannot prove the mindfulness itself caused the improvement.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Influences on the physical activity behaviour of inpatients after stroke outside of staff-led rehabilitation sessions: a systematic review.Clinical rehabilitationAfter stroke, inpatient activity outside therapy was influenced by staff time, usable ward spaces, family visitors, and rules about moving. Some supported activity; others kept patients inactive.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Validating the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Sets for Autism in a Sample of Australian School-Aged Children on the Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver ratings matched autism core sets for attention and social tasks, but missed key facilitators like assets and motivation. Many ICF terms were unclear to parents, requiring simplified definitions before clinical use.
• OTSurvey2024Occurrence and predictors of lifetime suicidality and suicidal ideation in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAmong 1164 autistic adults, 80% reported lifetime suicidal thoughts or attempts; among 421 who completed more items, half had thoughts in the past month. Loneliness, psychiatric comorbidity, and more autistic traits were associated with lifetime suicidal behavior.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Using Q-sort method to explore autistic students' views of the impacts of their anxiety at school.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students reported anxiety most strongly impacted schoolwork, making it hard to start, concentrate, or do their best. They also described freezing, masking feelings, and struggling to listen. These varied impacts mean a single anxiety profile does not fit all students.
• OTOther2024Career progression for autistic people: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults often wanted career progression but were underemployed and poorly matched to roles. Barriers included stigma, disclosure fears, organisational gaps and inaccessible promotion. Employment support and tailored pathways were reported as helpful, not proven fixes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Evaluation of Visual Disturbances After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury-A One-Year Follow-up Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOne year after mild brain injury, visual symptoms like tired eyes and blurred vision improved for most patients. However, specific eye coordination problems, particularly with distance fusion and dynamic visual acuity, remained common, suggesting these deficits do not always resolve spontaneously.
• PTOTRCT2024Rehabilitation and care after hip fracture: a cost-utility analysis of stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding intensive physiotherapy and empowerment support to usual hip fracture care produced a tiny quality-of-life gain but cost significantly more. It was not cost-effective overall. However, for patients discharged to their own homes, it may be viable without extra cost.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Mortality risk among Autistic children and young people: A nationwide birth cohort study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children and young people in this large New Zealand cohort faced more than double the mortality risk of their non-Autistic peers. The risk was substantially higher for females and for those with co-occurring intellectual disability, highlighting a critical need for targeted health and safety support.
• PTOTCohort2024Patient satisfaction with rehabilitation services following traumatic brain injury: a quality registry study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBelief in recovery was the strongest predictor of satisfaction with TBI rehabilitation, increasing odds by 2.73 times. Longer wait times decreased satisfaction odds by 61% for outpatient clinics and 50% for primary care. Higher symptom burden predicted lower satisfaction with specialized outpatient care.
• OTSurvey2024Camouflaging, not sensory processing or autistic identity, predicts eating disorder symptoms in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn 180 autistic adults, camouflaging (hiding autistic traits) uniquely predicted eating disorder symptoms. Sensory processing was related but did not uniquely predict, and autistic identity showed no association.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Impact of disability-based discrimination in healthcare on parents of children with medical complexity.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents of children with medical complexity reported that disability-based discrimination in healthcare erodes trust, increases caregiving burden through forced advocacy, and harms parental mental health. Racism and poverty-based discrimination compound these effects.
• PTOTCohort2024Epidemiological investigation of traumatic spinal cord injury caused by object strike in China: strategies for workplace safety improvement.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost spinal cord injuries from object strikes happened to male manual labourers aged 30–44. They mostly had complete paraplegia, high complication rates, and long hospital stays. Work injury insurance coverage was low, leaving many to pay out-of-pocket.
• OTOther2024Suicide risk in transition-aged autistic youth: The link among executive function, depression, and autistic traits.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAbout one-third of autistic transition-aged youth reported lifetime suicidal thoughts. Depression and everyday executive-function challenges each tracked suicide risk separately. Screening should assess mood and executive-function difficulties.
• OTSLPCohort2025Friendship in Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Related to Diverse Developmental Changes Between Toddlerhood and Adolescence.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with ASD who had friends did not show worsening social communication severity and had larger gains in socialization and daily living skills. Those without friends showed worsening social communication severity. School setting, ADHD, and anxiety did not separate the groups.
• PTOTCohort2025Sensorimotor Features and Daily Living Skills in Autistic Children With and Without ADHD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children with ADHD showed lower movement skills and more often sought sensory input or had strong reactions to it. Daily living skills were better explained by each child's autism and ADHD features than by ADHD group status.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Understanding factors influencing exercise program adherence for youth with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS).Brain injuryYouth with persistent concussion symptoms identified four key drivers for sticking to exercise programs: social support, accountability, goal setting, and structure. Weekly check-ins and clear progression templates helped overcome fear of symptom exacerbation and prioritization barriers.
• OTCohort2025Percutaneous ultrasound-guided A1 pulley release utilizing a modified 20-gauge spinal needle.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn 40 fingers from 30 patients, a procedure using lidocaine, hydrodissection, ultrasound-guided modified needle release, and steroid injection had no recurrence at 6 to 32 months and one complication. This small case series cannot separate the components.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Medical Home Care and Educational Services for Children and Youth on the Autism Spectrum: A Scoping Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren on the autism spectrum often need both medical home care and school services, but only five studies linked them and the evidence was mixed. Barriers included provider time, screening gaps, coordination rules, and funding.
• OTOther2024Navigation Training for Persons With Visual Disability Through Multisensory Assistive Technology: Mixed Methods Experimental Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn virtual reality with simulated vision loss, a haptic belt reduced collisions but increased task time and path length. Audio beeps improved path smoothness. Combined cues were the most preferred, yet did not improve every navigation measure.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Psychology of nerve injury, repair, and recovery: a systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPsychosocial factors like anxiety and PTSD are linked to worse pain and function in nerve injuries. Screening for mental health distress may help when physical tests do not match patient symptoms, as psychological state modulates recovery outcomes.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Selective nociceptive modulation using a novel prototype of transcutaneous kilohertz high-frequency alternating current stimulation: a crossover double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation40 kHz transcutaneous kilohertz stimulation raised pressure pain thresholds in healthy volunteers more than sham, with no effect on touch or strength. It was well tolerated. This is a physiological finding in pain-free people, not evidence it treats pain.
• OTCohort2024Measurement invariance of the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in autistic adolescents.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThe parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire did not work as a stable measure of emotional and behavioural difficulties in autistic UK teenagers, or as a comparable measure with non-autistic teenagers. Use it cautiously and alongside autism-specific tools.
• PTOTPilot2024Paired associative stimulation improves motor function in the upper extremity in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury: a corroborative study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFive people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury completed a 16-session paired associative stimulation programme. Motor scores in the treated hand rose modestly but missed statistical significance, while the untreated hand showed a small significant gain. Individual responses varied widely.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Embedding rehabilitation into cancer care continuum: an implementation study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEmbedding a structured rehabilitation toolkit into routine cancer care improved patient function and quality of life scores from admission to discharge. Staff reported better communication and streamlined referrals, though time constraints and access to the electronic tool remained barriers.
• OTSLPOther2025Intolerance of Uncertainty and Anxiety (but not Alexithymia) Mediate the Association Between Autistic Traits and Quality of Life.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIntolerance of uncertainty and anxiety, but not difficulty identifying emotions, explained the link between autistic traits and lower quality of life. This suggests therapists should target coping with uncertainty and anxiety management to improve wellbeing, rather than focusing solely on emotional awareness.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Psychometric Assessment of the Rett Syndrome Caregiver Assessment of Symptom Severity (RCASS).Journal of autism and developmental disordersA new caregiver questionnaire for Rett Syndrome shows preliminary promise for tracking symptom severity across movement, communication, and behavior. It correlates with clinician ratings but has not yet been proven sensitive to change, so it cannot currently confirm if a treatment works.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Relationships Between Cognitive Impairments and Motor Learning After Stroke: A Scoping Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairCognitive deficits often limit motor learning after stroke, particularly with explicit tasks and movement-quality feedback. Patients with attention or memory issues may benefit more from implicit learning and result-focused feedback. Evidence is preliminary due to small studies and inconsistent testing methods.
• OTSLPOther2025The Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire (AFEQ).Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Turkish version of the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for assessing parents of autistic children. It measures parenting experience, family life, child development, and symptoms consistently, and correlates appropriately with autism severity and family quality of life.