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 159 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2025Chronic conditions among transgender Medicare beneficiaries: Variation by race, ethnicity, and Medicaid dual-enrollment.Disability and health journalTransgender adults on disability Medicare have very high rates of chronic conditions, especially those also on Medicaid. Mental health and cardiovascular issues affect over 80% of this group. Clinicians should expect complex, overlapping health needs rather than isolated conditions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Motivation in veterans with an acute/subacute ischemic stroke did not improve cognition and functional motor recovery but reduced deaths.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineVeterans with higher motivation showed no better motor or cognitive recovery than those with lower motivation. However, the less motivated group had significantly more deaths. Do not assume low motivation predicts poor functional gains, but consider it a potential mortality risk marker.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Autistic Women's Experience of Motherhood: A Qualitative Analysis of Reddit.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic mothers described motherhood as shaped by sensory overload, masking, and stigma, but also by strengths and peer support. Online replies offered validation, advice, and solutions such as ear plugs, early bedtimes, and breaks.
• OTSurvey2025Parenting Stress in Autistic and ADHD Children: Implications of Social Support and Child Characteristics.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of autistic children and children with ADHD reported much higher parenting stress and lower social support than mothers of typically developing children. Confidant support was the only factor associated with lower parenting stress in both clinical groups.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Preparing to "Live a Life of Possibilities": Experiences of Healthcare Providers Readying Autistic Adolescents and Their Families for Independent Driving.Journal of autism and developmental disordersProviders felt unprepared to guide autistic teens toward driving due to time constraints and lack of resources. They struggled to balance adolescent independence with caregiver anxiety. Multidisciplinary teams and community referrals were identified as necessary supports for these complex family conversations.
• OTSLPOther2025Reliability, Validity and Acceptability of the PEDI-CAT with ASD Scales for Australian Children and Youth on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe PEDI-CAT (ASD) is reliable and user-friendly, but it misses key areas like community participation and environmental barriers. It scores higher on social skills than the original version, which risks underestimating support needs and funding eligibility.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Identifying autistic children: Priorities for research arising from a systematic review of parents' experiences of the assessment process.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents consistently reported that the assessment process was confusing, lengthy, and often felt hierarchical. They valued respectful, clear communication and being treated as experts on their child. Many felt overwhelmed by information during feedback, highlighting a need for structured, supportive interactions rather than just clinical data.
• PTOTQualitative2024Participation of teenagers with vision or motor impairments in leisure activities: a qualitative study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTeenagers with vision or motor impairments defined independence as doing things alone, yet valued peer presence. Vision impairments hindered participation mainly through transport issues, while motor impairments caused fatigue and pain. Gaming was the most popular activity because it allowed social connection from home.
• PTOTOther2024Design and control of a low-cost non-backdrivable end-effector upper limb rehabilitation device.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA low-cost upper limb robot moved its handle within 0.012 mm of set paths in tests on one healthy engineer. It offers passive, active and game modes, but no stroke patients were treated.
• OTOther2024Probing heterogeneity to identify individualized treatment approaches in autism: Specific clusters of executive function challenges link to distinct co-occurring mental health problems.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children grouped into three parent-reported executive function profiles. Behavior and emotion regulation profile had more anxiety, depression symptoms, and aggression; cognitive regulation profile had more attention problems. Profiles did not differ in overall executive function severity.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Does shockwave therapy lead to better pain and function than sham over 12 weeks in people with insertional Achilles tendinopathy? A randomised controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding shockwave therapy to exercise and education made no difference to pain or function compared to sham at 12 weeks. Both groups improved similarly. Shockwave therapy offers no benefit over recommended care for insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Associations between Social Experiences and Psychological Health for Autistic Youth with Low IQ.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor autistic youth with low IQ, having enough social activity matters more than how much. Higher victimization linked to lower quality of life and depression. Time with friends was the most common unmet need. Being ignored was frequent, but victimization was the stronger predictor of poor mental health.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Development of a Self-Report Measure of Prediction in Daily Life: The Prediction-Related Experiences Questionnaire.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults reported greater difficulty predicting daily events than non-autistic adults, and these self-reports matched their performance on rhythm tasks. A new 19-item questionnaire captures these prediction challenges across social, sensory, and motor domains.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Trends in the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in California: Disparities by Sociodemographic Factors and Region Between 1990-2018.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutism diagnosis rates in California have shifted from affluent, White communities to lower-income, Hispanic and Black communities. Girls are now diagnosed at a ratio closer to 3:1 with boys. Clinicians should expect rising referrals from underserved regions and younger patients presenting with later-diagnosed profiles.
• OTSLPOther2025The Role of Everyday Executive Function in Observed Social Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEveryday executive function problems predicted specific social difficulties in autistic youth. Behavior regulation issues linked to all social domains. Cognitive regulation affected awareness and communication. Emotional regulation affected motivation and communication. Sex predicted communication and cognition scores, with females rated more impaired.
• PTOTOther2025Association between muscle strength and echogenicity using greyscale ultrasound software: a diagnostic accuracy study in kidney transplant candidates.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineUltrasound brightness of the thigh muscle correlated with lower leg strength in kidney transplant candidates. A brightness score above 70 flagged weakness with fair accuracy, but the test cannot replace direct strength measurement as a standalone screening tool.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025'Nothing About Us, Without Us': Research Priorities for Autistic Girls, Women and Gender Diverse People in Australia.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic girls, women and gender diverse people in Australia prioritise research on trauma, adult support, and sensory needs over biological studies. They reject traditional therapy that ignores sensory overload and ask for clinicians who listen without gaslighting.
• PTOTOther2024Evaluating inter- and intra-rater reliability in assessing upper limb compensatory movements post-stroke: creating a ground truth through video analysis?Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationExperienced therapists agreed moderately well when rating specific arm movements in stroke videos, but disagreed heavily on overall smoothness and coordination. These wide gaps mean therapist video ratings alone are not yet reliable enough to train automated assessment tools.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024The inequity of education, health and care plan provision for children and young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRIn England, children and young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were less likely to have an education, health and care plan if they lived in more deprived areas or outside London, despite below national expected attainment scores and high emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• PTOTPilot2024Assessing hand motor function in chronic immune-mediated neuropathies: a proof-of-concept study using a data glove.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA data glove recorded lower range-of-motion scores in chronic immune-mediated neuropathy patients with hand impairment than in those without. Scores related to grip strength and disability. It may help assess hand function, but does not yet prove it guides treatment.
• OTSLPQualitative2024'Autism is the Arena and OCD is the Lion': Autistic adults' experiences of co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive restricted behaviours and interests.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults describe repetitive behaviours as intrinsic and soothing, while OCD feels like an unwanted intruder that exploits routines and interests. This distinction helps therapists differentiate symptoms, but the study reports experiences, not treatment outcomes.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Defining paediatric neurorehabilitation: You cannot improve what you cannot characterize.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCurrent labels like 'occupational therapy' or 'Bobath' hide what actually happens in the room. To see if a treatment works, therapists must specify the active ingredients and how they are delivered, rather than relying on vague job titles or session counts.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Stroke and liminality: narratives of reconfiguring identity after stroke and their implications for person-centred stroke care.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStroke survivors described an identity crisis where they felt trapped between their old and new selves. This liminal state often persisted indefinitely, driven by stigma, loss of autonomy, and a sense of powerlessness in healthcare. Professional psychological support was key to moving past this uncertainty.
• PTOTRCT2024Encouraging arm use in stroke survivors: the impact of smart reminders during a home-based intervention.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSmart reminders increased objective arm activity counts in stroke survivors but did not improve patient-reported use or clinical function scores compared to controls. The functional gains were small and below clinically meaningful thresholds, with high data loss limiting certainty.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Development of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors from 2-19: Stability and Change in Repetitive Sensorimotor, Insistence on Sameness, and Verbal Behaviors in a Longitudinal Study of Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersRestricted and repetitive behaviors in autism do not follow a single path. Most children showed declining repetitive motor behaviors, while insistence on sameness often increased then plateaued or declined. Verbal repetitive behaviors surged as language developed, then stabilized.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Physical Activity for Anxiety for Autistic People: A Systematic Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPhysical activity interventions show mixed results for anxiety in autistic people. While some studies found reductions in anxiety symptoms, others showed no significant difference compared to control groups. Evidence is limited by small sample sizes and varied measurement methods.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The Association Between Gastrointestinal Issues and Psychometric Scores in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delays, Down Syndrome, and Typical Development.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFrequent gastrointestinal issues, especially constipation, are linked to lower adaptive skills and more maladaptive behaviors in children with autism and developmental delays. These symptoms were not associated with test scores in children with Down syndrome. Clinicians should screen for GI problems when behavior worsens.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Disparities in Mortality Outcomes Among Older Adults With Communication Disabilities Using the National Health and Aging Trends Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with communication disabilities had a 46% higher risk of death over ten years than those without, even after accounting for health and other disabilities. This risk remained significant for expressive, cognitive, and multiple difficulties, but not for hearing loss alone.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Deliberate and Self-Conscious Adaptation of Eye-Contact by Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults describe eye-contact as a conscious, effortful task that competes with thinking and listening. They often look away to process information or use strategies to appear 'normal', which they find exhausting. Diagnosis or feedback often triggered this self-awareness, leading to pressure to conform rather than natural change.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Employment Outcomes Among Clients With Stroke Utilizing Public Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the United States.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke survivors using vocational rehab had a 36.4% competitive employment rate. Short-term job supports, placement help, and rehab tech linked to better outcomes. Job search assistance and assessments linked to worse outcomes. Disability benefits and longer service duration also linked to lower employment rates.
• PTOTRCT2025Overground robotic exoskeleton vs conventional therapy in inpatient stroke rehabilitation: results from a pragmatic, multicentre implementation programme.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOverground robotic exoskeletons allowed stroke patients to walk significantly further during therapy than conventional physiotherapy. However, functional gains were similar between groups overall. Only patients with moderate baseline impairment showed better motor function scores with the robot, though this finding requires cautious interpretation due to study limitations.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Effects of Motor Intervention Program on Academic Skills, Motor Skills and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA 12-week motor program improved gross motor skills, pre-academic concepts like colors and numbers, and social cooperation in autistic preschoolers. The intervention group showed significantly lower autistic index scores and fewer behavioral problems compared to the control group.
• PTOTCase Report2024Combination of traditional Chinese bone setting and NMES technique for treating lumbar disc herniation: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA 33-year-old office worker with lumbar disc herniation received a package of bone setting, electrical stimulation, stretching, strengthening and massage, followed by pain score 6 to 0 and better bending. This single case is not proof the combination works.
• PTOTCohort2024Free-living monitoring of ALS progression in upper limbs using wearable accelerometers.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWrist-worn accelerometers tracked upper limb movement decline in 202 people with ALS. Counts of flexion and extension dropped while duration increased, correlating with worsening ALSFRS-RSE scores. This objective monitoring may complement clinical scales for tracking progression.
• PTOTOther2024Predicting upper limb motor recovery in subacute stroke patients via fNIRS-measured cerebral functional responses induced by robotic training.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBrain activity measured during the first session of robotic arm training predicted short-term motor recovery better than resting scans. Combining these brain measures with basic clinical data improved accuracy, suggesting task-induced neural responses offer early prognostic insight for subacute stroke patients.
• PTOTPilot2024Dynamical complexity of postural control system in autism spectrum disorder: a feasibility study of linear and non-linear measures in posturographic analysis of upright posture.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBoys with autism showed larger standing sway and more regular sway patterns than typical boys, especially when vision was reduced or stance was narrow.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Being able to be myself: Understanding autonomy and autonomy-support from the perspectives of autistic adults with intellectual disabilities.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults with intellectual disabilities defined autonomy as being themselves. They wanted support through choice and control, communicating in their own way, and safe environments. Autistic facilitators were key to interpreting nonverbal cues and building trust.
• PTOTOther2024Proportional myoelectric control of a virtual bionic arm in participants with hemiparesis, muscle spasticity, and impaired range of motion.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTen stroke survivors with hemiparesis, including four with severe spasticity, controlled a virtual hand by muscle activity. Grasp control was similar to healthy controls; paretic extension was less accurate. This does not show a physical device helps daily tasks.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Making Video Games More Inclusive for People Living With Motor Neuron Disease: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesMost evidence on gaming for people with motor neuron disease comes from non-academic sources and lacks patient input. While customized controls and eye-gaze tech are common, 91% of reviewed papers did not include lived experience, so reliable guidance on what actually makes games fun or accessible is missing.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Cognitive-motor dual-task training on gait and balance in stroke patients: meta-analytic report and trial sequential analysis of randomized clinical trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding cognitive tasks to stroke gait or balance rehab did not clearly improve Time Up and Go or walking speed. Berg Balance Scale scores may rise, but the evidence is too small to confirm it.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Outcomes Among Transition-Age Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTransition-age autistic youth report far more adverse childhood experiences than non-autistic peers, especially bullying. Higher ACE counts link to poor general health, anxiety, depression, and physical conditions. Screening for community-based adversity like bullying is essential to identify those at risk.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2025The Relationship Between Fatigue and Quality of Life in the Turkish Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of children with autism reported significantly greater fatigue impact on their daily functioning and lower quality of life than mothers of typically developing children. Their own perceived quality of life and physical mobility were the strongest predictors of this fatigue, rather than how disruptive they found their child's specific behaviors.
• OTSLPCohort2025Mind the Gap: Executive Function Is Associated with the Discrepancy Between Cognitive and Adaptive Functioning in Autistic Children Without Cognitive Delay.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEmotional control problems were linked to a larger gap between autistic children's cognitive ability and everyday social skills, even when cognition was average. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that improving emotional control would close that gap.
• OTOther2025Social connectedness and loneliness in school for autistic and allistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic pupils in special schools were as physically connected as classmates but had fewer reciprocated friendships; loneliness did not differ overall. For autistic pupils, loneliness linked to being liked by the class, not face-to-face time.
• OTSLPCohort2025Predicting Intervention Use in Youth with Rare Variants in Autism-Associated Genes.Journal of autism and developmental disordersYouth with rare autism-associated genetic variants mostly receive speech and occupational therapy, but few receive behavioral therapy. Younger age and lower IQ predict occupational therapy use, while formal ASD diagnosis predicts behavioral therapy. Co-occurring conditions predict lower speech therapy intensity and higher use of alternative therapies.
• OTPilot2025Immersive virtual reality to assess unilateral spatial neglect in stroke patients: a preliminary study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineVR cancellation testing showed broadly similar time and performance to paper-and-pencil Bells testing, and was feasible and acceptable in 32 stroke patients. It detected neglect in all but one neglect patient in ecological VR.
• PTOTQualitative2024Professionals' Perspectives of Smart Stationary Bikes in Rehabilitation: Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesRehabilitation professionals said a smart bike should let them adjust resistance and assistance, show per-pedal data, keep interfaces simple, and support safe transfers. These are design priorities, not proof the bike improves recovery.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly postcardiac surgery patients: progress in rehabilitation application research.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis review outlines how to assess and manage cognitive decline after cardiac surgery. It highlights that while cognitive training and exercise show some promise, evidence for long-term benefits in post-cardiac surgery patients is still emerging and often mixed.
• PTOTCohort2024Development of a quantitative assessment for abnormal flexor synergy index in patients with stroke: a validity and responsiveness study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new markerless motion capture index tracks abnormal elbow flexion during shoulder lifting. It correlates with standard impairment scores and detects small functional gains after therapy. The test takes seconds, offering a quick quantitative measure for stroke rehabilitation.
• PTOTCohort2024More absolute moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with better health-related quality of life in outpatients with an acquired brain injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOutpatients with brain injury who did more absolute moderate-to-vigorous activity had better quality of life. This link held even when accounting for age and fitness. Individualized intensity thresholds showed no such association. The small sample and cross-sectional design mean this is not proof that activity causes improvement.