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 161 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPOther2024Cognitive Training Using Virtual Reality: An Assessment of Usability and Adverse Effects.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTen stroke survivors and twenty clinicians tried a new VR cognitive training program. Both groups reported only moderate usability and mild-to-moderate motion sickness. No differences in comfort or ease of use were found between experienced and novice users.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Major structural congenital anomalies and causal pathways in people with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMajor congenital anomalies are present in nearly a quarter of people with cerebral palsy, and most of these anomalies are directly involved in causing the condition. This suggests clinicians should actively look for structural anomalies when assessing aetiology.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Multiparametric MRI Assessment of Morpho-Functional Muscle Changes Following a 6-Month FES-Cycling Training Program: Pilot Study in People With a Complete Spinal Cord Injury.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesFour men with complete spinal cord injury who cycled with electrical stimulation for six months showed increased thigh muscle volume and reduced fat infiltration on MRI. These changes reversed slightly after stopping. No control group was used, so this is a feasibility check, not proof of efficacy.
• OTSLPOther2025Effects of autism spectrum disorder on parents labour market: Productivity loss and policy evaluation in Kazakhstan.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMothers of children with autism in Kazakhstan face high rates of job loss, especially if the child has a disability. New government subsidies reduce the financial penalty for these mothers, but do not help those without a disability label.
• PTOTQualitative2025"I was angry that I fell" all the way to "if I fall, I fall": a qualitative study of the spectrum of behavioral fall risk factors for veterans with dysvascular lower-limb amputation.Disability and rehabilitationVeterans with leg amputations described fall risks as a spectrum of behaviors. Key factors included trust in the prosthesis, awareness of dual-tasking, and emotional regulation. Low trust led to device abandonment, while high trust encouraged risky activities. Self-imposed activity restriction after a fall was identified as a maladaptive behavior that increases future risk.
• OTSLPQualitative2025(Re)thinking about self-harm and autism: Findings from an online qualitative study on self-harm in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults in online forums described self-harm as tied to sensory overload, meltdowns, and harmful stimming, not only conventional cutting. They said professionals misread their communication, making help-seeking unsafe.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2025Parental diagnostic delay and developmental outcomes in congenital and childhood-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1.Developmental medicine and child neurologyHalf of parents in this series did not know they had myotonic dystrophy type 1 until their child was diagnosed. Children with the congenital form faced severe early breathing and feeding issues, while both groups showed high rates of delayed speech and low cognitive scores.
• PTOTSurvey2024Nonresponse Bias on Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals' Experience of Care Quality Measure Scores.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationRoutine inpatient rehabilitation experience surveys underrepresented patients with lower cognition, stroke or brain injury, and proxy answers differed from patient answers. These scores may not represent all patients.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Entry-to-Practice Rehabilitation Competencies and the Rehabilitation Competency Framework: A Gap Analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEntry-level competency frameworks for eight rehabilitation professions align closely with the Rehabilitation Competency Framework (RCF) on practice and professionalism, but show significant gaps in leadership, research, and lifelong learning. This suggests current education prioritizes immediate clinical safety over broader professional development.
• PTOTOther2024Robotic Rigor: Validity of the Kinarm End-Point Robot Visually Guided Reaching Test in Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationRobotic movement planning metrics correlated moderately with standard dexterity tests, and reaction time distinguished those reporting hand problems. Movement correction metrics showed no significant relationship with either clinical measure, suggesting they may assess distinct aspects of motor function.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Association of Rate of Functional Recovery With Therapy Time and Content Among Adults With Acquired Brain Injuries in Inpatient Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMore OT ADL/IADL training linked to faster daily self-care gains, but more PT bed mobility training linked to slower daily mobility recovery. These observational findings suggest a mismatch between billed therapy time and functional progress rates, not proof that PT bed mobility training harms recovery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Characterizing self-reported physical activity before and during a subsequent pregnancy among parents in a familial autism cohort.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost parents of autistic children miss exercise targets, dropping to under 10% during pregnancy. While child autism traits did not predict overall activity levels, mothers of children with higher trait scores were nearly three times as likely to stop vigorous exercise when pregnant.
• PTOTCase Report2024Cryoneurolysis and Quadriplegia: A Case Report on Pain and Severe Spasticity Management.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA man with long-standing quadriplegia and severe spasticity had cryoneurolysis to hip and hand muscles. His hip and knee range of motion and hand function improved for months, and he regained some daily independence. This is one person's story, not proof the treatment works for others.
• PTOTOther2024Current Trends in Virtual Exercise Interventions Among People With Disabilities: A Scoping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationVirtual exercise programs for adults with physical disabilities were reported as effective and feasible in most included studies. Participants generally enjoyed the interventions, though some faced barriers like chronic pain, poor internet connectivity, or difficulty with the technology.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Integrating Fitness Training in Oncologic Care: Lessons Learned from a Large Telemedicine Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost patients valued regular phone contact with a physical therapist coordinator more than the exercise itself. They used these calls to reframe goals and manage fatigue. Oncologists remained skeptical, citing workflow barriers and doubts about the value of exercise for late-stage cancer.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Clinical validation of an individualized auto-adaptative serious game for combined cognitive and upper limb motor robotic rehabilitation after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe game automatically adjusted difficulty to match each person's motor and attention impairment levels. It reached an individualized challenge level within about 30 minutes, confirming the system works as designed for combined rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Barriers to healthcare predict reduced health-related quality of life in autistic adults without intellectual disability.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults in Germany reported significantly lower health-related quality of life than the general population. The number of barriers they experienced in accessing healthcare was the strongest predictor of poor mental quality of life and a key predictor of poor physical quality of life.
• PTOTRCT2025Myoelectric pattern recognition with virtual reality and serious gaming improves upper limb function in chronic stroke: a single case experimental design study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSix people with chronic stroke completed six weeks of high-dose training using myoelectric pattern recognition, virtual reality, and gaming. All six improved upper limb motor function, with five reaching the minimal clinically important difference. Follow-up data showed some deterioration.
• PTOTOther2025Insights into the dependence of post-stroke motor recovery on the initial corticospinal tract connectivity from a computational model.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA computer model suggests initial corticospinal tract strength shapes stroke upper-limb recovery. With stronger connectivity, people reached about 70% recovery quickly. With weaker connectivity, recovery was slower and more variable.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Parental experiences of raising an autistic child in Ireland: A qualitative thematic analysis.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents found navigating support services more stressful than caring for their child. They relied on peer groups and partners to cope. They appreciated individual therapists but felt parent training courses substituted for direct care. Lack of central post-diagnosis information forced many to pay privately.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Relation between Orotracheal Intubation, Inflammatory Markers, Breathing and Voice in Post-COVID-19.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationPost-COVID patients who needed intubation had longer hospital stays and higher D-dimer levels, but voice and breathing measures did not differ significantly from those who did not need intubation. Across the group, worse voice performance was linked to higher vocal fatigue.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Towards personalized immersive virtual reality neurorehabilitation: a human-centered design.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNeurorehabilitation experts described training environments for brain injury as specific, meaningful, versatile, educational, safe, and supportive. For virtual reality, they recommended adjusting stimuli, offering video instructions, realistic tasks, and monitoring fatigue. These are design recommendations, not tested treatments.
• OTQualitative2025The experiences of autistic adults who were previously diagnosed with borderline or emotionally unstable personality disorder: A phenomenological study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceTen autistic adults previously labelled with BPD/EUPD said the label was stigmatising and often followed self-harm or shutdowns that were misread. They described autism diagnosis as validating and relieving, and said it helped them get workplace or study adjustments, though autism stigma remained.
• OTSLPSurvey2025Comparing eating and mealtime experiences in families of children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dual diagnosis.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFamilies of children with autism, ADHD, or both reported more chaotic mealtimes, higher food fussiness, and greater caregiver stress than families of neurotypical children. The dual diagnosis group faced the most intense combination of these difficulties, suggesting a need for family-wide support rather than just feeding therapy.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Parental magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of fetuses with brain anomalies.Developmental medicine and child neurologyWhen a fetus had a brain anomaly similar to a parent's MRI, the child usually developed typically. This was especially true for isolated corpus callosum issues. Parents of fetuses with these 'concordant' findings were more likely to continue the pregnancy.
• OTSLPOther2024"I'm Trying to Reach Out, I'm Trying to Find My People": A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Link Between Sensory Differences, Loneliness, and Mental Health in Autistic and Nonautistic Adults.Autism in adulthoodAutistic adults reported more loneliness, distress, anxiety, depression, and sensory differences than nonautistic adults. But loneliness was linked to distress similarly in both groups. Qualitative accounts described practical barriers, yearning for connection, and needing solitude after overwhelm.
• OTSLPCase-Control2024Changes in Autism and Co-Occurring Conditions from Preschool to Adolescence: Considerations for Precision Monitoring and Treatment Planning.Journal of autism and developmental disorders85.5% of children diagnosed with autism in preschool still had it by adolescence. Children with autism also gained ADHD, DD, sensory integration and speech-language conditions more often than children with other developmental or mental health diagnoses.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Overview of Effects of Motor Learning Strategies in Neurologic and Geriatric Populations: A Systematic Mapping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost trials on motor learning strategies in older adults had weak methods. Only 5 studies were reliable enough to interpret. Results were mixed: dual-task and observational learning showed some promise in specific groups, but firm conclusions on effectiveness cannot be drawn.
• OTSLPPilot2025The development, feasibility and acceptability of Empower-Autism: A new psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic programme for caregivers of children recently diagnosed with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCaregivers of recently diagnosed autistic children found a group mixing autism psychoeducation and ACT feasible: 14 of 19 in-person attended at least 3 of 5, 8 of 10 online attended at least 6 of 10, and satisfaction was high, but content felt too much.
• OTRCT2025Effects of home-based virtual reality upper extremity rehabilitation in persons with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 14 people with chronic stroke, adding home VR task practice to weekly occupational therapy improved arm movement and hand use more than conventional home exercises with the same weekly therapy. The study was small and baseline scores differed.
• PTOTOther2025Residual limb neuropathic pain association with neuroma, prosthetic, function, and participation outcomes in individuals living with a transtibial amputation: an exploratory study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineHigher residual-limb pain in 22 people with transtibial amputations was linked with greater pain-related life disruption and a common fibular neuroma. Neuroma size did not track pain, but tingling with pressure on a superficial fibular neuroma did.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Factors influencing participation and engagement in post-stroke cardiac rehabilitation and exercise: an exploratory qualitative study.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationStroke survivors and staff identified barriers like transport costs, fatigue, and lack of stroke-specific training. Enablers included social connection, adapted exercises, and supportive staff. Home-based classes were unpopular due to lost camaraderie. Prioritising accessible venues and staff upskilling may improve engagement.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Within-session propulsion asymmetry changes have a limited effect on gait asymmetry post-stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIncreasing paretic propulsion with biofeedback reduced propulsion asymmetry but did not significantly improve overall gait asymmetry. Clinicians should not expect single-limb propulsion training to automatically normalize the entire walking pattern.
• PTOTCohort2025Plantar sensation associates with gait instability in older adults.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOlder adults with poorer plantar sensation showed greater gait instability during normal walking and when pulled sideways. No link was found for slip-like or visual disturbances. This suggests foot sensation matters most for lateral balance, but does not prove treating it prevents falls.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Outdoor experiences and outdoor-based activities and interventions for individuals with spinal cord injury: a systematic scoping review.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with spinal cord injury often find joy and freedom in outdoor activities, but face barriers like inaccessible terrain and high equipment costs. Most evidence describes experiences rather than testing whether outdoor rehabilitation improves health outcomes.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Clinical utility and psychometric properties of tools for early detection of developmental concerns and disability in young children: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurology67 validated tools are recommended for screening and assessing children from birth to 5 years 11 months. The ASQ-3 is best multi-domain screen; GMA is strongest early CP screen; SACS-R is best autism screen.
• PTOTCase Report2024Case Report: Targeted plasticity in spinal cord injury-the role of focal muscle vibration and neurocognitive rehabilitation in adaptative synaptic change along sensory and motor circuit.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne patient with chronic spinal cord injury improved walking speed from 0.2 to 0.4 m/s and reduced pain scores after five weeks of combined vibration and neurocognitive therapy. Because many treatments were given together, the specific contribution of vibration cannot be isolated.
• PTOTCohort2025Effect of baseline values on inpatient rehabilitation outcomes after total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective observational study.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients entering knee rehab with the worst mobility and self-reported scores improved the most, but those starting with the best scores also improved. Baseline values did not predict who would benefit, so all patients should receive standard inpatient rehabilitation regardless of initial severity.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Biomechanical models in the lower-limb exoskeletons development: a review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBiomechanical models guide exoskeleton design by predicting metabolic savings and joint loads before human trials. However, most simulations test healthy users, not patients, and lack experimental validation, so predicted benefits may not translate to clinical populations.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Journeys towards accessing an autism diagnosis and associated support: A survey of families of autistic children in Ecuador.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFamilies of autistic children in Ecuador face fragmented care, paying out of pocket for diagnosis and relying heavily on the internet for support. They urgently need clear diagnostic pathways and evidence-based information. Clinicians must recognise that families are proactive but lack professional guidance and accessible services.
• PTOTPilot2025Ultralight wheelchair part failures are associated with sensor-monitored road shocks: A pilot study.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNASensor-monitored road shocks correlated with wheelchair part failures in seven active users. Participants preferred smart technology for servicing alerts over self-maintenance alone, suggesting technician-led, data-driven care could better prevent breakdowns and injuries.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Clinician-caregiver informant discrepancy is associated with sex, diagnosis age, and intervention use among autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceClinicians rated boys higher than caregivers, but rated girls lower than caregivers. This discrepancy linked to earlier diagnosis and more intervention hours. Therapists should note that girls may appear less impaired in clinic than at home due to camouflaging.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Review of upper extremity passive joint impedance identification in people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPassive arm resistance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is not just stiffness; it changes with position, speed, contractures, and multi-joint coupling. For assistive arm supports, the review describes slow ramp movements across the full range as the best way to capture this resistance.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Outcome measures in muscular dystrophy rehabilitation: an ICF content comparison approach to the most commonly used MD scales.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe 116 included studies used 142 outcome measures, mostly covering activity, participation and body functions. Speech, swallowing, cognitive and environmental domains were not common.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Health and Health Care Utilization Outcomes for Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: A 1-Year Longitudinal Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOne year after injury, people with traumatic brain injury used significantly more health care than matched controls without injury. They had higher rates of emergency visits, hospital admissions, and new diagnoses, including headaches and anxiety. This suggests a need for closer long-term monitoring.
• PTOTCohort2025Construct validity and responsiveness of clinical upper limb measures and sensor-based arm use within the first year after stroke: a longitudinal cohort study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationClinical scores and real-world arm use measure different things. A 4-point improvement in motor recovery did not guarantee patients felt better. Use arm use data to see how much patients actually use the arm, not just how well they can move it.
• OTCohort2025Natural history of cerebral visual impairment in children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn children with cerebral palsy and cerebral visual impairment, some visual functions changed with age. Optic disc abnormalities and strabismus became more common, while fixation, pursuit, saccades, acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual fields improved. No treatment was tested.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation combined with robotic-assisted body weight-supported treadmill training enhances motor score and gait recovery in incomplete spinal cord injury: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation to robotic treadmill training improved leg strength and walking speed more than sham stimulation at one-month follow-up. The effect appeared after the stimulation phase ended, not immediately, and the study was small.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Functional independence trajectories over 5 years in older veterans with traumatic brain injury: A model systems study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFunctional independence declined over five years in older veterans with TBI. Those with longer posttraumatic amnesia or preinjury substance use had lower scores and steeper drops. Clinicians should monitor these high-risk groups closely, as their recovery trajectory is worse than average.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions in patients with colorectal cancer: an overview of systematic reviews.Journal of rehabilitation medicineExercise and prehabilitation improve fitness and quality of life, but evidence for fatigue and mental health is weak. Nutritional supplements cut surgical infections, while acupuncture speeds gut recovery. Results vary widely because studies used different doses and timelines, so no single best rehabilitation method was identified.