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 162 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2024Validation of a tri-axial accelerometer for measuring physical activity in patients with subacute stroke.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe Active Style Pro accelerometer accurately estimated energy expenditure during walking and reaching in patients with subacute stroke who could walk independently. Scores were similar regardless of whether the device was worn on the affected or unaffected side.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Do maternal and paternal education protect against developmental delays?Research in developmental disabilitiesMaternal education is associated with lower odds of developmental delays in children's second and third years, but not the first. Paternal education shows a similar trend only when maternal education is not considered, suggesting maternal factors are the primary driver.
• PTOTQualitative2025Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients who underwent secondary amputation after failed limb salvage described the surgery as a relief from chronic infection, not a loss. They emphasized that discussing amputation as a future option early in their care helped them cope and improved their quality of life.
• PTOTPilot2025Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAdding the FEPSim device to standard hand therapy improved grip strength and passive wrist flexion more than standard equipment alone. However, patient-reported pain and disability did not show a difference between the groups. This small pilot trial suggests the device is feasible but requires a larger study to confirm its effectiveness.
• PTOTQualitative2025Advancing stroke rehabilitation: the role of wearable technology according to research experts.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyStroke researchers believe wearable technology is vital for measuring real-world movement but too burdensome for routine use due to cost, data overload, and poor integration into clinical workflows.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A 3D approach to understanding heterogeneity in early developing autisms.Molecular autismData-driven clustering of early development scores splits autism into two distinct types. Type I shows profound delays and slower growth in language and motor skills. Type II shows relative strengths and faster development. This distinction holds across independent datasets and predicts different brain biology.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Caregiver perceptions of usual care home programs for persons with acquired brain injury: a qualitative descriptive study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCaregivers of people with acquired brain injury valued home programs but described limited training and repetitive exercises. They mostly encouraged rather than directly participated, and reported motivation, boredom, fatigue, and system barriers as key to engagement.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Phenome-wide profiling identifies genotype-phenotype associations in Phelan-McDermid syndrome using family-sourced data from an international registry.Molecular autismChildren with larger 22q13 deletions in Phelan-McDermid syndrome had more severe motor delays, feeding problems, and medical issues like kidney defects. However, they showed less verbal speech, self-care, and social interaction. They were also less likely to have autism or ADHD diagnoses than those with smaller deletions.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Parent Perspectives on Parent-Mediated Intervention for Young Children With Down Syndrome.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents want home-based interventions to fit existing routines, involve siblings, and require brief sessions. Time pressure and feeling unqualified were major barriers. Clinicians should design parent-led programmes to be short, structured, and embedded in daily life rather than adding new tasks.
• PTOTRCT2025Timing of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation to the nondominant primary motor cortex fails to modulate cortical hemodynamic activity and improve motor sequence learning.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStimulating the brain before or during a finger-tapping task made no difference to learning or brain activity in healthy older adults. Neither timing improved performance over sham stimulation, and no change in blood oxygen levels was detected.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The impact of mobilization training time during the first postoperative week on the length of hospital stay in postoperative patients admitted to an intensive care unit.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMore mobilization training in the first week after surgery linked to shorter hospital stays. Each extra hour of sitting, standing, or walking during therapy associated with 4.02 fewer days in hospital. Total therapy time did not predict stay length once patient severity was adjusted.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation interventions on cognitive impairment: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationrTMS improved language and executive function scores in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, but evidence quality was low and effects varied widely between patients. tDCS showed no consistent benefit for global cognition, attention, or mood symptoms.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Parent concerns prior to an assessment of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents' concerns before an autism assessment vary widely. Speech and language issues were the most common concern across all studies, ranging from 27% to 84%. However, social concerns were much more frequent in older children, while parents of children later diagnosed with other conditions focused more on behaviour and medical issues.
• PTOTCohort2025Machine learning techniques for independent gait recovery prediction in acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA machine learning model predicted independent walking recovery in stroke patients more accurately than standard statistics. It relied on the Timed Up and Go test, brain scan markers, and cognitive scores to identify those likely to recover gait by 90 or 180 days.
• PTOTCohort2025Natural history of gait patterns in untreated children with bilateral cerebral palsy in a low-income country setting.Developmental medicine and child neurologyUntreated children with bilateral cerebral palsy show highly variable gait patterns, but hip and knee movement ranges decrease with age. This supports prioritizing interventions to maintain hip and knee extension, rather than assuming a uniform progression from equinus to crouch gait.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Global State of the Art and Science of Childhood Dysphagia: Similarities and Disparities in Burden.DysphagiaThis review maps the rising burden of childhood dysphagia, noting it affects 2-4% of US children under 5 and up to 99% of those with cerebral palsy. It argues that care must be multidisciplinary and tailored to the whole child, not just the swallow.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Dysphagia Assessments as Criteria in the 'Decision-Making Process' for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement in People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaDysphagia is a common trigger for PEG placement in ALS, but the tools used to measure it vary widely across studies. There is no single agreed-upon assessment or threshold. Clinicians must rely on multidisciplinary judgment rather than a specific test score to decide when to insert a feeding tube.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Cerebral palsy characteristics in term-born children with and without detectable perinatal risk factors: A cross-sectional study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTerm-born children with cerebral palsy and no detectable perinatal risk factors had milder motor and communication impairments than those with risk factors. They were more likely to have unilateral spastic CP and focal brain injuries, particularly venous stroke, despite normal birth histories.
• PTOTPilot2025PhantomAR: gamified mixed reality system for alleviating phantom limb pain in upper limb amputees-design, implementation, and clinical usability evaluation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEight transradial amputees used a mixed-reality virtual arm for one session and reported less phantom limb pain, with high usability. No control group means this shows feasibility, not proof it works.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Can muscle synergies shed light on the mechanisms underlying motor gains in response to robot-assisted gait training in children with cerebral palsy?Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot gait training improved gross motor function and gait quality in children with cerebral palsy, but changes in muscle coordination patterns did not reliably predict who improved. One child showed a clear link between better coordination and gains, but this was not seen across the group.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025A systematic review: Which psycho-social-environmental factors do autistic students identify as being important for positive experiences in mainstream secondary school?Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students prioritise understanding from adults, peer acceptance, and agency over sensory needs. They benefit from predictable environments, shared interests, and tools to communicate limits. Support should be tailored to fluctuating needs and respect boundaries to avoid negative peer judgement.
• PTOTCohort2025Etiological factors and clinical outcomes in extracapsular and intracapsular hip fractures among older adults: A gender-specific analysis.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationOlder women with extracapsular hip fractures are significantly less likely to return home and more likely to need rehabilitation or readmission than those with intracapsular fractures. Men with the same fracture types showed no difference in discharge outcomes. Risk factors for severe fractures differed by gender.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Aquatic exercise interventions in the treatment of musculoskeletal upper extremity disorders: A scoping review.Clinical rehabilitationAquatic exercise for upper limb issues is almost exclusively studied in shoulder conditions, especially after rotator cuff repair. It is rarely delivered alone, usually mixed with land-based therapy, manual work, or injections. We cannot tell if the water itself adds benefit, and reporting is too poor to guide practice.
• OTSLPQualitative2025'I wouldn't want one or the other': Understanding parents' preferences for direct support or parent coaching for young autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents valued both direct therapy and parent coaching but preferred direct support when forced to choose. They found coaching overwhelming or stressful, while direct therapy relieved them of the pressure to deliver treatment themselves and appeared to benefit the child more.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Characterizing the attitudes, proficiency, and usage patterns for daily technology among older adults with a cognitive impairment.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyOlder adults with mild cognitive impairment, traumatic brain injury, or post-stroke cognitive impairment reported positive attitudes and proficiency with technology. They used social and domestic tools most often, but transportation and leisure technologies least. Age was a barrier, while interest and comfort predicted usage.
• OTRCT2025Coming to my own wisdom: A qualitative study exploring the role of the Take Charge intervention in stroke recovery.Clinical rehabilitationStroke survivors who received Take Charge said being listened to and setting their own goals helped them regain confidence. Control participants also took charge, but did not describe feeling heard or speak with the same hope.
• OTPilot2024Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA mechanical pen holder helped six people with movement disorders write more legibly and faster. It stabilized the pen orientation and dampened tremors. The device is a prototype, so this shows potential rather than proven clinical effectiveness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Developmental trajectories in infants and pre-school children with Neurofibromatosis 1.Molecular autismChildren with NF1 showed slower cognitive and motor development from 5 months, with clear differences by 24 months. Autism traits were high at 24 months but dropped at 36 months, likely due to remote testing. Screen and refer for intervention by age 2.
• PTOTRCT2025Cardiopulmonary exercise tests in people with chronic stroke: Interpretation and clinical application.Clinical rehabilitationMost treadmill exercise tests in chronic stroke stop due to walking problems, not heart or lung limits. Only 1.9% met criteria for a true maximal effort. Peak oxygen consumption from these tests likely underestimates fitness. Consider alternative modalities or clinical judgment for training intensity.
• OTOther2025Outcomes from a Driving and Community Mobility Intervention Designed for Novice Drivers with Autism from the Perspective of the Participants and Their Parents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParticipants and parents reported better perceived driving and community mobility knowledge and skills after an occupational therapy bootcamp, but perceived executive-function changes were mostly absent and parents rated their child's driving anxiety as higher afterward.
• OTSLPCohort2025Cognitive and academic outcomes in children with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with MOGAD showed a sharp rise in school support needs after onset. Nearly 40% required interventions like extra time or assistants, up from under 9% before. This occurred even in those with optic neuritis who had normal vision, suggesting the disease itself impacts learning.
• PTOTQualitative2025Understanding the complexity of decision-making for mothers of young children with ambulatory cerebral palsy: A qualitative phenomenological study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMothers of children with ambulatory cerebral palsy describe decision-making as a constant trade-off between clinical gains and family survival. They report high uncertainty and administrative burden, often skipping therapy to protect work, money, or their child's happiness. Clinical success is not the only goal.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Neuroimaging and cognitive correlates of postural control in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPoorer cognition, especially executive function, is linked to worse balance in Parkinson's. Brain scans show patients rely more on conscious cortical control for posture. However, protocols varied widely, so no single test or intervention is proven.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2025Cerebellar haemorrhage and atrophy in infants born extremely preterm with intraventricular haemorrhage.Developmental medicine and child neurologyExtremely preterm infants with both intraventricular and cerebellar haemorrhage had significantly lower motor and cognitive scores at age two. Cerebellar atrophy predicted worse outcomes across all domains. These MRI findings help identify high-risk infants early for targeted therapy and counselling.
• PTOTOther2025The impact of neck pain and movement performance on the interarticular compressive force of the cervical spine: a cross-sectional study based on OpenSim.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with chronic neck pain experienced higher simulated compressive forces in their cervical spine during movement than healthy controls, despite similar range of motion. Stronger neck muscle strength was linked to lower compressive forces, supporting the theoretical basis for strengthening exercises.
• PTOTCohort2025Muscle selection and dosing in patients undergoing treatment with abobotulinumtoxinA for lower limb spasticity in real-world practice.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn real-world practice, clinicians injected a median of 600 units of abobotulinumtoxinA into the lower limbs, targeting six specific muscles. Patients with upper limb spasticity received lower leg doses to stay within total body limits. Most also received concurrent therapy.
• OTSLPCase-Control2024Prenatal exposure to hypoxic risk conditions in autistic and neurotypical youth: Associated ventricular differences, sleep disturbance, and sensory processing.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic youth with prenatal hypoxic risk conditions had significantly larger third ventricles than those without. This structural difference correlated with more sleep disturbances and sensory overresponsivity, suggesting a potential biological link between early oxygen deprivation and specific clinical symptoms.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Social Determinants in COVID-19 Experiences of Children With Disabilities Receiving School-Based Services in Chicago: Mixed-Methods Study of Parent/Guardian Perspectives.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParents of children with disabilities reported that remote learning and virtual therapy were less effective than in-person services. Key barriers included lack of hands-on interaction, insufficient accommodations, and family financial or housing constraints that limited access to private support.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024A Comparison of Parent-Reported Severe Autism With Mild/Moderate Autism Among US Children.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with parent-reported severe autism had higher rates of intellectual disability, language delays, and emergency visits, but were no more likely to receive behavioral therapy or see specialists than those with mild/moderate autism. Caregivers faced significantly higher stress and financial burden.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Interceptive abilities in autism spectrum disorder: Comparing naturalistic and virtual visuomotor tasks.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic boys caught fewer ping-pong balls than neurotypical boys in naturalistic and virtual tasks. Reaction time and quiet standing did not differ, so slower movement or poor balance did not explain the catching difference.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025High Intensity Interval Training POst-STroke (HIIT-POST): Perspectives of People Living With Stroke and Health Professionals.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople with stroke and clinicians view high-intensity interval training as beneficial but intimidating. The term 'high intensity' limits uptake. Focus education on personalization and relative effort rather than absolute speed. Safety screening and confidence in prescribing remain key barriers to routine use.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Assistive Technology Uses and Barriers in the Home and Workplace for Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdults with intellectual and developmental disabilities used phones, tablets and smart speakers at home for entertainment, communication and routines. At work, employer phone rules, limited training and job coaches' narrow view of assistive technology restricted use.
• PTOTOther2025Clinical Relevance of the Tonic Stretch Reflex Threshold and μ as Measures of Upper Limb Spasticity and Motor Impairment After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairA portable device measuring the elbow's stretch reflex threshold predicted 72% of upper limb motor impairment variance in stroke survivors. This offers a more objective way to define the specific joint range where muscle activation becomes disordered compared to standard clinical scales.
• PTOTOther2025Touchscreen-based assessment of upper limb kinematics after stroke: Reliability, validity and sensitivity to motor impairment.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA large touchscreen reaching task produced consistent movement measures in 64 people after stroke and related to standard upper limb tests. In two extreme cases it distinguished best from worst function, but it is not evidence that it changes care.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Incidence of hip problems in developmental central hypotonia: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with developmental central hypotonia face a much higher risk of hip dysplasia and dislocation than the general population. Because standard newborn checks often miss these issues, authors recommend hip ultrasound for all hypotonic infants between 6 weeks and 6 months, followed by ongoing surveillance.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Advice-giving skills in pre-registration physiotherapy training.Physiotherapy theory and practicePhysiotherapy students feel underprepared to give self-management advice, relying heavily on clinical placements rather than academic theory. They struggle with confidence due to assessment pressure and lack of life experience, often tailoring advice to supervisors rather than patients.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024A Scoping Review of the Predictive Qualities of Walking Speed in Older Adults.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Self-selected walking speed below about 1.0 m/s in older adults was repeatedly linked to higher risk of mortality, falls, hospitalization, disability, cognitive decline, and low physical activity. It can flag patients needing further assessment or referrals.
• PTOTRCT2025Evaluation of a Game-Based Mechatronic Device for Rehabilitation of Hand-Arm Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesChildren with cerebral palsy using a game-based robotic handle improved hand dexterity and visual-motor skills more than those receiving standard physical therapy. All 34 children completed the 8-week program with no adverse events, suggesting the device is feasible and engaging for home or clinic use.
• PTOTPilot2025Augmented Reality Exergames for Upcoming Cognitive-Motor Rehabilitation: User-Centered Design Approach and User Experience of Healthy Children.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHealthy children rated the augmented reality cognitive-motor games as easy to use and reported positive emotions, but physical and mental fatigue increased after sessions. The games are not yet tested in children with cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury.
• OTSurvey2025Stress, Anxiety and Coping in Adults With Down Syndrome: An Exploratory Co-Research Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMost adults with Down syndrome who answered this survey reported stress and anxiety. They described social, creative, thinking, and physical coping strategies, and asked for mental health help that is accessible and not only talking therapy.