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 163 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2025Patients' real-world engagement with movement pattern modifications for nonarthritic hip-related pain.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAll 80 patients with hip pain who completed follow-up tried changing their movement patterns after one brief instructional session. Most did this independently rather than with a physical therapist, sustaining the changes over 12 weeks. This suggests patients are willing to self-manage these modifications.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Experiences of families of children with spinal muscular atrophy and the healthcare professionals supporting them during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFamilies of children with SMA faced increased isolation and responsibility for home-based therapy. Healthcare professionals reported ethical stress from prioritising performance assessments over care. While physical health remained stable, the burden shifted heavily to parents and altered the therapeutic relationship.
• PTOTCohort2024Upper Limb Function in People With Upper and Lower Limb Loss 8 Years Postinjury: The Armed Services Trauma Outcome Study (ADVANCE) Cohort Study.Physical therapyAt follow-up, lower limb loss alone did not produce clinically important upper limb disability compared with uninjured military personnel. Major and partial upper limb loss produced higher disability than uninjured and lower limb loss groups.
• PTOTCohort2024How older adults maintain lateral balance while walking on narrowing paths.Gait & postureOlder adults maintain lateral balance on narrowing paths by taking wider steps and slowing their center of mass. This compensates for higher variability, keeping their risk of instability comparable to younger adults despite poorer clinical balance scores.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Policy and practice recommendations for services for disabled children during emergencies: Learning from COVID-19.Developmental medicine and child neurologyStakeholders agreed on 19 recommendations for disabled children's services in emergencies. Key priorities include keeping education settings open, maintaining designated in-person assessment spaces, and ensuring clear, joined-up guidance from national bodies to local commissioners.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025'It's designed for someone who is not me': A reflexive thematic analysis of the unmet healthcare support needs in UK autistic adults aged 65 years and over.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic older adults describe healthcare as 'designed for someone who is not me.' They report high anxiety, sensory overload, and a lack of trust due to past misunderstandings. Key needs include continuity of care, text/email contact options, and staff who offer explicit reassurance and extra processing time.
• PTOTOther2025Barriers and facilitators to physical activity after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A mixed-methods study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost TAVR patients remained physically inactive after valve replacement. Regular prior exercise, post-discharge professional support, and less discomfort were linked with activity. Fear, misconceptions about daily tasks, distance, and lack of guidance blocked many.
• PTOTOther2025Functional electrical stimulation for walking in adults with cerebral palsy: a service evaluation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdults with cerebral palsy using functional electrical stimulation for foot drop walked slightly faster and reported much higher satisfaction with their walking after three months. Most continued using the device for years, though the small number of participants and lack of a control group limit confidence in these results.
• OTNarrative Review2025Does prism adaptation treatment reduce spatial neglect and improve function?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPrism adaptation for spatial neglect after stroke has inconsistent evidence: randomized trial reviews found no evidence of benefit on standard impairment or functional tests, while retrospective rehabilitation records reported associations with better function and more sessions.
• PTOTOther2025Psychometric properties of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - Patient Reported Outcome: A cognitively accessible measure of functional performance.Developmental medicine and child neurologyYoung people with developmental disabilities aged 14 to 22 could complete a self-reported functional performance measure on a three-point scale. Scores were consistent across daily, social/cognitive and mobility domains, so it can support goal setting, not prove intervention effects.
• OTCase Report2024Teletherapy and Medication Management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder with Co-occurring Internalizing Symptoms and Suicidality During the Pandemic.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPA young person with ADHD, anxiety, depression and suicidality improved after teletherapy engagement changes and a switch from atomoxetine and fluoxetine to guanfacine and escitalopram during hospitalization.
• PTOTSurvey2024Students' perceptions and experiences of remote learning amid covid-19 pandemic in Ghana.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoMost allied health students in Ghana were neutral or dissatisfied with remote learning, preferring face-to-face classes. Anxiety affected fewer than half, with no difference by programme or year. Practical training gaps and isolation were key concerns.
• PTOTSurvey2025A path analysis of the healthcare utilization and services satisfaction among community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury in Malaysia.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFor Malaysian adults with spinal cord injury, the severity of health problems drove healthcare utilization, while activity and participation restrictions drove satisfaction with services. Sexual dysfunction was the most severe health problem reported. These are correlations, not proof of cause.
• PTOTOther2025Beyond Arm Capacity in Chronic Stroke: Evaluating Paretic Arm Non-Use Through Arm Efficiency-A Cross-Sectional Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn 30 adults after stroke, home use of the paretic arm matched a model based on arm efficiency better than a model based on arm capacity. A paretic-to-non-paretic Box and Block ratio predicted real-life arm use better than Fugl-Meyer or Wolf Motor Function Test.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Improving research and development of wearable assistive and rehabilitation technologies: a systematic review on diversity factors.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationDiversity factors are rarely considered in wearable assistive and rehabilitation technology research, and recent studies often report little about participant differences. Therapists should ask who was included and whether fit, safety, and use were checked for women, older adults, and disabled users.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Impact of a stroke care pathway on self-perceived health 3 months after stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMeeting stroke care time targets did not improve how patients rated their own health three months later. The study included mostly mild strokes, so it does not tell you whether these pathways help patients with severe deficits feel better.
• PTOTCohort2025Self-reported sleep disturbances and its determinants in people 1 year or more after stroke: A cross-sectional study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMore than half of stroke survivors reported sleep disturbances over a year after their stroke. Women and those using mobility devices reported significantly worse sleep. Factors like age, time since stroke, and stroke location were not linked to sleep quality, suggesting these disturbances persist long-term in specific groups.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Accuracy of the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children in the primary care setting.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn a statewide primary care model, the STAT screening tool agreed with expert diagnosis in 78% of cases. It missed autism in children with higher developmental skills and lower symptom severity, so a low score does not rule out autism in these children.
• PTOTCohort2025Association between widespread pain and psychosocial factors in people with knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study of patients from primary care in Denmark.Physiotherapy theory and practiceIn people with knee osteoarthritis, marking more body sites as painful on a chart was linked to lower confidence in managing symptoms and more anxiety or depression. However, widespread pain was not linked to higher fear of movement, and in some groups was linked to less.
• OTOther2025Haptics-based, higher-order sensory substitution designed for object negotiation in blindness and low vision: Virtual Whiskers.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyIn a small indoor course, Virtual Whiskers used with a white cane often increased completion time. Open path mode reduced hesitation and cane contacts, while depth mode did not improve these outcomes.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Prestroke Physical Activity Matters for Functional Limitations: A Longitudinal Case-Control Study of 12,860 Participants.Physical therapyPeople who were physically active before their stroke had fewer limitations in daily tasks like dressing and walking than those who were inactive. This protective effect of activity was stronger in stroke survivors than in matched adults who did not have a stroke.
• OTSLPOther2024Multilingualism impacts children's executive function and core autism symptoms.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMultilingual children with autism showed better parent-reported inhibition and perspective-taking than monolingual peers. These skills were linked to fewer social and repetitive symptoms. The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that speaking multiple languages causes these improvements.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Ethics of research engagement with Deaf people. A qualitative evidence synthesis.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationDeaf participants and researchers described academic settings as hostile, hearing-centered spaces that generate deep distrust. They reported that meaningful engagement requires sign language competence, Deaf leadership, and proactive community relationship-building before research begins, rather than relying on standard consent forms or interpreters.
• PTOTCohort2024Total ankle arthroplasty improves discrete and continuous stance phase gait symmetry.Gait & posturePatients with end-stage ankle arthritis who underwent total ankle arthroplasty showed improved gait symmetry at one and two years post-surgery. Weight acceptance, propulsion, and ankle moments became more symmetrical, though hip angle asymmetry persisted throughout the stance phase.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Inner experiences, mental health, and well-being in autistic and non-autistic adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults reported significantly more frequent self-talk for social assessment, self-criticism, and self-management than non-autistic adults. This self-talk correlated with higher anxiety and depression. Inner experience patterns were otherwise similar between groups.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2025Quantifying neurobehavioral profiles across neurodevelopmental genetic syndromes and idiopathic neurodevelopmental disorders.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCaregiver ratings showed people with PHTS, NFIX and SYNGAP1 had very low motor, daily living and processing speed scores. Each syndrome also had distinct symptoms, such as panic anxiety in NFIX and self-injury in SYNGAP1.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Factors associated with upper extremity use after stroke: a scoping review of accelerometry studies.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors' daily arm use is driven mainly by severity and motor capacity, not age, sex, or time since stroke. Therapists should use wearable sensors to spot patients who have the ability to use their arm but do not, as clinical observation often misses this gap.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on paroxysmal sympathetic hyperexcitability with acquired brain injury and cortical excitability: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPatients receiving tDCS plus medication showed a 19.8-point drop in PSH severity scores, compared to 6.9 points with sham plus medication. This pilot study suggests tDCS may help reduce sympathetic hyperexcitability and medication needs in acquired brain injury.
• OTRCT2025Telerehabilitation for visual field defects with a multisensory training: a feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 26 adults with chronic homonymous visual field defects, home-based audio-visual scanning training improved visual search accuracy and speed, reading, and daily vision-related difficulties, with gains persisting to 6 months. It did not enlarge the visual field.
• OTOther2025Increased alpha power in autistic adults: Relation to sensory behaviors and cortical volume.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults had higher alpha brain activity than nonautistic adults. Larger cortical volume predicted higher alpha in autistic adults. Sensory scores were also linked to the alpha response. This is a brain measurement study, not a treatment finding.
• PTOTPilot2024A Falls Prevention Program for People After Stroke in Guyana: An International Collaboration.Physical therapyIn Guyana, 19 people post-stroke who joined an 8-week home and clinic falls prevention program showed improved walking speed and sit-to-stand time. Most reported less fear of falling and continued the exercises at home. This is a small pilot study, so it shows feasibility and preliminary benefit, not proven efficacy.
• PTOTCase Series2024The Impact of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Tibial Bone Stress Injury Rehabilitation: An Exploratory Case Series.International journal of sports physical therapyMilitary trainees with tibial bone stress injuries who added blood flow restriction training to their rehab did not lose bone density or muscle mass over four weeks. They reported significant improvements in pain, function, and anxiety, suggesting this approach may help maintain tissue health during restricted activity.
• PTOTCohort2024The Importance of Racially and Ethnically Inclusive Gait Speed Reference Values in Individuals 90 Years and Older: LifeAfter90.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Gait speeds in people over 90 were substantially slower than in those under 90, with a mean of 0.54 m/s. Using standard cut points like 1 m/s to flag risk is not useful in this group, as almost no one walks that fast.
• PTOTCohort2025Post-stroke Stiff-Knee gait: are there different types or different severity levels?Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationGait patterns in post-stroke stiff-knee gait cluster into three groups based on compensatory movements, not just knee angle. However, the differences reflect varying severity of impairment rather than distinct neurological subtypes. Clinicians should assess overall gait severity, not just knee flexion.
• PTOTCohort2025Malnutrition and sarcopenia in inpatient rehabilitation: prevalence and associations with changes in bodyweight, muscle strength, and functional independence.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOver a third of inpatient rehab patients had malnutrition or sarcopenia. Strength and function improved during rehab, but malnourished patients were still weaker and less independent at discharge. Many at-risk patients lost weight, suggesting follow-up is needed.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025Disability barriers autistic girls face in secondary education: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic girls often mask difficulties to fit in, leading teachers to miss their need for support. They face barriers like sensory overload, exclusion, and gendered assumptions. Clinicians should advocate for quiet spaces, explicit social coaching, and recognizing that quiet compliance may hide significant struggle.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Analgesic efficacy of transcranial combined peripheral magnetic stimulation in chronic nonspecific low back pain: a fNIRS study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdding brain stimulation to peripheral magnetic stimulation did not reduce pain more than peripheral stimulation alone. Both groups improved similarly on pain and disability scores after two weeks of treatment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prevalence of function-limiting late effects in survivors of head and neck cancer.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSurvivors of head and neck cancer referred to rehabilitation had high rates of complex late effects. Ninety-two percent had swallowing difficulty, eighty-six percent had facial or neck lymphedema, and seventy-eight percent had cranial nerve dysfunction, indicating a need for comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Relationships Between Socioecological Factors and Self-Efficacy to Participate in Physical Activity for Adults With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: An Integrative Review.Physical therapySelf-efficacy to exercise in chronic pain is shaped by more than just the patient's mindset. Social support, a trusting provider relationship, telehealth access, and community program availability all significantly influence whether patients feel capable of being active.
• OTSLPOther2025The Oxford Visual Perception Screen: Development and normative data of a standardised assessment for visual perception difficulties.Clinical rehabilitationOxford Visual Perception Screen now has 107 healthy older participants' scores that set normal score thresholds. It can flag possible visual perception problems after stroke, but has not yet been validated against a gold standard.
• PTOTOther2025Quantifying arm swing in Parkinson's disease: a method accounting for arm activities during free-living gait.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new sensor method filters out arm activities like holding objects to measure arm swing during daily walking. In people with Parkinson's, this filtering revealed significantly larger increases in arm swing range after medication compared to unfiltered data. This offers a more sensitive tool for tracking treatment response in real-world settings.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025A review of concurrent sonified biofeedback in balance and gait training.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost studies testing sound-based balance feedback reported improvements, but many were small and short-term. Clinicians should view this as promising research rather than established practice, as evidence for long-term skill transfer is currently lacking.
• OTCohort2025Using a Functional Upper Limb Motor Task to Predict Cognitive and Functional Decline in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn adults who were cognitively intact, had mild cognitive impairment, or had Alzheimer's disease, variability on a brief non-dominant hand spoon task predicted one-year change in function and a cognitive test. Average task time did not predict cognitive change.
• OTCohort2024Transition Readiness Among Youth Accessing Mental Health Services With Physical Health Co-Morbidities.Child: care, health and developmentYouth with mental health and physical health conditions reported higher transition readiness, especially medication management, appointment keeping, and tracking health issues. Attention problems were linked to lower readiness.
• OTPilot2024Influence of chair seat forward tilt angle on upper limb dexterity improvement in seated tasks: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceWith a knee pad, a 30-degree forward seat tilt produced a mean of 32.5 pegboard pins in 60 seconds in 17 healthy men, versus 29.7 at 0 degrees and 30.6 at 15 degrees.
• OTSurvey2024Young Carers' Identification: Comparing Adolescents' and Parents' Perspectives.Child: care, health and developmentParents reported more household illness or disability than adolescents did, but adolescents reported more caring activities than parents did. Agreement on who was ill or disabled was low, so neither report alone captures young carers.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024Multimodal Technologies for Remote Assessment of Neurological and Mental Health.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRCombining speech, video, and text data in remote assessment platforms improves diagnostic accuracy and robustness compared to using any single data source alone. Multimodal analysis provides a more holistic view of neurological and mental health status for clinicians.
• PTOTOther2024The effect of non-pathological neck pain on hand grip strength in healthcare practitioners across three different head positions: a cross-sectional study design.Journal of physical therapy scienceAmong 46 healthcare workers, neck pain did not lower grip strength, and head position did not change grip strength overall. Grip was highest in neutral and lowest in extension, but the differences were not clear.
• OTSLPNarrative Review2024How auditory processing influences the autistic profile: A review.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic people’s auditory challenges are heterogeneous and linked to reduced filtering, adaptation, and increased distress in noisy settings. Noise-canceling headphones may increase participation. Music and repetitive behaviors can be pleasurable, so avoid assuming all sensory reactivity is negative.
• PTOTCohort2025Predictive factors for functional and motor recovery following spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEarly sitting ability predicted recovery after intracerebral haemorrhage. Patients unable to sit without physical assistance or maintain sitting for 2 minutes had poorer function, motor recovery and transfers. This does not prove that training sitting improves outcomes.