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 166 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2024Factors associated with stair climbing independence at discharge in patients with vertebral compression fractures and their interrelationships: a study using decision tree analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor women with vertebral compression fractures, muscle mass and age at admission predicted stair independence at discharge. Those with skeletal muscle mass index below 4.48 kg/m2 or age over 90.5 years were more likely to need assistance. Grip strength below 11.9 kg also flagged risk.
• PTOTCase Report2024Non-surgical reduction in thoracolumbar kyphosis and sagittal vertical axis corresponding with improved sensorimotor control in an older adult with spinal deformity: a Chiropractic Biophysics® case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne older man with spinal deformity improved his standing balance and reduced his forward lean after four months of chiropractic exercises, traction and whole-body vibration. Because this was a single patient, it shows what happened to him, not that the treatment works.
• PTOTRCT2025Resting-state hemodynamic changes and effects on upper limb function after multi-channel transcranial direct current stimulation to the ipsilesional primary motor cortex and anterior intraparietal sulcus in stroke patients: an fNIRS pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFMA-UE upper limb scores did not improve more with real tDCS added to exercises than sham added to exercises. The Box and Block Test favoured real tDCS, but this pilot cannot show tDCS works.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Daily Challenges and Resources of Adults with Chronic Dysphagia: A Qualitative Investigation.DysphagiaMost adults with long-term swallowing problems described challenges beyond physical swallowing, including mealtime routines, food choices and social eating. Many relied on practical coping and family support, while some wanted coordinated swallowing teams.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prediction of cerebral palsy and cognitive delay among high-risk children in a developing nation: A successful early detection programme.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCombining video assessments of infant movements with a neurological exam detected 100% of cerebral palsy cases and 86% of cognitive delays in high-risk infants. This works without MRI scans, though it also flags many children who do not have these conditions.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Frequency-specific modulation of motor cortical excitability by transcranial alternating current stimulation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy adults, 70 Hz brain stimulation increased motor excitability and shortened reaction times compared to sham. No behavioral changes were tested, so this confirms a physiological effect but does not prove improved motor function.
• PTOTOther2024Effectiveness of active learning-based transfer movement training for caregivers working in a residential care home.Journal of physical therapy scienceCaregivers in residential homes who attended active learning training reported higher confidence in safe positioning, equipment use, and motivating patients. This was measured by self-report questionnaires, not by observing actual transfers or measuring back pain.
• PTOTOther2024Characteristics and factors associated with independence in the activities of daily living of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at diagnosis.Journal of physical therapy scienceAt ALS diagnosis, lower limb-onset patients had the most impaired independence in daily living, especially transferring, bathing, walking and stairs. Knee extension strength was linked to independence.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025The process of adaptation: Parents' journey navigating their child's chronic health condition diagnosis.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineParents described adapting to their child's diagnosis through five interwoven elements: grief, anxiety, unknowing, responsibility, and positivity. These experiences cycled rather than followed linear stages, with time and experience helping parents move from persistent negative emotions toward intermittent ones.
• PTOTCohort2025Clinical utility of a patient-reported outcome for assessing spasticity in a pediatric population.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineThe Zorowitz scale does not match physical measures like muscle tone or GMFCS levels, meaning it tracks a separate aspect of spasticity impact. Caregiver-reported scores improved significantly after injections, suggesting the tool detects functional changes that standard clinical exams miss.
• PTOTCase Report2025Diagnosis, treatment, and functional outcomes for two adolescent female patients with lupus myelitis: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdolescent girls with lupus myelitis improved self-care and mobility during inpatient rehabilitation, but they received multiple immunomodulatory treatments and intensive therapy together.
• PTOTOther2025Rocking in a rocking chair activates trunk muscles in children with spinal cord injury and impaired trunk control.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineRocking in a custom chair significantly increased trunk muscle activity in children with spinal cord injury compared to quiet sitting. All eleven children with SCI could rock the chair independently, found it enjoyable, and experienced no injuries, suggesting it is a safe, accessible way to activate trunk muscles.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Atypical development of sequential manual motor planning and visuomotor integration in children with autism at early school-age: A longitudinal kinematic study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism showed less benefit from seeing the goal in advance. Their motor planning relied more on feedback than prediction. This atypical visuomotor integration became more pronounced as they aged from 7 to 10 years.
• OTSLPCase Report2024A Case Study of Suspected Childhood Apraxia of Sign.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsA 4-year-old deaf signer showed inconsistent handshape, location, and movement errors, sign distortions, groping, and self-manipulation of hands. This single case may indicate apraxia of sign, but does not prove diagnosis or treatment response.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Position- and Sex-Related Differences in Sagittal and Frontal Plane Concentric Isokinetic Hip Muscle Peak Torques and Agonist-Antagonist Ratios.International journal of sports physical therapyHip extensor and abductor peak torques were greater when tested lying down compared to standing. Flexion-extension ratios were higher in standing. Test results from different positions should not be compared directly or against normative data from the other position.
• PTOTCohort2025Improvement on the slopes: The impact of an adaptive snow sports program on children and young adults with disabilities.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren and young adults with disabilities in a 10-year adaptive ski program showed significant skill progression and improved social, emotional, physical, and independence scores, though cognitive trends were not significant.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Impact of Social Disadvantage on Medical and Functional Severity in Children With Cerebral Palsy.Child: care, health and developmentChildren with cerebral palsy in poorer neighbourhoods or with marginalized race or Hispanic ethnicity were more likely to have greater motor difficulties. Minority race was linked to more severe language impairment. When income and ethnicity were considered together, race still linked to gross motor impairment.
• PTOTCohort2025Feasibility of a mat-based Pilates program for community dwelling seniors to improve balance and core strength.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAn 8-week mat Pilates program was feasible and well-liked by seniors, but did not significantly improve balance or strength. High baseline confidence and short duration likely limited gains. Participants requested more education and clearer goals for future programs.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Inducing asymmetric gait in healthy walkers: a review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesResearchers reviewed ways to make healthy walkers limp. Leg length differences and unilateral weights worked best. Sensory tricks like vibration or sound were inconsistent. These methods help test devices before recruiting patients.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Parental Experiences of Quality of Life When Caring for Their Children With Intellectual Disability: A Meta-Aggregation Systematic Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents of children with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities described caregiving as relentless, causing isolation, financial strain, and health decline. Mothers bore the heaviest burden, often sacrificing careers and self-care. Support networks and respite were critical for quality of life.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Maximizing the "Functional" in the Functional External Memory Aid Tool for Patient-Centered Treatment Planning in Mild Cognitive Impairment.American journal of speech-language pathologyWhen completing the FEMAT, most participants with mild cognitive impairment described how they would use memory strategies rather than physically using the provided aids. The tool elicits valuable personal health and technology data, but a verbal description does not prove the patient can successfully use the aid in real life.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2024Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyHealthy Division-I athletes showed sex-based differences in brain activity during single-leg movements. Females had higher cognitive workload and more symmetrical brain activity, while males performed better on step-down tasks. These baselines are descriptive and do not prove qEEG predicts injury or readiness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Tongue Pressure and Grip Strength as Indicators of Persistent Dysphagia After Acute Stroke.DysphagiaLow tongue pressure and grip strength measured within 48 hours of acute stroke admission independently predicted dysphagia persisting to discharge. Skeletal muscle mass and stroke severity (NIHSS) did not. Early bedside measures of oral and general strength may help flag patients needing longer-term feeding or rehab planning.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025A qualitative meta-synthesis of the perinatal healthcare experiences of people with disability.Disability and health journalPeople with disability described perinatal care as fragmented, inaccessible, and judgmental, with clinicians often questioning their parenting capacity. Fear of child protective services led some to hide disabilities or avoid postpartum mental health support. Self-advocacy and peer support were key coping mechanisms.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Abnormal activity in the brainstem affects gait in a neuromusculoskeletal model.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationComputer simulations suggest that different types of freezing of gait may stem from abnormal activity in two specific brainstem nuclei. This offers a theoretical model for why some patients respond to cues while others need medication, but it is not yet clinical evidence.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Exploring balance control mechanisms in people with multiple sclerosis in virtual reality environment: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality balance training for people with MS shows mixed results compared to standard therapy. While patients tolerated the technology well with minimal side effects, the evidence is too heterogeneous to confirm that VR is superior to traditional balance exercises for improving stability.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Systematic review of AI/ML applications in multi-domain robotic rehabilitation: trends, gaps, and future directions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost AI robotic rehabilitation tools are tested on healthy volunteers, not patients. Performance drops significantly when systems move from lab settings to real-time clinical use. Clinicians should expect these tools to work less reliably on their actual patients than published accuracy figures suggest.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Early Years Practitioners' and Public Health Consultants' Perspectives on the Use of Interactive Electronic Devices in Young Children: A Qualitative Study.Child: care, health and developmentPractitioners and consultants describe tablets replacing outdoor play, leading to poorer self-regulation and motor skills. They note children swipe at wooden blocks expecting a screen response. Both groups want adult-led use to support learning, not free play.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Interventions in subacute paediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation: an umbrella review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineNo systematic reviews met criteria for subacute paediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation interventions. The search found no high-quality evidence for this specific setting and phase. Clinicians should expect to rely on expert opinion and adult or outpatient data rather than robust trial evidence for these patients.
• OTSurvey2025Unlocking Vision Care Accessibility: Evaluating Caregivers' Willingness to Pay in Specialised Eye Clinics for Family Members With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregivers of people with intellectual disabilities reported limited willingness to pay extra for specialised eye clinics, and willingness rose with household income. Many reported zero willingness to pay.
• OTOther2025Suboptimal but intact integration of Bayesian components during perceptual decision-making in autism.Molecular autismHigh-functioning autistic adults integrated prior knowledge and sensory uncertainty into visual decisions similarly to non-autistic adults. Both groups showed suboptimal adjustments, but the autism-specific deficit in Bayesian integration was not found, challenging the altered integration hypothesis.
• OTCohort2025What dimensions of school climate promote adaptive functioning in adolescents with ADHD? A prospective longitudinal study.Research in developmental disabilitiesFair but strict school rules were the strongest predictor of better emotional and social outcomes for adolescents with ADHD symptoms. Respectful teacher-student relationships also helped. However, school climate had no association with GPA.
• PTOTOther2025Cross-sectional analysis of speed-up mechanism in normal gait among healthy older adults with and without falls - Results from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.Gait & postureWhen asked to walk faster, healthy older adults who had recently fallen did not increase hip, knee, and ankle range of motion as much as those who had not fallen. This subtle loss of movement reserve during acceleration may help identify fall risk earlier than usual walking speed alone.
• PTOTOther2024Indoor and outdoor 10-Meter Walk Test and Timed Up and Go in patients after total hip arthroplasty: a reliability and comparative study.Archives of physiotherapyBoth indoor and outdoor walk tests were reliable for patients just after hip replacement. Surprisingly, patients walked slightly faster outdoors than indoors, but the difference was too small to be meaningful. Clinicians can use either setting interchangeably without worrying about accuracy.
• PTOTOther2024Preventing deformities in paediatric cerebral palsy in poorly-resourced areas: A scoping review.The South African journal of physiotherapyWeak, conflicting evidence exists for preventing hip displacement, contractures and scoliosis in severe cerebral palsy. Supported standing, seating and sustained stretching showed some benefit in studies, but no tested home programmes for low-resource settings.
• PTOTSurvey2025Sexual Function and Quality of Life in Individuals Post Stroke.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyMost stroke survivors in this South African study had sexual dysfunction, but it did not significantly lower their overall quality of life scores. Two-thirds did not know healthcare professionals could help, suggesting a major gap in patient education and support.
• OTCohort2025Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning in Adolescents With Klinefelter Syndrome.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPBoys with Klinefelter syndrome reported more anxiety and depression than peers, and parents noted greater social difficulties. These issues appeared in childhood, not just adolescence, suggesting early monitoring and support are needed rather than waiting for puberty to begin.
• PTOTCase Report2025Case Report: Robot-assisted gait training with the wearable cyborg hybrid assistive limb 2S size in three children with cerebral palsy.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThree children with cerebral palsy showed improved hip and knee extension angles and altered muscle activity after robot-assisted gait training. The wearable HAL device appeared to facilitate these biomechanical changes, but this small case series cannot prove the treatment works or compare it to standard therapy.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Adaptive sports in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine across Europe: the forgotten therapeutic ally.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMost European rehabilitation professionals believe adaptive sports help patients, but few actually offer or promote them. Institutions lack infrastructure and funding, and clinicians rarely discuss these options. Patients should not assume their team is unaware of these benefits, but rather that access is structurally limited.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Overview of Cochrane Systematic Reviews for rehabilitation interventions in persons with amputation: a mapping synthesis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineCochrane reviews found too little reliable evidence on rehabilitation after amputation to guide practice. Some interventions remain uncertain, and three reviews found no randomized trials for TENS, vocational rehabilitation, or amputation level.
• PTOTRCT2025Hands-free Atalante exoskeleton in post-stroke gait and balance rehabilitation: a safety study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHands-free exoskeleton training was safe for stroke patients unable to walk. Skin cuts and knee pain were minor and rare. Patients improved walking speed and balance over five sessions, but without a control group, this cannot prove the device caused the change.
• PTOTOther2024Associations between Physical Activity, Systemic Inflammation, and Hospital Admissions in Adults with Heart Failure.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalIn adults with heart failure, vigorous daily activity was linked to 62% fewer hospital admissions and lower inflammation. Light activity also reduced admissions. These are associations, not proof that activity causes these benefits, as the study was cross-sectional.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Associations Between Vestibular Perception and Cognitive Performance in Healthy Adults.Ear and hearingIn healthy adults, poorer performance on speed and flexibility tests was linked to higher thresholds for sensing vertical head movement. This suggests age-related decline in otolith function may track with cognitive slowing, even without diagnosed vestibular loss.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Contextual factors experienced by mothers of children with special needs.The South African journal of physiotherapyMothers of children with disabilities in South Africa described financial strain from unemployment, fear of marital abandonment, and stigma from family and community. They faced barriers accessing healthcare and education, often feeling isolated and unsupported by fathers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025International stakeholder consultation on models of rehabilitation service delivery to foster healthy ageing: results of a cross-sectional survey involving 124 countries and all World Health Organization regions.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation for people over 60 is reported as only partly available worldwide. Inpatient and outpatient models are most available. Telerehabilitation, community and eldercare are less available and need urgent strengthening. PTs and nurses are most involved, while multidisciplinary teams are limited outside inpatient care.
• PTOTCohort2025Acute serum androgen levels and post-rehabilitation functioning in spinal cord injury: findings from SwiSCI.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn men with new spinal cord injuries, lower baseline free testosterone was linked to slower functional recovery and lower discharge scores. These associations lost significance after correcting for multiple tests, and results for women were null due to small numbers.
• PTOTCase-Control2025Investigation of Gait Characteristics and Kinematic Deviations in Rare Genetic Disorders with Instrumented Gait Analysis.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with Helsmoortel Van Der Aa syndrome walked with a mildly flexed pattern, shorter steps and wider stance, similar to non-crouch Dravet syndrome. Those with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex walked similarly to typical peers, except for a wider step width.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Gross Motor Development in Children With Autism: Longitudinal Trajectories From the Growing Up in New Zealand Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchGross motor delays emerged between 9 and 24 months in children with autism, persisting to 54 months. Children with parent-reported autism concerns had similar motor delays to those with formal diagnoses, suggesting motor issues are an early marker regardless of diagnosis status.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Autistic and transgender/gender diverse people's experiences of health and healthcare.Molecular autismAutistic adults, especially those who are transgender or gender diverse, report far worse healthcare experiences and much higher rates of physical and mental health conditions than non-autistic adults. They struggle with communication, sensory overload, and accessing care.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Diabetic Foot Ulcer Beyond Wound Closure: Clinical Practice Guideline.Physical therapyStrong evidence supports prescribing aerobic and resistance exercise for adults with diabetes. Weak or expert-opinion evidence guides maintaining fitness during ulcer treatment and reloading the foot after closure. Test fitness routinely using validated measures like the 6-minute walk test.