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 167 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2025Time to Onset of Dysphagia Following Head and Neck Radiation.DysphagiaNew swallowing problems mostly appear within six months of head and neck radiation, but 16% emerge later, up to years after treatment. Clinicians should maintain long-term monitoring for all survivors, as new dysphagia remains a risk even after a period of normal function.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Comparative Evaluation of Health Status of Syrian Refugee and Tur CCH_70042 kish Children, Alongside the Factors Influencing Sociocultural Adaptation of Syrian Children in Türkiye.Child: care, health and developmentSyrian refugee children in Türkiye reported higher social anxiety and resilience but lower self-esteem, grades, and worse oral health than Turkish peers. Across both groups, low socioeconomic status linked to poorer outcomes, while resilience showed no socioeconomic gap.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025Social Internet Use by People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with intellectual disabilities use the internet primarily to feel like others, maintain existing ties, make new friends or partners, and gain autonomy. Support should focus on these personal motivations rather than just restricting access to prevent perceived risks.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Healthcare practitioners and robotic-assisted rehabilitation: understanding needs and barriers.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost Italian rehabilitation professionals are unaware of robotic devices, with 40% knowing none at all. Those who use them report high satisfaction, but lack of training, space, and scientific evidence remain major barriers. Hands-on experience drives positive attitudes.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Decrease in the excitability of spinal nerve function corresponding to the soleus muscle during terminal phase of heel-raise imagery.Journal of physical therapy scienceImagining a heel raise increased spinal nerve excitability for 600 ms after the cue, but this effect disappeared by 800 ms. The study tested healthy adults lying down, so it does not show this timing applies to patients or functional movement.
• PTOTOther2024The brief pain inventory-Interference Subscale has acceptable reliability but questionable validity in acute back and neck pain populations.Brazilian journal of physical therapyThe Brief Pain Inventory-Interference Subscale scored consistently in acute back and neck pain, but it did not reliably measure pain-related disability or track change over 6 weeks. Use it with caution.
• PTOTCohort2024Brain regions associated with balance function assessed by the Berg Balance Scale in post-stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceBalance scores in post-stroke patients correlated with damage in three brain tracts: the corticospinal, cingulum, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. This suggests balance recovery depends on both motor pathways and association fibers, not just limb strength.
• OTQualitative2025Improving Parent and Therapist Experiences of Codelivering Intensive Upper Limb Interventions for Children With Hemiplegia: A Qualitative Study Using the Theoretical Domains Framework.Child: care, health and developmentParents and therapists found codelivering intensive upper limb therapy challenging due to travel, time, and unclear roles. Virtual sessions helped parents lead, but in-person clinics often kept them observing. Emotional support and clearer communication between hospital and community teams were key needs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Adaptive functioning in children and young adults with monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAdaptive behaviour profiles in children with eight genetic neurodevelopmental disorders varied widely within each diagnosis. Communication was typically the weakest skill. Co-occurring autism, not ADHD, was linked to more severe impairment. This supports assessing individual needs rather than relying on the genetic label alone.
• PTOTRCT2025Posturographic sensory ratios provide evidence for neuroplasticity after computerized vestibular rehabilitation therapy in a single group interventional trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThirteen adults with chronic unilateral vestibular loss improved their balance on a moving platform after 12 sessions of computerized retraining. Those with higher baseline dizziness handicap showed the largest gains in vestibular and visual sensory ratios, which remained elevated at 10-12 months.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Is physical therapy recommended for people with parkinson's disease treated with subthalamic deep brain stimulation? a delphi consensus study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationExperts recommend conventional physical therapy for Parkinson's patients with deep brain stimulation, but the underlying evidence is weak. No randomized trials exist, so this is expert opinion, not proof of effectiveness. Do not treat it as a clinical guideline.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Involving people with lived experience when setting cerebral palsy research priorities: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyResearch priorities for cerebral palsy are dominated by intervention questions, but current evidence comes from just five studies in high-income countries. People with CP were a minority of participants, and their direct involvement as research partners was inconsistent.
• PTOTPilot2025Virtual Reality Respiratory Biofeedback in an Outpatient Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesNine adolescents in a 4-week pain program found VR breathing biofeedback feasible and acceptable, with seven of nine completing at least 80% of sessions. The program's functional gains cannot be credited to VR, and no session showed a confirmed blood pressure or heart-rate change.
• OTSLPOther2025Sleep health of adults and children with Moebius syndrome.Research in developmental disabilitiesAdults and children with Moebius syndrome reported significantly higher rates of sleep disturbance, insomnia, nightmares, and daytime sleepiness than general population norms. Qualitative interviews revealed chronic, heterogeneous sleep issues impacting relationships, though participants were often unsure if these symptoms were directly linked to their syndrome.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Services in Minoritized Autistic Adolescents and Adults Varying in Language Skills.Seminars in speech and languageMinoritized autistic teens and adults averaged 3.67 services, 3.32 unmet needs, and 5.52 barriers. More services were tied to language impairment and program enrollment; unmet needs rose with higher autism traits and lower community belonging.
• PTOTCohort2024Relationship between functional independence measure scores and timed up-and-go time in postoperative elderly patients with vertebral and hip fractures.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor elderly patients within two months of hip or vertebral fracture surgery, a Timed Up & Go time over 35 seconds strongly predicts needing nursing care. In patients more than 12 months post-surgery, slow walking often coexists with independence, so TUG time does not predict care needs in this late group.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Examination of evaluation indicators for spasticity in stroke patients using ultrasound imaging equipment.Journal of physical therapy scienceUltrasound measurement of muscle-tendon junction displacement correlated with spasticity severity in the arm and leg. The paretic side showed greater displacement than the non-paretic side. Other ultrasound indices did not track spasticity, suggesting displacement is a potential objective alternative to the subjective Ashworth scale.
• PTOTRCT2024Effect of timing of citrate drink ingestion on blood lactate removal.Journal of physical therapy scienceDrinking a citrate solution before or after high-intensity exercise made no difference to how quickly blood lactate cleared. Lactate removal rates were identical regardless of timing, matching water or no intake controls. Clinicians should not expect a performance recovery benefit from citrate timing.
• OTOther2025The Impact of Menopause on the Mental Health of Women With an Intellectual Disability: A Scoping Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDWomen with intellectual disabilities and their carers described mood changes around menopause, including anger, anxiety and relief from periods, but psychological symptoms were often missed or blamed on behaviour. No study could confirm menopause caused them.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Physical exercise for primary sarcopenia: an expert opinion.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFor older adults with primary sarcopenia, expert recommendations favour tailored resistance exercise, often combined with aerobic and balance training, to improve muscle mass, strength and physical performance.
• PTOTSurvey2025Pregnancy after amputation: A national survey of prosthetic and mobility outcomes in women with lived experience.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalMost women with lower-limb amputation reported mobility changes during pregnancy, including falls and poor prosthesis fit. Many needed a wheelchair postpartum. Seven advised arranging a back-up mobility plan before delivery, as resuming prosthesis use within days was not guaranteed.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025A Pilot Study of a Modified Swallowing Screening Tool for Critically Ill Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.DysphagiaA modified bedside screening protocol combining ultrasound and specific dye tests allowed 13 ICU patients to safely resume oral feeding without aspiration symptoms. This approach offers a feasible alternative to invasive endoscopy in isolation settings, though its accuracy remains unvalidated against gold-standard tests.
• PTOTRCT2025Mirror therapy reduces excessive variability of motor network in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdding mirror visual feedback to conventional therapy improved upper-limb motor function more than conventional therapy alone in subacute stroke patients. MRI scans showed mirror therapy reduced excessive brain activity variability in the affected motor cortex, a change linked to clinical recovery.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Development and evaluation of Goal setting and Action Planning (G-AP) training to support person-centred rehabilitation practice.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStaff felt confident using G-AP with individual patients after online training, but team-level rollout stalled due to time pressures and role changes. The resource is free, but this study measured staff opinions, not patient outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Developmental Scores and Prevalence of Functional Difficulty Among Preschool Children in Kenya.Child: care, health and developmentNearly one in five preschoolers in Homa Bay and one in twelve in Kakuma had functional difficulties. In Kakuma, these children scored lower on development tests, but in Homa Bay they did not. This shows disability is common in mainstream Kenyan preschools and needs teacher support.
• PTOTOther2025Achieving precision assessment of functional clinical scores for upper extremity using IMU-Based wearable devices and deep learning methods.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors and AI matched therapist scores for arm function in stroke patients. The system predicted Fugl-Meyer scores with high accuracy and identified recovery stages reliably, offering a tool for objective monitoring.
• PTOTSLPOther2025School Satisfaction Predicts Quality of Life for Children With Severe Developmental Disabilities and Their Families.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents' satisfaction with their child's school predicted quality of life for both the child and the family. The specific classroom placement or the number of services provided did not predict wellbeing. It is how well the school meets the child's needs that matters.
• PTOTQualitative2025Resilience and adaptations-insights from Norwegian adolescents with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdolescents with spinal cord injuries prioritized independence and social connection over physical recovery alone. They valued peers who treated them normally and schools that adapted activities rather than excusing them. They sought autonomy in daily choices, often preferring self-directed exercise to supervised therapy.
• OTSLPCohort2025Psychosocial factors associated with the trajectories of interparental conflict for Australian fathers of autistic children: A longitudinal study across 10 years of child development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost fathers of autistic children reported low conflict, but 18% had persistently elevated conflict over 10 years. This group had less co-parenting support and more distressed partners. Screening for these factors during diagnosis may help identify families needing support.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025A technology-enriched approach to increasing rehabilitation dose after stroke: Clinical feasibility study.Clinical rehabilitationSub-acute stroke in-patients attended supervised group technology sessions of 52 minutes on average, in addition to usual therapy. Recruitment and dropout met feasibility targets, and no serious adverse reactions were reported.
• PTOTQualitative2025Design Requirements for Cardiac Telerehabilitation Technologies Supporting Athlete Values: Qualitative Interview Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAthletes with heart disease rejected generic cardiac rehab as too easy and impersonal. They wanted sport-specific intensity, hard data limits like max heart rate, and clinical validation of their wearables. They trusted face-to-face contact for safety but used remote monitoring for independence.
• OTCase-Control2025Trait mindfulness in adolescents with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.Research in developmental disabilitiesAdolescents with ADHD reported lower trait mindfulness than peers, particularly in 'acting with awareness.' This specific facet was the strongest predictor of ADHD symptoms, executive function deficits, and sleep problems, suggesting it may be a key target for future mindfulness-based interventions.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Wearable sensors in paediatric neurology.Developmental medicine and child neurologyWearable sensors reliably track gait, activity, and physiological signs in children with neurological conditions, and one stride metric now guides Duchenne trials. Most other uses remain in feasibility testing. They supplement clinic assessments but do not yet replace them in routine care.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Healthcare professionals' knowledge and practices in managing ototoxicity in children with cancer.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost clinicians knew ototoxicity causes hearing loss, but nearly three-quarters did not know how long monitoring should continue after chemotherapy ends. Knowledge gaps persisted despite acknowledging the need for an audiologist's role, suggesting a disconnect between recognizing the problem and executing the protocol.
• PTOTCohort2024Caregiver burden among informal caregivers of stroke survivors in Harare, Zimbabwe.The South African journal of physiotherapyCaregivers of stroke survivors reported higher strain when they were anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, or had adjusted work, and when survivors had poor physical, motor, or social outcomes. This reports associations, not proof that treatment reduces burden.
• PTOTOther2025Central Sensitivity Symptoms and Autistic Traits in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults without a pain diagnosis reported central sensitization symptoms above clinical cut-offs. Adults with pain conditions reported autistic traits higher than controls. This overlap suggests clinicians should screen for both autism and central sensitization to avoid missing diagnoses.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025'I Did Not Know We Could Exercise This Small Premature Baby': Challenges Experienced by Parents While Implementing Early Intervention for Their Preterm Infants-A Qualitative Perspective.Child: care, health and developmentParents of preterm infants described struggling to perform home exercises due to fear of handling fragile babies, lack of awareness of early intervention, infant stress signs, time constraints and traditional gender roles where fathers avoided limb exercises.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Exploring the Extent and Nature of Disordered Eating Among Canadian Adolescents and Young Adults With Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.Child: care, health and developmentMost adolescents and young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in this survey felt pressure to lose weight. This pressure came from clinicians and parents, but also from managing bowel function and mobility. Restricting food was common even when the goal was functional, not cosmetic.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Understanding Behavior Change in Clinical Practice Guideline Implementation: A Qualitative Study.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTTherapists said monthly team meetings with concrete audit feedback kept them on track. Patients said personalized handouts and therapists asking about home exercises boosted their adherence. Neither group liked rigid systems or text-message reminders that were too complex to use.
• OTOther2025Examining the Relation Between Sleep Problems and Behavioural Challenges in Youth With Down Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRParent-reported sleep problems over a typical week were linked with more outward and inward behaviour problems in youth with Down syndrome. Nightly sleep measured by a wrist device did not predict next-day behaviour. Treat sleep as a week-level association, not a same-day trigger.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Hospital experiences and medical traumatic stress in adults with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAdults with spina bifida described hospital stays as frightening due to feeling unheard, care delays, and providers lacking condition knowledge. They valued clear communication, family presence, and self-advocacy. These themes describe patient experiences and do not prove that specific interventions reduce traumatic stress.
• PTOTRCT2025A clinical trial evaluating feasibility and acceptability of a brain-computer interface for telerehabilitation in patients with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSeven people with chronic stroke could use a home brain-computer interface with electrical arm stimulation under remote supervision. They rated setup and use as easy by the end, and six had higher arm motor scores, but this was a feasibility pilot.
• PTOTCohort2025Examination of Proprioceptive Reliance During Backward Walking in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTBackward walking speed in people with MS depended more heavily on foot sensation than forward walking did. Those who had fallen recently had worse sensation and walked slower backward. This suggests backward walking is a sensitive test for sensory-driven balance issues.
• PTOTSLPProtocol2025Implementing psychosocial guidelines into specialized spinal cord injury rehabilitation services to strengthen person-centred health care: protocol for a mixed methods study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo results yet. This paper describes a plan to introduce updated psychosocial guidelines to spinal cord injury teams in Australia. It outlines how researchers will measure whether staff adopt the guidelines, but reports no data on whether this improves patient care.
• OTSLPCohort2025Eye Tracking as a Tool for Detecting Alzheimer's Disease in People With Down Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDREye tracking showed promise for detecting early Alzheimer's changes in adults with Down syndrome, including those with severe intellectual disability. Smaller eye movements and less attention to new images linked to older age and higher pathology. This method is feasible but needs larger trials to prove it works.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Physical functions assessed by lower limb performance-based and self-reported outcome measures for knee musculoskeletal conditions: A scoping review.Brazilian journal of physical therapyMost knee function tests miss the mark for everyday life. Self-reported surveys cover many activities but are vague. Performance tests usually check just one thing, like jumping, and can't be combined into a single score. Clinicians must match the tool to the specific activity they want to measure.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025An overview of systematic reviews investigating clinical features for diagnosing neck pain and its associated disorders.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyImaging findings often appear in healthy people and those with neck pain, so scans rarely pinpoint the specific mechanical cause. However, combining the extension-rotation test with manual assessment of joint stiffness and muscle tenderness provides moderate to high diagnostic validity for facetogenic pain.
• PTOTCohort2025Atypical PC-BPPV - Cupulolithiasis and Short-Arm Canalithiasis: A Retrospective Observational Study.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTTwo atypical posterior canal BPPV variants were identified in 15 patients. Cupulolithiasis showed persistent downbeat nystagmus in Dix-Hallpike and straight head hang. Short-arm canalithiasis showed upbeat nystagmus only upon sitting up. Mechanism-specific repositioning resolved symptoms in most cases.
• PTOTCohort2025The Correlation Between Fear Avoidance Beliefs and Physical Activity in Unilateral Vestibulopathies.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn acute or subacute vestibulopathy, higher fear avoidance beliefs strongly correlate with lower physical activity. This link disappears in the chronic phase. Assess fear avoidance early to identify patients at risk of inactivity, as it explains a large portion of activity variability in the acute group.
• PTOTOther2025Multidisciplinary collaborative guidance on the assessment and treatment of patients with Long COVID: A compendium statement.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationLong COVID consensus guidance recommends validating symptoms, screening for post-exertional malaise, and keeping activity below exertion tolerance. Pushing through fatigue can worsen symptoms. Return-to-work plans may need gradual, flexible accommodations.