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 172 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Teen Self-Report on Health Behaviors and Social-Emotional Wellbeing: United States, July 2021-December 2022.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPTeens with ADHD self-reported more bullying, difficulty making friends, sleep problems, and high screen time than peers without ADHD. They also reported less lack of peer support. These are associations in a national survey, not proof that ADHD causes these behaviors.
• OTOther2025A Hybrid Type III Analysis of a Filmed Story-Telling Intervention's Impact on Provider Stigma.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthSeven of 10 occupational therapy sites had all positive implementation ratings after external facilitation for a film, panel, and discussion session on stigma. Attendees reported lower stigma scores after the session, but the separate effects of these components cannot be separated.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Outcomes in a National Clinical Sample of Youth With Sex Chromosome Trisomies Compared With Matched Controls.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP52.2% of youth with sex chromosome trisomies had a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, including speech and language and motor delays, and 13.7% had a mental health diagnosis, both more common than in matched controls.
• PTOTRCT2025Virtual reality as a potential therapy in a rehabilitation sanatorium for patients after ischemic stroke: impact on quality of life and social participation-a randomized trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding virtual reality to standard stroke rehabilitation did not improve quality of life, cognition, or social participation more than standard therapy alone. Both groups improved similarly, so VR is not a superior clinical intervention for these outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2025Reliability and utility of ultrasound imaging assessment methods for shoulder subluxation in patients with stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceUltrasound measurement of shoulder gap distance in stroke patients matched fingerbreadth palpation and correlated with worse motor function and pain. It offers a reliable, radiation-free alternative to X-rays for tracking subluxation severity, though it cannot prove cause and effect.
• OTOther2024Interrater Reliability and Precision of a Novel Hand Strength Assessment and Treatment Device: The GripAble.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationThe GripAble device measures grip strength reliably in healthy hands. Averaging three trials reduces measurement error compared to one or two. A 2.6 kg change is needed to be confident a patient's strength has truly improved or declined.
• OTOther2024Young Adults' Daily Participation Scale: A measure of objective and subjective participation.Australian occupational therapy journalThe YADAPS measures both what young adults do and how they feel about it. It reliably distinguished adults with coordination disorder from typical peers, showing lower performance and pleasure, though its frequency score was inconsistent.
• OTRCT2025Occupational Priorities of People on Hemodialysis Who Participated in Energy Management Education.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapiePeople on hemodialysis with fatigue reported lacking energy for a median of 22 valued occupations. Their top priorities were household tasks like cooking, followed by hobbies and self-care. Going out for meals and attending events were the most common activities they felt unable to do.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Missed Early Intervention Opportunities for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOnly 15% of preschoolers with autism received early intervention services before age 2. The strongest predictor of timely access was an autism diagnosis before age 2, alongside higher socioeconomic status and low birth weight. Most children missed the critical window due to diagnostic delays.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Long-Term Injury Survey in a Japanese University Women's Soccer Team.International journal of sports physical therapyInjuries were far more common during games than practice, with lower limbs, ankles, and knees most affected. Defenders and first-year players had the highest injury rates. Severe injuries, including concussions and ACL tears, were frequent.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Co-designing and testing a management programme with peer support for post-stroke fatigue: Nottingham fatigue after stroke study (NotFAST3).Clinical rehabilitationStroke survivors with fatigue and trained peer supporters tested a self-management programme. Participants reported feeling supported and found the workbook helpful. Fatigue and mood scores improved, but without a control group, it is unknown if the programme caused these changes.
• PTOTSurvey2025How Do Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers Maintain Their Physical Fitness? A Descriptive Survey Study.International journal of sports physical therapyMost surveyed therapists and trainers met physical activity guidelines, averaging 14 hours weekly. They relied on self-guided home workouts and wearables, rarely using formal performance tests. Work schedule and lack of time were the primary barriers to maintaining fitness.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025The moderating role of co-occurring attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in social skills group training for autistic children and adolescents.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceKONTAKT social skills training helped most autistic adolescents and children without ADHD, but not children with co-occurring ADHD. In that subgroup, standard care alone produced higher response rates than the training.
• PTOTOther2025Description of Common Ailments and Nonprescription Medications Found in Medication Reviews for People With Intellectual Disability.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCommunity pharmacist reviews for 80 people with intellectual disability found an average of 6.6 common ailments and 8 nonprescription medicines each. Constipation, pain and reflux were most frequent. Paracetamol appeared in 92.5% of lists, and laxatives in 72.5%.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Exploring the therapeutic potential of transcranial direct current stimulation for chronic low back pain: a scoping review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineEvidence for tDCS in chronic low back pain is mixed and inconclusive. Some studies show reduced pain or disability, others show no benefit. The review does not support changing clinical practice, but notes tDCS appears safe with only mild side effects.
• OTRCT2024Client Perceptions of the Individual Packer Managing Fatigue Program: A Mixed-Method Evaluation.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPeople with Parkinson's disease described a six-session individual videoconference fatigue program as feasible and helpful for rest, pacing, and communicating needs. They wanted more Parkinson-specific content, flexible session length, and occupational therapist follow-up.
• OTCohort2024Prediction of Functional Academic Outcomes by Fine Motor Skills in Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationYoung people with sickle cell disease scored significantly lower than expected on fine motor tests. These motor deficits predicted poorer academic performance in math and reading, even after accounting for general intelligence. Screening for fine motor issues is a practical way to identify students at risk for school difficulties.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: the Mediating Effects of Mental Health.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with ADHD who engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reported lower suicidal ideation. This link was fully mediated by depression, anxiety, and resilience. Increasing physical activity may reduce suicidal thoughts by improving these mental health factors.
• OTSLPOther2025Transition to Adulthood for Individuals With Complex Communication Needs: A Scoping Review.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthYoung adults who use AAC reported low expectations, few transition services, and limited age-appropriate vocabulary. Parents, inclusive education, employer supports, mentorship, and communication accommodations were described as helping them pursue work, college, and friendships.
• PTOTRCT2025Impact of sensorimotor mismatch on virtual reality sickness and user experience: age-related differences in a randomized trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy adults, deliberate sensorimotor mismatches in a seated VR ball-throwing task did not increase VR sickness compared to standard or errorless tasks. However, the mismatch condition caused significantly more frustration and exhaustion. Older participants reported less sickness than younger ones. This suggests mismatched feedback is tolerable but may reduce user enjoyment.
• PTOTOther2025Psychometric validation of ICF Rehabilitation Set-17 through item response theory and network analysis: implications for standardized functioning assessment in Chinese inpatient rehabilitation.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThe 17-item ICF rehabilitation scale reliably ranks patient ability and task difficulty in Chinese inpatients. Walking and toileting emerged as central network hubs. Washing oneself showed the highest potential to improve overall function, offering a data-driven way to set specific rehabilitation goals.
• PTOTOther2025Individual muscle strengths in rehabilitation outcomes of distal radius fracture.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSimulated extension exercises after wrist fracture helped a weaker patient heal but hurt a stronger one. Muscle strength changes how much force hits the bone. Standard exercise plans may overload strong patients and underload weak ones.
• OTSystematic Review2025Parent Perspectives of Co-Occupations in Neonatal Intensive Care: A Thematic Review of Barriers and Supports.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthNICU parents described physical separation, medical equipment, restricted roles, poor staff communication, and emotional strain as barriers to caring for and bonding with their infants. Skin-to-skin care, involvement in caregiving, supportive staff, education, and peer contact were supports.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Benefits of horseback riding for neurotypical children and adolescents: a scoping review.CoDASHorse riding showed mixed results for neurotypical children. Two randomized trials found improved social competence, but non-randomized studies varied widely in cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Evidence quality was low, with most studies having moderate risk of bias.
• OTSurvey2025IS THIS (TELE)WORKING? A path model analysis of the relationship between telework, job demands and job resources, and sustainable employability.Work (Reading, Mass.)Employees who teleworked more reported higher work pressure and less role clarity. Work pressure was linked to higher vitality, contradicting expectations. Role clarity and workplace communication were positively associated with employability and vitality. The study found no major risks of mass teleworking on sustainable employability.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025The Spinal Cord Injury Self-Management Program: A Pilot.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthA 6-week virtual self-management program for spinal cord injury was feasible and acceptable to participants. It showed positive effects on secondary health conditions and goal attainment, but self-efficacy scores decreased, possibly due to participants understanding the challenges better after the intervention.
• PTOTOther2025Validity and Agreement of a Portable Dynamometer in Evaluating Hip Strength and Rate of Torque Development: Influence of Fixation Methods.International journal of sports physical therapyPortable dynamometers correlate with lab standards for hip strength, but the pull method is more valid than the push method. However, portable devices systematically overestimate strength compared to lab standards, so you cannot swap them for tracking patient progress.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Effects of virtual reality-based exercise intervention in young people with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren and adolescents with ADHD showed improved attention and inhibitory control after VR-based exercise, but evidence is preliminary and not all executive functions improved.
• OTQualitative2024Utilising co-design to develop a lived experience informed personal safety tool within a mental health community rehabilitation setting.Australian occupational therapy journalSeven people with mental health lived experience co-designed a safety tool for community rehabilitation, prioritising personal strengths, sensory strategies, and flexible formatting over acute-focused risk language. They requested dynamic, individualised plans that could be updated as circumstances changed, rejecting standardised templates.
• OTSystematic Review2024A scoping review of coaching in occupational therapy: Mapping methods, populations and outcomes.Australian occupational therapy journalCoaching improves occupational performance and goal attainment, especially for parents of children with developmental conditions. However, most studies lack fidelity reporting and theoretical clarity, so clinicians cannot separate the coaching component from other concurrent interventions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Associations of Down Syndrome with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Among Children and Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with Down syndrome were five times more likely to have autism and nearly two times more likely to have ADHD than children without it. Girls with Down syndrome showed a much stronger link to autism than boys did. These findings support routine screening for both conditions in this group.
• OTSurvey2025Employment Decisions of Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieNewly graduated occupational therapists in British Columbia mostly work in urban public general physical health roles. They prioritize mentorship in their first job, but shift to valuing work-life balance and job fit in later roles. Job satisfaction linked to feeling challenged.
• PTOTRCT2025Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and nutraceutical supplementation in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCombining exercise, shock wave therapy, and supplements cut pain and disability more than either alone. This trio was the only approach that significantly improved grip strength. Exercise plus supplements reduced pain faster, within 15 days.
• OTOther2025Understanding the psychosocial context of employment and occupational productivity among women living with HIV: A mixed-methods study.Work (Reading, Mass.)Employed women living with HIV valued work for income, purpose and quality of life. Most said HIV had little impact on work focus. Empowerment, education, social support and cognitive health were linked to better work productivity.
• PTOTPilot2025Preparing Adults with Cerebral Palsy to Move from Assisted to Independent Living.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieSeven adults with severe cerebral palsy improved their ability to manage daily tasks like cooking and finances after a 20-week coaching program. The intervention helped them reach personal goals and increased confidence in using powered wheelchairs.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Components of frontal assessment battery and clinical features in patients with stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost stroke patients scored well on frontal lobe tests, but a small group had severe executive dysfunction. This group showed specific deficits in behavioural control and attention tasks, yet their daily independence and general cognition scores were similar to others. Screening total scores may miss this specific impairment.
• PTOTCohort2025Objective gait analysis using Kinect v2® for the prognosis of walking during the acute phase of rehabilitation after proximal femoral fracture surgery.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients who could walk with a walker one week after hip fracture surgery showed significantly better gait speed and balance at discharge than those who could not. Early weight-bearing and pain control appear critical for prognosis, though this small study cannot prove causation.
• OTPilot2025Impact of Training on Addressing Farmer Mental Health in Occupational Therapy Practice.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthAfter a 45-minute training on farmer mental health, occupational therapists and students reported feeling more confident in screening and supporting these patients. Most participants said they were likely to address these issues in future practice, though the study measured only self-reported confidence.
• OTQualitative2024A Conceptual Map of Knowledge Transfer in Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice in Central South Africa.Occupational therapy internationalTherapists described four types of knowledge transferred in practice: theory, experience, personal values, and the patient's voice. They relied heavily on patient context for assessment and adjusted interventions based on cultural norms and home realities.
• PTOTOther2025Age-related trajectories of muscle strength and power in individuals with cerebral palsy and the relationship to walking capacity.Gait & postureKnee muscle power tracks walking speed better than raw strength in cerebral palsy. Unlike typical development, muscle strength and power do not keep pace with body mass growth from childhood to adulthood in this population.
• OTQualitative2025Rural Caregiver Perceptions on the Content and Receipt of a Diabetes Management Telehealth Occupation-Based Coaching Intervention.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthRural caregivers of children with Type 1 diabetes described feeling isolated and sleep-deprived before coaching. They valued the telehealth sessions for holding them accountable and helping them feel heard. This support helped them manage their child's health proactively and find a new normal.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Manual wheelchair training approaches and intended training outcomes for adults who are new to wheelchair use: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalMost wheelchair training programs for adults focus on basic skills, confidence, and propulsion mechanics rather than long-term community participation. They rarely address the needs of older adults with progressive conditions or those with cognitive impairments, leaving therapists without clear guidance on effective, tailored approaches.
• OTPilot2025Human Guide Training to Improve Hospital Accessibility for Patients Who Are Blind: Needs Assessment and Pilot Process Evaluation.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHospital staff and volunteers reported higher confidence in guiding blind patients after a brief web training. However, this was a self-reported measure with no control group, and the planned in-person practice component was cancelled, so actual skill improvement is unproven.
• PTOTCohort2025The Intersection of Variability in Gross Motor Performance and Adaptive Behavior in Young Autistic Children: Combining Video Data Analysis and Standardized Assessments.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchRemote video analysis showed autistic children had high variability in walking and balance. More consistent walking speed linked to better adaptive behavior, but more consistent walking behaviors linked to worse adaptive behavior. Standardized test scores did not correlate with these video measures.
• OTSLPPilot2025Occupational performance patterns in children with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.Australian occupational therapy journalChildren with PANS show a significant drop in social skills and overall daily functioning during flare-ups, but return to typical performance levels when in remission. Assessments taken during a flare may falsely suggest autism, so testing during remission is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• PTOTCohort2025Fatigue and recovery assessed by repetitive handgrip strength measurement as predictors of fall risk in older adults: A cross-sectional study.Clinical rehabilitationOlder adults who had fallen showed worse handgrip fatigue and recovery than those who had not. In adjusted models, a higher fatigue ratio predicted more future falls, while previous falls and lower physical performance were the strongest predictors.
• OTQualitative2025Participation Strategies Used by Young People With and Without Physical Disabilities.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthYoung people with and without physical disabilities both rely heavily on time management and social support to participate. Those with disabilities use more environment-focused strategies like accommodations and advocacy, but no strategy was tested for effectiveness.
• OTQualitative2025'We're quite good at thinking outside the box: Early autistic sensory experiences expressed by autistic adults and caregivers of autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults and caregivers described early sensory differences as unique to each person and changing by context. Overload could make daily tasks painful, while controlled sensory routines were used to feel safe and participate.
• OTPilot2025Telehealth Lifestyle Pilot Study for Improving Occupational Performance in Older Adults.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthTwelve older adults completed six telehealth lifestyle sessions. Goal attainment improved significantly, but quality of life scores did not change. The short duration and lack of a control group mean this shows the program was feasible, not that it works.
• OTQualitative2025Developing an initial explanatory theory for Partnering for Change using realist evaluation.Australian occupational therapy journalResearchers developed a theory explaining how school-based occupational therapy works, not just that it does. Success depends on specific conditions: therapists must be open to collaboration, schools need supportive leadership, and therapists require paid training and mentorship to shift from individual caseloads to whole-school support.