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 173 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTQualitative2025Patient experiences of shared decision-making following a displaced collarbone injury: A qualitative interview study.Clinical rehabilitationPatients with displaced collarbone injuries described inconsistent explanations from clinicians. Confusing terminology and varying grades made it hard to understand their injury. This uncertainty left many feeling unsupported in decision-making, despite shared decision-making being the goal.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Exploring the Beliefs, Perceptions, and Experiences of Individuals With Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Ethnography of Qualitative Studies.Physical therapyPatients with tendon pain want to know why it hurts and often fear exercise will cause damage. They struggle to engage with rehab due to time, pain, or lack of trust. Clinicians should explain the condition clearly, reassure patients that gradual loading is safe, and simplify exercises to fit daily life.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Physical Therapy Management of Fall Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline From the American Physical Therapy Association - Geriatrics.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Multicomponent exercise with progressive balance training is the most effective way to reduce falls. Tai Chi works well for lower-risk patients. Resistance training or education alone does not reduce falls and should not be used in isolation.
• OTCohort2025Participation in health promoting occupations among mothers of children aged 3-8 years with and without difficulties in sensory processing.Australian occupational therapy journalMothers of children with sensory modulation difficulties reported feeling less competent and participating less frequently in health-promoting activities than mothers of typically developing children. These lower scores were associated with reduced quality of life across all domains.
• PTOTSurvey2025Motivation Matters: Elucidating Factors Driving Exercise in People With Parkinson Disease.Physical therapyMost people with Parkinson disease who exercise are motivated by wanting to stay independent and seeing physical benefits, not by external rewards. Fatigue is the top barrier. Prior exercise habits and self-compassion predict current motivation more strongly than disease severity or age.
• OTPilot2025Effects of game design characteristics of a virtual reality serious game for upper-limb prosthesis control training on motor learning.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAble-bodied participants got faster at grasping and moving virtual cups in a small VR game for virtual prosthetic hand control training, but did not improve force control to avoid crushing glasses. It tested game design, not whether prosthesis training works.
• OTCohort2025Relationships between sensory reactivity and occupational performance in children with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).Australian occupational therapy journalDuring PANS exacerbations, higher sensory reactivity scores correlated with lower communication and daily living skills. However, sensory reactivity showed no significant link to socialisation scores. This suggests sensory issues explain functional decline in some areas, but other factors may drive social difficulties.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Overhead support systems differentially affect gait analysis of overground and treadmill walking.Gait & postureOverhead safety harnesses significantly alter gait mechanics during overground walking, especially at faster speeds. They have minimal impact on treadmill walking. Clinicians should use slower speeds or manual assistance when assessing overground gait with these systems.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Exploring the Landscape of Biomarkers in Spinal Cord Injury.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationSpinal cord injury lacks FDA-approved biomarkers for predicting recovery, so clinicians must still rely on the ISNCSCI exam despite its variability. This review maps emerging candidates like serum proteins and MRI tissue bridges, but none are ready for routine clinical use yet.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Examining and comparing the clinical characteristics of adults with persisting post-concussion symptoms presenting for outpatient rehabilitation following a mild traumatic brain injury or a minimal head injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients referred to rehab with persisting symptoms after a mild head injury report similar high symptom burdens and disability whether their injury met criteria for mild TBI or was even milder. Nearly half had no loss of consciousness or amnesia. Treat symptoms and function, not just injury severity.
• OTOther2024Mobilizing Critical Occupational Therapy Praxis to Promote Structural Justice, Equity, and Rights.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapie
• PTOTSLPOther2024A Delphi Exploration of Toileting Activity Performance in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy Within the ICF-CY Framework: Unveiling Influential Factors.Occupational therapy internationalExperts agreed that caregiver awareness of a child's readiness and neuromusculoskeletal function are the top factors affecting toileting in cerebral palsy. They also highlighted the critical role of toilet environment, communication feedback, and cultural attitudes toward menstruation and hygiene.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Chronic Physical Pain in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States: Findings from the 2016 - 2021 National Survey of Children's Health.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism have higher rates of chronic pain and headaches than their peers, even after adjusting for other health conditions. This association holds across ages and regions, but pain severity or type did not link to autism severity or current treatments.
• PTOTOther2025Exploratory development of human-machine interaction strategies for post-stroke upper-limb rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new upper-limb exoskeleton accurately recognized subtle movement intentions in healthy volunteers (99.7% accuracy) and stopped safely when excessive force was applied in a single post-stroke patient. Clinical trials are needed to confirm rehabilitation effectiveness.
• PTOTOther2025Neuroimaging and biological markers of different paretic hand outcomes after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA brain scan metric called ALFF accurately distinguished stroke patients with partial hand weakness from those with complete paralysis. It also predicted hand function scores. This suggests a potential tool for assessing recovery, but clinical use requires further validation.
• PTOTPilot2025Wristful thinking: exploring the effects of robotic rehabilitation and cross-education for persons with multiple sclerosis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn people with MS, robot-guided wrist training of a single arm increased wrist strength and tracking accuracy in both arms, but daily hand function scores did not change.
• PTOTRCT2025Effectiveness of a rehabilitation program involving functional proprioceptive stimulation for postural control and motor recovery among stroke patients: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWith physiotherapy, standing practice and daily-activity training in both groups, adding real focal vibration improved balance more than sham vibration in stroke patients.
• PTOTQualitative2025Patient Experiences of a Group Intervention Integrating Vestibular Rehabilitation, Body Awareness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Long-Lasting Dizziness: A Focus Group Study.Physical therapyParticipants with long-lasting dizziness valued the group format for peer support and shared understanding. They described gaining control by confronting avoided movements and reframing dizziness as manageable, though they emphasized that changing habits required continuous effort.
• OTQualitative2025Therapeutic-Use-of-Self as Relational Pedagogy in Occupational Therapy Education: A Qualitative Description Study.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieOccupational therapy educators and students described therapeutic-use-of-self as a relational pedagogy that humanizes the classroom and challenges power hierarchies. They reported that authenticity and vulnerability in teaching helped students feel seen and more invested in their learning.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Transforming Care: Implications of Glucagon Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Physical Therapist Practice.Physical therapyPhysical therapists should screen for GLP-1 medication use to adjust exercise loading and prevent muscle loss. Weight loss reduces joint pain but risks lean mass decline. Resistance training and high protein intake are critical to maintain function during treatment.
• OTCase-Control2025Mechanisms of Altered Imitation in Autism Spectrum Disorders.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic children aged 7 to 12 were less accurate at imitating gestures. Motor execution showed the strongest link to this difference, and action representation, social motivation, and executive function were also linked.
• OTPilot2025Real-time cortical activity during virtual reality practice in people with multiple sclerosis: a pilot fNIRS study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAverage brain blood-oxygen signal during virtual-reality dishwashing and real dishwashing did not differ in 14 people with MS. Healthy controls showed task-related signal changes, but people with MS did not.
• OTSurvey2024Early Career South African Occupational Therapists' Perceptions of Person-Environment Fit in Work-Life Areas That Influence Work Stress.Occupational therapy internationalEarly career South African occupational therapists reported workload as the main mismatch. The workload score was below the fit threshold. Control, community, fairness and values scored above the threshold, while reward fit was similar to the norm.
• OTOther2024Impact of COVID-19 on the Participation of Iranian Adolescents in Daily Life: Development and Validation of the IAPAT-C Tool.Occupational therapy internationalIranian adolescents reported changed participation after COVID-19. Leisure with friends, school activities, family activities and personal activities decreased, while relaxing and in-home activities increased. Work did not change. The reported changes were small in several domains.
• OTQualitative2026Exploring Family Experiences With Section 504 Plans for Their Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost caregivers of autistic children described Section 504 school plans as negative, citing delayed evaluations, dismissive staff, and missed accommodations. Positive experiences came from responsive school staff, family advocacy, and connections to other families or therapists.
• PTOTCohort2025Symptom Duration is not Related to Central Sensitization Inventory in Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy.International journal of sports physical therapySymptom duration did not correlate with central sensitization scores in people with midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Only 4.9% of the 182 participants scored above the clinical cutoff for likely central sensitization.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Exploring Rehabilitation Patients' Perspectives on What Matters for the Adoption of Home-Based Rehabilitation Technology: Q-Methodology Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients with brain injury hold three distinct views on home rehab tech. Some want fast recovery and simple setup. Others demand total independence and privacy. A third group relies heavily on therapist guidance and peer validation. One-size-fits-all designs fail.
• OTOther2025Psychometric properties of the Assessment of Positive Occupation 15 for individuals with physical illness.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe APO-15 reliably identifies limitations in well-being-enhancing occupations for adults with physical illness, mostly older adults. Scores strongly correlate with happiness but weakly with psychological distress. The test's structure fits the sample only partially, so interpret individual factors with caution.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Effective Autism Classification Through Grasping Kinematics.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchA machine learning model classified autistic from non-autistic young adults with 84% to 89% accuracy using only thumb and finger movement data. This suggests grasping kinematics could serve as an objective diagnostic marker, though it requires validation in children.
• OTSystematic Review2025Interoception and its application to paediatric occupational therapy: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalInteroception is increasingly used in paediatric occupational therapy, but the evidence base is thin. Most included studies were small, uncontrolled, or opinion pieces. Structured programs exist, but rigorous research proving they improve participation or regulation is largely missing.
• OTOther2025Daily living skill support for autistic people through a neurodiversity-affirming practice lens.Australian occupational therapy journalThis paper discusses occupational therapy values and neurodiversity but reports no study findings, patient data, or clinical outcomes. There is no evidence here to change practice.
• PTOTOther2025Community-Informed Recommendations to Developing Inclusive Dance Opportunities: Engaging Community, Dance, and Rehabilitation Experts Using a Hybrid-Delphi Method.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDCommunity experts prioritised accessible classes of fewer than 10 persons, consistent structure, sensory adjustments, and ways to reduce observation. Teachers were urged to demonstrate adaptations and teach actively. Assistants were urged to let dancers initiate movement before helping. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025A Novel Figure-Eight Taping Technique for Managing Anterior Shoulder Instability in a Recreational Pitcher: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA single figure-eight taping session plus home exercises reportedly allowed one pitcher with anterior shoulder instability to pitch pain-free four months later. This describes one person's experience and cannot show the tape caused the improvement.
• PTOTRCT2025The impacts of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with aquatic neuromuscular training on pain, function, kinesiophobia, knee instability, and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomized trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding brain stimulation to water exercises didn't reduce pain more than placebo at six weeks, but it improved knee stability and function. Both groups got better, so the stimulation didn't add a pain benefit over the exercise alone.
• OTOther2025The responsiveness and clinical utility of the Australian therapy outcome measure for indigenous clients.Australian occupational therapy journalIn 34 urban First Australian adults, ATOMIC goal ratings rose from 1.82 to 8.00 on a 0 to 10 transformed scale post-intervention, and clients and clinicians described the tool as flexible, culturally responsive, and useful for goal setting.
• OTSurvey2024Association between occupational participation and depressive symptoms among middle-aged adults: A cross-sectional study in Hokkaido, Japan.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMiddle-aged adults with lower participation in productive activities (work, chores, caregiving) reported more depressive symptoms. Satisfaction with leisure also linked to fewer symptoms, but self-care participation showed no significant association with depression.
• OTRCT2024Psychological and physiological benefits of horticultural therapy for Chinese older adults.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn 100 older women, ten minutes watering indoor plants lowered blood pressure, reduced anxiety and raised relaxation scores versus a seated card game, but pulse, some brainwave measures and attention did not differ.
• OTOther2024Advancing readiness for change in substance use for people with substance use disorders using the Kawa model based intervention program: A quasi-experimental study.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTA four-week Kawa Model group increased readiness to change drug use compared to lectures, but did not improve self-esteem, craving, or quality of life. The benefit was limited to motivation, not broader health outcomes.
• OTOther2024Classification of life satisfaction by occupational gaps and its characteristics among older adults with care needs.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTFor older adults with care needs, life satisfaction was best classified by the number of social activities they actually do and want to do. If they had fewer than three such activities, the number of household tasks they wanted to do but could not predicted dissatisfaction.
• PTOTSurvey2024Burnout and occupational stress of home care rehabilitation professionals transitioning out of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.The British journal of occupational therapyDifficulty coping, unexpected events, and anger from lost control were reported as associated with high burnout among home care rehabilitation professionals. Emotional exhaustion and feeling worn out were associated with high job stress.
• OTSLPCohort2026Co-occurring Conditions and Quality of Life in Autistic Children Attending General Education or Special Education Schools.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children in special education had more co-occurring conditions than those in general education. School type alone did not predict quality of life. However, special education students with externalizing conditions had lower quality of life than expected, suggesting their specific needs may not be met there.
• OTSLPRCT2026Mixed Methods Findings from a Stepped Wedge Hybrid Implementation Trial of ATTAIN NAV: A Mental Health Family Navigation Intervention for Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersStandard family navigation for autistic youth without added messaging or dashboards gave caregivers higher satisfaction, faster first mental health appointments, and greater child behaviour improvements than technology-enhanced navigation. Technology-enhanced navigation produced more contacts and referrals.
• PTOTCohort2025Bilateral hand use during infancy in very low birth weight infants.Journal of physical therapy scienceVery low birth weight infants under 1,000 g reached toy transfer later than infants with birth weight 1,000 to 1,499 g, with middle ages of 6.4 and 5.8 months. No clear difference was seen for playing with both hands together or grasping two toys.
• OTSystematic Review2025Family Experiences of Integrated Care for Children With Medical Complexity: A Scoping Review.Child: care, health and developmentParents and carers of medically complex children valued having one care coordinator as a single contact, smoother navigation and better communication. But they also reported fragmented services, unclear coordinator roles and safety concerns about records not being shared.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Prevalence and risk factors of neck pain among middle-aged and older adults in China: a cross-sectional study from the CHARLS cohort.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNearly one in five middle-aged and older adults in China reported neck pain. Women were affected far more often than men. Neck pain was strongly linked to headache, depression, poor sleep, and multiple chronic conditions.
• OTOther2024Validity and reliability of the functional test for hemiplegic upper Extremity-Thai version.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe Thai version of the Functional Test for Hemiplegic Upper Extremity matches the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and gives consistent scores over two weeks. It is a reliable option for screening arm and hand function in stroke survivors in Thailand.
• PTOTOther2024Reliability and validity of five balance assessments battery in individuals with schizophrenia.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn 26 adults with schizophrenia, the Star Excursion Balance Test and Timed Up-and-Go were the most useful balance measures, and best separated people with a fall history from those without.
• OTCohort2024Memory benefits of daily-living-related contextual cueing for individuals with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTHealthy older adults and those with subjective complaints used daily living cues to remember items better than those with mild cognitive impairment. This benefit was lost in older adults with MCI, but retained in younger adults with MCI. Tailor cueing strategies to age and cognitive status.
• PTOTOther2025Differences in cervical mobility and pain sensitivity between patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain and asymptomatic subjects: a cross-sectional study.Archives of physiotherapyPatients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain showed lower neck pain thresholds on both sides and reduced neck rotation toward the painful shoulder compared to healthy controls. Neck strength did not differ. These associations do not prove the neck causes the shoulder pain.
• PTOTCohort2025Multicenter study on predictors of rehabilitation outcome and home discharge in people with non-traumatic spinal cord injuries.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFunctional scores at discharge predicted going home better than scores at admission in people with non-traumatic spinal cord injury. Longer stay, higher admission score, younger age, being married, and no central venous catheter were linked to home discharge.