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 184 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2025Deficient Muscle Coordination Patterns of Reactive Stepping Responses in People With Chronic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople with chronic stroke showed poorer muscle coordination and shorter, less stable steps when stepping with the paretic leg, especially sideways or backward. Training should prioritize these directions. If paretic stepping is too difficult, consider training non-paretic cross-stepping as an alternative.
• PTOTOther2025Expert-driven weighting of pressure injury risk factors for wheelchair users: A Delphi study.Clinical rehabilitationExperts ranked 39 pressure injury risk factors for wheelchair users. Immobility, previous pressure injury, malnutrition, inability to perform pressure relief, and sensory impairment were the most critical. These weights are expert opinion, not a validated clinical tool.
• PTOTCohort2025Predicting walking capacity, walking performance, and life space mobility using socket comfort in lower-limb prosthesis users.Clinical rehabilitationSocket comfort was linked to indoor walking distance and community mobility, but not to weekly step count in lower-limb prosthesis users.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Evaluating the safety of a robotic supine gait training device for pediatric rehabilitation - a retrospective study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineNo adverse events were recorded in 280 children and adolescents using a robotic supine gait training device. The emergency stop button was never pressed. This supports safety for traction and mobilization but does not prove the device improves function or reduces pain.
• PTOTCohort2025Return on Investment of the Back At Work After Surgery (BAAS) Care Pathway Compared to Care-as-Usual in Knee Arthroplasty.Journal of occupational rehabilitationA bundled BAAS pathway for knee arthroplasty, including preoperative and postoperative physical therapy, goal setting, activity monitoring, occupational workplace assessment, and coordinated return-to-work planning, was associated with lower employer and societal costs over 12 months.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Digital Cueing With Laser Shoes Does Not Improve Walking in Parkinson's Disease: Evidence Across Disease Severity and Freezing Status.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairLaser shoes did not improve walking in Parkinson's disease. Instead, they slowed gait speed, reduced arm swing, and increased variability across all disease stages and freezing statuses. This pattern may raise fall risk, so these devices should be used with caution.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Carnitine Deficiency in Rehabilitation Ward Individuals and its Association With Activities of Daily Living: A Pilot Retrospective Observational Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn this pilot study, 8.5% of rehabilitation ward patients had carnitine deficiency. These patients had significantly lower FIM motor scores on admission than those without deficiency, suggesting a link between carnitine status and physical function.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Exploring the Impact of Muscle Vibration Therapy in Neurologic Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMuscle vibration therapy can improve motor control, reduce spasticity, and relieve pain across neurologic conditions. It works best as an addition to conventional rehabilitation, such as physiotherapy or robotic training. Evidence is moderate, with many small studies and methodological limitations.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Overall outcome, functioning, and disability in older adults 3 to 14 years after traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationYears after TBI, many older adults kept the same overall outcome, while some improved and some worsened. Mild and moderate injury often meant better independence, but assistance, mobility aids, swallowing problems, and smell or taste change were still reported.
• OTSLPCohort2025Resiliency and Mental Health Symptoms Among Active Duty Service Members With a History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHigh resilience linked to fewer mental health symptoms at intake, but this benefit vanished after treatment. Self-efficacy was the strongest protective factor. For those with multiple mild brain injuries, active coping and cognitive flexibility did not protect against depression.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Usability of Videoconferencing for Physical Exercise Interventions in Older Adults: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesVideoconferencing is usable for remote exercise in older adults, with high adherence and satisfaction. However, technology issues and costs are common barriers. Standardized usability testing is rare, so evidence on specific device effectiveness remains limited.
• PTOTPilot2025Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptability of a Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Teleexercise Interventions for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: Interim Analysis of the Spinal Cord Injury Program in Exercise (SCIPE) Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTeleexercise for spinal cord injury was feasible during the 8-week program, with 91.7% retention. However, engagement dropped sharply after the intervention ended. Usability was rated fair overall, suggesting the platform needs simpler design and better tracking to sustain long-term use.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Community-Based Rehabilitation and Patient-Centered Outcomes in Survivors of Critical COVID-19 Attending an Intensive Care Recovery Clinic.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSurvivors of critical COVID had poor walking endurance, frailty, and cognitive impairment, while many did not receive community rehabilitation. Those who did receive rehabilitation were worse at follow-up, so this cannot show benefit.
• PTOTCohort2025Seven-Year Intervention Rate and Effect of Early Rehabilitation in China: A National-Wide Hospital-Based Study.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationEarly rehabilitation reached 68.2% of tertiary hospital patients by 2022. Patients receiving it had lower in-hospital mortality but longer stays and higher costs. The study cannot prove the therapy caused these outcomes because it only tracked billing records, not clinical details.
• PTOTSLPOther2026The Internalized Ableism Inventory: Scale development using a hybrid artificial intelligence and community-based participatory research design.Rehabilitation psychologyA new 51-item scale, the Internalized Ableism Inventory, reliably measures how disabled adults endorse ableist beliefs about themselves. It has eight distinct subscales covering areas like romance and life roles, validated in a large online sample of disabled individuals.
• PTOTOther2026The Short Physical Performance Battery is a valid tool in survivors of critical illness: international clinimetric secondary analysis.Disability and rehabilitationThe Short Physical Performance Battery accurately tracks recovery in ICU survivors, but it misses details at the extremes. It scores 19% of patients at discharge as zero and 28% as perfect at six months. Use the battery for general status, but measure walking speed and sit-to-stand times separately to catch subtle changes.
• PTOTOther2025Test-retest Reliability, Interrater Reliability, and Convergent Validity of the Targeted Box and Block Test in an Upper Extremity Prosthesis User Population.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThe targeted Box and Block Test measures speed and accuracy in prosthesis users with high consistency between raters and sessions. It correlates with the standard test but not all functional tasks, so use it to track grasping and placement precision.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Characteristics and Outcomes of Limb Loss Support Groups.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOnly seven studies exist on limb loss support groups, but all reported benefits. These groups improved mobility, reduced depression, and helped with prosthesis skills. However, the evidence is weak, mostly from surveys, with only one trial.
• PTOTRCT2025Electrical vestibular stimulation to improve balance in older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRepeated low-level electrical stimulation behind the ears reduced head sway during difficult standing tasks in older adults. The effect persisted for six months in the hardest condition. This is a small pilot, so do not change practice yet.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Associations of Sarcopenia With Medical Events and Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes in ACC/AHA Stage A, B, and C Heart Failure Individuals With Disabilities.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHeart failure patients with sarcopenia had a higher risk of death or transfer to specialized care during rehabilitation. However, their actual gains in daily living independence were similar to those without sarcopenia. Screen for muscle weakness, but do not assume it limits rehabilitation progress.
• PTOTCohort2025Remotely Delivered Task-Oriented Training and Evaluation (reTOTE) for Stroke Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAfter 8 remote task-oriented sessions combining CIMT, ASAP, CO-OP, neuroplasticity principles, and TOTE-Home, 12 stroke survivors self-reported better performance, satisfaction, arm use, and most quality-of-life domains. Balance confidence did not change, and no control group was used.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Psychometric properties and clinical usability of the cognition in daily life scale in patients with acquired brain injury in clinical care settings.Clinical rehabilitationThe Cognition in Daily Life scale reliably captures how brain injury affects daily functioning. It correlates with real-world disability but not with standard quiet-room tests. Clinicians found it useful for team communication, though the 20-minute administration time and lack of digital scoring were barriers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Characterization of Ventilatory Drive in Community-Dwelling Adults with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost adults with chronic spinal cord injury who breathe independently have normal resting breathing drive. This drive was strongly linked to body mass and BMI, not injury level. Higher drive correlated with faster breathing rates, suggesting body weight impacts respiratory effort more than injury severity in this group.
• PTOTSurvey2025Evaluating Physical and Occupational Therapists' and Assistants' Experiences Implementing an Electronic Health Record-Based Intervention to Support Perioperative Patients' Use of Nonpharmacological Pain Management Techniques.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTherapists thought nonpharmacological pain techniques fit perioperative care, but rated the EHR banner, pop-up, and smart phrase 5.0 to 5.1 out of 10. Only 27% said they had knowledge, skills, and resources for all 13 techniques.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2025A novel application of transcranial pulse stimulation in rehabilitation: pain management in refractory knee osteoarthritis - a case series.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEight women with chronic knee pain received transcranial pulse stimulation. Pain scores dropped on both knees. The treatment was painless, with only one transient mild headache reported. No control group was used, so this shows what happened, not that the stimulation caused the relief.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Rehabilitation Researchers Learning Health Systems Needs Assessment Survey: An Updated Assessment of Research Competencies.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationRehabilitation professionals reported high interest but low knowledge in learning health system competencies. The biggest gap was applying research to advance equity and justice, with 93.4% of respondents reporting little knowledge in this area.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Impact of COVID-19 on General Medical Rehabilitation Efficiency in Designated Inpatient Facilities: A Comparative Analysis of Patient Outcomes and Care Processes.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients who caught COVID-19 during rehab gained functional independence 26.7% slower daily than prepandemic patients, despite similar discharge scores. Their longer stays diluted progress. Infection control and resource shifts likely compromised care quality for this group specifically.
• PTOTCase Report2025Cryoneurolysis for Managing Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report Demonstrating Sustained Functional Gains and Cost-Effectiveness.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn one woman with primary progressive MS, cryoneurolysis reduced shoulder and elbow spasticity and pain, improving passive range of motion for months. A second treatment after worsening tone maintained gains. This single case cannot show whether the procedure works for other patients.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Investigating Disparities in Physical Therapy Utilization: An Intersectionality Perspective.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients from lower-income areas and those speaking languages other than English were significantly less likely to schedule or attend physical therapy after referral. These disparities were most pronounced in scheduling, where the lowest income group had half the odds of booking an appointment compared to the highest income group.
• OTCohort2025Feasibility of a novel web-based neuropsychological rehabilitation programme for stroke patients.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke patients referred to a web-based neuropsychology programme: 86% started it, and 69% of starters completed. Users who finished rated it easy and useful, and would recommend it. The study did not test whether the programme improved cognition or recovery.
• PTOTSLPOther2025History of Clinical Services, Medical Training, and Research for Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders in the United States Veterans Health Administration.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThe Veterans Health Administration operates a national hub-and-spoke network for spinal cord injury care, serving 24,560 Veterans. It integrates lifelong rehabilitation, specialty medical care, and emerging technologies like telehealth and brain-computer interfaces, while training a large share of US spinal cord medicine specialists.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Exploring Integration of Support for Co-Occurring Substance Use-Related Needs in Interdisciplinary Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment for Military Service Members and Veterans.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIntegrating substance use support into traumatic brain injury rehab allowed most applicants to enter care and nearly all who started treatment to finish. Only one person left early due to substance use, with no serious adverse events.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prediction of Outcome in Moderate and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: The Value of Pragmatic Estimation of the Duration of Posttraumatic Confusional State.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationLonger posttraumatic confusion predicted worse 12-month recovery, especially in severe TBI. Patients with confusion lasting 7 days or less had high rates of good recovery (78% moderate, 71% severe). Confusion lasting more than 28 days strongly predicted severe disability or death.
• PTOTRCT2025Safety assessment and feasibility of the TWIICE powered exoskeleton for assisted ambulation in individuals with spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFive non-ambulatory people with spinal cord injury trained six sessions with the TWIICE exoskeleton without falls or fractures. Dizziness, skin reddening and one pain event occurred, and all completed mobility tests with therapist support.
• PTOTCohort2026Clinical predictors of post-concussion kinesiophobia severity among adolescents.Brain injuryAdolescents with more severe initial concussion symptoms reported greater fear of movement. Prior musculoskeletal injuries were linked to lower fear of movement during recovery. Demographics and concussion history showed no association with kinesiophobia severity.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Service Acquisition for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Rural Southwest Virginia: The Role of Caregiver Psychoeducation.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers who attended live clinician-led psychoeducation sessions reported their children obtained significantly more new services over six months than those given paper materials only. The live sessions involved interactive discussion and personalized guidance on navigating systems like IEPs and insurance.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Relief of pain associated with spasticity in adult patients after treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA: Post hoc observational results from the ASPIRE study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn adults with spasticity and baseline pain, onabotulinumtoxinA treatment was associated with reduced pain scores and disability over time. Most patients and physicians reported satisfaction and intent to continue treatment. No control group means these changes cannot be separated from natural history or other care.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Microdialysis Evaluation of Blood Flow, Lactate, and Glucose in Active Trigger Points of Tension-Type Headache Patients and Latent Trigger Points in Healthy Muscle.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationActive trigger points in tension headache patients showed higher blood flow than healthy muscle, contradicting the idea they are ischemic. No differences were found in lactate or glucose, suggesting these trigger points are not experiencing an energy crisis.
• OTPilot2025Effects of Technology-Assisted Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury: Pilot Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesTechnology-assisted hand rehabilitation did not improve overall arm function compared to no treatment, but most participants achieved their personal goals. It was safe and well-tolerated, though the small study size means it cannot prove the devices work better than standard care.
• PTOTOther2025Differentiating post-stroke patients from healthy individuals via vision-based skeleton-optical fusion.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA vision-based algorithm correctly classified 87.8% of post-stroke and healthy gait videos using a single camera. It relies on sagittal-plane walking in a controlled clinical setting, so it is not yet a tool for home monitoring or diverse patient populations.
• PTOTOther2025Clinical feasibility of motor hotspot localization based on electroencephalography using convolutional neural networks in stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAn EEG-based algorithm accurately located stroke patients' motor hotspots within 1.77 mm, a precision comparable to TMS. This method works with as few as 5 electrodes, suggesting it could replace expensive TMS for targeting stimulation in rehabilitation.
• PTOTRCT2025A pilot randomised controlled trial of an online self-management programme for people with persistent pain post-knee replacement (Kneed).Clinical rehabilitationAn online pain self-management programme was feasible but saw high dropout in the first four weeks. Among those who finished, half reported a 50% pain reduction compared to 18% in usual care, though the study was too small to confirm this benefit.
• OTQualitative2025Promoting financial empowerment after brain injury: Findings from focus groups.Clinical rehabilitationAdults with brain injury and caregivers proposed financial help that is proactive, individualized, free or low-cost, and delivered by professionals who understand brain injury. Ideas include financial coaches, advocacy, awareness campaigns, and accessible products. These are ideas, not tested interventions.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025How recovery influences community reintegration: perspectives of persons with spinal cord injury and their support persons.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with spinal cord injury and their support persons often feel satisfied with their community reintegration even when they are unhappy with their physical recovery. Improving function alone does not guarantee a return to life; psychological adjustment and social support are critical drivers.
• PTOTCohort2025Development of the Italian version of the modified Barthel index and preliminary reliability in adults with stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAn Italian version of the modified Barthel Index showed high agreement among 51 adults with stroke when scored by different raters and repeated within days. Total scores were stable, but some individual items were less consistent.
• PTOTOther2025Musculoskeletal changes and treatments in paediatric spinal cord disorders: A scoping review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with spinal cord disorders often lose bone and muscle, with scoliosis, hip dysplasia, spasticity and fractures. Evidence on treatments is small and mixed, so do not assume any intervention works.
• OTPilot2025Evaluation of wrist and finger function in healthy children through music-based video game therapy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy children, background music during wrist and finger video games made movements more consistent but did not improve game scores. Ten children rated the glove and games as satisfying and reported that music helped them concentrate and relax.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Early cognitive decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and its relation to driving: an observational study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineCognitive scores in ALS patients stayed stable over eight months, but did not predict who stopped driving. Screening early with the ECAS gives a reliable baseline, yet impaired patients continued to drive.
• PTOTOther2025Quantitative assessment of dynamic movement reveals deficits due to hemiparetic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors with moderate-to-severe impairment lose the ability to move quickly. Their upper limbs fail at frequencies above 1.5Hz, meaning they cannot perform fast daily tasks like stirring or brushing teeth, even if they can still reach the objects.
• PTOTOther2026Validity of Scores From the 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale Among Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale accurately reflects walking ability in older adults with MS, not just younger ones. Scores tracked closely with timed walk tests and endurance measures across all ages, and cognitive decline did not distort the results.