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 187 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPOther2025Design and functional validation of a needs-driven multifunctional integrated nursing wheelchair for elder individuals with disability.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new multifunctional wheelchair prototype successfully automated bed and toilet docking in lab tests, achieving alignment within 5 mm. However, testing was performed by healthy researchers simulating disability, not actual patients. Clinical benefits for mobility or caregiver strain remain unproven.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPulmonary rehabilitation improved walking distance, fatigue, and quality of life in long-COVID patients. Telerehabilitation worked as well as in-person sessions. Dyspnea scores did not change significantly. Try remote programs for patients who struggle to attend clinics.
• OTSLPCohort2025Retrospective Analysis of Dog Bite Injuries in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism spectrum disorder suffered dog bites with similar severity and treatment needs as peers without the disorder. They were more likely to have head injuries and require blood transfusions, but mortality and overall clinical care needs did not differ between the groups.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Autistic and autism community perspectives on infant and family support in the first two years of life: Findings from a community consultation survey.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic and non-Autistic community members largely agreed that early infant supports should help parents understand their child's needs and improve quality of life. They rejected goals like reducing autistic behaviours or forcing eye contact. Reinforcement strategies and the term 'intervention' were viewed with concern.
• OTSLPCohort2025Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Offspring of Parents with Major Depressive Disorder: A Birth Cohort Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren of parents with depression were more likely to receive diagnoses of ADHD, autism, tics, and developmental delays. Prenatal parental depression was linked to more conditions; postnatal depression was linked only to ADHD, developmental delay, and coordination delay. Association, not proof of cause.
• PTOTSurvey2025Shoulder problems after spinal cord injury. Part one: self-assessment by questionnaires.Journal of rehabilitation medicine54 of 100 people with spinal cord injury reported shoulder pain after injury, and 34 reported pain in the last week. Pain was common across injury levels and among wheelchair users and ambulatory people.
• OTOther2025Psychological Capital, Self-Advocacy, and Future Orientation among Adults on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 40 adults with autism, future-oriented thinking linked to self-advocacy only through psychological capital (hope, resilience, optimism, self-efficacy). The direct link was not significant. This is a cross-sectional survey, so it cannot show that improving any of these causes change in the others.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Complete Spectrum of Physical Comorbidities with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Nationwide Cohort.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPeople with autism have a higher risk of developing most physical diseases from childhood into adulthood compared to the general population. This risk is especially high for nervous system and ear diseases, and females with autism face greater physical health risks than males.
• PTOTSurvey2026A research priority setting for ankle-foot orthosis care in the Netherlands; a survey among rehabilitation specialists, orthotists, and orthotic users.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalClinicians prioritized research on AFO properties and gait effects, while users prioritized comfort, fitting, and shoe compatibility. There was no overlap in priorities between professionals and patients, indicating a gap between clinical focus and user experience.
• OTSLPPilot2025Reported Barriers and Facilitators for Autistic Individuals, Persons with Other Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Their Caregivers to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Pilot Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSurvey respondents most often named knowledgeable staff and low-noise, less crowded spaces as helpful; logistics were the most common reported unhelpful part.
• PTOTCohort2025Neuromuscular adaptations in soleus and tibialis anterior muscles in persons with spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHigh-functioning individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury required significantly higher muscle electrical activity to match the force of controls. This suggests they recruit larger or more motor units to compensate for lower firing rates. No differences were found in motor unit synchronization or force variability.
• OTOther2025Reliability and validity of virtual reality box & block test in healthy adults and patients with stroke: a prospective, multi-center, exploratory, cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA VR Box and Block Test produced stable scores and moved with the standard test, but it scored lower and is not interchangeable. It also captured movement speed and distance in people with stroke and healthy adults.
• OTOther2025Association of Irritability with Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors and Social Communication Challenges in Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIrritability in autistic youth was linked to repetitive behaviors: more stereotyped movement and insistence on sameness went with more irritability, while broader restricted interests went with less. Social communication difficulties did not add to irritability after other factors.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Effect of exercise-based interventions on stroke rehabilitation: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationExercise improves balance, strength, and walking after stroke, but the best type depends on how long it has been since the event. Trunk exercises help most in the subacute phase, while aerobic training aids chronic recovery. Most evidence is moderate quality, so tailor prescriptions carefully.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Evaluating R2Play, A Novel Multidomain Return-to-Play Assessment Tool for Concussion: Mixed Methods Feasibility and Face Validity Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesTen concussion-recovered youth and five clinicians found the new R2Play tablet-based return-to-play assessment safe, usable, and physically demanding enough to mimic sport. It is not yet validated for clinical decision-making.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025The impact of non-invasive brain-computer interface technology on the therapeutic effect of patients with spinal cord injury: a summary of evidence based on meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNon-invasive brain-computer interfaces showed positive pooled effects on motor function, sensory function and daily living in spinal cord injury. But with 109 participants in 9 small studies, mostly self-controlled, the authors call this a research hypothesis, not a basis for clinical practice.
• PTOTRCT2025Effect of upper-limb robot-assisted therapy combined with pneumatic gloves on upper limb function in young and middle-aged stroke patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationYoung and middle-aged stroke patients using robot-assisted therapy with pneumatic gloves showed greater upper limb movement and daily function gains than those in conventional occupational therapy. Both groups improved, but the robot-glove group scored higher on motor and activity tests after four weeks.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Clinical and engagement efficacy of a virtual musculoskeletal integrated practice unit in health system employees: aggregate and comparative results from two employers.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesEmployees with back, neck, or joint pain who completed a virtual multidisciplinary program showed improvements in physical health, pain interference, and mental health scores. However, this was a self-selected group with no control comparison, so the specific effect of any single treatment component cannot be determined.
• OTPilot2025Exploring transcutaneous electrostimulation for proprioceptive feedback in upper limb prostheses: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStimulating a forearm finger flexor muscle produced a felt finger extension in ten able-bodied participants. In one prosthetic user the effect was weaker, but certain electrode placements helped identify cylinder size without sight.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Treatment dosage effects of treadmill-based exoskeletal robotic-assisted gait training in individuals with pediatric brain injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTreadmill robotic gait training improved walking speed and standing ability in children with brain injuries, but not endurance or walking scores compared to conventional therapy. Benefits were clearest when combined with conventional therapy and delivered at high frequency.
• PTOTCohort2025Association of Hallucinogen Use With Psychosocial Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationHallucinogen use was rare and linked to higher depression scores but not quality of life. Users were more likely to be younger, male, and report falls or sleep disturbances. This observational data cannot prove hallucinogens cause or relieve these symptoms.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Sleep Disturbances and Co-sleeping in Italian Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSleep problems affected one-third of children with autism, with difficulty falling or staying asleep being the most common. Higher IQ, anxiety, and parental stress predicted these issues. Co-sleeping was very frequent but did not correlate with sleep disorder severity.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: Rehabilitation, Recovery and Community Participation Following Stroke. Part One: Stroke Rehabilitation Planning for Optimal Care Delivery, 7th Edition Update 2025.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationStroke unit care reduces poor outcomes. Early mobilization within 24 hours increased mortality and reduced favorable outcomes in the AVERT trial. Virtual rehab is effective for motor, cognitive, and speech goals. Multidisciplinary discharge planning improves transitions but mixed evidence exists on specific clinical outcomes.
• OTSLPOther2026The Moderating Effect of Sex on Autistic Trait Emotional Intelligence, Alexithymia, and Empathy.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigher autistic traits were linked to lower self-perceived emotional intelligence and higher alexithymia, but not empathy. Sex moderated the emotional intelligence link, with this association being stronger in males than females.
• PTOTOther2026Standardisation in acute stroke research: A scoping review of upper limb assessments against Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable (SRRR) benchmarks.Clinical rehabilitationAcute stroke upper limb research mostly used impairment tests like FMA-UE and NIHSS, not activity or movement-quality measures. Follow-up timing and imaging use were inconsistent with standard stroke recovery guidelines.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations Rehabilitation, Recovery, and Community Participation Following Stroke, Part Three: Optimizing Activity and Community Participation Following Stroke , 7th Edition Update, 2025.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationStroke survivors need coordinated care for mood, fatigue, cognition, driving, work, leisure and community roles. Guidelines recommend information, support and services after discharge.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Prescription of Exercise Programs for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCombined exercise programs improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and quality of life in people with autism. Most studies were small, short, and had high risk of bias, so these benefits are promising but not firmly proven.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Factors influencing activity performance and participation in usual life situations among people with Parkinson's disease: a mixed methods study.Disability and rehabilitationBoth motor and non-motor issues like apathy limit daily activities. People with Parkinson's stay active by adapting tasks or environments, such as using mobility aids or scheduling around symptoms.
• PTOTOther2026Effects of Ball Combination Exercise Combined with cTBS Intervention on Sleep Problems in Children with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBall exercises and cTBS stimulation each helped specific sleep problems in autistic children, but neither was clearly better than the other. The combined approach did not significantly outperform single interventions on the main sleep measure, so there is no strong reason to use both together.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Psychological Health of Female Service Members and Veterans Associated With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury History: A LIMBIC-CENC Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationFemale service members and veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury reported significantly worse PTSD, depression, and neurobehavioral symptoms than those without. Combat-related injuries were linked to poorer outcomes, but injury count and blast exposure alone were not.
• PTOTOther2025Pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and exercise adherence in postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients: the mediating role of exercise self-efficacy.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn post-cardiac surgery patients, fear of movement and pain catastrophizing linked to lower exercise adherence. Exercise self-efficacy partially mediated these links, especially for fear of movement, suggesting confidence-building may buffer against avoidance.
• OTSLPSurvey2025Community views of neurodiversity, models of disability and autism intervention: Mixed methods reveal shared goals and key tensions.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutism community participants linked neurodiversity support with societal change, not rejection of all individual supports. Strong social-model supporters were open to adaptive-skill teaching and treating co-occurring conditions, and preferred communication beyond speech.
• OTPilot2025Early positive approaches to support for family carers of young children with developmental disabilities: adaptation and piloting in Quebec public services.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCarers found this adapted support group helpful for learning strategies and feeling less isolated. Attendance was good despite pandemic disruptions. While parents reported improved well-being and competence, anxiety levels remained stable and high, suggesting the group alone may not address acute mental health needs.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Bilateral intermittent theta-burst stimulation as a priming strategy to enhance action observation and imitation training in early parkinson's disease: a proof-of-concept study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding brain stimulation before Tai Chi training improved dual-task walking and memory in 15 people with early Parkinson's. Standard training alone improved balance and immediate recall, but did not significantly help complex walking or delayed memory.
• PTOTOther2025Perceived fatigue progression tracking during manual handling tasks using sEMG recordings.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationComplex muscle signal patterns tracked perceived fatigue during manual handling better than standard measures. A deep learning model classified fatigue stages with 69% accuracy, suggesting wearable sensors could help monitor overexertion in workers.
• PTOTCohort2025Brain Oscillatory Modes as a Proxy of Stroke Recovery.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn stroke patients, a specific brain signal pattern decreased over time. This decrease was linked to better hand movement recovery in those who improved most. The signal may serve as a biological marker for how well a patient is recovering.
• PTOTCohort2025Linking behavioral variability to daily function in stroke survivors: the mediating role of cognitive and motor mechanisms.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors showed more inconsistent performance on simple reaction and movement tasks than matched older adults. In stroke survivors, inconsistency was linked to poorer daily living tasks, and executive control, not muscle strength, helped account for that link. No treatment was tested.
• PTOTCohort2026Sleep Problems in Children with ADHD: Associations with Internalizing Symptoms and Physical Activity.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with ADHD who reported poor sleep had more severe depression, anxiety, and stress, and spent less time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity than those with good sleep. Meeting physical activity guidelines was linked to lower depression and anxiety scores.
• OTRCT2026Parent Training for Disruptive Behaviors in Referred Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFace-to-face parent training reduced noncompliance and irritability in referred children with ASD compared with waitlist. Blended parent training, which combined online modules with face-to-face contacts, did not improve more than waitlist, and many parents stopped early.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Parental Perceptions of Community and Professional Attitudes Toward Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of adults with autism described community and professional attitudes as mixed. Presuming competence, collaborating with families, and accommodating differences were valued. Refusing requests, prejudice, and judging adults as too able or too disabled were described as barriers to support.
• OTSLPSurvey2026Frequency and Mental Health Condition of Students with Developmental Disabilities Among First-Year Japanese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFirst-year Japanese students screening positive for ASD or ADHD traits had significantly higher distress than peers, with 61% reporting high social anxiety versus 30% of controls. These mental health risks were already present within a month of enrollment.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptom Profiles in Fragile X Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Neurofibromatosis Type 1.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with rare genetic syndromes do not share one autism symptom profile. Clinical observation and parent reports often disagreed, with some children showing high repetitive behaviors but normal social interaction, or vice versa. This mismatch means assessment tools must be interpreted together rather than separately.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Factors Related to Depression Symptoms in Chronic Poststroke Aphasia.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn chronic left-hemisphere stroke survivors, depression symptoms tracked with self-reported communication and cognitive disability, low social participation, and poor perceived recovery. Physical impairment and clinician-scored language severity were unrelated. Screen for mood when patients report daily life struggles.
• OTSLPQualitative2026"He Just Wants Someone to Hear Him and Listen to Him": Barriers and Facilitators to Autistic Youth with Anxiety Receiving Quality Mental Healthcare.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic youth and caregivers described how therapy fails when it ignores sensory needs, rigid schedules, and lack of rapport. They valued providers who use visual aids, incorporate special interests, and allow time for trust. Telehealth helped some avoid office meltdowns but hindered connection for others.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Gesture Imitation Performance and Visual Exploration in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn young children with autism, gesture imitation scores did not differ from typically developing peers, but imitation quality was linked to age and developmental skills. Looking at the demonstrator's face did not predict imitation accuracy. Meaningful gestures were harder for children with more severe autism symptoms.
• PTOTPilot2025Clinical usability and functional outcomes of a lightweight robotic orthosis (HKAFO) in chronic stroke patients with hemiplegic gait: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChronic stroke patients walked faster and balanced better after training with a lightweight robotic orthosis, but gains appeared mostly while wearing the device. Unassisted endurance changed little. Participants found the device heavy and difficult to put on, preferring their usual walking aids.
• OTOther2025Construct validity of self-reported and interview-guided administration methods of the Danish version of the post-COVID-19 functional Status scale.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe Danish PCFS scale did not reliably capture work-related limitations in patients on sick leave, and its three scoring methods did not agree, so grades should not be used alone for return-to-work decisions.
• PTOTOther2025Fatigue influences embodiment perception and motor performance in multiple sclerosis subjects: a cross-sectional immersive virtual reality study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFatigued MS patients moved their hands slower and felt less ownership of the virtual body than non-fatigued ones, despite similar disease severity. VR training was highly enjoyable and safe for all, but MS itself did not worsen performance compared to healthy controls.
• PTOTOther2025Lateral weight transfer deficits reveal balance vulnerability in early-stage Parkinson's disease during trip-perturbed walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHalf the early Parkinson's participants could not recover stability by the third step after a simulated trip, despite passing standard clinical balance tests. Their failure was linked to reduced lateral weight transfer, suggesting balance deficits are task-specific and require perturbation-based assessment.
• OTOther2026Parental Representations and Emotional Availability: The Case of Children with Autism and Severe Behavior Problems.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong families of children with autism and severe behavior problems, mothers who had come to terms with the diagnosis or spoke more warmly about their child showed more emotionally available play. Fathers who described their child more clearly were also more emotionally available in play.