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 190 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPOther2025Biopsychosocial factors and participation in adults with developmental coordination disorder: A structural equation modelling analysis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParticipation challenges in adults with DCD are not just about motor skills. Low self-esteem, poor social support, and executive function deficits strongly predict needing more assistance and enjoying activities less. Screen these psychosocial factors to understand why participation fails.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Essential Requirements and Relevant Technologies for Load-Bearing 3D-Printed Transtibial Prosthetic Sockets and Their Components: State-of-the-Art Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies3D-printed transtibial sockets show promise but lack long-term durability data. Current evidence covers only 2-6 weeks of use, and testing methods vary widely. Powder bed fusion and Multi Jet Fusion offer strength comparable to traditional sockets, but regulatory gaps and inconsistent testing remain.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Haptic interaction with a human partner for ankle training in chronic stroke: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor ankle training in stroke, partnering with a therapist via robots felt similar to robotic guidance but didn't improve movement accuracy more. The partner method did increase dorsiflexor muscle activation after training, suggesting it may encourage more active effort.
• PTOTRCT2025Effects of mirror therapy preceding augmented reality in stroke rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding mirror therapy before augmented reality games improved upper limb motor function and sensation more than AR games alone or conventional therapy in stroke survivors. Both AR groups improved balance better than conventional therapy, with gains maintained at three months.
• PTOTRCT2025Efficacy of bilateral soft exoskeleton training for people with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding bilateral soft exoskeleton assistance to standard treadmill training improved walking speed, gait symmetry, and independence more than conventional training alone in people with subacute stroke. The exoskeleton group gained 0.17 m/s in speed, exceeding the threshold for meaningful change.
• OTQualitative2026Experiencing Independence: Perspectives from Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults described independence as multi-dimensional, involving emotional and psychological factors, not just daily tasks. Barriers included lack of accommodations and societal stigma. Strategies like masking helped short-term but caused exhaustion. Support was seen as essential, not a failure.
• OTSLPCohort2026Developmental Profiles of Young Children Referred for Concern for Autism Spectrum Disorder: DBPNet Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCognitive function did not differ between children referred for autism concern who were later diagnosed with autism and those not diagnosed, but language and adaptive skills were lower in the diagnosed group.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2026Application of variance ratios to assess heterogeneity of spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low back pain: A meta-epidemiological study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSpinal manipulative therapy did not show greater variability in patient response than sham treatment for chronic low back pain. This suggests there is no strong evidence that specific subgroups of patients respond differently to the therapy compared to others.
• OTOther2026Unintentional Drowning Incidents Involving Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Treated in US Emergency Departments, 2016-2020.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism are more likely than other children to end up in the emergency department for drowning, and more likely to die or be admitted. Drownings in this group occur more often in pools, natural water, and bathtubs, and affect older children more frequently.
• OTSLPQualitative2026What Factors Have Been the Most Helpful and Harmful and When? Identifying Key Impacts on Psychosocial Development According to Autistic Adults and Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults and caregivers said relationships mattered most. Speech therapy, daily living supports, jobs, hobbies and education were helpful at different ages, but the study reports experiences, not proof that they work.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2026Novel CTNNB1 Gene Variants in Spanish CTNNB1 Syndrome Patients: Clinical and Psychological Manifestations.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 25 Spanish patients with CTNNB1 syndrome, delayed speech, motor milestones, sleep problems, ASD symptoms and maladaptive behaviours were common. Early motor and language milestones were associated with better current function.
• OTSLPCase Report2025Visual ERP-based brain-computer interface use with severe physical, speech and eye movement impairments: case studies.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor seven people with severe speech, physical and eye movement impairments, a visual brain-computer interface worked best when they used their natural gaze. Forced central fixation often failed. Calibrating while they looked at targets helped some perform better.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Technologies for the three-dimensional assessment and treatment of unilateral spatial neglect in individuals with stroke: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality is the dominant 3D technology for neglect, but evidence remains weak. Randomised trials show inconsistent results, with many failing to find significant differences against conventional therapy. Robotics are rarely used alone, and most studies are small pilots without clear efficacy.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Long-lasting neurobehavioral disorders after traumatic brain injury: potential predictors and functional outcomes.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 54 survivors of severe traumatic brain injury, longer post-traumatic amnesia, lower cognitive function at rehabilitation admission, traumatic axonal injury, and less education were associated with more neurobehavioral disorders at 12 months. These disorders correlated with worse functional outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Interrelationship between fatigue and recovery of physical function in stroke survivors: a longitudinal mixed-methods study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineHigher fatigue was linked to poorer physical function over six months after stroke. Survivors described fatigue as shifting between physical and mental, and seven participants said health professionals gave little guidance.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Seizures in childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy.Developmental medicine and child neurologySeizures occurred in 29% of boys with childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, linked to higher MRI lesion scores and functional impairment. No seizures occurred with a Loes score under 6. X-ALD should be considered in boys presenting with first-time seizures.
• OTSLPQualitative2025The design of the "autistics in (educational) space: building our own futures" doctoral project.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFour autistic university students described teachers who did not seem prepared to support them, and one contrasted strict classroom rules with more freedom to move and stim at home. They also used masking and rehearsing words before speaking to fit in.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Development and validation of interpretability cutoffs for the short forms of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust Personality Questionnaires (BIRT-PQs).European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNew score cutoffs identify when personality changes after brain injury deviate significantly from healthy norms. For patients, low motivation scores above 25 linked to lower satisfaction across all life domains. For caregivers, emotional regulation scores above 13 linked to higher burden. These thresholds help interpret short-form questionnaires.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Mobility device use in children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy used more mobility devices as they aged, with wheelchair likelihood increasing yearly. Lower-extremity braces were the most common device across all severity levels. Walkers and standers were underused compared to clinical need, suggesting gaps in equipment access rather than prescription.
• PTOTPilot2025Non-invasive assessment of muscle spasticity in children with cerebral palsy undergoing botulinum toxin treatment using near-infrared spectroscopy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMuscle oxygenation measured by NIRS rose significantly after botulinum toxin injections in children with cerebral palsy, peaking at 6 to 10 weeks and returning to baseline by 6 months. These changes correlated with reduced spasticity scores, suggesting NIRS could track treatment response.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Parental perspectives on family-centered care in pediatric neurology: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents of children with neurological conditions rated respectful care highly but general information poorly. They felt responsible for coordinating care across therapists and schools, often seeking answers online due to gaps. Quality of life scores were lower for older children and families facing access barriers.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Parent Perspectives on Water Safety for Children with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of autistic children described constant vigilance and avoidance of water due to elopement risks and poor danger awareness. They reported that standard swim lessons often fail because instructors lack autism-specific training, sensory-friendly environments, and adaptive communication strategies.
• PTOTCohort2026No increased risk of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak after spinal manipulative therapy: A retrospective cohort study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSpinal manipulative therapy by chiropractors did not increase the risk of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks compared to physical therapy exercise. The study included 178,084 adults. Both groups had an identical leak rate of 0.03%. This suggests the leaks were likely caused by underlying symptoms prompting the visit, not the treatment.
• PTOTCohort2026Association of arthritis and total joint arthroplasty with self-reported function in former professional American-style football players.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFormer professional football players with arthritis or hip/knee replacements reported worse physical function and more pain interference than those without. Mental function scores did not differ between groups. Older age, higher BMI, and playing lineman were associated with these joint conditions.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Autism Early Intervention Providers: Their Priorities, Use of Empirically Supported Practices, and Professional Development Needs.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAustralian early intervention providers mostly used evidence-based practices but often mixed them with unsupported ones, especially for sensory needs. Confidence in addressing sensory and motor domains was low, while priority and training interest focused on communication, behavior, and social skills.
• OTSLPOther2026A Cross-National Reliability Study of Catatonia in Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersExperienced psychiatrists initially disagreed on the catatonia diagnosis in five of twenty patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. Agreement required extensive discussion and additional data. Clinicians should suspect catatonia when behavior changes from baseline, especially if agitation is present alongside intellectual disability.
• PTOTQualitative2026Perspectives of early mobility in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit: an interpretive description study.Clinical rehabilitationClinicians in a cardiac surgery ICU described a gap between what they think early mobility means and what they actually do. This mismatch creates uncertainty about safety and timing, leading to inconsistent mobilization practices and rationales for keeping patients in bed.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2026Self-perceived fatigue in relation to activity and participation in adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy living in urban South Africa.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAdolescents and adults with cerebral palsy in urban South Africa reported similar levels of self-perceived fatigue to their typically developing peers. Fatigue was not associated with how accomplished or satisfied they felt in daily activities, challenging assumptions derived from high-income country studies.
• PTOTRCT2025Adaptive control ankle robotics training durably improves gait biomechanics in chronic hemiparetic stroke and footdrop.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAnkle robotics training improved toe clearance and heel-strike patterns in chronic stroke survivors. These gains persisted two months after training ended, alongside delayed increases in knee and hip flexion. The study was single-arm, so improvements cannot be compared against standard care.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Tools and methods for assessing the usability and related aspects of usability of extended reality and telerehabilitation technologies in stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost usability studies of stroke technology, including virtual reality and remote rehabilitation, used questionnaires, especially the System Usability Scale and custom forms. Many studies combined tools to cover different aspects, so check motivation, motion sickness, workload and patient experience when choosing technology.
• OTOther2025Autism Spectrum Disorder Phenotypes Based on Sleep Dimensions and Core Autism Symptoms.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFour sleep-symptom profiles emerged: one baseline group; similar sleep problems with fewer autism and ADHD symptoms; insufficient and disturbed sleep with sensory and ADHD symptoms; daytime sleepiness with older age, anxiety, depression, and weaker writing and math. Screen sleep patterns, not just sleep complaints.
• OTCohort2025The screening Hand Assessment for Infants: Feasibility, validity, and reliability based on parents' recordings.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents recorded a short play session at home, and the screening Hand Assessment for Infants scored similarly to the clinic version. Trained raters agreed strongly on total hand scores, and most parents found the session easy. This is about assessment, not treatment.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025'I shouldn't have to educate their school about what autism is': Community attitudes and parent reports of autistic primary and secondary school experiences in Australia.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost Australians support school adjustments for autistic students, but parents report these are rarely provided. While 90% back staff training and peer education, fewer than 1 in 8 schools deliver them. This gap forces parents to constantly advocate, often resulting in school changes and distress.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Scoping Review of Socio-Ecological Factors Contributing to Sleep Health Disparities in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSleep problems in children with autism are linked to anxiety, ADHD, and low family income, not just autism itself. Most research ignores race and poverty, so current guidelines may not fit diverse or underserved families.
• OTSLPCohort2025Comparing Emotional Development in Persons With Intellectual Disability With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with intellectual disability and autism showed lower emotional development scores than those with intellectual disability only. This pattern held across all eight domains of the assessment tool, suggesting autism adds specific challenges to emotional growth.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Can wearable real-time biofeedback gait training devices improve gait speed, balance, functional mobility and activities of daily living (ADL) in individuals post-stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable biofeedback gait training improved walking speed, balance, and mobility compared to standard care, but showed no benefit for daily living activities. Evidence quality is low to moderate, with no significant effect found for the most common auditory feedback setups.
• OTOther2025Innovation through networking: the single contact points for employers in the German vocational rehabilitation and participation system.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesEmployers' single contact points in a German region were connected mainly to public agencies, not employers' or business associations. Partners rated cooperation solid and information quick, but the study did not test whether this helps people with disabilities get or keep work.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Standardizing the Measurement and Definition of Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: Implications for Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairThere is no agreed-upon definition or standard measurement for post-stroke cognitive impairment. This variability makes it hard to compare studies or identify which patients need specific rehabilitation. Experts recommend creating a consensus definition, similar to how mild cognitive impairment was standardized, to improve care.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Autism Spectrum Disorder and Health-Determining Behaviors: Assessing Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep with the National Survey of Children's Health.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children rarely meet health guidelines, especially for screen time and sleep. Physical activity rates matched peers when measured as daily activity, but autistic children were less likely to be active four or more days a week. Irregular bedtime linked to poorer outcomes.
• PTOTRCT2026Cardiorespiratory fitness in kidney transplant recipients: A pilot randomised controlled trial of structured home-based rehabilitation and a nested case-control analysis.Clinical rehabilitationA 12-week home-based aerobic and resistance programme improved peak oxygen uptake by 1.50 mL/kg/min in kidney transplant recipients compared to guideline care. The trial was a pilot, so these fitness gains require confirmation in larger studies before changing practice.
• OTOther2026Beyond the Wrist: Finger-Worn Accelerometers Enhance Assessment of Post-Stroke Motor Performance.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn 24 stroke survivors, a finger-worn sensor matched clinical hand scores better than a wrist sensor, especially in moderate impairment. It may help assess real-world arm and hand use, but it is not proven to improve treatment.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Aligning Perspectives: Autism Identity, Independence, Participation, and Quality of Life in Autistic Adolescents Through Self and Parental Reports.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents underestimate their autistic teen's independence and quality of life compared to the teen's own report. Teens who feel overwhelmed by their diagnosis report lower emotional and social well-being. Assess both perspectives to target support for identity acceptance and daily autonomy.
• PTOTOther2025Wheelchair service provision training during armed conflict: preliminary results from a pre-post study in Ukraine.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThirty-nine Ukrainian rehabilitation professionals improved self-rated wheelchair skill performance and confidence after a 40-hour course combining lectures, practical stations, supervised patient work, local product training and wheelchair skills practice. All passed the knowledge test. Without a control group, this shows change, not proof.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Respiratory admissions and impact of COVID-19 lockdowns for children with severe cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyLockdowns cut respiratory hospital admissions for children with severe cerebral palsy by nearly half, but admissions surged after restrictions lifted. Viral infections were the main trigger. This suggests community transmission drives these crises more than chronic lung disease alone.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Use of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - Computer Adaptive Test in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway.Developmental medicine and child neurologyThe Danish, Dutch, and Norwegian PEDI-CAT largely match the original US item difficulty, but show structural issues like multidimensionality and local dependency. Scores remain reliable for measuring function and responsibility, though clinicians must interpret results with caution.
• OTOther2025Autonomy in children and adolescents with visual impairment: Validation of the Visual Impairment Developmental Autonomy scale.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn Italian children and adolescents with visual impairment, the VIDA scale gave consistent autonomy scores across age groups. Parents and therapists generally agreed, except for table manners and clothing, so these areas need discussion.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Predictors of community participation from preschool to school age in children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy participated far less in their community than at home, and this gap persisted from preschool to school age. Preschoolers rated as having strengths in prosocial behaviour had higher community participation at school age.
• PTOTRCT2025Gaze strategy and sense of ownership in learning prosthetic control: a comparative study using wearable eye tracking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy adults learning to use body-powered prostheses shifted their gaze to the next target sooner than those using myoelectric devices, who kept watching the hand. Both groups felt more ownership of the device after 40 minutes of practice, but cognitive load stayed the same.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Pilot rural-urban comparison of health care experiences among autistic adolescents and young adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceRural autistic young adults faced more barriers to finding providers and getting dental care covered, but reported similar ease of access and provider communication as urban peers. This suggests local resource gaps, not poor care once found.
• PTOTSLPOther2025A core outcome set to assess chronic pain interference and impact on emotional functioning for children and young people with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyConsensus identified 20 tools to assess how chronic pain affects daily life and emotions in children and young people with cerebral palsy, including proxy and observational options for those who cannot self-report.