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 193 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTQualitative2025Parents of Children and Young People With Long-Term Physical Health Conditions-Experiences of Navigating School.Child: care, health and developmentParents of children with long-term physical health conditions reported schools often failed to manage health, support missed learning, listen to children or include them safely. Parents compensated, advocated, advised and fought for equality. Their advocacy strained home-school relationships and their own well-being.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Motor Imagery Practice to Improve Respiratory and Cough Function.DysphagiaFive weeks of imagining cough or expiratory exercises improved peak cough flow in healthy adults, but did not change expiratory pressure. High adherence suggests this mental practice is feasible, though evidence of effectiveness is preliminary.
• PTOTOther2026A retrospective analysis of post-stroke rehabilitation with real world use of brain-computer interface.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost chronic stroke survivors with severe upper limb weakness improved enough on a motor scale to be considered clinically meaningful after using a brain-computer interface hand device. Improvement often happened within 12 weeks, though some needed longer. This was uncontrolled real-world data, so it does not prove the device caused the gains.
• PTOTOther2026Mirror Neuron System and Upper-Limb EMG Activity During Reaching Imitation in Stroke Survivors: Comparing Outcomes After Observing Normal vs. Aberrant Movements.NeuroRehabilitationStroke survivors showed stronger brain activation and increased supraspinatus muscle activity when imitating a reaching task after watching normal movements compared to aberrant ones. Therapists should prioritize showing correct movement patterns during action observation training.
• PTOTCase Report2026Lower limb functional electrical stimulation improves stair stepping in an individual with stroke: a case report.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationOne stroke survivor with an implanted leg stimulator climbed stairs faster and with more foot clearance when the device was active. He felt more stable and found the task less difficult. This single case suggests the technology can assist stair negotiation, but does not prove it works for others.
• PTOTCase Series2026Effects of a tailored rehabilitation treatment in lower limb Soft Tissue Sarcomas reconstruction: a case series.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThree men with thigh sarcomas reconstructed with free muscle flaps improved walking speed and daily function after a 3-month tailored rehab program. Pain scores varied, but all reported better quality of life. Gains persisted at one-year follow-up, though results rely on crutch-assisted gait.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Establishing levels of arm-hand activities in stroke patients: the arm-hand-activities-scale (AHAS).Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Arm-Hand-Activities-Scale (AHAS) is a quick, 5-category observational tool that reliably classifies arm function in stroke patients. It correlates strongly with standard measures, is easy for clinicians and patients to understand, and captures what patients actually do in daily life rather than just their maximum capacity.
• PTOTOther2026Linguistic Validation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Shoulder Telehealth Assessment Tool for Filipino Patients with Musculoskeletal Shoulder Condition: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThe Filipino shoulder telehealth questionnaire was understood well for pain and range of motion, but strength items were hard to use. Pictures improved performance, yet the tool should still be confirmed by a clinician and not replace in-person assessment.
• OTCase-Control2026EEG microstate features under visual feedback gain conditions exhibit high sensitivity in identifying early Parkinson's disease patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEEG patterns during a grip task with amplified visual feedback separated early Parkinson's patients from healthy controls perfectly in this small study. Independent testing is needed.
• OTSLPCohort2025Parental Education Predicts Longitudinal IQ Trajectories in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Three-Cohort European Study.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRIQ scores in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome declined over time. Parental education predicted this decline, but sleep, stress, and substance use did not. This is an association, not proof that education causes the change, as genetic factors likely overlap with family background.
• OTSLPOther2025Bayesian prevalence of autism and unmet special education needs in Chile in a sample of three million school-age children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSchool records in Chile identified 0.46% of children with autism, but linking these to health records revealed a true prevalence of 1.31%. This suggests a large unmet need, with an estimated 25,903 autistic children not accessing school-based support services.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025What are we targeting when we support inclusive education for autistic students? A systematic review of 233 empirical studies and call for community partnerships.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceResearch on inclusive education for autistic students overwhelmingly targets child skills, not environment. Social skills interventions were most common, while physical and sensory adaptations were rare. This gap limits true inclusion, as schools often fail to adjust the setting to support participation.
• OTSLPCohort2025Executive Function and Social Cognition Performance Predicts Social Difficulty for Autistic Adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchExecutive function and social cognition both predict social difficulty in autistic adults, but independently. Neither mediates the other, so assessing and targeting these two domains separately is more useful than assuming they are linked.
• OTSLPRCT2025Effectiveness of a Parent Empowerment Program for Parents of Children with Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Child: care, health and developmentParents of children with autism who received training plus motivational interviews reported higher self-efficacy and lower stress than those who did not. However, their perceived care burden did not significantly decrease. The intervention improved parents' confidence and stress levels but did not reduce the weight of daily caregiving duties.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Predictive associations between brain functional connectivity, motor abilities, and executive function development in early childhood: a longitudinal machine learning study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBrain connectivity patterns in healthy 3 to 6 year olds predicted their motor and cognitive development over 12 months. Sensorimotor network maturation was the strongest predictor for motor skills, while attention and default mode networks best predicted executive function.
• PTOTCohort2026Physical activity and related characteristics in assisted living residents with different levels of mobility: a comparative analysis.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyResidents using wheelchairs or scooters had worse lower-body function than ambulatory peers, but similar hand strength. Activity counts were not significantly different between groups. Physical activity correlated with better balance and grip in seated users, suggesting upper-body exercise is viable.
• PTOTOther2026Longitudinal reference centiles for the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyNew reference centiles allow therapists to judge if a child's gross motor gain over six months is clinically meaningful. They extend assessment to adolescents up to 18 years and show high agreement with previous methods for detecting both improvement and deterioration.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The Accuracy of the PREP2 Prediction Tool for Upper Limb Outcomes After Stroke as Part of Routine Clinical Care.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPREP2 predictions by clinicians missed the 70% accuracy target overall. It worked well for patients with a SAFE score of 5 or higher and those with no motor response to stimulation. Accuracy was poor for those needing stimulation who showed a motor response.
• PTOTCohort2026Short prescribed exercises can quantify upper limb functioning in neurodegenerative disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearing a wrist sensor during a five-minute arm-swing exercise at home tracked ALS upper limb decline as well as continuous monitoring did, while avoiding the drop-off in compliance that comes with wearing a device all day.
• OTCase-Control2025Personality Trait Profiles in People With Mild Intellectual Disability: A Comparative Study.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with mild intellectual disability report personality traits similar to those with average education, despite some small differences. Clinicians should assess these traits directly rather than assuming they stem solely from intellectual impairment.
• PTOTOther2025Healthy Lifestyle Matters: A Network Analysis of Urban Chinese Pre-School Children's Adiposity, Sleep Health, Mental Health, Child Functioning and Health Behaviours.Child: care, health and developmentAge was the strongest linked factor in urban Chinese preschoolers, linking motor coordination, executive function, and activity. It was not linked to mental health. Girls had less activity and more emotional problems, but overall patterns of relationships did not differ by sex.
• OTSLPOther2025Consensus recommendations for usability and acceptability of mobile health autism screening tools.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceExperts and families agreed autism screening apps must use plain language, avoid stigmatizing words like 'abnormal,' and link directly to local early intervention resources. These design choices aim to reduce tech stress and improve access for underserved families.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2025The effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on bone mineral density and microarchitecture in animal models of osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn osteoporotic animals, extracorporeal shockwave therapy improved bone density and structure. However, this is preclinical evidence only. It does not show the treatment works in humans, nor is it safe for the deep bones where osteoporosis fractures actually happen.
• OTPilot2025"It fostered a greater appreciation for my little corner of the world": A feasibility study of a therapeutic photography intervention for the well-being of autistic youth.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic youth found a 4-week photography intervention feasible and meaningful, describing it as helping them appreciate small things and feel more grounded. However, standard well-being scores showed no significant improvement, and participants requested more flexibility to fit their lives.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Reactive Balance Deficits Differ in People After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Based on Chronicity of Self-Reported Symptoms.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople with chronic dizziness after mild brain injury took longer to regain balance after a push than those with acute symptoms. Acute patients reacted more slowly but stabilized as fast as healthy adults. Balance strategies shifted from slow reaction to slow recovery as symptoms persisted.
• PTOTSLPOther2026The influence of upper extremity improvement on daily function in individuals with chronic stroke following task-oriented interventions: a structural equation modeling approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationImproving arm impairment alone did not predict better daily function in stroke survivors. Only faster task execution and less impairment directly predicted independence. Strength and movement quality helped daily life only indirectly, by making movements faster.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026The healthcare experiences of middle and older age autistic women in the United Kingdom.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMiddle-aged and older autistic women described healthcare as exhausting and dismissive. Professionals often misread their autism as mental illness or ignored sensory needs. Women masked their difficulties to avoid conflict, leading to delayed diagnoses and avoidance of preventive screening like mammograms.
• OTRCT2026A Blinded, Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Neck Muscle Vibration in Patients with Post-Stroke Spatial Neglect.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairNeck vibration plus general computer training did not improve post-stroke spatial neglect more than standard neglect therapy plus placebo vibration. Both groups improved similarly on neglect tests and daily activities, so this small trial does not show vibration is superior.
• PTOTOther2026Does cognition affect supervised and unsupervised mobility differently in people with Parkinson's disease? A cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 105 people with Parkinson's, longer time on a word-colour interference test went with slower clinic walking and fewer home steps. After age, motor severity, sex and medication were included, cognition did not predict mobility.
• OTSLPPilot2025Modulation of Pharyngoesophageal Motility Characteristics During Concurrent Oral Feeding in Infants: Novel Pilot Observations.DysphagiaThickened formula changed swallowing rhythm and made it less coordinated in 12 high-risk infants, especially with faster-flow nipples. This pilot measured swallowing rhythm, not whether thickening is safer.
• OTSLPOther2025Analysis of Adjusted Exposure Levels Based on Different Kurtosis Adjustment Algorithms and Their Performance Comparison in Evaluating Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.Ear and hearingFor workers in noisy industries, standard hearing loss predictions often underestimate damage from complex, impulsive noise. Using a geometric averaging method to adjust exposure levels based on noise 'kurtosis' significantly improves prediction accuracy. This helps identify higher risk for those exposed to sporadic, high-intensity sounds.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Perspectives and experiences of physical activity among autistic adults in middle adulthood.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described avoiding exercise because trainers focused on weight loss and competition rather than their needs. Sensory environments like gym noise and lighting caused exhaustion and burnout. Trust was hard to build due to past trauma, leading many to prefer solitary activity over group classes.
• OTSLPOther2025Screen to Screen Versus Face to Face: Evaluating Telehealth Autism Diagnostic Assessments for Young Children in a Diverse Clinical Setting.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchA home telehealth assessment matched the in-person autism diagnosis for 19 of 21 children with limited words. It may help clinicians observe autism signs in familiar settings, but the sample was small and not all children were autistic.
• OTSLPPilot2025Scale of Emotional Development-Questionnaire: A Systematic Approach to Improving Performance.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRA self-report interview for emotional development showed low agreement with the proxy version it was based on. It distinguishes emotional development from autism traits and mentalisation. The tool needs item revisions before clinical use.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Navigating family messaging: Qualitative experiences of Black caregivers of children with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceBlack caregivers of autistic children described family messages ranging from denial and blame to supportive acceptance. Denial often manifested as treating the child as neurotypical, which caregivers noted could inadvertently minimize their need for specific accommodations and support.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Dysphagia and Muscle Weakness Caused by Botulinum Toxin Poisoning after Cosmetic Injection: Three Case Reports and Clinical Warnings.DysphagiaThree patients developed severe swallowing and speech difficulties after cosmetic botulinum toxin injections at non-medical facilities. Symptoms included muscle weakness and choking. All three required hospitalization, antitoxin treatment, and swallowing rehabilitation, with significant recovery achieved.
• PTOTCohort2026Correlation between controlled-pressure provocative test duration and electrodiagnostic severity in carpal tunnel syndrome.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe time it takes for symptoms to appear during a controlled-pressure test does not predict carpal tunnel syndrome severity. A quick reaction does not mean worse nerve damage. Clinicians should not use test duration to grade severity or guide treatment decisions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Personalized care of paediatric drug-resistant epilepsy in Africa: A single-centre pilot study utilizing mobile health and genetic testing.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCaregivers reported far fewer seizures via an app than appeared in clinic records. Wearables revealed significantly lower physical activity and sleep quality than parents realized, though engagement dropped by half over six months.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Surgical and health outcomes of non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy and severe scoliosis: A population-based, longitudinal study.Developmental medicine and child neurologySpinal fusion in non-ambulatory children with severe cerebral palsy scoliosis corrected curves and improved seating and pain for most, but carried high complication and mortality risks. Caregivers of survivors reported high satisfaction, though non-surgical children were too frail for comparison.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Healthcare Utilisation and Barriers and Facilitators of Healthcare Access for Young People With Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRYoung people with intellectual disability have higher rates of hospital admissions, emergency visits, and longer stays than peers. Key barriers include staff lacking specific skills, communication difficulties, and low family income. Facilitators include visual aids, simple language, and acknowledging parent expertise.
• OTSLPPilot2026Ecological Momentary Intervention for Memory in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: Findings From a Mixed-Methods Pilot and Feasibility Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationA text-message memory tool delivered in short, twice-daily sessions over a week led to significantly better long-term recall in adults with chronic TBI than a single weekly session. The spaced format was rated more acceptable and engagement remained high.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Approaches to managing ototoxicity in the workplace.International journal of audiologyExpert consensus proposes a six-step workplace protocol for managing ototoxicity. It combines self-report questionnaires with auditory and vestibular screening to detect damage that standard pure-tone audiometry often misses, guiding referrals and exposure controls.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Promoting agency and communication through powered mobility: a single-group, repeated measures intervention using the explorer mini in toddlers with motor disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTen toddlers with motor disabilities used a powered mobility device for 12 sessions. They showed significant gains in cognition and receptive language on standardized tests, and increased joyful vocalizations during play, though expressive language changes were mixed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Trajectory of Irritability in Autistic and Typically Developing Youth From Early Childhood to Adolescence.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic girls kept high irritability from early childhood to late adolescence, unlike autistic boys and all typically developing peers who improved. Higher early cognitive ability and lower adolescent psychopathology predicted better outcomes. This suggests monitoring irritability specifically in autistic girls is critical.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025A Systematic Study on Prenatal Opioid Exposure: A Review of Neurodevelopmental Consequences.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with prenatal opioid exposure showed consistent delays in language, motor, and socioemotional skills. Sensory processing was the most affected domain. These findings suggest therapists should screen for neurosensory and communication delays in this population, regardless of age.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Supporting effective alternative access for individuals with physical disabilities: state of the science, emerging technologies, and future research directions.Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md. : 1985)Access method and settings matter for people with physical disabilities. Typing speed varied widely, averaging 12.6 words per minute on standard keyboards, 6.8 on touchscreens, and 2.1 with switch scanning. Measure each person's speed and accuracy, then adjust or trial options.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Quality of Life in Autistic Children: Discrepancies Between Self- and Caregiver-Proxy Reports and Associations With Individual Characteristics.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCaregivers and autistic children disagreed significantly on quality of life. Autism and ADHD features predicted caregiver ratings but not child self-reports. Sensory and sleep difficulties predicted both. Do not assume caregiver proxy scores reflect the child's own experience.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Characterizing Developmental and Behavioral Profiles in Developmental Synaptopathies to Inform Clinical Trial Endpoints.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesStandard IQ and autism tests often fail in children with severe intellectual disability because scores hit the bottom of the scale. Adaptive behavior measures like the Vineland worked for everyone, making them more reliable for tracking progress in clinical trials.
• OTSLPRCT2025Effect of Oral Neuromuscular Training on Tracheostomy Decannulation and Swallowing Function in Patients with Severe Acquired Brain Injury: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.DysphagiaNo clear difference in time to decannulation when IQoro was added to usual care for tracheostomized patients with severe acquired brain injury. Usual care alone improved swallowing scores more, and one residue measure favoured usual care.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Deaf children's experiences of hearing in everyday life: a systematic review.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationDeaf children's hearing experiences vary widely and are shaped by noise, device use, and social context. Listening fatigue and misperceptions about their abilities often limit participation in school and social activities. Ask each child directly what accommodations help them.