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 194 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Exploring Clinicians' Suggestions for Addressing Discrimination Towards Children and Youth With Disabilities With Multiple Minoritized Identities.Child: care, health and developmentClinicians recommended specific anti-ableism training for youth, not just adults. They urged funding for transport and interpreters to remove access barriers. They emphasized co-designing services with disabled youth and ensuring resources reflect diverse cultural backgrounds to reduce discrimination.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Ideational and conceptual apraxia by cerebral infarction in the left basal ganglia and right pons: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA patient with no limb paralysis or aphasia lost the ability to operate complex machinery and ATMs after strokes in the left basal ganglia and right pons. Standard apraxia tests missed this deficit, which appeared only when assessing abstract, multi-step tasks.
• PTOTCase Report2025Case Report: Focused shockwave therapy (fESWT) in thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis: a single case study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn one woman with thumb osteoarthritis, focused shockwave therapy was followed by less pain, better grip and lower disability over a year. This is a single case, so it cannot show the treatment works.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Exploring behavioral dynamics: an in-depth analysis of adult students with disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParents and teachers most often described introversion and communication patterns among students with disabilities, with aggression, attachment, empathy, envy, and inappropriate sexual behavior also reported. These are proxy reports, not treatment outcomes.
• PTOTOther2026Beyond proportional recovery in wake-up stroke: unsupervised recovery clusters based on the NIHSS.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke recovery did not follow one proportional rule. Clustering 201 wake-up stroke patients by NIHSS recovery found six groups, from full recovery to worsening, and early recovery at 7 days was associated with 90-day disability.
• PTOTCohort2026Staying Active: Promoting Activity Engagement for Poststroke Pain Management With Insights From Ecological Momentary Assessment.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPoststroke pain rose during physical activity and hospital visits but dropped afterward. Social connection and workplace engagement also linked to lower pain. These small shifts may not be clinically meaningful, so do not assume activity alone will resolve pain without broader support.
• PTOTQualitative2026Fall experiences of ambulatory children and adults with cerebral palsy: A qualitative study using thematic content analysis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyPeople with cerebral palsy described embarrassment and anxiety as more worrying than physical injuries. They often avoid crowds or public spaces. Clinicians should ask about emotional impacts and teach safe falling techniques, as fear of falling limits independence.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Escitalopram promotes recovery from hand paresis in cortical sensori-motor stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled longitudinal study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEscitalopram plus occupational therapy improved fine finger dexterity and brain activation patterns more than placebo plus therapy over nine months in acute stroke. However, the study was tiny, so this is a signal for larger trials, not a reason to change practice.
• OTSLPSurvey2025The Feeding-swallowing Impact Survey: Reference Values from a UK Sample of Parents of Children Without a Known or Suspected Feeding Disorder.DysphagiaFor UK parents of children without diagnosed feeding disorders, the Feeding-swallowing Impact Survey scores are very low, with a median total of 20 on a 18-90 scale. This provides a baseline showing that typical mealtime challenges rarely cause significant family quality of life impairment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Early Life Neurodevelopment of Infants Across a Wide Gestational Age Range.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPEach extra week in the womb linked to tiny gains in infant development. The effect was smallest for term babies but grew larger for preterm infants. Regular monitoring is advised for all preterm and early term babies.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The Direct and Indirect Effects of Hearing Loss on Loneliness in Older Adults.Ear and hearingOlder adults who rated their own hearing as poor reported higher loneliness scores than those with better hearing. Loneliness also increased more over time in this group. Hearing aid use did not significantly change the link between hearing ability and loneliness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Elevated autistic features in Parkinson's disease and other motor disorders.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic traits were elevated in both Parkinson's and other motor disorders compared to controls. The difference was specific to males; females showed no group differences. This suggests a broad link between motor conditions and autistic features, not one unique to Parkinson's.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Challenging neurotypical norms: Autistic adults' understandings of health.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults and their emergency contacts defined health similarly, focusing on subjective well-being and the absence of pain. Emergency contacts often perceived differences in health understanding that were not present in the interviews.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Dysphagia and Oral Health in Older Adults with Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome.DysphagiaCommunity-dwelling older adults with motoric cognitive risk syndrome reported significantly more swallowing difficulty than those without. Each one-point increase on the swallowing questionnaire raised the odds of having the syndrome by 13%. Oral health scores did not predict the syndrome.
• PTOTPilot2026Task complexity amplifies spatial asymmetry of muscle synergy plasticity in chronic stroke survivors.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn a small pilot, high-complexity tasks like drinking revealed greater muscle synergy asymmetry between stroke-affected and unaffected arms. This asymmetry correlated with worse motor function and higher spasticity, suggesting complex tasks may better detect impairment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Daily Temporal Associations Between Use of Psychoactive Substances and Fatigue, Pain, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in People With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn adults with MS, alcohol use lowered stress but increased fatigue. Caffeine reduced fatigue yet raised stress. Nicotine and cannabis increased fatigue. Opioid use was linked to higher average pain. Symptoms did not predict caffeine, nicotine, or cannabis use, suggesting habitual rather than reactive consumption.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Predicting effect and evaluating cost-effectiveness of a family intervention after acquired brain or spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAn 8-week family intervention improved mental health and reduced anxiety and depression scores more than psychoeducation. It was likely cost-effective at 2 and 8 months. Benefits did not vary by injury type or whether sessions were in person or online.
• PTOTOther2026Effect of dual-task exercises on balance, risk for fall and activities of daily living dependency of patients with stroke: a quasi-experimental study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStroke patients completing 16 sessions of dual-task exercises showed significant improvements in balance, reduced fall risk, and greater independence in daily activities. Without a control group, natural recovery or other concurrent care cannot be ruled out as the cause.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025A longitudinal evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism reported gastrointestinal symptoms twice as often as typically developing peers, and these symptoms often persisted across childhood. The presence and number of these unexplained symptoms were linked to worse sleep, anxiety, and social communication scores.
• PTOTPilot2025Feasibility and usability of a wearable sensor system for gait assessment in children with neuromuscular diseases.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA wearable sensor system attached to shoelaces was feasible and highly usable for gait assessment in 12 ambulatory children with neuromuscular diseases. Device-based measurements agreed with standard manual tests, and all participants completed the protocol.
• OTQualitative2025'Adolescence kicked in . . . and you need help again': A qualitative study of the experiences of parents of autistic teenagers with mental health difficulties or behaviours that challenge.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents described adolescence as a point where their established coping strategies stopped working, leaving them feeling de-skilled and unsupported by services. They reported increased fear, exhaustion, and financial strain, with many noting a complete absence of professional help during this transition.
• PTOTCase-Control2025Adverse Childhood Experiences and Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Adolescents With and Without Autism.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAdolescents with autism or other developmental disabilities reported more adverse childhood experiences than typical peers. Household substance use linked to conduct problems in autism, while financial assistance linked to hyperactivity in other disabilities. Mental health issues in the home affected behavior across all groups.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Defining Severity Levels for Post-Stroke Upper Limb Motor Impairment and Activity Limitation: A Systematic Review.NeuroRehabilitationCurrent clinical language for post-stroke arm severity is inconsistent. Most studies use 'mild, moderate, severe' but define these terms differently, and cut-off scores on common tests like the Fugl-Meyer overlap significantly. This makes it difficult to compare patients or trials.
• OTSurvey2026Quality employee-manager relationships are key to career success.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic employees rated their manager relationship and job satisfaction lower than non-autistic employees. Across the sample, a more positive manager relationship was linked to strengths use, job crafting, career development and job satisfaction.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Influences on suicidality and suicide-prevention needs for the autistic community: Qualitative insights from multiple perspectives.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParticipants linked autistic suicidality to societal stigma, masking, and unmet daily needs rather than autism itself. They recommended neurodiversity-affirming care, sensory supports, and addressing co-occurring conditions over standard talk therapy or social skills training.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Experiences of self-harm, suicidal ideation and mental health care among autistic youth.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic young people seeking help for self-harm or suicide described care that missed sensory and communication needs. They wanted written or nonverbal options, fewer social demands, and safety plans that reflected their real supports.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Significant differences in evaluation of disability and health (ICF) core sets between stroke rehabilitants and rehabilitation team during the first year.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors rated their own abilities higher than their rehab team did, especially in thinking and daily tasks, at one month. By one year, these views aligned more closely. Survivors saw little change in their own function, while the team recorded significant improvements.
• PTOTCohort2026Pharmacological and rehabilitation strategies in opioid-induced constipation: an observational study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding rehab to Naldemedine didn't improve bowel function or pain more than Naldemedine alone. Both groups improved. The rehab group reported higher satisfaction, likely due to self-efficacy rather than physiological changes.
• PTOTOther2026Active robotic assistance for standing and sitting: experimental evaluation of handle trajectories.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 15 young able-bodied adults, moving robotic handles reduced hip and knee effort during standing up and sitting down compared with static handles. Straighter handle paths gave the largest leg reductions, but required more upward force at the handles.
• OTOther2026Testing the usability of a voice control system for assistive robotic arms in people with neurological conditions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with muscular dystrophy completed 93% of daily tasks with voice control, compared with 53% using a joystick. Voice control was rated easier, but the joystick was faster for some tasks.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Explainability in AI-enabled medical neurotechnology: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOnly 14 of 161 studies on closed-loop brain devices used explainable AI methods. Clinicians cannot currently rely on these tools to show why a device made a specific decision, as most algorithms remain opaque black boxes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025An elective two-week interdisciplinary acute rehabilitation program improves functional and speech outcomes in patients with Parkinson's disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients with Parkinson's disease in a two-week inpatient program improved mobility, self-care, and voice. Gains were seen regardless of age, disease duration, or medication dose. No control group means natural progression or other factors cannot be ruled out.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Expressive language and social communication abilities in children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with later-onset SMA type 1 said far more words than those with early onset. Four of 37 screened positive for autism traits, but many parents could not answer questions because motor impairments blocked the behaviours the test asks about.
• PTOTOther2026Automated video analysis for early detection of bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAn AI system analyzing finger-tapping videos accurately distinguished people with Parkinson's disease from healthy controls, even when clinicians rated the movement as normal or only slightly impaired. This suggests subtle motor signs invisible to the eye can be detected objectively.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Robot-assisted therapy following stroke: what effects on quality of life, cognitive and psychosocial outcomes? A systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRobot-assisted therapy after stroke often improved quality of life, cognition, and psychosocial outcomes in the short term, but effects rarely persisted after treatment ended. Most studies measured these as secondary outcomes, so the evidence is preliminary and inconsistent.
• OTOther2026Machine learning-based study of the predictors of clinically important change in patient-reported outcomes in bilateral upper-limb function in patients receiving robotic stroke rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn 123 people after stroke, machine-learning models could identify likely responders to six-week bimanual robotic therapy reasonably well. Time since stroke, quick task completion, and self-rated physical function stood out most often.
• OTSLPCohort2025Coping With Primary Progressive Aphasia: Factors Predicting Caregiver Psychological Wellbeing and Burden.International journal of language & communication disordersCaregiver burden tracked with the patient's behavioral disturbance and emotion recognition deficits, not their language skills. Dysfunctional coping predicted caregiver stress. Most caregivers had normal anxiety and depression scores, but burden varied significantly by PPA subtype.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Active upper-limb therapies for hand function, individual goal achievement, and self-care in children with cerebral palsy: A network meta-analysis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyModified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) and bimanual training (BiM) consistently improve hand function, goal achievement, and self-care in children with cerebral palsy. Action observation also improves bimanual hand function. No single therapy is clearly superior to the others for hand function, allowing choice based on child and family preference.
• PTOTCohort2025Pain characterization in osteosarcopenia: an exploratory study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPain was reported by 78.6% of 42 patients with osteosarcopenia, mostly in the lower back. Severity correlated with poorer balance and gait speed, but not with bone density. This suggests pain in this group is linked to muscle function rather than bone structure.
• OTSLPOther2025Singing Together: A Practice-Based Study of a Community-Based Choir for Neurodiverse Adults.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSeven adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities participated in a 15-week community choir led by a music therapist. Caregivers and participants valued the social connection and belonging, but self-reported quality of life scores varied, with some feeling their disability had a worse impact after the program.
• OTSLPCohort2025PTSD Symptoms After Traumatic Versus Stressful Life Events in People With Mild Intellectual Disabilities: Proving the Null.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRFor people with mild intellectual disabilities, stressful life events caused PTSD symptoms and daily life impairment just as severe as traumatic events. Clinicians should assess symptom severity directly rather than relying on the trauma definition to decide who needs treatment.
• OTSystematic Review2025Barriers and facilitators of employment in severe mental illness: an umbrella review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSupported employment programs, particularly Individual Placement and Support (IPS), consistently help people with severe mental illness find and keep jobs. However, the evidence is weak because most underlying reviews were rated as critically low quality, so treat these findings as promising but not definitive.
• PTOTCohort2026Differences in female athlete triad risk factors between Japanese and American female runners: A comparative study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationJapanese female runners had a higher prevalence of stress fractures and energy deficiency risk factors than American runners, despite similar rates of diagnosed eating disorders and low bone mineral density. This suggests Japanese athletes in this cohort faced greater overall Triad risk.
• PTOTSurvey2026Exercise modalities and outcome measures used in older adults after hip fracture with or without signs of cognitive impairment: a national cross-sectional e-survey of 90 out of 98 municipalities in Denmark.Journal of rehabilitation medicineDanish municipalities offer similar hip fracture rehabilitation regardless of cognitive status, but rarely screen for impairment or document specific plans for those with cognitive signs. Physiotherapists deliver most care, using functional and balance exercises, yet few use recommended pain or cognitive assessments.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Temporal External Validation of the TWIST Prediction Tool for Time to Independent Walking after Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairThe TWIST tool accurately predicts time to independent walking after stroke but was too optimistic for some scores. Refinements made it more conservative for those with a score of 3. Use the updated interpretation to avoid over-promising recovery timelines.
• OTSLPOther2026Nor weak ties, nor strong ties: Personal support networks and relations between autistic peers.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceTwenty-one of 31 participants had autistic peers in their networks, but only two named them among their five closest daily supports. Peers were still important for crisis advice and autism-related support.
• OTQualitative2025Caregiving for Adults With Down Syndrome: Caregiver Experiences and Support Needs.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDCaregivers of adults with Down syndrome described constant responsibility, future planning worries, and transportation gaps. They also described routines and supports they said eased daily life.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Case Report: Intensive multidisciplinary motor-cognitive rehabilitation treatment in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne woman with Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome completed four weeks of intensive motor-cognitive rehabilitation. Her walking, balance, hand dexterity, speech clarity and swallowing safety all improved during admission, though she still needed her walker and caregiver support.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Contextual factors influencing neuro-affirming practice: Identifying what helps or hinders implementation in health and social care.Autism : the international journal of research and practicePractitioners identified rigid eligibility thresholds and single-condition pathways as key barriers to neuro-affirming care. Transdiagnostic approaches and stable, locally funded multidisciplinary teams were seen as essential enablers. Staff with lived experience improved confidence, but recruitment shortages and short-term third-sector funding hindered consistent support delivery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Occurrence and overlap of physical and mental health conditions in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults reported significantly more mental and physical health conditions than non-autistic adults, with mood disorders affecting 44% of the autistic group. Physical health quality of life was lower. The study found no single bridge condition; instead, multiple connections existed between mental and physical health clusters.