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 201 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPQualitative2026Digital Pathways to Family Bonds: Exploring WhatsApp Video Calls Adoption by Older Adults With Intellectual Disability in Out-of-Home Residence.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDOlder adults with intellectual disability valued seeing family on video, but most could not use the tablet freely because staff stored it away. Those who gained independence in calling also faced distress when family did not answer, showing access and emotional support are essential.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Effects of 24-h Movement Behaviours on Emotional and Behavioural Problems in Chinese Preschoolers Using Compositional Data Analysis.Child: care, health and developmentSleeping more consistently predicted fewer emotional and behavioural problems in preschoolers. Replacing even one minute of activity or sedentary time with sleep improved scores. High physical activity was linked to more problems, not fewer, challenging the idea that more movement is always better.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Patient outcomes in KCNQ2 developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.Developmental medicine and child neurologySeizures in KCNQ2 DEE often begin early and may resolve, but tone, cognition, movement, motor, feeding, communication, behaviour and sleep problems were reported more often as children age.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Prevalence and biopsychosocial predictors of post-stroke fatigue in patients with minor strokes.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAbout one in five minor stroke survivors had clinically significant fatigue at one year. Fatigue was linked to psychological distress, balance problems, and self-reported cognitive symptoms, but not to cognitive test scores or pain.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Patients Who Do Not Achieve 90% of the Nonoperative Side on the Anterior Reach Y-Balance Test at 3 Months After ACL Reconstruction Are More Likely to Have Persistent Knee Extension Strength Asymmetry at 6 Months Postoperatively.International journal of sports physical therapyPatients with an anterior reach Y-Balance test symmetry index below 90% at three months after ACL reconstruction were significantly more likely to have knee extensor strength asymmetry at six months. However, a symmetry index above 90% at three months did not guarantee normal strength at six months.
• PTOTPilot2025Development and feasibility testing of a video-based exercise program for improving upper limb motor function among stroke survivors in a low-income setting.Archives of physiotherapyStroke survivors in Nigeria completed a four-week home program using an English video, manual, and five exercises including constraint-induced movement therapy; 29 of 30 finished, and motor scores rose 8.8 points on a 75-point scale. Without controls, this shows feasibility, not proven effectiveness.
• PTOTPilot2025Reducing Upper Extremity Precautions After Lung Transplant: The Clamshell Protocol Pilot Study.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalA less-restrictive upper extremity protocol after lung transplant was associated with fewer healing complications than traditional sternal precautions. Four patients in the traditional group and one in the new group had adverse events. This pilot suggests the new protocol may be safe but does not prove it.
• PTOTPilot2026Gamified electromyographic biofeedback for people with tetraplegia from SCI is enjoyable, results in high-dosage therapy, increases muscle electrical activity, and may improve arm function, a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with tetraplegia playing EMG-controlled games achieved high repetition counts and reported enjoying the therapy. Muscle electrical activity increased significantly, but functional gains remain unproven due to missing data and the lack of a control group.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Long-Term Effects of a Web-Based Exercise Programme for People With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRA 12-week web-based exercise programme did not maintain physical activity or body composition gains at 12 months in adults with intellectual disabilities. Waist circumference improved immediately after the intervention but returned to baseline. Support staff engagement and social factors were key to continued participation.
• PTOTCase Report2026A case report of thumb weakness misdiagnosed as radial neuroma and resulting in upper limb dysfunction after surgery.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSurgery for a suspected radial neuroma revealed nerve adhesion, and a 37-year-old woman later returned to work after a course of electroacupuncture, ultrasound, and magnetic stimulation. This single case cannot show which treatment helped.
• PTOTRCT2026Effects of an Exercise-Assisting Mobile App (Osteoarthritis-Rehabilitation Assistant [O-RA]) on Rehabilitation Outcomes in Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Parallel Clinical Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOlder adults using the O-RA motion-analysis app completed significantly fewer knee exercises than those given standard instructions. The app acted as a barrier, not a facilitator, due to instability, WiFi requirements, and difficulty using the interface.
• PTOTRCT2026Effects of Sanqi Shengyu External Application Cream and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on Knee Osteoarthritis in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyFor older adults with knee osteoarthritis, adding a herbal cream or electromagnetic therapy to daily exercise reduced pain and improved function. Combining both treatments provided the best long-term results. Exercise alone also helped, but the combined therapy maintained pain relief better over time.
• OTOther2026Reduced Hand Specialization and Idiosyncratic Visuomotor Strategies in Autism During Naturalistic Object Manipulation.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults used their right hand less than non-autistic adults, preferred nearer blocks, took longer, and moved more variably while building. The handedness questionnaire did not predict these task behaviors.
• PTOTCohort2026Screen Time, Fatigue, Obesity and Physical Inactivity: Health Correlates of Problematic Smartphone Use in Adolescents.Child: care, health and developmentProblematic smartphone use affected 15.7% of adolescents, clustering with high screen time, severe fatigue, obesity, and low physical activity. Each additional year of structured sports participation was associated with lower odds of problematic use, severe fatigue, and obesity, with a stronger protective effect in females.
• PTOTCohort2026Early multidimensional mobility assessments for discriminating discharge-level ambulation and functional independence in subacute stroke inpatients: a retrospective cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn subacute stroke patients who could walk with supervision, early balance and multidirectional stepping tests best predicted discharge independence. A Berg Balance Scale score of 40.5 or higher identified 92% of those who achieved independent ambulation, outperforming speed-based gait tests.
• OTOther2026Both Hands Assessment for children and adolescents with bilateral cerebral palsy: Content and construct validity.Developmental medicine and child neurologyThe Both Hands Assessment could measure bimanual hand use in children and adolescents with bilateral cerebral palsy, but it needed separate scoring for symmetric and asymmetric hand use. One item was revised to count stabilizing objects.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Real-World Experiences of Therapy Staff Implementing an Intensive Rehabilitation Protocol in Canadian Stroke Inpatient Rehabilitation Settings: A Multi-Site Survey Study.Physical therapyMost therapy staff found intensive walking protocols helpful but struggled to meet step targets within standard 30-minute sessions. Time constraints and discharge planning competed with therapy goals. Wearable devices were valued for feedback, though staff doubted their accuracy for patients with slower or atypical gaits.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Modeling and validation of crutch-supported exoskeleton gait using a double-inverted pendulum approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA biomechanical model validated on one paraplegic user shows that exoskeletons generate excess forward energy via a small center-of-mass shift. The user must actively dissipate this surplus with crutches to avoid falling, highlighting the high metabolic cost of this gait.
• PTOTOther2026Toward more intuitive prosthetic control: structured residual muscle training in transtibial amputees.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFour weeks of daily residual limb exercises improved muscle control accuracy and stability in eight transtibial amputees. Adding supervised biofeedback sessions produced no greater gains than home exercise alone. One participant withdrew due to recurrent phantom pain, highlighting the need for screening.
• OTCohort2026Associations Between Features of Employment and Job Satisfaction Among Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPerceived workplace climate strongly predicted job satisfaction across all five facets. Neither working full-time nor receiving job supports showed significant associations with satisfaction, though full-time work trended toward higher pay satisfaction.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Improving Care for People With Aphasia: Communication Training for Healthcare Providers.International journal of language & communication disordersA two-hour workshop improved healthcare providers' self-reported knowledge and confidence in communicating with people with aphasia. However, it did not change their actual daily practice habits or perceived workplace support. The training helps providers understand the disorder but does not automatically fix communication routines.
• OTQualitative2026A Qualitative Exploration of Perspectives From Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Their Caregivers Participating in a Lifestyle Intervention to Enhance Cooking Skills and Physical Fitness.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParticipants and caregivers valued a combined cooking and functional fitness programme for building independence and social connection. They highlighted transportation barriers and requested flexible options for working alone or with peers to better suit individual preferences.
• PTOTOther2026Lower limb active exoskeletons, exosuits, assistive devices and specifications: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe review catalogues 467 lower limb devices but reports no patient outcomes. It maps technical specifications like mass and torque to help clinicians match devices to individual needs, but provides no evidence that any specific device improves rehabilitation.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Effects of photobiomodulation associated with vestibular rehabilitation in the treatment of patients with vestibular symptoms and tinnitus: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial.CoDASAdding infrared light therapy to vestibular rehab reduced tinnitus discomfort and improved some balance measures more than rehab alone. However, both groups improved similarly on dizziness handicap and stability limits, so the added benefit was specific to certain outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Use of Wearable Devices to Augment Traditional Measurements of Postoperative Outcomes Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: Systematic Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesWearable step counts often fail to match patient-reported pain and function scores after hip or knee replacement. Correlations exist but are inconsistent, with no standardized metric yet guiding clinical intervention or predicting poor recovery reliably.
• OTSLPOther2026Optimizing Measurement of Communication in Autistic Children and Their Caregivers: Dependability of the Caregiver-Child Interaction.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchObserving autistic children during just one daily activity gives unreliable scores for their communication and their caregiver's support. To get dependable estimates, you need to watch them across multiple different activities or on several separate occasions.
• OTOther2026Beyond Cybathlon: on-demand quadrupedal assistance for people with limited mobility.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA single operator with severe motor impairment controlled a quadrupedal robot to complete daily tasks. Autonomous pre-positioning lowered mental effort compared to manual teleoperation, though speech recognition errors caused some task failures.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Ophthalmological outcomes, visual perception, fine motor precision, and visual-motor integration in children born very preterm.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren born very preterm showed poorer visual-motor integration, visual perception, and fine motor precision at age 12 compared to term-born peers. These deficits persisted despite best-corrected vision, linking early ophthalmological issues to long-term functional outcomes.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Community views on the assessment and diagnosis of autism: Principles to guide clinical practice.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCommunity members identified three principles for autism assessment: placing the person at the centre, understanding the whole person beyond just diagnosis, and improving quality and access. Practitioners are urged to address cultural bias, recognise masking, and ensure transparent communication about costs and waitlists.
• OTQualitative2026User Experience of Extended Reality Treatment for Visuospatial Neglect Among Patients and Informal Caregivers: Qualitative Interview Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients and caregivers liked the virtual and augmented reality games for poststroke neglect and found them playable, but wanted clearer targets, performance feedback, and safer, more tailored practice. They were open to home use if equipment and time allowed.
• PTOTRCT2025What are people's perspectives on different labels for neck pain after a motor vehicle crash? A content analysis of randomized study data.Musculoskeletal science & practiceThe label "neck strain" made people expect better recovery and prefer exercise, while "neck pain" caused confusion and led to requests for passive treatments and imaging. "Whiplash injury" was the least confusing label. Choose words carefully to align patient expectations with guideline-recommended active care.
• PTOTSurvey2026Perception of occupational therapy intervention in wheelchair seating among healthcare professionals in Bahrain.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMost healthcare professionals in Bahrain knew occupational therapy had a wheelchair seating role, but only 33.6% had referred a patient; formal training was the only factor linked to referral.
• PTOTSLPOther2026What Matters Most? Developing a Core Patient Reported Outcome Set for Individuals With Genetic Intellectual Disabilities: An International Delphi Study.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRA Delphi consensus with 61 people identified 19 patient-reported outcomes that matter most in genetic intellectual disabilities. These cover fatigue, sleep, pain, mental health, and communication, providing a standard framework for clinicians and researchers to track what actually affects patients' lives.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Rehabilitation approaches used for children with spinal muscular atrophy: A scoping review based on the F-words framework.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineSMA rehabilitation heavily focuses on physical fitness and mobility, often ignoring self-care, communication, and social participation. The assumption that strengthening muscles automatically improves daily function is unproven. Therapists should explicitly target functional activities and child-chosen goals rather than relying solely on impairment-based exercises.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Comparative efficacy of motor imagery augmented with central non-invasive brain stimulation versus peripheral electrical stimulation for upper extremity rehabilitation post-stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding motor imagery plus low-frequency rTMS to conventional rehab was significantly better than conventional rehab alone for post-stroke arm motor scores; other tested combinations and single interventions were not.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Sub-groups of spoken language and broader communication skills in a large heterogenous cohort of minimally verbal school-age children: evidence of discrepant profiles.Molecular autismA cluster analysis of 181 minimally verbal school-age children identified two groups with strong comprehension but weak speech production. These children use AAC more often. Their profile suggests a speech-motor barrier rather than a lack of understanding, so therapy should target speech sounds and support alternative communication.
• OTOther2026Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults With Severe or Moderate Intellectual Disability Using the Diagnostic Interview Trauma and Stressors-Severe Intellectual Disability.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRIn 97 Dutch adults with severe or moderate intellectual disability, the caregiver interview DITS-SID showed good to excellent agreement between independent raters and linked with trauma and behaviour scores, but PTSD symptoms did not show a clear link to major traumatic events.
• OTOther2026Views of Facial Attractiveness of Faces of Individuals With and Without an Intellectual Disability.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPeople with intellectual disabilities rated faces consistently, agreeing with the general population on what is attractive. They also held positive self-views, believing they were desirable to attractive others. However, they felt more likely to be accepted by people with Down syndrome.
• OTSurvey2026Predictors of Job Satisfaction of Frontline Staff Working in Supported Accommodation Services for People With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSupport staff in disability services were least satisfied with management and most satisfied with their daily tasks. Clearer job expectations and better collaboration between frontline staff and senior managers were the strongest predictors of overall satisfaction.
• PTOTCohort2026Beyond spasticity reduction: botulinum toxin-a injection is associated with changes in abnormal flexor synergies of the upper limb in chronic stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBotulinum toxin injections in chronic stroke patients reduced elbow spasticity and improved an index of abnormal flexor synergy. The study did not show a change in maximum voluntary shoulder flexion angle. These findings are from a small, uncontrolled cohort and cannot confirm causality or clinical benefit.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Validation of heart rate measured by the consumer-level wearable device Fitbit: a cross-sectional observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe Fitbit Inspire 3 generally underestimated heart rate by 2.60 beats/min. Accuracy was high for most tasks, but error exceeded 10% during slow walking. Clinicians should account for this systematic underestimation when prescribing low-intensity exercises.
• PTOTCase Report2025The treatment efficacy of complete decongestive therapy for breast cancer-related lymphedema from the perspective of skin mechanical properties: a case study.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne woman with breast cancer-related lymphedema showed improved skin elasticity, grip strength, and quality of life after two weeks of complete decongestive therapy. This single case suggests skin measurements can track change, but does not prove the treatment works.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Physiological and psychological therapeutic effects of telerehabilitation treatment on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceTelerehabilitation for COPD is slightly worse than face-to-face rehab for walking distance but better for anxiety and depression. Use it when travel is a barrier, but expect smaller gains in physical endurance compared to clinic-based programs.
• PTOTQualitative2026Early Needs Assessment in Patients With Non-Specific Symptoms of Cancer: An Explorative Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyPatients and therapists found early needs assessment after cancer diagnosis helpful for planning daily life support. Therapists contacting patients directly by phone increased assessments from 11 to 28. The paper describes experiences, not treatment effectiveness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Lung Volume Recruitment Slows Pulmonary Functional Decline and Prolongs Survival in ALS.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn people with ALS, lung volume recruitment was associated with a slower decline in lung capacity and longer survival, particularly when continued for six months or more. However, this was a retrospective study without a control group, so the intervention did not cause these outcomes.
• PTOTPilot2026Creating an engaging brain computer interface, electrical stimulation therapy for children with hemiparesis: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThree sessions of a social-media-linked brain-computer interface with electrical stimulation were safe and feasible for 12 children with hemiparesis. Participants reported feeling less clinical and more engaged, but technical lag caused frustration. No functional gains can be attributed to the system.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Looking Beyond Dose: Identifying Responders and Non-Responders to RehaCom Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation in Progressive MS-The CogEx Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairComputerized cognitive training helps some people with progressive MS improve processing speed, but not all modules work equally. Progressing through Attention/Concentration tasks was linked to greater gains, while other modules showed little benefit or hit difficulty ceilings.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Changing Patterns of Psychotropics Use Among Older Adults With Intellectual Disability Over a Decade, With a Focus on Designated Mental Health Conditions.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDPsychotropic use remained high in older adults with intellectual disability over a decade. Antipsychotic and sedative use dropped, while antidepressant use rose. Many people taking these drugs had no diagnosed mental health condition, but did have behaviours of concern.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The prevalence of an isolated gastrocnemius tightness in patients with knee or hip pathology.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIsolated gastrocnemius tightness was found in 20% of patients with hip pathology and 10% with knee pathology before surgery. Older age and higher pain levels were linked to greater tightness, while higher physical activity was associated with less tightness.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026A systematic review of physical activity guidelines for adults with cardio-respiratory diseases: Stepping towards evidence-based recommendations.Clinical rehabilitationMost cardio-respiratory guidelines encourage physical activity but lack specific instructions on how to prescribe it. Only 11 of 29 guidelines provided clear details on frequency, intensity, time and type, leaving clinicians to interpret vague advice.