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 204 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2026Effects of a Multimodal Neurorehabilitation Program on Gross Motor Function and Activity and Participation Performance in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A 9-Month Longitudinal Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyChildren in GMFCS levels I–III improved gross motor function, mobility and social function over nine months. Levels IV–V improved only in sitting, with no change in daily activity performance. Since all children received multiple therapies together, the specific contribution of any single treatment cannot be separated.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026How are School-aged Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Digital Media? A Qualitative Study of Families' Lived Experiences.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPFamilies described digital media as a double-edged sword. It offers relief, deep interest exploration, and social connection, but creates safety concerns and caregiver guilt. Rules must be highly individualized and flexible, as one-size-fits-all restrictions fail in diverse home and school settings.
• PTOTCase Report2026Innovative therapeutic approach in becker muscular dystrophy. From murine model to focal muscle vibration: a case report assessment through gait analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne man with Becker muscular dystrophy showed improved gait symmetry and muscle activation after focal muscle vibration, but the gains faded without repeated treatment. This is a single case, not proof the therapy works for others.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Trends in Rehabilitation Insurance Benefit Exhaustion Among Older Adults in the United States and Associations With Racial Identity.Physical therapyIn 2022, 27.9% of older adults who completed rehabilitation reported exhausting insurance benefits. Rates fell since 2015, but after adjustment Non-Hispanic Black adults had a 9.3 percentage point higher estimated chance of reporting exhaustion than Non-Hispanic White adults.
• PTOTPilot2026Accuracy in the Estimation of Self-Reported Knee Brace Wear Time in Young Adults With a Symptomatic Knee Following ACL Reconstruction: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesSelf-reported knee brace wear time varied widely from sensor data day-to-day, with differences up to 3.5 hours. However, averaging self-reports over the entire 6-week period or using 7-day rolling averages significantly improved accuracy compared to daily logs.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Targeted ankle proprioceptive training improves balance, gait, and functional mobility in chronic stroke survivors: a multicenter randomized controlled trial with longitudinal follow-up.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTargeted ankle proprioceptive training improved balance and walking more than standard care in chronic stroke survivors. The robotic-assisted discrimination tasks and weight-bearing challenges produced gains that were maintained at six months.
• PTOTSurvey2026Importance of physiotherapy and occupational therapy according to people with multiple sclerosis-results from an online survey.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with MS in the Netherlands valued physiotherapy for movement, pain, and motivation, and occupational therapy for energy, assistive devices, and daily-life strategies. They wanted therapists who know MS and adapt care as symptoms change.
• OTSLPOther2026Developmental stuttering with common and complex phenotypes.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost people who stutter present with a common phenotype. A distinct 10% subgroup has a complex presentation marked by severe stuttering, high rates of neurodevelopmental disorders, lower non-verbal intelligence, and greater negative impact. This group requires multidisciplinary support.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The Prevalence of Infection and Sepsis Associated Dysphagia in Hospitalised Patients: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study.DysphagiaSepsis and infection were associated with new-onset dysphagia in hospitalised patients. Sepsis carried a higher risk than infection alone. Older patients and those with dementia, delirium or Parkinson's disease were most likely to develop swallowing difficulties during admission.
• PTOTRCT2026Study on the effectiveness and safety of balance instrument training on balance and lower limb motor function in patients with ischemic stroke hemiplegia.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding Pro-Kin balance system training to routine care improved balance and lower limb function more than routine care alone in stroke patients. The experimental group achieved higher Berg Balance Scale scores and faster walking times, with no adverse events reported.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Structured modulations in high-density EMG patterns from a single muscle enable simultaneous control of natural and extra degrees of freedom.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy adults could rotate a virtual cursor using EMG signals from a single biceps muscle while simultaneously controlling force. However, they achieved this by drastically increasing muscle activation rather than modulating neural inputs, and none could hold the rotated position for the required time.
• PTOTOther2026Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination for early detection of cerebral palsy in Ethiopia: A feasibility and knowledge translation study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn a low-resource hospital, training residents to use the HINE identified 36% of at-risk infants as having cerebral palsy or high probability, with referral at a mean age of 10.6 months.
• PTOTCohort2025Relationship between musculoskeletal factors in the shoulder and upper limb function in patients with stroke: A cross-sectional study.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoIn chronic stroke, a wider shoulder gap and thinner supraspinatus and deltoid muscles on the affected side correlated with slower hand function and lower manual ability scores. These structural changes tracked with functional limits, but the study shows association only, not that treating them restores function.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2026Eye-Tracking Technologies for Cognitive Assessment After Acquired Brain Injury: Systematic Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesEye tracking may reveal gaze differences linked to attention and executive control after acquired brain injury, but small, varied studies do not show it routinely outperforms standard cognitive tests.
• OTSLPQualitative2026'Give People More Time and Take the Time to Explain Things Properly': Cervical Screening Experiences of People With Intellectual Disability.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDWomen with intellectual disability described cervical screening as traumatic when rushed or explained poorly. They identified clear enablers: adequate appointment time, plain language explanations, and the ability to choose support people. These factors directly influenced whether they engaged with screening.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Socio-Ecological Factors of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents With Down Syndrome: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPhysical activity barriers in children with Down syndrome are multi-level, not just individual. Parents cited overprotection and lack of time, while communities lacked trained coaches. Siblings and peers acted as key motivators. Interventions must address these social and structural gaps.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026How does 'autistic burnout' feel? A qualitative study exploring experiences of earlier and later-diagnosed autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described burnout as a simultaneous powering down and overactivation of the mind and body. They reported exhaustion, loss of skills like speech and planning, and heightened sensory pain. Later-diagnosed participants faced greater distress from not knowing why they were struggling.
• OTSurvey2026Associations between self-reported depression and functioning across ICF domains: a Danish population-based study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdults with self-reported depression reported poor sleep, stress, loneliness, needing help with daily tasks, difficulty engaging with healthcare, and reduced work, education, and community participation more often, even after adjustment.
• PTOTOther2025Walking speed and distance requirements for functional community ambulation in Singapore.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoTo be safe for community ambulation in Singapore, patients need to walk 294.3 meters at 0.74 m/s. Green Man Plus crossings lower the speed requirement to 0.65 m/s. Curbs and stairs are the most common obstacles, requiring specific training before discharge.
• PTOTOther2025Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of an Arabic version of the chronic pain self-efficacy scale.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoThe Arabic version of the Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale is a valid and reliable tool for Saudi patients. It accurately measures three distinct areas: managing pain, maintaining physical function, and coping with symptoms. Clinicians can use it to assess self-efficacy and track progress in Arabic-speaking patients with chronic pain.
• PTOTSurvey2025Familiarity, attitudes, and barriers to exergame use in rehabilitation among healthcare practitioners in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoMost practitioners in Saudi Arabia do not use exergames, mainly because their departments lack the devices. However, 60% are willing to use them, citing high motivation and engagement as key benefits, while cost and unfamiliarity remain the primary barriers.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026EEG biomarkers for assessment, prognosis, and monitoring of natural upper limb recovery after stroke: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSome EEG patterns, especially brain asymmetry, track upper limb impairment and recovery after stroke, but studies are small, varied and mostly fair quality. They are not ready for clinical decisions.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Defining Transition and Transition Success: Perspectives From Different Stakeholders.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDYoung people with intellectual disabilities defined successful transition as gaining independence, responsibility, and social connections, similar to peers without disabilities. Parents and special school teachers viewed it as uniquely difficult, focusing on protection and employment. Services must support community inclusion and skill building earlier, not just job placement.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Barriers and Innovations Towards Accessing an Autism Diagnosis in Rural Northern Ontario: A Qualitative Study.Child: care, health and developmentFamilies and clinicians in rural Northern Ontario described autism diagnosis delays from low autism awareness, confusing referral systems, travel and technology limits, and staffing shortages. Shared information, community visits and culturally responsive assessment were described as facilitating access.
• OTCohort2026Suprapubic catheter insertion in people with multiple sclerosis: long-term complications and survival in a retrospective cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn people with advanced multiple sclerosis, a suprapubic catheter placed under imaging guidance came with few complications and 73.1% were still alive five years later. Catheter complications did not predict death; age, disability level and being discharged to a nursing home did.
• PTOTCohort2026Occupational performance priorities and outcomes in long-term transitional rehabilitation for young adults with acquired brain injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineYoung adults with acquired brain injury here most often chose goals around socialising, work and study, and getting around the community. Their own ratings of performance and satisfaction rose from admission to discharge, but with no comparison group the programme cannot take the credit.
• OTOther2026Dyadic adjustment for younger individuals following stroke: A cross-sectional study.Rehabilitation psychologyOnly one outcome differed by age: care partners in older couples were more satisfied with their social roles. In younger couples, one partner's lower satisfaction went with worse mood in both people; in older couples, only within the care partner.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Emphasising Learning in Health Promotion Targeting Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRPeople with intellectual disabilities and those supporting them said three things matter: being helped to understand their health choices, being listened to in a way that fits them, and having activity built into the day. Staff knowledge and service rules decide whether it happens.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Good intentions are not enough: Autistic perspectives on structural ableism within the walls of our classrooms.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students said what stopped them speaking up at school was not their own lack of skill but the system: autism erased from lessons, inflexible staff, punishment for being different, isolation, hidden rules and top-down authority. Teaching self-advocacy alone will not fix that.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2026Key Factors for Quality End-of-Life Care for People With Intellectual Disabilities. A Critical Interpretive Synthesis Review Using a 'Best-Fit' Framework Approach.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAcross the literature, quality end-of-life care for people with intellectual disabilities comes down to three things: care built around the person's own wishes, a network of staff, family and friends working together, and an organisation with the training, equipment and leadership to support them.
• OTSystematic Review2026Autism in Viet Nam: A systematic scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutism research in Vietnamese cultural contexts has grown quickly but is mostly poor quality and rarely involves the community: 93% of studies reported no autism community involvement. Family, school and the search for a cause, including wartime dioxin exposure, dominated the 137 studies.
• OTOther2026Does a reclined backrest with less legroom meet the same comfort as a fixed backrest with 80 mm more leg room?Work (Reading, Mass.)Reclining the backrest 17 degrees and taking away 8 cm of legroom lowered total discomfort ratings, but comfort ratings were the same in both seats, foot and leg discomfort went up, and the 20 participants split evenly on which seat they preferred.
• PTOTSurvey2026Pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy: Current Practices and Implementation Barriers.OTJR : occupation, participation and health75% of surveyed US paediatric providers said pCIMT was available in their region, but only 14% said every eligible child could actually get it. Cost, therapist and family availability were the top reported barriers, and academic programmes spend 0 to 1 hour on it.
• OTQualitative2026Exploring Shared Stress Experiences Among Teens With Chronic Health Conditions.Child: care, health and developmentTeens with long-term conditions described feeling set apart from their peers, carrying stressors their friends never face, and never being able to switch off. Several felt dismissed by healthcare providers for so long they started doubting their own symptoms. Safe places helped.
• PTOTOther2026Wheelchair skills test questionnaire for manual and powered wheelchair users: arabic translation, adaptation, and validation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesArabic-speaking wheelchair users can now be asked in their own language about their wheelchair skills. The translated self-report gave consistent answers about nine days apart and lined up with two existing Arabic measures. It records what users say they can do, not observed skill.
• OTOther2026Modeling passenger comfort in turboprop aircraft using objective measures.Work (Reading, Mass.)On two real turboprop flights, hip width and other body measurements ranked as the strongest contributors to passenger comfort, with seat position and time seated driving discomfort. The prediction models were only moderately accurate, and this is cabin design research, not clinical evidence.
• PTOTOther2026Psychosocial Factors Are Rarely the Focus of Rehabilitation After Hip Fracture: A Short Report of Routinely Collected Health Data.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyIn 100 people rehabilitating after hip fracture, only 4 of 231 therapy goals were about psychosocial functioning, and only 3 patients had such a goal. Of 17 screened as at risk of anxiety or depression, 9 had nothing documented to address it.
• PTOTRCT2026Wearable Myoelectric Interface for Neurorehabilitation (MINT) to Recover Arm Activity After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSix weeks of home training with a myoelectric arm game improved timed arm function by 6.8 seconds only in the group training three muscles at once. That group beat sham only in the per-protocol analysis; the main analysis found no group better than sham.
• PTOTRCT2026Predictors of Functional Recovery in Individuals Exposed to Late-Stage Exercise Programs After Total Knee Replacement: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyFour months after knee replacement, better self-rated health, going home rather than to rehab after surgery and higher knee pain scores predicted who recovered function six months later. Nothing predicted recovery in the community exercise group, likely because too few people improved.
• OTCohort2025Anatomy Learning Outcomes in Occupational Therapy: Impact of Prior Coursework.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieStudent occupational therapists who had never taken anatomy caught up with classmates who had. The prior-coursework group scored higher on the first three quizzes of the term; by the final quizzes and the practical exam the two groups were similar.
• OTOther2025Occupational Therapy Research Publications From 2001 to 2020 in PubMed: Trends and Comparative Analysis with Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthOccupational therapy research publications grew from 39 in 2001 to 144 in 2020, but still make up under 2.5% of rehabilitation research and fell relative to physiotherapy, from 7% to about 4%. Reviews are now the single largest category.
• OTQualitative2025Occupational Participation Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieOlder adults' pandemic losses centred on doing things with other people, not the activities themselves; virtual versions were 'better than nothing' but rarely enough. Some were also barred from volunteering by age rules.
• OTQualitative2026Factors Influencing the Implementation of Transitional Care for Adolescents With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities: Experiences of Dutch Healthcare Professionals.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRDutch professionals rated their transition care for adolescents with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities 6.2 out of 10. Records do not talk to each other, adult teams lack expertise, funding will not pay for coordination, and parents carry the burden.
• OTCohort2026Early Head Start Services Buffer the Effects of Maternal Depression on Child Development.Infants and young childrenCaregivers who engaged more with Early Head Start had fewer depressive symptoms a year later, and children in more engaged families scored better on social-emotional competence by age 3. Depressive symptoms did not predict later engagement, so the link ran one way.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Involvement in daily life activities from the perspectives of children and young people with childhood-onset disabilities: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with disabilities describe involvement as how much of their mind is in the activity, from switched off to fully absorbed to exhausted. It also meant having a say, belonging and being noticed; watching instead of taking part did not count.
• OTCohort2026The impact of specialist resource centres on autistic pupils' experience of mainstream school.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceWhere autistic pupils were placed made no measurable difference to their wellbeing, belonging or sense of support. Across resource centres and ordinary mainstream classes, it was peer and teacher support that went with better outcomes.
• OTPilot2026Impact of Occupation-Based Groups on Occupational Performance and Satisfaction Outcomes: Pilot Study.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthInpatients practising cooking, laundry and housework in a small group rated their performance and satisfaction no differently from those given one-to-one sessions. Both groups improved, but with 21 people and no randomisation this cannot show the two are equivalent.
• OTPilot2026Emotional and Motor Improvements in Children With ADHD Following Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthChildren with ADHD scored better on mood, self-efficacy and a core stability test right after one 45-minute equine-assisted OT session. There was no control group and only 31 children, so this cannot show the programme works.
• PTOTOther2026Feasibility of the Meta Quest 3 for upper limb kinematic analysis: accuracy, consistency, agreement and reliability.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe Meta Quest 3 headset tracked wrist movement closely enough to match a laboratory motion capture system for movement time and speed in 39 healthy adults. Smoothness measures varied too much between repeats to be trusted, and vertical tasks tracked worse than horizontal ones.
• OTCohort2025Exploring Dual-Task Performance Relationships for Veterans with Lower-Limb Amputation.Occupational therapy in health careWalking while doing serial subtraction cut gait speed 23.30% and correct answers 11.62%, but how much a person declined did not separate those who fell repeatedly from those who fell rarely or not at all, and it did not match their reported daily activity.