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 213 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPQualitative2026Beyond Exhaustion: Shame, Identity Disruption, and Functional Collapse in Autistic Burnout.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceShame, not exhaustion, was the organising force in these 11 autistic adults' burnout. They described hiding both their autistic traits and their burnout at the same time, then withdrawing when the mask slipped. That shame-withdrawal loop sustained the episode.
• OTPilot2026A Feasibility Study of a Community-Based Program for Individuals Living With Dementia.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieThree men with early dementia found an 8-week occupation-based group program acceptable, attended every session, and kept meeting a year later. It is a feasibility signal, not proof the program improves outcomes.
• OTOther2026Revising the Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process Manual: A Guidebook to Assessing Spatial Neglect.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTA commentary describing how the KF-NAP assessment manual was revised based on user feedback. No research findings to report.
• OTQualitative2026Canadian Adaptation of REVEAL(OT) for Chronic Pain Management: Rapid Qualitative Analysis Results.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieNo OTs currently work in these two Montreal pain clinics, and patients report long waits for OT services. Participants said an adapted intervention needs hands-on practice, a mix of group and individual sessions, and help building daily routines around constant pain.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026The association between trunk flexion and low back pain in blue-collar workers: A systematic review.Work (Reading, Mass.)Across four studies of blue-collar workers, objectively measured trunk flexion at work was not associated with increased low back pain. One study even found a small protective signal. The evidence is limited, from Northern and Western Europe only.
• PTOTSurvey2026Prevalence and risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal pain among flight attendants: A comparative study.Work (Reading, Mass.)Flight attendants' upper-limb pain dropped markedly between 2016 and 2024, but neck and lower-back pain stayed high. Stress, workload, and low job satisfaction were linked to pain in both years. The drop coincided with industry equipment updates.
• OTSystematic Review2026A Systematic Review of Outcomes for People With Intellectual Disabilities and/or Autistic People Following Resettlement From Long-Stay Hospitals in the UK.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMost included studies found some improvement after people left hospital, but gains were not universal, often levelled off within a few years, and many people still had smaller networks, less community participation, and more restrictive lives than comparable populations.
• PTOTRCT2026Safety and feasibility of paired vagus nerve stimulation with rehabilitation for improving upper extremity function in people with cervical spinal cord injury: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn six people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury, implanted vagus nerve stimulation paired with arm therapy was safe and feasible. All three who got active stimulation improved on a hand-function score; none in the sham group did. It was not powered to test efficacy.
• OTCase Series2026Adapting Lifestyle Redesign®: Navigating Fidelity and Contextual Fit Across Four Case Examples.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieFour adapted versions of an OT lifestyle program all retained their core therapeutic elements while changing language, format, content, and setting to fit their populations. The paper documents how the adaptations were made, not whether they improved patient outcomes.
• PTOTSurvey2026Ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury using walking aids generally do not report better long-term outcomes than wheelchair users: results from the InSCI-NL survey.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with spinal cord injury who walk with aids did not report better participation, employment, health, or quality of life than manual wheelchair users. Their only advantage was in self-care and bladder and bowel independence.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Early rehabilitation in trauma patients: an observational study from two Norwegian trauma centers.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOf 317 severely injured trauma patients in two Norwegian hospitals, only 1 in 10 was seen by a rehabilitation specialist within the recommended 72 hours. Physiotherapy reached 72%, but occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social work involvement was low, particularly for multitrauma patients.
• OTQualitative2026"Stigma," Survival, and Intergenerational Cultural Influences: Latina Autistic Contributions Through Community-Engaged Research.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthWhat looks like stigma in Latino families is a survival strategy. A caregiver's push for her daughter to be 'normal' is fear for the child's safety, not a deficit view of autism. Autistic traits in family members get reinterpreted as 'bad behavior' across generations.
• PTOTSurvey2026Employment after spinal cord injury in the United States: predictors and barriers.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAmong US adults with spinal cord injury, 67.7% were in paid work. The unemployed most often cited transportation as the barrier (82.5%), and about 70% said they wanted to work. Not receiving disability benefits was the strongest factor associated with being employed.
• OTOther2025Factors Influencing Occupation-Based Practice in Physical Dysfunction: Perspectives of Thai Occupational Therapists.Occupational therapy internationalThai OTs treating physical dysfunction report 95% agreement that occupation-based practice encourages client participation, yet 66% say they lack sufficient time to deliver it. Staffing, space, and policy are the most cited barriers.
• PTOTCase Report2026Management of physical activity using a wearable device during intensive decongestive therapy in patient with lower limb lymphedema: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne woman with 20 years of bilateral leg lymphedema improved in limb volume, skin elasticity, mobility, and quality of life after two weeks of intensive CDT. A Fitbit tracked her steps toward a 7,000-step daily target. This is one person, not evidence the programme works.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Machine learning-based adaptive personalization in virtual reality stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesML-adaptive VR improved upper limb scores by 7.47 points on the Fugl-Meyer scale, past the 5.25-point threshold for meaningful change. But 68% of the 25 studies had fewer than 30 patients, so this is proof-of-concept, not established practice.
• PTOTCohort2026Examination of occupational and physical therapists' exposure to physical risk factors in outpatient rehabilitation settings using the workplace ergonomics risk assessment and pain scale.Work (Reading, Mass.)93% of 98 therapists scored in the medium-risk band on a workplace ergonomics tool, and 91% reported pain after a single session. Pediatric therapists had the highest exposure. No significant link was found between the measured risk factors and pain levels.
• OTSurvey2026The moderating role of organizational cynicism in the effect of proactive personality on intrapreneurship.Work (Reading, Mass.)Proactive personality was associated with higher workplace innovation among 330 healthcare workers, but the link weakened when organizational cynicism was high. The design is correlational, so no causal claim can be made.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Transitional care interventions and outcome measures in stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review.Disability and rehabilitationMost stroke transitional care programs center on educating patients and families, while system-level supports like care coordination are rarely built in. Only 3 of 31 measured language or communication outcomes, and 17 restricted or 4 excluded people with aphasia or cognitive-communication disorders.
• OTQualitative2026Lived Experience Engagement in Service Design and Improvement: Investigating Meaning and Impact.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthConsumers and carers in voluntary advisory roles described their engagement as giving them structure, redefining past negative experiences, and connecting them with others who understood. Supportive facilitators who respected boundaries and checked in regularly were central to making participation feel safe.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Experiences of Transition From Early-Intervention to Education-Based Therapy Services for Parents of Children With Physical Childhood-Onset Disabilities: A Scoping Review.Child: care, health and developmentParents of children with physical disabilities report that moving from early intervention to school-based therapy means less therapy, a smaller role in their child's care, and poor communication. Caring staff and individualised support were the main positive experiences.
• OTSLPCase Report2026Ethnographic Perspectives of Unreliable, Minimal and Non-Speaking Autism Associated With Apraxia.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthThree autistic self-advocates describe their speech difficulties as a motor planning problem, not a thinking problem. All three were misdiagnosed as intellectually delayed, then reassessed after gaining AAC access and the diagnosis was reversed.
• OTSystematic Review2025Measurement Tools in Occupational Therapy Practice Primary School Setting: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalMost measurement tools used by school-based OTs focus on handwriting and cognitive skills. Only four of 52 tools address the classroom environment, such as teacher support or attitudes.
• OTCase-Control2026Occupational balance, quality of life, occupational performance, and disease-related factors in people with multiple sclerosis: A case-control study.Australian occupational therapy journalOverall occupational balance was similar between people with MS and controls, but MS participants scored lower on balancing obligatory versus voluntary activities and on energy management. Their functional independence and quality of life were lower than controls.
• PTOTNarrative Review2026Identification of spastic muscles involved in abnormal joint posture in patients with upper motor neuron syndrome: a narrative review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOnly 1 of 8 published studies offered a definitive method for identifying which specific muscles cause a spastic deformity. The authors propose a clinical reasoning framework based on functional anatomy, closed-chain examination, and biomechanical principles.
• OTOther2026Examining the Validity and Reliability of Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration Data Collected With Autistic Children: A Rasch Analysis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe EASI sensory integration test battery is largely usable for autistic children. Fourteen of its 19 tests produced consistent scores. Five (AL, PF, PJP, TPL, TPO) did not, so use those with other assessment data rather than in isolation.
• OTNarrative Review2026Linking Social Prescribing and Lifestyle Redesign®: A Step Toward Health and Equity?Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieThis is a theoretical paper arguing that social prescribing and Lifestyle Redesign share enough ground for OTs to bridge them. It summarizes ten existing reviews of social prescribing evidence and proposes three ways to link the two frameworks. No original participants, no intervention, no outcomes.
• OTCohort2026From cognitive abstraction to adaptive behavior: neural bases of concept learning in autistic adolescents.Molecular autismMost autistic adolescents (about three-quarters) categorized new items by comparing them to an abstract typical example rather than to memorized individual items. Their generalization accuracy on this task was positively associated with parent-reported daily functioning.
• OTSystematic Review2026The effect of emotional intelligence on the acceptance and use of technologies used İn occupational health and safety: A systematic literature review.Work (Reading, Mass.)In most of 39 studies of workers across mining, construction, IT, and healthcare, emotional intelligence was linked to better acceptance of workplace safety technologies. The studies used different measures and different technologies, so the results cannot be combined into a single figure.
• OTProtocol2026Hidden in plain sight: personal factors in autism and ADHD - a protocol for extending the ICF Core Sets for autism and ADHD.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesProtocol for extending the ICF Core Sets for autism and ADHD with personal factors (values, beliefs, lifestyle, coping). No data exist yet. Four preparatory studies, a Delphi consensus, and platform integration are described.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Chinese Graduate Health Science Students' Perceptions of Teaching Pedagogies on Their Educational Experience.Occupational therapy internationalHands-on clinical practice, instructor demonstration, and clear written communication were rated most helpful for learning by Chinese graduate health science students. Quick-response classroom tools and fast speech were rated lowest.
• OTQualitative2025Identifying Core Competencies for Prefieldwork Occupational Therapy Students in Adult Therapy: A Delphi Study With Clinical Therapists.Occupational therapy international14 core competencies were finalized for prefieldwork OT students in adult therapy, with therapeutic relationships and assessment skills rated highest by clinical supervisors. Management was the only competency excluded.
• OTOther2026Interprofessional Collaboration Between Nurses and Occupational Therapists Enhances Independence and Reduces Disposable Absorbent Product Use in Older Patients.Occupational therapy internationalOlder hospital patients who received a one-time nurse-OT collaboration meeting showed significantly greater ADL improvement and lower absorbent product use at discharge than matched controls. Physical restraint use fell in both groups with no between-group difference.
• OTOther2026Capturing Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Differentiated Sensory Processing Profiles: Non-Syndromic Autism and Fragile X Syndrome.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children scored highest on all three sensory features. Children with FXS alone did not differ significantly from neurotypical peers. Sensory features linked to behavior problems in autism and FXS-only, but not in FXS with co-occurring autism.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Frailty Progression Moderates the Association Between Sensory and Cognitive Trajectories Over 6 Years: Evidence From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.Ear and hearingWorsening hearing over 6 years tracked with faster memory decline, and worsening vision with faster executive function decline. Frailty progression was independently linked to both and made the vision-executive function association stronger.
• OTSystematic Review2026Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Occupational Therapy: A Systematic Review.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTAcross 10 small studies, mindfulness added to occupational therapy improved mental health in most cases and helped some patients with activity and participation. It showed no clear benefit for physical health, thinking, or quality of life. Samples were tiny and designs varied widely.
• OTOther2026Passengers' seat vibration exposure on turboprop aircraft flights.Work (Reading, Mass.)Turboprop seat vibration peaks at 16.5 Hz (engine) and 100 Hz (propeller blades), is highest during takeoff and landing, and falls below ISO health caution limits. Standard comfort weightings remove most of the high-frequency vibration passengers actually feel.
• OTQualitative2026Exploring the emotional labour of occupational therapists when interacting with clients.The British journal of occupational therapyFourteen UK occupational therapists described managing what they show clients: holding back frustration, putting on enthusiasm, and rationalizing a client's abuse to seem sincere. They said the rules are unwritten, context-dependent, and emotionally demanding.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Evidence-based position paper on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) professional practice for persons with sarcopenia. The European PRM position (UEMS PRM Section).European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineResistance training is the best-supported intervention for sarcopenia. Pair it with balance and aerobic work for the biggest gains in function and quality of life. Protein helps only alongside exercise. This is a consensus position, not a single trial.
• OTSurvey2025Occupational Therapy-Based Physical Activity Questionnaire (OTBPAQ) Categorization of Physical Activity Composition Ratios of Older Individuals Living in the Community.Occupational therapy internationalThe mix of physical activities an older adult does is associated with frailty. In this group of 499, the aerobic exercise group had the lowest frailty (30.4%) and the recreational gymnastics group the highest (73.3%).
• OTSystematic Review2026Sexuality in the field of occupational therapy: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalOver 40% of research on sexuality in occupational therapy describes barriers practitioners face rather than what to do. Of 136 studies, only two OT-specific assessment tools exist, and evidence for educational interventions is mixed.
• OTSystematic Review2026Family-Centered Occupational Therapy Consultation for Children Under 18 Years Old: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalEight of twelve studies found improved child participation or parent confidence after OT consultation. Three found no clear benefit. The evidence is thin, mostly small studies, and says little about cerebral palsy, ADHD, speech disorders, or teenagers.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Improving Health Care Services for Autistic Young Adults: Development and Use of a Self-Reported Health Care Transition Readiness Assessment.International journal of language & communication disordersAutistic young adults ranked understanding their own health conditions and feeling safe as most important for independence. Communication challenges and reliance on caregivers were their biggest barriers. Digital reminders were central to daily functioning.
• OTQualitative2026Exploring the implementation of an ICF-based instrument and guideline for interprofessional collaboration in the return-to-work process.Work (Reading, Mass.)Occupational health professionals who trialled an ICF-based tool described it as helpful for describing work capacity in context and for sharing understanding across professions. They recommended removing the numeric scoring and said digital integration into their records is a prerequisite for use.
• OTOther2026Atypical Predictive Processing Is Associated With Sensory Over-Responsivity in Autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn autism, brain activation to unexpected sounds and touches was higher than in typically developing controls, but group differences were minimal when a visual cue preceded the stimulus. Within the autism group, higher sensory over-responsivity was linked to less reduction in response to expected stimuli.
• OTOther2026Does Ongoing Task Load Influence Prospective Remembering in Autism Spectrum Disorders?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults scored the same as non-autistic adults on a prospective memory task, and making the background task harder did not change their scores. Autistic participants did say the tasks felt more demanding, but their actual performance was comparable.
• OTSurvey2026The relationship between professional competence and medical error tendency among final-year nursing students.Work (Reading, Mass.)Higher self-reported competence was strongly linked to lower medical error tendency among 125 final-year nursing students. General clinical skills, critical thinking, and ethics were the strongest predictors. The study is correlational and self-reported, so it shows association, not causation.
• OTOther2026Supporting implementation of occupational therapy led Falls Hazard Reduction at Home: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalAcross 19 studies, implementation of OT-led home falls hazard reduction leans on champion identification and stakeholder engagement. Facilitation and interactive assistance are almost absent. OTs often assume the practice is already core, but chart audits show it is not delivered systematically.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Cognitive Impairments and Health System Outcomes in Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Comparison of Patients With Stroke and Those With Type II Diabetes Mellitus.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationIn inpatient rehab, whether a patient had stroke or diabetes did not predict their functional outcomes or readmission. What did predict them was how well they could function when they arrived and how many medical problems they carried.
• PTOTRCT2026The impact of persistent post-concussion symptoms and exercise intolerance on patient-specific functioning after mild traumatic brain injury: a biopsychosocial perspective.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA 12-week aerobic exercise programme added to usual rehabilitation did not improve patient-reported activity limitations beyond what was seen in the control group after mTBI. Both groups improved over 6 months.