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 23 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTPilot2016Effects of virtual reality training with modified constraint-induced movement therapy on upper extremity function in acute stage stroke: a preliminary study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 4 acute stroke patients, dexterity and upper-limb function test scores rose after modified constraint-induced movement therapy plus virtual reality games. The two treatments were given together, so neither alone can be credited.
• PTOTSLPOther2016Reliability and validity of standing balance assessment index using a hand-held dynamometer in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy sciencePushing against a stroke patient's pelvis with a hand-held dynamometer until they lose balance measures standing stability reliably. The force needed correlates strongly with standard balance scores. It is quick and works for patients too impaired to perform other tests.
• PTOTSLPRCT2016The effects of high intensity laser therapy on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding high-intensity laser therapy to standard physical therapy reduced knee pain and improved function more than physical therapy alone in 20 patients with osteoarthritis over four weeks. However, the study was small and short-term, so the durability of this benefit is unknown.
• PTOTCohort2017Hip and Lumbar Spine Physical Examination Findings in People Presenting With Low Back Pain, With or Without Lower Extremity Pain.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyMost patients with low back pain had reduced hip movement or pain during hip tests. Those with these hip findings reported worse pain and disability. Examining the hip is common in this group and may help identify contributing factors, though this study does not prove hip treatment improves back pain.
• PTOTSurvey2017Musculoskeletal problems among string instrumentalists in South Africa.The South African journal of physiotherapyMost string players report musculoskeletal pain, with women at higher risk. Low back, upper back, and shoulders are the main trouble spots. Symptoms are usually mild to moderate but interfere with performance for over a third of players.
• OTSystematic Review2016Systematic review of the effects of mirror therapy in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of physical therapy scienceAcross nine studies in children with cerebral palsy, mirror therapy improved hand or arm measures in seven, but a study found worse daily tasks with both hands and no randomized trial was included.
• PTOTOther2016Effects of community-based rehabilitation program on activities of daily living and cognition in elderly chronic stroke survivors.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults with chronic stroke who took part in a monthly community rehabilitation program combining exercise and crafts improved in daily activities and cognition. Only eleven finished, and there was no control group.
• PTOTCase Report2016The effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercises on upper limb and visuoperceptual function in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of physical therapy scienceEleven children with cerebral palsy improved hand function and visual-motor speed after eight weeks of neck and trunk stabilization exercises. Because this was a small case series without a control group, it cannot confirm the exercises caused the gains.
• OTOther2016Effects of compound music program on cognitive function and QOL in community-dwelling elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter 10 weeks, thinking and memory scores and function at home showed no clear change. The physical health part of quality of life improved. The package mixed singing, exercise and reminiscence, so no single part can be credited.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2016Case report of meningiomatosis with aspiration of a dental bridge improved by comprehensive rehabilitation therapy.Journal of physical therapy scienceAn aspirated fixed dental bridge was removed on the second bronchoscopy. The patient also walked about 5 meters with a rolling walker. One case cannot show what caused the gain.
• PTOTSLPOther2016The effects a respiration rehabilitation program on IADL, satisfaction with leisure, and quality of sleep of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwenty patients with COPD completed a 12-week breathing rehabilitation program. Scores for instrumental activities of daily living, leisure satisfaction, and sleep quality all improved after the intervention, though this was a small, uncontrolled study.
• PTOTOther2016Preoperative physical performance predictors of self-reported physical function and quality of life in patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients awaiting knee replacement, worse self-reported function and quality of life were linked to more pain, poorer timed up-and-go performance, and poorer walk test performance. These are preoperative measures, not proof that training changes outcomes.
• PTOTRCT2017Effects of singular and dual task constraints on motor skill variability in childhood.Gait & postureYoung children aged 4 to 6 varied more in finger rotation and in carrying a box while walking than older children. Obstacle crossing did not show age differences. This describes motor variability in children without known conditions, not treatment effects.
• PTOTRCT2017Klapp method effect on idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents: blind randomized controlled clinical trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceKlapp method exercises did not reduce spinal curvature or correct body asymmetry in adolescents with suspected scoliosis. Back extensor strength increased, but the control group also improved, so the exercise alone did not cause this change.
• PTOTOther2016Three-dimensional motion analysis in the elbow joint position sense in children.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 19 healthy children, elbow position sense was more accurate at 30° than at 110° in the right arm. The left arm showed no clear difference, and the dominant arm did not clearly outperform the other.
• PTOTSLPOther2016Respiratory flow and vital signs associated with the intensity of functional electrical stimulation delivered to human abdominal muscles during quiet breathing.Journal of physical therapy scienceStimulating the abdominal muscles of healthy men increased expiratory airflow during quiet breathing. Vital signs remained stable, but pain rose with intensity. The authors suggest 60–80 mA balances airflow and comfort, though this was not tested in patients needing airway clearance.
• PTOTOther2016The effect of bilateral trainings on upper extremities muscle activation on level of motor function in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke patients with better arm recovery showed higher muscle activation and lower co-contraction when lifting a Pilates ring with both hands compared to clasping hands. This suggests the ring task may facilitate more coordinated movement in the affected limb.
• PTOTRCT2016Effects of inclined treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation on balance and gait in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding a metronome to inclined treadmill walking improved balance and gait more than walking without it or on a flat treadmill. However, the study was small and only included patients who could already walk, so results may not apply to all stroke survivors.
• PTOTPilot2016Effect of sensorimotor stimulation on chronic stroke patients' upper extremity function: a preliminary study.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwo female and one male chronic stroke patients showed increased Box and Block and 10-second hand-test scores after 12 sessions combining passive mobilization, vibration, and proprioceptive training, while also receiving conventional rehabilitation. The contribution of any single component cannot be separated.
• PTOTOther2016Factors affecting the quality of life of homebound elderly hemiparetic stroke patients with cognitive impairment.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor homebound older stroke patients with cognitive impairment, higher quality of life scores went with better cognition and greater daily independence. Age, sex, and care level showed no clear link.
• PTOTOther2016Analysis of affected and non-affected sides of stroke hemiparalysis patients and correlations between rehabilitation therapy assessments using the bioelectrical impedance analysis method.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 20 stroke patients with hemiplegia, a body electrical measure called phase angle was lower on the paralyzed side and tracked grip strength, hand dexterity, and daily activity independence. Another body electrical measure was also lower, but the resistance measure did not differ.
• PTOTOther2016Does the Q - H index show a stronger relationship than the H:Q ratio in regard to knee pain during daily activities in patients with knee osteoarthritis?Journal of physical therapy scienceLower knee extension strength and a smaller gap between knee extension and flexion strength were linked to more pain in 78 women with knee osteoarthritis. The hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio was not.
• PTOTSLPOther2016Patient satisfaction with out-patient rehabilitation therapy: validity and reliability.Journal of physical therapy scienceA new outpatient rehab satisfaction questionnaire gave stable scores over 1 week in 40 outpatients and matched an existing satisfaction score. It can help teams spot low satisfaction with processing and environment.
• OTCase Report2017Use of an arm weight-bearing combined with upper-limb reaching apparatus to facilitate motor paralysis recovery in an incomplete spinal cord injury patient: a single case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn a single man with incomplete spinal cord injury, upper-limb function improved on all measures except wrist flexor tone. Shoulder gains came during periods that also included repetitive facilitation exercise, so Reaching Robot alone cannot be credited.
• OTPilot2016Reliability of the special support system for sitting pressure redistribution.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn healthy young adults, repeated readings from the prototype cushion's automatic pressure system stayed consistent. The study tested whether the cushion's measurements were repeatable, not whether it prevents pressure ulcers.
• PTOTOther2016Reliability and validity of the sequential weight-shifting test: a new functional approach to the assessment of the sitting balance of older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceA new seated weight-shifting test gave moderately consistent results when repeated a week later in older adults who needed help walking. It also tracked reach, grip strength, mobility, and breathing measures. It needs force platforms, so it is not a simple clinic test.
• PTOTCase Series2016Characteristics of physical activity in patients with critical limb ischemia.Journal of physical therapy scienceStep counts did not correlate with age, leg strength, skin blood flow, or quality-of-life scores in 12 patients with critical limb ischemia, although average daily steps were 2,323.
• PTOTCohort2016Relationship between manual dexterity and the unified parkinson's disease rating scale-motor exam.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients with Parkinson's disease, lower scores on a simple block-moving test closely matched higher scores on the standard motor exam. A low block test score suggests significant motor impairment, offering a quick functional check for upper limb dexterity.
• PTOTOther2017A comparison of the shoulder and trunk muscle activity according to the various resistance condition during push up plus in four point kneeling.Journal of physical therapy sciencePushing a leg against backward resistance during a knee push-up plus increases serratus anterior and external oblique activity. Pushing against inward resistance increases internal oblique activity. Therapists can select resistance direction to target specific stabilizing muscles.
• PTOTCohort2017Does grip strength on the unaffected side of patients with hemiparetic stroke reflect the strength of other ipsilateral muscles?Journal of physical therapy scienceGrip strength on the unaffected side of stroke patients correlated significantly with the strength of seven other muscle groups. Measuring grip alone may offer a quick estimate of overall unaffected-side strength, though correlations were moderate.
• PTOTOther2017The effect of visual field condition on kinetic in upper extremities and e.m.g in lower extremities while performing reaching in normal adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn healthy young adults, reaching speed was highest with both eyes open. Shoulder joint angles and lower-limb muscle activity showed no reported difference across visual conditions.
• PTOTOther2017Effects of observation of hand movements reflected in a mirror on cortical activation in patients with stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter mirror therapy, EEG responses in stroke patients changed. Mirror viewing altered alpha and beta activity differently from direct hand viewing. The study did not measure hand function or daily tasks, so it does not show functional recovery.
• PTOTCase Series2017Effects of two-handed task training on upper limb function of chronic hemiplegic patients after stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwo chronic stroke patients practised everyday two-handed tasks for 12 sessions. Both had larger and faster brain-to-hand responses and small hand-function gains, but this cannot show the training works.
• OTOther2017Comparing the interface pressure redistribution of three different types of cushions: differences according to age groups and cushion preferences.Journal of physical therapy scienceAcross 211 adults who could sit independently and had no neurological disease, honeycomb was the most preferred cushion at 42.4%. Cushion pressure varied by age and gender, but pressure ulcers were not measured.
• OTSLPQualitative2016Initial constructs for patient-centered outcome measures to evaluate brain-computer interfaces.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyPeople with severe speech and physical impairments and their caregivers said communication outcomes matter beyond device performance: self-expression, spontaneity, patience from partners, family participation, roles, and support. Current tools did not capture these details.
• PTOTSLPOther2016What do the relationships between functional classification systems of children with cerebral palsy tell us?Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 327 children with spastic cerebral palsy, motor, hand-use, and communication classifications moved together, especially in quadriplegia. Better motor and hand-use levels were associated with being an effective communicator.
• OTOther2017Examining the impact of formal planning on performance in older adults using a naturalistic task paradigm.Neuropsychological rehabilitationWriting a plan for 5 minutes before a real-world apartment task did not improve task accuracy, but it improved efficiency. Older adults included fewer task parts in their plans and completed the task less accurately and efficiently.
• PTOTCase Report2017Effects of interactive metronome training on postural stability and upper extremity function in Parkinson's disease: a case study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn one woman with Parkinson's disease, balance and hand scores improved during interactive metronome training, but this case report cannot show the training caused them.
• OTOther2017Comparing the interface pressure redistribution after applying three different types of cushions: differences according to cushion type.Journal of physical therapy scienceMemory foam gave the lowest total sitting pressure, honeycomb the next lowest. Air did not lower total pressure more than firm surface, but had the highest thigh pressures.
• OTOther2017The reliability and validity of the Complex Task Performance Assessment: A performance-based assessment of executive function.Neuropsychological rehabilitationThe CTPA library task distinguished adults with mild stroke and executive dysfunction from controls, and two raters agreed closely. Repeating it after one week improved scores, so it is not dependable as a change measure.
• PTOTOther2016Clinical Decision Support Tools for Selecting Interventions for Patients with Disabling Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationNo decision support tool for selecting interventions in musculoskeletal pain is ready for widespread use. Most are early-stage questionnaires, algorithms, or prediction rules, with inconsistent testing and no confirmed patient benefit.
• PTOTQualitative2016Characterizing mobility from the prosthetic limb user's perspective: Use of focus groups to guide development of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalPeople with lower limb prostheses described mobility as shaped by their health, the movements they do, and the environment. Walking, changing posture, uneven ground, carrying loads, and talking while walking were described as limits.
• OTCohort2017Age trajectories of everyday cognition in African American and White older adults under prompted and unprompted conditions.Neuropsychological rehabilitationAfter adjusting education and vocabulary, African American and White older adults did not differ on everyday cognition scores. Simple prompts raised scores for both, and reduced age-related decline more for African Americans.
• PTOTSLPOther2017Effects of visual fatigue caused by smartphones on balance function in healthy adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceSmartphone-induced visual fatigue worsened dynamic balance and movement control in healthy adults. Static balance remained unchanged. The study was small and used a short viewing time, so it does not prove that smartphone use causes balance problems in daily life.
• PTOTOther2017Clinical characteristics affecting motor recovery and ambulation in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceWomen with stroke hemiplegia had lower hand and upper-limb motor stages and more complex regional pain syndrome. Shoulder pain was linked to complex regional pain syndrome. Rehabilitated patients were further from stroke, so better walking scores cannot be credited to rehabilitation alone.
• PTOTCohort2017Comparison of the Berg Balance Scale and Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale to predict falls in community-dwelling adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceBoth the Berg Balance Scale and the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale predicted fall risk in independent older adults, with similar accuracy. Cut-offs of 40 points on the Berg and 22 points on the Fullerton identified fallers with high sensitivity but moderate specificity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2016Self-Reported Sleep Disturbance Mediates the Relationship Between PTSD and Cognitive Outcome in Blast-Exposed OEF/OIF Veterans.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationIn blast-exposed veterans, poor sleep links PTSD symptoms to worse cognitive performance. Sleep disturbance accounted for most of the association between PTSD and deficits in memory, processing speed, and cognitive control. Clinicians should assess sleep when evaluating cognition in this population.
• PTOTSLPRCT2016Tracking patterns of needs during a telephone follow-up programme for family caregivers of persons with stroke.Disability and rehabilitationCaregivers prioritized stroke information and survivor behavior management early. They delayed addressing their own health needs until the fifth call, when a specific assessment tool helped them identify these personal concerns. Physical care needs remained stable but were less urgent initially.
• PTOTOther2016Development of a Modified Version of the Spinal Function Sort (M-SFS): A Mixed Method Approach.Journal of occupational rehabilitationA 20-item modified picture-based spinal function sort was developed for chronic nonspecific low back pain, adding prolonged postures and removing redundant items. It has not yet been checked for accuracy or consistency, so use cautiously.
• OTSurvey2016Correspondence in Stakeholder Assessment of Health, Work Capacity and Sick Leave in Workers with Comorbid Subjective Health Complaints? A Video Vignette Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationStakeholders watching videos of workers with subjective, multiple complaints disagreed about health, work capacity and sick leave. GPs were more likely than supervisors or the public to support full sick leave for one worker, and less likely for another.