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 25 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSurvey2017Defining mild, moderate, and severe pain in young people with physical disabilities.Disability and rehabilitationFor young people with physical disabilities, the best average pain cutoffs were 0-3 mild, 4-6 moderate and 7-10 severe; the best worst pain cutoffs were 0-4 mild, 5-6 moderate and 7-10 severe.
• OTOther2017Activities of daily living and manual hand dexterity in persons with idiopathic parkinson disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 25 people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease, better hand dexterity on the less affected side was linked to greater independence in daily activities. This association was stronger than for the more affected side.
• OTSLPCohort2017Assessing chronic stroke survivors with aphasia sheds light on prevalence of spatial neglect.Topics in stroke rehabilitationFunctional observation found mild neglect in five of 40 chronic left-brain stroke survivors with aphasia, but paper-and-pencil testing found none, and mobility or independence did not differ reliably.
• PTOTSLPCohort2017Factors influencing executive function by physical activity level among young adults: a near-infrared spectroscopy study.Journal of physical therapy scienceYoung adults with higher physical activity levels showed greater brain activation in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive tasks. Higher activity steps and IQ scores were significantly associated with better cognitive function, suggesting an active lifestyle may support executive function.
• OTRCT2017Beyond Return to Work: The Effect of Multimorbidity on Work Functioning Trajectories After Sick Leave due to Common Mental Disorders.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMultimorbidity did not predict overall work functioning trajectory after return to work for common mental disorders. Only 12% improved, and in that group each extra multimorbidity point lowered scores by 1.4 points on the 0 to 100 scale.
• PTOTCase-Control2017Factors inducing falling in schizophrenia patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 19 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia, those who had fallen showed poorer balance on the Time Up and Go test and one-leg stand, plus more medication side effects like drooling. Antipsychotic drug dose itself did not differ between groups.
• OTCohort2017External Validation and Update of a Prediction Rule for the Duration of Sickness Absence Due to Common Mental Disorders.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe old rule for predicting who would still be off work 3 months after reporting sick with a common mental disorder did not work well. Asking how varied their work is improved early spotting, but the updated rule needs testing.
• PTOTSLPRCT2017The effects of posterior talar glide with dorsiflexion of the ankle on mobility, muscle strength and balance in stroke patients: a randomised controlled trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding posterior talar glide mobilization to standard therapy improved ankle range of motion and balance in stroke patients more than standard therapy alone. The added manual technique led to greater gains in dorsiflexion and functional reach compared to weight-bearing exercises.
• PTOTOther2017Validity and repeatability of inertial measurement units for measuring gait parameters.Gait & postureFoot-mounted sensors accurately measured gait speed, stride length, and cadence in healthy adults, while ankle-mounted sensors were less accurate. Foot placement also showed better agreement with standard measures than ankle placement, which had systematic errors.
• OTNarrative Review2016Toward an interdisciplinary approach to understanding sensory function in autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchNeuroscientists and occupational therapists define sensory processing differently, creating barriers to collaboration. Neuroscientists focus on controlled lab measures of neural response, while OTs focus on daily life participation. Current evidence does not confirm that sensory treatment causes functional improvement, highlighting the need for joint research.
• PTOTRCT2016Upper-Limb Recovery After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing EMG-Triggered, Cyclic, and Sensory Electrical Stimulation.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairAll three stimulation types improved upper-limb scores over 8 weeks, with no significant difference between EMG-triggered, cyclic NMES, and sensory stimulation. This trial did not show one method was better for wrist-hand function after stroke.
• OTSLPOther2017Lessons learned: Engaging culturally diverse families in neurodevelopmental disorders intervention research.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEngaging low-income Latino families in autism and ADHD research required shifting from clinic-based to school-based delivery, replacing lectures with small-group discussions, and hiring a bilingual community navigator. Flexible scheduling, Spanish text messaging, and joint questionnaire completion were essential for retention.
• OTSLPOther2017Neurobehavioral Characteristics of Older Veterans With Remote Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOlder veterans with remote TBI had worse everyday function, more depression and PTSD symptoms, and poorer executive function/processing speed than peers without TBI; memory and language scores were not different.
• PTOTOther2017Validating accelerometry as a measure of physical activity and energy expenditure in chronic stroke.Topics in stroke rehabilitationStandard accelerometry thresholds underestimate activity intensity in stroke survivors with hemiparetic gait. New stroke-specific cutpoints for Actical monitors were developed, showing that walking at 2.0 mph is vigorous intensity for this population, not light or moderate.
• OTOther2017Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation of stroke patients on depression and quality of life.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke patients with severe depression who received conventional occupational therapy plus tDCS had lower depression scores and higher quality-of-life scores than those receiving conventional occupational therapy plus false tDCS.
• OTCohort2016Persistence of megalencephaly in a subgroup of young boys with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn boys with autism, a subgroup with brain size disproportionate to height kept enlarged brains through about 5 years. Their head growth became larger than controls by around 24 months, while height did not differ.
• PTOTCohort2016Association Between Time to Rehabilitation and Outcomes After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAfter traumatic spinal cord injury, a 10% longer wait for inpatient rehabilitation was associated with a 1.50-point lower FIM motor score at discharge. This was an observational association, not proof that delay caused worse function.
• PTOTOther2016Use of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Short Version in Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe WHOQOL-BREF showed people with mild to moderate Parkinson disease reported lower quality of life than controls in physical, psychological, social, overall, and health satisfaction, but not environment. Fatigue, depression, apathy, and daily function related more closely to quality of life than motor scores.
• PTOTOther2016Measurement characteristics for two health-related quality of life measures in older adults: The SF-36 and the CDC Healthy Days items.Disability and health journalCDC Healthy Days items matched SF-36 physical and mental health scores in older adults, except physical functioning. A brief unhealthy-days question may miss function-specific problems.
• PTOTSLPOther2017Effects of friction massage of the popliteal fossa on blood flow velocity of the popliteal vein.Journal of physical therapy scienceFriction massage to the back of the knee increased popliteal vein blood flow velocity in 15 young healthy men. This is a physiological finding in a small sample; it does not prove the massage treats edema, pain, or circulation disorders in patients.
• PTOTRCT2017Physical Activity Self-Management and Coaching Compared to Social Interaction in Huntington Disease: Results From the ENGAGE-HD Randomized, Controlled Pilot Feasibility Trial.Physical therapyHome coaching to set walking and exercise goals was feasible in Huntington disease, with 77% retained in the activity group and 92% in the social interaction group. Possible differences in activity and mobility need larger trials.
• PTOTCohort2017Using diffusion tensor imaging to identify corticospinal tract projection patterns in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) identified the corticospinal tract in 81.8% of cases where TMS confirmed it, offering a practical alternative for children who cannot tolerate TMS. In children with bilateral connectivity, the tract from the damaged side showed poorer integrity than the healthy side.
• PTOTSLPCohort2017Bayley-III motor scale and neurological examination at 2 years do not predict motor skills at 4.5 years.Developmental medicine and child neurologyBayley-III motor scores and neurological exams at 2 years did not predict motor difficulties at 4.5 years. Children with normal 2-year scores often developed significant motor problems later. Do not rely on these early assessments to rule out future motor issues in at-risk children.
• OTSLPCohort2017Non-ASD outcomes at 36 months in siblings at familial risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A baby siblings research consortium (BSRC) study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchHigh-risk siblings who did not meet autism criteria at 36 months were more likely than controls to have mild-to-moderate global developmental delay and elevated autism symptom scores. Their language delay rates were not higher.
• PTOTSLPOther2017Estimated Prestroke Peak VO2 Is Related to Circulating IGF-1 Levels During Acute Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn 15 acute stroke patients, estimated pre-stroke aerobic fitness correlated with circulating IGF-1 levels but not with IGFBP-3. Patients with higher IGF-1 had significantly higher estimated fitness. This small observational study links a biomarker to a calculated fitness estimate, offering no evidence that changing fitness alters stroke recovery.
• OTSurvey2017Work and Mental Complaints: Are Response Outcome Expectancies More Important Than Work Conditions and Number of Subjective Health Complaints?Journal of occupational rehabilitationIn working adults, a high number of everyday health complaints was the strongest sign of anxiety and depression, not work strain or coping beliefs. Helplessness and hopelessness were linked to depression and combined anxiety and depression, but the links were small.
• PTOTOther2016Community and social participation among adults with mobility impairments: A mixed methods study.Disability and health journalFor adults with mobility impairments, pain, fatigue, and limited function were the clearest barriers to community and social life. In 462 survey participants, better health and function were strongly linked to more participation; neighborhood factors and personal confidence were not.
• PTOTCohort2016Social Support and Actual Versus Expected Length of Stay in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAlmost half of stroke, lower extremity fracture, and joint replacement inpatients left earlier than expected. Patients with no family or friend support were less likely to leave early in all groups, and more likely to stay longer in fracture or joint replacement.
• PTOTCohort2017Negative Neurodynamic Tests Do Not Exclude Neural Dysfunction in Patients With Entrapment Neuropathies.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationA negative median nerve neurodynamic test does not rule out carpal tunnel syndrome. In this cohort, over half of confirmed CTS patients tested negative on these maneuvers, and those with negative tests showed worse warm sensation loss than those with positive tests.
• PTOTCohort2017Parkinsonian signs are a risk factor for falls.Gait & postureOlder adults with mild parkinsonian signs were more likely to fall during follow-up, even after common fall risk factors were considered. Their falls were also more likely to result in injury and emergency service use.
• PTOTSLPCohort2017Impact of Cognition on Burn Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationHigher cognitive scores at burn rehab admission were associated with greater total function gain and lower early acute transfer chance. Each extra cognitive point was linked to 0.7 more FIM points and a 24% lower chance of transfer within 3 days.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2017The Canadian occupational performance measure for patients with stroke: a systematic review.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) shows good reliability in stroke patients but correlates poorly with standard assessments. It captures unique patient goals but requires adequate communication skills, so use it alongside other measures, not alone.
• PTOTQualitative2017Starting a new conversation: Engaging Veterans with spinal cord injury in discussions of what function means to them, the barriers/facilitators they encounter, and the adaptations they use to optimize function.Disability and health journalNine Veterans with spinal cord injury described function as doing what they want and being independent. They said tools, transportation, therapy and caregivers helped; wheelchairs and inaccessible surfaces hindered; they used creative adaptations.
• PTOTSurvey2017Predictors of perceived barriers to physical activity in the general adult population: a cross-sectional study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyLack of motivation and time were the most common barriers to physical activity. People with partners reported fewer barriers, while those with lower education or income reported more. These associations describe who perceives barriers, not whether interventions work.
• PTOTSystematic Review2017A systematic review of high quality randomized controlled trials investigating motor skill programmes for children with developmental coordination disorder.Clinical rehabilitationFor children with developmental coordination disorder, individualized task-oriented training, including Neuromotor Task Training and motor imagery with practice, had the strongest support. Wii, core stability, table tennis, Tae Kwon Do and aquatic therapy did not.
• PTOTCohort2016A prospective observational study of outcomes from rehabilitation of elderly patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment.Clinical rehabilitation64 of 116 elderly patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment improved daily living scores after rehabilitation. The moderate and severe groups did not differ in how many improved.
• OTSLPOther2016Brief Report: The Effects of Equine-Assisted Activities on the Social Functioning in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFifteen children and adolescents with autism did not show improvement in overall adaptive behaviour or socialisation after a 6-week horse activity programme. Parent-reported autism traits, maladaptive behaviour and empathy scores improved.
• OTOther2016The Role of Attention in Somatosensory Processing: A Multi-trait, Multi-method Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParent-reported sensory problems in children with autism did not match lab touch tests. Parent-reported attention and sensory ratings moved together, and lab attention and lab touch performance moved together.
• PTOTQualitative2017A qualitative investigation of recovery after femoral fracture in Rett syndrome.Child: care, health and developmentCaregivers of females with Rett syndrome after femoral fracture described subtle, individual pain signs, delayed diagnosis, high stress, strained trust with schools or respite, and that independent walkers recovered while assisted walkers often lost mobility.
• PTOTRCT2017Step Activity and 6-Minute Walk Test Outcomes When Wearing Low-Activity or High-Activity Prosthetic Feet.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationSwapping between low-activity and high-activity prosthetic feet made no difference in how far K3/K4 amputees walked in six minutes or how many steps they took daily. These common outcome measures cannot detect the functional differences between these foot types.
• PTOTSystematic Review2016How have research questions and methods used in clinical trials published in Clinical Rehabilitation changed over the last 30 years?Clinical rehabilitationRehabilitation trials published over decades grew, but many still lacked clear primary outcomes, blinding, follow-up, or missing-data handling. Read them cautiously: samples were often small, and methodological improvements were modest.
• PTOTRCT2016Short-term effects of goal-setting focusing on the life goal concept on subjective well-being and treatment engagement in subacute inpatients: a quasi-randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding life goals to structured goal-setting did not improve general emotional well-being or function more than structured goals alone. Therapists rated engagement higher than both control groups, and anxiety was lower than no structured goal-setting.
• OTSLPRCT2016A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Low-Dose Sertraline in Young Children With Fragile X Syndrome.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPLow-dose sertraline did not improve expressive language or clinician-rated global improvement more than placebo in young children with fragile X. Some secondary gains appeared in fine motor, visual reception, and combined developmental scores.
• PTOTCase Report2017Restoration of Vision After Brain Injury Using Magnet Glasses.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationMagnetic glasses lifted a droopy eyelid, letting a patient with brain injury use an already deviated eye. She reported seeing more of the room, and mobility and dressing support improved.
• PTOTSurvey2017Knee pain in adolescents: prevalence, risk factors, and functional impairment.Brazilian journal of physical therapy22.6% of adolescents reported knee pain in the past week. Pain was more common in older teens and in those not doing school physical education. Girls with knee pain reported greater functional impairment.
• OTSurvey2017Increased Sensory Processing Atypicalities in Parents of Multiplex ASD Families Versus Typically Developing and Simplex ASD Families.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents from multiplex ASD families reported more sensory sensitivity, avoidance and low registration, and less sensation seeking, than parents of typically developing children. This was self-report, not evidence of a disorder or a treatment target.
• OTOther2017Development and Validation of the State-Trait Inventory of Cognitive Fatigue in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe 32-item State-Trait Inventory of Cognitive Fatigue produced four subscales in both state and trait forms in 175 older adults. Its cognitive fatigue subscale stayed linked to general fatigue after depression was considered. It may help separate cognitive fatigue from mood, but not prove decline.
• OTNarrative Review2016Researching Complex and Multi-Level Workplace Factors Affecting Disability and Prolonged Sickness Absence.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkplace factors linked to long sickness absence include high physical demands, low control, poor support, and workplace attitudes. Employer guides emphasise policies, supervisors, accommodations and case management, so they are not proof that changing them helps.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2016What are the barriers and facilitators to goal-setting during rehabilitation for stroke and other acquired brain injuries? A systematic review and meta-synthesis.Clinical rehabilitationPatients tended to want broad, long-term goals; staff tended to set short, impairment-focused goals. Use early therapist-led goal-setting when patients prefer it, and shift to patient-led goals after discharge.
• PTOTCohort2017How Receptive Are Patients With Late Stage Cancer to Rehabilitation Services and What Are the Sources of Their Resistance?Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost patients with late-stage lung cancer refused rehabilitation even when distressed by their limitations. The main barrier was believing they did not need help. Clinicians should expect resistance and discuss why therapy matters before referring, rather than assuming distress drives uptake.