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 35 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2018Measurement Properties of the Modified Spinal Function Sort (M-SFS): Is It Reliable and Valid in Workers with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain?Journal of occupational rehabilitationIn 62 workers with chronic musculoskeletal pain, the 20-item Modified Spinal Function Sort stayed similar over at least 2 days and related to the original 50-item version, pain disability, pain and lifting tests. It gives a brief picture-based estimate of perceived work capacity.
• PTOTCase-Control2017Long-term impact of childhood selective dorsal rhizotomy on pain, fatigue, and function: a case-control study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildhood selective dorsal rhizotomy did not reduce adult pain or fatigue, but adults who had the surgery reported better overall motor function and needed fewer hours of daily assistance than those who did not.
• OTOther2018Self-injurious behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParent-reported self-injury was common in 692 children with ASD: 28% current, 47% ever. It went with sleep, gut, behavior, adaptive skills, and younger maternal age; clinicians observed it in 6%.
• PTOTCohort2018Dynamic stability during split-belt walking and the relationship with step length symmetry.Gait & postureHealthy adults became less stable and less symmetrical when walking on split-belt treadmills. Anterior-posterior stability and symmetry improved together over 15 minutes, but side-to-side stability did not recover. Higher baseline stability predicted better symmetry during the perturbation.
• OTSLPOther2018The combined impact of social support and perceived stress on quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder and without intellectual disability.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSocial support did not weaken the link between stress and lower quality of life in adults with autism without intellectual disability. Higher stress and lower support each tracked with lower quality of life, so both may need separate attention.
• PTOTSLPCohort2018Aging effects on leg joint variability during walking with balance perturbations.Gait & postureOlder adults did not scale their hip, knee, and ankle joint adjustments to increasing visual perturbations, unlike younger adults. They showed disproportionately large variability even at the smallest disturbance, suggesting a saturated or misgraded balance response.
• PTOTPilot2018Detection of early symptoms of cumulativetrauma disorders among mothers of handicapped children: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceMothers of children with cerebral palsy who needed help with transfer and daily care had lower hand grip strength and lower wrist extensor muscle activity than mothers of healthy children. This pilot does not show that caregiving caused the difference.
• PTOTOther2018Introducing the Adults with Chronic Healthcare Needs (ACHCN) definition and screening instrument: Rationale, supporting evidence and testing.Disability and health journalA proposed screener identifies working-age adults with chronic healthcare needs by combining ongoing conditions or functional difficulties with elevated service use or unmet need. Cognitive testing supported item wording, but it has not yet been field tested.
• PTOTRCT2017Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Severely Affected Arm-Hand Motor Function in Patients After an Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationCathodal tDCS plus occupational therapy did not improve arm-hand function more than sham plus occupational therapy after severe acute stroke. The tDCS group gained 10 points on the 57-point arm-hand test versus 2 with sham, but 16 patients were too few.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2017How to Implement Robots in Interventions for Children with Autism? A Co-creation Study Involving People with Autism, Parents and Professionals.Journal of autism and developmental disordersProfessionals and stakeholders said robot KASPAR for children with autism should be matched to each child's plan, short, gradual, and embedded in practice. They described operation, voice, movement, setting, and training needs, not tested effects.
• PTOTSystematic Review2017Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for improving capacity in activities and arm function after stroke: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCathodal tDCS improved activities of daily living in stroke patients, but no tDCS type improved arm function. Safety profiles were similar across all stimulation types and controls. Clinicians should not expect tDCS to restore arm movement based on this evidence.
• OTSystematic Review2017Where have all the pilot studies gone? A follow-up on 30 years of pilot studies in Clinical Rehabilitation.Clinical rehabilitationOnly 12% of 191 pilot studies were followed by a full trial, and the most common stated purpose was estimating possible effects, not testing recruitment, outcomes or other practical issues.
• PTOTOther2017Lower Extremity Motor Impairments in Ambulatory Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke: Evidence for Lower Extremity Weakness and Abnormal Muscle and Joint Torque Coupling Patterns.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairParetic legs show preserved hip extension and adduction strength but weak abduction and flexion. During ankle push-off, the paretic leg involuntarily kicks the hip inward and extends the knee. This coupling may cause the body to collapse toward the affected side during balance challenges.
• PTOTRCT2018Return to Work in Employees on Sick Leave due to Neck or Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Multidisciplinary and Brief Intervention with One-Year Register-Based Follow-Up.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAdding a case manager and multidisciplinary team to a brief clinical examination did not improve return to work rates for employees on sick leave with neck or shoulder pain. Both groups had similar outcomes at one year, suggesting the brief intervention was sufficient.
• PTOTSLPRCT2018Effect of mirror use on lower extremity muscle strength of patients with chronic stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceLower-limb strengthening increased knee muscle strength in all three groups of chronic stroke patients. Adding a mirror to the exercise did not produce significantly greater strength gains than exercising without one.
• PTOTSLPCohort2018Relationship Between Gonadal Function and Cardiometabolic Risk in Young Men With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationYoung men with chronic spinal cord injury and low testosterone had higher body fat, worse cholesterol, and more insulin resistance than those with normal levels. This links hormone deficiency to cardiometabolic risk, but does not prove low testosterone causes it.
• OTNarrative Review2017Development of a College Transition and Support Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersStudents with autism and their parents rated the STEPS college transition program helpful and likely to recommend it. These are early satisfaction reports, not evidence that the program improves college enrollment, graduation, or daily living.
• OTSLPSurvey2017A National Profile of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment Among US Children Aged 2 to 5 Years.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParent surveys show 1.5% of US children aged 2 to 5 had ADHD, and 43.7% of those children took medication. Many had developmental, behavioral, or autism conditions, and 52.8% of children with special health care needs and ADHD had behavioral treatment.
• OTSLPSurvey2017Are autistic traits associated with suicidality? A test of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide in a non-clinical young adult sample.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchHigher self-reported autistic traits were linked to more lifetime suicidal behavior in 163 young adults. The link ran through feeling like a burden on others and lacking social belonging. Ask about these feelings when assessing suicide risk.
• PTOTSLPPilot2017Robot ZORA in rehabilitation and special education for children with severe physical disabilities: a pilot study.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationTherapists and educators rated individual goals as easier after six ZORA robot sessions in 17 children with severe physical disabilities. Children were seen as playful and liked the sessions, but this pilot cannot show the robot alone caused the change.
• PTOTCohort2018Association between knee extensor strength and pulmonary function in the female elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceKnee extensor strength correlates with lung capacity in older women, explaining about a third of the variance in vital capacity. Stronger legs are associated with better breathing, but the cross-sectional design cannot prove that leg exercises improve lung function.
• PTOTSurvey2018What are patients with Rett syndrome interested in?Journal of physical therapy scienceMost individuals with Rett syndrome were reported to show interests, especially people, music, things to see, animations, and books. Staff observations can guide choosing motivating activities, but the report does not prove those interests improve outcomes.
• PTOTOther2018Comparison of postural sway depending on balance pad type.Journal of physical therapy scienceAir-filled balance pads significantly increase postural sway compared to firm foam pads and flat ground. Firm pads produce sway levels similar to standing on the floor, suggesting they are appropriate starting points for patients with poor balance.
• PTOTOther2018Developing Item Response Theory-Based Short Forms to Measure the Social Impact of Burn Injuries.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationTen-item short forms of the LIBRE Profile reliably measure social participation in burn survivors. They offer a feasible alternative to computer-adaptive testing when technology is unavailable, though they lose some precision at extreme scores.
• OTCohort2017A cross-sectional analysis of executive function in Down syndrome from 2 to 35 years.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRParents reported executive function difficulties in people with Down syndrome relative to same-age peers, especially working memory and planning. For school-age children, emotional control and organizing materials were relative strengths, and 40% had elevated shifting scores.
• OTRCT2017Brain Changes Following Executive Control Training in Older Adults.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairGoal-oriented attention training increased brain activity in attention networks during a selective attention task, but did not improve reaction time or accuracy compared to a control group. The training also did not significantly improve memory for relevant information.
• PTOTOther2017Reorganization of finger coordination patterns through motor exploration in individuals after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors got faster at a cursor task and showed wider free finger movement after training, but the main finger pattern did not change more from the first to the last training session. There was no control group.
• PTOTOther2017MIT-Skywalker: considerations on the Design of a Body Weight Support System.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA saddle-based support system let healthy walkers lean their trunk more than an overhead harness, which restricted movement. This suggests the saddle may offer better balance training opportunities, but these findings are from eight healthy people, not patients.
• OTOther2018Use of a visual feedback-equipped reacher in reach-to-grasp movements.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy college students used a reacher with visual feedback and moved with less muscle effort and smoother wrist motion. The study did not test patients or daily activities, so it suggests a design benefit but does not prove improved patient outcomes.
• PTOTOther2018The effect of insole on muscle activity and muscle fatigue at sit to standing of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius in adult male.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 30 young men, wearing insoles of different heights did not change muscle activity during sit-to-stand. However, calf muscle fatigue was significantly higher with 5.5 cm insoles compared to lower heights, suggesting a potential increase in muscular demand.
• PTOTCohort2018Long-Term Performance and User Satisfaction With Implanted Neuroprostheses for Upright Mobility After Paraplegia: 2- to 14-Year Follow-Up.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAfter an average of six years at home, 22 people with spinal cord injury reported high satisfaction, most devices survived, and leg strength and transfers were maintained, but standing time and leg weight bearing decreased.
• PTOTQualitative2018Falls in people with multiple sclerosis: experiences of 115 fall situations.Clinical rehabilitationPeople with multiple sclerosis described falls as happening indoors during everyday tasks, often when MS symptoms fluctuated, fatigue or distraction reduced attention. Walking aids were often involved, sometimes used as usual but not enough support, and sometimes not used as intended.
• OTSLPOther2018Addressing medical needs of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in a primary care setting.Autism : the international journal of research and practice17 of 74 patients needed changes to the visit format after phone screening, and all 74 were successfully seen. Waiting rooms, touch, noise, light, and communication were barriers.
• OTSurvey2018The impact of self-perceived limitations, stigma and sense of coherence on quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients: results of a cross-sectional study.Clinical rehabilitationPatients who felt more limited or stigmatized reported lower quality of life. Those who found life more understandable, manageable and meaningful reported higher quality of life.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2017Homogeneous Subgroups of Young Children with Autism Improve Phenotypic Characterization in the Study to Explore Early Development.Journal of autism and developmental disordersResearchers identified four distinct profiles of young children with autism. Two profiles featured mild language delays but significant sensory and behavioral issues. Clinicians should screen for cognitive rigidity and unusual sensory responses even when a child's language development appears near typical.
• OTPilot2017A Pilot Study Assessing Performance and Visual Attention of Teenagers with ASD in a Novel Adaptive Driving Simulator.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTeens with ASD did not show a clear difference in total simulator driving errors, but they made more turning errors. In a small training pilot, both simulator modes reduced errors, but looking time did not change, and practice effects cannot be ruled out.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2018Depression and Depressive Symptoms in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren with TBI report more depressive symptoms than peers, but rates vary widely and evidence does not confirm higher clinical depression diagnoses. Symptoms often persist beyond the acute phase, suggesting a need for ongoing mental health monitoring rather than assuming they resolve with physical recovery.
• OTOther2018The effect of fine motor skills on handwriting legibility in preschool age children.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 52 preschoolers, better fine motor precision and faster in-hand manipulation were linked to more legible Korean alphabet writing. Fine motor precision was the strongest link, reported at sixty percent. This is association, not proof that training improves handwriting.
• OTOther2018Role of cognitive assessment for high school graduates prior to choosing their college major.Journal of physical therapy scienceComputer science students scored higher on a nonverbal cognitive test than art students. Senior computer science students scored higher than junior ones, but senior art students did not differ from junior art students.
• PTOTSurvey2018Understanding frames: A UK survey of parents and professionals regarding the use of standing frames for children with cerebral palsy.Child: care, health and developmentMost UK clinicians prescribe standing frames for children with cerebral palsy from experience, not guidance. Parents reported daily use was achieved by 18% and 30 to 60 minute use by 52%. Benefits were perceived, not proven; space, funding, discomfort and support needs limited use.
• OTPilot2018The effects of an occupation-centered cognitive rehabilitation program on elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn six older women with mild cognitive impairment, after the combined handicraft and reminiscence program, cognitive test scores did not improve enough to be counted as a real change, but instrumental daily living scores and an EEG attention measure increased.
• PTOTCohort2018Comparing Electrical Stimulation With and Without Ultrasound Guidance for Phenol Neurolysis to the Musculocutaneous Nerve.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationUltrasound plus electrical stimulation guidance was associated with less phenol than electrical stimulation alone for elbow flexor spasticity. Technical success and immediate elbow range of motion improvement were similar, and some patients also received botulinum toxin.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2018Disparities in Health Care Utilization of Adults With Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Related to Insurance, Race, and Ethnicity: A Systematic Review.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationLack of insurance consistently reduced use of hospital and rehabilitation services for adults with traumatic brain injury. Racial disparities in service use were inconsistent and often disappeared after adjusting for insurance status.
• OTCase Series2018The impact of group occupational therapy using a cueing system on executive function of preschool-aged children with brain lesions.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter weekly occupational therapy with a graded cueing system, six preschool children with brain lesions improved on every executive function rating measure. Because there was no control group, the change cannot be separated from normal development.
• OTSLPOther2017Developmental Screening in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: Disease-Related Risk and Screening Outcomes in 4 Year Olds.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn 77 four-year-olds, higher-risk sickle cell genotypes had lower language scores and more positive screens. Among higher-risk children, those with abnormal stroke-risk tests also had lower language scores and more positive screens.
• PTOTSystematic Review2018Postacute Care Setting, Facility Characteristics, and Poststroke Outcomes: A Systematic Review.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke patients rehabilitated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities were associated with lower mortality and often better community discharge than those in skilled nursing facilities, but functional gains were inconsistent and costs were higher.
• PTOTOther2018Motion-plane dependency of the range of dart throw motion and the effects of tendon action due to finger extrinsic muscles during the motion.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe wrist dart-throw path is not a single fixed range; it changes with forearm angle, often largest near the middle angle. Grip thickness affected motion only at some angles, so finger tendon action may matter but was inconsistent.
• PTOTOther2018Analysis of body imbalance in various writing sitting postures using sitting pressure measurement.Journal of physical therapy scienceThree common slouching postures shifted pressure forward compared to an upright sitting position. Leaning on one arm also shifted weight to that side. These changes suggest a tilted pelvis, which the authors link to spinal imbalance, but no pain or injury was measured.
• OTCase Series2018The influences of client-centered therapy on the level of performance, the level of satisfaction of activity of daily living, and the quality of life of the chronic stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwo chronic stroke patients had improved COPM performance and satisfaction and higher SS-QOL after 4 weeks of client-centered occupational therapy. With only two participants and no control group, this cannot show the therapy caused the improvement.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2018High-Intensity Variable Stepping Training in Patients With Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTFour people with incomplete spinal cord injury walked faster and farther after intensive stepping training. The programme was safe and feasible, but gains vanished within a year. The severe impairments of three participants likely limited how much they could improve.