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 45 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPCohort2018Sensory features as predictors of adaptive behaviors: A comparative longitudinal study of children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.Research in developmental disabilitiesEarly parent-reported muted responses and exaggerated responses were linked to lower daily living and overall adaptive skills years later in both autism and other developmental disability groups. Parent-reported sensory seeking was linked to lower adaptive skills in autism but higher in other disabilities.
• PTOTCohort2018Association of Muscle Strength and Walking Performance in Adult Patients With Pompe Disease.Physical therapyHip and knee strength, age, sex, BMI, and ventilator use predict walking ability in adults with Pompe disease. A nomogram using these factors matched observed walking status in 66% of cases, helping clinicians identify patients at risk of overload or underload.
• PTOTRCT2018Virtual reality analgesia for burn joint flexibility: A randomized controlled trial.Rehabilitation psychologyVirtual reality did not increase range of motion during self-directed burn joint exercises. It did lower pain intensity, unpleasantness, and time thinking about pain, and made exercises more fun.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2018Physical Therapy Management of Congenital Muscular Torticollis: A 2018 Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline From the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationStart physical therapy within the first month of life for infants with congenital muscular torticollis. This guideline emphasizes that early intervention leads to faster resolution and reduces the need for surgery, while recommending a comprehensive approach that includes parent education and environmental adaptations.
• PTOTCohort2018Improved quality of life following constraint-induced movement therapy is associated with gains in arm use, but not motor improvement.Topics in stroke rehabilitationAfter constraint-induced movement therapy, better daily use of the weaker arm tracked with better quality of life. Objective motor test gains did not track the same way, so carry-over into everyday tasks may matter more than test scores alone.
• OTRCT2018Control within a virtual environment is correlated to functional outcomes when using a physical prosthesis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFaster virtual limb completion times were associated with better physical prosthesis test scores after a 6-week home trial with occupational therapy, custom pattern recognition prosthesis use, practice and recalibration.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2018Comparison of maternal beliefs about causes of autism spectrum disorder and association with utilization of services and treatments.Child: care, health and developmentMothers’ causal beliefs were linked to service use. Believing environmental, vaccine, or medication causes was linked to more complementary and alternative medicine, and not knowing a cause was linked to more conventional medication. Ask families what they believe.
• OTCase-Control2019Early life influences on child weight outcomes in the Study to Explore Early Development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMaternal overweight/obesity before pregnancy and excess gestational weight gain were linked to preschool overweight/obesity across ASD, DD, and typical development. Children with ASD had the highest frequency of rapid infant weight gain, and it was linked to their overweight/obesity. No intervention was tested.
• OTOther2018Relationship between frontal assessment battery scores and activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living ability in older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceHigher FAB scores were strongly related to higher ADL/IADL functional age in 85 Japanese older adults. Mean FAB score was 9.1 points and mean functional age was 6.3 years, but this is association, not proof.
• PTOTRCT2018Dissociating motor learning from recovery in exoskeleton training post-stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMovement smoothness during Armeo Spring training improved in a fast phase and a slow phase. The early fast change was not a good marker of reduced impairment; only the slower change was associated with Fugl-Meyer score improvement. Initial exoskeleton scores are poor recovery markers.
• PTOTOther2018Factors influencing the physical activity in daily life of male patients with different levels of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceFactors linked to daily steps differed by COPD stage. A daily routine went with higher steps at every stage; stage 4 also tracked mood and quality of life. Daily steps themselves did not differ clearly across stages.
• PTOTNarrative Review2018Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Poststroke Motor Recovery: Challenges and Opportunities.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationtDCS is not ready for routine poststroke motor recovery. The review says efficacy data are mixed, optimal dose is unclear, and patient selection, safety, and trial design issues remain.
• PTOTOther2018Differences in activities of daily living between people with subacute stroke who received knee-ankle-foot and ankle-foot orthoses at admission.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke inpatients prescribed KAFO were more dependent in daily activities at admission than those prescribed AFO. Bed, chair and wheelchair transfer scores, lower-limb motor stage and total independence were linked to which orthosis was chosen.
• PTOTSurvey2019Sex/gender disparities in health outcomes of individuals with long-term disabling conditions.Rehabilitation psychologyAmong adults with long-term disabling conditions, physical function and depressive symptoms varied by age, and women reported more severe fatigue and pain than men. Younger women functioned better, older women worse, and women aged 45 to 54 reported more depressive symptoms.
• OTSLPCohort2019Longitudinal assessment of stability of sensory features in children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchSome sensory problems eased over time, but children with more severe problems at the first visit usually stayed relatively worse. More occupational, speech-language, or total therapy hours were linked to worse later sensory problems, not better.
• PTOTRCT2018Automated functional upper limb evaluation of patients with Friedreich ataxia using serious games rehabilitation exercises.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with Friedreich ataxia took 44 seconds to wipe a virtual screen, compared with 25 seconds for healthy controls, and scored 88% accuracy versus 94%. The game may help track upper limb impairment, but it was not tested as treatment.
• PTOTSystematic Review2018Efficacy of high intensity laser therapy in the management of foot ulcers: a systematic review.Journal of physical therapy scienceHigh intensity laser therapy reduced wound size more than sham laser or standard care alone in three small trials. The evidence is weak because the studies were not blinded and varied widely in how they delivered the treatment.
• PTOTOther2018Effects of promoting daily physical activity on physical and mental health in older individuals.Journal of physical therapy sciencePhysical fitness did not improve more than control. With accelerometer-based nurse counselling, tailored step goals, and health seminars, older adults increased average daily steps, vitality, and social functioning; control also wore accelerometers, received seminars, and increased steps.
• PTOTRCT2018Development of a 3D, networked multi-user virtual reality environment for home therapy after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA 3D virtual reality system promoted arm movement comparable to standard exercises and was liked by participants, but they found it harder to understand and preferred simple home exercises. The technology shows promise for engagement but needs easier controls before it can replace standard care.
• OTSLPOther2019Social-cue perception and mentalizing ability following traumatic brain injury: A human-robot interaction study.Brain injuryAdults with TBI used a robot's brief gaze toward an object to guess what it was thinking. They needed fewer questions when the robot looked at the target. This suggests they can read simple social cues in quiet, controlled settings.
• OTSLPSurvey2019University Students with Autism: The Social and Academic Experiences of University in the UK.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic university students in the UK reported more social and academic difficulties than non-autistic peers, including thoughts of withdrawal. Many still described academic strengths and wanted friendships. These are self-reported experiences, not evidence that any support works.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019What factors affect clinical decision-making about access to stroke rehabilitation? A systematic review.Clinical rehabilitationClinicians deciding stroke rehabilitation access weighed age, dementia, pre and poststroke function, social support, motivation, expected discharge, bed shortages, and their own knowledge or gut instinct. No service reported using formal criteria.
• PTOTOther2018The Body Position Spatial Task, a Test of Whole-Body Spatial Cognition: Comparison Between Adults With and Without Parkinson Disease.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairThe Body Position Spatial Task did not distinguish adults with mild-moderate Parkinson disease from age-matched adults without Parkinson disease, although it was feasible and took 5 to 10 minutes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2018Electrostimulation of the posterior tibial nerve in individuals with overactive bladder: a literature review.Journal of physical therapy scienceTibial nerve stimulation shows promise for overactive bladder, but the evidence is weak. Most trials had poor methodological quality, small samples, and inconsistent designs. Clinicians should view it as a potential option, not a proven standard.
• PTOTCohort2019Long-term course of difficulty in participation of individuals with cerebral palsy aged 16 to 34 years: a prospective cohort study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyDifficulty in participation increased in young adults with cerebral palsy during their mid-to-late 20s. While average scores remained high, many individuals reported trouble in housing, relationships, education, employment, and recreation, suggesting a need for targeted support during this transition.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019Effect of continuous intrathecal baclofen therapy in children: a systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost evidence is low quality. Spasticity and dystonia likely improve, but functional gains are small. Complications are common. Goals must be defined carefully for each child.
• PTOTCohort2019Prematurity and cardiovascular risk at early adulthood.Child: care, health and developmentYoung adults born preterm had higher systolic blood pressure and lower weight than full-term peers, despite no significant differences in most other cardiovascular markers. High rates of pre-hypertension were observed in both preterm and full-term males, suggesting a broad risk in this age group.
• OTOther2018Identification of forearm skin zones with similar muscle activation patterns during activities of daily living.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationForearm skin zones with similar muscle electrical activity patterns were identified during hand tasks. Seven zones may represent forearm activity in simulated daily tasks. Six healthy subjects only.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2019Paretic propulsion as a measure of walking performance and functional motor recovery post-stroke: A review.Gait & postureWalking speed alone can hide persistent weakness in the affected leg. Measuring how much of the forward push comes from the paretic side reveals true recovery. Therapies targeting this propulsion, not just speed, may better restore function.
• OTQualitative2019"We're really not ready for this": A qualitative exploration of community pharmacy personnel's perspectives on the pharmaceutical care of older people with sensory impairment.Disability and health journalPharmacy staff described concerns about safety and communication when caring for older people with sight or hearing loss. They said patients often hid impairment, dual sensory loss was rarely addressed, and training and practical supports were needed.
• PTOTQualitative2019"Look, Your Muscles Are Firing!": A Qualitative Study of Clinician Perspectives on the Use of Surface Electromyography in Neurorehabilitation.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationClinicians rarely use surface EMG in neurorehabilitation, citing lack of time, training, and evidence. They want simple, waterproof, low-cost systems with intuitive apps that show patients early progress. Current tools fail to meet these needs, preventing routine clinical uptake.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2019Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Pediatric Motor Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationTranscranial direct current stimulation appears safe and tolerable for children with motor disorders. It improved some gait measures and reduced spasticity, but effects on balance, hand function, and daily activities were inconsistent or absent. Most studies were small and often combined tDCS with other therapies.
• PTOTOther2018Manual wheelchair downhill stability: an analysis of factors affecting tip probability.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBump height, speed, and rear axle position drove downhill wheelchair tipping in simulations. Lowering the seat and reclining the backrest favoured rolling over or stopping, but recline increased backward tipping risk.
• PTOTPilot2018Assessment of a markerless motion analysis system for manual wheelchair application.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA markerless motion capture system using consumer hardware and open-source software reliably tracked upper limb kinematics in 30 pediatric wheelchair users. It offers a low-cost, quick method for therapists to monitor propulsion patterns and joint range of motion outside specialized laboratories.
• OTSLPCase Series2018Assessment of Covert Consciousness in the Intensive Care Unit: Clinical and Ethical Considerations.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationIn ICU cases of severe TBI, fMRI detected covert consciousness in a patient whose family withdrew care before results were known, while a patient with no fMRI or EEG response later recovered independence. Use fMRI and EEG alongside bedside assessment, not alone.
• PTOTOther2019Exercise and Parkinson Disease: Comparing Tango, Treadmill, and Stretching.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTTreadmill walking improved forward and backward gait speed more than stretching or tango, but none of the changes across the three groups were large enough to be clinically meaningful for people with Parkinson disease.
• OTRCT2019Five-year follow-up of a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a client-centred activities of daily living intervention for people with stroke.Clinical rehabilitationFive years after stroke, a client-centred daily living intervention did not improve participants' perceived participation compared with usual daily living care. Their significant others had fewer depression signs, but this was not the main result.
• PTOTSystematic Review2018Assessment of upper limb use in children with typical development and neurodevelopmental disorders by inertial sensors: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors on both wrists can objectively measure upper limb movement in children. They distinguish typical development from neurodevelopmental disorders and track asymmetry. Current evidence is too limited by small sample sizes and varied methods to recommend them as standard clinical tools yet.
• PTOTOther2018Differences in body awareness and its effects on balance function and independence in activities of daily living for stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke survivors with lower fall risk and less need for daily assistance reported higher body awareness. The study did not show that improving body awareness caused these differences.
• OTSLPCohort2018Infant quantitative risk for autism spectrum disorder predicts executive function in early childhood.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAt 3.5 years, children whose parents reported more sensory-regulatory behaviors at 12 months showed more parent-reported executive-function difficulties. This remained after accounting for later ASD symptoms. Social-communication risk did not.
• PTOTCase Report2018Efficacy of scrambler therapy on breast cancer-related lymphedema.Journal of physical therapy scienceA single patient with breast cancer-related lymphedema reported pain dropping from 8 to 2 on a 10-point scale after ten scrambler therapy sessions. Arm circumference did not change, and body water decreased by a negligible 10 ml. This is one person, not a pattern.
• PTOTSystematic Review2019Level of Evidence for Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness of Physical Capacity Tasks Designed to Assess Functioning in Patients With Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review Using the COSMIN Standards.Physical therapyThe 5-repetition sit-to-stand is the only task with strong reliability and validity, but measurement error was too large to detect minimal important change. Other common tests like the 50-ft walk also had high reliability but failed measurement error standards.
• OTSLPCohort2019Clinical correlates of sluggish cognitive tempo in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn adolescents with autism, sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms were linked to higher autism severity and more anxiety or depression. Attention-deficit symptoms were linked to more rule-breaking. Both were linked to daily executive function problems, but sluggish tempo specifically related to planning and memory.
• PTOTRCT2018Kinect-based assessment of proximal arm non-use after a stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA marker-less Kinect sensor measured proximal arm non-use in stroke survivors with good accuracy compared to a reference system. It reliably tracked shoulder and elbow movement reserve, offering a low-cost, easy-to-set-up alternative for clinical assessment.
• OTOther2018Alterations in electrophysiological indices of perceptual processing and discrimination are associated with co-occurring emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismIn adolescents with autism, stronger brain response to unexpected sound differences was linked to more parent-rated behaviour problems, but this link faded when autism severity was considered. More anxiety symptoms were linked to stronger brain response to the first repeated sound after a change.
• PTOTOther2018Relationships Between Affected-Leg Motor Impairment, Postural Asymmetry, and Impaired Body Sway Control After Unilateral Supratentorial Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke survivors with good leg motor scores often still have asymmetric balance control. They shift weight to the less-affected leg to compensate. This hides the problem in standard walking tests. Therapists should suspect hidden deficits in complex tasks like single-leg stance or hopping.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2019Prevalence of five lifestyle risk factors among U.S. adults with and without stroke.Disability and health journalStroke survivors are significantly less likely to exercise, smoke, or eat poorly compared to those without stroke. They also cluster multiple risk factors, with higher rates of having 2 to 5 lifestyle risks, suggesting targeted prevention efforts are needed.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019A systematic review of measures of adherence to physical exercise recommendations in people with stroke.Clinical rehabilitationNo validated tools exist to measure adherence to exercise after stroke. Clinicians currently rely on diaries and surveys with no proven accuracy. Do not assume patient-reported completion matches actual performance, as these methods lack evidence of validity.
• PTOTSystematic Review2018Trends in robot-assisted and virtual reality-assisted neuromuscular therapy: a systematic review of health-related multiplayer games.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThirteen studies suggest multiplayer robot or virtual reality games can make rehabilitation more enjoyable and may raise physical effort, but the evidence is too small and mixed to choose a mode or prove better recovery.
• OTRCT2018Effects of a virtual reality video game exercise program on upper extremity function and daily living activities in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding Wii video-game exercise to usual stroke therapy did not improve standard arm/hand test scores more than usual therapy alone. The daily-living questionnaire showed a group difference, but the paper's numbers for it are unclear.