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 54 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPCohort2019Concurrent Social Communication Predictors of Expressive Language in Minimally Verbal Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersImitation ability was the strongest predictor of expressive language in minimally verbal autistic children and adolescents. Unlike in younger children, joint attention was not related to language. Diversity of play and non-verbal IQ were correlated with language but did not independently predict it.
• OTOther2019A Cross-Sectional Examination of the Internalization of Emotion Co-regulatory Support in Children with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOlder children with ASD showed more similar emotion dysregulation with and without a parent. Better parent support also related more strongly to less child dysregulation alone at older ages, but that link was only a trend.
• PTOTOther2019Absence of Motor-Evoked Potentials Does Not Predict Poor Recovery in Patients With Severe-Moderate Stroke: An Exploratory Analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStroke patients with no motor-evoked potential still improved after intensive upper-limb therapy, but less than patients who had one. Adding nerve or brain stimulation was not clearly better than sham.
• OTSurvey2019The Vulnerability Experiences Quotient (VEQ): A Study of Vulnerability, Mental Health and Life Satisfaction in Autistic Adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic adults reported more negative life experiences than non-autistic adults, including bullying, abuse, financial hardship, job loss, police contact, and suicide attempts. These experiences were linked with higher anxiety, higher depression, and lower life satisfaction.
• PTOTOther2019Movement smoothness during a functional mobility task in subjects with Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait - an analysis using inertial measurement units.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's and freezing of gait, off medication, had less smooth movement during a Timed Up and Go test, especially when turning, even though few showed freezing during the test. A waist sensor captured this, and smoothness tracked clinical scores.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Use of Ages and Stages Questionnaires™ (ASQ) in a Navajo population: Comparison with the U.S. normative dataset.Child: care, health and developmentIn Navajo infants, ASQ-3 scores were lower than U.S. norms in several domains, especially around 10 months. Estimates suggested the screener identified more than 80% of delayed infants and correctly classified more than 85% of infants not at risk across 1 to 13 months.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019Does Gait Retraining Have the Potential to Reduce Medial Compartmental Loading in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis While Not Adversely Affecting the Other Lower Limb Joints? A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationGait retraining reduced knee loading in some studies, but evidence for safety at the hip and ankle is missing or conflicting. Most data came from healthy people, not patients with knee osteoarthritis, so these findings cannot yet guide clinical practice.
• OTPilot2020Differences among participants' response to a wellness intervention for individuals with spinal cord injuries.Disability and health journalIn this small analysis, single or divorced participants and those under 50 were more likely to not respond to a wellness program for spinal cord injury. This does not prove the program works, but suggests who might need different support.
• PTOTOther2020Functional Deficits in the Less-Impaired Arm of Stroke Survivors Depend on Hemisphere of Damage and Extent of Paretic Arm Impairment.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairChronic stroke survivors' less-affected arm was slower and less effective on hand tasks, especially when the paretic arm was severely impaired. Left hemisphere damage slowed writing and feeding. This does not show training helps.
• OTCase-Control2019Executive Function: Cognition and Behaviour in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with autism scored lower than matched controls on planning, verbal fluency and flexibility, and took longer on tasks. Some showed no impairment, and reported everyday difficulties did not match test scores or autism symptoms.
• PTOTQualitative2019Beyond stereotypes of cerebral palsy: Exploring the lived experiences of young Canadians.Child: care, health and developmentYoung adults with cerebral palsy described pain, fatigue and anxiety, and said childhood services had ended. Participation in work, education and relationships mattered more to identity than motor goals, while inaccessible environments and stigma limited it.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2019What the Proportional Recovery Rule Is (and Is Not): Methodological and Statistical Considerations.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairA rule that people recover a fixed share of upper-limb function after stroke may describe group averages, but reviewed studies do not prove it predicts any one patient.
• PTOTCase Report2019Cryoneurotomy as a Percutaneous Mini-invasive Therapy for the Treatment of the Spastic Limb: Case Presentation, Review of the Literature, and Proposed Approach for Use.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn three patients with chronic spasticity, cryoneurotomy of specific motor nerves improved range of motion and reduced muscle tone. In two elbow cases, this procedure allowed botulinum toxin doses to be redistributed to other muscles, yielding further functional gains.
• OTOther2019Gaining Insights into Aggressive Behaviour in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Latent Profile Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 2079 children and adolescents with autism, two groups had higher aggression scores along with more anxiety, attention problems, hyperactivity and rigidity. Aggression appeared with both higher and lower IQ, so IQ alone did not separate those groups.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Social Network Mapping and Functional Recovery Within 6 Months of Ischemic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke survivors’ social networks shrank by an average of 1.25 people over six months. However, having a larger network at baseline predicted better physical function at three and six months, independent of stroke severity, age, or depression.
• OTCohort2020Sibling Bullying in Middle Childhood is Associated with Psychosocial Difficulties in Early Adolescence: The Case of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism were more likely than peers to report two-way sibling bullying at 14, and sibling bullying at 11 was linked to more emotional and behaviour problems and lower prosocial skills at 14.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Effects of upper extremity surgery on activities and participation of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy improved in hand use and perceived performance after upper extremity surgery, but evidence quality was very low. No improvements were found in speed or capacity. Surgeons cannot recommend this procedure based on current data.
• PTOTOther2020The six-minute walk test as a fall risk screening tool in community programs for persons with stroke: a cross-sectional analysis.Topics in stroke rehabilitationIn 66 adults with chronic stroke, walking under 331.65 m on the six-minute walk test was associated with being in an increased fall risk group. It is a screening association, not proof it predicts actual falls.
• OTRCT2020Effectiveness of topical silicone gel and pressure garment therapy for burn scar prevention and management in children: a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationAt six months itch was similar across groups in children but ultrasound scar thickness was greater in the combined silicone and pressure garment group than in the silicone alone group. Silicone alone and pressure alone did not differ.
• OTQualitative2019Analyzing the Communication Interchange of Individuals With Disabilities Utilizing Facebook, Discussion Forums, and Chat Rooms: Qualitative Content Analysis of Online Disabilities Support Groups.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThe Facebook disability group shared awareness and policy concerns. The anonymous forums and chat rooms were used for emotional support and discussed health and daily life. Chat rooms were the most candid about mental health.
• OTProtocol2019Behavioral Activation Augmented With Mobile Technology for Depression and Anxiety in Chronic Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationNo patient outcomes are reported yet. The protocol plans to test whether eight behavioral activation sessions with app prompts and texts improve depression or anxiety after chronic traumatic brain injury, compared with one in-person session, one telephone session, and eight weeks of texts.
• OTOther2019A Collaboration Between Game Developers and Rehabilitation Researchers to Develop a Web-Based App for Persons With Physical Disabilities: Case Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesRehabilitation researchers, game developers, and stakeholders developed a web app for people with spinal cord injury. The report describes accessibility choices and team lessons, not evidence that the app improves mental health or well-being.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Volunteering and its association with participation and life satisfaction following traumatic brain injury.Brain injuryVolunteering after brain injury is linked to better life satisfaction, more community engagement, and more social contact. It is not linked to productivity like work or school hours. People who volunteer tend to have less severe impairments and drive independently.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Long-term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologySelective dorsal rhizotomy in children with cerebral palsy did not show better long-term function than routine therapy and orthopaedic care. Spasticity reduction often persisted, but some needed additional antispasticity treatment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Chronic Pain Characteristics and Gait in Older Adults: The MOBILIZE Boston Study II.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with multisite pain walked slower and with more variability than those with no pain, regardless of whether they were performing a concurrent mental task. Pain distribution, not the addition of a cognitive challenge, drove the gait deficits.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2019Do people with intellectual disabilities understand their prescription medication? A scoping review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMany adults with intellectual disabilities do not understand their medication names, how to take it, or its risks. Education interventions showed mixed results, with one improving capacity and another failing to increase knowledge. Information is often not accessible or delivered directly to the patient.
• PTOTCohort2019Association Between SCIM III Total Scores and Individual Item Scores to Predict Independence With ADLs in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHigher SCIM III total scores were linked to a greater chance of independence in daily tasks. Feeding and indoor mobility were easier to reach. Stair climbing and some transfers needed much higher scores.
• OTSystematic Review2019Experiences of interventions aiming to improve the mental health and well-being of children and young people with a long-term physical condition: A systematic review and meta-ethnography.Child: care, health and developmentChildren with long-term physical conditions, families and staff valued interventions that were accessible, safe, peer-connected, everyday-life focused and confidence-building. These were themes, not proof interventions improve mental health.
• PTOTSystematic Review2019Exoskeletons With Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Gamification for Stroke Patients' Rehabilitation: Systematic Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesMost studies reported motor gains with exoskeletons plus VR or games, but samples were small and varied, mostly clinic-based. No single device or game setup is established.
• OTCase-Control2019Integrated robotics platform with haptic control differentiates subjects with Parkinson's disease from controls and quantifies the motor effects of levodopa.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA robot arm test separated Parkinson's disease from controls. People off medication moved 41% slower and hit 25% fewer targets. After medication, motor and robot scores improved, but rigidity measures did not track the clinical change.
• PTOTNarrative Review2019Learning and transfer of complex motor skills in virtual reality: a perspective review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality can help people learn complex motor skills, but transfer to real life is inconsistent. Therapists should watch movement quality in virtual tasks and pair virtual practice with real-world practice.
• OTCohort2020Factors associated with the remission of insomnia after traumatic brain injury: a traumatic brain injury model systems study.Brain injuryIn 40 people with insomnia after moderate or severe TBI, those whose insomnia resolved reported better sleep quality, less fatigue and depression, and more community participation than those with persistent insomnia. Medication use was similar, so this cannot show what caused remission.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Effects of Chronic Brain Injury on Quality of Life: A Study in Patients With Left- or Right-Sided Lesion.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPeople with chronic focal brain injury reported quality of life in 5 areas, and left hemisphere injury was linked to worse perceived cognitive functioning even when standard cognitive tests did not differ.
• PTOTQualitative2020Intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and unintended pregnancy in women with disabilities.Disability and health journalNine women with disabilities said partners interfered with birth control or forced sex, and they linked this to unintended pregnancy. Eight of nine said health care providers never asked about abuse, even when they had visible bruises or were flagged as depressed.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2020Subtle Motor Signs and Executive Functioning in Chronic Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Brief Report.Developmental neurorehabilitationChildren with chronic traumatic brain injury showed subtle motor deficits that correlated with executive function problems. A bedside motor exam may help flag which children need further cognitive testing.
• PTOTOther2019Vision does not always help stroke survivors compensate for impaired limb position sense.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVision does not reliably help stroke survivors with impaired limb position sense. While some fully compensated, many showed only partial or no improvement. This challenges the common assumption that watching the affected limb solves proprioceptive deficits.
• OTOther2019Harnessing smartphone technology and three dimensional printing to create a mobile rehabilitation system, mRehab: assessment of usability and consistency in measurement.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOlder adults and people with stroke rated a smartphone and 3D printed home practice system as easy to learn and relevant to daily tasks. The app counted movements correctly, but day-to-day measurement was inconsistent for some activities.
• PTOTSLPOther2019Race/Ethnicity-Resolved Time Trends in United States ASD Prevalence Estimates from IDEA and ADDM.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBlack and Hispanic children’s autism identification has caught up to or exceeded white children’s in many states, driven by increased diagnosis rather than new biological causes. White prevalence plateaued mid-2000s but resumed rising after 2007. Clinicians should expect earlier and more frequent identification across all racial groups.
• OTPilot2019Home used, patient self-managed, brain-computer interface for the management of central neuropathic pain post spinal cord injury: usability study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with spinal cord injury and chronic central pain could self-manage a home neurofeedback headset, but eight of fifteen who tried it stopped. Twelve reported lower pain, and eight had a drop larger than 30%. This was not a controlled test.
• PTOTRCT2019Effects of virtual reality-based planar motion exercises on upper extremity function, range of motion, and health-related quality of life: a multicenter, single-blinded, randomized, controlled pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding 30 minutes of virtual reality planar motion to standard occupational therapy was safe but did not improve arm movement more than standard therapy alone. Patients reported better quality of life and recovery perception, but the small pilot size means these benefits are not yet proven.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Health care service for families with children at early risk of developmental delay: an All Our Families cohort study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren flagged as at risk for developmental delay did not use more health services than peers unless they received a formal diagnosis. The extra allied health costs were driven almost entirely by the diagnosed group, suggesting screening alone does not trigger service use.
• PTOTOther2020Balance-confidence is associated with community participation, perceived physical mobility, and performance-based function among individuals with a unilateral amputation.Physiotherapy theory and practiceHigher confidence in balance was linked with greater community participation, better perceived mobility and better walking performance among 45 adults with one lower-limb amputation using a prosthesis.
• OTPilot2020The Value in Mental Health Screening for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: What Patients Tell Us.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients with spinal cord injury found mental health screening acceptable and intended to follow recommendations, but described the process as incomplete. They concealed substance use and felt the questions missed their personal strengths and resilience.
• OTQualitative2020Exploring health and wellness among Native American adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their family caregivers.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDFour Native American adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and four caregivers described health as daily activities, family time, culture, sports and employment. They did not test whether this improves health.
• PTOTQualitative2020A qualitative study on user acceptance of a home-based stroke telerehabilitation system.Topics in stroke rehabilitationStroke patients who used a home telerehabilitation system combining games, exercises, education, and therapist video sessions valued feedback and connection, and found games enjoyable. They wanted reliable technical support, flexible schedules, and visible progress.
• PTOTPilot2019Leap motion controlled video game-based therapy for upper limb rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson's disease: a feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLeap Motion games did not show a clear advantage over conventional therapy on grip strength or Box and Blocks dexterity, but did produce better Purdue Pegboard scores. In 23 people with Parkinson's, both groups reported high satisfaction and attended all 12 sessions.
• PTOTOther2019Detecting compensatory movements of stroke survivors using pressure distribution data and machine learning algorithms.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn eight stroke survivors, a pressure-distribution mattress and machine learning classified trunk lean-forward, trunk rotation and shoulder elevation during seated reaching, and the patterns matched trunk muscle activity.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2019Models of Traumatic Brain Injury in Aged Animals: A Clinical Perspective.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPreclinical TBI research overwhelmingly uses young animals, leaving a gap in understanding how aging and common comorbidities like diabetes or hypertension affect recovery. Current animal models fail to replicate the clinical reality of elderly patients, limiting the translation of new treatments to geriatric care.
• PTOTRCT2019The Applicability of a High-Intensity Functional Exercise Program Among Older People With Dementia Living in Nursing Homes.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults with mild to moderate dementia in nursing homes attended a high-intensity exercise program at a median rate of 82.5%. Most achieved moderate to high intensity. Adverse events were minor and temporary. People with non-Alzheimer's dementia exercised with higher strength intensity than those with Alzheimer's.
• PTOTOther2019Model for prompt and effective classification of motion recovery after stroke considering muscle strength and coordination factors.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients differed from healthy people in how muscle signals were balanced between sides and shared among muscles. Patients with the same impairment score could have different muscle problems, so a score may not guide therapy choice.