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 57 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTRCT2020Visual processing speed in hemianopia patients secondary to acquired brain injury: a new assessment methodology.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with visual field loss after brain injury were 73.0% slower at finding and touching everyday objects than matched healthy people. A timed search-and-reach task may help therapists see how field loss affects daily visual tasks.
• PTOTCohort2020Central Drive to the Paretic Ankle Plantarflexors Affects the Relationship Between Propulsion and Walking Speed After Stroke.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTIn people with chronic stroke, the brain's ability to drive the paretic calf muscles, not just their raw strength, predicts how well they push off during walking. Clinicians should assess central drive to identify patients who may benefit from interventions targeting neural activation rather than just muscle strengthening.
• OTOther2019The Friendship Questionnaire, autism, and gender differences: a study revisited.Molecular autismAutistic adults rated their general friendships lower than non-autistic adults, but those with a partner or best friend rated that close relationship as highly as non-autistic people. Gender matters: autistic non-binary adults reported the highest friendship quality.
• PTOTCase Report2019Limb girdle muscular dystrophy: a case report initially presenting to an outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy clinic with spinal pain and functional weakness.Archives of physiotherapyA young woman with long-standing spinal pain and effortful sit-to-stand had normal nerve tests but weakness during functional tasks. MRI showed lumbar paraspinal atrophy, creatine kinase was 3398 IU/L, and limb girdle muscular dystrophy was diagnosed.
• OTSLPSurvey2020The Profiles and Correlates of Psychopathology in Adolescents and Adults with Williams, Fragile X and Prader-Willi Syndromes.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn Williams syndrome, current health problems and auditory sensory difficulties predicted higher emotional disturbance, while in Prader-Willi syndrome poorer adaptive skills predicted more psychopathology. In Fragile X syndrome, none of these factors predicted mental health difficulties.
• OTSLPOther2020Examining the Treatment Efficacy of PEERS in Japan: Improving Social Skills Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with autism who did 14 weeks of PEERS combining social-skills sessions, parent coaching, and homework showed greater improvement than waiting peers on social-skills knowledge and parent-reported adaptive socialization. Parent-reported autistic traits improved in treated adolescents, but not all outcomes changed.
• PTOTOther2020Human arm weight compensation in rehabilitation robotics: efficacy of three distinct methods.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe Equilibrium method reduced muscle effort significantly more than the Average and Full methods in healthy subjects. In three stroke patients, it increased horizontal workspace compared to no support, though results varied by arm height and individual.
• PTOTSLPPilot2020GEARing smart environments for pediatric motor rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThree young children completed eight sessions in a new playground environment with body-weight support and robots. All children looked at and moved toward the robots, and all completed climbing tasks while following them. This shows the setup works for testing, not that it improves motor skills.
• PTOTOther2019Relationship between surface electromyography of the spinae erector muscles and subjectively adjusted step length in the supporting standing-up motion.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy male volunteers lifting a 10 kg doll used a shorter step length to significantly reduce erector spinae muscle activity. This suggests a short step may lower back load during supported standing transfers, but the study used healthy men and a doll, not patients.
• PTOTPilot2019Whole-body vibration enhances effectiveness of "locomotion training" evaluated in healthy young adult women.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy young women who performed squatting and standing exercises on a vibrating platform maintained their knee strength and balance, while those on the floor declined. The vibrating group also moved faster in a timed walk. This suggests vibration may make simple exercises more effective.
• PTOTCase-Control2020Assessment of bilateral motor skills and visuospatial attention in children with perinatal stroke using a robotic object hitting task.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with perinatal stroke hit fewer balls than peers with both hands, especially after arterial ischemic stroke. The unaffected hand also showed fewer hits, and attention test scores related to performance.
• PTOTCohort2020Function and Caregiver Support Associated With Readmissions During Home Health for Individuals With Dementia.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn home health for dementia, patients most dependent in mobility and self-care were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days. Cognitive and caregiver support deficits also tracked with readmission, but mobility and self-care links remained after adjustment.
• PTOTCohort2019Factors influencing life-space mobility change after total knee arthroplasty in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.Journal of physical therapy scienceThree months after total knee arthroplasty, life-space mobility scores rose from 59.6 to 72.8 on a 120-point scale. Narrower baseline life space, operative-side quadriceps strength, and walking or stair confidence were associated with life-space scores.
• PTOTOther2019Differences in skill level influence the effects of visual feedback on motor learning.Journal of physical therapy scienceLow-skill learners improved with concurrent feedback but not terminal feedback. High-skill learners showed no improvement with either. Feedback frequency did not matter.
• PTOTCohort2019Correlation between radiographic morphometry and body surface somatometry for foot arches.Journal of physical therapy scienceSurface measurements of the longitudinal arch correlate well with X-ray angles, but surface measures of the transverse arch do not. Clinicians can trust surface assessments for longitudinal arch height but need imaging to accurately assess the transverse arch.
• OTCohort2020Auditory event-related potentials and associations with sensory patterns in children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and typical development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism showed smaller brain responses to unexpected sounds than children with developmental delay or typical development. Weaker responses were linked to sensory under-response and seeking, not over-response.
• OTCase Report2020Affordable passive 3D-printed prosthesis for persons with partial hand amputation.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalA custom passive 3D-printed partial hand prosthesis let one patient perform 12 of 14 grasp tests and hold 700 g, but it needed the other hand to set each grasp and was tested in only one patient.
• PTOTSurvey2020Physical activity types among US adults with mobility disability, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017.Disability and health journalWalking was the most common activity among US adults with mobility disability, reported by 34.0%. Nearly 60% were inactive. Those who walked were more likely to meet aerobic guidelines, while those doing other exercises were more likely to meet muscle-strengthening guidelines.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Association of Neck Range of Motion and Skin Caliper Measures on Dysphagia Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer and Effects of Neck Stretches and Swallowing Exercises.DysphagiaBetter neck movement and skin pliability correlate with less severe swallowing issues in head and neck cancer survivors. However, a 12-week program of neck stretches and swallowing exercises did not improve these physical measures or objective swallowing outcomes, despite patients reporting better quality of life.
• OTSLPCohort2020Differences in anxieties and social networks in a group-matched sample of autistic and typically developing students transitioning to university.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students starting university reported more worries and distress than matched peers, despite similar academic ability. They had smaller social networks but perceived similar support levels. Social anxiety, not just autism traits, linked to daily living and social distress.
• PTOTSLPRCT2019Ultrasound irradiation before high-load exercise reduces muscle rigidity associated with delayed-onset muscle soreness.Journal of physical therapy scienceUltrasound before exercise reduced muscle stiffness two days later compared to sham, but did not lower pain scores. The stiffness reduction was a relative difference between groups, not a prevention of the exercise-induced increase itself.
• OTCohort2020Hand Extension Robot Orthosis (HERO) Grip Glove: enabling independence amongst persons with severe hand impairments after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn one session, the HERO Grip Glove helped 11 stroke survivors with severe hand impairment extend fingers, grasp blocks, bottles, forks, and pens, but participants were only moderately satisfied and often needed arm or hand support.
• OTSLPOther2020Increasing Extrinsic Motivation Improves Time-Based Prospective Memory in Adults with Autism: Relations with Executive Functioning and Mentalizing.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTelling adults with autism that a time-based memory task was more important than the main activity significantly improved their performance. This happened because they checked the clock more often, not because they ignored the main task.
• PTOTOther2020Oxygen Cost During Walking in Individuals With Stroke: Hemiparesis Versus Cerebellar Ataxia.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke survivors with cerebellar ataxia cost more oxygen per meter walking than hemiparetic survivors when walking faster than 0.4 m/s. Their oxygen cost increased as ataxia severity increased. Fatigue may limit community walking.
• OTOther2020Sequelae of Blast Events in Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans using the Salisbury Blast Interview: A CENC Study.Brain injuryVeterans who felt a stronger pressure change during a blast were more likely to report a brain injury during that event. Stronger blast sensations also tracked with more current PTSD and postconcussive symptoms.
• OTSurvey2020Information and communication technology used by people with lower limb loss in Slovenia.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationOlder age was the clearest factor linked to less technology use among people with lower limb loss. Smartwatches and activity trackers were rare, while mobile phones, radio, television, and health monitors were common.
• OTCohort2020Brief report: Follow-up outcomes of multisystemic therapy for adolescents with an intellectual disability and the relation with parental intellectual disability.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAfter accounting for missing follow-up data, gains at treatment end in living at home, school or work and no police contact were not maintained at 18 months. Parents reported less rule-breaking than at start, but no control group limits claims.
• OTOther2020Development and psychometric evaluation of the Group Home Culture Scale.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSeven culture dimensions emerged from 343 group home staff ratings on a new 48-item scale, including supporting well-being, team factions, leadership, organizational collaboration, valuing residents, social distance, and value alignment. It measures staff perceptions, not resident outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Deviation from normative brain development is associated with symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismChildren and young adults with autism whose brain scans predicted an older age than their actual age had milder symptoms. Those with a younger predicted brain age had more severe symptoms. This links brain development speed to symptom severity, not IQ.
• PTOTOther2019Immediate effects of a novel walking assist device with auxiliary illuminator on patients after acute strokes.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoAdding a laser guide to a quad-cane increased the heel-strike angle in stroke patients. This suggests better foot placement at initial contact. However, the device did not improve walking speed, stride length, or cadence in the overall group.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Walking velocity and modified rivermead mobility index as discriminatory measures for functional ambulation classification of chronic stroke patients.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoMaximum walking speed above 0.92 m/s and modified Rivermead Mobility Index scores above 26.5 accurately identified chronic stroke patients capable of outdoor ambulation. These simple measures help therapists distinguish high-level walkers from those needing assistance without relying solely on observation.
• PTOTNarrative Review2019Post-stroke motor recovery and cortical organization following Constraint-Induced Movement Therapies: a literature review.Journal of physical therapy scienceConstraint-induced movement therapy improves arm use in chronic stroke patients, but brain changes are inconsistent across studies. Modified versions are feasible and effective, yet lack long-term follow-up data to prove sustained gains.
• PTOTCohort2020Shorter gastrocnemius fascicle lengths in older adults associate with worse capacity to enhance push-off intensity in walking.Gait & postureShorter calf muscle fibers in older adults correlated with worse ability to push off against resistance, independent of strength. This suggests muscle fiber length, not just force, limits high-demand walking tasks like climbing or accelerating.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2020Learning of skilled movements via imitation in ASD.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism imitated novel gestures less accurately than peers. Their learning curves were flatter early on, catching up by the fourth repetition. This specific pattern of slow initial learning predicted worse motor planning skills and higher autism symptom severity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020The Longitudinal Effects of Comorbid Health Burden on Functional Outcomes for Adults With Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAmong 10-year survivors of moderate to severe TBI, higher physical burden was associated with worse motor, cognitive, and life satisfaction trajectories; higher mental burden was associated with worse cognition and life satisfaction.
• PTOTCohort2020Neurosensory Screening and Symptom Provocation in Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren about one week after mild head injury had higher symptom ratings and more symptom increase during neurosensory tests than healthy peers. But test scores did not reliably identify individual injured children; they improved prediction of persistent symptoms at four months.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Implementation of a gait center training to improve walking ability and vital parameters in inpatient neurological rehabilitation- a cohort study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn this large cohort, patients who could not walk at admission gained the most walking ability. However, vital capacity improved only in those who could not walk, and blood pressure did not change. Gait center training may help non-ambulatory patients regain mobility.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Disparities in Documented Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on Demographic, Individual, and Service Factors.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research25.2% of children whose records showed enough ASD symptoms to meet surveillance criteria had no documented ASD diagnosis. They were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, or other non-Hispanic race, evaluated after age 3, have no intellectual disability, or need fewer supports.
• OTCohort2020Associated Risk Factors for Depression and Anxiety in Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Five-Year Follow Up.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesDuring follow-up, depression and anxiety rose in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. More chronic conditions, autism, hearing impairment, older age, female sex, and smoking were linked with higher risk.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020Changes in leg cycling muscle synergies after training augmented by functional electrical stimulation in subacute stroke survivors: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNine subacute stroke survivors improved clinically and in cycling work after three weeks of FES-cycling. However, the number of muscle synergies did not increase, and changes were not compared to usual care alone. You cannot attribute these gains specifically to the electrical stimulation.
• OTSurvey2020Utilization of driving and other transportation rehabilitation in the National Health and Aging Trends Study.Disability and health journalAmong older adults who reported using rehabilitation in the past year, 128 of 1,335 reported using it to improve driving. Those living alone, separated, divorced or never married were less likely to report driving rehabilitation than those married or living with a partner.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Explicit and implicit disability attitudes of healthcare providers.Rehabilitation psychologyMost healthcare providers report no conscious bias against people with disabilities, but the vast majority show implicit preference for nondisabled people. This mismatch suggests well-meaning clinicians may still act on unconscious biases, impacting care decisions without realizing it.
• PTOTSLPPilot2020Adaptive multichannel FES neuroprosthesis with learning control and automatic gait assessment.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFour people with spinal cord injury tested a learning electrical stimulation device. Two felt it helped and showed small angle changes, but one had technical failures and one could not tolerate the stimulation. It is not yet a usable clinical tool.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Female adolescents demonstrate greater oculomotor and vestibular dysfunction than male adolescents following concussion.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineFemale adolescents tested within three weeks of a sports concussion were more likely to fail near point of convergence and tandem gait tests than males. No sex differences were found on static balance or gaze stability. These specific deficits may guide early vestibular rehab referral.
• PTOTOther2020Survivors of Chronic Stroke Experience Continued Impairment of Dexterity But Not Strength in the Nonparetic Upper Limb.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn chronic stroke survivors with severe paretic hand impairment, the nonparetic hand showed impaired dexterity but not grip strength, despite long reliance on that limb.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Sex differences in brain structure: a twin study on restricted and repetitive behaviors in twin pairs with and without autism.Molecular autismIn twins, higher repetitive behavior scores linked to thicker brain tissue in the right intraparietal sulcus in females only. Males showed no such structural link in the main analysis. This suggests different biological pathways for these symptoms in girls and boys.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020Adaptive conjunctive cognitive training (ACCT) in virtual reality for chronic stroke patients: a randomized controlled pilot trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA VR cognitive training program showed within-group improvements in attention and spatial awareness for chronic stroke patients. However, there was no significant difference compared to home-based paper-and-pencil exercises, and the authors state they cannot claim a rehabilitation effect.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Cranial Ultrasound and Minor Motor Abnormalities at 2 Years in Extremely Low Gestational Age Infants.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPMinor motor issues like stiff posture or poor hand control were more common in infants with severe ultrasound findings, but not low-grade ones. Children with any minor motor abnormality used more therapy and feeding supports than peers with normal exams.
• PTOTRCT2020Exploring the effectiveness of an 18-month weight management intervention in adults with Down syndrome using propensity score matching.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRAdults with Down syndrome lost similar weight to those with other intellectual disabilities during an 18-month diet and activity program. Both groups achieved clinically significant weight loss, but physical activity did not increase, especially in those with Down syndrome.
• OTCohort2020Position-Cortical Coherence as a Marker of Afferent Pathway Integrity Early Poststroke: A Prospective Cohort Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairA brain-wave marker of wrist position input changed over early stroke recovery but did not clearly separate patients who did not recover from those who did. It may help research, not therapy.