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 58 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPOther2019Development of the Stanford Social Dimensions Scale: initial validation in autism spectrum disorder and in neurotypicals.Molecular autismThe Stanford Social Dimensions Scale separates social motivation, affiliation, communication, recognition, and unusual approach into five distinct scores. It reliably measures these traits in children with autism and neurotypical peers, offering a clearer profile of social strengths and weaknesses than existing diagnostic tools.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019Neuropsychiatric decompensation in adolescents and adults with Phelan-McDermid syndrome: a systematic review of the literature.Molecular autismAdolescents and adults with Phelan-McDermid syndrome show a high risk of sudden neuropsychiatric decompensation, including bipolar disorder and catatonia. Peak onset is between 16 and 20 years. Antipsychotics were often ineffective or poorly tolerated, while lithium and divalproex sodium showed more consistent benefit.
• OTSLPOther2020Development of the Behavioral Inflexibility Scale for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchA new parent-rated scale measures how much a child's rigidity disrupts daily family life, not just the behavior itself. It is reliable and stable over time, helping therapists identify which children need intervention for inflexibility and track if that help works.
• PTOTRCT2020Home-based rehabilitation using a soft robotic hand glove device leads to improvement in hand function in people with chronic spinal cord injury:a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with chronic spinal cord injury who wore a soft robotic glove at home for 12 weeks improved their hand function and grip strength. These gains remained six weeks after they stopped using the device. The study had no control group.
• PTOTRCT2020Adding Contralaterally Controlled Electrical Stimulation of the Triceps to Contralaterally Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation of the Finger Extensors Reduces Upper Limb Impairment and Improves Reachable Workspace but not Dexterity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAdding triceps stimulation to hand-focused electrical therapy improved arm reach and reduced impairment, but did not improve hand dexterity or perceived daily use compared to hand therapy alone. The added component helps reach, not fine motor control.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Instrumented assessment of motor function in dyskinetic cerebral palsy: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA systematic review of 49 studies found that while sensors and motion capture can measure movement in dyskinetic cerebral palsy, most methods require the child to understand instructions and move voluntarily. This excludes the 70-80% who are non-ambulatory and severely impaired, leaving no validated tools for them.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020How do patients pass through stroke services? Identifying stroke care pathways using national audit data.Clinical rehabilitationPatients discharged to community rehabilitation had relatively mild strokes yet the highest therapy demand. Stroke care routes varied widely, and direct discharge included many mild and very severe strokes and 27% mortality.
• OTCohort2020Autism Symptoms, Executive Functioning and Academic Progress in Higher Education Students.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong higher education students with autism, self-reported planning and organizing problems were linked to earning fewer course credits. Computerized flexibility and working memory scores were also linked to progress, but those task scores did not each add clear information about progress.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Association Between Saccule and Semicircular Canal Impairments and Cognitive Performance Among Vestibular Patients.Ear and hearingPatients with bilateral vestibular organ impairment made significantly more errors on a visual memory test than those with normal function. They also performed worse on a cognitive sequencing task than age-matched controls. This links severe inner ear damage to specific cognitive deficits.
• PTOTCohort2020Obesity and diabetes are jointly associated with functional disability in stroke survivors.Disability and health journalStroke survivors with both obesity and diabetes had 2.62 times higher adjusted odds of functional disability compared to those with neither condition. Having either condition alone also increased odds. This suggests that managing weight and blood sugar is critical for preserving mobility and self-care after a stroke.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Altered gait mechanics are associated with severity of chondropathy after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome.Gait & posturePatients with moderate-to-severe cartilage damage after hip arthroscopy walked slower with less total limb loading. Those with no or mild damage shifted load away from the hip to the ankle. Neither group reported better function than healthy controls.
• OTPilot2020Feasibility of using acceleration-derived jerk to quantify bimanual arm use.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA jerk ratio from wrist accelerometers tracked relative arm use in children with cerebral palsy while the dominant arm was cast and occupational therapy was given, and matched existing activity-count measures. It is a possible open-source monitoring tool, not proof that this treatment improves function.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2020Parent preferences for neurodevelopmental screening in the neonatal intensive care unit.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost NICU parents wanted neurodevelopmental screening to plan for the future, but they insisted on autonomy to refuse. They asked for clear explanations of test accuracy and emotional support before results. Parents prioritized cognitive and independence outcomes over motor skills.
• PTOTRCT2020Comparison between Erigo tilt-table exercise and conventional physiotherapy exercises in acute stroke patients: a randomized trial.Archives of physiotherapyErigo tilt-table therapy improved quality of life, lower limb strength, and stroke severity scores more than conventional physiotherapy at 90 days. Both groups improved over time, but the tilt-table group showed greater gains in these specific areas.
• OTCase-Control2020Processing of Real-World, Dynamic Natural Stimuli in Autism is Linked to Corticobasal Function.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchNo group differences were found in auditory, visual, or sound-and-sight integration brain regions. Instead, adolescents and adults with autism showed lower activation in left parietal and movement-control regions during a visual-only basketball task. This is a research finding, not a clinical marker.
• OTSurvey2020Seeing strengths: Young adults and their siblings with autism or intellectual disability.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDSiblings of young adults with autism or intellectual disability rated their brothers and sisters as having a median of 21 distinct character strengths. Kindness, caring, and humor were the most frequently cited, challenging the assumption that these individuals are defined primarily by deficits.
• PTOTCase-Control2020Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy: Can a Unilateral Birth Onset Peripheral Injury Significantly Affect Brain Development?Developmental neurorehabilitationIn OBPP, the study did not find that brain volume differed between the hemisphere opposite the injury and the other hemisphere. Compared with controls, OBPP had lower primary motor volume, and affected-hand reaching activated a wider cortical area.
• OTCase-Control2019Ultrasound measurements of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel in ambulant chronic stroke patients: comparison between paretic and non-paretic sides.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn chronic stroke, the median nerve was widest on the non-paretic side, especially in longer-standing cases, and slid less on the paretic side. Four long-term patients had very wide nerves and suspected carpal tunnel signs.
• PTOTSLPPilot2019Immediate effects of lumbar spine patterns after neuromuscular joint facilitation on balance in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceA single session of lumbar spine joint facilitation improved functional reach and reduced body sway in 14 stroke patients compared with rest. The effect lasted only immediately after treatment, and the small sample means these results are preliminary.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Six-month reviews for stroke survivors: a study of the modified Greater Manchester Stroke Assessment Tool with care home residents.Clinical rehabilitationSix-month stroke reviews using the modified GM-SAT in care homes took an average of 51 minutes, were viewed as acceptable, and found many unmet needs. Action plans often did not make clear who would follow them up.
• PTOTNarrative Review2020Advances in neuroprosthetic management of foot drop: a review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeroneal nerve stimulation can improve foot clearance and walking speed in non-progressive conditions like stroke. However, it does not replace conventional treatment, and commercial devices still struggle to adapt to muscle fatigue or varied real-world terrain.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Estimated prevalence of disability and developmental delay among preschool children in rural Malawi: Findings from "Tikule Limodzi," a cross-sectional survey.Child: care, health and development10.7% of preschool children in rural Malawi had disability, and 3.5% had severe disability. 11.7% had language or social delay. Older children were seven times more likely to have disability.
• PTOTOther2020Incidence of cachexia in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer at the beginning of rehabilitation intervention.Journal of physical therapy scienceAt the start of rehabilitation, 57 of 96 advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients had cachexia and 16 had pre-cachexia. The cachexia group had lower daily living scores and worse nutrition risk, so PTs and OTs may need to consider cachexia when choosing exercise load.
• OTPilot2020A Mobile App Directory of Occupational Therapists Who Provide Home Modifications: Development and Preliminary Usability Evaluation.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOTs rated a prototype home-modification referral app useful and easy to use. Older adults varied, and two completed no tasks. It is not shown to improve access.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019Evidence for an Association Between Hearing Impairment and Disrupted Sleep: Scoping Review.American journal of audiologyHearing loss is frequently linked to poorer sleep in adults, but tinnitus is a major confound that many studies ignored. Clinicians should screen for sleep issues in patients with hearing loss while carefully distinguishing whether tinnitus is the primary driver.
• PTOTOther2020Association between preoperative sleep disturbance and low muscle mass in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.Journal of physical therapy sciencePreoperative patients with gastrointestinal cancer who reported poor sleep quality were significantly more likely to have low muscle mass than those with good sleep quality. This association persisted after adjusting for inflammation and depression. Screening for sleep quality may help identify patients at risk for sarcopenia before surgery.
• OTMeta-Analysis2020Olfactory Dysfunction in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Meta-analytic Review of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOlfactory dysfunction is evident in autism and OCD, but not ADHD. Odor identification is the most impaired domain across all three conditions. Deficits are larger in younger males with lower IQ or more severe symptoms.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Brief Report: Assessment Experiences of Children with Neurogenetic Syndromes: Caregivers' Perceptions and Suggestions for Improvement.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of children with neurogenetic syndromes reported mixed assessment experiences. They valued understanding scores but disliked generic feedback and inappropriate testing materials. Dissatisfaction increased with child age. Examiners should individualize testing, ask about interests first, and provide actionable, strengths-based recommendations.
• PTOTOther2020An Internet-Based Consumer Resource for People with Low Back Pain (MyBackPain): Development and Evaluation.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThis paper describes the creation of a consumer website for low back pain. It details how patients and experts shaped the content. It does not report results from the trial testing whether the website improves health or literacy.
• OTOther2020Executive Functioning in 60+ Autistic Males: The Discrepancy Between Experienced Challenges and Cognitive Performance.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOlder autistic men and non-autistic men performed similarly on cognitive tests. However, the autistic men and their proxies reported more everyday executive function problems. Test scores did not match daily-life complaints.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2020Immediate and long-term effects of BCI-based rehabilitation of the upper extremity after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLong-term upper-limb function after stroke did not show a clear BCI benefit over control at follow-up. BCI training did show immediate improvement compared with control interventions.
• OTSLPRCT2020Behavioral effects of multiple-dose oxytocin treatment in autism: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial with long-term follow-up.Molecular autismFour weeks of daily intranasal oxytocin did not improve social symptoms compared to placebo. However, it significantly reduced repetitive behaviors and feelings of attachment avoidance. These benefits lasted up to one year. This was a small pilot in adult men, so results are preliminary.
• OTQualitative2020Stakeholder perspectives on transition planning, implementation, and outcomes for students with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceStakeholders reported that school transition plans often did not account for job skills, adult services, or benefits. Parents said implementation often fell to families. They wanted earlier vocational rehabilitation involvement, clear roles, and long-term supports after graduation.
• PTOTOther2020Spinal kyphotic alignment changes spinal movement strategy during lateral reaching motion while in a sitting position.Journal of physical therapy scienceFlexed sitting changed how young men moved their spine during seated rightward reaching. Some thoracic side tilt and rotation were less, and lumbar rotation patterns shifted. Posture may alter trunk movement strategy.
• PTOTCohort2020Evaluating hand performance and strength in children with high rates of smartphone usage: an observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceChildren with high smartphone addiction scores had much weaker grip and pinch strength in their dominant hand than those with low scores. Their dominant-hand grip averaged 19.6 kg versus 58.9 kg in the low-use group. Hand function scores were also worse in the high-use group.
• OTSLPCohort2020Autism Heterogeneity in a Densely Sampled U.S. Population: Results From the First 1,000 Participants in the RI-CART Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutism presentations in this population were highly heterogeneous. Many participants had co-occurring medical, psychiatric, or neurological conditions, and girls were diagnosed later than boys, with verbal status linked to earlier diagnosis in boys.
• PTOTCohort2020Association between non-obesity and health state among young Japanese male university students.Journal of physical therapy scienceYoung men with normal body weight showed poor fitness and diet. Higher aerobic capacity linked to better insulin sensitivity and lower triglycerides, independent of body size. Daily activity correlated with lower resting heart rate. Normal weight did not guarantee metabolic health in this small group of students.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Factors associated with employment and work perception in combat-exposed veterans.Rehabilitation psychologyDepression and pain symptoms predicted unemployment, but objective cognitive test scores did not. History of mild TBI predicted the belief that work ability had declined, not actual unemployment. Clinicians should target negative self-perceptions rather than assuming cognitive deficits are the primary barrier to work.
• PTOTCase Report2020Design of a lightweight passive orthosis for tremor suppression.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA lightweight, inflatable wrist glove reduced tremor power by 74-82% during drinking, pouring, and drawing in one patient with Parkinson's disease. The device allows users to adjust stiffness manually, offering a potential alternative to medication for specific daily tasks.
• PTOTOther2020Burden and Patterns of Multimorbidity: Impact on Disablement in Older Adults.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationA higher count of chronic conditions was linked to worse strength, walking, activity and participation in older adults with mobility problems. Specific disease patterns were not linked to these outcomes. The count may be more useful than the condition mix.
• PTOTCohort2020β-Oscillations Reflect Recovery of the Paretic Upper Limb in Subacute Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn subacute stroke, beta activity in the lesion-side motor cortex was low early and rose with recovery. Early post-movement beta activity related to 3-month arm scores, but not independently after baseline scores.
• OTOther2020Effect of Maternal Distress on Perceptions of Infant Behavior May Differ in Chinese-American and European-American Mothers and Infants.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPEuropean American mothers with more distress reported infants as harder to soothe and more distressed. Chinese American mothers' distress was not linked to these reports. Observed infant negativity was linked to distress reports in both groups.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Role of data measurement characteristics in the accurate detection of Parkinson's disease symptoms using wearable sensors.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors can detect Parkinson's tremor and slowness using simpler data. A 30 Hz sampling rate and basic features captured symptoms as well as high-resolution settings, allowing devices to run longer without losing accuracy.
• PTOTOther2020Validity and reliability of isometric knee extension muscle strength measurements using a belt-stabilized hand-held dynamometer: a comparison with the measurement using an isokinetic dynamometer in a sitting posture.Journal of physical therapy scienceBelt-stabilized handheld dynamometry matched the gold standard isokinetic dynamometer in healthy young men, with no significant difference between devices. In women, handheld scores did not correlate with the reference device. Use handheld strength data cautiously for female patients until further research clarifies the discrepancy.
• OTSLPCohort2020Psychosocial and functional outcomes in young adults with childhood-onset epilepsy: a 10-year follow-up.Developmental medicine and child neurologyYoung adults with epilepsy had similar education, living, work, income, marriage, and quality of life outcomes to controls. They reported more cognitive and overall functional disability. The differences were linked to ADHD and school problems present at diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Persistence and predictors of self-injurious behaviour in autism: a ten-year prospective cohort study.Molecular autismSelf-injury persisted in 44% of autistic individuals over 10 years. Impulsivity and overactivity measured in childhood predicted both persistent self-injury and self-restraint a decade later, identifying high-risk patients for early intervention.
• OTCohort2020Wandering Among Preschool Children with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn preschoolers, 60.4% of children classified as autism spectrum disorder were reported to wander, compared with 12.4% of population comparison children. Wandering was also linked to affective, anxiety, ADHD, and oppositional problems. The study was observational, so it shows links, not causes.
• PTOTOther2020Effects of different intensities and durations of aerobic exercise training on arterial stiffness.Journal of physical therapy scienceEight weeks of aerobic exercise lowered arterial stiffness in healthy middle-aged and older adults. The benefit was similar for low and moderate intensity, and for 15 and 30 minute sessions. Blood pressure also decreased. This suggests short, gentle walking or cycling may improve vascular health.
• OTSLPOther2020Establishing the Factor Structure of a Health-Related Quality of Life Measurement System for Caregivers of Persons Living With Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationA new six-part framework for measuring caregiver quality of life after brain injury separates social participation from isolation and negative affect from physical health. This allows therapists to target specific caregiver burdens rather than assuming a single global decline.
• OTOther2020Factors affecting cognition and emotion in patients with traumatic brain injury.NeuroRehabilitationLonger loss of consciousness was linked to worse everyday memory and agitation in patients with traumatic brain injury. Lesion location was linked to executive test performance and mood, but this was an assessment study, not a treatment trial.