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 59 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPQualitative2020'When my autism broke': A qualitative study spotlighting autistic voices on menopause.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic participants said menopause brought on or worsened sensory sensitivity, executive function problems, sleep problems, self-care struggles, mood difficulties and social communication strain. They described clinicians as lacking knowledge and interest, leaving them to seek peer and online support.
• PTOTRCT2020Extrinsic feedback from a feedback device promotes the learning of range of motion measurements.Journal of physical therapy scienceStudents who received real-time error feedback from a device while practicing knee range of motion measurements became significantly more accurate than those who practiced without it. This accuracy gain persisted 24 hours later, suggesting devices can speed up skill acquisition.
• PTOTOther2020Evaluation of psychometric properties of the activities of daily living scale of motor function used by caregivers using Rasch analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceCaregivers can reliably assess a patient's need for help with daily tasks using a simplified 4-point scale. The original 7-point scale had categories that were too hard to distinguish, but collapsing them created a valid tool for tracking recovery after discharge.
• PTOTSurvey2020The prevalence of fear avoidance and pain catastrophising amongst patients with chronic neck pain.The South African journal of physiotherapyAbout one in four patients with chronic neck pain reported fear of movement, and about one in six reported pain catastrophising. These cognitive factors were linked to higher pain intensity and lower education, but not to how long the pain had lasted.
• OTSurvey2020Self-care in caregivers of children with FASD: How do caregivers care for themselves, and what are the benefits and obstacles for doing so?Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregivers who felt more confident in their self-care reported greater satisfaction, lower parental distress, and more family needs met. How often they did self-care did not show the same pattern. Time, resources, and child-care were common obstacles.
• OTCohort2020Traumatic brain injury and creative divergent thinking.Brain injuryThe group with moderate-to-severe TBI scored similarly to healthy adults on two tests of generating unusual ideas, despite lower processing speed, set-shifting, and verbal learning scores.
• OTRCT2020Improving well-being after traumatic brain injury through volunteering: a randomized controlled trial.Brain injuryA structured volunteering program improved life satisfaction and perceived success in people with traumatic brain injury, but did not reduce anxiety, depression, or overall psychological distress. The benefits appeared after the 18-week intervention and lasted through 6-month follow-up.
• OTSLPCohort2020Sluggish cognitive tempo: An examination of clinical correlates for adults with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn young adults with autism, sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms strongly predicted depression but not anxiety. These symptoms were distinct from ADHD hyperactivity but linked to ADHD inattention. Sluggishness predicted poorer performance on complex executive function tasks requiring verbal explanation, but not simpler sorting tasks.
• PTOTPilot2020Online compensation detecting for real-time reduction of compensatory motions during reaching: a pilot study with stroke survivors.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot force feedback reduced trunk and shoulder compensation during seated reaching more than virtual-reality audiovisual feedback. This was a small feasibility pilot, not evidence of functional recovery.
• PTOTRCT2020The use of a task through virtual reality in cerebral palsy using two different interaction devices (concrete and abstract) - a cross-sectional randomized study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with cerebral palsy performed better on a virtual task using a motion sensor than a touchscreen, but could not transfer this skill to the touchscreen. The motion sensor allowed gross arm movements, bypassing the fine motor control that the touchscreen demands.
• OTCohort2020Does the child's health influence the caregiver's health using the EQ-5D instruments?The South African journal of physiotherapyCaregivers’ own health ratings did not improve over 3 days, but caregiver-reported child health improved, and the two ratings were closely related on each day.
• PTOTCase-Control2020The influence of trunk muscle strength on walking velocity in elderly people with sarcopenia.Journal of physical therapy scienceElderly people with sarcopenia walked significantly slower than those without, despite having similar leg strength. Their trunk extension strength was markedly lower, and they walked with a more forward-leaning posture. Assessing trunk strength may help explain slow walking in sarcopenia.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Trajectories of Change in the Behavioral and Health Phenotype of Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome and Intellectual Disability: Longitudinal Trends Over a Decade.Journal of autism and developmental disordersDaily living skills improved through adolescence but plateaued or declined in the 30s. Behavior problems decreased overall but remained clinically significant for many. BMI and health conditions increased steadily over the decade. Higher autism symptoms predicted worse starting independence and behavior.
• PTOTRCT2020Composite active range of motion (CXA) and relationship with active function in upper and lower limb spastic paresis.Clinical rehabilitationComposite active range of motion tracked active function after botulinum toxin for spastic paresis only weakly to moderately. Range peaked at week 4, function at week 12. It may help measure movement, but it is not a simple stand-in for functional change.
• PTOTCase Report2020Robotic rehabilitation of the paralyzed upper limb for a stroke patient using the single-joint hybrid assistive limb: a case study assessed by accelerometer on the wrist.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor a stroke patient, accelerometer counts for the paralyzed left arm were higher after the HAL-SJ phase than before it, while standard arm tests showed no clinically important change. Usual PT, OT, and ST continued throughout, so HAL-SJ alone cannot be credited.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2020Physical therapy prehabilitation on a reverse total shoulder replacement candidate: a case study.Journal of physical therapy scienceA single patient with severe shoulder pain and a recommended replacement surgery completed five weeks of physical therapy exercises. He reported improved mobility and pain relief, leading him to indefinitely postpone the operation.
• PTOTRCT2020A new lower limb portable exoskeleton for gait assistance in neurological patients: a proof of concept study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFive stroke and MS patients tried a new knee exoskeleton. No falls occurred, but most walked slower with it than without. Users liked its comfort and safety but rated its effectiveness low. This is a safety test, not proof it helps walking.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2020Immediate and Sustained Effects of Interventions for Changing Physical Activity in People with Multiple Sclerosis: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationInterventions significantly increased physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis, with behavioral coaching alone showing the largest effect. However, gains were smaller when measured by devices rather than self-report, and long-term maintenance data was limited.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Links between self-injury and suicidality in autism.Molecular autismAutistic adults with a history of self-injury reported significantly more suicide ideation and attempts than those without, regardless of whether they viewed their self-injury as a problem. Cutting was associated with higher suicide risk, while hitting or scratching was not.
• OTCase-Control2020Brain activation patterns underlying upper limb bilateral motor coordination in unilateral cerebral palsy: an fNIRS study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyDuring asymmetric squeezing, people with unilateral cerebral palsy showed broader, stronger brain activity and more synchronized wrist muscle activity. More activity toward the non-lesioned side related to better daily function. No treatment was tested.
• PTOTOther2020Adverse effects of the coexistence of locomotive syndrome and sarcopenia on the walking ability and performance of activities of daily living in Japanese elderly females: a cross-sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn Japanese elderly females, having both locomotive syndrome and sarcopenia was linked to slower Timed Up and Go times and worse daily activity scores than having locomotive syndrome alone or neither condition.
• PTOTOther2020Transient changes in paretic and non-paretic isometric force control during bimanual submaximal and maximal contractions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationDuring maximal bimanual wrist and finger extension, the paretic arm produced greater sustained force than unimanual. During submaximal tasks, bimanual conditions made force output less steady and more repetitive in both arms, with more change in the non-paretic arm.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Balance and preference in activity participation for informal caregivers of people with aphasia: A questionnaire study.AphasiologyCaregivers of people with aphasia do fewer social and leisure activities than non-caregivers, but want to do more of the same things everyone else wants: socializing, traveling, and resting. Community integration scores showed no significant difference between the groups.
• PTOTPilot2020Unsupervised low-intensity home exercises as an effective intervention for improving physical activity and physical capacity in the community-dwelling elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceUnsupervised home exercises increased moderate-intensity activity in older women. Resistance band work also improved lung capacity. Both groups exceeded WHO weekly activity guidelines after six months, suggesting low-intensity home routines are feasible and effective for maintaining activity levels.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2020Validity and reliability of wearable inertial sensors in healthy adult walking: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors accurately measure basic walking timing and length. However, they are unreliable for assessing step-to-step variability or symmetry. Clinicians should trust the average numbers but avoid making decisions based on how consistent a patient's gait pattern is using these devices.
• PTOTOther2020Guiding functional reorganization of motor redundancy using a body-machine interface.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHealthy adults using a body-machine interface improved cursor accuracy when the system automatically adapted to their movement patterns. The interface did not improve speed or help them transfer skills to a new task. This suggests adapting the map helps users learn the controls, but does not guarantee broader skill generalization.
• OTCohort2020Introduction of the Purdue Pegboard Test for fine assessment of severity of cervical myelopathy before and after surgery.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe STEF predicted chopstick use better than the Purdue Pegboard Test in cervical myelopathy. The PPT assembly task still correlated with clinician-rated severity, so it may add bilateral hand information.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020Predictors of cognitive development in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and plexiform neurofibromas.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with NF1 and plexiform neurofibromas show widening gaps in math, writing, and executive function over time. Those with parents who also have NF1 or lower parental education decline fastest. Regular school-based assessments and targeted support are critical.
• OTRCT2020Selective neural electrical stimulation restores hand and forearm movements in individuals with complete tetraplegia.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOne cuff electrode around the median or radial nerve produced hand and forearm movements during surgery. Median stimulation created finger, thumb and wrist flexion, sometimes grip patterns. This was proof of concept, not tested for daily use.
• PTOTSurvey2020Physical activity guidelines and promotion: An online survey of United Kingdom's prosthetic rehabilitation healthcare professionals.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalUK prosthetic rehabilitation professionals averaged 6.42 of 11 on physical activity guideline knowledge. Physiotherapists scored 7.00, prosthetists/orthotists 6.24, and other professionals 5.89. This was self-report only, so it does not show what patients received.
• OTQualitative2020Focus on autonomy: Using 'Skills for Growing Up' in pediatric rehabilitation care.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineYouth with disabilities and parents found the Dutch Skills for Growing Up checklist useful for choosing personal goals and discussing future autonomy. The study reported experiences, not proof that autonomy or life skills improved.
• PTOTOther2020Does walking the day of total hip arthroplasty speed up functional independence? A non-randomized controlled study.Archives of physiotherapyPatients who walked the day after hip replacement had higher functional independence scores at 3 days than those who started walking the next day. By 7 days only self-care remained higher, and pain and quality of life were similar.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Early Development of Infants with Turner Syndrome.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPInfants with Turner Syndrome generally scored in the average range for cognition and behavior, but a disproportionate number showed risks in language and motor skills. Gross motor scores were significantly lower than typical peers, and some visual-motor skills appeared to slow between 12 and 24 months.
• PTOTRCT2020A Novel Wearable Device for Motor Recovery of Hand Function in Chronic Stroke Survivors.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairHome use of a device pairing electrical shocks with loud clicks improved hand grasp in chronic stroke survivors. The average gain was small, but responders showed clinically meaningful improvement. Other hand functions and strength did not change.
• PTOTRCT2020Effects of dynamic exercise utilizing PNF patterns on the balance of healthy adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceSix weeks of PNF pattern exercise improved several balance measures within the training group, but no measure differed significantly from the control group between groups. Do not expect this exercise to outperform doing nothing in healthy adults.
• OTOther2020Sensory Processing Patterns and Fusiform Activity During Face Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAdults with autism who avoided sensory input more showed stronger activity in a face-processing brain area during a face-memory task. Controls did not show this pattern. It is a small observational link, not evidence that treatment changes face processing.
• PTOTCohort2020Motor Function in School-Aged Children With Positional Plagiocephaly or Brachycephaly.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationSchool-aged children who had moderate to severe positional skull deformation as infants scored lower on motor tasks, especially strength and agility. Those with mild deformation did not differ consistently from controls.
• PTOTNarrative Review2020Coaching approaches in early intervention and paediatric rehabilitation.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCoaching in early intervention is not one method. The review argues the word should mean collaborative, family-centred coaching, not parent training, and says therapists need more than 4 days of supported education to change how they work.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2020Indications of sole lift and foot orthoses in the management of mild idiopathic scoliosis-a review.Journal of physical therapy scienceSole lifts may help functional scoliosis if the sacrum is level with the hips, but custom foot orthoses have little evidence for structural curves. Most leg length differences in scoliosis are functional, not anatomical, so lifts can worsen the spine.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Intellectual and developmental disability and COVID-19 case-fatality trends: TriNetX analysis.Disability and health journalPeople with intellectual and developmental disabilities had similar overall death rates from COVID-19, but died at younger ages. Those aged 18-74 had higher case-fatality rates than peers without disabilities, while rates for those over 75 were similar.
• PTOTOther2020Menthol-induced cutaneous stimulation combined with self-paced walking training improves knee extension performance in untrained older healthy females.Journal of physical therapy scienceSelf-paced walking alone improved maximum knee strength but not the speed of force development in older women. Adding menthol gel to the thigh before walking improved both maximum strength and the rate of force development. This suggests menthol may help recruit fast-twitch fibers during low-intensity exercise.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Factors influencing the amount of therapy received during inpatient stroke care: an analysis of data from the UK Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme.Clinical rehabilitationInpatient stroke patients received 14 minutes of physiotherapy per inpatient day on average, below the 45-minute guideline. More therapy was associated with specialist rehabilitation teams, weekend services, timely assessment, and higher staffing, but this audit did not test whether these factors caused more therapy.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Effect of neonatal therapy on the motor, cognitive, and behavioral development of infants born preterm: a systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTherapist-designed programs where parents actively engage preterm infants in daily motor practice showed moderate-to-large short-term gains in motor and cognitive skills. Interventions delivered only by therapists or started late showed little to no long-term benefit.
• PTOTCohort2020Association of Physical Activity and Cognitive Activity With Disability: A 2-Year Prospective Cohort Study.Physical therapyHigh physical activity and high cognitive activity were linked to the lowest rate of 2-year disability onset in older Japanese adults. Cognitive activity without high physical activity was not linked to lower disability.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020Task-Specific Versus Impairment-Based Training on Locomotor Performance in Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Crossover Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairTask-specific stepping training improved walking speed and endurance more than impairment-based exercises in people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. However, the stepping group experienced significantly more minor adverse events, including falls. Clinicians must weigh these gains against the increased fall risk and educate patients on safety.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Predictors of Arm Nonuse in Chronic Stroke: A Preliminary Investigation.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn 20 people with chronic stroke, attention and arousal deficits predicted non-use of the affected arm more strongly than the arm's physical capacity. This suggests that for patients who can move their arm but choose not to, addressing attentional engagement is critical.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Neurodevelopmental Characterization of Young Children Diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C1.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP22 of 29 young children with NPC1 had delays qualifying them for early intervention, yet only 10 received services before age 3. Motor and language delays were common.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Gait and postural control patterns and rehabilitation in Down syndrome: a systematic review.Journal of physical therapy sciencePeople with Down syndrome walk with a wider base and shorter steps to stay stable, using stiff hips and knees to compensate for weak ankles. Early, intensive treadmill training helps children walk sooner and more efficiently, but adults see little change.
• OTSLPOther2020Revised scored Sensory Perception Quotient reveals sensory hypersensitivity in women with autism.Molecular autismFemales with autism reported significantly more sensory hypersensitivity across all five senses compared to control females, but showed no difference in hyposensitivity. Mothers of children with autism did not report elevated sensory sensitivity compared to controls.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Inpatient stroke rehabilitation: prediction of clinical outcomes using a machine-learning approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdmission scores on the FIM, Ten-Meter Walk, Six-Minute Walk and Berg Balance were the strongest predictors of discharge scores, stronger than age, sex or stroke details. The models were rough and built from 50 patients at one hospital.