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 61 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPOther2020Robotic assessment of rapid motor decision making in children with perinatal stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with hemiparetic cerebral palsy made more errors on a robotic task requiring rapid decisions to hit targets and avoid distractors. They hit fewer targets and more distractors than typically developing peers, showing impairments in both motor skills and inhibitory control.
• OTRCT2020Effects of bumetanide on neurodevelopmental impairments in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex: an open-label pilot study.Molecular autismChildren with tuberous sclerosis complex taking bumetanide showed reduced irritability and improved social behavior. However, this was a small open-label study with no placebo control, so the improvement may reflect expectation or natural variation rather than a proven drug effect.
• PTOTPilot2020Pilot study on comparisons between the effectiveness of mobile video-guided and paper-based home exercise programs on improving exercise adherence, self-efficacy for exercise and functional outcomes of patients with stroke with 3-month follow-up: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoStroke patients given home exercises via QR-code videos on their phones had better adherence, confidence, and walking ability after three months than those given paper pamphlets. Daily living skills did not improve more with videos. The video group started with higher function, so this pilot needs a larger trial before changing practice.
• PTOTRCT2019Effects of Training for Finger Perception on Functional Recovery of Hemiplegic Upper Limbs in Acute Stroke Patients.Occupational therapy internationalAdding 20 minutes of finger perception training to standard stroke rehabilitation improved tactile sensitivity and the speed of manipulating small objects. Grip strength and large object handling did not improve. The benefit was seen in patients who already had higher levels of motor recovery.
• OTOther2019Psychometric Properties of the Korean Dispositional Hope Scale Using the Rasch Analysis in Stroke Patients.Occupational therapy internationalThe Korean Dispositional Hope Scale appeared suitable for community stroke patients who completed the scale. Eight items and the response options worked well, but 38.6% of participants were outside the scale's usable range.
• OTQualitative2019The Use of the Model of Occupational Self-Efficacy for Work Retraining: A Multiple Case Study.Occupational therapy internationalPeople with brain injury said occupational therapy work retraining helped them accept new abilities and practice real work. Stage two felt frustrating, and poverty, transport and scarce jobs limited progress.
• PTOTSLPOther2019State Variability in Diagnosed Conditions for IDEA Part C Eligibility.Infants and young childrenState lists for IDEA Part C eligibility vary wildly, from zero to 167 conditions. Hearing impairment and FAS are most common. Most listed conditions are rare, and no clear policy defines which diagnoses qualify a child for early intervention.
• OTRCT2019Olfactory Stimulation with Japanese Soy Sauce Improves Upper Limb Performance.Occupational therapy internationalHealthy adults reached significantly farther in a seated balance test immediately after sniffing Japanese soy sauce. Sniffing water or a pleasant rose-like odor produced no change. The effect appears specific to the food-related scent, suggesting olfactory cues may temporarily modulate motor performance.
• OTRCT2019Effect of Motorized Elephant-Assisted Therapy Program on Balance Control of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Occupational therapy internationalChildren with autism who added motorized elephant play to standard therapy showed better balance on stable floors. No gains appeared on unstable foam surfaces. Parents reported improved daily control, but the small group and lack of randomization limit certainty.
• OTSurvey2019Discrepancies between Self- and Clinical Staff Members' Perception of Cognitive Functioning among Patients with Schizophrenia Undergoing Long-Term Hospitalization.Occupational therapy internationalStaff and patients often disagreed about cognitive difficulty in long-term inpatients with schizophrenia. Most who disagreed underestimated their abilities, appearing capable but reporting more confusion, so staff ratings alone may miss distress.
• OTSurvey2019The Child Evaluation Checklist (CHECK): A Screening Questionnaire for Detecting Daily Functional "Red Flags" of Underrecognized Neurodevelopmental Disorders among Preschool Children.Occupational therapy internationalParent ratings on CHECK were consistent, related to an existing executive function questionnaire, and differed between preschool children with suspected invisible neurodevelopmental disorders and typical peers. It may help flag daily functional red flags, not diagnose.
• OTSurvey2020Stress at work: The case of municipal police officers.Work (Reading, Mass.)Municipal police officers who believed their job was more stressful than others and experienced daily stress were more likely to consult a psychologist. Common stressors included physical abuse, working in a hurry, and dangerous interventions, while passive coping like watching TV was frequent.
• OTOther2020Impact of Family-Centered Early Intervention in Infants with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Single-Subject Design.Occupational therapy internationalIn three infants with suspected autism spectrum disorder, a family-centered home intervention increased looking and gesturing during free play. Speech improved in two infants, not the third. With only three infants and no control group, this cannot show the intervention works.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Technology for monitoring everyday prosthesis use: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationObjective sensors can show real-world prosthesis use, but most studies found little difference between prosthetic components. Activity levels often tracked clinical function, while self-report and clinic tests did not fully capture everyday patterns.
• PTOTOther2020The Seated Postural & Reaching Control Test in Cerebral Palsy: A Validation Study.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsTrained raters scored the seated postural and reaching test consistently, and its scores lined up with other cerebral palsy measures. The 5-second static sitting test detected only 31% of children with static control deficits.
• PTOTOther2020Precise quantification of the time course of voluntary activation capacity following Botulinum toxin injections in the biceps brachii muscles of chronic stroke survivors.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBotulinum toxin injections in stroke survivors caused a 50% drop in elbow force within two weeks, with only partial recovery by twelve weeks. Muscle electrical activity remained 35% below baseline, indicating lasting weakness that clinical spasticity scores missed.
• PTOTOther2020Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the STarT back screening tool in isiZulu.The South African journal of physiotherapyIsiZulu-speaking patients found the translated STarT Back tool easy to understand and complete. While patients accepted it, the scores were not consistent enough to reliably group patients into low, medium, or high risk, so it should not yet be used to direct treatment.
• OTSLPCohort2020Developmental Trajectories of Adaptive Behavior From Toddlerhood to Middle Childhood in Autism Spectrum Disorder.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesChildren with autism showed gains in communication, daily living, and socialization skills from toddlerhood to middle childhood. Higher mental age at age two predicted faster skill growth. More perseverative errors on a cognitive flexibility task predicted slower growth in socialization skills.
• OTOther2019Professional Reasoning in Occupational Therapy: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalResearch on occupational therapists' professional reasoning grew steadily from 1982 to 2017, mostly in English, with qualitative studies predominating. It maps how reasoning was studied, not whether any reasoning method improves patient care.
• OTRCT2019The Priming Effects of Mirror Visual Feedback on Bilateral Task Practice: A Randomized Controlled Study.Occupational therapy internationalAdding mirror visual feedback to bilateral arm training did not improve motor function more than training alone. However, patients using the mirror showed significant gains in self-perceived quality of life and a trend toward better temperature sensation, suggesting the visual illusion may help with sensory and emotional recovery rather than just movement.
• OTOther2019Psychometric Properties of Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist (SPSRC).Occupational therapy internationalThe Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist reliably distinguishes children with autism from their peers. It identifies four self-regulation factors and four sensory processing factors, offering a structured way to assess both sensory and regulatory difficulties in daily life.
• PTOTRCT2020Cortical priming strategies for gait training after stroke: a controlled, stratified trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHigh-intensity treadmill training improved walking speed and endurance in all groups, but adding cortical priming did not enhance these gains. One subgroup showed brain excitability changes, but this did not translate to better walking performance.
• OTSLPOther2020The association between challenging behaviour and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in people with intellectual disabilities: a Bayesian mediation analysis approach.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRInformant ratings linked trauma exposure to irritability and hyperactivity via PTSD symptoms. Self-reported trauma showed no such links. The disconnect between self-report and informant data suggests behavioural signs may mask internal trauma symptoms.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Post-stroke dysphagia: An exploration of initial identification and management performed by nurses and doctors.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsNurses and doctors mostly used informal observation to spot swallowing problems, often missing key signs like voice changes or voluntary cough. They also reported using unsafe practices like syringe feeding and prescribing exercises outside their scope. This highlights a need for better training and formal screening tools.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Physical Therapist Management of Total Knee Arthroplasty.Physical therapyPTs should start supervised care within 24 hours, use NMES and high-intensity strength training, and include motor function training. Avoid continuous passive motion devices. Teach cryotherapy and preoperative exercise. Use group or individual sessions as needed, and collect KOOS JR, 30-Second Sit-to-Stand, and TUG scores.
• OTSLPOther2020Effectiveness of a modified group cognitive behavioral therapy program for anxiety in children with ASD delivered in a community context.Molecular autismCommunity-delivered CBT for anxiety in children with autism worked as well as hospital-based care. Parent-reported anxiety scores dropped significantly, and 90% of enrolled children finished the program. The study found no specific child characteristics predicted who improved.
• PTOTPilot2020Can kinematic parameters of 3D reach-to-target movements be used as a proxy for clinical outcome measures in chronic stroke rehabilitation? An exploratory study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot-assisted arm therapy improved clinical scores in 10 chronic stroke survivors, but arm movement smoothness and range did not change consistently. Kinematic tracking failed to mirror clinical gains, suggesting it cannot yet replace standard assessments for measuring recovery.
• PTOTOther2020Relationship between Mastery Motivation and Sensory Processing Difficulties in South Korean Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder.Occupational therapy internationalSouth Korean children with DCD showed definite sensory processing difficulties and low mastery motivation. Higher negative reactions to failure and lower perceived competence predicted worse sensory processing scores. Clinicians should assess motivation and confidence when planning sensory interventions.
• PTOTCohort2020Changes in social participation and life-space mobility in newly enrolled home-based rehabilitation users over 6 months.Journal of physical therapy scienceOver 6 months, 47 newly enrolled home-based rehabilitation users had better social participation and wider life-space mobility. Motor independence improved at 3 months. No control group, so changes cannot be attributed to the service.
• OTOther2020Using social return on investment analysis to calculate the social impact of modified vehicles for people with disability.Australian occupational therapy journalVehicle modification cost scenarios, including modifications and professional services, produced positive estimated social returns for funders, consumers and co-investment. The analysis tested low-cost and high-cost scenarios. These are valuation estimates, not proof of clinical benefit.
• PTOTRCT2020Feasibility and potential effects of using the electro-dress Mollii on spasticity and functioning in chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationUsing the Mollii suit at home for 6 weeks was feasible and reduced wrist spasticity measured by NeuroFlexor, but did not change spasticity assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale. Fugl-Meyer sensorimotor scores improved, while walking speed, balance, and self-reported function remained unchanged.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020An Exploration of Health Behaviors in a Mind-Body Resilience Intervention for Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParents of children with autism showed large reductions in fatigue despite minimal sleep increase, while parents of children with learning disabilities improved physical activity more. Both groups made small gains in healthy eating. The intervention helped fatigue and activity but did not significantly change sleep duration or diet.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Prevalence and cumulative incidence of autism spectrum disorders and the patterns of co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders in a total population sample of 5-year-old children.Molecular autismIn a total population sample of 5-year-olds in Japan, autism prevalence was 3.22% and incidence was stable over four years. Critically, 88.5% of diagnosed children had co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders, and 30% had received no prior services.
• OTOther2020Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Face Validity of the Functional Mobility Assessment into Brazilian Portuguese.Occupational therapy internationalThe Brazilian Portuguese version of the Functional Mobility Assessment is clear to both wheelchair users and future therapists. People understood the questions about their daily mobility tasks well enough to use the tool in practice.
• PTOTSLPOther2020The relationship between the deep squat movement and the hip, knee and ankle range of motion and muscle strength.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn nine healthy men, deep squat depth correlated with joint range of motion but not with hip or knee muscle strength. Limited ankle dorsiflexion on one side affected knee and hip angles on both sides.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Passive, yet not inactive: robotic exoskeleton walking increases cortical activation dependent on task.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPassive robotic exoskeleton walking triggered greater brain activation than active walking. This happened in the parietal and frontal cortex, likely because the user had to actively inhibit their muscles to stay relaxed while the machine moved them.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020The role of the functional independence measure score in predicting the home discharge of inpatients with cerebrovascular diseases in convalescent rehabilitation wards.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients with cerebrovascular disease, an admission motor FIM score of 53.5 to 60.0 points predicted discharge to home. Higher scores for balance, cognition, and swallowing also distinguished those who went home from those who did not.
• OTOther2019Construct validity of the Persian version of the Child Occupational Self-Assessment in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Iran.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe Persian COSA works for Iranian children with ADHD, but only after removing specific items. Items about buying things alone and moving around independently failed to fit, likely due to cultural restrictions. Clinicians should use the modified 23-item competence and 21-item value scales.
• PTOTSLPPilot2019Impact of deep brain stimulation on people with Parkinson's disease: A mixed methods feasibility study exploring lifespace and community outcomes.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTDeep brain stimulation helped most people with Parkinson's reduce symptoms, but life satisfaction and community movement varied widely. Some felt better while others stopped valued activities. GPS tracking showed movement increased even when patients felt they stayed home.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019The association between volition and participation in adults with acquired disabilities: A scoping review.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTVolition, defined as a person's motivation, interests and beliefs about their own abilities, is positively associated with participation in daily life for adults with acquired disabilities. Higher volition correlates with better engagement in domestic, social, and work activities.
• OTCohort2019Survival prediction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following a pulmonary rehabilitation programme in Hong Kong.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTCompleting pulmonary rehabilitation predicted longer survival in patients under 72. For those 72 and older, a low baseline functional task score predicted shorter survival. These findings help therapists flag patients needing more support to finish programmes or targeted functional training.
• OTOther2019Driver assessment service for people with mental illness.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThis is a commentary and service description about driving assessment for people with mental illness. It has no formal study results to change practice.
• OTOther2020Virtual reality-based action observation facilitates the acquisition of body-powered prosthetic control skills.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy participants using a body-powered prosthetic simulator, watching and imagining prosthetic control in VR did not improve a unilateral block-moving task more than other groups, but improved a bilateral knotting task more than control.
• OTCase Series2020Sensitivity to temporal parameters of intraneural tactile sensory feedback.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTwo amputees with implanted nerve electrodes could tell apart timing differences in artificial touch. They recognized object shape similarly when stimulation was simulated and when they controlled a robotic hand. The work involved only two participants.
• PTOTRCT2020Neurocognitive robot-assisted rehabilitation of hand function: a randomized control trial on motor recovery in subacute stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationReplacing one daily hand therapy session with robot-assisted training achieved motor recovery equivalent to standard care. Both groups improved similarly. The robot did not prove superior, but it matched conventional therapy while remaining acceptable to patients.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Worse balance is associated with larger perturbation-evoked cortical responses in healthy young adults.Gait & postureHealthy young adults with worse balance on a beam-walking task showed larger brain responses to backward platform perturbations. The link was strongest for large perturbations, suggesting greater cortical engagement when balance recovery is more difficult.
• PTOTOther2020Listening to the autistic voice: Mental health priorities to guide research and practice in autism from a stakeholder-driven project.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults prioritized research on trauma, stigma, self-managed community approaches like exercise and peer support, and outcomes such as quality of life, anxiety and sleep. They wanted interventions adapted and led by autistic people. This is not efficacy evidence.
• OTSLPCohort2020Associations between autism symptom severity and mealtime behaviors in young children presented with an unfamiliar food.Research in developmental disabilitiesChildren with more severe autism symptoms took fewer bites of unfamiliar foods and requested less food, but showed less disruptive talk and table leaving. Parents gave more ineffective commands and fed them more. Parent-reported mealtime problems did not match clinician-rated autism severity.
• PTOTOther2020Mediolateral damping of an overhead body weight support system assists stability during treadmill walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding mediolateral damping to a body weight support system increased walking stability in healthy adults. This software-based support reduced side-to-side sway and variability without requiring physical rails or walkers, potentially allowing earlier gait training for patients with balance impairments.
• OTOther2020Daily Performance of Adolescents with Executive Function Deficits: An Empirical Study Using a Complex-Cooking Task.Occupational therapy internationalAdolescents with executive function deficits made more errors, took longer, and needed more adult help than typical peers while preparing two recipes in a therapeutic kitchen. The cooking task distinguished groups, but did not test treatment.