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 76 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2021Factors predicting discharge after two years for inpatients in the psychiatric long-term care wards who can walk independently.Journal of physical therapy scienceAmong psychiatric inpatients who could walk unaided, only age predicted discharge after two years. Patients still hospitalized were older, had longer stays, and worse two-step and stand-up scores, but physical tests did not independently predict discharge.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Distance-limited walk tests post-stroke: A systematic review of measurement properties.NeuroRehabilitationThe 10-metre comfortable walk test is the only measure with strong evidence across all stroke recovery phases. For acute and subacute patients, the 5-metre comfortable test is a reliable alternative. Standardized protocols are highly reliable, but you must match the specific testing conditions to the study supporting them.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021How have youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder managed quarantine derived from COVID-19 pandemic? An approach to families perspectives.Research in developmental disabilitiesParents reported that children with autism were generally happier and calmer during quarantine, with many showing increased autonomy and participation in family routines. However, some children became more irritable or developed new stereotypies, while families missed external support and struggled with work-life balance.
• PTOTQualitative2021Experiences of secondary health conditions amongst people with spinal cord injury in South Africa: A qualitative study.The South African journal of physiotherapyPeople with spinal cord injury described secondary health conditions such as pain, bowel and bladder problems, pressure sores and spasms as limiting movement, daily care, work and social life. They also reported fear, shame, sadness and some new coping skills.
• PTOTOther2021Beyond Euler/Cardan analysis: True glenohumeral axial rotation during arm elevation and rotation.Gait & postureTrue shoulder rotation is near zero during arm elevation, but standard calculations show up to 30° of rotation depending on the method used. Clinicians should know that reported rotation values may be mathematical artifacts, not actual physical twisting of the bone.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Autonomic dysfunction in autism: The roles of anxiety, depression, and stress.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults report more autonomic symptoms, such as dizziness and bowel issues, than non-autistic peers. However, this difference disappears once anxiety and stress are accounted for. The symptoms appear driven by co-occurring mental health difficulties rather than autism itself.
• OTOther2021Adapting a Person's Home in 3D Using a Mobile App (MapIt): Participatory Design Framework Investigating the App's Acceptability.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesNine OTs and five relatives found a 3D home-scanning app acceptable for remote assessments. It generated room maps in under five minutes, allowing therapists to measure spaces and view environments without a home visit, though scanning required assistance for complex tasks.
• PTOTQualitative2021It's not about the capture, it's about what we can learn": a qualitative study of experts' opinions and experiences regarding the use of wearable sensors to measure gait and physical activity.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationResearchers identified wearable sensors as a potential paradigm shift in gait analysis but found no clear clinical utility yet. Data handling requires skills clinicians lack, and device outputs are often untrustworthy 'black boxes'. Multi-disciplinary teams are essential for future progress.
• PTOTOther2021Relative independence of upper limb position sense and reaching in children with hemiparetic perinatal stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with hemiparetic perinatal stroke varied in upper limb position sense and reaching. Robot tests showed no significant link between the two, so a child can have impaired position sense but normal reaching, or the reverse.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Neurodevelopmental profiles of children with unilateral cerebral palsy associated with middle cerebral artery and periventricular venous infarctions.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with unilateral cerebral palsy caused by middle cerebral artery infarction had significantly worse hand function, sensation, and cognition than those with periventricular venous infarction. Therapists should screen for sensory and cognitive barriers in this group before starting upper limb training.
• PTOTRCT2021Feasibility and effectiveness of a novel dynamic arm support in persons with spinal muscular atrophy and duchenne muscular dystrophy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSix people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy tried a new arm support. It helped most perform upper limb tasks and reduced fatigue, but results varied greatly, especially for those with severe scoliosis.
• OTQualitative2021'It's been adapted rather than impacted': A qualitative evaluation of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the positive behavioural support of people with an intellectual disability and/or autism.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDStaff supporting people with intellectual disability or autism described adapting positive behavioural support during UK lockdown rather than abandoning it. Community activities moved indoors, family contact went online, and many staff reported fewer behaviours that challenge when routines were simplified.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021A Data Driven Approach Reveals That Anomalous Motor System Connectivity is Associated With the Severity of Core Autism Symptoms.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism showed weaker brain connectivity between the right posterior cerebellum and the left inferior parietal lobule. This specific connectivity pattern correlated with more severe social deficits and repetitive behaviors, but showed no significant link to motor imitation or ball-catching scores.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021Motor Dysfunction in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: A Rehabilitation Framework for Prodromal Synucleinopathy.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder often show subtle motor signs years before a Parkinson's diagnosis. The authors propose a framework for early exercise and rehabilitation, but note there are no trials proving these interventions prevent or slow the disease.
• PTOTCohort2021Effect of post-stroke spasticity on voluntary movement of the upper limb.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSpasticity, measured by the threshold at which muscle resistance begins, strongly predicts the quality of voluntary reaching movements in stroke survivors. This effect is distinct from overall motor impairment scores, suggesting that treating spasticity may improve movement quality beyond what general rehabilitation achieves.
• PTOTRCT2021Transfer of mode switching performance: from training to upper-limb prosthesis use.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFive days of training switching modes on a simulator improved accuracy and speed on a functional task in able-bodied participants. Neither a serious game nor direct myosignal feedback was superior to the other. The time needed to switch remained at least four seconds, which is likely too slow for everyday prosthesis use.
• OTSLPCohort2021Touch and olfaction/taste differentiate children carrying a 16p11.2 deletion from children with ASD.Molecular autismChildren with idiopathic autism showed more touch and taste/smell issues than children with a 16p11.2 deletion. Both groups had higher sensory scores than typical children. The deletion group’s touch and taste/smell profiles looked more like typical children.
• PTOTOther2021Guided Self-rehabilitation Contracts Combined With AbobotulinumtoxinA in Adults With Spastic Paresis.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTAdults with chronic spastic paresis who performed guided self-stretching diaries alongside botulinum toxin injections showed significant gains in voluntary movement range and walking speed. This open-label study cannot prove the exercises added benefit beyond the injections alone, but suggests high compliance with home programs is feasible.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Clinical management of individuals with Intellectual Disability: The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic as experienced in a clinical and research center Research in Developmental Disabilities.Research in developmental disabilitiesIn a hospital outbreak, 109 patients with intellectual disability recovered from COVID-19 without mechanical ventilation. A phased multidisciplinary model using remote psychological support and tailored routines managed behavioral challenges and supported families, though no control group existed to prove efficacy.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Domains of Health-Related Quality of Life Are Associated With Specific Deficits and Lesion Locations in Chronic Aphasia.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairDepression symptoms and arm weakness predicted lower overall quality of life. Language production deficits predicted lower communication quality. Specific brain lesions in the basal ganglia and inferior frontal areas were linked to poorer physical and psychosocial outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2021Fear Avoidance Predicts Persistent Pain in Young Adults With Low Back Pain: A Prospective Study.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyFear avoidance and pain interference predicted persistent pain in young adults. Most participants improved, but those with high fear avoidance stayed in moderate/high pain. Physical activity levels did not differ between groups, challenging the assumption that inactivity drives chronicity in this population.
• PTOTCohort2021Change in outdoor walking behavior during the coronavirus disease pandemic in Japan: A longitudinal study.Gait & postureDuring Japan's state of emergency, outdoor steps dropped by about 1000 per day, but walking speed and step length slightly increased. The speed change was too small to be clinically significant, suggesting people walked faster to compensate for less overall walking.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions in adults with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome: A rapid review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineNeuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) showed mixed results in critically ill adults with multi-organ dysfunction. While some studies reported preserved muscle mass and strength, others found no functional difference compared to standard care. The evidence is very low certainty due to small sample sizes and high risk of bias.
• OTOther2021ADHD severity as a predictor of cognitive task performance in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).Research in developmental disabilitiesIn children with autism, higher parent-reported ADHD symptom severity was linked to poorer performance on attention and memory tasks. Autism symptom severity was not linked to these tasks. The study cannot show cause.
• PTOTRCT2021Effects of a Tailored Physical Activity Intervention on Cardiovascular Structure and Function in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairAn 8-week community-based physical activity coaching program improved fitness in people with spinal cord injury but did not change resting heart or blood vessel structure. Only those with lower-level injuries showed minor heart shape changes, suggesting higher-level injuries may need more intense or specific loading.
• PTOTCohort2021The multi-directional reach test in children with Down syndrome.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoChildren with Down syndrome showed shorter backward reach distances than typical peers. Younger children with Down syndrome also had shorter forward reach. They relied on hip and mixed movement strategies, never the ankle strategy used by typical children.
• PTOTOther2021A Scoping Review of Evidence-Informed Recommendations for Designing Inclusive Playgrounds.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThirteen design recommendations emerged from 35 studies, including flat surfaces, ramps to elevated structures, and sensory variety. Trained staff and involving families in the design process were also key to reducing barriers for children with disabilities.
• OTSLPOther2021Implicit Semantic Processing of Linguistic and Non-linguistic Stimuli in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn adults with autism, brain responses to picture meanings were larger than in controls, while word responses showed no group difference. Age interacted with autistic traits differently for pictures and words, suggesting visual supports may aid comprehension while language demands increase.
• OTQualitative2021Understanding the role of self-determination in shaping university experiences for autistic and typically developing students in the United Kingdom.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students prioritised academic success over socialising, often relying on family for advocacy. They viewed their cognitive strengths as tools for achievement but found unstructured time and uncertainty highly stressful, preferring clear routines and explicit guidance to manage anxiety.
• PTOTSurvey2021Prevalence and patterns of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate students of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in a South African university.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoMost occupational therapy and physiotherapy students reported musculoskeletal pain in the past year, especially neck and low back. Longer daily travel and not exercising were linked to more pain; measured ergonomic hazards were not.
• PTOTRCT2021The influence of low-intensity resistance training combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on autonomic activity in healthy adults: A randomized controlled cross-over trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoAdding electrical stimulation to low-intensity resistance training did not cause worse heart rate or blood pressure changes than training alone in healthy young men. Both methods raised sympathetic activity and blood pressure slightly during exercise, but neither was safer than the other in this small group.
• PTOTSLPCohortAssociation of Positional Plagiocephaly and Developmental Delay Within a Primary Care Network.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPInfants diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly in primary care were more likely to later receive a developmental delay diagnosis, particularly for motor and language delays. The skull shape diagnosis typically appeared months before the delay, suggesting it may serve as an early marker for children who need closer developmental monitoring.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Sociodemographic factors and health-related, neuropsychological, and psychosocial functioning in youth with spina bifida.Rehabilitation psychologyYouth with spina bifida from lower-income families reported more pain but fewer attention and executive function problems than those from higher-income families. Family stress mediated outcomes, with lower sociodemographic risk linked to less condition-specific stress.
• OTPilot2021Zero-Effort Ambient Heart Rate Monitoring Using Ballistocardiography Detected Through a Seat Cushion: Prototype Development and Preliminary Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesA seat cushion prototype could record heart-rate signals from a seated person, but usable data depended on staying still. In 20 participants, a 1-minute still-sitting test showed 91.4% heartbeat detection accuracy against ECG. This shows engineering feasibility, not clinical usefulness.
• PTOTOther2021Accuracy and reliability of a smartphone application for measuring the knee joint angle.Journal of physical therapy scienceA Japanese smartphone photo app measured mannequin knee angles as closely as a standard goniometer. It was repeatable across examiners and over three days, but this was tested only on fixed mannequin knees, not on patients.
• OTSLPRCT2021Clinical effectiveness of the sequential 4-channel NMES compared with that of the conventional 2-channel NMES for the treatment of dysphagia in a prospective double-blind randomized controlled study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSequential 4-channel electrical stimulation improved swallowing scores and reduced aspiration more effectively than conventional 2-channel stimulation in stroke patients. Both groups received standard swallowing exercises, so the benefit cannot be attributed to the electrical device alone.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021Narrative review of clinical practice guidelines for treating people with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.NeuroRehabilitationOnly 17 clinical practice guidelines for moderate-to-severe TBI rehabilitation met rigorous vetting standards since 2010. Most guidelines focus on symptom control rather than functional recovery, and many published documents labeled as guidelines lack the necessary systematic review process to be trustworthy.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Healthcare-seeking behavior and awareness of physical therapy among Japanese residents in Thailand: a descriptive study.Journal of physical therapy scienceJapanese residents in Thailand mostly use hospitals, not physical therapy clinics. Younger groups used PT more than older adults, who preferred prevention. Word-of-mouth was the main source of healthcare information.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021How to objectively assess and observe maladaptive pain behaviors in clinical rehabilitation: a systematic search and review.Archives of physiotherapyOnly two brief observation tools passed the authors' clinic and quality checks: the Pain Behaviour Scale and the Behavioral Avoidance Test-Back Pain. Both are validated only for chronic low back pain.
• PTOTCohort2021Relationship between gait speed and trunk muscles in frail elderly individuals.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 12 frail older adults, thicker lower abdominal and deep core muscles correlated with faster walking. This links trunk structure to gait speed but does not prove that strengthening these muscles improves walking or prevents falls.
• PTOTCohort2021The utility of upper limb loading device in determining optimal walking ability in ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoMost participants could progress to a cane or no device, walking faster and further than walker users. Upper limb loading correlated with walking ability, suggesting the device may help therapists identify who can safely reduce support.
• OTRCT2021Virtual interview training for autistic transition age youth: A randomized controlled feasibility and effectiveness trial.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic youth using a virtual interview simulator alongside school transition services showed better interview skills and higher competitive employment rates than those receiving services alone. They also reported less interview anxiety. The training was feasible for teachers to deliver.
• PTOTQualitative2021Parents' Perspectives on a Computer Game-Assisted Rehabilitation Program for Manual Dexterity in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Qualitative Analysis of Expectations, Child Engagement, and Benefits.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesParents found game-assisted hand therapy more engaging than conventional therapy for children with cerebral palsy, noting improved dexterity and interest. They requested more frequent updates to maintain challenge and expressed interest in home-based use.
• OTOther2021Effect of asymmetrical buttock pressure on forces exerted in buttock movement when using a reclining chair.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe overall sliding force on the buttocks during reclining did not change with a 2 cm cushion height difference. When pressure was asymmetrical, the high-pressure side had higher sliding force than the low-pressure side.
• OTSurvey2021Evaluating the self-determination continuum towards seeking support among people with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRAdults with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities mostly sought support because it helped them or fit their values. Finding support personally useful was linked to higher life satisfaction; feeling no motivation was linked to lower life satisfaction.
• OTSLPCohort2021Early Pandemic Experiences of Autistic Adults: Predictors of Psychological Distress.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchNearly half of autistic adults reported moderate-to-severe psychological distress early in the pandemic. Distress levels remained stable over two months despite worsening life disruptions. Frequent hopefulness predicted lower distress and greater resilience, suggesting emotional supports should target hope.
• PTOTSurvey2021Smartphone addiction and its association with upper body musculoskeletal symptoms among university students classified by age and gender.Journal of physical therapy scienceUniversity students classified as addicted to their smartphones were far more likely to report neck and shoulder pain than those who were not. This association held even after adjusting for age and gender, with female students and those over 20 also showing higher rates of symptoms.
• PTOTCohort2021Clinical validation of kinematic assessments of post-stroke upper limb movements with a multi-joint arm exoskeleton.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationExoskeleton-based kinematic assessment accurately predicted motor impairment in severely impaired stroke patients. Shoulder internal/external rotation and grip pressure were the strongest predictors. This method took 6 minutes, compared to 30 minutes for the clinical Fugl-Meyer Assessment.
• OTSLPCohort2021Understanding Stability and Change in Perceived Social Support in Parents of Autistic Children and Adolescents.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPerceived social support, parent stress, and child behavior problems remained stable over one year. Higher support predicted lower stress and fewer behavior problems at 6 months, but stress and behavior did not predict later support. Interventions targeting support may help, but stability suggests early access is key.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021Exploring an e-learning community's response to the language and terminology use in autism from two massive open online courses on autism education and technology use.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceLearners in autism education courses found no single preferred term. Self-advocates and families mostly chose 'autistic', while professionals varied. All groups agreed the key rule is to ask the individual what they prefer and respect their choice over any standard terminology.