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 82 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPOther2021Customized interventions improved employees' experience of recovery during the workday.Work (Reading, Mass.)Employees in six primary care centres who chose their own recovery activities reported feeling more recovered during the workday after a year. Reflection with colleagues was the strongest factor linked to this improvement. The specific activity responsible cannot be identified.
• OTOther2021Using health and safety monitoring routines to enhance sustainable employability.Work (Reading, Mass.)Work-family conflict was the strongest predictor of lower sustainable employability. High quantitative and emotional demands predicted stress, while supervisor support and predictability protected against it. The study links workplace factors to outcomes but does not test an intervention.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Accuracy of body mass index in categorizing weight status in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineBody mass index misclassified weight status in 61% of children with disabilities compared to 11% of typically developing peers. For wheelchair users, BMI failed to identify obesity in every case assessed, underestimating weight status by up to three categories.
• PTOTOther2021Incidence of spinal instability among patients with discogenic low back pain with different backgrounds.Journal of physical therapy scienceMore than half of patients with discogenic low back pain showed spinal instability on X-ray. This instability was not linked to age, gender, sports activity, or occupation. These findings describe who has instability but do not prove that instability causes pain or that specific treatments work.
• PTOTSurvey2021Measuring psychological flexibility and cognitive defusion in individuals with acquired brain injury.Brain injuryDutch questionnaires for acquired brain injury in 73 adults gave consistent scores and showed links with mood, valued living and being stuck in thoughts. They may help therapists monitor injury-related thoughts and being stuck in thoughts during ACT, not prove ACT works.
• OTProtocol2021Mapping the occupational therapy workforce research worldwide: Study protocol for a scoping review.Work (Reading, Mass.)This paper is a protocol for a scoping review, not a completed study. It describes the plan to map global occupational therapy workforce research. No results, findings, or evidence about workforce issues or patient care are reported yet.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Inspiratory muscle training in children and adolescents living with neuromuscular diseases: A pre-experimental study.The South African journal of physiotherapyEight children with neuromuscular disease completed six weeks of inspiratory muscle training without adverse events. Inspiratory strength and flow improved. Lung volumes and cough ability did not change, and quality of life scores did not improve significantly.
• PTOTSurvey2021Site, frequency, and duration of pain in young children with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicinePain frequency and duration did not differ by child sex, lesion level, spina bifida type, or walking status. Still, 69 of 101 caregivers reported their child complained of pain, often in the head, abdomen, or lower body.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Association between race and in-hospital outcomes in children with spina bifida following inpatient urologic surgery.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn children with spina bifida undergoing urologic surgery, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with longer hospital stays and higher costs compared to White patients. There was no difference in in-hospital complications between White, Black, or Hispanic groups.
• OTRCT2021Mindfulness meditation training in an occupational setting: Effects of a 12-weeks mindfulness-based intervention on wellbeing.Work (Reading, Mass.)Distress and anxiety did not show clear improvement after 12 weekly meditation classes, but employees reported less perceived stress, higher wellbeing, self-compassion, and body awareness.
• OTProtocol2021A social-healthcare pathway to facilitate return to work of cancer survivors in Italy: The UNAMANO project.Work (Reading, Mass.)This paper describes how a new Italian support pathway for cancer survivors returning to work was designed. It outlines the roles of occupational therapists and the types of help offered, but reports no results on whether the pathway helps patients return to work.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Reliability and Validity of the Functional Movement Screen™ with a Modified Scoring System for Young Adults with Low Back Pain.International journal of sports physical therapyA modified Functional Movement Screen scoring system, where a zero is given only for increased pain rather than any pain, showed excellent reliability in young adults with low back pain. It reliably distinguished those with pain from asymptomatic peers, supporting its use for assessing movement quality.
• OTCohort2021Knowledge of Infant Development and Parent Well-Being: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Toddlers.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPKnowing more about child development did not make parents less stressed or healthier. Across 299 families, caregiver knowledge showed no link to mental health, stress, or general health. Do not assume boosting developmental knowledge will improve parent well-being.
• OTOther2021A possible revival of population-representing digital human manikins in static work situations - exemplified through an evaluation of a prototype console for robotic surgery.Work (Reading, Mass.)This paper is not clinical research. It evaluates a digital human modelling tool for ergonomics in surgical console design. It reports no patient outcomes or therapeutic interventions, so there is nothing here to change clinical practice.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Community participation in youth with craniofacial microsomia.Disability and rehabilitationYouth with craniofacial microsomia participated less frequently and were less involved in community activities than peers without the condition who did not receive services. Caregivers of youth with craniofacial microsomia desired change in more activities. No significant differences were found when compared to peers who did receive services.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Non-invasive brain stimulation in Stroke patients (NIBS): A prospective randomized open blinded end-point (PROBE) feasibility trial using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in post-stroke hemispatial neglect.Neuropsychological rehabilitationA trial of brain stimulation and rod-balancing for post-stroke neglect failed to recruit enough patients. Only 24 were randomized instead of the planned 60, so no statistical conclusions about treatment effectiveness could be drawn.
• PTOTOther2021Profile of social self-management practices in daily life with Parkinson's disease is associated with symptom severity and health quality of life.Disability and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's disease had seven social self-management profiles. More engagement in home and community activities tracked with less severe symptoms and better quality of life; support engagement did not clearly explain outcomes.
• PTOTCase Series2021Exploratory analysis of a developmentally progressive modified ride-on car intervention for young children with Down syndrome.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyAll eight toddlers with Down syndrome learned to drive modified ride-on cars independently. Five used a sit-to-stand mode to practice walking. The study suggests this is feasible and safe, but lacks a control group, so it cannot prove the cars accelerated motor development.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Reliability, responsiveness, and validity of handheld dynamometry for assessing quadriceps strength in total knee arthroplasty.Disability and rehabilitationHandheld dynamometry is a reliable and responsive way to track quadriceps strength in total knee replacement patients, but its readings are not interchangeable with lab equipment. Use it to monitor progress over time, not to compare scores against electromechanical dynamometry results.
• OTCohort2021Longitudinal change in parent postsecondary expectations for youth with disabilities.Disability and rehabilitationParent expectations for youth with disabilities were moderately stable over two years, but shifts were associated with later independence. Negative shifts consistently linked to less independent outcomes; positive shifts were inconsistent and sometimes linked to less independent living.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Sustained Attention and Working Memory Predict the Number of Days on Health-Related Benefits in the Year Following Occupational Rehabilitation.Journal of occupational rehabilitationFor patients on long-term benefits, better sustained attention and working memory at the start of rehab predicted fewer days on benefits one year later. Attention improvement during rehab also predicted fewer benefit days in this group.
• PTOTOther2022Evaluation of rolling resistance in manual wheelchair wheels and casters using drum-based testing.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyPneumatic wheelchair tires had lower rolling resistance than airless inserts, solid polyurethane, and knobby tires. Toe misalignment, low tire pressure, carpet, and eight-inch casters raised resistance.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Visualization of user interactions with a pressure mapping mobile application for wheelchair users at risk for pressure injuries.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNASix wheelchair users with spinal cord injury used a pressure mapping app for seven days. Most rarely indicated they completed prompted weight shifts, suggesting the live pressure map was more useful than the reminders. Users adjusted settings to reduce alerts after the first day.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Digitally Assisted Versus Conventional Home-Based Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationDigital home rehab with motion trackers and 13 therapist visits matched conventional rehab with 30 visits on shoulder function at 12 weeks. Both groups improved clinically, but no significant difference was found. The study stopped early due to the pandemic, leaving it underpowered.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Examining social determinants in use of assistive technology for race/ethnic groups of older adults.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyOlder adults with activity limitations had over seven times the odds of using assistive technology. Black older adults had higher odds of use than Whites, while Asians had lower odds. Health insurance increased use for Whites and Hispanics, but having a personal doctor was the key factor for Black patients.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Evaluating person-centered factors associated with brain-computer interface access to a commercial augmentative and alternative communication paradigm.Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNAFour people with ALS tried a brain-computer interface to spell on a standard AAC keyboard. Two achieved accuracy matching healthy controls, but performance varied widely and no one reached the threshold for free spelling.
• PTOTCohort2022The effect of botulinum toxin-A on neural and non-neural components of wrist hyper-resistance in adults with stroke or cerebral palsy.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationBotulinum toxin reduced the neural component of wrist stiffness in adults with stroke or cerebral palsy, but did not change non-neural tissue stiffness. Clinical function scores showed minimal improvement, and the study lacked a control group.
• PTOTCohort2021Long-Term Observational Results from the ASPIRE Study: OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment for Adult Lower Limb Spasticity.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn real-world practice, botulinum toxin injections for lower limb spasticity improved walking, dressing, and pain over two years, with high satisfaction. However, nearly 40% of patients dropped out, and pain data relied on a minority of responses, so this describes typical care rather than proof of efficacy.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Menstrual Irregularity, Hormonal Contraceptive Use, and Bone Stress Injuries in Collegiate Female Athletes in the United States.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMost female collegiate athletes use hormonal contraceptives, often to mask irregular periods rather than treat underlying energy deficits. Injectable contraceptives were associated with higher odds of stress fractures compared to oral pills, while past menstrual irregularity alone showed no such link.
• PTOTCohort2021The Course of Physical Capacity in Wheelchair Users During Training for the HandbikeBattle and at 1-Yr Follow-up.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationHandbikeBattle training raised physical capacity, and gains held at 1 year for the whole group. However, capacity dropped significantly in those who did not compete again, while it remained stable or slightly improved in those who did. Having a future event goal appeared key to maintaining fitness.
• PTOTRCT2021Cardiometabolic Effects of High-Intensity Hybrid Functional Electrical Stimulation Exercise after Spinal Cord Injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSix months of high-intensity FES rowing improved aerobic capacity in people with spinal cord injury but did not reduce the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease. BMI increased slightly, and only one participant met the recommended exercise frequency. This intervention alone did not change metabolic health outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021A Systematic Search and Review of Questionnaires Measuring Individual psychosocial Factors Predicting Return to Work After Musculoskeletal and Common Mental Disorders.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThree psychosocial factors predict return to work after musculoskeletal or mental disorders. Self-efficacy is a strong predictor for both. Expectations predict well for musculoskeletal issues, while work ability is less reliable for mental disorders. Several validated questionnaires exist to measure these factors.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Employment After Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Among Women in the Sister and the Two Sister Studies.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost breast cancer survivors kept their jobs, but those with neuropathy affecting work or poor general health were much more likely to lose employment. Lymphedema was not a significant predictor. Survivors often worked fewer hours or feared losing insurance rather than quitting.
• PTOTCohort2021Relationships among classifications of impairment and measures of ambulatory function for children with spina bifida.Disability and rehabilitationFor children with spina bifida, classifications based on braces, devices, and home or community mobility tracked daily steps better than x-ray lesion level. Functional classification may be more useful than anatomic level alone.
• OTSurvey2021Company Characteristics, Disability Inclusion Practices, and Employment of People with Disabilities in the Post COVID-19 Job Economy: A Cross Sectional Survey Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEmployers reporting higher disability inclusion scores had more workers with self-identified disabilities. Large companies, Fortune 500 companies, and Federal contractors reported higher inclusion and employment rates than smaller, non-Fortune 500, or non-Federal-contractor companies.
• OTCohort2021Effort-Reward Imbalance at Work and Overcommitment in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI): Associations with Return to Work 6 Months After AMI.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWork stress before an AMI did not show a clear link to returning to work at 6 months once other factors were considered. Low physical and mental quality of life was linked to not returning.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Psychometric analysis of the behavioral assessment screening tool (BAST) in adults with stroke.Topics in stroke rehabilitationThe BAST screening tool showed good reliability for mood, fatigue, and executive function in adults with stroke. It separated stroke survivors from healthy controls on these subscales, but failed for impulsivity and substance abuse. The study included very few stroke patients.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Emotion recognition impairments and social well-being following right-hemisphere stroke.Neuropsychological rehabilitationChronic right-hemisphere stroke patients with poorer emotion recognition reported losing more social activities. This link held even after accounting for stroke severity and physical limitations. Screening for emotion recognition deficits may help identify patients at risk of social isolation.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2022The Value of High Intensity Locomotor Training Applied to Patients With Acute-Onset Neurologic Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationHigh-intensity walking training improves cardiovascular capacity and walking endurance in stroke and spinal cord injury patients, often without adverse events. Therapists can use step counts or perceived exertion to guide intensity when heart rate monitoring is unavailable, though achieving high intensities remains difficult for severely impaired patients.
• OTSLPCase Report2022HD-tDCS as a neurorehabilitation technique for a case of post-anoxic leukoencephalopathy.Neuropsychological rehabilitationA single patient with rare brain damage from oxygen deprivation showed improved memory, fluency, and daily function after 29 sessions of brain stimulation. However, these cognitive gains vanished ten weeks after treatment stopped, suggesting any benefit is temporary without ongoing sessions.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Challenges in Measuring Applied Cognition: Measurement Properties and Equivalence of the Functional Assessment in Acute Care Multidimensional Computerized Adaptive Test (FAMCAT) Applied Cognition Item Bank.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMany items in this hospitalized patient cognition test showed bias for age, sex, or education. Items on reading long books or using smartphones were harder for older or less educated people, regardless of actual cognitive ability. Six items were deleted or restricted to improve the test's fairness.
• PTOTSurvey2022Individual and cumulative health afflictions are associated with greater impairment in physical and mental function in former professional American style football players.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFormer NFL players with more self-reported health conditions reported worse physical and mental function. Chronic pain had the strongest association; sleep apnea, cardiometabolic disease, and neurocognitive impairment were also associated with impairment.
• PTOTCohort2021Risk Factors for the Development of Shoulder Pain in Elite Sled Hockey Players.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation70.5% of elite sled hockey players reported shoulder pain in the past month. Heavier weight and more years of manual wheelchair use were linked to pain. The study cannot show cause.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Systematic Review of Clinical Guidelines Related to Care of Individuals With Cerebral Palsy as Part of the World Health Organization Efforts to Develop a Global Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationExisting cerebral palsy guidelines focus heavily on body functions and spasticity, with few recommendations for activity and participation. Therapists should expect limited guidance on physical and occupational therapy interventions, noting that evidence for improving daily function often lags behind medical management.
• PTOTCohort2021Recovery Courses of Patients Who Return to Work by 3, 6 or 12 Months After Total Knee Arthroplasty.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPatients who returned to work by 3 months after knee replacement had significantly less knee pain and stiffness than those who returned later. Late returners were held back by persistent knee symptoms, not by mental health issues or social factors.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021The Impact of Work Loss on Mental and Physical Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Baseline Findings from a Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationLosing work during the pandemic was linked to much higher rates of distress and poor health. People with less money or fewer social connections suffered the most. Continued work seemed to protect mental health even for those with low social interaction.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021Getting the Message Right: Evidence-Based Insights to Improve Organizational Return-to-Work Communication Practices.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers felt more comfortable sharing health details with union reps than with supervisors or disability managers. Stakeholders reported that pairing practical information with emotional support and tailoring the message to the worker's specific situation helped keep return-to-work plans on track.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Exploring the Factors that Influence Workforce Participation for People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Discrete Choice Experiment.Journal of occupational rehabilitationFor people with MS, the impact of work on other life aspects and supportive workplace culture were the strongest drivers of job preference. Physical workplace alterations were less important overall, though their value varied significantly by job type and MS course.
• OTCohort2021The Return-to-Work Self-efficacy Questionnaire (RTW-SE): A Validation Study of Predictive Abilities and Cut-off Values for Patients on Sick Leave Due to Anxiety or Depression.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPost-treatment scores on a return-to-work self-efficacy questionnaire separated patients working fully from those on sick leave. Scores of 4.6 or higher predicted full return at 3, 6 and 12 months.
• PTOTRCT2021Two-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial of Inpatient Multimodal Occupational Rehabilitation Vs Outpatient Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Sick Listed Workers with Musculoskeletal or Common Mental Disorders.Journal of occupational rehabilitationInpatient multimodal rehabilitation led to faster and more frequent return to work over two years compared to outpatient therapy. However, the reduction in total sick leave days did not reach statistical significance. The intensive inpatient program showed clear benefits for work participation.