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 83 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTQualitative2021Beliefs About Return to Work Among Women During/After Long-Term Sick Leave for Common Mental Disorders: A Qualitative Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWomen returning to work after long-term sick leave for mental health disorders felt pressure from all sides. They feared losing competence and financial stress, yet valued work for identity and safety. Support felt conditional, often causing guilt rather than relief.
• PTOTOther2021Treatment Recommendations for Phantom Limb Pain in People with Amputations: An Expert Consensus Delphi Study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationExperts endorsed graded motor imagery, mirror therapy, and functional prostheses for phantom limb pain, but consensus relied mostly on clinical experience rather than strong trial data. Amitriptyline was the only medication agreed upon, despite existing evidence showing it is no more effective than placebo.
• OTSurvey2021Does it matter what your reasons are when deciding to disclose (or not disclose) a disability at work? The association of workers' approach and avoidance goals with perceived positive and negative workplace outcomes.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with disabilities reported positive outcomes from both disclosing and not disclosing, depending on their reasons. Approach goals linked to positive outcomes; avoidance goals linked to negative ones. Workplace support mattered more than the disclosure choice itself.
• PTOTOther2022Intra- and Interrater Reliability of Remote Assessment of Transfers by Wheelchair Users Using the Transfer Assessment Instrument (Version 4.0).Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationRemote video scoring of wheelchair transfers matched in-person ratings for most items. However, remote raters gave higher scores for the quick flight/landing phase, likely because they could replay video. Use caution when comparing remote and in-person scores.
• PTOTRCT2022Effectiveness of Group Wheelchair Maintenance Training for People with Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationGroup training improved wheelchair users' ability to perform maintenance and their actual maintenance behavior, with gains sustained up to one year. Knowledge scores did not improve for manual wheelchair users, and improvements for power wheelchair users faded by one year.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Important-performance analysis to conceptualize goal priorities in community dwelling stroke survivors.Topics in stroke rehabilitationFor stroke survivors living in the community, goals like hand function, driving, balance, memory, and arm strength were consistently prioritized when rated against their current performance. Speech goals did not emerge as a priority for this group, likely because most participants already performed well in this area.
• OTSLPOther2022The impact of prolonged disorders of consciousness on family caregivers' quality of life - A scoping review.Neuropsychological rehabilitationCaregivers of people with prolonged disorders of consciousness face severe practical and emotional burdens, including financial strain, social isolation, and grief without death. Qualitative studies highlight these lived experiences, which quantitative measures often miss, suggesting support must address daily realities, not just mental health symptoms.
• OTCohort2022Identifying Return to Work Self-Efficacy Trajectories in Employees with Mental Health Problems.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEmployees with mental health problems follow six distinct self-efficacy trajectories. Those with anxiety disorders were more likely to experience decreasing confidence and lower return-to-work rates. Younger employees and those with stress-related issues showed increasing confidence. This suggests tailored support is needed rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
• PTOTSurvey2022Factors Influencing Incidence of Wheelchair Repairs and Consequences Among Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOver half of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury needed repairs in six months, and 42% of those experienced adverse consequences like being stranded or missing appointments. Power wheelchair users, those with older chairs, and Black individuals faced significantly higher risks.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Lesion location may attenuate response to strategy training in acute stroke.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationStrategy training helped fewer patients when stroke damaged specific deep brain regions linked to goal-setting. This lesion pattern was rare, found in only 25 of 173 patients. The finding is an association, not proof that location causes the poor response.
• PTOTCohort2022Shoulder pain and ultrasound findings: A comparison study of wheelchair athletes, nonathletic wheelchair users, and nonwheelchair users.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationWheelchair athletes did not have more shoulder pain or ultrasound-detected pathology than nonathletic wheelchair users. Athletes exercised their shoulders more often. Basketball players reported higher pain scores, but the study was too small to confirm this as a risk.
• PTOTRCT2021Physical activity on prescription in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding a written exercise prescription and follow-up appointments to standard advice did not increase physical activity more than advice alone over six months. Both groups improved self-reported activity and symptoms, but accelerometer data showed no change.
• PTOTCohort2021Relationship Between Nursing Home Compare Improvement in Function Quality Measure and Physical Recovery After Hip Replacement.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe average change per 10 days in a nursing home function score rose from 1.00 to 1.06 points after the quality measure was added. Self-care, mobility, and balance also rose, but this study cannot show the measure caused the change.
• OTSystematic Review2021Treatments for sleep disturbances in individuals with acquired brain injury: A systematic review.Clinical rehabilitationCognitive behavioral therapy packages for sleep problems after chronic acquired brain injury improved self-reported sleep in small studies; melatonin, amitriptyline and acupuncture showed limited or short-term benefit.
• PTOTRCT2021The effectiveness of a family-centred intervention after traumatic brain injury: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding an eight-session family intervention to standard outpatient rehabilitation did not improve mental health quality of life, caregiver burden, or family functioning compared to standard care alone. Both groups improved over time, but the family sessions provided no extra benefit.
• PTOTOther2021Measurement Properties of the Full and Brief Version of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire in Persons with Physical Disabilities.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe Dutch Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire is reliable for groups but too noisy for tracking individual patient progress. The full and brief versions do not match closely enough to swap between them. Use one version consistently if you must monitor change, though group-level research remains valid.
• OTCohort2021Inability to Work Fulltime, Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Applicants for Work Disability Benefit.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAmong 30,177 Dutch disability benefit applicants, 39.4% were assessed as unable to work full time. Most of these could work only about 4 hours per day. Higher age, female gender, higher education, and multimorbidity were associated with this limitation, varying by disease group.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021'Somebody stuck me in a bag of sand': Lived experiences of the altered and uncomfortable body after stroke.Clinical rehabilitationStroke survivors described their affected body as feeling 'disappearing', 'reappearing', 'uncontrollable' and 'isolated'. These strange sensations caused physical and psychological discomfort. Patients struggled to describe these experiences to clinicians, often feeling abandoned and unsure if any treatment could help.
• OTCohort2021'Return to Work' Coordinator Model and Work Participation of Employees: A Natural Intervention Study in Finland.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMunicipalities using return-to-work coordinators saw higher sickness absence rates but lower disability retirement risks than those without. The coordinators appeared to keep people in the workforce with temporary leave rather than allowing permanent exits.
• PTOTCohort2022The Influence of Race, Sex, and Social Disadvantage on Self-reported Health in Patients Presenting With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationLiving in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods was linked to worse physical function, pain interference, anxiety, and depression in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Black race was linked only to higher anxiety, and female sex only to lower physical function. These associations were independent of age and opioid use.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022A Worksite Self-management Program for Workers with Chronic Health Conditions Improves Worker Engagement and Retention, but not Workplace Function.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with chronic conditions improved their sense of engagement and reduced thoughts of quitting after a group self-management program. However, the program did not improve their actual ability to perform job tasks or meet physical and time demands.
• PTOTOther2022Knee extensor power predicts six-minute walk test performance in people with transfemoral amputations.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationKnee extensor power strongly predicted walking distance and efficiency in people with transfemoral amputation. Isometric strength correlated with distance but not metabolic cost. Power may be a better target than strength for improving community mobility and reducing walking effort.
• PTOTCohort2022Functional motor improvement during inpatient rehabilitation among older adults with traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationMost older adults with TBI in inpatient rehab made meaningful motor gains: 84.1% improved by at least nine points and 68.6% by 17 points on a 13-to-91 motor independence score. Lowest baseline scores could reach 17-point gains if stay exceeded 10 days.
• PTOTOther2022Changes in Internet Use Over Time Among Individuals with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationInternet use among people with traumatic spinal cord injury rose from 77.7% in 2012 to 88.1% in 2018, and mobile internet use rose from 40.7% to 77.3%, though age, income, education and injury level gaps remained.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Spatial neglect treatment: The brain's spatial-motor Aiming systems.Neuropsychological rehabilitationPatients with 'Aiming' spatial neglect (movement initiation deficits) improved on functional tasks with bromocriptine or prism adaptation. Those with 'Where' deficits (perceptual/attentional) did not. Standard paper-and-pencil tests miss this distinction, potentially hiding treatment responders.
• OTCohort2022Employees Receiving Inpatient Treatment for Common Mental Disorders in Germany: Factors Associated with Time to First and Full Return to Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAfter inpatient treatment for common mental disorders, employees with negative return expectations, longer prior absence, or needing individual support had slower return. Worse leadership was linked to slower full return.
• PTOTRCT2021Using a bimanual lever-driven wheelchair for arm movement practice early after stroke: A pilot, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial.Clinical rehabilitationAdding 30 minutes of daily bimanual lever-wheelchair training did not significantly improve arm recovery compared to standard exercises. The primary outcome showed no difference, though feasibility data suggests it can increase movement volume without increasing pain or tone.
• PTOTCohort2021Associations of Multiple Chronic Conditions With Physical Performance and Falls Among Older Adults With Back Pain: A Longitudinal, Population-based Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with back pain and multiple chronic conditions experienced faster physical decline and higher fall risk over six years. Arthritis was the most consistent predictor of worsening function and falls. Screen for arthritis and multimorbidity to identify patients at highest risk of mobility loss.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Predictors of nasogastric tube removal in patients with stroke and dysphagia.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationA four-item model using admission Barthel score, lip closure, ability to answer simple questions, and pre-stroke independence predicted nasogastric tube removal. A score above the cutoff had 85.45% sensitivity and 73.44% positive predictive value for returning to oral feeding.
• OTSystematic Review2021The Role of the Employer in Supporting Work Participation of Workers with Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review Using an Interdisciplinary Approach.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkers with disabilities were reported to return to work or stay employed more often when employers offered accommodations and supervisors gave support. Company size and sector were inconsistent. These are associations, not proof that one accommodation caused the outcome.
• PTOTRCT2021Boxing vs Sensory Exercise for Parkinson's Disease: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSensory exercise improved Parkinson's motor symptoms and gait, with benefits lasting after the program stopped. Boxing worsened motor scores during the same period. Both groups reported better quality of life, but only sensory exercise showed objective clinical improvement that persisted.
• OTSurvey2021Indicators of poor mental health and stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic, by disability status: A cross-sectional analysis.Disability and health journalIn April and May 2020, US adults with any disability reported more depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, substance use, and stress than adults without disability: 56.8% versus 18.4% had depressive symptoms, and 20.7% versus 4.1% had suicidal thoughts.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Beyond Physical Capacity: Factors Associated With Real-world Walking Activity After Stroke.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke survivors with higher walking speed, balance confidence, cognitive scores, and lower area deprivation walked significantly more daily steps. Those in the highest activity class had the fastest speed, highest confidence, and best cognition. Assessing these factors, not just physical capacity, may help target interventions to increase real-world walking.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Linking AM-PAC Cognition to PROMIS Cognitive Function.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe AM-PAC and PROMIS cognitive tests measure the same underlying ability. A new crosswalk allows clinicians to convert scores between them. This enables tracking of patient progress even when switching from one tool to the other or comparing data across different clinics.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Postconcussion Exercise Volume Associations With Depression, Anxiety, and Dizziness Symptoms, and Postural Stability: Preliminary Findings.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationConcussed patients reporting high exercise volume had lower depression, anxiety, and dizziness scores and faster tandem gait times than those with low volume. Because this was a secondary analysis of a trial, exercise volume was self-reported and not randomized, so causality cannot be inferred.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Functional Gains in Children Receiving Inpatient Rehabilitation After Brain Tumor Resection.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationChildren recovering from brain tumor surgery showed significant functional gains during inpatient rehab and continued improving three months after discharge. Earlier admission and older age predicted better outcomes, but tumor location and neurological risk scores did not add predictive value beyond basic patient characteristics.
• PTOTOther2022Identifying Clinically Relevant Functional Strata to Direct Mobility Preservation Among Patients Hospitalized With Medical Conditions.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationExperts established four mobility levels and one cognition flag for the FAMCAT tool to guide hospital triage. The calibration sample was mostly high-functioning, with no patients scoring in the lowest mobility strata. These cut-points help direct mobility preservation programs.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Cause of death trends among adults with and without cerebral palsy in the United States, 2013-2017.Annals of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdults with cerebral palsy die 24 years younger than peers. They are far more likely to die from respiratory causes and choking, but less likely to die from heart disease and cancer. Clinicians must monitor respiratory health and swallowing safety throughout adulthood.
• PTOTCohort2022Efficacy of a Remote Train-the-Trainer Model for Wheelchair Skills Training Administered by Clinicians: A Cohort Study With Pre- vs Posttraining Comparisons.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationRemote train-the-trainer methods significantly improved clinician confidence in assessing and teaching wheelchair skills. Trainees who received in-person coaching from these newly trained clinicians showed significant gains in both wheelchair skill capacity and confidence, demonstrating that this model effectively transmits clinical teaching skills.
• OTSurvey2022Developing a Multilevel Scale to Assess Retention of Workers with Disabilities.Journal of occupational rehabilitationIn 1032 employers, concerns about keeping workers with disabilities averaged 3.87 for direct work issues and 2.85 for indirect social issues on a 1-to-5 scale.
• PTOTRCT2022Effectiveness of a Web-Based Direct-to-User Transfer Training Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe web-based transfer training did not clearly beat the waitlist group's change. Transfer quality improved after training plus repeated self-assessments and stayed higher at 1 month.
• OTCohort2021Returning to the Workplace During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Concerns of Australian Workers.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost employed Australian workers reported concerns about returning to the workplace. Infection risk was the most common worry, but over half also feared impacts on work and home life. Workers with psychological distress, financial stress, or working from home reported more concerns.
• PTOTQualitative2021Facilitators for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic: Online qualitative interviews comparing youth with and without disabilities.Disability and health journalYouth with and without disabilities described social support, money, keeping busy, and work-life balance as things that helped them cope during the pandemic. Youth with disabilities more often relied on family and government supports, while not commuting made remote work and school especially helpful.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health, financial worries, and perceived organizational support among people living with disabilities in Canada.Disability and health journalWorkers with combined physical and mental disabilities reported the most concern about health and finances and the least support. However, these differences disappeared once job stress and unmet accommodation needs were considered. Employment conditions, not just disability status, drive these perceptions.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021Changes in life experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities in the COVID-19 pandemics in South Korea.Disability and health journalAdults with intellectual disabilities described losing their daily structure when community centers closed, leading to irregular sleep, poor eating, and isolation. They struggled to connect with friends remotely but found comfort in new solitary hobbies like feeding stray cats or learning piano.
• OTCohort2021The COVID-19 pandemic and quality of life outcomes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Disability and health journalPeople with intellectual and developmental disabilities were less likely to feel secure, interact with their community, or have intimate relationships in 2020 compared to 2019. However, they were more likely to choose their personal goals.
• PTOTPilot2021Objectively-assessed physical activity and self-reported activity pacing in adults with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study.Clinical rehabilitationPeople with multiple sclerosis who reported using more activity pacing had lower overall physical activity levels and less daily fluctuation in their activity. This contradicts the hypothesis that pacing increases activity, suggesting it may currently function as a way to limit movement due to fatigue.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Perceived Injustice After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationPerceived injustice levels were low and similar in mild brain injury and ankle fracture groups. However, feeling that the injury was unfair or permanent correlated strongly with more postconcussion, depressive, and stress symptoms in the brain injury group.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Virtual health care for adult patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review.Disability and health journalVirtual care can work for adults with intellectual disabilities, but success depends on having a support person present, good internet, and a quiet space. Phone visits were often preferred over video by patients, while many found virtual care rushed or impersonal during the pandemic.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Practical guidance on use of TEARS-Q to diagnose post-stroke emotionalism.Clinical rehabilitationA self-report questionnaire for post-stroke emotionalism uses three score ranges to guide care. Scores of 0-1 rule out the condition, 6-16 confirm it, and 2-5 require a full interview. This triage reduced the need for detailed assessment to just 9% of the sample.