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 87 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTQualitative2022Patients' Experiences of Self-Administered Electrotherapy for Spasticity in Stroke and Cerebral Palsy: A Qualitative Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients reported the self-administered electrotherapy suit reduced spasticity and pain, but many found it impossible to put on alone due to tight fits and difficult zips. The need for assistance contradicted the goal of home independence, though some successfully reduced medication use.
• PTOTOther2022Correlation and Crosswalks Between Patient-Reported Functional Outcomes and PROMIS Physical Function Among Medically Ill Patients.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationFAMCAT Daily Activity scores can be converted to PROMIS Physical Function scores for group comparisons. Basic Mobility and Applied Cognition scales did not meet criteria for linking. Clinicians cannot directly swap individual patient scores between these specific FAMCAT domains and PROMIS.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2021A Meta-analysis of Outcome Studies of Autistic Adults: Quantifying Effect Size, Quality, and Meta-regression.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAbout half of autistic adults have poor outcomes in employment, independence, and relationships. Higher adult IQ predicted fewer poor outcomes, but did not significantly predict good or fair outcomes. Samples were often unrepresentative, and outcome definitions varied widely.
• OTCohort2021The Role of Decision-Making in Psychological Wellbeing and Risky Behaviours in Autistic Adolescents Without ADHD: Longitudinal Evidence from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAfter accounting for background differences, autistic adolescents' decision quality was similar to peers, but they took longer to decide. Only in autistic adolescents, longer deciding was linked with greater happiness, higher self-esteem, and fewer antisocial behaviours.
• PTOTPilot2021Therapeutic Instrumental Music Training and Motor Imagery in Post-Stroke Upper-Extremity Rehabilitation: A Randomized-Controlled Pilot Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThirty adults with chronic stroke improved upper-limb function after 3 weeks of music-based training, whether they practiced physically or added motor imagery. Adding an external rhythm cue during imagery did not help and may have hindered gains compared with physical practice alone.
• OTSLPCohort2021Individual and Environmental Factors Affecting Adaptive Behavior of Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Role of Parents' Socio-cultural Level.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers' education linked to better communication, and parents' community engagement linked to better daily living skills in toddlers with autism. These environmental factors mattered alongside the child's age and general development, suggesting family context is relevant for early intervention planning.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Understanding Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Autism-Related Service Use Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBlack, Asian, and Native American children with autism received fewer outpatient services than white children, but more school-based services. This suggests families may be substituting school therapy for medical care, potentially hiding access barriers in the outpatient setting.
• OTSLPMeta-Analysis2021IQ and Internalising Symptoms in Adolescents with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with ASD and lower IQs reported significantly more anxiety, but parents did not. Higher IQs were linked to more depression. Clinicians must ask adolescents directly about anxiety rather than relying on parent reports, especially for those with lower cognitive abilities.
• PTOTRCT2021Efficacy of a technology-based client-centred training system in neurological rehabilitation: a randomised controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding i-ACT to usual therapy gave no clear added functional benefit in 45 people with central nervous system deficits. Both groups improved. The self-reported ability score favoured i-ACT during training, then usual therapy later.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Patient, carer, and staff perceptions of robotics in motor rehabilitation: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPatients and therapists found robotic motor rehabilitation useful and motivating, but set-up, size, weight, technical faults, cost and need for help were major barriers. Human support and tailored devices mattered.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Accuracy and Reliability of Single-Camera Measurements of Ankle Clonus and Quadriceps Hyperreflexia.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA smartphone camera system with green stickers measured ankle and knee reflex angles as accurately as expensive motion capture sensors. Students and experienced therapists got similar results, meaning this cheap, portable method can reliably track spasticity changes in clinic.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Physiotherapy using a free-standing robotic exoskeleton for patients with spinal cord injury: a feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThree patients with severe spinal cord injury completed 12 weeks of free-standing exoskeleton therapy. No adverse events occurred, and all wanted to continue. Functional outcomes were inconsistent: one improved, one declined, and one showed no change on the primary measure.
• PTOTOther2022Safety and efficacy of repeat long-term incobotulinumtoxinA treatment for lower limb or combined upper/lower limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineRepeat incobotulinumtoxinA injections for lower limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy were well-tolerated over four to six cycles. Muscle tone improved consistently, and gross motor scores rose by 4.8 points at the final visit. Most adverse events were mild respiratory infections.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Relationship Between Sensibility Tests and Functional Outcomes in Patients With Traumatic Upper Limb Nerve Injuries: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSemmes-Weinstein monofilament and Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test scores consistently tracked with hand function, quality of life, and return-to-work status. Two-point discrimination results were inconsistent, so improved scores on that test do not reliably predict better daily function.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Shared Features or Co-occurrence? Evaluating Symptoms of Developmental Coordination Disorder in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost children with autism in this study showed motor difficulties severe enough to meet the criteria for Developmental Coordination Disorder. Their performance on standardized movement tests was no different from children diagnosed with DCD. This suggests motor issues are common in autism and may be overlooked if clinicians only look for social or communication deficits.
• PTOTOther2021Abnormal Gait Movements Prior to a Near Fall in Individuals After Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn the single step before a near fall, stroke patients slowed down, took longer to complete the step, and shifted their body weight side-to-side more than usual. Therapists should watch for these specific changes in gait to anticipate instability.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Brief Report: Impact of COVID-19 on Individuals with ASD and Their Caregivers: A Perspective from the SPARK Cohort.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers reported severe disruptions to speech, OT, and ABA therapy, with 64% saying their child's symptoms worsened. Remote services were rarely used and perceived as beneficial by fewer than half, except for mental health care. Parents of preschoolers reported the highest stress levels.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Autism in Australia: Community Knowledge and Autistic People's Experiences.Journal of autism and developmental disordersGeneral knowledge of autism is high, but understanding of specific impacts is low. Families report community awareness does not extend to sensory needs or communication differences. Support services drop significantly as autistic people age, leaving adults largely unsupported.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Human-machine-human interaction in motor control and rehabilitation: a review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPhysical interaction with a skilled partner improved task performance, but evidence for motor learning was inconsistent. Non-physical channels like audio boosted motivation. Partner preference mattered: some liked competition, others collaboration. Most studies were short-term and lab-based.
• PTOTSLPOther2021A Distinct Three-Factor Structure of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in an Epidemiologically Sound Sample of Preschool-Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPreschoolers with autism showed three distinct behavior clusters: repetitive sensorimotor, insistence on sameness, and stereotyped speech. Speech patterns linked to higher language skills, while sensorimotor behaviors linked to lower adaptive functioning. This structure was unclear in non-autism children.
• PTOTSLPCohortExamining the Association Between Childhood Trauma, Brain Injury, and Neurobehavioral Symptoms Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildhood trauma was associated with higher emotional and somatic symptoms in intimate partner violence survivors, regardless of brain injury. Brain injury severity linked to somatic symptoms overall, and cognitive symptoms only in those with injury. PTSD partially mediated the childhood trauma link.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Systematic Review of the Importance of Hip Muscle Strength, Activation, and Structure in Balance and Mobility Tasks.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStronger hip abductors generally mean better balance and mobility in young and older adults, but not always in middle-aged groups. Higher fat inside the gluteus medius muscle is linked to falls in older adults. Activation timing varies by age and task.
• PTOTOther2022Using Machine Learning to Develop a Short-Form Measure Assessing 5 Functions in Patients With Stroke.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationA new 15-item stroke assessment tracks five functions in about 10 minutes. It scores nearly identical to full batteries and detects recovery changes as well. Therapists can use it for quick discharge checks without losing the clinical detail of longer tests.
• PTOTPilot2022Feasibility of a virtual reality-based exercise intervention and low-cost motion tracking method for estimation of motor proficiency in youth with autism spectrum disorder.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAll 10 children with autism completed the two-week VR game with motion capture without serious adverse events, but motor and cognitive flexibility scores did not improve significantly.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022Cerebellar Contributions to Motor and Cognitive Control in Multiple Sclerosis✰✰✰.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn people with MS, larger cerebellar volume and better microstructural integrity were linked to faster walking, better balance, and quicker processing speed. These brain measures tracked with functional deficits, suggesting cerebellar health supports both motor and cognitive tasks.
• PTOTCase Report2022Occupational and Physical Therapy Strategies for the Rehabilitation of COVID-19-Related Guillain-Barré Syndrome in the Long-term Acute Care Hospital Setting: Case Report.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOne man with COVID-19-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome regained the ability to walk and dress himself after intensive physical and occupational therapy. He also recovered vision and upper limb strength despite a concurrent leg fracture that forced him to stay non-weight-bearing for six weeks.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022A process evaluation of patient care needs using the Post-Stroke Checklist: A prospective study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineUsing a 13-item checklist in stroke rehab helped clinicians spot persistent issues like pain and incontinence. Most participants improved functionally by discharge, but many still reported problems three months later, highlighting the need for continued community follow-up.
• PTOTOther2021Construct Validity and Responsiveness of the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity in Adults Living With HIV.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThe RAPA questionnaire accurately measures physical activity levels in adults with HIV at a single point in time. However, it is not sensitive enough to reliably detect improvements in activity following an exercise intervention, so it should not be used alone to track progress.
• OTSLPOther2021Detecting Feeding Problems in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Dutch Montreal Children’s Hospital Feeding Scale reliably detects feeding problems in children with autism, who score higher than typical peers on almost all items. The exception is mealtime duration, where children with autism often eat faster, so this item should be excluded from the total score.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Real-World Experiences in Autistic Adult Diagnostic Services and Post-diagnostic Support and Alignment with Services Guidelines: Results from the ASDEU Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost autistic adults experienced recommended diagnostic assessments, but very few received post-diagnostic support. Information on how to get a diagnosis was hard to find or understand for many. A large gap exists between what professionals believe they provide and what patients actually receive.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Sex Differences in Co-occurring Conditions Among Autistic Children and Youth in Florida: A Retrospective Cohort Study (2012-2019).Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 83,500 autistic children, girls had significantly higher odds of anxiety, mood disorders, intellectual disability, epilepsy, sleep, and GI issues than boys. Boys had higher odds of ADHD. This suggests clinicians should screen girls more aggressively for these co-occurring conditions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Patient Outcomes and Lessons Learned From Treating Patients With Severe COVID-19 at a Long-term Acute Care Hospital: Single-Center Retrospective Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients with severe COVID-19 admitted to a long-term acute care hospital improved in walking distance, independence, swallowing, voicing, and cognition during stay. They showed larger gains in walking and independence than a historical group. This was observational, not a tested intervention.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Effect of COVID-19 stress on physical function performance and socioenvironmental factors of people with disabilities in Korea.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationHigher stress during the pandemic was linked to more depression, greater dependence on others for daily tasks, and lower social participation. Better social attitudes, family support, and accessible services were associated with improved independence and participation, regardless of stress levels.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Addressing the Shadow Pandemic: COVID-19 Related Impacts, Barriers, Needs, and Priorities to Health Care and Support for Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStakeholders reported increased IPV severity and access barriers during COVID-19. They identified urgent needs for cross-sector provider education on IPV-TBI signs, formalized peer support, and navigators to help survivors with brain injuries access care.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Which Factors Influence Teacher Report of Adaptive Functioning in Autistic Children?Journal of autism and developmental disordersTeachers reported very low adaptive functioning in autistic children. Scores dropped as age and parent-reported autism severity increased. Higher nonverbal ability and expressive language predicted better scores. Direct autism assessment did not predict adaptive functioning, except for motor skills.
• PTOTSurvey2022The impact of COVID-19 on the lifestyles of adolescents with cerebral palsy in the Southeast United States.Disability and health journalMost adolescents with cerebral palsy reported less exercise and less contact with friends and family during the pandemic. Many also had low mood or loss of interest. These are self-reported experiences, not evidence that any treatment worked.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Team-based rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury: a qualitative synthesis of evidence of experiences of the rehabilitation process.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with traumatic brain injury described team-based rehabilitation as poorly coordinated and not tailored enough, especially when moving from hospital to home and after formal services ended. They said close persons and timely, individual support mattered.
• PTOTRCT2022Peripheral magnetic theta burst stimulation to muscles can effectively reduce spasticity: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationApplying intermittent theta burst stimulation to spastic muscles for 8 sessions reduced muscle tone significantly more than sham. The active group saw a mean percent reduction in spasticity of 0.27 compared to 0.09 in the sham group. This suggests a potential alternative to Botulinum toxin.
• OTOther2022Implications of Employment Changes Caused by COVID-19 on Mental Health and Work-Related Psychological Need Satisfaction of Autistic Employees: A Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic employees who kept working in person showed no rise in distress. Those forced to work from home reported higher emotional distress and lower feelings of competence and autonomy, despite valuing sensory control. Losing employment significantly increased distress.
• OTSLPOther2022Brief Report: Role of Parent-Reported Executive Functioning and Anxiety in Insistence on Sameness in Individuals with Germline PTEN Mutations.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParent-reported executive function difficulties, particularly with shifting attention, and anxiety are strongly linked to insistence on sameness in individuals with PTEN mutations, ASD, and macrocephaly. Set-shifting was the unique independent predictor, suggesting it as a key target for intervention.
• OTOther2021Examining the Effects of Parent-Created and Parent-Implemented Video Prompting to Teach Daily Living Skills to an Adolescent with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor one adolescent with autism, his mother's videos plus escalating prompts helped him complete three daily living tasks independently at home. One week later he used videos less and still completed most steps, but this single case cannot show it works for others.
• OTCohortLongitudinal Analysis of Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms, Probable TBI, and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Veterans.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationVeterans with persistent postconcussion symptoms were more likely to report intimate partner violence perpetration over the next year. Head injury alone was not associated with it after controlling for other risk factors, and symptoms were not associated with violence frequency.
• OTCohortStrangulation as an Acquired Brain Injury in Intimate-Partner Violence and Its Relationship to Cognitive and Psychological Functioning: A Preliminary Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationWomen with a history of strangulation-related loss of consciousness performed worse on memory tests and reported higher PTSD and depression than those without such history. These differences persisted even after accounting for other brain injuries, suggesting specific cognitive and psychological consequences of strangulation.
• OTSLPSurvey2022Health Services Use and Costs in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Germany: Results from a Survey in ASD Outpatient Clinics.Journal of autism and developmental disordersGerman ASD outpatient clinic patients averaged 3287 EUR in yearly health service costs. Occupational therapy was the most used non-doctor service. Higher costs were seen with female sex, lower IQ, and Asperger syndrome.
• PTOTPilot2022Increasing motor cortex activation during grasping via novel robotic mirror hand therapy: a pilot fNIRS study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobotic mirror therapy produced stronger and more balanced brain activation in the motor cortex than standard mirror therapy or passive robotic movement in a small pilot. This suggests the robotic approach may better stimulate neural pathways, but functional recovery was not tested.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Perceptions About the Efficacy and Acceptability of Telephone and Video-Delivered Allied Health Care for Adults With Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional National Survey.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAdults with disability and their carers rated telephone and video allied health care similarly. 74% felt safe, 61% to 67% were happy with privacy, and 56% to 64% believed care was effective. Only 32% to 36% were likely to choose telehealth later.
• PTOTOther2022Accuracy of Heart Rate Measurement by the Fitbit Charge 2 During Wheelchair Activities in People With Spinal Cord Injury: Instrument Validation Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThe Fitbit Charge 2 is too inaccurate to trust for heart rate in people with spinal cord injury. It failed the standard accuracy limit for all activities. Errors were worst in those with high cervical lesions and during strength exercise. Use chest straps instead for clinical decisions.
• OTSLPCohort2022Trajectories of Symptom Severity in Children with Autism: Variability and Turning Points through the Transition to School.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong 187 children with autism followed from diagnosis to age 10, 51 improved continuously and 136 improved then plateaued around age 6. Higher scores on language, cognitive, and adaptive behavior measures were seen in the continuously improving group.
• OTRCT2022A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Daily Living Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with autism who completed a 15-week daily living skills program showed significant improvements in hygiene and self-care compared to a waitlist group. Both groups improved in cooking and laundry over time, suggesting natural development or home practice also helps.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Review of Cognitive Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Performance on Six Subtests on Four Versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism consistently score high on Block Design and low on Coding, regardless of IQ or diagnosis. However, the classic profile of very low verbal scores disappears in higher-IQ children, who instead show strong language skills alongside these specific visual-motor weaknesses.