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 88 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSystematic Review2022Quantifying Quality of Reaching Movements Longitudinally Post-Stroke: A Systematic Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairNo single movement metric reliably tracks true neurological recovery after stroke. Kinematic measures often improve while underlying weakness and loss of dexterity persist, meaning patients may regain function through compensation rather than restitution.
• OTCohort2022Application of Second-Order Growth Mixture Modeling to Longitudinal Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome Research: 15-Year Trajectories of Life Satisfaction in Adolescents and Young Adults as an Example.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost adolescents and young adults with TBI stayed high in life satisfaction over 15 years. Some stayed low, and others changed over time. Baseline employment, sex, race and cognitive independence were linked to these groups.
• OTSLPPilot2022Identifying Predictors of Momentary Negative Affect and Depression Severity in Adolescents with Autism: An Exploratory Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 17 autistic boys, poor social interaction quality predicted higher momentary negative affect. Early puberty showed more people boosted positive mood, while late puberty showed only interaction quality mattered. Emotional instability predicted parent-reported depression, but affect autocorrelation did not.
• PTOTOther2022Deep learning approach to estimate foot pressure distribution in walking with application for a cost-effective insole system.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA deep learning model estimated full-foot pressure from just nine sensors in young and older adults walking comfortably. It outperformed a fuzzy logic model and worked with a low-cost insole prototype, though accuracy was lower for older adults.
• OTOther2022Mental Health and Health Behaviour Changes for Mothers of Children with a Disability: Effectiveness of a Health and Wellbeing Workshop.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of children with disabilities reported lower depression, anxiety, and stress scores six weeks after attending a one-day workshop. They also felt more empowered and reported better wellbeing for themselves and their children, though no changes were seen in family cohesion or community access.
• OTOther2022Received Social Support Scale for Persons with Serious Mental Illness: Preliminary scale development and validation study.Rehabilitation psychologyA new questionnaire asked adults with serious mental illness how often they received day-to-day, mental-health, and appointment support. It fit three separate support areas, but three-week stability and links to other measures were modest.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021The prevalence, characteristics, and psychiatric correlates of traumatic brain injury in incarcerated individuals: an examination in two independent samples.Brain injuryTraumatic brain injury affects half of incarcerated men and women, often from assault or car accidents. In women, a history of mild TBI linked to higher PTSD symptoms and depression diagnoses. Men showed no significant rise in mental illness symptoms from mild TBI, though alcohol use disorder rates were higher in both sexes.
• PTOTOther2022Assessing effects of exoskeleton misalignment on knee joint load during swing using an instrumented leg simulator.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMisaligning a knee brace on a leg simulator increased joint loads. Rotational misalignment caused the largest spikes in force and torque, exceeding effects from simple position shifts. This suggests checking rotational alignment is critical for safety, even if the brace looks centered.
• PTOTSurvey2022Healthcare Disruptions and Use of Telehealth Services Among People With Multiple Sclerosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPeople with MS experienced fewer healthcare disruptions than healthy controls, but still missed 38% to 50% of medical appointments. Telehealth use was high and satisfaction was very high, especially for mental health. Functional limitations predicted greater telehealth use.
• OTSLPOther2022Brief Report: Autism-Specific College Support Programs: Differences Across Geography and Institutional Type.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOnly 2.2% of US colleges host autism-specific support programs. These programs are rare at 2-year colleges, where 81% of autistic students start, and completely absent from all institutions in New England. Most programs are at public 4-year universities.
• OTOther2022Clinical utility of a pediatric hand exoskeleton: identifying users, practicability, and acceptance, and recommendations for design improvement.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 10 children and adolescents with upper-limb impairment, wearing PEXO improved assisted-hand use in a two-hour assessment (AHA median 55 to 68 of 100) but did not improve the Box and Block Test; donning needed help, and technical failures occurred.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on therapy service delivery and functioning for school-aged children with disabilities in the United States.Disability and health journalCaregivers of children with disabilities reported losing therapy services during the pandemic, with 42% losing all therapy. Over half saw declines in endurance, communication, social skills, and behavior. Children with multiple diagnoses experienced greater declines across most domains.
• PTOTPilot2022A Novel Body Weight-Supported Postural Perturbation Module for Gait and Balance Rehabilitation After Stroke: Preliminary Evaluation Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAdding automated balance perturbations to a body weight support system was safe and feasible for stroke inpatients. It did not significantly improve balance scores compared to standard body weight support alone, though both groups improved more than historical controls.
• PTOTQualitative2022A qualitative examination of the usability of a digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia program after stroke.Brain injuryPeople with stroke found the digital sleep program engaging but often unsafe or impractical. Advice to leave bed or stop napping conflicted with fatigue and mobility issues, while cognitive barriers required partner support. Standard CBT-I protocols need adaptation before being recommended for this population.
• OTSLPCohort2022Evaluating the Feasibility of The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery for Autistic Children and Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost autistic children completed the NIH Toolbox cognitive tests, but those with IQs below 70 struggled with the later tasks. The tests identified specific cognitive weaknesses in inhibition and processing speed, but did not show expected differences in flexibility or memory.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Multidimensional Computerized Adaptive Testing: A Potential Path Toward the Efficient and Precise Assessment of Applied Cognition, Daily Activity, and Mobility for Hospitalized Patients.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe FAMCAT assessment takes about 6 minutes and 24 items to score cognition, daily activity, and mobility in hospitalized patients. It is much faster than fixed tests, but scores are less precise for patients with normal function.
• OTSLPQualitative2022A Taxonomy of Reported Harms in Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening: Provider and Parent Perspectives.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents and providers reported seven domains of harm from autism screening, including psychological distress, social strain, and financial costs. Providers noted that borderline scores caused anxiety and doubt about clinical abilities. Parents reported feeling torn between advancing screening and maintaining family harmony.
• PTOTOther2022Benefits of a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic foot for ascending and descending slopes.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA microprocessor foot increased ankle motion and reduced knee strain on slopes for transtibial amputees. For transfemoral amputees, the prosthetic knee mattered more than the foot. These biomechanical changes did not guarantee better balance or safety.
• OTOther2022A parallel classification strategy to simultaneous control elbow, wrist, and hand movements.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA muscle-signal classifier identified simultaneous elbow, wrist, and hand movements more quickly and reliably than the usual classifier in healthy people wearing six sensors. Offline scores were similar. It was not tested in amputees or with a real prosthesis.
• PTOTCohort2022Determinants of impaired bed mobility in Parkinson's disease: Impact of hip muscle strength and motor symptoms.NeuroRehabilitationArm rigidity and weak hip adductors, not general axial stiffness, drive slow bed mobility in Parkinson's. Patients with these deficits rely on hip-hitching or lateral flexion without rotation. Targeting hip strength and managing arm rigidity may improve turning efficiency.
• OTSLPCohort2022Effects of X Chromosome Monosomy and Genomic Imprinting on Observational Markers of Social Anxiety in Prepubertal Girls with Turner Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersGirls with Turner syndrome showed significantly more gaze avoidance than controls, but no other behavioral or verbal differences emerged. Parents reported broader social deficits, yet these ratings did not correlate with the observed behaviors.
• OTOther2022Smart Assistive Technology for Cooking for People With Cognitive Impairments Following a Traumatic Brain Injury: User Experience Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesTen adults with traumatic brain injury rated a smart cooking assistant as easy to use and helpful for safety. All needed guidance during testing, and most wanted it at home. Space, pets, and visual deficits were key barriers to independent use.
• OTQualitative2021The experiences of mothers of children and young people with intellectual disabilities during the first COVID-19 lockdown period.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMothers reported feeling abandoned by withdrawn services and overwhelmed by constant care duties, leading to worsened mental health. However, six described reduced challenging behaviours in their children due to less daily pressure. The study highlights the strain of isolation and the benefit of lower demands.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Electronic health record and patterns of care for children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost care for children with cerebral palsy happens without the child physically present. For every in-person visit, there were five care coordination interactions like calls or emails. Therapy and emergency visits were mostly in-person, while neurology and rehab relied heavily on remote coordination.
• OTCase Series2022Clinical features of dementia cases ascertained by ICD coding in LIMBIC-CENC multicenter study of mild traumatic brain injury.Brain injuryFive service members and veterans with mTBI had dementia codes; all had moderate or severe daily-life disability. Two of five had study cognitive test results that did not support a dementia diagnosis, so ICD coding alone may be unreliable.
• OTCase-Control2022Health and cognition among adults with and without Traumatic Brain Injury: A matched case-control study.Brain injuryOne year after moderate-to-severe TBI, adults were more likely to report anxiety/depression/other emotional disorder, chronic sleep problems, and stroke than matched uninjured adults. Poor self-rated health also tracked with much lower thinking scores in TBI than controls.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Facilitators and barriers to performing dietary behaviors among chronic community-dwelling stroke survivors: A qualitative secondary analysis.Disability and health journalChronic stroke survivors described how hemiparesis, fatigue, and taste changes make grocery shopping and cooking difficult. They relied on care-partners and adaptive equipment, but this dependence caused frustration. Fear and dissatisfaction led some to stop cooking or dining with others, reducing participation in meaningful daily activities.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022Traumatic Brain Injury and Early Onset Dementia in Post 9-11 Veterans.Brain injuryPost-9/11 Veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury had three times the odds of early-onset dementia compared to matched controls. The risk was nearly six times higher for frontotemporal dementia than for Alzheimer's, suggesting TBI may specifically drive FTD pathology.
• PTOTOther2022Performance of machine learning models in estimation of ground reaction forces during balance exergaming.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAn LSTM model accurately estimated vertical ground reaction force from 2D video during balance exergaming, with errors under 11% body weight. This suggests standard cameras could provide real-time weight-shifting biofeedback for home use, though horizontal force estimation was less accurate.
• PTOTCohort2022Assessment of changes in muscle mass, strength, and quality and activities of daily living in elderly stroke patients.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationStroke patients improved activities of daily living over four weeks when muscle strength and muscle quality improved. Muscle mass did not track recovery and even tended to fall, so mass is a poor marker of rehabilitation progress.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022The diagnostic levels of evidence of instrumented devices for measuring viscoelastic joint properties and spasticity; a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNo study showed that robotic devices improve patient care. The highest evidence level found was for basic comparisons, not diagnostic accuracy. Clinicians should not assume these tools are ready for routine practice or that they change outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Advanced brain age in deployment-related traumatic brain injury: A LIMBIC-CENC neuroimaging study.Brain injuryIn male veterans, a history of deployment-related mild traumatic brain injury was associated with a brain appearing 0.95 years older than expected. No such link was found in females or in longitudinal data. Higher PTSD, depression, and alcohol misuse scores were also associated with older brain age.
• PTOTOther2022Residual and sound limb hip strength distinguish between sedentary and nonsedentary adults with transtibial amputation.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationHip strength measured with a handheld dynamometer can identify which adults with lower-leg amputation are likely to be sedentary. Weak residual-limb hip extension or sound-limb hip adduction strongly suggests a patient is walking less than 5,000 steps per day.
• PTOTRCT2022A randomized clinical control study on the efficacy of three-dimensional upper limb robotic exoskeleton training in chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe total upper limb Fugl-Meyer score did not improve more with robotic exoskeleton training than manual therapy in chronic stroke. Robotic training showed greater shoulder and elbow scores and faster bimanual task times on other measures.
• OTRCT2022Concomitant Detrusor and External Urethral Sphincter Botulinum Toxin-A Injections in Male Spinal Cord Injury Patients with Detrusor Overactivity and Detrusor Sphincter Dyssynergia.Journal of rehabilitation medicineDetrusor and sphincter botulinum toxin injections lowered bladder and urethral pressures and increased capacity in 20 men with spinal cord injury, while catheter frequency, diaper use, and residual urine ratio stayed similar.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Multiprofessional Neurorehabilitation After COVID-19 Infection Should Include Assessment of Visual Function.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSurvivors of hospital-treated COVID-19 with vision symptoms frequently had objective eye teaming and movement deficits. Most had at least one clinical sign. Clinicians should screen for visual dysfunction in post-acute rehabilitation, as these issues often coexist with fatigue and cognitive complaints.
• OTSLPOther2022Externalizing Behaviors are Associated with Increased Parenting Stress in Caregivers of Young Children with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersExternalizing behaviors like aggression and tantrums predicted higher parenting stress in caregivers of young children with autism, more strongly than the autism diagnosis itself. Clinicians should prioritize managing these behavioral challenges to support caregiver well-being.
• OTCohort2022Weight Management Outcomes of Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder Seeking Treatment from a Multidisciplinary Team.Journal of autism and developmental disordersOver one year in a specialized multidisciplinary weight-management clinic, youth with autism and obesity had lower BMI relative to age and sex norms. There was no comparison group, so the clinic was not shown to cause the reduction.
• OTSLPCohort2022Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mental Health Problems: Patterns of Difficulties and Longitudinal Trajectories in a Population-Based Twin Sample.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had far more emotional, behavioural and peer difficulties than their non-autistic twins or typical peers. These problems were common, often multiple, and persisted or increased into early adolescence, rather than settling down.
• OTSurvey2022How Do Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Participate in the Labor Market? A German Multi-center Survey.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigh education did not translate into regular employment for 196 German adults with ASD. Only 17.5% were employed or self-employed, and 63.4% depended on public or family support. This is a survey, not a treatment test.
• OTSLPCohort2022Comparison of Adaptive Functioning Measures in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder Without Intellectual Disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with autism and average IQ scored significantly lower on the Vineland-3 than the ABAS-3. The Vineland-3 identified more severe deficits in daily living skills, which were far below their cognitive abilities. Choose the measure based on whether you need to document impairment or plan intervention.
• PTOTPilot2022Altered white matter diffusivity and subtle motor function in a pilot cohort of adolescents with sports-related concussion.Brain injuryAdolescents with recent concussion showed subtle motor deficits and higher mean diffusivity in the superior corona radiata. This brain measure correlated with worse motor scores. These findings suggest subtle motor tests may reflect white matter changes, but the small pilot sample cannot confirm this as a diagnostic marker.
• PTOTRCT2022Intensive Circuit Class Therapy in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.Journal of rehabilitation medicine12 weeks of supervised circuit training improved balance, walking, fatigue, and mood in 23 people with relapsing-remitting MS. The control group showed no change. This suggests group physiotherapy is a viable option for mild-to-moderate disability.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Responsiveness of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability And Health (ICF) Clinical Functioning Information Tool (ClinFIT) in Routine Clinical Practice in an Australian Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe ClinFIT tool detected significant improvements in patient functioning from admission to discharge and at 3 months. Scores dropped from a median of 196 to 69 at discharge. It tracks broad disability changes alongside standard functional independence measures in inpatient rehab.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022"It's Not Just in My Head, and It's Not Just Irrelevant": Autistic Negotiations of Menopausal Transitions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults described menopause as confusing due to difficulty interpreting bodily sensations and a lack of prior information. They valued clinicians who validated their experiences rather than dismissing symptoms as psychological, and found peer support helpful but insufficient compared to evidence-based guidance.
• PTOTOther2022Prevalence of Long-Term Opioid Therapy in a Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Population Attending a University-Based Tertiary Pain Clinic in Sweden: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicine38% of 1,613 chronic non-cancer pain patients at a Swedish tertiary pain clinic had dispensed opioids in 90 days, and 22.3% were on long-term therapy. Among those on long-term therapy, 10.6% had dispensed opioids at high doses.
• PTOTOther2022Towards functional robotic training: motor learning of dynamic tasks is enhanced by haptic rendering but hampered by arm weight support.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFeeling the forces of a virtual pendulum through a robot arm improved healthy people's learning and transfer of a dynamic task. Full arm weight support reduced learning, so assistance may need to be lowered or adapted.
• PTOTOther2022A Rasch-Based Comparison of the Functional Independence Measure and Spinal Cord Independence Measure for Outcome and Quality in the Rehabilitation of Persons with Spinal Cord Injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSpinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) scores can be mathematically converted to Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor scores with high accuracy. The SCIM is more sensitive for patients with severe injuries, capturing finer differences in low-functioning mobility and self-care than the FIM.
• PTOTRCT2022The Effectiveness of Case-management Rehabilitation Intervention in Facilitating Return to Work and Maintenance of Employment After Myocardial Infarction: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.Clinical rehabilitationCase management by a social worker significantly improved return-to-work and job retention after heart attack. Patients receiving this coordinated care were more likely to keep their same job and remain employed two years later compared to standard cardiac rehabilitation alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Characteristics Associated with the Use of an Inpatient Rehabilitation or Skilled Nursing Facility after Acute Care in Children with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.Developmental neurorehabilitationChildren with severe TBI in the UK had 93% lower odds of inpatient rehabilitation than US peers. Longer acute stays predicted home-based care. Younger children and African Americans in the US were less likely to be admitted to inpatient rehab, though these demographic findings were unadjusted.