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 89 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRCT2022Immediate comfort perception of 3D-printed foot orthoses in individuals with unilateral heel pain.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalBoth 3D-printed and traditional foot orthoses improved immediate comfort for people with flat feet and one-sided heel pain. There was no difference in comfort between the two types, despite 3D-printed devices being wider and having higher arches and heel cups.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Use of Mobile/Tablet and Web-Based Applications to Support Rehabilitation After Stroke: A Scoping Review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke rehabilitation apps mostly supported assessment or training for mild to moderate, often chronic, survivors. Evidence was mainly feasibility and pilot studies, with little on goal setting, participation, severe stroke, or clinical effects.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Patients with Syndromic Autism and their Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers reported children with syndromic autism had low quality of life, especially physical functioning. Rett syndrome scored lowest. Families rated emotional well-being as the area most strained. Therapists should ask about mobility, pain, energy, self-care, school participation, and family stress.
• PTOTCohort2022Fear of falling avoidance behavior affects the inter-relationship between vision impairment and diminished mobility in community-dwelling older adults.Physiotherapy theory and practiceVision acuity scores did not predict mobility, but diagnosed eye disease and fear of falling avoidance did. Avoidance behavior partially explained why eye disease led to slower movement. Screen for eye disease and fear, not just acuity.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2022Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation in modulating cortical excitability in patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLow-frequency stimulation to the unaffected side increased excitability in the damaged side and decreased it in the healthy side. High-frequency and intermittent theta burst also boosted the damaged side. Continuous theta burst showed no clear effect. These are neurophysiological changes, not proven functional gains.
• OTSLPCase-Control2022Cognitive and Electrophysiological Correlates of Working Memory Impairments in Neurofibromatosis Type 1.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe main EEG memory measure did not differ between 16 children with NF1 and 16 controls, but NF1 showed shorter brain-wave timing and different scalp patterns. Behaviourally, NF1 had poorer working memory and attention.
• OTSLPQualitative2022"Together in a pressure cooker": Parenting children with disabilities during the COVID-19 lockdown.Disability and health journalParents described losing school-based therapy and support as forcing them to become their child's teacher and therapist overnight. They reported stress, guilt, and job strain from juggling these roles alone, though some found closer family bonds in the downtime.
• OTSLPQualitative2022Parental Views of Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children with autism described the lockdown as a mix of strain and unexpected gain. They reported lost school support and social isolation, but also more time together, improved father-child interaction, and new self-care or verbal skills in their children.
• PTOTOther2022Fatigue is Associated with Reduced Participation and Health-Related Quality of Life Five Years After Perimesencephalic Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicine5 years after perimesencephalic subarachnoid haemorrhage, patients with fatigue reported less frequent participation, more restrictions, and worse quality of life. Fatigue severity stayed associated with these outcomes after depression, anxiety, hypertension and comorbidity were considered.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Cooperative ankle-exoskeleton control can reduce effort to recover balance after unexpected disturbances during walking.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn ten healthy walkers, an ankle exoskeleton that helped only when a push threatened balance cut muscle effort in the right leg. It did not improve stability or step recovery, because the participants were already able to keep their balance.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Development of a Minimum Reporting Set of Contextual Factors for Rehabilitation Studies: A Delphi Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation experts ranked human resources, context, and technical resources as the most critical provider factors to report in trials. For service delivery, they prioritized target group, rehabilitation team, and time/intensity. These categories form a minimum reporting set.
• OTSLPOther2022Characterizing Social Functioning in School-Age Children with Sensory Processing Abnormalities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with sensory abnormalities had worse social functioning than typically developing children and similar functioning to children with autism, even when communication differences were considered.
• OTSLPSurvey2022Intervention Services for Autistic Adults: An ASDEU Study of Autistic Adults, Carers, and Professionals' Experiences.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMany recommended intervention steps were experienced, but gender, consent, speech, safety, family support, and help for self-harm were less common than professionals reported.
• PTOTCase Series2021Safety and feasibility of an early telephone-supported home exercise program after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a case series.Physiotherapy theory and practiceEight patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion completed an early, telephone-supported home exercise program. No signs of non-union were found at six months. Patients rated the program helpful, and most showed clinically meaningful reductions in pain and disability, though objective physical activity gains were limited.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Is the Outcome of Diagnostic Nerve Block Related to Spastic Muscle Echo Intensity? A Retrospective Observational Study on Patients with Spastic Equinovarus Foot.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with spastic equinovarus foot who had higher muscle echo intensity on ultrasound showed a reduced response to diagnostic nerve blocks. This suggests that increased fibrosis or fatty infiltration in the muscle limits the effectiveness of temporary nerve blockade.
• PTOTSLPPilot2022Adaptive ankle exoskeleton gait training demonstrates acute neuromuscular and spatiotemporal benefits for individuals with cerebral palsy: A pilot study.Gait & postureSix people with cerebral palsy walked faster and took longer steps after training with an ankle exoskeleton. These improvements remained when walking without the device, suggesting the training helped them learn a more efficient pattern rather than just relying on the machine.
• PTOTCohort2022Predictive Equations Overestimate Resting Metabolic Rate in Survivors of Chronic Stroke.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStandard equations overestimated resting metabolic rate in chronic stroke survivors by 9% to 60%. Using these predictions for calorie targets risks weight gain. Equations relying on lean body mass were most accurate, but all tested methods exceeded measured needs.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Kinematic synergies in over-ground slip recovery outcomes: Distinct strategies or a single strategy?Gait & postureSplit falls and recoveries use similar movement patterns before and during the initial slip response, but differ significantly in the late recovery phase. Feet-forward falls resemble recoveries until the final step. This suggests split fallers may need more intensive, multi-phase training than feet-forward fallers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Parent Questionnaires in the Evaluation of Pre-School Children Referred for Neuropsychiatric Assessment.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParent questionnaires tracked with autism severity, but the ABC missed many children with higher IQs. The ESSENCE-Q identified almost all diagnosed cases regardless of ability. Use these tools as guides for assessment, not as standalone diagnostic proof.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2022Neuropathic Pain in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19: A Prospective Case Series.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEight hospitalized patients developed neuropathic pain during acute COVID-19. Most had mild to moderate symptoms. Pain improved with pregabalin and amitriptyline, but half still had mild pain at one month. It is unclear if the medication or the steroids caused the relief.
• OTRCT2022Impact of the robotic-assistance level on upper extremity function in stroke patients receiving adjunct robotic rehabilitation: sub-analysis of a randomized clinical trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 30 stroke patients using a robot, overall arm function change did not clearly differ between high and low assistance. Higher assistance was linked with larger shoulder, elbow and task gains in severe weakness; lower assistance was linked with larger gains in milder weakness.
• PTOTOther2022Comparison of the Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Mass Variations in Sit-to-Stand and Stand-to-Sit Movements of Older Fallers and Nonfallers.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOlder men with a history of falls showed significantly more side-to-side body sway and exaggerated trunk bending during sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit compared to non-fallers. These movement patterns were most unstable when sitting down, suggesting sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit are not simply opposite actions.
• PTOTQualitative2021Older Adults' Perceptions Regarding the Role of Physical Therapists in Fall Prevention: A Qualitative Investigation.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Most older adults in this study did not know physical therapists can prevent falls. They viewed PTs as treating specific problems or injuries, not as a resource for prevention. Barriers included perceived lack of need, cost, and a belief that a doctor's prescription was required.
• PTOTCohort2021Temporal trends in trunk flexor endurance and intra-abdominal pressure in postpartum women.Physiotherapy theory and practiceTrunk flexor endurance improved over the first postpartum year, but intra-abdominal pressure decreased. Women who were older and had lower body weight, BMI, or waist circumference in early postpartum were most likely to show this recovery.
• PTOTSurvey2021Resilience and associated characteristics in adults with spina bifida.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAdults with spina bifida reported lower resilience than the general population. Higher resilience was linked to older age, higher household education, prior urological surgeries, and better physical function. These factors may help identify who needs support.
• PTOTOther2021The effect of experimental shoulder pain on contralateral muscle force and activation.Physiotherapy theory and practiceInjecting pain into one shoulder slightly reduced strength in the opposite shoulder but did not significantly reduce muscle activation. However, nearly half the participants showed a meaningful strength drop on the pain-free side. Clinicians should measure both shoulders, not just the injured one, when assessing progress.
• PTOTSurveyPerceived Neighborhood Walkability is Associated with Recent Falls in Urban Dwelling Older Adults.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Older adults who fell recently perceived it as harder to walk to stores and transit stops than those who did not fall. Therapists should ask about these specific access issues before prescribing outdoor walking, as perceived difficulty correlates with fall risk.
• OTOther2022Impact of COVID-19 on Community Participation and Mobility in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSix young adults with autism tracked by phone GPS and daily logs moved much less after Pennsylvania COVID restrictions. Trips, time away from home and transportation choices dropped, leaving mostly walking or being driven.
• PTOTPilot2022Visually Induced Kinaesthetic Illusion Combined with Therapeutic Exercise for Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineTen patients with chronic severe stroke improved finger movement, reduced wrist stiffness, and used their arm more after two weeks of visual illusion therapy followed by exercise. No control group means these gains cannot be attributed to the illusion alone.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022What is Known About Muscle Strength Reference Values for Adults Measured by Hand-Held Dynamometry: A Scoping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHand-held dynamometry lacks valid reference values for adult limb strength. Existing studies used inconsistent devices and protocols, and reported force instead of torque. Clinicians cannot currently compare patient scores against published norms to determine if strength is normal.
• PTOTPilot2022Blood Flow Restricted Walking in Elderly Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Feasibility Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineNine of 14 older adults with knee arthritis completed 8–10 weeks of blood-flow-restricted walking, showing improved functional performance but no change in self-reported knee function. Five withdrew, mostly due to discomfort or pain. Adherence was high among completers.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Facing Invalidation: A Further Challenge when Living with Chronic Widespread Pain.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with chronic widespread pain reported frequent invalidation, particularly from social services and medical professionals. Higher levels of discounting and lack of understanding were associated with worse mental health and more anxiety or depression, but not with physical health status.
• PTOTPilot2022Comparison of the Impact of Conventional and Web-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Physical Activity in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Exploratory Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesNeither web-based nor conventional pulmonary rehabilitation significantly increased daily step counts in people with COPD. The web-based group showed a non-significant 12% rise in steps, while the conventional group showed a non-significant trend toward longer activity bouts.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Concerns on healthcare access, utilization, and safety due to COVID-19 among American adults with vision loss.Disability and health journalMost adults with vision loss surveyed in early 2020 reported pandemic-related healthcare and safety concerns. Women, older adults, those with adult-onset vision loss, and people with additional disabilities were significantly more likely to report worries about accessing care, caregiver support, and safe interactions.
• OTSLPMeta-Analysis2022Autism Spectrum Disorder and Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutism is found in 11.6% of people at clinical high risk for psychosis, though estimates vary widely. These individuals have poorer social functioning than those without autism, but their risk of converting to psychosis is not higher. Clinicians must distinguish new-onset symptoms from lifelong autistic traits.
• PTOTCohort2022Physical and occupational therapy utilization and associated factors among adults with cerebral palsy: Longitudinal modelling to capture distinct utilization groups.Disability and health journalIn Medicare claims, 41.5% of 17,441 adults with cerebral palsy used physical or occupational therapy over 3 years. The largest therapy user group had low use. Older age, Black race, and residence in the South were linked to less steady, frequent therapy.
• PTOTSurvey2022Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life, mood, and behavior of adults with Down syndrome.Disability and health journalCaregivers reported that many adults with Down syndrome lost jobs or day programs, had more anxiety, irritability, sadness, sleep problems, and less exercise. Some became happier, but most impacts were stressful.
• PTOTRCT2021Are Mobile Persons With Parkinson Disease Necessarily More Active?Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTCommunity mobility does not guarantee physical activity in Parkinson's disease. Walking steps predicted home and neighborhood movement but not travel beyond the neighborhood. Sedentary individuals were less mobile at home and in the neighborhood but similar to active individuals in town. Assess local mobility separately from total life-space scores.
• PTOTOther2021What Are the Most Important Problems in Functioning Among Patients With Shoulder Pain? An Analysis of the Patient-Specific Functional Scale.Physical therapyPatients with shoulder pain reported problems mostly in activities and participation, not just body function. Secondary care patients reported significantly more issues with self-care and housework than those in primary care.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Surgery versus botulinum neurotoxin A to reduce drooling and improve daily life for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities: a randomized controlled trial.Developmental medicine and child neurologyBilateral submandibular duct ligation reduced drooling and daily care demands more effectively than botulinum toxin A at 8 and 32 weeks. Surgery caused more short-term adverse events but no long-term complications. It improved satisfaction with family relationships and life in general.
• PTOTOther2021Gait patterns in ischemic and hemorrhagic post-stroke patients with delayed access to physiotherapy.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoChronic stroke patients waiting for physiotherapy showed different recovery patterns based on stroke type. Ischemic stroke patients improved walking speed and muscle timing, but hemorrhagic patients showed little change. Neither group reported improved quality of life, suggesting late treatment has limited functional gains.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Timed "Up & Go" Dual-Task Tests: Age- and Sex-Specific Reference Values and Test-Retest Reliability in Cognitively Healthy Controls.Physical therapyTimed Up & Go dual-task time scores are highly reliable, but verbal outputs and cost measures vary widely between tests. Use time scores for consistent monitoring. Do not rely on animal naming counts to track small changes or evaluate interventions.
• OTCohortGlobal Disability Trajectories Over the First Decade Following Combat Concussion.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAfter deployment, service members with combat concussion, whether or not blast was involved, were more likely to have greater long-term disability than controls without concussion.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Ecological Momentary Assessment of Real-World Functional Behaviors in Individuals With Stroke: A Longitudinal Observational Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke survivors spent a median 78% of sampled waking time at home and 27% in passive leisure, with only 4% in physical activities. EMA surveys tracked these real-world patterns reliably, showing higher adherence than prior stroke studies and strong agreement with standard symptom measures.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Caregiving, Participation, and Quality of Life of Closest Next of Kin of Persons Living with Spinal Cord Injury in Norway.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost caregivers of people with spinal cord injury in Norway reported good quality of life and happiness in caring. However, one-quarter experienced high strain, especially emotional adjustment. Injury severity predicted practical help given, but not emotional burden or overall well-being.
• OTSLPOther2021Parental relationship status and age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis of their child.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren whose biological parents were not together received an autism diagnosis 1.4 years later on average than children whose parents were together. This delay persisted after adjusting for income, race, insurance, and symptom severity. Families with separated parents may need extra navigation support.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Professionals' motivation to support parental self-management regarding children with physical disability in Dutch rehabilitation services: 'Please mind your gap'.Child: care, health and developmentMost therapists believe parents should actively manage their child's care, but few expect them to lead independently. Professionals struggle to balance giving control versus taking over, often steering parents toward their own preferred methods despite valuing partnership.
• PTOTCohort2021External validation of prognostic models for recovery in patients with neck pain.Brazilian journal of physical therapyTwo prognostic models for predicting neck pain recovery failed external validation. They could not accurately distinguish between patients who would recover and those who would remain disabled. Clinicians should not use these specific models to guide patient care or trial stratification.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Identifying Concomitant Health Conditions in Individuals With Chronic Voice Problems.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationAdults reporting a swallowing problem were nearly twice as likely to have chronic voice issues. Those with physical activity limitations were 1.7 times as likely. Respiratory and hormonal problems showed no significant link. Consider earlier laryngoscopy referral for patients with these specific comorbidities.
• PTOTOther2021Cross-cultural adaptation of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale in Greek clinical population.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoThe Greek Pain Catastrophizing Scale reliably measures three distinct thoughts about pain: helplessness, rumination, and magnification. For patients with chronic neck or back pain, it is a valid tool to identify these specific cognitive patterns, though it correlates only moderately with pain intensity scores.