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 92 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPQualitative2022"I Spent Most of Freshers in my Room"-A Qualitative Study of the Social Experiences of University Students on the Autistic Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTen autistic university students described being selective about friends, valuing quality over quantity, and hiding their diagnosis from peers due to fear of stereotypes. They found quiet spaces, non-alcohol events, and social mentoring helpful. This is one small group's experience, not evidence that any approach works.
• OTCase Report2022Competitive motivation increased home use and improved prosthesis self-perception after Cybathlon 2020 for neuromusculoskeletal prosthesis user.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor one prosthesis user, Cybathlon training and competition were followed by more active home use and feeling more positive about the arm. He said tasks like tying shoes became possible, but this is one case, not proof the event works for others.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Evidence-based position paper of the UEMS PRM on the role of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) physician in the management of children and adults with spinal dysraphism.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThis consensus statement defines the role of the rehabilitation physician in managing spinal dysraphism across the lifespan. It recommends interdisciplinary team care, ICF-based assessment, and lifelong follow-up, but provides no evidence on whether these interventions improve patient outcomes.
• PTOTCase Report2021Physical therapy for multiple myeloma patients with severely hindered daily living activities due to bone lesions: a report of two cases.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwo patients with multiple myeloma and severe bone lesions moved from bedridden to independent walking without adverse events. Therapists used Borg scale 13 and mild pain limits to guide safe, long-term physical therapy that helped them qualify for stem cell transplants.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Cerebral cortex maldevelopment in syndromic craniosynostosis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with FGFR-related craniosynostosis had larger brain volumes than controls, but their cortical surface area did not scale proportionally. This mismatch was most severe in the parietal and occipital lobes. Almost all patients requiring modified education belonged to this FGFR group.
• OTOther2022Brief Report: Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms among Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults who took part in at least one community activity had lower depression scores than those who did not (median 8 vs 12 on the PHQ-9). Family history of anxiety or depression was associated with more suicidal thoughts.
• OTSLPSurvey2022The Impact of COVID-19 on Anxiety and Worries for Families of Individuals with Special Education Needs and Disabilities in the UK.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver anxiety and awareness of the pandemic predicted higher anxiety in children with special needs, more than age or diagnosis did. Anxiety and worries about lost routine rose sharply in both SEND children and their siblings when schools closed.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Rehabilitation Definition for Research Purposes: A Global Stakeholders' Initiative by Cochrane Rehabilitation.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationRehabilitation is defined as a multimodal, person-centered, collaborative process. Single interventions like manipulation or exercise alone do not qualify unless embedded in this broader process. This definition helps researchers and clinicians distinguish true rehabilitation from isolated treatments.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Risk factors for development of long-term mood and anxiety disorder after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a population-based, birth cohort analysis.Brain injuryChildren who sustained a traumatic brain injury at age 5 or older had a higher risk of developing anxiety or mood disorders by age 25 than those injured before age 5. Injury severity and other factors showed weaker or inconsistent associations.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Changes in Perceived Impact of Stroke on Everyday Life over Five Years in a Rehabilitation Sample that Received an Activity of Daily Living Intervention: A Follow-Up Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFive years after stroke, patients reported better participation in daily life than at three months, regardless of whether they received client-centred or usual ADL training. However, perceived impact on communication, mobility, and hand function worsened over time in the client-centred group.
• PTOTOther2022Reliability and Validity of a Chinese Version of the Lysholm Score and Tegner Activity Scale for Knee Arthroplasty.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Chinese versions of the Lysholm and Tegner scores are reliable and valid for assessing knee function in patients after total knee replacement. Scores remained consistent when repeated 3–7 days later and aligned closely with the IKDC, supporting their use in clinical practice.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyExercise training is strongly recommended for acute and chronic low back pain. Manual therapy helps short-term but not long-term. Education alone is ineffective; it must be paired with active treatments. Traction is not recommended.
• OTCohortAdolescent Chronic Health Conditions and School Disconnectedness.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPFifteen-year-olds with chronic health conditions, especially developmental or behavioral ones, reported feeling less part of school, more trouble with teachers and peers, and more bullying than peers without conditions.
• OTSLPSurvey2022Factors Contributing to Psychological Ill-Effects and Resilience of Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities During a Nation-wide Lockdown During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersDuring lockdown, over half of caregivers of children with developmental disabilities screened positive for depression and anxiety. Poor guidance from therapists and difficulty keeping children indoors were key predictors of distress, while higher resilience was linked to better support.
• PTOTNarrative Review2022Inertial Measurement Units and Application for Remote Health Care in Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: Narrative Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesInertial sensors can track movement and recovery in hip and knee osteoarthritis, but most studies are small, lab-based, and use different methods. These devices show promise for remote care but are not yet ready for routine clinical use without further validation.
• PTOTRCT2022Ankle-foot orthosis with an oil damper versus nonarticulated ankle-foot orthosis in the gait of patients with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPatients walking with an ankle-foot orthosis that allows free upward movement (oil damper) showed greater ankle dorsiflexion during stance and swing compared to those with a rigid orthosis. This suggests the oil damper AFO may better preserve natural ankle mechanics in subacute stroke.
• PTOTOther2022Assessing Impairments in Visuomotor Adaptation After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke survivors adapt less to visual errors and need more practice than controls. Those with dominant-arm damage struggle most. Adaptation scores correlate with Fugl-Meyer and FIM, but clinical scales miss half the deficits, so motor learning issues may exist despite normal functional scores.
• PTOTPilot2022Surrogates for rigidity and PIGD MDS-UPDRS subscores using wearable sensors.Gait & postureIn 31 people with mild to moderate Parkinson's, wearable sensor data predicted clinical rigidity and postural instability scores. Rigidity was best estimated by the number of walking bouts, while postural instability required combining walking bouts, gait speed, and standing sway.
• OTSLPCohort2022Adding the missing voice: How self-report of autistic youth self-report on an executive functioning rating scale compares to parent report and that of youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or neurotypical development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic youth self-report executive function problems that match their parents' overall pattern but are consistently less severe. Their own reports identify flexibility as a primary struggle, validating the use of self-report alongside parent forms to capture the patient's perspective.
• PTOTCohort2022Baseline Predictors of Response to Repetitive Task Practice in Chronic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairBaseline factors including non-dominant stroke side, longer time since stroke, better proprioception, faster movement times, lower grip strength, and specific genetics predicted improvement in chronic stroke patients undergoing robot-assisted therapy.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022The neglected puzzle of dementia in people with severe/profound intellectual disabilities: A systematic literature review of observable symptoms.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDDiagnosing dementia in severe intellectual disability requires watching for behaviour changes, not cognitive tests. Key signs include withdrawal, aggression, sleep issues, and loss of self-care skills. Standard cognitive assessments are often impossible due to low baseline function, so caregiver observation of these behavioural shifts is essential.
• OTCohort2022Eating Problems in Autistic Females and Males: A Co-twin Control Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigher autistic traits and autism diagnosis were linked to more eating problems in adolescents and adults, even after accounting for ADHD and anxiety. This link was strongest in females, who reported more difficulty eating in social situations outside the home.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Swallowing Safety and Efficiency Impairment Profiles in Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.DysphagiaSwallowing inefficiency is far more common than safety issues in ALS, affecting 73% of patients versus 48% for safety. Inefficiency often appears first. Clinicians should target residue management early in the disease course rather than waiting for aspiration signs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Cough-Inducing Method Using a Tartaric Acid Nebulizer for Patients with Silent Aspiration.DysphagiaIn patients with silent aspiration who could not cough voluntarily, inhaling a tartaric acid mist induced a cough reflex in 38 of 42 cases. Thirty of these patients expectorated the aspirated material. No adverse events were reported.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Young adults perceive small disturbances to their walking balance even when distracted.Gait & postureYoung adults detected very small slip-like disturbances on a treadmill, even while counting backwards. They perceived speed changes less than 10% of their walking speed. This suggests conscious perception of balance loss is robust to distraction in healthy young people.
• PTOTOther2022Characterization of neuropathic component of back pain in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.NeuroRehabilitationIn patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, neuropathic pain features were present in 23.6% of cases. This prevalence was linked to fracture location rather than number. Therapists should screen for neuropathic symptoms in patients with thoracic or lumbar fractures.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Shoulder pain prevalence by age and within occupational groups: a systematic review.Archives of physiotherapyShoulder pain prevalence continues to rise after age 50 in working people, especially in physically demanding jobs. In sedentary roles, findings were mixed, though computer work also increased risk. This suggests retirement or reduced activity, not just aging, drives the drop in pain seen in older general populations.
• OTSLPCase-Control2022Spatial Hearing Difficulties in Reaching Space in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Children Improve With Head Movements.Ear and hearingBilateral cochlear implant children struggled with front-back sound location and distance, but allowing head movements significantly improved their accuracy. Clinicians should encourage active head orientation during listening tasks rather than enforcing stillness, as this natural behavior helps resolve spatial confusion.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022A systematic review opens the black box of "usual care" in stroke rehabilitation control groups and finds a black hole.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineStroke lower-limb trials rarely defined usual care. Only three of 155 studies said their control program followed specific guidelines, and 39 articles did not specify usual care. Check what the control group actually received before trusting a new treatment's benefit.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2022Exercise Training in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineExercise training may improve muscle strength and endurance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but evidence is very low. Primary outcomes of daily function and quality of life showed no clear benefit. Safety data is lacking, so do not assume these gains translate to better daily living.
• OTSLPCohort2022Supporting autistic adults' episodic memory recall in interviews: The role of executive functions, theory of mind, and language abilities.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSupportive questioning removed the link between interview performance and cognitive abilities for autistic adults. When questions were open-ended, expressive language predicted recall specificity. With specific prompts, no cognitive factor predicted performance, suggesting support reduces the mental load of interviewing.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2022People with intellectual disabilities living in care facilities engaging in virtual social contact: A systematic review of the feasibility and effects on well-being.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDVirtual social contact is feasible for people with intellectual disabilities, including those with severe needs using adapted devices. Effects on well-being are mixed, with some users reporting happiness and others frustration or exclusion. Support from staff and family is often lacking.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Mortality in pediatric hydrocephalus.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn children with hydrocephalus, death is more often caused by other medical conditions than by the hydrocephalus itself. When hydrocephalus did cause death, half the cases involved catastrophic shunt failure, while others followed decisions to withhold surgery based on perceived poor neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2022Knee biomechanics and contralateral knee osteoarthritis progression after total knee arthroplasty.Gait & postureWalking mechanics did not predict knee osteoarthritis progression in the opposite knee after total knee replacement. Despite high rates of radiographic worsening over eight years, neither knee loading nor motion explained which patients progressed.
• PTOTCohort2022Cumulative Risk And Associated Factors For Fall-Related Fractures In Stroke Survivors After Discharge From Rehabilitation Wards: A Retrospective Study With A 6-Year Follow-Up.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAfter discharge from convalescent stroke rehabilitation, 13.7% had a fall-related fracture within 5 years. Female sex and moderate leg weakness at discharge were linked to higher fracture risk, especially in the first year.
• PTOTOther2022Wrist-based accelerometer cut-points for quantifying moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity in Parkinson's disease.Gait & posturePeople with Parkinson's need a wrist accelerometer cut-point of 2,883 counts per minute to flag moderate-to-vigorous activity, versus 4,389 for healthy adults. Using the standard higher threshold undercounts their activity because their movement is less efficient.
• PTOTPilot2021Identifying preventative measures against frailty, locomotive syndrome, and sarcopenia in young adults: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceMost healthy young adults in this pilot showed signs of pre-frailty or low muscle mass, but very few had actual sarcopenia or severe mobility loss. The findings suggest monitoring muscle mass early, though the small, young sample limits broad application.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Immediate effect of adding mirror visual feedback to lateral weight-shifting training on the standing balance control of the unilateral spatial neglect model.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn healthy people wearing a headset that mimics left-side neglect, adding mirror feedback to weight-shifting training changed balance in only a few specific tests. Most measures did not improve, and this preliminary model cannot guide treatment for actual patients.
• PTOTOther2021Correlation between community balance and mobility scale (CB&M) with a battery of outcome measures to assess balance in Parkinson's disease - a cross-sectional study.Archives of physiotherapyIn Parkinson's, the CB&M correlated strongly with standard balance tests but exposed deficits they missed. The Berg Scale hit a ceiling, masking risk in early stages. Use CB&M to catch subtle, community-level balance problems before falls occur.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults described sensory differences as unpredictable, changing with mood and energy. One person may find bright lights painful while another seeks them out. Clinicians should ask about personal triggers and coping strategies rather than assuming standard sensory profiles apply to everyone.
• PTOTCohort2022Neck and back pain: Differences between patients treated in primary and specialist health care.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients referred to specialist care had heavier physical workloads and lower education than those treated in primary physiotherapy. Specialist patients reported more pain and worse quality of life, but psychological distress scores were similar after adjustment. Referral patterns align with pain duration and socioeconomic factors rather than mental health severity.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2022New technologies promoting active upper limb rehabilitation after stroke: an overview and network meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineVirtual reality and robot-assisted therapy improved upper-limb motor function more than conventional therapy in both subacute and chronic stroke. Telerehabilitation matched conventional therapy. Choose robots for severe impairment early on, and virtual reality for milder cases or later stages.
• PTOTRCT2022Swallowing Exercise During Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: Results of a Randomized Trial.DysphagiaSwallowing exercises plus progressive resistance training during head and neck cancer radiotherapy did not improve swallowing safety versus usual care. Some mouth opening and symptom benefits appeared, but the two exercise types cannot be separated.
• OTSLPCohort2022Early-Life Environmental and Child Factors Associated with the Presence of Disruptive Behaviors in Seven-Year-Old Children with Autistic Traits in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMany early-life factors link to disruptive behaviors in autistic children, not just autism itself. Smoking, difficult temperament, and family stress were specific to the disruptive group. Screen for these to tailor behavioral support.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Seven Domains of Persisting Problems after Hospital-treated Covid-19 Indicate a Need For a Multiprofessional Rehabilitation Approach.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAfter hospital-treated COVID-19, many survivors reported lasting problems in seven areas: vision, physical function, cognition, mood, swallowing, voice, and mental fatigue. In the subgroup with rehabilitation needs, 66% had problems in at least three areas.
• OTOther2022The Importance of Understanding Individual Differences of Emotion Regulation Abilities in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHalf of 129 young people with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome had parent-reported difficulty regulating emotions, compared with 8% of 116 typically developing peers. The other half fell in the typical range, so assess each person rather than assuming emotion problems.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Machine learning methods for functional recovery prediction and prognosis in post-stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost stroke prediction models rely on internal validation, not new data, so their real-world accuracy is unproven. High risk of bias and small sample sizes limit current tools. Clinicians cannot yet use these algorithms to confidently predict patient recovery.
• OTCase Report2022Design-development of an at-home modular brain-computer interface (BCI) platform in a case study of cervical spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn a person with cervical spinal cord injury, an implanted brain-to-glove system worked at home, with hand-grasp commands classified correctly 87.53% of the time over a year without recalibration. This is feasibility, not proof of benefit.
• PTOTOther2021Investigation of the effect of a 15-degree tilt-in-space on the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks when the back support is reclined.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding 15-degree tilt before reclining lowered measured forces on the buttocks in 11 healthy men, but increased force fluctuation during the movement. It reduced trunk slide. This is seating mechanics, not proven pressure injury prevention.
• PTOTSurvey2021Influences of remote exercise training for community-dwelling older adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of physical therapy scienceMost older adults reported less exercise during Japan's state of emergency. In the small group who completed two weeks of remote DVD exercises, self-reported effort dropped significantly. This suggests home-based video guidance can make movement feel easier for motivated, healthy seniors.