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Adult rehabilitation research

Everything we have read on adult rehabilitation. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

1,091 PAPERS · PAGE 13 OF 22 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2022Rehabilitation of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Who Required Assistance Before Hospitalization Contributes to Improvement in Activities of Daily Living: A Nationwide Database Cohort Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStarting rehabilitation early and increasing daily duration improved daily living activities in stroke patients who needed help before admission. This benefit held for those with moderate disability, but early rehabilitation did not improve outcomes for the most severely disabled group.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Clarification of Factors Determining Discharge Destination Among Elderly Patients After Stroke With Low Levels of Independence in Activities of Daily Living: A Retrospective Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAmong stroke survivors with severe disability, those who could eat by mouth, had better cognitive scores, and lived with family were more likely to go home. Patients living alone all went to long-term care, regardless of their physical ability.
• PTOTCohort2023Associations Between Adherence to Self-Management Activities and Change in Function and Health Outcomes in the Rehabilitation of Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with rheumatic diseases who stuck to their self-management plans improved more in pain, fatigue, physical function, and quality of life over a year. Adherence did not predict better mental health or daily living skills. Routines were the hardest activities to keep up.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Returning to Work after Stroke: Associations with Cognitive Performance, Motivation, Perceived Working Ability and Barriers.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors with higher cognitive scores, better self-perceived working ability, and fewer perceived barriers were more likely to return to work. Self-assessments predicted return-to-work at 12 months, while early cognitive screening predicted it at 6 months.
• OTPilot2023Feasibility of a combined intermittent theta-burst stimulation and video game-based dexterity training in Parkinson's disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNine people with Parkinson’s disease completed all nine sessions of combined brain stimulation and video-game dexterity training without dropouts or reported adverse events related to the stimulation. They rated the devices usable and reported high engagement. This pilot did not test whether dexterity improved.
• PTOTQualitative2022Wrist-Worn devices to encourage affected upper limb movement in unilateral cerebral palsy: Participatory design workshops.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesChildren with unilateral cerebral palsy and their therapists told researchers that wrist-worn devices must look like standard fitness trackers and be easy to fasten with one hand. School policies on phones and trackers were the biggest practical barrier to using them daily.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Effect of mobile application types on stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMobile apps showed inconsistent benefits across stroke outcomes. Therapy apps improved motor paresis and aphasia in small studies, and rehab videos helped exercise adherence. However, neglect, daily living independence, quality of life, and depression showed no clear benefit or mixed results.
• OTCohort2022Effectiveness of active occupational therapy in patients with acute stroke: A propensity score-weighted retrospective study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn acute stroke, occupational therapy time exceeding physical therapy time was linked with better function and shorter stay, but speech therapy time also differed, so separate contributions are unclear. Discharge home was not different. Severe daily function limits, aphasia, gaze or neglect appeared more responsive.
• PTOTCohort2023Patients' Expectations Before Initiation of Intrathecal Baclofen Treatment: A Longitudinal Study with 1-Year Follow-Up.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIntrathecal baclofen improved spasticity, pain, and self-care, but patients' expectations were not met. Overall satisfaction remained moderate to low. Clinicians must align realistic goals with individual expectations before treatment to avoid dissatisfaction despite clinical gains.
• PTOTNarrative Review2023The-state-of-the-art of soft robotics to assist mobility: a review of physiotherapist and patient identified limitations of current lower-limb exoskeletons and the potential soft-robotic solutions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPhysiotherapists and patients report rigid exoskeletons are often unsafe, time-consuming to fit, and uncomfortable. Soft robotic alternatives offer solutions by being lighter, wearable under clothes, and easier to put on, potentially saving valuable therapy time.
• OTCohort2023Correlates of participation six months after stroke in an Italian population: results from the RIPS (Post-Stroke Intensive Rehabilitation) Study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineParticipation fell sharply after stroke; better scores were linked to milder stroke, greater daily independence, no cognitive impairment, and higher pre-stroke activity.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Factors influencing sustainable employment of persons with acquired brain injury (ABI) or spinal cord injury (SCI): A qualitative study evaluating the perspective of health and work professionals.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesProfessionals identified gaps in long-term employment support for brain and spinal cord injury. They reported that vocational services often end once initial integration is complete, leaving workers and employers without help when health declines or workplace changes occur. Early, coordinated intervention and ongoing access to a contact person were deemed critical for sustaining employment. Knowledge of long-term support resources was limited among many professionals, creating a risk of unsupported job loss years after rehabilitation.
• OTRCT2023Coaching While Waiting for Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment: A Pilot Feasibility Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial on Occupational Performance Coaching and Service Navigation.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCoaching families while they wait for an autism assessment was feasible, with 75% retention. Families in the coaching arms reported larger gains in goal performance and satisfaction than those in usual care, though the study was too small to prove effectiveness.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Physiotherapeutic evaluation of patients with post COVID-19 condition: current use of measuring instruments by physiotherapists working in Austria and South Tyrol.Archives of physiotherapyMost physiotherapists agree assessments are useful, but fewer than one in five uses them. The main barriers are not time or lack of instruments, but insufficient experience and knowledge of which tools to choose. Standardized measures remain largely unimplemented in outpatient care.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Bimanual movements in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of instrumented assessments.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMotion capture tools distinguish children with CP from typically developing peers during bimanual tasks, but their reliability and ability to track therapy change remain unproven. Lab protocols fail to capture real-world movement, limiting their use as standalone clinical measures.
• PTOTCase Report2023Improving functional outcomes and quality of life in an elderly woman with sarcopenia and spinal Tuberculosis: A case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAn elderly woman with spinal tuberculosis and sarcopenia improved her independence and quality of life after a three-month multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Her ability to perform daily activities increased, but this single case cannot prove the treatment works for others.
• PTOTOther2023Mobile Robotic Balance Assistant (MRBA): a gait assistive and fall intervention robot for daily living.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA prototype robot slowed walking speed and step length in users but detected 94% of simulated falls in healthy adults with no false alarms. It has not been tested on patients with balance impairments, so its real-world safety and effectiveness remain unknown.
• PTOTQualitative2023Development of a tailored intervention targeting sedentary behavior and physical activity in people with stroke and diabetes: A qualitative study using a co-creation framework.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStroke survivors with diabetes rejected generic home exercises as overwhelming. They wanted movement woven into daily tasks, not added on top. Fatigue was the main barrier to activity. They asked for early, tailored plans that respect their energy limits and help them stay independent.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Clinical Outcomes Following Exercise Rehabilitation in People with Multimorbidity: A Systematic Review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineExercise rehabilitation improved walking distance and quality of life in people with two or more chronic conditions. It did not consistently improve peak oxygen consumption or blood sugar control. Most trials lacked blinding, and the specific mix of exercise types varied widely across studies.
• PTOTRCT2022Pre-operative physiotherapy for elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery.The South African journal of physiotherapyNo significant differences emerged between groups for any clinical outcome. The intervention group had fewer postoperative pulmonary complications and walked further when first mobilising, but these were secondary observations in a 12-person pilot. Do not change practice based on this.
• PTOTCohort2023People with mild Parkinson's disease have impaired force production in upper limb muscles: A cross-sectional study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyPeople with mild Parkinson's disease have significantly weaker upper limb muscles than healthy age-matched adults, averaging 78% of normal force. Extensor muscles were the weakest. This deficit persists even when patients are physically active and on medication.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Participation of children and young people with cerebral palsy in activities of daily living in rural Uganda.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy in rural Uganda attended fewer daily activities than peers and were less involved when present. Community activities showed the largest gaps. Severe motor limitations predicted lower participation, but age and sex did not.
• PTOTCohort2023Stroke and activity limitation in Chinese adults 65 Years or older.Disability and health journalOlder Chinese adults with stroke had markedly higher rates of needing help with daily tasks than those with other conditions. They were four times more likely to have severe activity limitations than healthy peers. IADL issues were common across all groups.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Functional activity and communication-social ability of youths with developmental disabilities: a qualitative study.Journal of physical therapy scienceParents reported that although most youths walked independently and had high overall function scores, they struggled with specific tasks like using a knife, managing stairs safely, and understanding deeper meanings. Many needed reminders and supervision to complete self-care activities.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Validation of content and structure of the Return-to-work assessment for post-stroke survivors.The South African journal of physiotherapyExperts and post-stroke survivors reached 100% agreement on a new scale to assess return-to-work readiness. The tool covers personal, work, and contextual factors, including communication and employer attitudes, providing a structured way to evaluate barriers and facilitators for employment.
• PTOTCohort2022Relationship between the characteristics of lower extremity function and activities of daily living in hospitalized middle-aged and older adults with subacute cardiovascular disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn hospitalized older adults with cardiovascular disease, both lower limb strength and walking endurance correlated with daily independence. Patients aged 75 or older with deficits in both areas had the lowest independence scores. Assessing both may better identify who needs targeted rehabilitation.
• PTOTOther2022Relationships between walking speed, activities and participation in people with chronic stroke in Burundi.The South African journal of physiotherapyWalking speed was related to balance and daily activity limitations in chronic stroke survivors in Burundi, but not to social participation overall. People who walked only at home participated less than those walking farther.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Factors Predicting Return to Work After Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Follow-up Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStroke survivors who viewed returning to work as important, had no language impairment, and scored well on walking and thinking tests at rehab discharge were more likely to return to work. Office workers and those with fewer other health problems also had higher odds.
• PTOTCase Report2023Biomechanically designed Curve Specific Corrective Exercise for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis gives significant outcomes in an Adult: A case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne adult with severe scoliosis reported pain dropping from 8/10 to 1/10 and a major curve reducing by 13.8° after eight months of specific corrective exercises. This shows what happened to one person, not that the treatment works for others.
• OTSurvey2022Early pandemic impacts on family environments that shape childhood development and health: A Canadian study.Child: care, health and developmentPandemic work and income changes reshaped family routines. Some parents with more time reported more supportive home environments, but essential workers reported lower ratings, and the links explained only a small share of family environment scores.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Health-related quality of life in adolescents with cerebral palsy; a cross-sectional and longitudinal population-based study.Child: care, health and developmentFor adolescents with severe cerebral palsy, caregiver-reported quality of life remained largely stable over five years, except for general health which declined due to increased medication use. Severe motor impairment and pain consistently predicted lower quality of life across most domains.
• PTOTCohort2023Increasing daily duration of rehabilitation for inpatients with sporadic inclusion body myositis may contribute to improvement in activities of daily living: A nationwide database cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineInpatients with sporadic inclusion body myositis who received more than one hour of daily rehabilitation showed significantly greater improvement in activities of daily living, particularly toileting and mobility, compared to those receiving less than one hour.
• PTOTCohort2023Reliability and validity of the Hebrew version of the International Spinal Cord Injury Activities and Participation Basic Data Set.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 47 people with spinal cord injury, the Hebrew activities and participation questionnaire gave similar answers when repeated, and self-care scores tracked disability well. Mobility, occupation, and relationship scores were less dependable, so interpret those parts cautiously.
• PTOTCohort2023Postural control exercise without using the upper limbs improves activities of daily living in patients with stroke.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStroke patients who practiced postural control without using their arms showed greater gains in daily living tasks and walking recovery than those who relied on arm support. This suggests training balance in more unstable conditions may improve functional independence.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Hybrid brain/neural interface and autonomous vision-guided whole-arm exoskeleton control to perform activities of daily living (ADLs).Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTen people with severe motor impairments controlled two assistive robots using brain and eye signals. The wearable arm exoskeleton allowed faster, more reliable task completion than the table-mounted robot arm, but users found the exoskeleton physically demanding and less comfortable.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023The impact of cognitive function deficits and their recovery on functional outcome in subjects affected by ischemic subacute stroke: results from the Italian multicenter longitudinal study CogniReMo.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePatients who recovered executive function during rehab improved their independence as much as those who never had a deficit. Those who kept the deficit improved significantly less. Screening for and targeting executive function may be key to functional recovery.
• PTOTOther2023Occupational and Physiotherapy modalities used to support interdisciplinary rehabilitation after concussion: A Scoping Review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineConcussion rehabilitation in adults mainly used vestibular, neck, exercise, education and coping strategies. Physiotherapists were involved more often than occupational therapists, who appeared in only two studies. No included study specifically targeted early post-concussion care.
• PTOTQualitative2023The impact of rehabilitation on the community life of stroke survivors in Accra, Ghana.The South African journal of physiotherapyStroke survivors in Ghana reported improved self-care after six months of physiotherapy, but most could not return to work or socialize. They avoided public life due to embarrassment about visible disabilities, not just physical limits. This highlights a gap in psychosocial support within current rehabilitation services.
• OTCohort2023Grasp Analysis in the Home Environment as a Measure of Hand Function After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairHome video showed people with cervical spinal cord injury used different grasp types at different rates. More non-prehensile grasp use went with lower hand strength and self-care scores, while more power grasp went with higher scores.
• PTOTQualitative2023Participation in everyday life for young people with chronic pain in Saudi Arabia: "you feel lacking in life and you feel that time is flying by".Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesYoung people with chronic pain described pain as a heavy burden that limited walking, sleep, mood, concentration, and social contact. They tried to keep daily life going with medication, distraction, rest, family help, and avoiding triggers.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023The Community Rehabilitation Assessment: patient and clinician-reported outcomes in ambulatory rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients in ambulatory rehab showed large improvements in daily activities and walking speed. The new assessment captured these changes, but without a control group, it is unclear how much was due to treatment versus natural recovery.
• OTSurvey2022Executive functions and household chores: Does engagement in chores predict children's cognition?Australian occupational therapy journalChildren who do more self-care and family-care chores, like making their own meal or helping with dishes, show better working memory and inhibition. Pet-care chores did not predict these cognitive skills. This is an association, not proof that chores cause better executive function.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Translation and adaptation of the stroke-specific quality of life scale into Swahili.The South African journal of physiotherapyA stroke quality-of-life questionnaire was translated into Swahili and checked with 32 people with stroke. 46 of 49 items were understood, and average scores were 82 for English and 81 for Swahili on a 49 to 245 scale, though vision items needed revision.
• OTOther2023Assessing time processing ability and daily time management in persons with dementia: Psychometric properties of three instruments.Australian occupational therapy journalAfter revision, the dementia time-management assessments mostly captured a single area. The self-rating form still needs clearer answer options. The objective test needs harder items for people whose problems are very mild.
• OTCohort2022Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Preclinical Alzheimer Disease.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthIn cognitively normal older adults, a performance-based IADL test did not separate those with and without preclinical AD. It showed wider score spread than a proxy questionnaire, and poorer checkbook and medication tasks were associated with brain volume and network connection measures.
• OTQualitative2023Occupational therapy practice with terminally ill Chinese older adults in Singapore: A qualitative exploratory study.Australian occupational therapy journalIn Singapore palliative care, occupational therapists described Chinese older adults often preferring family care over independence, deferring choices to family, valuing contribution and rest, and seeing presence as more meaningful than active doing.
• OTQualitative2022Patients views on which return-to-work outcomes should be prioritised: A nominal group technique focus group.The British journal of occupational therapySix trauma patients prioritised 'sense of purpose' and 'understanding the impact of injury' above simple return-to-work status. They valued process outcomes like assessing readiness and educating employers, suggesting vocational rehabilitation should measure these alongside traditional employment metrics.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022What are the common areas of risk and their characteristics found in intermediate care from an occupational therapy perspective? A scoping review.The British journal of occupational therapyFalls, discharge planning, and practice errors were the most common risk areas for occupational therapists in intermediate care. The review found no evidence on how therapists explicitly assess the severity or likelihood of these risks.
• PTOTOther2023Community-based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic children and adolescents showed similar but delayed postural control development compared to neurotypical peers. They had greater sway variability and used less efficient movement strategies. This indicates persistent motor differences that do not resolve with age.
• PTOTCase Report2023Effects of continuous rehabilitation on intensive care unit-acquired weakness after open-heart surgery: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 78-year-old woman with ICU-acquired weakness after open-heart surgery received ADL training, Theraband resistance, and bicycle ergometer exercise in hospital and after discharge. In this single case, over 240 days her strength, walking distance, and ADL scores improved.