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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 17 OF 22 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTPilot2024Therapeutic effects of powered exoskeletal robot-assisted gait training in inpatients in the early stage after stroke: a pilot case-controlled study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding six sessions of powered exoskeleton gait training to standard care did not significantly improve walking speed compared to standard care alone. However, a higher proportion of patients receiving the robot reached the clinically important improvement threshold for walking speed and daily activities.
• PTOTRCT2025Cost consequences analysis of early vocational rehabilitation compared with usual care for stroke survivors.Clinical rehabilitationEarly specialist vocational rehabilitation cost more than usual care but produced only a tiny, non-significant gain in quality-adjusted life years. The study's conclusion is highly uncertain because 85% of cost data was missing. Do not assume this proves the intervention is poor value.
• PTOTCase Report2024Combination of traditional Chinese bone setting and NMES technique for treating lumbar disc herniation: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA 33-year-old office worker with lumbar disc herniation received a package of bone setting, electrical stimulation, stretching, strengthening and massage, followed by pain score 6 to 0 and better bending. This single case is not proof the combination works.
• PTOTCohort2024Relationship between functional independence and community integration of people with spinal cord injury in Bangladesh.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFor 200 adults with spinal cord injury, independence at discharge did not track with home or social community integration one month later. Injury level and completeness mattered more, so therapists should not assume discharge independence guarantees reintegration.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Does rehabilitation improve work participation in patients with chronic spinal pain after spinal surgery: a systematic review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation for chronic spinal pain after surgery showed mixed work results. One comparison against no treatment found higher return-to-work rates; the randomized trial found no employment change. Evidence is too limited for firm recommendations.
• PTOTPilot2025Effectiveness of Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance for autistic children with developmental coordination disorder.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTwenty-six autistic children improved their self-rated performance and satisfaction on chosen motor goals after Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance. Independent ratings confirmed better movement quality. Standardised motor proficiency scores did not show clinically meaningful change.
• PTOTCohort2025Characteristics of subacute stroke patients who achieve earlier independence in real-life walking performance during hospitalization.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAfter subacute stroke, younger age, higher cognition, and better walking ability on admission predicted earlier independence in real ward walking; low daily-living ability or no walking ability predicted slower achievement.
• PTOTCohort2025Physical function and perceived pain following inpatient intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment for children and adolescents.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationChildren and adolescents in a 4-week inpatient interdisciplinary pain program showed large improvements in physical function, motor proficiency, and occupational performance, alongside reduced pain. Without a control group, these gains cannot be definitively attributed to the program alone.
• OTRCT2025Improving Outcomes for Care Partners of Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: Results for a mHealth Randomized Control Trial of the CareQOL App.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAdding personalized self-care push notifications to a self-monitoring app did not improve health-related quality of life for care partners of people with TBI. Some scores worsened. Only participants who actively engaged with the app showed improvements, suggesting engagement matters more than the prompts.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Association of Rate of Functional Recovery With Therapy Time and Content Among Adults With Acquired Brain Injuries in Inpatient Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMore OT ADL/IADL training linked to faster daily self-care gains, but more PT bed mobility training linked to slower daily mobility recovery. These observational findings suggest a mismatch between billed therapy time and functional progress rates, not proof that PT bed mobility training harms recovery.
• OTRCT2025Coming to my own wisdom: A qualitative study exploring the role of the Take Charge intervention in stroke recovery.Clinical rehabilitationStroke survivors who received Take Charge said being listened to and setting their own goals helped them regain confidence. Control participants also took charge, but did not describe feeling heard or speak with the same hope.
• PTOTOther2025Beyond Arm Capacity in Chronic Stroke: Evaluating Paretic Arm Non-Use Through Arm Efficiency-A Cross-Sectional Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn 30 adults after stroke, home use of the paretic arm matched a model based on arm efficiency better than a model based on arm capacity. A paretic-to-non-paretic Box and Block ratio predicted real-life arm use better than Fugl-Meyer or Wolf Motor Function Test.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Prestroke Physical Activity Matters for Functional Limitations: A Longitudinal Case-Control Study of 12,860 Participants.Physical therapyPeople who were physically active before their stroke had fewer limitations in daily tasks like dressing and walking than those who were inactive. This protective effect of activity was stronger in stroke survivors than in matched adults who did not have a stroke.
• OTRCT2025Telerehabilitation for visual field defects with a multisensory training: a feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 26 adults with chronic homonymous visual field defects, home-based audio-visual scanning training improved visual search accuracy and speed, reading, and daily vision-related difficulties, with gains persisting to 6 months. It did not enlarge the visual field.
• PTOTCohort2024Effect of preoperative physical activity on postoperative outcomes in esophageal cancer.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery, higher preoperative walking activity was associated with better postoperative physical activity, exercise tolerance, and daily living independence at discharge.
• PTOTSLPOther2025The effects of family directed power mobility on self-care, mobility, and social function in very young children with severe multiple developmental impairments.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTwelve children with severe mobility impairments used modified ride-on toys for three months. Caregivers reported improvements in self-care, mobility, and social function. All children learned to operate the device, even those with cortical visual impairment or who could not follow commands.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Quality of life in dysphagia and functional performance of cancer patients in palliative care.CoDASFor palliative cancer outpatients, worse physical performance tracked with a greater perceived impact of swallowing difficulties on quality of life. This link was not seen in inpatients. The study measured self-reported complaints rather than swallowing function, so it cannot confirm the cause.
• OTCohort2025Factors Associated With Depression in Caregivers of Adults With Down Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregiver depression linked to their own distress and low quality of life, plus weaker grip strength in the adults with Down syndrome they cared for. Other physical measures showed no link. The sample was tiny and all caregivers were female.
• PTOTOther2024Characteristics and factors associated with independence in the activities of daily living of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at diagnosis.Journal of physical therapy scienceAt ALS diagnosis, lower limb-onset patients had the most impaired independence in daily living, especially transferring, bathing, walking and stairs. Knee extension strength was linked to independence.
• PTOTCase Report2025Diagnosis, treatment, and functional outcomes for two adolescent female patients with lupus myelitis: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdolescent girls with lupus myelitis improved self-care and mobility during inpatient rehabilitation, but they received multiple immunomodulatory treatments and intensive therapy together.
• PTOTCohort2024Brain regions associated with balance function assessed by the Berg Balance Scale in post-stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceBalance scores in post-stroke patients correlated with damage in three brain tracts: the corticospinal, cingulum, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. This suggests balance recovery depends on both motor pathways and association fibers, not just limb strength.
• PTOTQualitative2025Resilience and adaptations-insights from Norwegian adolescents with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdolescents with spinal cord injuries prioritized independence and social connection over physical recovery alone. They valued peers who treated them normally and schools that adapted activities rather than excusing them. They sought autonomy in daily choices, often preferring self-directed exercise to supervised therapy.
• PTOTOther2025Multidisciplinary collaborative guidance on the assessment and treatment of patients with Long COVID: A compendium statement.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationLong COVID consensus guidance recommends validating symptoms, screening for post-exertional malaise, and keeping activity below exertion tolerance. Pushing through fatigue can worsen symptoms. Return-to-work plans may need gradual, flexible accommodations.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Global availability of guidelines related to assistive technology: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAcross 24 guidelines, most cover mobility, hearing, vision, self-care and continence, but few address cognition or communication. Many recommendations rest on weak evidence.
• OTOther2025Lessons Learned From the Integration of Ambient Assisted Living Technologies in Older Adults' Care: Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOlder adults living alone reported feeling safer and calmer after ambient sensors were installed in their homes. However, some experienced fewer in-person caregiver visits and felt isolated. The technology improved perceived security but risked reducing the human connection they valued most.
• PTOTOther2025Validation of Gait Kinematics With Ramp and Stair Ascent and Descent Revealed by Markerless Motion Capture in Simulated Living Space: Test-Retest Reliability Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesTheia3D markerless motion capture reliably measured joint angles during level walking, ramp ascent, ramp descent, stair ascent, and stair descent. Measurement errors were generally below 5 degrees, which is considered acceptable for clinical interpretation. This supports its use for assessing complex gait tasks in a simulated living environment.
• OTNarrative Review2025The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance approach in childhood-onset disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA review of 38 studies finds the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach helps children achieve personal goals, but evidence is weak. Most studies were small, had unblinded raters, and rarely measured if skills transferred to new tasks. Large trials are needed.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Efficacy of Robot-assisted Training on Upper Limb Motor Function After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationRobot-assisted training added to conventional stroke rehabilitation improved upper limb motor function and daily living ability. The motor benefit was not clear in trials of 6 weeks or longer, and the evidence was intermediate to low.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Association between older people's health literacy and sociodemographic aspects, functioning, happiness, and perception of the COVID-19 pandemic: a preliminary study.CoDASIn 37 older adults, lower health literacy was linked to less education and more difficulty with cognition and self-care. It was also associated with feeling less calm. However, health literacy did not influence how they perceived the pandemic or their overall happiness.
• PTOTOther2025The minimal clinically important difference of the Participation Measurement Scale in chronic stroke.The South African journal of physiotherapyA change of 1.98 logits on the PM-Scale may mark important participation improvement in chronic stroke. It was estimated from 46 people using the ACTIVLIM-Stroke anchor.
• PTOTRCT2025Ipsilesional 5 Hz Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Motor Dysfunction in Subacute Intracerebral Hemorrhage: An Exploratory Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPatients receiving 5 Hz rTMS alongside standard rehab showed greater motor recovery than those receiving standard rehab alone. The added treatment was safe, but because the control group did not receive a sham procedure, the extra time and attention may explain some of the improvement.
• PTOTOther2025Revised Dual Task Screen is a Valid Measure of Dual Task Performance: Developing a Motor and Cognitive Dual Task Measure with Healthy Female Athletes.Occupational therapy in health careHealthy female athletes slowed down and caught fewer balls when adding a thinking task, confirming the screen detects motor costs. Cognitive costs were inconsistent, with only the upper-extremity task showing a significant drop in accuracy.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025The 'Bounce Back' rehabilitation programme for stroke survivors in South Africa - a case report.The South African journal of physiotherapyStroke survivors in a South African community programme gained functional independence and reported fewer problems, but depression outcomes varied. Some improved, while another worsened. This is a case series, not proof the programme caused change.
• OTOther2024Occupational therapy practice for post-acute COVID-19 inpatients requiring rehabilitation.Australian occupational therapy journalPost-acute COVID inpatients improved by 31.09 points on the 18 to 126 functional scale, but care included a whole rehabilitation team, so this does not prove occupational therapy caused the gain. Patients valued pacing, energy conservation and practice of daily tasks.
• OTOther2024Whole Day Workload: Evaluation of a New Outcome Measure in Occupational Therapy for Adults With Type 1 Diabetes.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationThe whole day NASA-TLX is a reliable and valid measure of typical workload for adults with Type 1 diabetes. Aggregating just three to six daily assessments captures a person's typical workload accurately. The four-item mental strain version works well for most clients.
• PTOTRCT2025Virtual reality as a potential therapy in a rehabilitation sanatorium for patients after ischemic stroke: impact on quality of life and social participation-a randomized trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding virtual reality to standard stroke rehabilitation did not improve quality of life, cognition, or social participation more than standard therapy alone. Both groups improved similarly, so VR is not a superior clinical intervention for these outcomes.
• OTOther2024Interrater Reliability and Precision of a Novel Hand Strength Assessment and Treatment Device: The GripAble.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationThe GripAble device measures grip strength reliably in healthy hands. Averaging three trials reduces measurement error compared to one or two. A 2.6 kg change is needed to be confident a patient's strength has truly improved or declined.
• OTRCT2025Occupational Priorities of People on Hemodialysis Who Participated in Energy Management Education.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapiePeople on hemodialysis with fatigue reported lacking energy for a median of 22 valued occupations. Their top priorities were household tasks like cooking, followed by hobbies and self-care. Going out for meals and attending events were the most common activities they felt unable to do.
• OTSystematic Review2024A scoping review of coaching in occupational therapy: Mapping methods, populations and outcomes.Australian occupational therapy journalCoaching improves occupational performance and goal attainment, especially for parents of children with developmental conditions. However, most studies lack fidelity reporting and theoretical clarity, so clinicians cannot separate the coaching component from other concurrent interventions.
• PTOTPilot2025Preparing Adults with Cerebral Palsy to Move from Assisted to Independent Living.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieSeven adults with severe cerebral palsy improved their ability to manage daily tasks like cooking and finances after a 20-week coaching program. The intervention helped them reach personal goals and increased confidence in using powered wheelchairs.
• PTOTCohort2025Objective gait analysis using Kinect v2® for the prognosis of walking during the acute phase of rehabilitation after proximal femoral fracture surgery.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients who could walk with a walker one week after hip fracture surgery showed significantly better gait speed and balance at discharge than those who could not. Early weight-bearing and pain control appear critical for prognosis, though this small study cannot prove causation.
• OTSLPPilot2025Occupational performance patterns in children with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.Australian occupational therapy journalChildren with PANS show a significant drop in social skills and overall daily functioning during flare-ups, but return to typical performance levels when in remission. Assessments taken during a flare may falsely suggest autism, so testing during remission is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• OTPilot2025Telehealth Lifestyle Pilot Study for Improving Occupational Performance in Older Adults.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthTwelve older adults completed six telehealth lifestyle sessions. Goal attainment improved significantly, but quality of life scores did not change. The short duration and lack of a control group mean this shows the program was feasible, not that it works.
• OTCohort2025Relationships between sensory reactivity and occupational performance in children with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).Australian occupational therapy journalDuring PANS exacerbations, higher sensory reactivity scores correlated with lower communication and daily living skills. However, sensory reactivity showed no significant link to socialisation scores. This suggests sensory issues explain functional decline in some areas, but other factors may drive social difficulties.
• OTSystematic Review2025Interoception and its application to paediatric occupational therapy: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalInteroception is increasingly used in paediatric occupational therapy, but the evidence base is thin. Most included studies were small, uncontrolled, or opinion pieces. Structured programs exist, but rigorous research proving they improve participation or regulation is largely missing.
• OTSurvey2024Association between occupational participation and depressive symptoms among middle-aged adults: A cross-sectional study in Hokkaido, Japan.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMiddle-aged adults with lower participation in productive activities (work, chores, caregiving) reported more depressive symptoms. Satisfaction with leisure also linked to fewer symptoms, but self-care participation showed no significant association with depression.
• OTOther2024Classification of life satisfaction by occupational gaps and its characteristics among older adults with care needs.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTFor older adults with care needs, life satisfaction was best classified by the number of social activities they actually do and want to do. If they had fewer than three such activities, the number of household tasks they wanted to do but could not predicted dissatisfaction.
• PTOTCase Report2025Effects of body weight-supported overground training on gait recovery in severe stroke-induced hemiplegia: a single-case ABAB design.Journal of physical therapy scienceA woman with severe stroke-related paralysis walked faster and took fewer steps when body weight-supported overground training was added to standard therapy. Her walking speed rose to 0.58 m/s during the training phase, dropping when it stopped and rising again when it resumed.
• PTOTQualitative2025The Development of a Vocational Rehabilitation Program to Assist Individuals With MDRTB and TB in Returning to Work.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapists and physiotherapists reported that vocational rehab for TB survivors is often sacrificed for physical recovery. They recommended a holistic, staged model that prioritizes work skills and uses group activities to overcome resource shortages.
• OTOther2025Investigation of the Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Basic Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire in Preschool Children.Occupational therapy internationalThe Turkish daily-living questionnaire for preschoolers was answered consistently by parents over 2 weeks, and scores related to a functional independence measure. Use it for Turkish preschoolers with typical development, not yet for disabled children.