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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 3 OF 22 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRNOther2025Becoming Bedridden and Being Bedridden: Implications for Nursing and Care for Older People in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review.International journal of older people nursingBedriddenness in older people in long-term care is a gradual loss of mobility, often starting with fear of falls. The review mapped care and prevention themes but found weak definitions and little work on residents' psychosocial needs.
• PTOTRNSurvey2025Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior on Daily Living Activities and Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing & health sciencesIn 506 older adults, higher fear-of-falling avoidance was linked with lower independence in basic daily activities and lower physical activity. This was an association, not proof that avoidance causes decline.
• OTRNQualitative2025Self-Care Experiences of Patients Who Have Recently Undergone Colostomy: A Qualitative Study.Nursing openColostomy patients described physical frailty, shame, sleep and religious difficulty, and dependence on family. They wanted nurses to teach stoma care clearly and provide personalised care.
• OTRNRCT2025"Rebuilding Myself"- An intervention enhancing adaptability of cancer patients to return to work: a feasibility study.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PCancer patients who had not returned to work and received a three-month structured program plus usual care reported better work-return adaptability at 12 weeks than usual care with WeChat follow-up. The study had 30 patients, so this shows feasibility, not proven effectiveness.
• OTOther2025Has Increased Medicaid Spending on Home- and Community-Based Services Reduced Unmet Needs in Activities of Daily Living Care among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Dementia? Evidence from 2008 to 2020.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationPutting a larger share of Medicaid long-term care dollars into home and community services was associated with fewer unmet ADL care needs in older adults with dementia. Total spending did not show the same link. This is state spending data, not a therapy trial.
• OTRNSurvey2025The Relationship Between Learning Needs and Care Dependency in Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesCOPD patients showed partial dependence in daily activities and frequent inhaler errors. Medication learning needs were more important than met. Fulfilled learning needs were weakly associated with greater independence, not proof meeting learning needs reduces dependency.
• PTOTCohort2025Short Physical Performance Battery or Chair Stand: Which Better Predicts Disability Among High-Functioning Older Adults?Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn older adults who were independent and walked faster than 0.8 m/s, a chair stand time of 11.5 seconds or more or a Short Physical Performance Battery score of 11 or lower flagged higher future daily-living disability risk than common cutoffs.
• OTOther2025Development of an Assessment Tool for Vertical Accessibility in Spanish Homes.Nursing openA Spanish home accessibility scale identifies barriers in building entrances, common areas, lifts and home entry. In 156 people, its four sections produced consistent responses and matched the spaces they intended to measure.
• OTRNCohort2025Brief Admission by Self-Referral: A 4-Year Follow-Up on Utilisation Patterns and Experiences.International journal of mental health nursingBrief admission use dropped for most participants over four years, leaving only eight who used it consistently. These high users had worse self-care but rated the service highest. Some were refused emergency care because they held a brief admission contract.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2025Quality of life experience in physically frail people on renal dialysis: A qualitative meta-synthesis on the difficulties and resources for better health care.International journal of nursing sciencesDialysis patients described frailty as limiting daily activity, increasing fall risk, and stripping work, family, and social roles. They also said teams underestimated falls, while family, peers, and exercise programs were reported as supports.
• PTOTRNCohort2025Adding Functional Ability Measures to a Mortality Algorithm to Support Palliative Care Eligibility Decisions.Research in gerontological nursingIn older adults, receiving physical or occupational therapy was linked to lower odds of death, while needing help with daily activities or skilled nursing was linked to higher odds. These functional markers could help identify patients who need palliative care sooner.
• PTOTSurvey2025Black-White Differences in Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Deserts: Implications for Unmet Care Needs.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationBlack older adults with care needs reported more adverse consequences overall. White older adults in counties with few community care options also reported more adverse consequences, though the link was not clear after accounting for other factors. Service availability was not linked to Black outcomes.
• OTRNMeta-Analysis2025Dyadic Interventions for Promoting Healthy Diets in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nursing & health sciencesDiet interventions that included an adult patient's informal caregiver lowered sodium and improved short-term self-care, knowledge and support. They did not improve lipids, and many benefits faded over longer follow-up.
• OTRNCohort2025Skilled Nursing Facility Population Characteristics and Length of Stay: A Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationResidents dependent in daily activities and those with vascular or surgical devices stayed longer in a skilled nursing facility; dependence in daily activities was the strongest factor tied to longer stays.
• PTOTCohort2025Utilization of Occupational and Physical Therapy Home Health Visits Among People Living With Dementia With Varying Social Determinants of Health.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationPeople living with dementia had OT and PT home health visit counts not associated with race or neighborhood disadvantage. Care partner-reported PT visits differed from agency records. Baseline ADL gaps did not persist at 30 days.
• OTRNQualitative2026Older Adults' Self-Care and Family Caregiver Contribution in Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Dyadic Qualitative Study.Journal of advanced nursingIn 34 older adult and family caregiver dyads managing multiple chronic conditions, older adults prioritised symptoms that limited daily life, while caregivers prioritised diseases with complications. Self-care roles and decisions often differed.
• PTOTRNSurvey2026Validity of Activity-Based Checks (ABCs) of Pain, A Functional Pain Scale.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesA visual pain scale grouped activities into four areas and agreed with established pain measures. It had moderate stability over two weeks. It may help pain management teams assess how pain limits daily tasks, not how well treatment works.
• OTRNOther2026Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire in Hebrew (H-DSMQ) for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in Israel.Research in nursing & healthA Hebrew diabetes self-management questionnaire for adults with type 2 diabetes found higher self-care scores matched lower HbA1c, but the healthcare-use part was inconsistent. Use it as a patient-reported screen, not proof of cause.
• PTOTRNOther2025Examining Handgrip Strength in Persons Living With HIV in United States, Thailand, and South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANACPeople living with HIV had lower handgrip strength than age and gender reference norms at every age group. In women, strength decreased with age; low grip was not linked to medication adherence or physical, social, or pain scores.
• PTOTRNOther2025Functionality and cognition of older adults hospitalized in a university hospital.Revista brasileira de enfermagemHospitalized older adults commonly had probable cognitive deficit and partial dependence in instrumental activities. Those aged 80 or older had more basic-activity dependence and probable cognitive deficit; age group did not show an association with instrumental activity dependence.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Effects of Sling Exercise Training on Walking Ability and Balance Function in Patients With Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nursing & health sciencesDaily-living scores and walking endurance were not shown to improve, but suspension-based stroke training (sling exercise, body-weight-supported treadmill and robotic-assisted locomotor training) improved balance and walking.
• PTOTRNCohort2026Lagged effects of risk factors on the disability of older adults: A distributed lag non-linear model approach.International journal of nursing sciencesRisk factors for disability in older adults follow three distinct timelines. Functional limitations like walking difficulty cause immediate harm within one year, while conditions like depression and hospitalization exert a cumulative burden over three to four years.
• OTQualitative2026Family influences on type 2 diabetes self-management: Perspectives of African American adults with food insecurity.Patient education and counselingFamily life shaped diabetes self-management: cooking separate meals was costly and stressful, overcrowding disrupted exercise, and caregiving led some to miss appointments. Families also gave reminders and walking partners.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2026Experiences of Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Their Caregivers During the Pandemic: A Systematic Review.Nursing openCOPD patients and caregivers described pandemic fear, anxiety and loneliness, plus reduced activity. Some managed exacerbations at home. Telemedicine helped some, but others wanted face-to-face care.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2026Re-Engaging in Activities of Daily Living After Critical Illness: A Qualitative Review.Journal of clinical nursingCritical illness survivors described daily activity recovery as dominated by persistent weakness, fatigue, and memory problems, forcing home adaptations and family help that often felt burdensome. These barriers can persist for months or years.
• PTOTRCT2026Functional Activities to Optimize Patient Outcomes in Home Health: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAdding HARP to usual home health therapy showed no significant difference in daily task performance compared with usual therapy alone. The trend favored usual care.
• OTRNSurvey2026Dignity Among Older Persons in Long-Term Care Institutions in Taiwan and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study.The journal of nursing research : JNR48.9% of 188 older residents in southern Taiwan long-term care institutions reported low dignity. Fewer or no children, lower daily living independence, inability to walk, higher education, and depression were associated with low dignity.
• OTSLPRNOther2026Psychometric Properties of the Children With Cerebral Palsy (7-18 Years Old) Self-Care Skills Scale-Parent Form: A Turkish Validity and Reliability Study.Nursing openParents of Turkish children with cerebral palsy aged 7-18 can rate 19 self-care items, from feeding to communicating needs. Scores tracked gross motor levels and stayed similar over 2 weeks, but there is no cutoff for low or high.
• PTOTRNCohort2026Identifying Risk Factors for Fall-Related Injuries Among Inpatients at a Tertiary Hospital in China: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Nursing openAmong 145 inpatient falls, improper footwear had higher injury rates (68.10% vs 51.00%), and toileting caused 35.43% of falls. Patients with full mobility had the highest injury rate (66.10%).
• OTRNOther2026Healing Steps on Country-Exploring Care Pathways for Aboriginal People in the Kimberley With Diabetes-Related Foot Disease.The Australian journal of rural healthRemote Aboriginal patients with diabetes foot disease had many acute foot-care visits and hospital admissions, but little preventive care. They valued local Aboriginal health services, support people, and self-care, while hospital discharge left some under-informed and under-equipped.
• OTRNQualitative2026Self-Care Experiences and Support Needs of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Multimorbidity: A Qualitative Study Informed by the Caring Life-Course Theory.Journal of clinical nursingEighteen older adults with multimorbidity said self-care was learned through trial and error, not clinic education. They felt emotional needs were overlooked in healthcare and relied on family, peers and online groups.
• OTSystematic Review2026Occupational Therapy Services Provided to Adults Diagnosed With Kidney Disease: A Scoping Review.Journal of renal careAcross 23 studies, occupational therapy services for adults with kidney disease were mostly hospital-based and focused on fatigue, education, and daily tasks, but evidence was sparse and protocols lacking.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2026Rebuilding life after breast cancer treatment among Korean breast cancer survivors: an integrative review.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea)Korean breast cancer survivors reported persistent pain, sleep disturbance, decreased muscle strength, reduced exercise tolerance and lymphedema after treatment, plus body-image distress, fear of recurrence and return-to-work struggles. Exercise, diet, self-management and surveillance support are framed as possible nursing targets, not proven effects.
• OTRNQualitative2026Self-care in stroke rehabilitation: a qualitative study.Revista brasileira de enfermagemCaregivers and rehabilitation staff said stroke survivors need clear teaching before going home, but hospital time is short. They described scarce equipment, poor team communication and caregiver burden as barriers to self-care.
• PTOTRCT2026Effects of adding R-BoT + plus verticalization-based robotic locomotor training to conventional rehabilitation in patients with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding R-BoT + plus robotic stepping to conventional rehab improved walking independence more than conventional rehab alone at 4 weeks and 3 months. The robot was given with usual therapy, not alone.
• PTOTCohort2026Return to Community Living and Functional Ability Following Inpatient Rehabilitation for Hip Fracture in Patients Aged ≥65 Years: A Retrospective Descriptive Observational Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost older hip fracture patients who had lived at home returned after inpatient rehabilitation, but 18.1% returning to family and 26.3% returning to live alone had low function scores and likely needed support beyond family caregivers.
• OTOther2026Development and validation of a prediction model for activities of daily living dysfunction among stroke survivors: insights from the CHARLS cohort.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThis model flags stroke survivors more likely to have current ADL difficulty using depression, older age, falls, hypertension, arthritis, lung disease, social contact, sleep and drinking. It was not tested in practice.
• PTOTRCT2026Tai Ji for stroke rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial on improving upper limb function and cortico-muscular coupling in stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients who added Tai Ji to standard medical treatment, health education, and upper limb rehabilitation had greater upper limb motor score gains after four weeks. Because Tai Ji was extra training, its unique effect is unclear.
• OTCohort2026Multidimensional Preinjury Health and 6-month Outcome After Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults Presenting With Mainly GCS 13-15.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAdding pre-injury frailty and daily-function measures to existing prediction models did not improve prediction in older adults with mostly mild traumatic brain injury, although the measures were linked to worse 6-month recovery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Clinically interpretable prediction models of stroke functional outcomes: A national cohort study of adults in inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the US.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn US inpatient rehab, discharge self-care and mobility were best predicted by admission self-care and mobility, continence and length of stay. Therapy minutes had limited influence.
• PTOTOther2026Using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures to Identify Mobility Limitation in Incurable Cancer.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA single-item symptom question closely tracks detailed mobility difficulty in incurable cancer. Younger patients reported worse mobility than older patients with similar clinical status. Use patient-reported scores to spot mobility issues that standard clinical ratings may miss.
• OTSurvey2026Association Between Smartphone Application Diversity and Occupational Participation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.Scandinavian journal of occupational therapyOlder adults using five or more smartphone apps daily reported higher overall occupational participation, especially productivity. When other factors were accounted for, productivity remained associated; leisure and self-care did not. This is association, not proof apps improve participation.
• PTOTRCT2016Effect of mirror therapy on upper extremity motor function in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of physical therapy scienceMirror therapy added to conventional stroke rehabilitation improved upper extremity movement ability more than the conventional program with a non-reflecting mirror, but did not improve Brunnstrom stages or self-care independence.
• PTOTOther2016Kinesio Taping® of the metacarpophalangeal joints and its effect on pain and hand function in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn older adults with rheumatoid arthritis, Kinesio Taping of the MCP joints reduced hand pain and increased MCP ulnar deviation, but did not improve grip strength or overall hand function. Joint protection workshops improved grip strength and some daily activities.
• PTOTSLPCohort2016Prediction of destination at discharge from a comprehensive rehabilitation hospital using the home care score.Journal of physical therapy scienceA home care score of 11 or more predicted returning home in Japanese rehabilitation patients. For patients with a FIM score of 54 or less, the home care score was still useful. Both scores were higher at discharge than at admission.
• PTOTCohort2016Effectiveness of the back school program for the performance of activities of daily living in users of a basic health unit in Porto Alegre, Brazil.Journal of physical therapy scienceA Back School program improved how people with chronic pain performed daily tasks like lifting and writing, and reduced pain and disability scores. Sitting posture did not improve. Without a control group, natural recovery cannot be ruled out.
• OTRCT2016Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on visual perception function and performance capability of activities of daily living in stroke patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding tDCS to occupational therapy did not show a significant difference between the tDCS and sham groups in stroke patients, though both groups improved on visual perception and ADL scores. The tDCS group had larger reported mean gains.
• PTOTCohort2016The effects of hand strength on upper extremity function and activities of daily living in stroke patients, with a focus on right hemiplegia.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn stroke patients with right hemiplegia, grip strength correlated with both upper extremity function and daily living independence. Pinch strength correlated with function but not with daily living tasks. Grip appears more critical for basic independence than finger pinch.
• OTCase Series2016Bioelectrical impedance analysis for severe stroke patients with upper extremity hemiplegia.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn severe stroke patients with arm paralysis, the paralyzed side had lower lean mass, body water, body cell mass, and hand strength than the other side. Bioimpedance values differed in the same direction as occupational assessments. Small case series cannot prove a test works.
• PTOTCohort2016Factors associated with the recovery of activities of daily living after hospitalization for acute medical illness: a prospective cohort study.Journal of physical therapy scienceLonger time from illness onset to starting rehabilitation was associated with poorer recovery of daily activities. Among patients who had been independent before illness, better cognition was associated with better recovery; among those partially dependent, better nutrition was associated with better recovery.