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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 8 OF 22 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRCT2020Home-based rehabilitation using a soft robotic hand glove device leads to improvement in hand function in people with chronic spinal cord injury:a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with chronic spinal cord injury who wore a soft robotic glove at home for 12 weeks improved their hand function and grip strength. These gains remained six weeks after they stopped using the device. The study had no control group.
• PTOTRCT2020Adding Contralaterally Controlled Electrical Stimulation of the Triceps to Contralaterally Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation of the Finger Extensors Reduces Upper Limb Impairment and Improves Reachable Workspace but not Dexterity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAdding triceps stimulation to hand-focused electrical therapy improved arm reach and reduced impairment, but did not improve hand dexterity or perceived daily use compared to hand therapy alone. The added component helps reach, not fine motor control.
• PTOTOther2020Incidence of cachexia in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer at the beginning of rehabilitation intervention.Journal of physical therapy scienceAt the start of rehabilitation, 57 of 96 advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients had cachexia and 16 had pre-cachexia. The cachexia group had lower daily living scores and worse nutrition risk, so PTs and OTs may need to consider cachexia when choosing exercise load.
• PTOTCase Report2020Design of a lightweight passive orthosis for tremor suppression.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA lightweight, inflatable wrist glove reduced tremor power by 74-82% during drinking, pouring, and drawing in one patient with Parkinson's disease. The device allows users to adjust stiffness manually, offering a potential alternative to medication for specific daily tasks.
• OTSLPQualitative2020'When my autism broke': A qualitative study spotlighting autistic voices on menopause.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic participants said menopause brought on or worsened sensory sensitivity, executive function problems, sleep problems, self-care struggles, mood difficulties and social communication strain. They described clinicians as lacking knowledge and interest, leaving them to seek peer and online support.
• PTOTOther2020Evaluation of psychometric properties of the activities of daily living scale of motor function used by caregivers using Rasch analysis.Journal of physical therapy scienceCaregivers can reliably assess a patient's need for help with daily tasks using a simplified 4-point scale. The original 7-point scale had categories that were too hard to distinguish, but collapsing them created a valid tool for tracking recovery after discharge.
• OTSurvey2020Self-care in caregivers of children with FASD: How do caregivers care for themselves, and what are the benefits and obstacles for doing so?Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregivers who felt more confident in their self-care reported greater satisfaction, lower parental distress, and more family needs met. How often they did self-care did not show the same pattern. Time, resources, and child-care were common obstacles.
• PTOTOther2020Adverse effects of the coexistence of locomotive syndrome and sarcopenia on the walking ability and performance of activities of daily living in Japanese elderly females: a cross-sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn Japanese elderly females, having both locomotive syndrome and sarcopenia was linked to slower Timed Up and Go times and worse daily activity scores than having locomotive syndrome alone or neither condition.
• PTOTOther2020Does walking the day of total hip arthroplasty speed up functional independence? A non-randomized controlled study.Archives of physiotherapyPatients who walked the day after hip replacement had higher functional independence scores at 3 days than those who started walking the next day. By 7 days only self-care remained higher, and pain and quality of life were similar.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020A comparison of two personalization and adaptive cognitive rehabilitation approaches: a randomized controlled trial with chronic stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality cognitive training improved general cognition more than paper-and-pencil tasks in chronic stroke patients. However, the VR group also used their affected arm for motor tasks, so the benefit may come from combined motor-cognitive training rather than VR alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Effects of nutritional status on prognosis in patients with severe hemiplegia who were recently admitted to a rehabilitation hospital.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients with severe hemiplegia who had normal serum albumin levels at admission achieved better walking ability and daily living independence at discharge than undernourished patients. However, age and time since stroke onset differed significantly between the two groups.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of robotic-assisted arm training for improving activities of daily living and upper limb function after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNo robotic arm training type improved daily living or arm function significantly more than others. Indirect comparisons found no clear evidence to support choosing one specific device over another for stroke recovery.
• PTOTRCT2020Effects of virtual reality associated with serious games for upper limb rehabilitation inpatients with multiple sclerosis: randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding Leap Motion virtual games to usual upper-limb therapy improved dexterity and coordination on the more affected side in MS, but not grip strength, fatigue, or quality of life compared with control.
• PTOTRCT2020Timing-dependent effects of transcranial direct current stimulation with mirror therapy on daily function and motor control in chronic stroke: a randomized controlled pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationApplying tDCS before mirror therapy improved daily activities more than doing them together or with sham. However, motor function improved similarly in all three groups, so the brain stimulation did not add benefit to physical movement recovery.
• OTCohort2019The Association between ADL Ability and Quality of Life among People with Advanced Cancer.Occupational therapy internationalObserved motor ability during daily tasks was significantly associated with higher quality of life in people with advanced cancer. Self-reported ability and observed process skills showed no significant link, though trends suggested those with higher observed motor skills reported better well-being.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Robotic assessment of rapid motor decision making in children with perinatal stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with hemiparetic cerebral palsy made more errors on a robotic task requiring rapid decisions to hit targets and avoid distractors. They hit fewer targets and more distractors than typically developing peers, showing impairments in both motor skills and inhibitory control.
• PTOTPilot2020Pilot study on comparisons between the effectiveness of mobile video-guided and paper-based home exercise programs on improving exercise adherence, self-efficacy for exercise and functional outcomes of patients with stroke with 3-month follow-up: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoStroke patients given home exercises via QR-code videos on their phones had better adherence, confidence, and walking ability after three months than those given paper pamphlets. Daily living skills did not improve more with videos. The video group started with higher function, so this pilot needs a larger trial before changing practice.
• OTOther2019Psychometric Properties of Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist (SPSRC).Occupational therapy internationalThe Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist reliably distinguishes children with autism from their peers. It identifies four self-regulation factors and four sensory processing factors, offering a structured way to assess both sensory and regulatory difficulties in daily life.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020An Exploration of Health Behaviors in a Mind-Body Resilience Intervention for Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParents of children with autism showed large reductions in fatigue despite minimal sleep increase, while parents of children with learning disabilities improved physical activity more. Both groups made small gains in healthy eating. The intervention helped fatigue and activity but did not significantly change sleep duration or diet.
• OTCohort2019Survival prediction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following a pulmonary rehabilitation programme in Hong Kong.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTCompleting pulmonary rehabilitation predicted longer survival in patients under 72. For those 72 and older, a low baseline functional task score predicted shorter survival. These findings help therapists flag patients needing more support to finish programmes or targeted functional training.
• OTOther2020The Development and Psychometric Properties of the Visuospatial Working Memory Assessment (VWMA) for Children.Occupational therapy internationalA new visuospatial working memory test for children was rated as relevant by experts and gave stable scores when repeated, but it separated children with ADHD from other children on some tasks and not all.
• OTOther2020The Validity of the Danish Version of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.Occupational therapy internationalThe Danish Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores showed no meaningful overlap with tests of health, well-being, or general occupational behavior. This confirms it captures unique client priorities that other common assessments miss, so it cannot be replaced by generic health measures.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Integument: Guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineExperts recommend daily skin checks for people with spina bifida, focusing on weight-bearing areas and insensate skin. Care plans vary by age, shifting from caregiver-led inspections in infants to self-management and pressure-relief routines in older children and adults.
• OTOther2020Work-focused therapy for common mental disorders: A naturalistic study comparing an intervention group with a waitlist control group.Work (Reading, Mass.)Work-focused therapy combined with CBT or MCT helped more patients on sick leave return fully to work than waiting: 41.4% versus 26.3%. It also improved mood, anxiety and work confidence, but the groups were not randomised.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Self-management and independence guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineStart building self-management and independence in infancy through small daily choices, chores, and condition-care tasks, increasing gradually with family support. These spina bifida guidelines offer practical steps, not proof that any single approach works.
• PTOTNarrative Review2020Urologic guidelines for the care and management of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineExpert consensus suggests a specific schedule of ultrasounds, urodynamics and blood tests from birth through adulthood to protect kidney function. These recommendations are not based on evidence from trials, so treat them as a starting point for discussion rather than a proven standard.
• OTQualitative2020Behaviour Change Domains Likely to Influence Occupational Therapist Use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.Occupational therapy internationalExperienced occupational therapists said client characteristics and anticipated client reactions were the strongest social influence on COPM use. They also described conflicting confidence, skills, and a preference for individual assessment, not team direction.
• OTOther2020Bowel function and care: Guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineConsensus guidelines recommend a stepwise approach to bowel management in spina bifida, starting with diet and fluids before moving to medications or surgery. The goal is social continence without constipation, tailored to the patient's age and abilities.
• OTOther2020A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study of Manipulative Dexterity on Different Subtypes of Multiple Sclerosis.Occupational therapy internationalPeople with relapsing-remitting, primary progressive and secondary progressive MS all showed poor hand dexterity. Subtype differences were not clear except on one hand test. A hand test predicted up to 21.8% of how able participants felt in daily tasks.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2020A Strength-Based Intervention to Increase Participation in Leisure Activities in Children with Neuropsychiatric Disabilities: A Pilot Study.Occupational therapy internationalTwo boys with autism and ADHD set their own leisure goals. They reached these goals and rated their own ability higher. However, the intervention was time-consuming for staff, and the small number of participants means we cannot know if this works for others.
• OTCohort2020Eating and Grooming Abilities Predict Outcomes in Patients with Early Middle Cerebral Infarction: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Occupational therapy internationalEarly eating and grooming ability, along with hand recovery stage, helped predict whether people after middle cerebral artery stroke went home rather than to another facility. Clinicians can observe these simple bedside tasks soon after admission.
• OTOther2020Looking into the Content of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM): A Danish Cross-Sectional Study.Occupational therapy internationalDanish clients prioritized many issues that were basic tasks or actions rather than full occupations. This blurs the line between what the client wants to do and the underlying skills needed, risking that the assessment measures performance components instead of the intended construct of occupational engagement.
• PTOTCohort2020Interaction between locomotion and three subcategories for patients with stroke demonstrating fewer than 37 points on the total functional independence measure upon admission to the recovery ward.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn severe stroke patients, walking ability did not improve all self-care equally. Greater gains in walking were linked to better dressing and toileting, but not eating or bathing. Therapists should target specific self-care tasks rather than assuming walking training fixes them all.
• OTRCT2020Long-term employment status and quality of life after cancer: A longitudinal prospective cohort study from diagnosis up to and including 5 years post diagnosis.Work (Reading, Mass.)Among cancer survivors employed at diagnosis, 48 of 65 were employed at 5 years. Those employed reported better overall quality of life, physical functioning, and pain. This is an association, not proof employment caused better quality of life.
• OTCohort2020Learning and Development of Diagnostic Reasoning in Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Students.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapy students get better at spotting performance problems as they progress, but struggle to link symptoms to causes. Few can build a full diagnosis, relying on single variables instead of complex interactions, which risks misdirected treatment.
• PTOTCohort2020Musculoskeletal Pain Outcomes Pre- and Post Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Implant in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Prospective Cohort Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn 32 children with cerebral palsy, parent-reported musculoskeletal pain duration and constant pain decreased after baclofen pump implant. Pain intensity, episode frequency, interference, and spasticity did not change.
• PTOTCohort2020Relationship between upper limb motor function and activities of daily living after removing the influence of lower limb motor function in subacute patients with stroke: A cross-sectional study.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTUpper limb motor function correlates with total ADL independence, but this link weakens significantly once lower limb function is accounted for. Only specific self-care tasks and stair climbing remain associated with upper limb strength after removing lower limb influence.
• OTPilot2020Effects of peripheral nerve stimulation on paralysed upper limb functional recovery in chronic stroke patients undergoing low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and occupational therapy: A pilot study.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTAdding peripheral nerve stimulation to occupational therapy improved hand motor scores, but the primary measure of functional object manipulation showed no difference between groups. The benefit was seen only in a secondary hand-specific test.
• OTRCT2021Cognitive oriented strategy training augmented rehabilitation (COSTAR) for ischemic stroke: a pilot exploratory randomized controlled study.Disability and rehabilitationAdding cognitive strategy training to task-specific stroke rehab showed no advantage over task-specific training alone. Both groups improved similarly on primary outcomes, though dropout was high. The added cognitive components did not produce measurable gains in activity performance or maintenance at follow-up.
• PTOTCohort2021Vocational Rehabilitation with or without Work Module for Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Sick Leave from Work: Longitudinal Impact on Work Participation.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAdding a work module to vocational rehabilitation was associated with higher work participation at 6 months, but not at discharge. The study was observational with high dropout, so this suggests a benefit rather than proving it.
• PTOTCohort2020Predicting Long-Term Sickness Absence and Identifying Subgroups Among Individuals Without an Employment Contract.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThree questions predict who stays sick-listed for a year: education level, expected absence duration, and help-seeking ability. Workers expecting absence over three months or lacking help-seeking skills are high risk. Four subgroups emerged, with those holding negative expectations needing the most return-to-work support.
• OTSystematic Review2020Return to Work for Mental Ill-Health: A Scoping Review Exploring the Impact and Role of Return-to-Work Coordinators.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEvidence on return-to-work coordinators for mental health is sparse. Coordinators did not consistently improve return-to-work rates and sometimes took longer than conventional care. Their specific strategies are poorly described, and no study checked if mental health itself improved.
• OTCohort2020The Predictive Value of Return to Work Self-efficacy for Return to Work Among Employees with Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy.Journal of occupational rehabilitationBelief in one's ability to return to work did not predict actual return to work in employees with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Once sex and treatment intent were accounted for, this self-efficacy score added no predictive value. Sex and palliative treatment were the stronger predictors.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Motivational Interviewing and Return to Work for People with Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Mapping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEvidence on motivational interviewing for return to work in musculoskeletal disorders is limited and inconsistent. One small study found no benefit, while a larger study showed improved return to work for those unemployed at baseline. Neither study isolated the effect of motivational interviewing from other rehabilitation components.
• PTOTOther2021Reliability and Validity of a New Transfer Assessment Form for Stroke Patients.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationThe new Bed-wheelchair transfer Tasks Assessment Form breaks transferring into 25 subtasks, letting therapists pinpoint exactly where a patient needs help. It showed good reliability among raters and identified specific problem steps that standard global scores miss.
• OTQualitative2021Enhanced Capacity to Act: Managers' Perspectives When Participating in a Dialogue-Based Workplace Intervention for Employee Return to Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationManagers involved in a workplace dialogue alongside group cognitive behavioral therapy in a multimodal program described building competence, adjusting work tasks, making written plans, and sharing responsibility. They saw these as useful for return-to-work conversations.
• OTRCT2021Effectiveness of a Tailored Work-Related Support Intervention for Patients Diagnosed with Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEarly tailored work support did not significantly reduce time off work for gastrointestinal cancer patients. The study was underpowered, but patients receiving support returned to work in a median of 190 days compared to 233 days for usual care.
• OTQualitative2021Barriers That Obstruct Return to Work After Coronary Bypass Surgery: A Qualitative Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPatients after coronary bypass surgery reported that a lack of clear advice from healthcare professionals was a major barrier to returning to work. Many felt abandoned after cardiac rehabilitation ended, with no guidance on how to resume their jobs safely.
• PTOTRCT2021Evaluation of the enhanced upper limb therapy programme within the Robot-Assisted Training for the Upper Limb after Stroke trial: descriptive analysis of intervention fidelity, goal selection and goal achievement.Clinical rehabilitationStroke survivors chose eating, dressing and range-of-motion goals most often. Overall, only 51% of goals were achieved. Those under three months post-stroke achieved 73-88%, but those with severe arm limitation over a year post-stroke achieved just 27%, especially for self-care tasks.
• PTOTQualitative2020Users with spinal cord injury experience of robotic Locomotor exoskeletons: a qualitative study of the benefits, limitations, and recommendations.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with spinal cord injury valued exoskeletons for therapy and the psychological boost of standing at eye level. However, they found the devices too costly, bulky, and dependent on a companion for independent home or community use. They prioritized lighter, faster designs with fall protection.