Occupational Therapy News and Research

RSS

Research: Patients with obesity have higher risk of infection after heart bypass surgery

Patients with obesity have a higher risk of infection within 30 days after receiving heart bypass surgery, according to a series of studies conducted by University of Alberta researchers at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.

19 Jun 2017

Older people with persistent pain more likely to develop dementia

Researchers at UC San Francisco have found that older people with persistent pain show quicker declines in memory as they age and are more likely to have dementia years later, an indication that chronic pain could somehow be related to changes in the brain that contribute to dementia.

5 Jun 2017

Clinical study tests 100-year-old drug in children with autism spectrum disorder

In a small, randomized Phase I/II clinical trial (SAT1), researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine say a 100-year-old drug called suramin, originally developed to treat African sleeping sickness, was safely administered to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who subsequently displayed measurable, but transient, improvement in core symptoms of autism.

26 May 2017

Study reveals unmet education and training needs for outdoor fall prevention among older adults

Many older adults have fallen outdoors but lack an understanding of the risks for falling and how to prevent them, warranting efforts for outdoor fall prevention, finds a new study by New York University researchers.

19 May 2017

Intento's system allows patient to take the lead in stroke rehabilitation

Every year, 17 million people worldwide suffer strokes, and a third are left paralyzed on one side of their body. But current rehabilitation solutions are not always effective in improving mobility declines after the first few months.

9 May 2017

First-ever communication App launched for immobilized patients

A team of young international tech entrepreneurs with the support of hospitals in France, Luxembourg and Switzerland launched the first and only communication App dedicated to people with severe physical disabilities.

21 Apr 2017

Spine surgery helps 5-year-old with cerebral palsy to make strides

Bhoomi Manjunatha, 5, has been able to rely less on her walker and wheelchair, and more on her own two feet, because of a surgery performed at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Her hard work and determination in physical and occupational therapy post-surgery has also helped Bhoomi continue to make strides.

20 Apr 2017

New app offers support to clinicians on rehabilitation strategies for stroke patients

A new, first-of-its-kind app is now available to support clinicians with decisions on best practice rehabilitation strategies for patients with arm impairment due to stroke.

12 Apr 2017

USAHS experts to present key occupational therapy research at AOTA Annual Conference

University of St. Augustine Health Sciences, a leading graduate institution that emphasizes health science education through innovative classroom education, is proud to announce that several faculty members will be presenting key research at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference & Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia, March 30 - April 2.

31 Mar 2017

In-home occupational therapy reduces depression symptoms in patients with impaired vision

Johns Hopkins researchers report that in-home occupational therapy appears to reduce the rate and severity of depression in people at higher risk for the disorder because of seriously impaired vision.

8 Mar 2017

Study focuses on sound exposure for premature babies in neonatal intensive care units

Premature babies often spend the first several weeks of life in neonatal intensive care units, where, ideally, they are protected from too much noise stimulation. However, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that preemies may be exposed to noise levels higher than those deemed safe by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

8 Feb 2017

People with autism see interests as possible fields of study and career paths

Adults on the autism spectrum see their interests as possible fields of study and career paths, as well as ways to mitigate anxiety, finds a study by NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

2 Feb 2017

SLU expert suggests viewing exercise as daily contribution that offers cumulative health benefits

Have you already faltered on your New Year's resolution to exercise regularly in 2017? Joined a gym, but only worked out two days so far? New workout gear still neatly folded with tags attached? Don't give up your admirable ambition just yet. Instead, consider a new attitude to refocus your approach toward your exercise goal.

10 Jan 2017

Occupational therapy holds potential to provide clinical benefits to dementia patients

A French observational study in real life showed that dementia patients benefiting from occupational therapy sessions report relevant clinical benefits over the intervention period, according to a research study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease this month.

22 Dec 2016

Intensive multidisciplinary intervention holds benefit for children with pediatric feeding disorders

A new study finds positive outcomes associated with intensive multidisciplinary treatment for children with pediatric feeding disorder who may require a feeding tube to support growth and development.

11 Nov 2016

Second annual conference at UofL focuses on improving access to quality health care for adults with IDD

Thanks to advances in medical science and a highly developed network of specialized pediatric health care services, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are much more likely to live into adulthood than they were several decades ago.

1 Nov 2016

Frailty screening could help improve outcomes in older surgery patients

Identifying frailty in older patients could increase their chances of surviving surgery, as well as improve their overall outcomes, according to a new study posted online today in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

6 Oct 2016

Older patients feel voiceless in decision-making process for dialysis, study finds

Starting dialysis treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) should be a shared decision made by an informed patient based on discussions with a physician and family members.

31 Aug 2016

Adults with moderate to severe TBI may be at greater risk of death from unintentional injuries

Research examining adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) who participated in rehabilitation showed that they were twice as likely to die from an unintentional injury that occurred following their TBI.

29 Aug 2016

SSRI treatment improves cognitive and social functioning in young children with fragile X

Treatment with sertraline may provide nominal but important improvements in cognition and social participation in very young children with fragile X syndrome, the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and the leading single-gene cause of autism, a study by researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute has found.

26 Aug 2016