title: Effectiveness of interventions to improve occupational performance of people with motor impairments after stroke: an evidence-based review.
abstract: We conducted a review to determine the effectiveness of interventions to improve occupational performance in people with motor impairments after stroke as part of the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Project. One hundred forty-nine studies met inclusion criteria. Findings related to key outcomes from select interventions are presented. Results suggest that a variety of effective interventions are available to improve occupational performance after stroke. Evidence suggests that repetitive task practice, constraint-induced or modified constraint-induced movement therapy, strengthening and exercise, mental practice, virtual reality, mirror therapy, and action observation can improve upper-extremity function, balance and mobility, and/or activity and participation. Commonalities among several of the effective interventions include the use of goal-directed, individualized tasks that promote frequent repetitions of task-related or task-specific movements.
authors.affiliation: Dawn M. Nilsen, EdD, OTL, is Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Occupational Therapy), Columbia University, New York, NY; dmn12@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: Glen Gillen, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Occupational Therapy), Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gillen
authors.affiliation: Daniel Geller, MS, MPH, OTR/L, Kimberly Hreha, OTR/L, Ellen Osei, MS, OTR/L, and Ghazala T. Saleem, MS, OTR/L, are Doctoral Students, Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.affiliation: Daniel Geller, MS, MPH, OTR/L, Kimberly Hreha, OTR/L, Ellen Osei, MS, OTR/L, and Ghazala T. Saleem, MS, OTR/L, are Doctoral Students, Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hreha
authors.affiliation: Daniel Geller, MS, MPH, OTR/L, Kimberly Hreha, OTR/L, Ellen Osei, MS, OTR/L, and Ghazala T. Saleem, MS, OTR/L, are Doctoral Students, Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osei
authors.affiliation: Daniel Geller, MS, MPH, OTR/L, Kimberly Hreha, OTR/L, Ellen Osei, MS, OTR/L, and Ghazala T. Saleem, MS, OTR/L, are Doctoral Students, Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Ghazala T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Saleem
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome