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Background: Job satisfaction is a highly useful factor in maintaining a successful work life for the disabled. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate how job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities evolves over time, and to identify predictive factors that influence the trajectory of job satisfaction. Methods: A longitudinal data analysis using the three-year databases of the 2016–2018 Employment Panel Survey for the Disabled (n = 693). A latent growth curve model analysis was conducted to determine the trajectory of the job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities, as well as the predictive factors affecting it. Results: Job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities increased over time, and there were substantial individual differences in the trajectory of the job satisfaction. The significant predictors for the job satisfaction over the three years were degree of disability, computer usage ability, employment support services, and experience of discrimination. Gender, educational background, interpersonal relationship/organizational adaptability, convenience facilities for the disabled, job suitability, disability acceptability, and self-esteem had a considerable impact on the intercept of the job satisfaction, but not on the slope. Conclusion: The findings would inform healthcare providers to establish mid-to-long-term vocational rehabilitation intervention plans that could increase the job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities.

Background Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach based on cognitive strategy in occupational therapy. Objectives To investigate the effects of CO-OP approach on occupational performance in individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Methods This study was designed as a 5-week, randomized, single-blind. Forty-three participants who had a diagnosis of first stroke were enrolled in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 20) or the control group (n = 23). The experimental group conducted CO-OP approach while the control group conducted conventional occupational therapy based on occupational performance components. This study measured Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Performance Quality Rating Scale (PQRS). Outcome measurements were performed at baseline and post-intervention. Results After training, the scores of COPM and PQRS in trained task were significantly higher for the score in the experimental group than the control group. In addition, the non-trained task was significantly higher for the score in the experimental group than the control group in COPM and the PQRS. Conclusions This study suggests that the CO-OP approach is beneficial effects on the occupational performance to improvement in individuals with hemiparetic stroke, and have positive effects on generalization and transfer of acquired skills.

Background Hemiplegic cerebral palsy is a neurological symptom appearing on the unilateral arm and leg of the body that causes affected upper/lower limb muscle weakening and dysesthesia and accompanies tetany and difficulties in postural control due to abnormal muscle tone, and difficulties in body coordination. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of virtual reality-based bilateral arm training on the motor skills of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, in terms of their upper limb motor skills on the affected side, as well as their bilateral coordination ability. Methods The research subjects were three children who were diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The research followed an ABA design, which was a single-subject experimental design. The procedure consisted of a total of 20 sessions, including four during the baseline period (A1), 12 during the intervention period (B), and four during the baseline regression period (A2), For the independent variable bilateral arm training based on virtual reality, Nintendo Wii game was played for 30 minutes in each of the 12 sessions. For the dependent variables of upper limb motor skills on the affected side and bilateral coordination ability, a Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) was carried out for each session and the Pediatric Motor Activity Log (PMAL) was measured before and after the intervention, as well as after the baseline regression period. To test bilateral coordination ability, shooting baskets in basketball with both hands and moving large light boxes were carried out under operational definitions, with the number of shots and time needed to move boxes measured. The results were presented using visual graphs and bar graphs. Results The study's results indicated that after virtual reality-based bilateral arm training, improvement occurred in upper limb motor skills on the affected sides, and in bilateral coordination ability, for all of the research subjects. Measurements of the effects of sustained therapy after completion of the intervention, during the baseline regression period, revealed that upper limb motor skills on the affected side and bilateral coordination ability were better than in the baseline period for all subjects. Conclusion This study confirmed that for children with hemiplegic with cerebral palsy, bilateral arm training based on virtual reality can be an effective intervention method for enhancing the upper limb motor skills on the affected side, as well as bilateral coordination ability.

BACKGROUND Stroke patients have major problems with impaired upper-extremity function. Unfortunately, many patients do not experience a full recovery from movement deficits in the upper extremities. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of inter-limb learning transfer (ILT) to the contralateral upper limb after both hemisphere-specific and -unspecific ipsilateral upper limb training for stroke patients with hemiparesis. METHODS Twenty-four stroke patients with hemiparesis participated. The hemisphere-specific training group performed reaching movements in a customized training setting in which non-dominant limb training participants began from a single starting location and proceeded to one of three target locations (1S3T condition); the dominant limb training participants started from one of three starting locations and proceeded to a single target location (3S1T condition). The hemisphere-unspecific training group performed these movements starting under reverse-start and target conditions. RESULTS The non-dominant to dominant limb transfer, the hemisphere-specific training group performance time decreased significantly as compared with the pre-training session (p < 0.05). Also, the isolation contraction ratio was decreased significantly from that of the pre-training session in the biceps brachii muscles and increased significantly in the upper trapezius muscles (p < 0.05). And, dominant to non-dominant limb transfer in the hemisphere-specific training group significantly increased RMS amplitudes from the pre-training session in the biceps brachii and triceps muscles (p < 0.05). Also, the isolation contraction ratio was increased significantly from that of the pre-training session in the biceps brachii muscles and decreased significantly in the upper trapezius muscles (p < 0.05). However, the hemisphere-unspecific training group showed no significant differences in inter-limb learning transfer (ILT). CONCLUSION The transfer of hemisphere-specific training from one arm to the other had a more positive influence on functional recovery than did hemisphere-unspecific training for patients with stroke and hemiparesis.

Objective Meta-analysis was conducted to examine effects of OT interventions based on sensory stimulation, environmental modification and functional task activity on the behavioral problems and depression of individual with dementia. Search strategy An extensive search in database such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, ProQuest Medical Library, and Cochrane and OT related 11 journals was performed. Selection criteria Potential studies were identified through the Keywords dementia or Alzheimer, randomized controlled trials and occupational therapy or occupational therapist or ADL or sensory stimulation or Snoezelen or environmental modification or education for caregivers. Data collection and analysis Two reviewers independently identified studies, extracted data, assessed methodological quality of the studies. Effect size was estimated using standardized mean difference with 95% confidence intervals. Significant heterogeneity and publication bias were investigated. Main results Nine studies including 751 people were selected. Sensory stimulation was effective intervention in improving behavioral problems (0.32; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.59). Conclusion This review identified that OT intervention based on sensory stimulation was effective intervention to improve behavioral problems. However, the number of studies included in this review is limited. More research is needed to enable evidence-based OT for dementia patients.

Objective: Meta analysis of studies was carried out to examine the effectiveness of functional task training with mental practice on functional performance following stroke. Search strategy: An exhaustive search was conducted using computerized databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and EBSCO (CINAHL). Selection criteria: The search was performed using the following keywords: stroke, functional task, mental practice, randomized controlled trial. Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers independently retrieved appropriate RCTs, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of each study. Selected studies needed to report the statistical values necessary for calculating the effect size, which was estimated using the standardized difference of the mean. Statistical heterogeneity and publication bias were also investigated. Results :T hefive studies included 146 participants. The overall effect size was moderate (0.51, p< 0.001). The 95% confidence interval was from 0.27 to 0.75. Significant heterogeneity and publications bias were not founded. Conclusion: The present study is the first meta-analysis conducted on the effectiveness of functional task training with mental practice in stroke. The results indicate the clinical effectiveness of functional task training with mental practice provided by occupational and physical therapists in stroke rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to detect any differences in electromyographic (EMG) activity in the neck and shoulder muscles while performing simulated orchard work with and without neck support. PARTICIPANTS Fourteen healthy orchard harvesters (eight men and six women) who had no functional disorder of the neck or upper limbs and had never received orthopedic surgery were recruited. METHODS A repeated-measures design was used. The subjects were asked to perform simulated orchard work with and without neck support. The EMG activities of the anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, upper trapezius, and triceps brachii (lateral head) muscles during the two conditions were analyzed using paired t-tests. RESULTS The EMG activity of the anterior deltoid and middle deltoid muscles increased significantly and that of the upper trapezius muscles decreased significantly when the working with a neck support compared to without it (p < 0.05). Wearing a neck support may prevent overuse of the upper trapezius muscles by encouraging shoulder elevation and activating the deltoid muscles. The activation of these muscles decreases scapular movement and the results in greater stabilization of scapulohumeral rhythm. CONCLUSIONS The appropriate application of a neck support may be helpful in preventing disorders of the neck and shoulder muscles resulting from long-term intensive orchard work, however long term application of such support is necessary before definitive information is available.