Occupational therapy activities and intervention techniques for clients with stroke in six rehabilitation hospitals.

OBJECTIVE. To prospectively monitor occupational therapy activities and intervention techniques used during inpatient stroke rehabilitation in order to provide a description of current clinical practice. METHODS. Data were collected prospectively from 954 clients with stroke receiving occupational therapy from six U.S. rehabilitation hospitals. Descriptive statistics summarized frequency, intensity, and duration of occupational therapy sessions; proportion of time spent in 16 therapeutic activities; and proportion of those activities that included any of 31 interventions. RESULTS. Clients received on average 11.8 days (SD = 7.2) of occupational therapy, with each session lasting on average 39.4 min (SD = 16.9). Upper-extremity control (22.9% of treatment time) and dressing (14.2% of treatment time) were the most frequently provided activities. Interventions provided most frequently during upper-extremity control activities were strengthening, motor learning, and postural awareness. CONCLUSION. Occupational therapy provided reflected an integration of treatment approaches. Upper-extremity control and basic activities of daily living were the most frequent activities. A small proportion of sessions addressed community integration.