Importance: This systematic review summarizes existing studies on dry needling for spasticity and range of motion (ROM) and discusses its potential for use as an occupational therapy intervention. Objective: To examine existing studies on the effects of dry needling on spasticity and ROM. Data Sources: Article citations and abstracts from Scopus, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, and a university library search. Study Selection and Data Collection: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used in abstracting data. Peer-reviewed journal articles published in English between January 2007 and June 2019 were searched. Of 270 identified studies, 10 met the inclusion criteria. Studies were divided into categories on the basis of outcome measures (Modified Modified Ashworth Scale and ROM). Pain outcome measures were excluded because a systematic review addressing this outcome has recently been completed. Findings: Strong evidence was found to support the use of dry needling to decrease spasticity and increase ROM. Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review suggests that dry needling is an effective physical agent modality to decrease spasticity and increase ROM, both of which are potentially beneficial to functional outcomes. What This Article Adds: This article provides information that may be helpful in determining the appropriateness of dry needling as an occupational therapy intervention.

Date Presented 03/27/20 Researchers conducted a systematic review that analyzed leisure participation among individuals with ASD between the ages of 6 and 22. Physical, recreational, and social leisure were examined. Results showed that as individuals transition from childhood to adolescence, there is a decline in the amount of leisure participation. Clinicians can utilize these results to guide their practices and maximize outcomes within this population to increase leisure engagement. Primary Author and Speaker: Cassondra Salmons Additional Authors and Speakers: Brittney Crane Contributing Authors: Claudia Hilton, Emily Mueller, Brady Prindle, Hannah Doggett

Date Presented 03/26/20 Individuals with ASD frequently have difficulty with executive function (EF) and fitness. EF contributes to success in school and work and allows people to manage the stresses of and barriers to daily life activities. Participation in a daily physical exercise program significantly improved executive function and fitness among adolescents with ASD, suggesting the importance of developing, enabling, and supporting daily physical activity programs in school practice. Primary Author and Speaker: Claudia Hilton Additional Authors and Speakers: Karen Ratcliff Contributing Authors: Diane Collins, Julie Jones

Date Presented 03/26/20 The 2011 Survey of Pathways to Diagnosis and Services includes 15 sensory items that could inform tailored therapeutic interventions established by OTs. However, these items have not been validated as a measure. Based on psychometric analyses, this study concluded that all 15 items were adequately explained by the general sensory factor and one of four sensory factors: (1) sensory seeking; (2) sensory avoidant; (3) disorganized/overreactive; and (4) repetitive behaviors. Primary Author and Speaker: Mi Jung Lee Additional Authors and Speakers: Ickpyo Hong Contributing Authors: Karen Ratcliff, Claudia Hilton

Importance: Few studies examining the use of peers during interventions have been published, and no systematic review has been conducted to evaluate the available literature. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of social skills interventions incorporating peers for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to improve social interactions. Data Sources: A search of five databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO) produced 697 articles. Sixty-one were retrieved for full-text review, and 15 articles met inclusion criteria. Study Selection and Data Collection: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to abstract data. Inclusion criteria: Participants younger than age 18 yr with any ADHD pattern, social skills interventions with peer involvement, outcome measures within the domain of occupational therapy, written in English, and involved a peer as the sole or primary component at some point in the social skills intervention. Exclusion criteria: Studies older than 20 yr or that used participants with comorbidities or multiple conditions. Findings: Interventions incorporating both peer categories were effective for increasing play skills, reducing undesirable social behaviors (e.g., inappropriate verbalizations, dominant behaviors, aggression), and improving communication (e.g., pragmatic language, collaboration, joint participation) and social participation. Improvements were maintained over time, as evidenced by follow-up studies. Conclusions and Relevance: Outcomes of these studies demonstrate moderate evidence that supports the use of social skills interventions incorporating peers for children with ADHD to improve social interactions, supporting their use by occupational therapists and the need for more studies. What This Article Adds: This article provides guidance to occupational therapy practitioners on social skills intervention options for children with ADHD.

Date Presented 04/06/19 Flourishing, an indicator of positive mental health, is important for children’s development and well-being. Behavioral contributors to flourishing, independent of environment, were examined in a large data set of children from age 6 to 17 years. Children with ASD had significantly lower odds of flourishing and demonstrating the behavioral tendencies compared to controls, confirming the early need to address positive emotions and positive affect for these individuals. Primary Author and Speaker: Claudia Hilton Additional Authors and Speakers: Karen Ratcliff, Diane Collins, Joanne Flanagan, Ickpyo Hong

Date Presented 04/04/19 Leisure activity participation is important for health and well-being. This study examined differences between children with autism spectrum disorders and controls from 6 to 17 years old in a large national database. An increasing disparity among many types of leisure participation was seen as age increased. This reinforces the importance of intervention at an early age to increase participation in these activities to promote development of skills that contribute to adult competencies. Primary Author and Speaker: Claudia Hilton Additional Authors and Speakers: Karen Ratcliff, Ickpyo Hong

Date Presented 3/31/2017 This study used a linear regression model to examine the ability of sensory responsiveness patterns to predict social severity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Findings substantiated sensory quadrant scores as contributors to strong predictive models of social responsiveness. Primary Author and Speaker: Claudia Hilton Contributing Authors: James Graham

Date Presented 4/10/2016 The enjoyment experienced during engagement in certain leisure activities is not consistent between typically developing children and those with autism spectrum disorder. This paper describes research findings about those differences and their implications for treatment. Primary Author and Speaker: Claudia Hilton Additional Authors and Speakers: Megan Eversole, Diane Collins

Date Presented 4/17/2015 This presentation describes findings of improved response speed, executive function, and motor skills in a pilot study examining the effects of participating in the Makoto Arena (an exergame) on 17 high-functioning, school-age children with autism spectrum disorder.