BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is common amongst garment workers due to awkward postures, and repetitive or forceful movements. Chronic pain can have a negative impact on the mental health and quality of life of workers, leading to a decrease in productivity. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a time efficient, cost-effective and simple technique that can be used by workers at their workstations to address musculoskeletal pain. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the immediate effect of PMR on the pain and well-being of garment workers with musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: A single-group pretest-posttest design was used. Data were collected in two sessions with the workers (n=24). During the first session, consent was obtained, eligibility was determined, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was administered. During the second session, the pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Stellenbosch Mood Scale (STEMS) were administered before and immediately after the PMR intervention. The intervention was offered by final year occupational therapy students in Cape Town, South Africa. RESULTS: PHQ-9 scores showed more than half the participants (n=15) presented with symptoms of depression requiring monitoring or intervention. Pain VAS scores indicated that PMR substantially decreased musculoskeletal pain (m difference = 2.67, p <.001, Cohen's d = 1.74). The STEMS showed a moderate improvement in mental wellbeing immediately after the intervention (Cohen's d = 0.34 to 0.90). CONCLUSION: PMR was effective at reducing musculoskeletal pain and improving the mood of garment workers with musculoskeletal pain. PMR is potentially a feasible intervention for workers to use while at their workstations in resource-constrained environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: • A single session of PMR can be used to immediately improve musculoskeletal pain and wellbeing. • PMR can be used on its own or in combination with other modalities. • PMR scripts can be shortened, translated and recorded; and then shared with clients via WhatsApp so that they can use it themselves. • This is an effective, low-resource, quick intervention that can be useful for workplaces where pain and mental distress are common.
Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder often have limited engagement in daily activities, particularly in low‑resource settings. This study aimed to evaluate whether individualised therapist-led intervention increases activity participation, enjoyment, and playfulness among children with autism compared with standard group-based care. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at two centres involving 86 children with autism spectrum disorder (n=86), aged 3–12 years. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 43) which received 9 months’ one-to-one instruction or a comparison group (n = 43) which received standard care. The Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment, Children's Preferences for Activities, and the Test of Playfulness were used to evaluate the children both before and after the intervention. Results: Significant, statistically robust improvements were observed with one-on-one instruction in some activities. Participation increased across domains with the largest effects for quiet recreation and hobbies (Cohen’s d ≈1.0–1.2; p<0.001) while enjoyment (p = 0.046, d = 0.45, ηp² = 0.21) and a marked improvement of playfulness (p<0.001). Preference shifts occurred within the intervention group but were not significantly different from controls after covariate adjustment. Conclusion: Individualised one‑to‑one instruction yielded meaningful participation gains and is promising for low‑resource settings. Future research should include fidelity measurement, longer follow‑up, and a larger sample to confirm effectiveness. Implications for Practice · One-to-one instruction should be considered as an effective option in clinical and school settings to increase participation and playfulness for children with autism spectrum disorder · Routine use of validated tools and fidelity audits is recommended to monitor outcomes, detect preference shifts, and guide individualised goal setting. · Interventions should target playfulness (extent, intensity, and skilfulness) alongside participation frequency because improvements in play quality drive meaningful engagement. · Pilot one-to-one instructional programmes in district centres, funding staff, training, and monitoring to broaden access in low-resource settings.
Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 54 children globally. South African estimates suggest that approximately 2% of the population has the condition. The persistent nature of ASD characteristics requires an enduring commitment of care from the entire family. Despite the positive experiences equated with raising a child with ASD, families experience stress and reduced mental and emotional well-being. Both the positive and less favourable aspects of ASD influence typically developing siblings within the family unit. This study explored the perspectives of typically developing siblings who live in the same household as their sibling with ASD. Methods: The qualitative design allowed for the collection of in-depth data via semi-structured interviews. Participants aged seven years and older were recruited to participate in the study. The necessary permissions, consent and assents were obtained. Thematic analysis using an inductive approach was used to analyse the data. Findings: The findings revealed that siblings coped with challenging behaviours from the child with ASD, communication difficulties, limited time with parents, and resource limitations regarding support and skill acquisition. However, they adapted to these challenges by developing coping strategies and being self-driven to understand ASD. Conclusion: Siblings are integral to the family unit. Further research into their lived experiences and needs is prudent. Implications for practice Family-centred occupational therapy should address the unique needs of siblings in families with a child with ASD, which imposes significant challenges on family dynamics. This study provides the following insights for research and intervention: • Insights into sibling experiences and coping strategies can inform targeted interventions for siblings. • Siblings, alongside parents, may reinforce therapeutic strategies at home, enhancing intervention outcomes. • Further research is needed in culturally diverse contexts, particularly in South Africa, to optimise occupational therapy for families with autistic children.
Introduction: This rapid review synthesised global evidence on occupational therapy intervention practices for neonatal care to inform occupational therapy practice within national health policies. Neonatal care refers to early intervention for premature or at-risk newborn infants. Methods: Searches were conducted of the Cochrane, Medline, CINAHL, and Academic OneFile databases through keyword searches. Systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that qualified as Level I and II studies, published in peer-reviewed journals from January 2015 to August 2025, were included for screening. Screenings took place in Rayyan.ai first by title and abstract by two reviewers, and then by full text. Conflicts were resolved by a third reviewer. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists for systematic reviews and RCTs were used for bias and quality control. The records included in the study were systematically analysed, and the resulting data were plotted using a customised Excel worksheet. Results: Nine records were included for analysis, focusing on the following interventions: family-focused care, sensory-focused oral-motor interventions, management of tone, interventions for obstetric brachial plexus injuries, multisensory stimulation and priming, and the effect of neonatal therapy interventions on the development of premature infants. A strong focus on family involvement was present. Intervention took place on a primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare levels where the occupational therapist was part of a specialised team. Short and possible long-term outcomes were described for all developmental domains. Conclusion: Strong global evidence confirms that occupational therapists are vital members of specialist neonatal teams across all healthcare levels. They provide crucial care to infants for overall development and support families through education and training.
