Occupational Therapy in Athletics and Sports: A Scoping Review

Despite the growing recognition of sports as meaningful occupations, occupational therapy's contributions regarding specific populations, intervention approaches, and outcome measures remain underexplored.

To map evidence on the characterization of occupational therapy in sports and types of occupational therapy interventions provided to support participation, recovery, and performance in sports-related settings.

A search was conducted across CINAHL, EBSCO, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases, covering studies published from 2000 to 2024.

Peer-reviewed studies were included if they discussed occupational therapy's role in sports, including leisure and competitive contexts, with interventions focusing on recovery, rehabilitation, or performance enhancement. Data were charted to identify key themes, study characteristics, populations, interventions, and outcomes.

Thirteen studies were included. Occupational therapy in sports was characterized by its holistic focus on physical, emotional, and social rehabilitation, particularly in adaptive and competitive contexts. Interventions included assistive technology, education, and client-centered approaches, with reported outcomes such as improved quality of life, athletic performance, and psychosocial well-being. Barriers included resource limitations and stigma.

Occupational therapy plays a multifaceted role in sports, enhancing participation, recovery, and performance through client-centered and adaptive interventions. Addressing systemic barriers and expanding culturally tailored approaches can further advance occupational therapy's integration into sports contexts. Future research should focus on underrepresented populations and long-term intervention outcomes to strengthen evidence-based practice. Plain-Language Summary: Occupational therapy helps athletes and sports participants recover, perform, and engage meaningfully in sports activities. This study reviews evidence on how occupational therapy supports sports participation, including using adaptive tools and education to improve performance and quality of life. Occupational therapy can address athletes' physical and emotional challenges, but more research is needed to expand occupational therapy's role in diverse sports settings and ensure accessibility for all.