TOPIC

Neurological research

Everything we have read on neurological. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

2,792 PAPERS · PAGE 18 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Factors Associated with Risk of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia in Patients with Dysphagia: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaProphylactic antibiotics did not reduce pneumonia risk. Metoclopramide and multidisciplinary swallowing care appeared protective, but data were limited. PPI use was linked to higher risk. Nasogastric tube evidence was inconsistent. Mobility and dysphagia severity were strong risk markers.
• PTOTOther2021Inception cohort of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study (SwiSCI): Design, participant characteristics, response rates and non-response.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThis cohort describes newly injured spinal cord patients but has a 47.5% response rate. Participants were younger, male, and more independent than non-responders. Treat findings as representative of those who engaged, not all patients.
• PTOTCohort2021Evidence for a Window of Enhanced Plasticity in the Human Motor Cortex Following Ischemic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn people after mild to moderate ischemic stroke, a brain-stimulation test showed the opposite side of the motor cortex was more changeable around two weeks, then less so. The injured side showed no clear early change. This was a measure, not a treatment.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Peripheral electrical stimulation to reduce pathological tremor: a review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeripheral electrical stimulation, including functional electrical stimulation and nerve stimulation, sometimes reduced hand tremor in essential tremor and Parkinson disease trials. Results varied widely across 27 studies, most with 20 or fewer participants, so this is not enough to change therapy on Monday.
• PTOTRCT2021Effectiveness of robotic balance training on postural instability in patients with mild Parkinson's disease: A pilot, single blind, randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBoth robotic and conventional balance training improved postural stability in mild Parkinson's disease. The robotic group showed greater improvement on balance scales and retained these gains at one-month follow-up, whereas the conventional group's balance scores returned toward baseline.
• PTOTCohort2021Outcome prediction in patients with putaminal hemorrhage at admission to a convalescent rehabilitation ward based on hemorrhage volume assessed with computed tomography during acute care.Journal of physical therapy scienceCT hemorrhage volume predicted motor independence and stay length only when age was the only other factor. Once admission motor scores and days since onset were included, CT volume no longer predicted either outcome.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Impairments of cortico-cortical connectivity in fine tactile sensation after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients showed disrupted brain connectivity patterns when feeling cotton fabric, with activity spreading to attention areas instead of staying focused on sensation. This suggests the brain recruits extra networks to process touch, but does not prove any treatment works.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020The Effect of Lingual Resistance Training Interventions on Adult Swallow Function: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaTongue strength training reliably increases tongue pressure, but evidence that this improves actual swallowing safety or efficiency is inconsistent. Most included studies were small and had high risk of bias, so clinicians should not assume strength gains translate directly to safer swallowing.
• PTOTOther2021Neurophysiological validation of simultaneous intrinsic and reflexive joint impedance estimates.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy adults, a robotic method estimating joint resistance matched muscle activity signals. The match was strong for intrinsic stiffness but only moderate for reflexive gain. This supports the method's physiological basis but does not yet validate it for treating spasticity in patients.
• PTOTRCT2021A usability study in patients with stroke using MERLIN, a robotic system based on serious games for upper limb rehabilitation in the home setting.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNine stroke patients rated a home robotic rehabilitation system as easy to use and motivating. They found it safe, but because most also received other therapy, the small improvements in arm movement cannot be attributed to the robot alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Very Long-Term Outcomes in Children Admitted in a Disorder of Consciousness After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost children admitted to rehab in a disorder of consciousness after severe brain injury emerged from that state by one year, but nearly all remained severely disabled. Children in a minimally conscious state at admission had better long-term outcomes than those in a vegetative state.
• PTOTNarrative Review2021An overview of fractional anisotropy as a reliable quantitative measurement for the corticospinal tract (CST) integrity in correlation with a Fugl-Meyer assessment in stroke rehabilitation.Journal of physical therapy scienceFractional anisotropy (FA) from MRI correlates with Fugl-Meyer motor scores in chronic stroke, but the relationship is inconsistent across studies. Ipsilesional FA tracks recovery better than contralesional FA. Use these imaging markers to inform prognosis, not as standalone diagnostic tools.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Perseverance with technology-facilitated home-based upper limb practice after stroke: a systematic mixed studies review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors described three stages: getting started, staying engaged, and continuing or moving on. Fit, usability, meaningful goals, challenge, support, and shorter sessions were reported to help perseverance. Adherence fell as trials got longer and sessions more frequent.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation in Physical Therapy: A Rapid Overview.Physical therapyTelerehabilitation often matches in-person physical therapy for musculoskeletal pain and function, but results are inconsistent across neurological and cardiopulmonary conditions. Many included reviews had high risk of bias, so evidence for superiority is weak. It is a viable alternative when access is limited.
• PTOTPilot2021The Kickstart Walk Assist System for improving balance and walking function in stroke survivors: a feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors walked faster and bore weight more evenly while wearing a lightweight passive exoskeleton. However, the device did not improve Timed Up and Go scores or walking speed, and participants found it uncomfortable and difficult to put on. This is a short-term feasibility study, not proof of recovery.
• PTOTRCT2021Effect of Virtual Reality Gait Training on Participation in Survivors of Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyVirtual reality gait training did not improve community participation more than standard treadmill training in stroke survivors. Both groups improved, and patients found the virtual reality approach safe and enjoyable, but it offered no statistical advantage over conventional care.
• OTRCT2021On the way home: a BCI-FES hand therapy self-managed by sub-acute SCI participants and their caregivers: a usability study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCaregivers and SCI users learned to run BCI hand therapy after 4 to 5 OT-led sessions, but effectiveness was not shown because participants also had usual therapy and natural recovery. Do not treat this as evidence the device improves hand function.
• OTSurvey2021A brief report of the prevalence of chronic and acute health conditions among blind American adults.Disability and health journalBlind and low-vision U.S. adults self-reported many lifetime health conditions. Men more often reported stroke, migraine, arthritis, and recent hospitalization than women.
• OTRCT2021Explore combined use of transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive training on executive function after stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding real brain stimulation to cognitive training improved executive function and complex daily tasks in stroke patients more than sham stimulation. However, gains in some key cognitive tests did not reach the threshold for clinically meaningful change.
• PTOTSLPCohortPrimary Language and Participation Outcomes in Hispanics With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationHispanic people with TBI who speak English at home reported higher community participation than those who speak Spanish. However, once age, education, and injury severity were accounted for, only social relations scores differed. This suggests language itself is not the sole driver of participation gaps.
• PTOTSLPPilotFeasibility and Acceptability of a Telephone-Based Intervention for Hispanic Children to Promote Treatment Adherence After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationA telephone-based navigation and education program was feasible and acceptable for Hispanic families after their child's traumatic brain injury. Most parents reported high satisfaction, and 86% of children attended initial follow-up rehabilitation appointments on time.
• OTSLPNarrative Review2021Clinical Manifestation, Evaluation, and Rehabilitative Strategy of Dysphagia Associated With COVID-19.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationFor suspected or confirmed COVID-19 dysphagia, clinicians recommended early screening, avoiding nonurgent scope or X-ray swallowing tests, and starting diet or swallow strategies before active exercises. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTSurvey2021Long-term perceived disabilities up to 10 years after transient ischaemic attack.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMany TIA survivors reported ongoing difficulties up to 10 years later, especially emotions, strength and participation. Most lived independently, but women and older people reported more problems.
• PTOTSLPOtherConvergent Validity of In-Person Assessment of Inpatients With Traumatic Brain Injury Using the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT).The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationThe BTACT composite scores align well with standard neuropsychological tests in patients with severe brain injury, but individual subtests for reasoning and speed do not. Use the overall or domain composite scores for monitoring recovery. Do not rely on single subtest scores for clinical decisions.
• PTOTSLPCohortNovel Claims-Based Outcome Phenotypes in Survivors of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationInsurance claims data identified four distinct recovery profiles in children surviving traumatic brain injury. The two highest-need groups required significantly more speech and physical therapy, mobility equipment, and neurologic medications. Injury severity, seizures, and inflicted injury mechanisms predicted these high-resource outcomes.
• OTRCT2021Child- compared with parent-report ratings on psychosocial measures following a mild traumatic brain injury among youth with persistent post-concussion symptoms.Brain injuryYouth with persistent concussion symptoms reported more symptoms and better functioning than their parents did. Ratings often differed, especially by age and gender, so ask both for their views before planning care.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Ipsilateral Motor Pathways and Transcallosal Inhibition During Lower Limb Movement After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn people with chronic stroke, the brain uses more ipsilateral pathways to the paretic leg during dynamic movement than during static holds. Transcallosal inhibition was also greater in the paretic leg. These neurophysiological changes did not correlate with walking speed or overall impairment.
• PTOTRCT2021HoMEcare aRm rehabiLItatioN (MERLIN): telerehabilitation using an unactuated device based on serious games improves the upper limb function in chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChronic stroke patients improved arm function after six weeks of home training with the MERLIN device and serious games. Gains lasted six weeks after stopping, but quality of life did not change. Only ten of twelve participants completed the training.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Expectations of individuals with neurological conditions from rehabilitation: A mixed-method study of needs.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdults with stroke, spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury in Nigeria reported unmet needs across all life domains. Social and recreational needs were most prevalent, followed by rehabilitation and medical needs. Those with spinal cord injury reported the highest needs across seven domains.
• OTSLPCase Report2021Information, communication, advocacy, and complaint: how the spouse of a man with aphasia managed his discharge from hospital.AphasiologyA spouse of a man with aphasia said she was not told what aphasia meant, was given changing discharge plans, and had to write a complaint letter after a registrar dismissed her concerns. This is one account, not proof that advocacy changes care.
• PTOTRCT2021Rehabilitation with accurate adaptability walking tasks or steady state walking: A randomized clinical trial in adults post-stroke.Clinical rehabilitationBoth accuracy-based adaptability tasks and steady-state walking improved walking speed similarly in adults post-stroke. Neither training style was superior for functional recovery. However, the adaptability group showed a larger reduction in prefrontal brain activity during dual-task walking, suggesting improved automaticity despite identical functional gains.
• PTOTCohort2021Recovery of arm function during acute to chronic stage of stroke quantified by kinematics.Journal of rehabilitation medicineArm movement speed and smoothness improved most in the first 4 weeks after stroke, but continued to get better between 3 and 6 months. Younger age, milder stroke, and ischaemic type predicted faster recovery. Peak velocity did not improve over time.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2021Effects of robot-assisted training on balance function in patients with stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRobot-assisted training improved balance scores in stroke patients compared to conventional therapy. The benefit was significant in the acute and subacute phase, but not in chronic patients. Exoskeleton devices showed better results than end-effector devices.
• PTOTOther2021Analysing the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT): a cautionary tale from the RATULS trial.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationThe Action Research Arm Test subscales often produce U-shaped score distributions where patients score either zero or full marks. Comparing average scores between groups is misleading. Clinicians should check data shape and use binary comparisons for these subscales.
• PTOTRCT2021Impact of aerobic exercise on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers in persons with multiple sclerosis: An exploratory randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAerobic exercise did not stop whole-brain shrinkage in MS patients on fingolimod. It may have preserved some specific brain structures and slightly improved walking speed, but did not help thinking or quality of life. Some participants felt social pressure during group sessions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Predictors for self-reported feeling of depression three months after stroke: A longitudinal cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineCognitive screening 36–48 hours after stroke did not predict depression three months later. Female sex, being younger than 70, and living alone before the stroke were significant predictors. Use these social and demographic factors, not early cognitive scores, to identify patients at risk for post-stroke depression.
• PTOTCohort2021Objectively measured arm use in daily life improves during the first 6 months poststroke: a longitudinal observational cohort study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAffected arm use in daily life improved significantly during the first 12 weeks poststroke and gains were largely retained through 6 months. Patients with excellent arm function recovery showed higher daily arm use and ratios than those with poor or moderate recovery.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Implementation and Evaluation of the Virtual Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) for Individuals With Stroke During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.Physical therapyNine stroke survivors completed a virtual upper-limb exercise program. Self-reported hand function improved significantly, with six of nine reaching a clinically important change. Staff found the format workable, though webcam angles and audio interference posed technical challenges.
• PTOTCase Report2021Perioperative Botulinum Toxin Injections to Enhance Surgical Outcomes in Patients With Spasticity: Preoperative, Intraoperative, and Postoperative Case Reports.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationFavorable outcomes were reported after surgery, botulinum toxin, and postoperative care in three patients with spasticity, but without controls these reports cannot show the toxin caused the improvement.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021mHealth Intervention Applications for Adults Living With the Effects of Stroke: A Scoping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost stroke phone or tablet apps for adults are early-stage tools for hand, speech, exercise, and risk-factor management. They show feasibility or user interest, not proven effectiveness. Many studies had small samples and pilot designs.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Diagnostic approach to paediatric movement disorders: a clinical practice guide.Developmental medicine and child neurologyThis guide outlines a step-by-step clinical algorithm for diagnosing paediatric movement disorders. It prioritizes distinguishing normal developmental patterns from pathology, classifying the specific movement phenotype, and ruling out functional disorders before initiating genetic or metabolic testing.
• PTOTCohort2021Motor Impairment and Its Influence in Gait Velocity and Asymmetry in Community Ambulating Hemiplegic Individuals.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn 55 community ambulators with stroke, stronger ankle plantarflexors predicted faster walking and more symmetrical gait patterns. Spasticity in the hip adductors and quadriceps was associated with greater asymmetry in swing time and step length, respectively.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Using the Modified Balke Protocol in Fully Ambulatory People With Multiple Sclerosis.Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journalA treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise test was safe and feasible for people with multiple sclerosis who could walk without aids. Seventeen of twenty tests provided usable data. The results correlated with walking distance, cognitive speed, and disability levels, supporting its use for assessment.
• PTOTCohort2021Evaluating Intrinsic Fall Risk Factors After Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Distinguishing Fallers From Nonfallers.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSlower walking, weaker legs, poor foot sensation, and side-to-side sway when eyes are closed were linked to more falls in people with incomplete spinal cord injury. These factors help flag risk, but no single test predicts falls reliably.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Effect of Action Observation Therapy in the Rehabilitation of Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAction Observation Therapy improves motor recovery in stroke and Parkinson's disease, with strong evidence for upper limb function and balance. It shows moderate benefit for orthopedic pain and range of motion. However, it does not help children with cerebral palsy or improve cognition in dementia.
• OTCohort2021Predicting caregiver burden over the first 4 months after acute traumatic brain injury in Latin America: a multi-country study.Brain injuryCaregiver burden fell across the first 4 months after TBI discharge, but male caregivers and caregivers of patients with poorer social and emotional self-regulation reported higher burden overall.
• PTOTOther2021Inpatient rehabilitation facility discharge destination among younger adults with traumatic brain injury: differences by race and ethnicity.Brain injuryAfter inpatient rehab, Hispanic/Latino patients and patients of other race/ethnicity were more likely than White patients to go home rather than subacute care. Black patients did not differ. Predictors varied by group and explained little.
• PTOTQualitative2021Perspectives of individuals with chronic spinal cord injury following novel balance training involving functional electrical stimulation with visual feedback: a qualitative exploratory study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFive people with incomplete spinal cord injury described a balance program using electrical stimulation and visual feedback as helping them feel stronger and more stable. They reported doing more household tasks and going out in the community. They wanted more sessions to keep improving.
• PTOTOther2021Added-value of spasticity reduction to improve arm-hand skill performance in sub-acute stroke patients with a moderately to severely affected arm-hand.NeuroRehabilitationAdding botulinum toxin to standard arm-hand therapy showed no group-level benefit once spontaneous recovery was accounted for. However, individual results varied: three patients improved arm capacity, seven improved function, and three showed no benefit, suggesting patient selection is key.
• PTOTOther2021Translational Value of Skilled Reaching Assessment in Clinical and Preclinical Studies on Motor Recovery After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSkilled reaching recovery followed a similar proximal-to-distal timeline in rats and humans. In patients, this assessment correlated strongly with standard clinical measures like the Fugl-Meyer and Action Research Arm Test, supporting its use to distinguish true motor recovery from compensation.