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 44 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTPilot2025Muscle-to-action mapping for intuitive training of muscle synergies in post-stroke upper-limb rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEleven chronic stroke survivors trained to steer a force cursor to a target using a biomechanical model. This intuitive mapping reduced unintended force coupling and improved clinical motor scores after 18 sessions. The study confirms feasibility but lacks a control group.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Family Members' Experiences of a Person-Centered Information and Communication Technology-Supported Intervention for Stroke Rehabilitation (F@ce 2.0): Qualitative Analysis.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesSeven family members of stroke survivors said the team and SMS reminders in F@ce 2.0 added to usual rehab reduced worry and nagging, but wanted updated goals, one information hub, and video calls. It describes experiences, not proof of benefit.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Are Assistive Technologies Effective in the Management of Contractures in People with Stroke? - A Cochrane Review Summary with Commentary.NeuroRehabilitationThere is insufficient evidence to support using assistive technologies like splints or electrical stimulation to manage contractures after stroke. The review found the evidence was too uncertain to determine if these devices improve range of motion, reduce pain, or cause adverse events.
• PTOTPilot2025The Czech Fugl-Meyer assessment for post-stroke sensorimotor function: translation and cross-cultural adaptation and validation.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Czech Fugl-Meyer Assessment showed sufficient agreement between two physiotherapists scoring the same patients. Minor wording changes fixed translation issues, but the small sample means it is not yet proven reliable for all stroke severities.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Sleep Following a Stroke: Multimodal Evaluation of Sleep Health and Disruptions and Impact on Recovery During Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairSleep improved slightly during acute stroke rehab but remained poor, with 77% of nights disrupted by care tasks. Better sleep was not associated with greater functional recovery in this cohort. Prioritize reducing environmental noise and interruptions.
• PTOTRCT2025Tele-rehabilitation using transcranial direct current stimulation combined with exercise in people with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding active tDCS to home tele-exercise improved upper limb motor scores by 4.2 points at one month, meeting the threshold for clinical importance. Lower limb function, sensation, strength, spasticity, and independence showed no difference between groups.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Proprioception After Unilateral Stroke: Changes in the Affected and Unaffected Lower Limbs Over Time.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyAnkle proprioception declined linearly over time after unilateral stroke, affecting both the injured and the seemingly healthy leg. The unaffected side could not serve as a reliable baseline. Clinicians should assess both limbs and monitor deficits from the acute phase onwards.
• OTCohort2025Evaluating the disability employment gap and Its determinants: findings from a population-based cohort study in spinal cord injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesEmployment among people with spinal cord injury in Switzerland rose from 56% in 2012 to 65% in 2022. The gap with the general population narrowed from -26% to -17%, but widened for low education and Lake Geneva.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Time course for acquiring toileting independence in patients with subacute stroke: a prospective cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke patients followed three distinct paths to toileting independence. Those with higher baseline function became independent quickly. Those needing assistance improved over time, while others remained dependent. This suggests targeting specific subtasks based on initial ability rather than using a uniform approach.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Co-Designed Digital Device for Tracking Rehabilitation Dosage in a Clinical Environment After Stroke: Mixed Methods Validity and Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesA co-designed NFC tracker logged stroke rehabilitation time similarly to staff manual notes with no meaningful difference, and users found it easy to use and feasible for stroke inpatients.
• PTOTCohort2025A Multicenter, Retrospective, Real-World Study of Treatment Outcomes Following on-label AbobotulinumtoxinA Injections for Adult Focal Spasticity in the United Kingdom.NeuroRehabilitationIn UK routine care, on-label abobotulinumtoxinA doses averaged 540.8 units at first injection and intervals averaged 153.8 days. Goals were recorded for 31 patients, and 71 of 82 goals were achieved, but no comparison group was used.
• PTOTOther2025Identification of needs for an assistive robotic arm in individuals with tetraplegia: a mixed-methods approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with tetraplegia wanted a wheelchair robotic arm for repeated daily one-handed tasks like adjusting glasses, scratching, picking up items, and drinking. They preferred voice control, but worried about cost, weight, and space. This reports wants, not device effectiveness.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Efficacy of Robot-assisted Training on Upper Limb Motor Function After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationRobot-assisted training added to conventional stroke rehabilitation improved upper limb motor function and daily living ability. The motor benefit was not clear in trials of 6 weeks or longer, and the evidence was intermediate to low.
• PTOTCohort2025Spasticity Management with Botulinum Toxin in Post-stroke and Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Retrospective, 'Real-world', Multicenter Study.NeuroRehabilitationReal-world data from 149 patients shows botulinum toxin injection patterns differ substantially between stroke and multiple sclerosis. Stroke patients often received injections in both limbs at lower doses, while MS patients were primarily treated in the lower limbs with higher doses of one specific formulation.
• PTOTCohort2025Relationship between post-stroke trunk function and brain lesion locations: A support vector regression lesion-symptom mapping study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRight hemisphere damage to specific motor and sensory pathways predicted poor trunk control at stroke admission. This link disappeared by discharge because most patients recovered trunk function. Lesions in the right hemisphere may signal a need for early trunk-specific training.
• OTSLPSurvey2025'Can be challenging but usually worth it!': International survey of rehabilitation professionals' experiences of social media use after acquired brain injury.International journal of language & communication disordersClinicians recognise social media as vital for social connection after brain injury but lack guidelines and confidence. They want co-designed resources to teach cybersafety and platform use, balancing patient autonomy against risks like scams and disinhibition.
• OTQualitative2025Home-based self-training: A qualitative exploration of the experiences of individuals with chronic-stroke.Clinical rehabilitationPeople with chronic stroke described continuing home arm training when they felt devoted to recovery, accountable to therapists, and found it enjoyable; boredom, pain, fatigue, busy roles, limited home space, and family routines made it hard.
• PTOTPilot2025Scaling new heights: a pilot study of the impact of climbing on balance, agility, and dexterity in individuals with Parkinson's disease.Archives of physiotherapyAfter a climbing programme, people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease improved on balance, mobility, agility and hand dexterity tests. Grip strength did not change.
• PTOTOther2025Delayed muscle fatigue during electrical stimulation of the proximal nerve using asymmetric random high-frequency carrier pulse cluster.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy adults, a new random asymmetric electrical stimulation pattern produced stronger finger forces over five minutes and caused less pain than a standard symmetric pattern. The study did not test stroke survivors, so its benefit for clinical rehabilitation remains unproven.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Patient-centered insights into virtual reality rehabilitation for stroke: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors reported VR rehabilitation improved balance, arm strength, and mood, but pain, fatigue, fear of falling, and technical glitches often stopped them. They wanted professional support, personalized difficulty, and accessible home or community options.
• PTOTOther2025Trial-By-Trial Variation In Upper Extremity Movement Smoothness After Acute Stroke Relates To Clinical Assessments And Corticospinal Tract Injury.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairAfter acute stroke, trial-by-trial variation in arm movement smoothness predicts 90-day recovery and fine motor skills better than average smoothness. This variability correlates with corticospinal tract injury, suggesting it reflects noisy signal transmission rather than just weakness.
• PTOTQualitative2025A qualitative comparison of healthcare practitioners' perceptions regarding fatigue as a symptom in neurological conditions: insights from a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSaudi rehabilitation practitioners described fatigue as a neurological symptom that varies by condition, not just tiredness. They tailored management to endurance, environment, education, and rest, and saw MS fatigue as chronic and progressive, stroke fatigue as often less severe.
• PTOTCohort2025Motor Impairment and Disuse Are Independent Predictors of Vascular Outcomes Poststroke.Physical therapyStroke survivors showed reduced artery size and muscle blood flow in paretic arms compared to non-paretic arms and healthy controls. Motor impairment and perceived arm disuse independently predicted these vascular deficits. These findings suggest vascular health is linked to motor recovery and usage patterns.
• PTOTOther2025The minimal clinically important difference of the Participation Measurement Scale in chronic stroke.The South African journal of physiotherapyA change of 1.98 logits on the PM-Scale may mark important participation improvement in chronic stroke. It was estimated from 46 people using the ACTIVLIM-Stroke anchor.
• PTOTOther2025Using machine learning to identify Parkinson's disease severity subtypes with multimodal data.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors on the ankles and back captured gait patterns that accurately separated mild from severe Parkinson's. This suggests these devices could help therapists track disease progression and tailor rehab, though the small sample size limits immediate use.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Multidisciplinary and home-based management in neonatal unilateral foot drop: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA newborn with isolated foot drop from nerve compression recovered fully in five months. Parents performed daily home-based passive movement and tactile stimulation, guided by clinicians. No orthosis, medication, or electrotherapy was used. This single case cannot prove the treatment worked.
• PTOTCohort2025Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Reduced Unsupervised Training Engagement in Inpatients With Subacute Stroke: A Secondary Data Analysis Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationInpatients with subacute stroke who had depressive symptoms spent significantly less time in unsupervised leg cycle training than those without. This association was not seen with apathy alone or with functional outcomes at discharge.
• PTOTQualitative2025Qualitative Exploration of a Tele-exercise Program to Inform the Design of Adaptive Intervention Strategies for Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAdults with multiple sclerosis found fixed-level tele-exercise videos either too easy or too hard. They wanted occasional human check-ins, personalized educational content, and simple tools to track progress to stay motivated after the program ended.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Characterizing Concerns and Stressors During Subacute Spinal Cord Injury: A Thematic Analysis of Psychotherapy Session Notes.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPeople with recent spinal cord injury and mild depression most frequently reported pain, loss of independence, poor sleep, and feeling like a burden to family. Concerns also included work return, recovery speed, and insurance barriers. These themes emerged from therapy session notes.
• PTOTCase Report2025Use of O-arm to place an intrathecal catheter through a bony fusion mass: case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences3D navigation guided intrathecal baclofen catheter placement through a fusion gap in a woman with spinal cord injury spasticity. After oral baclofen and methocarbamol were stopped, she had lower-limb Ashworth scores of 0 and could sit at work for 12 h.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Functional Cognition-Patient Reported Outcomes Short Forms and Keyform Ability Maps.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationShort forms of the FC-PRO for attention, memory, speed, and emotion maintain high correlation with the full versions. Keyform maps visualize a patient's specific functional challenges, offering therapists concrete items for collaborative goal setting and treatment planning.
• PTOTCase Report2025Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis as a Dynamic Treatment for Spasticity: A Case Series.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn ten patients with spasticity from stroke, cerebral palsy, or other causes, percutaneous cryoneurolysis was associated with immediate and sustained reductions in muscle tone and pain. However, concurrent therapies were often used, so the specific contribution of cryoneurolysis alone cannot be determined.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2025Biomechanical analysis of patients with mild Parkinson's disease during indoor cycling training.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with early-stage Parkinson's disease cycled significantly slower and applied force to the handlebars and saddle in the same direction. This coupled strategy reduced lateral swaying, suggesting it acts as a compensatory mechanism to maintain stability despite postural instability.
• OTCohort2024Cognitive Self-Efficacy in Parkinson's Disease.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPeople with Parkinson's disease without dementia reported lower confidence in their ability to manage cognitive symptoms than healthy adults. This low self-efficacy was linked to higher depression and greater medication dosage, suggesting patients may feel unable to cope with cognitive challenges even when recognizing them.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025A Home-Based Behaviour Change Intervention With Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity in People With Stroke and Diabetes-A Feasibility and Safety Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyFourteen stroke survivors with diabetes completed a 12-week home-based behaviour change programme. Recruitment was slow, questionnaire completion was low, and no efficacy claims can be made from this safety and feasibility test.
• PTOTPilot2025A pilot study for self-guided, active robotic training of proprioception of the upper limb in chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFive people with chronic stroke improved their reaching movements after a single session of robotic proprioceptive training. However, the primary goal of improving position sense showed no significant change. This pilot suggests the method is feasible but does not yet prove it treats proprioceptive deficits.
• PTOTCohort2025Effect of robotic-assisted gait training on functional independence measure scores in patients with acquired brain injury: retrospective study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn patients with acquired brain injury, adding Ekso robotic gait training to inpatient rehabilitation did not improve functional independence scores more than standard therapy. More Ekso sessions did not predict better discharge scores.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025The 'Bounce Back' rehabilitation programme for stroke survivors in South Africa - a case report.The South African journal of physiotherapyStroke survivors in a South African community programme gained functional independence and reported fewer problems, but depression outcomes varied. Some improved, while another worsened. This is a case series, not proof the programme caused change.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025"The Other Thousand Hours": A Spinal Cord Injury Self-Management Program Qualitative Analysis.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthParticipants with spinal cord injury valued a telehealth self-management program for creating peer community and weekly accountability. They reported feeling more proactive about health habits like skin checks and stretching. The group format and facilitator check-ins were cited as key drivers of engagement.
• PTOTOther2025Use of the non-paretic arm reflects a habitual behaviour in chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWhen chronic stroke patients had to choose an arm quickly, they used their non-paretic arm more often even when it earned fewer points. This suggests not using the paretic arm may reflect a habit, not only motor capacity.
• OTSystematic Review2025Conceptualisation of financial capability in adults with acquired cognitive impairment: A qualitative evidence synthesis.Clinical rehabilitationFinancial capability in adults with acquired cognitive impairment was described across models as multidimensional: task skills, real-world performance, context, supports, exploitation risk and legal capacity. Definitions varied, and independent task performance alone did not capture capability.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Neural mechanisms underlying the improvement of gait disturbances in stroke patients through robot-assisted gait training based on QEEG and fNIRS: a randomized controlled study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot-assisted gait training improved walking function more than conventional overground training in stroke patients. Brain scans showed greater activation in planning areas and shifts in EEG patterns linked to recovery. This suggests the robot helps rewire motor planning circuits, not just strengthen legs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Within-session dual-task walking practice improves gait variability in older adults with multiple sclerosis.Gait & postureOlder adults with MS walked with more variability than healthy peers, especially when adding a mental task. However, repeating the walking task three times in one session reduced this variability in both groups. This suggests short practice sessions can help stabilize gait.
• PTOTRCT2025Virtual reality as a potential therapy in a rehabilitation sanatorium for patients after ischemic stroke: impact on quality of life and social participation-a randomized trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding virtual reality to standard stroke rehabilitation did not improve quality of life, cognition, or social participation more than standard therapy alone. Both groups improved similarly, so VR is not a superior clinical intervention for these outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2025Reliability and utility of ultrasound imaging assessment methods for shoulder subluxation in patients with stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceUltrasound measurement of shoulder gap distance in stroke patients matched fingerbreadth palpation and correlated with worse motor function and pain. It offers a reliable, radiation-free alternative to X-rays for tracking subluxation severity, though it cannot prove cause and effect.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Co-designing and testing a management programme with peer support for post-stroke fatigue: Nottingham fatigue after stroke study (NotFAST3).Clinical rehabilitationStroke survivors with fatigue and trained peer supporters tested a self-management programme. Participants reported feeling supported and found the workbook helpful. Fatigue and mood scores improved, but without a control group, it is unknown if the programme caused these changes.
• OTRCT2024Client Perceptions of the Individual Packer Managing Fatigue Program: A Mixed-Method Evaluation.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthPeople with Parkinson's disease described a six-session individual videoconference fatigue program as feasible and helpful for rest, pacing, and communicating needs. They wanted more Parkinson-specific content, flexible session length, and occupational therapist follow-up.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025The Spinal Cord Injury Self-Management Program: A Pilot.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthA 6-week virtual self-management program for spinal cord injury was feasible and acceptable to participants. It showed positive effects on secondary health conditions and goal attainment, but self-efficacy scores decreased, possibly due to participants understanding the challenges better after the intervention.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Components of frontal assessment battery and clinical features in patients with stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost stroke patients scored well on frontal lobe tests, but a small group had severe executive dysfunction. This group showed specific deficits in behavioural control and attention tasks, yet their daily independence and general cognition scores were similar to others. Screening total scores may miss this specific impairment.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Manual wheelchair training approaches and intended training outcomes for adults who are new to wheelchair use: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalMost wheelchair training programs for adults focus on basic skills, confidence, and propulsion mechanics rather than long-term community participation. They rarely address the needs of older adults with progressive conditions or those with cognitive impairments, leaving therapists without clear guidance on effective, tailored approaches.