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 46 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTCohort2025A connectome-based functional magnetic resonance imaging study of visuospatial analogical reasoning in stroke.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn stroke patients, stronger functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate and left inferior parietal cortex correlated with poorer visuospatial reasoning scores. Patients with this high connectivity also took longer to solve problems, suggesting effortful compensation rather than efficient processing.
• PTOTOther2025Impact of work and environmental factors on quality of life in community-dwelling spinal cord injury individuals in South Korea using latent profile analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSpinal cord injury patients with fewer bowel and spasticity problems, who worked, and who faced less stigma and financial strain were more likely to report high quality of life. Physical accessibility barriers did not significantly affect these outcomes in this Korean sample.
• PTOTPilot2025German Transcreation of the International Standards to Document Remaining Autonomic Function After Spinal Cord Injury (Second Edition): A Feasibility Study in Individuals With Subacute Phase Spinal Cord Injury/Disease (SCI/D).Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationA German version of the autonomic function assessment for spinal cord injury took a median of 39 minutes and was feasible in subacute inpatients. However, questions about sexual function were frequently skipped, with orgasm and ejaculation items marked 'not tested' in 58% and 69% of cases respectively.
• PTOTPilot2025Investigating the orthotic effect of a passive gravity-compensated exoskeletal device on upper-limb function in people with multiple sclerosis: a pilot cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn thirteen people with severe multiple sclerosis disability, a passive arm exoskeleton improved functional scores and endurance. In those with mild impairment, it slowed movements and reduced performance. The device helps only when gravity is a major barrier to movement.
• PTOTOther2025Discriminant Validity of the Electronic Activity Card Sort (ACS3) Among Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury and Multiple Sclerosis.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationBoth groups reported significant declines in life participation compared to pre-injury or pre-illness baselines. Adults with multiple sclerosis retained fewer activities overall and in instrumental daily living and leisure domains than those with traumatic brain injury. Social participation scores did not differ between the groups.
• PTOTSLPOther2025An Evaluation of International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) Performance Within the Canadian SCI Network.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationMost spinal cord injury exams in this Canadian registry were done within a week, but nearly half were incomplete. Missing sensory and rectal tests led to significantly higher classification errors compared to full exams, risking inaccurate diagnosis and prognosis.
• PTOTCohort2025American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale Grade E Conversion After Spinal Cord Injury: Incidence, Conversion Characteristics, and Impact of Age on Functional Independence.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationNormal spinal injury test scores did not mean normal daily function. Only 49.3% were fully independent at first conversion, and adults over 70 had the lowest independence.
• PTOTOther2025International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury: Case Examples Reinforcing Concepts From the 2019 Revision.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationSeven hypothetical spinal cord injury cases show how 2019 ISNCSCI rules change classification when zones of partial preservation and conditions not caused by the spinal cord injury are documented. They clarify when to add a * tag and when levels become not determinable.
• PTOTCohort2025Model-Based Prediction of Motor Scores From Sensory Scores in the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI): Implications on Motor Levels in Segments Without Clinically Testable Key Muscles.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationThe current rule that motor level follows sensory level in spinal cord injury segments without testable muscles is validated by data. Predicted motor scores matched the actual classification in most cases, confirming the standard clinical approach is accurate.
• OTOther2025Building consensus on prescribing self-directed occupational therapy activities: A Delphi study.Australian occupational therapy journalAustralian occupational therapists agreed recommendations for prescribing self-practice, but the consensus came from 20 survey responses and 3 focus-group therapists. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTSLPOther2025International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury: Classification Questions and Cases.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationConsensus guidance clarifies how to classify spinal cord injuries when patients have had tendon transfers, use spinal cord stimulation, or have nontraumatic causes. It specifies when to mark exams as intact or incomplete and how to document prior levels.
• PTOTOther2025Automated assessment of upper limb spasticity in stroke patients with fusion of multichannel surface electromyography features.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA machine learning model using muscle sensors classified spasticity severity in 40 stroke patients with 78.7% overall accuracy. It distinguished mild from severe cases well but failed to separate moderate grades, meaning it cannot yet replace clinical assessment.
• PTOTRCT2025Multimodal assessment of a BCI system for stroke rehabilitation integrating motor imagery and motor attempts: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients using a brain-computer interface with real-time feedback showed greater upper limb motor recovery than controls receiving standard care. The effect was small (2.8 points on the Fugl-Meyer scale) and driven by proximal arm function, not wrist or hand movement.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Healthcare Access, Satisfaction, and Affordability: Experiences and Barriers of People with Aphasia.AphasiologyStroke survivors with aphasia reported more difficulty contacting providers after hours and higher rates of bill payment problems than those without aphasia. Black and Hispanic participants with aphasia faced significantly worse access, satisfaction, and affordability outcomes compared to White participants.
• OTOther2026Expert Consensus on a Cognitive Rehabilitation Learning Package for Novice Occupational Therapists.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthExpert occupational therapists prioritized teaching novices to interpret errors during activity analysis and modify rehabilitation plans. They recommended video demonstrations and case studies as the best methods to build clinical reasoning for cognitive rehabilitation in hospital settings.
• PTOTCohort2025Machine learning predicts improvement of functional outcomes in spinal cord injury patients after inpatient rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn 589 adults with spinal cord injury, machine-learning models predicted discharge independence better than using admission scores alone, but they were tested only within the same dataset from a single rehab centre. Do not use them to guide patient care yet.
• PTOTPilot2025Patient satisfaction and tolerance of virtual reality rehabilitation in subacute ischemic stroke: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients with subacute stroke reported high satisfaction and good tolerance for virtual reality rehabilitation. Most found the system clear and comfortable, with no serious adverse events. Physiotherapists rated outcomes as similar to or better than conventional therapy, supporting VR as a feasible adjunct.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The impact of inpatient and community stroke rehabilitation on health-related quality of life in New Zealand.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors who received community rehabilitation reported better quality of life at 12 months than those who did not. Inpatient rehabilitation was linked to lower quality of life overall, likely because those patients had more severe strokes, though the most severely impaired saw benefits.
• OTSurvey2025Current Practice of Occupational Therapy for Common Disorders Seen in Rehabilitation Clinics in Saudi Arabia.Occupational therapy internationalNeurological conditions were the most commonly reported conditions among Saudi occupational therapists surveyed, including stroke, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury; therapeutic exercise was the most commonly reported intervention, and mental health was not reported.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2025Correlation study between lower limb muscle function and hemodynamics in hemiplegic patients after stroke: a prospective controlled study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 20 people with stroke hemiplegia, the affected leg showed weaker muscle signals and poorer blood flow than the unaffected leg. Only on the less affected side did muscle signal frequency correlate with artery diameter. This describes impairment patterns, not treatment effects.
• OTOther2025Transfer of skills acquired through Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach in children with executive functions deficits following acquired brain injury.Australian occupational therapy journalAfter CO-OP therapy during multidisciplinary rehabilitation and specialised schooling, 11 children with brain injury improved on 22 of 32 new goals they had not trained. Children with involved parents made goal progress; children with poor or no involvement made little or no progress.
• PTOTQualitative2025An Intensive Upper Extremity Program Coupled With a Wearable Device for Poststroke Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of People With Stroke.Physical therapyStroke survivors found a virtual arm rehabilitation program motivating because a wearable device gave immediate feedback on hand use. Therapist support and caregiver involvement were crucial for adherence, though technology glitches and exercise fatigue posed challenges.
• OTQualitative2025Return to work with fatigue after stroke: A complex occupational adaptation process.Scandinavian journal of occupational therapyPeople with post-stroke fatigue described a paradox: structure and routines are essential to sustain work, but the fatigue itself makes them impossible to maintain. Invisible task limitations were dismissed by supervisors, while noise sensitivities were accommodated.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Weathering the storms of climate change: Preparing persons with disabilities and the physiatrists who provide their care for extreme hurricanes.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPhysiatrists should assess patients' disaster needs at their lowest functional level, not their best. Create individualized plans covering backup caregivers, 7-day supply stockpiles, and priority utility registration for those dependent on electricity or life-support devices.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Satisfaction, user experiences, and initial efficacy of a technology-supported self-management intervention (iSMART) to improve post-stroke functioning: a remoted randomized controlled trial.Topics in stroke rehabilitationStroke survivors found this remote self-management program satisfying and helpful, especially the coaching and goal-setting. They improved on hand function and participation measures, but the small sample meant no significant differences versus controls. Text messages were often rated as too frequent.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Weathering the storm: Effect of climate change on acute stroke care and stroke rehabilitation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationThis review links climate change factors like poor air quality and lack of greenspaces to higher stroke risks and worse outcomes. It suggests therapists discuss environmental barriers and connect patients to community resources, but offers no tested interventions or data on what works.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Caregiver and student perspectives on school services for students with traumatic brain injury during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFamilies described remote learning as often failing to deliver necessary accommodations, with teachers overlooking plans and students unable to engage with screens. However, some found flexibility and self-pacing reduced anxiety and helped them manage symptoms and appointments better.
• OTQualitative2025Meaning of Work Participation After Spinal Cord Injury in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study in a Low- and Middle-Income Country Context.Journal of occupational rehabilitationBangladeshi adults with spinal cord injury said work meant money, family role, identity, and contact with others. After injury, lost work meant loneliness and shame. They saw future work depending on family support, prior skills, confidence, and practical wheelchair or workplace adjustments.
• OTRCT2026Mindfulness buffers the association of pain with depression and anxiety among people with spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional study.Rehabilitation psychologyAmong adults with spinal cord injury and chronic pain, higher mindfulness was linked to less depression and anxiety when pain was intense. It did not buffer stress. Pain was unexpectedly tied to higher well-being in those with high mindfulness.
• PTOTQualitative2025Life after stroke: changes in sensory health and the impact on participation.Topics in stroke rehabilitationStroke survivors described sensory changes as hidden and overwhelming, leading to avoidance of social settings. They reported therapists rarely assessed smell, taste, or visual sensitivity, leaving them to manage these barriers alone.
• PTOTRCT2025Feasibility and Sensitivity of Wearable Sensors for Daily Activity Monitoring in Spinal Cord Injury Trials.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairWearable sensors tracked daily activity in spinal cord injury patients, showing that energy expenditure increased weekly and correlated with independence scores. While the sensor data suggested the treatment group moved more, the trial's primary clinical outcomes showed no significant difference between groups.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Social development of girls with a physical disability during adolescence: Parent perspectives.Rehabilitation psychologyMothers of girls with physical disabilities reported that puberty amplified the gap between their daughters and peers. Girls struggled to find friends who understood their daily medical routines. This led to increased self-consciousness and hesitancy to socialize, even for those who appeared to have good friendships.
• PTOTCase-Control2026Mode of locomotion and other determinants of navigation ability post-stroke.Neuropsychological rehabilitationStroke patients were less accurate than controls when retracing a real building route after walking it. Pointing to remembered landmark locations did not differ. Within the stroke group, video learning was worse than walking; wheelchair and walking did not differ.
• OTCohort2026What Predicts Changes in the Work Situation of Recently Diagnosed People with Multiple Sclerosis and do these Predictors also Apply to Healthy People?Journal of occupational rehabilitationIn people with recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis, better information processing speed was linked to fewer work difficulties after one year. Higher conscientiousness was linked to more working hours. These are associations, not proven treatments.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Identity development among veterans with spinal cord injury: A qualitative study.Rehabilitation psychologyVeterans with spinal cord injury rebuilt their identities by adapting activities to keep doing what mattered and by changing their self-concept to accept new roles. Support from peers with similar injuries and engaging in active daily routines were central to this process.
• OTCohort2025The Effect of Preinjury Psychiatric Difficulties on Caregiving Needs and Postinjury Emotional Distress in Care Partners of Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationCare partners with a history of mental health issues reported more depression and anxiety up to two years after the patient's injury. However, their pre-injury history did not predict whether their support needs were met at six months. Screen for psychiatric history to identify at-risk caregivers.
• PTOTRCT2025Vestibular Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis: Randomized Controlled Trial and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Comparing Customized With Booklet Based Vestibular Rehabilitation for Vestibulopathy.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairFor people with MS and vestibular issues, customized physiotherapy showed no significant advantage over a generic booklet-based home program on the primary measure of dizziness impact. However, the customized group improved more on secondary measures of walking, balance confidence, and vertigo severity.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Self-regulation resource model of body compassion in multiple sclerosis.Rehabilitation psychologyIn 799 adults with multiple sclerosis, feeling compassionate toward one's own body was linked to higher confidence managing symptoms. This confidence was associated with less drug use and better social participation, but not with exercise. These are cross-sectional links, not proof that compassion causes behavior change.
• PTOTSLPOther2026A national consensus-based framework on preferred assessments and interventions in current treatment for young people with acquired brain injury in Dutch rehabilitation centers.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineDutch rehabilitation teams agreed on 37 assessments and 25 interventions for young people with acquired brain injury. The list covers physical, occupational, speech, and social work domains to standardize care, though most tools were not specifically validated for this population.
• PTOTCohort2025Sedentary behavior, physical activity, and health-related quality of life in adults with multiple sclerosis.Disability and rehabilitationDevice-measured physical activity, not sedentary time, was linked to better quality of life in adults with multiple sclerosis. Moderate-to-vigorous activity correlated with both physical and psychological well-being, while light activity correlated only with physical well-being.
• PTOTSurvey2026Validation of the Body Compassion Scale in multiple sclerosis.Rehabilitation psychologyThe Body Compassion Scale is a valid tool for adults with MS, measuring how they relate to their physical symptoms. Lower body compassion was linked to worse fatigue, pain, and mobility, while higher compassion associated with better resilience and mental health.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Impact of intensive, multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation on functional independence following pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI): A matched cohort study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn matched pediatric ABI inpatient cohorts, higher-intensity and lower-intensity therapy did not differ for functional independence at discharge. Both groups improved. OT minutes were associated with better discharge scores, but this was observational and not proven causal.
• PTOTRCT2025Effects of kilohertz versus low-frequency electrical stimulation of the wrist extensors in patients after stroke: A randomized crossover trial.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationLow-frequency electrical stimulation was more efficient at producing force per milliamp than kilohertz stimulation in stroke patients, but both types resulted in similar force, discomfort, and fatigue.
• PTOTQualitative2025Community-Based Exercise Programming for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease: A Qualitative Study.NeuroRehabilitationParticipants valued PD-specific groups where instructors knew the disease and peers shared similar symptoms. They reported better mood and confidence, not just mobility. Transportation and cost were the main barriers, while feeling understood by others with PD was key to sticking with the program.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Time Post-Stroke and Upper Extremity Stroke Motor Recovery Rehabilitation: A Meta-Analysis.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairUpper extremity rehabilitation interventions improved motor function scores in both early and late stroke phases, but gains were larger in the acute/subacute phase. High-frequency brain stimulation and constraint-induced therapy showed the biggest early benefits. Chronic-phase trials may underestimate treatment effects.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Effects of Internal and External Cues on Brain Activity and Gait in Parkinson's Disease: Findings From BARC-PD.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairInternal and visual cues improved gait speed and stride length more than auditory or tactile cues. Disease stage did not change who benefited, contradicting guidelines that reserve internal cues for early Parkinson's. The brain's response varied by cue type, suggesting different mechanisms for each strategy.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Course of Fatigue and Sleep After Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationFatigue and poor sleep remained high and stable for 18 months after moderate to severe brain injury. Physical tiredness and objectively measured sleep time decreased slightly. Mood problems consistently linked to worse fatigue and sleep quality, while processing speed did not.
• PTOTQualitative2026What Works (or Doesn't) in Return to Work after Physical Injury? A Qualitative Study on the Perspectives of Trauma Patients and Health Care Professionals on Barriers and Facilitators in Return to Work.Journal of occupational rehabilitationTrauma patients described hospital care as ignoring work entirely, leaving them to figure out reintegration alone. They valued therapists who actively protected them from overstretching and helped adjust schedules rather than just treating physical function.
• PTOTRCT2026Cross-lagged assessment between indices of leisure time physical activity and domains of quality of life after electrical stimulation training in persons with spinal cord injury: An exploratory trial.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAfter 24 weeks of electrical stimulation exercise, leisure-time physical activity predicted improvements in psychological and social quality of life, but not physical or environmental quality of life. The study was too small to confirm these patterns or prove the exercise caused the changes.
• PTOTCohort2026Impact of COVID-19 positive status on outcome for individuals with stroke treated in acute inpatient rehabilitation.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn stroke rehabilitation, COVID-positive patients stayed longer, had lower mobility at admission and discharge, and were less likely to go home while receiving more therapy. Self-care gains, falls, and satisfaction were similar.