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 56 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRCT2026Safety and feasibility of paired vagus nerve stimulation with rehabilitation for improving upper extremity function in people with cervical spinal cord injury: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn six people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury, implanted vagus nerve stimulation paired with arm therapy was safe and feasible. All three who got active stimulation improved on a hand-function score; none in the sham group did. It was not powered to test efficacy.
• PTOTSurvey2026Ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury using walking aids generally do not report better long-term outcomes than wheelchair users: results from the InSCI-NL survey.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePeople with spinal cord injury who walk with aids did not report better participation, employment, health, or quality of life than manual wheelchair users. Their only advantage was in self-care and bladder and bowel independence.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Early rehabilitation in trauma patients: an observational study from two Norwegian trauma centers.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOf 317 severely injured trauma patients in two Norwegian hospitals, only 1 in 10 was seen by a rehabilitation specialist within the recommended 72 hours. Physiotherapy reached 72%, but occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social work involvement was low, particularly for multitrauma patients.
• PTOTSurvey2026Employment after spinal cord injury in the United States: predictors and barriers.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAmong US adults with spinal cord injury, 67.7% were in paid work. The unemployed most often cited transportation as the barrier (82.5%), and about 70% said they wanted to work. Not receiving disability benefits was the strongest factor associated with being employed.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Machine learning-based adaptive personalization in virtual reality stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesML-adaptive VR improved upper limb scores by 7.47 points on the Fugl-Meyer scale, past the 5.25-point threshold for meaningful change. But 68% of the 25 studies had fewer than 30 patients, so this is proof-of-concept, not established practice.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Transitional care interventions and outcome measures in stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review.Disability and rehabilitationMost stroke transitional care programs center on educating patients and families, while system-level supports like care coordination are rarely built in. Only 3 of 31 measured language or communication outcomes, and 17 restricted or 4 excluded people with aphasia or cognitive-communication disorders.
• OTCase-Control2026Occupational balance, quality of life, occupational performance, and disease-related factors in people with multiple sclerosis: A case-control study.Australian occupational therapy journalOverall occupational balance was similar between people with MS and controls, but MS participants scored lower on balancing obligatory versus voluntary activities and on energy management. Their functional independence and quality of life were lower than controls.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Cognitive Impairments and Health System Outcomes in Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Comparison of Patients With Stroke and Those With Type II Diabetes Mellitus.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationIn inpatient rehab, whether a patient had stroke or diabetes did not predict their functional outcomes or readmission. What did predict them was how well they could function when they arrived and how many medical problems they carried.
• PTOTRCT2026The impact of persistent post-concussion symptoms and exercise intolerance on patient-specific functioning after mild traumatic brain injury: a biopsychosocial perspective.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA 12-week aerobic exercise programme added to usual rehabilitation did not improve patient-reported activity limitations beyond what was seen in the control group after mTBI. Both groups improved over 6 months.
• PTOTQualitative2026Bridging the gap: The experiences and needs of people with spinal cord injury when transitioning out of inpatient rehabilitation.The South African journal of physiotherapyPeople with SCI in South Africa described their rehab as mostly helpful but flagged three gaps: staff not always SCI-informed, the hospital not resembling home, and psychological support lacking structure. Only two of eleven planned to continue psychology after discharge.
• OTPilot2026Virtual reality for activities of daily living rehabilitation after acquired brain injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesVR-based ADL practice added to usual therapy was associated with a 9.4-point gain on the NADL (max 66) and further improvement at 3 months. No control group, so the gains cannot be attributed to VR alone.
• PTOTCase Report2026Nursing strategies for severe poststroke fatigue: a case report of a structured, multidimensional intervention program.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne 71-year-old stroke patient's fatigue score fell from 6.8 to 3.2 over six weeks while receiving structured nursing care alongside daily physical, occupational, and speech therapy. As a single case with no control, this describes one person's experience, not evidence the programme works.
• PTOTCohort2026Timing and Intensity of Rehabilitation Services During Acute Stroke Hospitalization: Impacts on Functional Recovery and Community Discharge.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationAmong stroke patients receiving OT, a shorter wait between evaluation and first treatment and higher daily therapy intensity were each linked to better discharge function and greater odds of community discharge. PT showed only one significant link: earlier evaluation.
• OTQualitative2026Psychological and behavioral processes in stroke survivors with recovery exceeding prognostic expectations: a qualitative study of positive deviance.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOccupational therapists described stroke patients who exceeded recovery predictions as maintaining their pre-stroke identity, setting their own goals, building confidence from small wins, and actively using family and peer support. These are processes therapists can foster, not fixed traits.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Applications of ICF-Based Assessments and Interventions in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review.NeuroRehabilitationICF-based stroke assessments cover 84.8% of UK guideline topics, but interventions cover only 45.5%. Both skew toward body function and activity. Participation and environmental factors are barely addressed in either.
• OTPilot2026Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation-Delivered LSVT-BIG on Motor Function in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Single-Subject Experimental Study.Occupational therapy internationalAll three chronic stroke patients got faster on the Timed Up and Go, moved more blocks in the Box and Block test, and scored higher on daily living and occupational performance after 16 remote LSVT-BIG sessions over 4 weeks. With only three people and no comparison group, this is a signal, not proof.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026A scoping review of outcome and outcome measure sets for adults with spinal cord injury, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury patients share 54% of their rehabilitation outcome priorities, yet only 3% of the recommended measures are used across all three conditions. Clinicians treating all three groups are measuring the same things with different tools.
• OTOther2026Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Persian Version of the ADL Taxonomy Questionnaire in Persons With Stroke: A Rasch Analysis.Occupational therapy internationalThe Persian ADL Taxonomy is a valid, reliable tool for assessing daily living participation in stroke survivors, with strong agreement with the MBI and stable scores over time, though a few items around communication, reading, and travel need cautious interpretation.
• PTOTPilot2026Introduction of Nurse-Led Rehabilitation Services for Patients With Stroke After Discharge to Improve Self-Care Management in Bangladesh: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesNo significant difference between the nurse-led group and usual care on functional independence, self-efficacy, social participation, or caregiver burden at 3 months. Both groups improved, and the control group also received external rehabilitation, so the null result does not mean the intervention failed.
• PTOTPilot2026Implementation of Stroke Prevention Intervention Make My Day in Swedish Primary Healthcare.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieThe programme was feasible and well-received, with engaging occupations the most valued mechanism and high app use. But only two of five planned sites could run it, attendance fell short, and Swedish reimbursement rules do not cover this type of prevention work.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026The Combined Use of Non-Invasive Neurostimulation with Interactive Digital Technologies in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineCombining electrical stimulation with VR or games showed preliminary gains in gross-motor function and patient engagement across 12 small SCI studies, but the authors state the evidence is too weak to support any clinical recommendation.
• OTCohort2026Outpatient rehabilitation can prevent suicide after acquired brain injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineZero of 591 brain-injury patients in a multidisciplinary outpatient programme died by suicide, versus 40 (26 verified) in 2,932 matched controls. The comparison is observational, not randomised, but the difference is large.
• PTOTRCT2026Correlation of Motor-Task Related Brain Activation Changes With Motor Performance Changes Induced by Constraint-Induced Therapy After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairArm function improved with CIMT, as expected from the parent trial, but brain activation for a controlled finger task did not significantly change in any group. The one significant link: more functional gain went with preserved affected-hemisphere M1 activation.
• OTSurvey2026Exploring occupational therapists' perceptions, current practices and confidence levels in supporting return to work after stroke: A mixed-methods study.The British journal of occupational therapyUK occupational therapists feel confident in their stroke return-to-work role, but practice skews toward physical and cognitive impairment work. Work-specific assessments and employer engagement are used rarely; confidence drops to 47% for employer-related tasks. Most learned on the job and want targeted training.
• PTOTCohort2026Long-term medical and psychosocial vulnerability after home return following severe traumatic brain injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAmong adults with severe TBI living at home one year after injury, 16.7% carried a five-year pattern of depression, anxiety, low life satisfaction, and repeated hospital visits. Home return did not mean recovery was complete.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Designing an mHealth App for Stroke Rehabilitation in Indonesia: Mixed Methods Design Science Research Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesA stroke rehabilitation app prototype in Indonesia scored 'Good' on usability (SUS 71.83) and identified home-visit, activity-target, and progress-monitoring features as key gaps. No clinical outcomes were measured. This is a design study, not evidence the app improves recovery.
• OTQualitative2026Perceptions of Family Support in the Stroke Prevention Program Make My Day.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieFamily support in stroke prevention worked best when family members joined in healthy activities together and gave positive feedback, but broke down when they took over tasks like cooking or sent mixed messages. The person's own motivation mattered more than external encouragement.
• PTOTOther2026Association between shoulder external rotation strength and real-world arm use in patients with mild post-stroke hemiparesis: a cross-sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 17 stroke survivors with mild arm weakness, stronger shoulder external rotation was linked to more and better use of the affected arm in daily life. Those with movement-induced shoulder pain had weaker external rotation and less shoulder range of motion.
• OTOther2026Strategy Use Among People With Parkinson's Disease During the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationCrossing off items, entering fixed appointments first, crossing off free day, and self-checking related to higher accuracy for people with Parkinson's, but more strategies meant longer time with no efficiency gain. For those with mild cognitive impairment, strategy use did not relate to performance.
• PTOTRCT2026Outcomes of rehabilitation following device-aided therapy start in parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation added after device-aided therapy for Parkinson's left patients doing noticeably better on hands-on tasks at 6 and 12 months than standard care alone. At 12 months, 19% of the rehab group fell below the independence threshold versus 54% of the control group.
• OTRCT2026Participation Education Intervention for People With SCI From LMIC: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.Occupational therapy internationalAdding a participation education manual to standard inpatient rehabilitation for spinal cord injury did not improve daily-living scores more than rehabilitation alone. Both groups improved over 6 weeks. This small Gaza pilot tests feasibility, not efficacy.
• OTMeta-Analysis2026Predictors of Return to Driving in Patients With Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.Occupational therapy internationalSimulator and VR driving training reduced driving errors and improved the odds of passing an on-road test in people recovering from brain injury. Those with more severe initial injuries were less likely to return to driving.
• PTOTRCT2026Feasibility and Acceptability of an App-Based Mindfulness Meditation Intervention for People with Spinal Cord Injury and Chronic Pain.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationA free 6-week mindfulness app is feasible and acceptable for people with spinal cord injury and chronic pain, but this pilot did not test whether it reduces pain. Adherence fell below the 70% target overall. A larger trial is needed before recommending it.
• OTQualitative2026How does it feel to be helped using minimal cognitive assistance following a traumatic brain injury?Australian occupational therapy journalFive adults with TBI described how they experienced a therapist's minimal prompting during meal prep. They generally liked being given time to think before getting more direct help. This is what 5 people said after two sessions, not proof the approach improves function.
• PTOTPilot2026Improved cognitive flexibility after high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in individuals with Parkinson's disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn a 3-week pilot with 10 Parkinson's patients per group, high-intensity interval cycling showed an advantage over steady-state cycling on one cognitive flexibility test but not on four others. Both groups improved equally on motor and balance scores. Too small to change practice, but it supports a larger trial.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Brain-computer interface for upper limb functional recovery post-stroke: a meta-analysis of improvement in upper limb motor function and changes in neurophysiological markers.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBCI training added to standard stroke rehab improved upper limb movement scores across 16 trials. The benefit was clearest in the subacute phase; in chronic stroke it did not reach significance. Consider BCI as an adjunct for subacute upper limb rehab, not a replacement.
• OTSystematic Review2026Occupational Therapy in Return-to-Work Processes After Stroke: A Scoping Review of Ongoing Therapeutic Support and Implications for Work-Treatment Balance.Occupational therapy internationalAcross 58 studies of stroke survivors returning to work, therapeutic support was variably integrated with employment. OT roles extended beyond individual rehab into employer liaison and workplace adjustment. Fatigue was the second most common barrier but was rarely measured.
• PTOTOther2026Cortical neuromodulation by vibration-induced illusion of movement is observed in older individuals, but not in individuals with acute stroke: a cross-sectional fNIRS study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVibrating the triceps tendon to create an illusion of arm movement produced no measurable brain response in people with acute stroke, while healthy adults showed clear cortical activation. The technique may not engage expected neural pathways early after stroke.
• OTSurvey2026Experiences and Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaboration Among Spanish Optometrists and Occupational Therapists: A Cross-Sectional Study.Occupational therapy internationalA survey of 138 Spanish optometrists and 148 occupational therapists found that collaboration between the two professions is rare, informal, and dependent on individual initiative. Where it does occur, satisfaction is high, but clear referral pathways and organisational support are largely absent.
• OTCohort2026Investigation of Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Extended Barthel Index in Inpatients With Acute to Subacute Stroke in China.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn stroke inpatients, a 4-point gain on the 64-point Extended Barthel Index is the smallest improvement a patient notices; 6 points is what a family member would call meaningful. A 2-point drop is what a therapist would call slight decline.
• PTOTOther2026Clinical factors associated with motor imagery ability in individuals with subacute stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn 40 subacute stroke patients, motor recovery, proprioception, and working memory together were associated with motor imagery ability, but no single factor independently predicted it. Cross-sectional design; associations only, not causation.
• PTOTSurvey2026Survey on stroke rehabilitation in Europe (SUSTAIN-EU) to evaluate European stroke rehabilitation services.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAcross 30 of 37 European countries, inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation was near-universal, but early supported discharge (16 of 30), home (20 of 30) and community-based rehabilitation (19 of 30) were patchy. Countries joining the ESPRM after 1991 reported fewer of these.