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.

3,875 PAPERS · PAGE 27 OF 78 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRCT2021Effect of assist-as-needed robotic gait training on the gait pattern post stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter six weeks in inpatient stroke rehabilitation, adding assist-as-needed robotic gait training to conventional therapy did not improve the main measure of walking smoothness more than conventional therapy. Both groups walked faster and had similar recovery.
• PTOther2021Reductions in Cardiac Structure and Function 24 Months After Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationLonger time since spinal cord injury was linked to smaller left ventricle dimensions, volumes, and mass, and to lower stroke volume and cardiac output, while ejection fraction and diastolic function did not change.
• PTRCT2021Clinical utility of the over-ground bodyweight-supporting walking system Andago in children and youths with gait impairments.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 18 children with walking impairments, Andago was practical to set up, generally accepted, and produced more varied step timing than treadmill walking. It does not prove the device improves walking.
• 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.
• PTRCT2021Implicit and Explicit Motor Learning Interventions Have Similar Effects on Walking Speed in People After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Physical therapyIn people after stroke, walking speed improved similarly with home training using analogies or detailed verbal instructions. Neither method was better.
• PTOther2021The construct and concurrent validity of brief standing sway assessments in children with and without cerebral palsy.Gait & postureFor children with cerebral palsy, brief standing sway tests of 5 to 25 seconds can match the validity of the standard 30-second test. This applies specifically to eyes-closed measures in the side-to-side or rotational directions, potentially helping clinicians assess children who cannot stand still long enough for traditional protocols.
• 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.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Prevalence of pain and interference with daily activities and sleep in adults with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTwo-thirds of adults with cerebral palsy report pain, with back pain most common. Pain is significantly underreported when proxies report for patients, especially those with communication difficulties. Clinicians must ask patients directly about pain rather than relying on caregivers.
• 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.
• PTOther2021Accuracy of wrist-worn heart rate monitors during physical therapy sessions among hemiparetic inpatients with stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceWrist heart-rate monitors on hemiparetic stroke inpatients tracked chest readings on average, but individual readings could be far off during physical therapy. They may be useful for rough monitoring, not precise intensity control.
• 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.
• PTOther2021Immediate effects of short period lower limb ergometer exercise in adolescent and young adult patients with cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia.Journal of physical therapy scienceTen minutes of lower limb ergometer exercise immediately reduced spasticity and increased knee extension range in eight adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Walking speed showed a non-significant trend toward improvement. This single-session pilot suggests short-term benefits but cannot confirm lasting functional gains.
• 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.
• PTCohort2021Early brain imaging predictors of post-stroke spasticity.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients with first ischaemic stroke who developed spasticity within 3 months more often had early MRI lesions larger than 3 cm3 in motor-network areas. Small cortical lesions were rarely associated with spasticity.
• 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.
• PTOther2021Meaningful measurements of maneuvers: People with incomplete spinal cord injury 'step up' to the challenges of altered stability requirements.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with incomplete spinal cord injury adopted a more cautious stepping strategy than peers when changing lanes under robotic force fields. They widened their stance and reduced body sway to maintain stability, particularly when initiating maneuvers against resistance or assisting forces.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• PTCohort2021Relationship between gait profile score and clinical assessments of gait in post-stroke patients.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Gait Profile Score correlates with balance and walking ability in chronic stroke patients. Higher scores indicate worse gait. It predicts Berg Balance Scale scores, offering a 3D motion capture metric that aligns with clinical observations of stability and compensation.
• PTOTSurvey2021Stakeholder Perspectives on Engaging With Cerebral Palsy Research Studies After Onset of COVID-19 in the United States.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPeople with cerebral palsy and their caregivers are willing to join research sooner than they are to socialize, but parents wait longer than adults do for studies offering no direct benefit. Those with higher physical needs were the most cautious about returning to in-person research.
• 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.
• PTRCT2021Dual-Task Effects During a Motor-Cognitive Task in Parkinson's Disease: Patterns of Prioritization and the Influence of Cognitive Status.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairWalking while responding to tones slowed gait in mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, especially in those with mild cognitive impairment. Those with mild cognitive impairment prioritized the tone task over walking; those without prioritized walking speed.
• 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.
• PTOTCohort2021Clinical Characteristics Associated with Reduced Selective Voluntary Motor Control in the Upper Extremity of Individuals with Spastic Cerebral Palsy.Developmental neurorehabilitationUnintended movements at other joints were the most common cause of reduced selective motor control in children with cerebral palsy, occurring more often than weakness or tightness. Mirror movements affected 74% of participants and were linked to lower reported hand function.
• 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.
• PTOTRCT2021Efficacy and safety of abobotulinumtoxinA for upper limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized repeat-treatment study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy who received 8U/kg or 16U/kg abobotulinumtoxinA plus home exercises and ongoing therapy had greater reduction in elbow or wrist muscle tone at 6 weeks than those given 2U/kg. Function and goal scores improved in all groups, without dose differences.
• PTPilot2021Effect of hybrid assistive limb treatment on maximal walking speed and six-minute walking distance during stroke rehabilitation: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceAdding HAL to usual physical, occupational, and speech therapy did not significantly improve change in maximal walking speed or six-minute walking distance versus conventional gait training plus usual therapy. Both groups improved, but this small pilot cannot show HAL superiority.
• PTPilot2021Investigation of inspiratory intercostal muscle activity in patients with spinal cord injury: a pilot study using electromyography, ultrasonography, and respiratory inductance plethysmography.Journal of physical therapy scienceSurface EMG and ultrasound showed little change in inspiratory intercostal muscle activity or thickness from rest to deep breath in people with cervical spinal cord injury. Rib cage movement tended to be larger when inspiratory capacity was larger.
• PTSystematic Review2021State of the art in parallel ankle rehabilitation robot: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNo parallel ankle rehabilitation robot is currently used in clinical practice. All tested devices remain in the laboratory or simulation stage, with most trials conducted only on healthy subjects rather than patients with ankle dysfunction.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2021Physical therapist-led swimming lessons for children with cerebral palsy: a report of 2 cases.Journal of physical therapy scienceTwo children with cerebral palsy improved swimming speed and distance after six monthly PT-led lessons. Gross motor function and daily living scores barely changed. Muscle tone increased slightly. The intervention was safe and well-liked, but too small to prove it works.