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 61 OF 78 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTCohort2025Association between performance of basic movements at admission and socioenvironmental factors and returning home following inpatient stroke rehabilitation.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke patients who could perform basic movements like sitting and standing on admission were more likely to return home. This association held even after accounting for living arrangements and family support, making physical function a key predictor of discharge destination.
• PTRCT2025Efficacy of a single session of anticipatory postural adjustments training to support people with Parkinson's overcoming freezing of gait: a multi-methods approach.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA single session of video-based anticipatory postural adjustment training increased the success rate of stepping out of freezing episodes in people with Parkinson's. It also boosted confidence and reduced fear, though it did not reduce the frequency or duration of the freezes themselves.
• PTOther2025The Neuromusculoskeletal Modeling Pipeline: MATLAB-based model personalization and treatment optimization functionality for OpenSim.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new OpenSim software tool can personalize movement models and simulate treatments. In a stroke survivor’s model, a simulated change in muscle control patterns predicted 9.9% lower metabolic cost at a faster walking trial and possible 60% faster walking without raising cost.
• 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.
• PTPilot2025Feasibility and safety of automated multi-channel FES-assisted gait training in incomplete spinal cord injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFive people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury completed 10 weeks of FES-assisted treadmill gait training while continuing physiotherapy. No serious adverse events occurred, but the study cannot show whether FES caused any gait change.
• 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.
• PTCohort2025Discriminative ability, responsiveness, and interpretability of smoothness index of gait in people with multiple sclerosis.Archives of physiotherapyA trunk sensor index (LDLJaML) detects gait smoothness problems in people with MS and tracks rehab progress. A change greater than 4.02% in this index signals a clinically meaningful improvement in balance, giving therapists a specific, measurable target for treatment.
• PTRCT2025Effect of electroencephalography-based motor imagery neurofeedback on mu suppression during motor attempt in patients with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEEG neurofeedback produced greater movement-related EEG signal suppression during imagined movement and attempted grasp than sham in 15 patients with subacute stroke. It did not test hand function recovery.
• 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.
• PTCohort2025Epidemiology of spinal cord injuries in three selected counties in Kenya.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn three Kenyan counties, spinal cord injuries mostly affected men aged 26 to 35. Motor vehicle accidents and falls caused nearly nine in ten injuries. Cervical lesions were most common, and neuropathic pain was the leading complication.
• PTCohort2025Postural Sway Measurement Using a Body-Worn Movement Sensor in Clinical Stroke Rehabilitation: Exploring Sensitivity to Change and Responsiveness.Physical therapyPostural sway measured by a body-worn sensor rarely changed during stroke rehabilitation, even when patients improved on standard balance tests. This sensor does not reliably track clinical progress or distinguish those who improved from those who did not.
• 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.
• PTOther2025A Delphi study to identify key gait patterns and their potential causes in people with multiple sclerosis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineTwenty MS gait experts agreed on six gait patterns in multiple sclerosis: drop foot, stiff knee, knee flexion, knee hyperextension, insufficient push-off, enhanced variability, and likely causes. This gives clinicians a shared way to describe walking problems.
• PTRCT2025Investigating the Acute and Chronic Effects of Cardiovascular Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Early Subacute Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn early subacute stroke, 8-week cardiovascular exercise plus standard care did not change blood BDNF levels. It improved peak oxygen uptake by 4.43 mL/kg/minute, but upper-limb motor outcomes did not differ from standard care.
• 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.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Association Between Physical, Social, and Attitudinal Environments and Quality of Life in Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy: Insights From the SPARCLE Cross-Sectional Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSupportive attitudes from teachers, therapists, and classmates were linked to better school quality of life. However, physical accessibility and home support showed no significant link to quality of life once pain, impairment, and parenting stress were considered.
• 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.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Visuomotor Integration Assessment Using Immersive Virtual Reality for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study.Child: care, health and developmentIn 12 children with cerebral palsy, immersive VR did not correlate with standard paper-and-pencil visuomotor scores. Children were less accurate in VR than on a touchscreen. Adding visual distractions consistently worsened eye tracking, while hand accuracy sometimes improved.
• 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.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Cognitive and Adaptive Functioning of CTNNB1 Syndrome Patients: A Comparison With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with CTNNB1 syndrome performed worse than those with autism on non-verbal reasoning and daily living skills, but showed no significant group difference on overall adaptive functioning or verbal comprehension. Their profile is distinct, with relative verbal strengths and non-verbal deficits.
• 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.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Use of Technology in the Rehabilitation Setting: Therapy Observations, Mixed Methods Analysis, and Data Visualization.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationRehabilitation technology is widely available but often unused. Therapists favored familiar, electrically powered devices for balance and gait training. Setup times were typically short. Multitasking during treatment was common. Novel technologies like exoskeletons were rarely used, suggesting a gap between available tools and clinical workflow.
• PTCase-Control2025Comparison of gait between stroke patients and healthy volunteers using knee-ankle-foot orthoses with adjustable knee flexion.Journal of physical therapy scienceStroke patients showed significantly greater knee flexion than healthy volunteers during mid-stance when using orthoses set to allow 30 degrees of movement or free motion. This suggests these settings may cause excessive knee buckling in stroke recovery, potentially requiring stricter limitation.
• 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.
• PTCohort2025In vivo estimation of motor unit intrinsic properties in individuals with spinal cord injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new non-invasive method estimated motor neuron properties in people with incomplete spinal cord injury. It found that tibialis anterior neurons took longer to recover between firings than in controls, but soleus and gastrocnemius showed no difference.
• 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.
• PTRCT2025AGREE: an upper limb motorized exoskeleton for restoring arm functions: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding the AGREE exoskeleton to standard therapy did not improve arm function more than standard therapy alone. Both groups improved similarly. Patients rated the device as usable, but the robotic group received less active practice time due to setup delays.
• 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.
• PTCohort2025Clinical Assessment of Walking Capacity in People With Parkinson Disease: Are 2 Minutes Sufficient?Physical therapyA 2-minute walk test predicted 93.2% of the distance covered on a 6-minute walk in people with mild to moderate Parkinson disease. Although patients walked faster and covered more distance in the shorter test, the 2-minute version is a valid, time-saving alternative for clinical assessment.
• 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.
• PTOther2025Upper Limb Function 3 Months Post-Stroke: How Accurate Are Physiotherapist Predictions?Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapyPhysiotherapists correctly predicted upper limb recovery in 41% of stroke patients. Predictions were often too pessimistic, missing actual recovery in 40% of cases. Accuracy did not significantly improve with seniority or further education. Standardized prediction models may offer better guidance than experience alone.
• 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.