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 63 OF 78 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTPilot2025Acute effects of 10-minute robotic leg movements on a dynamic tilt table in patients with chronic stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceA single 10-minute session on a dynamic tilt table with robotic leg movements significantly improved walking speed and cadence in ten patients with chronic stroke, but did not change quadriceps muscle tone. This suggests immediate gait benefits from the movement itself, without electrical stimulation.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025The influence of HIV on return to work in stroke survivors amongst a population of the eThekwini district, Kwazulu Natal: A qualitative study.Work (Reading, Mass.)Stroke survivors living with HIV described fear of workplace discrimination and job loss as major barriers to returning to work. They emphasized that employer accommodation for medication appointments and a collaborative return-to-work process were essential for maintaining employment and health.
• PTOTRCT2025Virtual reality-assisted rehabilitation for postoperative C5 palsy: a pilot exploratory randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding VR to standard care did not improve primary muscle strength measures in this small pilot. The VR group showed some better pain and quality-of-life scores, but they also received an extra hour of therapy daily, so the VR itself may not be the cause.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Using game performance measure to assess upper limb motor function in children with neuromotor disorders: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationGame-based assessments for children's upper limb function show promise in distinguishing impairment levels, but lack consistent reliability data. They capture movement details better than standard clinical tests, yet cannot currently replace validated measures due to insufficient evidence on consistency over time.
• PTOTCohort2025Social factors related to participation among people with Parkinson's disease.Disability and rehabilitationFor people with Parkinson's, support from family and friends predicted higher participation in demanding leisure activities like sports. Neighborhood and community support predicted better social and overall participation. These links held even after accounting for motor, cognitive, and mood impairments.
• PTSystematic Review2025Virtual reality motor sensing exercise in patients with Parkinson's disease: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with Parkinson's disease in studies of virtual reality movement training often improved on balance and gait tests after training, but outcomes versus usual therapy were inconsistent and only short-term training was studied.
• PTOTCohort2025Correlation between respiratory muscle strength and arm muscle strength of the unaffected side in patients with sub-acute stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn stroke patients who could not walk alone, respiratory strength and arm strength on the unaffected side were both far below healthy levels. Over two months of standard rehab, these improved but did not reach normal. The two strengths tracked together closely.
• PTOTCase Report2025Effect of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation for patients with chronic stroke: a case report using an AB design.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn one man with chronic stroke, repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation applied to forearm extensors improved wrist spasticity, motor scores, and self-reported daily task confidence. Because he also received routine therapy, it is unclear whether the stimulation itself caused the gains.
• PTOTQualitative2024Implementing constraint-induced movement therapy into practice in sub-acute stroke: Experiences and perceptions of stroke survivors and therapists.The British journal of occupational therapyTherapists feared stroke survivors could not tolerate intensive CIMT, but survivors chose and completed a short protocol and would repeat it. Their accounts did not match therapist expectations.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Socio-Emotional Development in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Scoping Review.Child: care, health and developmentSocio-emotional difficulties are common in young children with cerebral palsy. Severity of motor disability, communication delays and parenting difficulties were consistently linked to poorer outcomes. Most evidence relies on parent reports and cross-sectional designs, limiting causal conclusions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Motor and cognitive changes across 2 years: a longitudinal study in early Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physiotherapyEarly MS patients stayed functionally stable over two years. Cognition and fatigue did not worsen, and some walking measures even improved. Wearable sensors gave conflicting results. This suggests two years is too short to see decline, so do not assume rapid deterioration in stable patients.
• PTRCT2025Dose-response effectiveness of focused shockwave therapy on ultrasonographic muscular properties in patients with stroke exhibiting ankle spasticity.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationDouble-dose shockwave did not change calf muscle architecture more than lower-dose shockwave in stroke ankle spasticity. Across the sample, fascicle length showed a small time-related change. In the higher-dose group, longer fascicles were linked to better walking and ankle movement.
• PTOTSurvey2025Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injury.The South African journal of physiotherapySouth Africans with spinal cord injury using private healthcare reported higher overall quality of life than public users, and private users faced fewer problems with transport, medications, devices and nursing care.
• PTOTRCT2025Individual and combined applied robotic hand rehabilitation and conventional rehabilitation for post-stroke hemiplegia: a prospective three-arm randomized study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineConventional occupational therapy improved upper limb function after stroke. Adding robotic hand therapy did not significantly beat conventional alone. Robotic hand therapy plus home-based Bobath exercises did not improve upper limb function.
• PTOther2025Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the Chinese version of the short orientation-memory-concentration test in people with stroke.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe Chinese SOMC gave very similar scores between two therapists and when repeated a day later in people after stroke. A score change of 2.14 points on the 0 to 28 scale may be needed before calling it real cognitive change.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Effects of lower limb botulinum toxin injections on gait functional outcomes in stroke survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineLower limb botulinum toxin injections do not improve walking speed in chronic stroke survivors. While the treatment effectively reduces muscle spasticity, this tone reduction does not translate into better gait function. Clinicians should not expect functional walking improvements from these injections alone.
• PTOTOther2025ABILHAND-kids young CP: a measure of manual ability in young children with cerebral palsy aged 2 to 7.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA new 17-item caregiver questionnaire measures manual ability in children with cerebral palsy aged 2 to 7. It covers daily tasks like dressing and eating with high precision, filling the gap for younger children before standard school-age tools apply.
• 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.
• PTRCT2025Effects of dual-task mode brain-computer interface based on motor imagery and virtual reality on balance and attention in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled pilot trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFinal Berg Balance Scale scores did not differ significantly between brain-computer interface and conventional pedaling groups. The combined brain-computer interface pedaling, virtual reality and usual therapy group had a larger change score, but this small pilot switched its primary outcome after registration.
• 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.
• PTOTOther2025Efficacy of Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy in Improving Real-World Bimanual Performance and Identifying Predictors for Therapy Success in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsIn children with unilateral cerebral palsy, 30 hours of bimanual therapy increased real-world affected-hand use and self-reported performance, but one movement measure did not change. No control group.
• 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.
• 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.
• PTCohort2025Clarifications of the Motor Level Definition in the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury in Not Clinically Testable Myotomes.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationIn 34 of 665 people with spinal cord injury, two methods for assigning the motor level disagreed. The disagreements were rare, mostly in very incomplete injuries, and did not change the ASIA grade.
• PTRCT2025Soft robotic gloves versus mirror therapy: a long-term comparative study on hand function and motor recovery in post-stroke rehabilitation.Journal of rehabilitation medicineStroke patients who added soft robotic glove training to usual physical therapy showed greater hand dexterity, grip strength and motor recovery than those who added mirror therapy, and glove gains remained at 6 months.
• 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.
• 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.
• PTRCT2025Combining low-frequency magnetic stimulation with motor imagery to improve lower limb recovery and motor pathway integrity in cerebral infarction: a randomized, double-blind, and controlled study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAfter three weeks, adding low-frequency magnetic stimulation and motor imagery to usual rehabilitation improved lower limb motor scores more than motor imagery alone, but not more than magnetic stimulation alone.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• PTCase Series2025An Animal-Assisted Physiotherapy Intervention with a Rehabilitation Dog for Walking and Balance Training: A Case Series of Children Living with Cerebral Palsy.NeuroRehabilitationFour children with cerebral palsy improved postural control scores by 4 to 5 points after eight weeks of individualized physiotherapy with a trained rehabilitation dog, harness, and therapist handler. Walking measures varied, and no adverse events were reported. The dog alone cannot be credited.
• 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.