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 72 OF 78 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTPilot2025Assessing rhythm reproducibility during gait after internal rhythm-learning tasks: a pilot study in healthy adults and patients with Parkinson's disease.Journal of physical therapy scienceLower-limb stepping reproduced gait rhythm better than upper-limb tapping in healthy adults. In six patients with Parkinson's, the task was safe and generally feasible, but those with significant frontal lobe dysfunction struggled to replicate the rhythm.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Growing stronger: Nine decades of physical disability representation in children's media and implications for pediatric rehabilitation.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicinePositive portrayals of physical disability in children's media rose sharply after 2000, with 90% of post-2000 films and shows depicting disability positively compared to 63% before. Spinal cord injury is heavily overrepresented. Therapists can use media literacy to address internalized stigma and reinforce rehabilitation goals.
• PTOTPilot2026Effects of ultrasound-guided nerve hydro-dissection on severe post stroke shoulder pain: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesUpper-limb motor scores did not differ between groups, but shoulder pain scores decreased more with ultrasound-guided nerve hydro-dissection added to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture and topical diclofenac in 12 patients with severe post-stroke shoulder pain.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Explainable machine learning prediction of functional independence measure scores and gain in subacute stroke survivors.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdmission scores on basic daily tasks like bowel management strongly predicted discharge independence, while age and toileting skills predicted overall functional gain. These machine learning models identified specific prognostic factors, offering a transparent way to forecast rehabilitation outcomes in subacute stroke survivors.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026A Smart Textile Biofeedback Training System for Upper Limb Rehabilitation After Stroke: Co-Design Development and Evaluation Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStroke survivors and clinicians found a smart textile biofeedback sleeve easy to use and motivating. It helped them see and control remaining muscle activity. They suggested it for home training in chronic stroke, noting it needs clear instructions and support.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Cortical mapping of real-time ultrasound-imaging visual feedback for ankle dorsiflexion in patients after stroke: a fNIRS study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationReal-time ultrasound feedback during ankle exercises did not increase brain activity in the primary motor area. It reduced deoxygenated blood signals in motor planning regions and altered brain connectivity in stroke survivors. These are preliminary neural changes, not proof of improved movement or recovery.
• PTPilot2026Feasibility of optimizing muscle activation of individuals with spinal cord injuries to reduce caregiver effort in assisted transfers.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOptimized stimulation reduced estimated caregiver work and some estimated joint loads in two people with spinal cord injury, but the ground-force difference was not clear.
• PTOther2026Automatic and explainable assessment for Parkinson's disease by video-based human motion understanding.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA phone-video system scored 16 Parkinson motor items from patient videos, with symptom accuracies of 90.1% to 97.2%. When clinicians saw its movement measurements, their average item accuracy rose from 78.7% to 85.3%.
• PTOTRCT2026Unlocking trunk potential after stroke: a novel approach combining transcranial direct current stimulation and core stability exercise: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding brain stimulation to core stability exercises improved trunk control, balance, and daily independence more than exercises alone in chronic stroke patients. Both groups gained, but the combined group showed larger improvements across all measures after 12 weeks.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Disproportional ventilatory response to incremental exercise in individuals with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIndividuals with cerebral palsy breathe much faster during exercise than typically developing people, even at lower heart rates. This is likely due to an inability to take deeper breaths rather than metabolic stress. Therapists should monitor respiratory rate, not just heart rate, to gauge exertion.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Prevalence and biopsychosocial predictors of post-stroke fatigue in patients with minor strokes.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAbout one in five minor stroke survivors had clinically significant fatigue at one year. Fatigue was linked to psychological distress, balance problems, and self-reported cognitive symptoms, but not to cognitive test scores or pain.
• PTOTPilot2025Development and feasibility testing of a video-based exercise program for improving upper limb motor function among stroke survivors in a low-income setting.Archives of physiotherapyStroke survivors in Nigeria completed a four-week home program using an English video, manual, and five exercises including constraint-induced movement therapy; 29 of 30 finished, and motor scores rose 8.8 points on a 75-point scale. Without controls, this shows feasibility, not proven effectiveness.
• PTOTPilot2026Gamified electromyographic biofeedback for people with tetraplegia from SCI is enjoyable, results in high-dosage therapy, increases muscle electrical activity, and may improve arm function, a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with tetraplegia playing EMG-controlled games achieved high repetition counts and reported enjoying the therapy. Muscle electrical activity increased significantly, but functional gains remain unproven due to missing data and the lack of a control group.
• PTOTCohort2026Early multidimensional mobility assessments for discriminating discharge-level ambulation and functional independence in subacute stroke inpatients: a retrospective cohort study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn subacute stroke patients who could walk with supervision, early balance and multidirectional stepping tests best predicted discharge independence. A Berg Balance Scale score of 40.5 or higher identified 92% of those who achieved independent ambulation, outperforming speed-based gait tests.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Real-World Experiences of Therapy Staff Implementing an Intensive Rehabilitation Protocol in Canadian Stroke Inpatient Rehabilitation Settings: A Multi-Site Survey Study.Physical therapyMost therapy staff found intensive walking protocols helpful but struggled to meet step targets within standard 30-minute sessions. Time constraints and discharge planning competed with therapy goals. Wearable devices were valued for feedback, though staff doubted their accuracy for patients with slower or atypical gaits.
• PTPilot2025Usability of Myosuit exosuit and effects of device-mediated rehabilitation on chronic stroke survivors: a non-randomized pilot study.Archives of physiotherapyTen chronic stroke survivors rated the Myosuit exosuit as usable overall (median 55 on a 0 to 100 scale), but responses varied widely. After training, some walking and balance tests improved without the device, while stair descent time worsened and self-efficacy did not change.
• PTRCT2026Does aerobic exercise affect memory, attention, working memory, and fatigue after acquired brain injury? A single-blinded, randomized controlled pilot study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding 30 min of aerobic exercise 3 to 4 times/week for 8 weeks to brain injury rehabilitation showed no clear benefit on memory, attention, working memory or fatigue compared with usual rehabilitation. Only 12 patients completed, so this is preliminary.
• PTOther2026Methodological framework for a user-centered, structured, and digitized training program for exoskeleton pilots in CYBATHLON preparation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA 12-week trainer-focused framework provides structure for exoskeleton CYBATHLON preparation from expert interviews and a five-person focus group, but it has not been tested for pilot walking outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Comparative efficacy of motor imagery augmented with central non-invasive brain stimulation versus peripheral electrical stimulation for upper extremity rehabilitation post-stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding motor imagery plus low-frequency rTMS to conventional rehab was significantly better than conventional rehab alone for post-stroke arm motor scores; other tested combinations and single interventions were not.
• PTRCT2026Effects of thoracic manipulation with trigger point therapy on inflammatory cytokine levels in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn 21 people with relapsing multiple sclerosis, chiropractic thoracic palpation, trigger point therapy, and manipulation did not clearly improve symptoms, and most blood inflammation markers barely differed from sham; a few inflammation markers changed, but this pilot did not test whether that means anything.
• PTOTCohort2026Beyond spasticity reduction: botulinum toxin-a injection is associated with changes in abnormal flexor synergies of the upper limb in chronic stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBotulinum toxin injections in chronic stroke patients reduced elbow spasticity and improved an index of abnormal flexor synergy. The study did not show a change in maximum voluntary shoulder flexion angle. These findings are from a small, uncontrolled cohort and cannot confirm causality or clinical benefit.
• PTCase Report2026Case Report: Improving gait and fatigue in multiple sclerosis through wearable electrical stimulation: a single-patient study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAfter a month of home wearable electrical stimulation, one woman with multiple sclerosis showed faster walking, longer walking distance, quicker Timed Up and Go, and less reported fatigue. This was a single case with no control, so it cannot show the suit caused the gains.
• PTOTPilot2026Creating an engaging brain computer interface, electrical stimulation therapy for children with hemiparesis: a pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThree sessions of a social-media-linked brain-computer interface with electrical stimulation were safe and feasible for 12 children with hemiparesis. Participants reported feeling less clinical and more engaged, but technical lag caused frustration. No functional gains can be attributed to the system.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Looking Beyond Dose: Identifying Responders and Non-Responders to RehaCom Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation in Progressive MS-The CogEx Study.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairComputerized cognitive training helps some people with progressive MS improve processing speed, but not all modules work equally. Progressing through Attention/Concentration tasks was linked to greater gains, while other modules showed little benefit or hit difficulty ceilings.
• PTRCT2026Impact of optimized AFOs on functional outcomes in children with spastic cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with spastic CP had higher same-day balance scores wearing OSKAR AFO-footwear combinations than standard ones, but the score difference was smaller than the difference usually considered clinically important. Obstacle course and six-minute walk results did not show a clear difference.
• PTOther2025Feasibility and Usability of an Omnidirectional Treadmill-Based Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Game: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study.Physical therapyA treadmill-based VR game was used without serious adverse events by eight survivors of stroke and four physical therapists, but usability scores missed the success criteria and treadmill step length was shorter than overground.
• PTOTCohort2026Examining the Impact of Perceived and Objective Cognitive Function on Social Participation in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn adults with MS who have average cognitive test scores, how they perceive their own cognitive function strongly predicts social participation. Objective cognitive test results showed only weak associations, while walking ability was the strongest predictor.
• PTOTPilot2026Usability, Acceptability, and Feasibility of a Personalized Adaptive Mirror Therapy for Upper-Limb Poststroke Rehabilitation Using Immersive Virtual Reality and Myoelectric Control: Single-Arm Pre-Post Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesAdaptive VR mirror therapy with muscle-signal control and therapist supervision was rated usable and motivating by people with chronic stroke, including severe arm weakness. Satisfaction was higher at the end than midway, but severely impaired patients reported more workload. It shows feasibility, not recovery.
• PTPilot2026Effects of self-selected music on psychophysiological responses to goal-directed exercise in Parkinson's disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with Parkinson's disease walked farther, faster, and took more steps while listening to their own chosen music at least 120 beats per minute compared with white noise. They also felt more motivated and enjoyed it more, but this was a 12-person pilot.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Exoskeleton frontal and sagittal plane hip torque improves propulsion and transient stability during walking in individuals with hemiparesis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn eight people with hemiparesis, a hip exoskeleton widened step width and improved stability markers as abduction torque increased. Sagittal-plane assistance boosted non-paretic propulsion but not paretic. These immediate mechanical changes need testing in real-world falls and walking speed.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2026Upper limb motor recovery using a digital health-driven IoT rehabilitation system: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA stroke patient with high baseline independence used a digital IoT system for two weeks. His arm movement quality improved slightly, and he stayed engaged. Because he started so capable, the system could not show further gains in how often he used his arm.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026On the correlation between training modalities and recovery stages in poststroke robotic rehabilitation of the upper limb: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobotic therapy choices should match the stroke recovery stage. Assistive modes with electrical stimulation worked best for chronic patients. Active-assistive modes with bio-signal triggers yielded greater gains for subacute patients. Evidence for the acute phase remains too limited to guide practice.
• PTCohort2026Do predictors of motor recovery differ between robotic and conventional post-stroke rehabilitation?Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBaseline motor severity predicted recovery in both groups. Age mattered only for conventional therapy, while neglect and wrist strength mattered only for robotic therapy. These differences suggest treatment choice may depend on specific patient profiles rather than one-size-fits-all.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Relationship between lower limb muscle coordination and knee flexion angle during the swing phase of gait in post-stroke individuals.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients with fewer muscle coordination patterns had significantly lower knee flexion during the swing phase. These patients merged ankle and hip/knee control into one pattern, unlike those with more complex control who kept ankle push-off separate.
• PTOTCase Report2026Robotic exoskeleton rehabilitation in incomplete L2 paraplegia: functional gains contrast with metabolic challenges - a multidimensional case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne young man with incomplete paraplegia gained function and bone density over six months of exoskeleton training. However, his visceral fat rose sharply and muscle asymmetry worsened. This single case shows functional gains can coexist with metabolic decline and uneven recovery.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Post-stroke lower limb rehabilitation: a comparative study between exoskeleton robots and traditional gait training.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobot-assisted gait training may speed short-term recovery in severe post-stroke walking deficits, while traditional training better supports active movement learning. Most evidence lacked follow-up beyond six months.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The impact of continued inpatient therapies on functional recovery and community discharge in patients with acquired brain injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients with acquired brain injury continuing rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility after inpatient rehab showed significant functional gains in mobility, daily activities, and cognition. Eighty-eight percent were discharged to the community. Higher admission mobility scores and an ischemic stroke diagnosis predicted community discharge.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with computerized cognitive training improves global cognition and functional independence post-stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining hyperbaric oxygen with computerized cognitive training improved global cognition and daily living independence more than either alone or standard care in stroke patients. Gains appeared across memory, attention, and orientation. The contribution of each component cannot be separated.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Neurosurgery to restore function in cerebral palsy: current practice and emerging therapies.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis review maps neurosurgical options for cerebral palsy movement disorders. It notes SDR helps spasticity but can unmask dystonia, while DBS and spinal cord stimulation remain investigational for children. Outcomes vary by phenotype, requiring individualized selection and intensive rehab.
• PTOther2026Using explainable AI to identify disease-relevant and deep brain stimulation treatment-sensitive gait features in Parkinson's disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStep width variability, step width asymmetry, arm-leg coordination and forward-back balance were the most consistent candidate gait markers distinguishing Parkinson's disease from controls and pre-DBS from post-DBS. Post-surgery recordings included medication and stimulation, so this does not isolate deep brain stimulation.
• PTOTRCT2026Neuromechanics of Nonuse and Compensation: Implications for Rehabilitation After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairTrunk compensation after stroke is often a smart effort-saving strategy, not just bad habits. Patients who gain function or reduce effort by compensating should focus on shoulder strength. Those who do not gain from compensating are candidates for therapies that restrict movement.
• PTOther2026The Use of 3D Printing Technology in Rehabilitation for Adults Living With Neurological Conditions: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStudies of 3D-printed neurorehabilitation devices came only from upper-middle-income or high-income countries, mostly orthoses for stroke. The review mapped tools and outcome measures, not whether they improve recovery.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026User Requirements of the Integrated Home-Based Rehabilitation Tool, Neurorehabilitation Ecosystem for Sustained Therapy: Multicenter Focus Group Study With Stroke Survivors, Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesStroke survivors, caregivers, and therapists agree that home rehabilitation apps need therapist-led setup, simple interfaces, and customizable games. Caregivers want to support without becoming therapists. The system must be an addition to clinic care, not a replacement, with ongoing monitoring to keep patients engaged.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Clinical characteristics, functional impact and caregivers' priorities in Malaysian children with dystonic cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineCaregivers rated sitting, hygiene, and speech as top priorities even when impact was mild. Fine motor issues showed high impact and priority. Dystonia severity correlated with functional impact, but functional level alone did not predict priority.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence for the Assessment and Rehabilitation of Spatial Neglect: A Systematic Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairAugmented reality and AI show promise for assessing spatial neglect, with some diagnostic accuracy exceeding standard tests. However, evidence for rehabilitation effectiveness is very low, with only one small trial. Current tools lack personalization and real-world validation.
• PTOTOther2026Validity of FuncUseRatio for ecological monitoring of functional arm use after stroke: toward precision neurorehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWrist sensors accurately track functional arm use in stroke survivors. The FuncUseRatio metric matched video analysis almost perfectly in daily tasks like eating and dressing. This tool validates home monitoring of paretic arm use, helping clinicians detect non-use behaviors early.
• PTOther2026Efficacy of radial shock wave therapy for ankle spasticity in patients with stroke within 3 months of onset: a prospective quasi-experimental study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn adults within three months of stroke, radial shock wave plus physical, occupational, and speech therapy was linked to lower ankle tone and greater passive range of motion for up to five weeks. With no control group, natural recovery may explain the gains.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Characteristics of unilateral cerebral palsy according to gestational age at birth: A retrospective study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost children with unilateral cerebral palsy were born at term. Premature birth did not predict later impairments, but focal brain injuries like stroke were linked to fewer cognitive and communication issues, yet higher rates of epilepsy, compared to white matter injuries.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Efficacy of vibration therapy on physical function, activity and participation in people with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVibration therapy improved motor function, spasticity, balance, gait and daily activity in stroke survivors. Benefits were larger with longer sessions and in chronic stroke. Participation outcomes showed no change. Evidence quality was moderate, so results need cautious interpretation.
• PTOTRCT2026Application of continuing care based on an information platform in discharged patients with first-ever stroke.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStroke patients who used a WeChat mini-program for continuing care after discharge had better neurological function and daily living scores at three months than those receiving routine care. The group also had fewer falls and readmissions. The intervention combined online education with offline home nursing.