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Clinical Application of Physical Therapy in Neurorehabilitation: 2nd Edition
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Clinical Application of Physical Therapy in Neurorehabilitation: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Rehabilitation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 5432

Special Issue Editors

Dr. ‪Sofia Straudi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
2. Unit of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Interests: neurorehabilitation; technology rehabilitation; ICF model; patient-reported outcome measures; motion analysis; neurophysiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Roberto Cano de la Cuerda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Madrid, Spain
Interests: neurorehabilitation; physical therapy; neurological disorders; technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the 2nd Volume of this Special Issue, “Clinical Application of Physical Therapy in Neurorehabilitation”, following the great editorial success of the first Volume.

The field of physical therapy has gained new perspectives for the treatment of motor disorders after central nervous system lesion (i.e., stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury). Both conventional and technology-aided interventions (e.g., robotics, virtual reality, non-invasive brain stimulation, telerehabilitation) have been proposed to restore motor functions, activities, and quality of life, with promising effects primarily observed in stroke patients thus far. The aim of this Special Issue is to address a wide range of possible interventions in neurorehabilitation, both traditional and technologically supported, with a particular focus on the influence of relevant ingredients (dose, intensity, engagement, feedback used, quality of movement) on functional and global outcomes. Moreover, the relevance of the rehabilitation setting (rehabilitation hospital, nursing skilled facility, clinic, home) will be covered, with the aim of exploring all the potential contributors along a lifespan, including the long-term management of motor disabilities and the promotion of self-management and empowerment of patients and caregivers in the recovery process.

Dr. ‪Sofia Straudi
Prof. Dr. Roberto Cano de la Cuerda
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical therapy
  • technology-aided rehabilitation
  • exercise
  • neurorehabilitation
  • neuroplasticity
  • engagement
  • self-management

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2048 KiB  
Article
Relearning Upper Limb Proprioception After Stroke Through Robotic Therapy: A Feasibility Analysis
by Ananda Sidarta, Yu Chin Lim, Christopher Wee Keong Kuah, Karen Sui Geok Chua and Wei Tech Ang
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(7), 2189; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072189 - 23 Mar 2025
Viewed by 487
Abstract
Background: Motor learning can occur through active reaching with the arm hidden from view, leading to improvements in somatosensory acuity and modulation of functional connectivity in sensorimotor and reward networks. In this proof-of-principle study, we assess if the same paradigm benefits stroke survivors [...] Read more.
Background: Motor learning can occur through active reaching with the arm hidden from view, leading to improvements in somatosensory acuity and modulation of functional connectivity in sensorimotor and reward networks. In this proof-of-principle study, we assess if the same paradigm benefits stroke survivors using a compact end-effector robot with integrated gaming elements. Methods: Nine community-dwelling chronic hemiplegic stroke survivors with persistent somatosensory deficits participated in 15 training sessions, each lasting 1 h. Every session comprised a robotic-based joint approximation block, followed by 240 repetitions of training using a forward-reaching task with the affected forearm covered from view. During movement, the robot provided haptic guidance along the movement path as enhanced sensory cues. Augmented reward feedback was given following every successful movement as positive reinforcement. Baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up assessments were conducted, with the latter two sessions occurring after the final training day. Results: Training led to reliable improvements in endpoint accuracy, faster completion times, and smoother movements. Acceptability and feasibility analyses were performed to understand the viability of the intervention. Significant improvement was observed mainly in robotic-based sensory outcomes up to a month post training, suggesting that training effects were predominantly sensory, rather than motor. Conclusions: The study outcomes provide preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of this intervention for future adoption in neurorehabilitation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Application of Physical Therapy in Neurorehabilitation: 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing High-Intensity Gait Training in Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Mixed-Methods Study
by Julia Aneth Mbalilaki, Ingvild Lilleheie, Stein A. Rimehaug, Siri N. Tveitan, Anne-Margrethe Linnestad, Pia Krøll, Simen Lundberg, Marianne Molle and Jennifer L. Moore
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(13), 3708; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13133708 - 25 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2597
Abstract
(1) Background: High-intensity gait training (HIT) is a recommended intervention that improves walking function (e.g., speed and distance) in individuals who are undergoing stroke rehabilitation. This study explored clinicians’ perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing HIT utilizing a mixed-methods approach comprising a [...] Read more.
(1) Background: High-intensity gait training (HIT) is a recommended intervention that improves walking function (e.g., speed and distance) in individuals who are undergoing stroke rehabilitation. This study explored clinicians’ perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing HIT utilizing a mixed-methods approach comprising a survey and exploratory qualitative research. (2) Methods: Clinicians (n = 13) who were implementing HIT at three facilities participated. We collected and analyzed data using the consolidated framework for implementation research. Three focus groups were recorded and transcribed, and data were coded and thematically categorized. (3) Results: Survey results identified that the facilitators with a strong impact on implementation were access to knowledge/resources and intervention knowledge/beliefs. The only agreed-upon barrier with a strong impact was lack of tension for change. The focus groups resulted in 87 quotes that were coded into 27 constructs. Frequently cited outer setting facilitators were cosmopolitanism and peer pressure, and the only barrier was related to the patient needs. Innovation characteristics that were facilitators included relative advantage and design quality and packaging, and complexity was a barrier. Inner setting facilitators included networks and communication, learning climate, leadership engagement, and readiness for implementation. However, communication, leadership engagement, and available resources were also barriers. Regarding characteristics of individuals, knowledge and beliefs were both barriers and facilitators. In the implementation process domain, common facilitators were formally appointed implementation leaders and innovation participants. Barriers in this domain were related to the patients. (4) Conclusions: Clinicians identified many barriers and facilitators to implementing HIT that often varied between facilities. Further research is warranted to deepen our understanding of clinicians’ experiences with HIT implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Application of Physical Therapy in Neurorehabilitation: 2nd Edition)

Review

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15 pages, 1147 KiB  
Review
Accelerometry in the Functional Assessment of Balance in People with Stroke: A Systematic Review
by Juan Francisco Pérez-López, Roberto Cano-de-la-Cuerda and Rosa María Ortiz-Gutiérrez
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(24), 7701; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12247701 - 15 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1438
Abstract
Balance disturbances in people with lived experience of stroke affect activities of daily living and social participation, so assessing them is essential to know the level of functional independence. Accelerometers are electronic devices that allow kinematic variables of balance to be recorded and [...] Read more.
Balance disturbances in people with lived experience of stroke affect activities of daily living and social participation, so assessing them is essential to know the level of functional independence. Accelerometers are electronic devices that allow kinematic variables of balance to be recorded and are a tool of great interest in the assessment of functional balance. To determine the validity and reliability of, as well as the most performed protocols using accelerometers in the functional assessment of balance in people with experience of stroke, a systematic search of articles published in the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, the Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the PEDro and the Virtual Health Library from Spain was performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. We used QUADAS-2 to assess the quality of the included studies. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, two studied reliability and validity, two studied reliability and four studied the validity of accelerometers in the assessment of balance in people with stroke. All studies indicated the kind of accelerometer, localization on the body, tests and outcome variables. The results indicate that accelerometers show excellent reliability values in the assessment of balance in people who had a prior stroke and disparate results in terms of validity. Triaxial accelerometers were most used, and the 4th and 5th lumbar and 1st and 2nd sacral vertebrae were the body areas most used for their placement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Application of Physical Therapy in Neurorehabilitation: 2nd Edition)
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