Fear of Falls in Older Adults and Stroke Survivors

Can Dry Needling Support Stroke Recovery?

Dry needling is making its way into stroke rehabilitation, but how safe is it, does it actually ease post-stroke spasticity, and what do the field's leading clinicians actually agree on? In this episode, we break down three studies that together form the most complete picture yet of dry needling's role in stroke recovery. We look at what a 2024 scoping review tells us about safety and adverse events in stroke patients, how an ongoing randomized trial is testing dry needling paired with exercise therapy for spasticity and motor function, and what a 2025 modified Delphi consensus reveals about expert practice recommendations. If you work in neurorehabilitation or just want to understand where the evidence stands, this one's for you. Sources: 1. Malfait I, Gijsbers S, Smeets A, et al. Safety of dry needling in stroke patients: a scoping review. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2024;60(2):225-232. doi:10.23736/S1973-9087.24.08224-8 2. Babazadeh-Zavieh SS, Ansari NN, Ghotbi N, et al. Effects of dry needling and exercise therapy on post-stroke spasticity and motor function– protocol of randomized clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2022;28:100921. doi:10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100921 3. Velázquez-Saornil J, Abuín-Porras V, Frutos-Llanes R, Barragán-Casas JM, Campón-Chekroun A, Sánchez-Milá Z. Expert consensus on the application of dry needling in stroke patients: A modified delphi method. Clin Rehabil. 2025;39(7):955-966. Powered by: Google Notebook LM

Can Physical Exercise Improve Cognition After Stroke?

In this episode of Neuro Simplified, we break down a 2025 systematic review and network meta-analysis on physical activity interventions for post-stroke cognitive recovery. The study analyzed 26 randomized controlled trials with 1,408 stroke survivors and compared different exercise approaches for improving cognition after stroke. The biggest takeaway: multi-modal exercise ranked highest for cognitive recovery, followed by aerobic exercise. Multi-modal programs included combinations of strength training, balance work, aerobic training, and sometimes cognitive or task-based components. For clinicians, this reinforces something important: post-stroke cognition is not only trained at the table with worksheets or apps. It can also be influenced through structured movement, intensity, repetition, cardiovascular challenge, and whole-body rehabilitation. In this episode, we discuss why combined exercise may have a stronger effect than single-mode training, how aerobic exercise may support brain health, and why long-term adherence remains one of the biggest challenges in stroke rehab. Source: Wang H, Li D, Li S, Zhang X, Zang W, Zhu Y, Zhang S, Xu F, Xiao Z, Guo K. Physical activity interventions for post-stroke cognitive recovery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of comparative effects. Front Neurol. 2025;16:1646328. doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1646328. Powered by: Google Notebook LM

Treating Knee Locking After A Stroke

After a stroke, one of the most common and debilitating walking problems is knee hyperextension — where the knee snaps backward during the stance phase of gait, slowing patients down, wasting energy, and risking long-term joint damage. But what actually works to treat it? In this episode, we break down a landmark systematic review that examined the best available evidence across three treatment categories: proprioceptive training, orthotic devices, and functional electrical stimulation. Spoiler: not all treatments are created equal. We explore why teaching the brain to "feel" the knee again may be the most promising first-line approach, why your choice of brace matters more than you'd think, and why electrical stimulation still has a lot to prove. Whether you're a physio, rehab specialist, neurologist, or a stroke survivor curious about your options, this episode gives you a clear-eyed look at where the science stands — and where the gaps still are. Source: Geerars M, Minnaar-van der Feen N, Huisstede BMA. Treatment of knee hyperextension in post-stroke gait: a systematic review. Gait Posture. 2022;91:137-148. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.08.016 Powered by Notebook LM

Young Athletes, Brain Inflammation, and the Path to CTE

For years, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was thought of as a disease that appeared decades after an athlete's playing career ended. New research is challenging that belief. In this episode, we connect three landmark studies that examined young athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts. Researchers found evidence of CTE in athletes under 30, identified brain inflammation and neuron loss that may occur before CTE develops, and reviewed the growing evidence linking repetitive head impacts to long-term neurodegeneration. We break down what these findings mean, what remains unknown, and why the conversation around concussion and contact sports is rapidly evolving. Whether you're a clinician, athlete, coach, or family member, this episode explores the latest science behind one of the most debated topics in brain health. Sources: * McKee AC, Mez J, Abdolmohammadi B, et al. Neuropathologic and clinical findings in young contact sport athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts. JAMA Neurol. 2023;80(10):1037-1050. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2907 * Butler MLMD, Pervaiz N, Breen K, et al. Repeated head trauma causes neuron loss and inflammation in young athletes. Nature. 2025;647(8045):228-262. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09534-6 * McKee AC, Stein TD, Huber BR, et al. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): criteria for neuropathological diagnosis and relationship to repetitive head impacts. Acta Neuropathol. 2023;145(4):371-394. doi:10.1007/s00401-023-02540-w Powered by: Google Notebook LM

Multiple Sclerosis: Is Exercise the Most Powerful Treatment We Have?

In this episode of Neuro Simplified, we explore what happens when researchers analyze more than 70 reviews and over 90,000 people living with multiple sclerosis. The results are clear: rehabilitation matters. We discuss why exercise, physiotherapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and multidisciplinary care continue to show some of the strongest evidence for improving function, reducing fatigue, and maintaining independence in people with MS. If you've ever wondered whether rehabilitation can truly change the course of life with MS, this episode is for you. Source: Momsen AMH, Ørtenblad L, Maribo T. Effective rehabilitation interventions and participation among people with multiple sclerosis: an overview of reviews. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2022;65(1):101529. doi:10.1016/j.rehab.2021.101529. Powered by: Google Notebook LM