Rehabilitation
Scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language therapy modulates the ventral-dorsal structural brain network in patients with post-stroke anomia: a randomized clinical and DTI neuroimaging trial
A single-center randomized trial found greater immediate naming-score improvement when scalp acupuncture was added to speech-language therapy, but the small per-protocol analysis, lack of sham control and unblinded treatment limit causal interpretation.
The impact of levodopa on post-stroke depression: the ESTREL-depression-study
ESTREL-Depression found no reduction in three-month depressive symptoms with early levodopa; selection and imprecision limit the conclusion.
Influence of Support Surface Stability on Changes in Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Thickness During Progressive Squat Exercise in Patients with Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Thicker is not stronger
In a small stroke rehabilitation trial, unstable-surface squats increased rectus femoris and vastus medialis thickness more than stable-surface squats, without establishing strength or functional benefit.
Effects of blood flow restriction combined with visual feedback training on lower limb function and the serum levels of BDNF and VEGF in patients with stroke
A 40-patient trial found better four-week balance and lower-limb function when blood flow restriction was added to visual feedback training, but circulating biomarkers did not establish cerebral repair.
Neuronal autoantibodies associated with poorer neuropsychological and motor outcomes 6 months after stroke: results from the PHYS-STROKE trial
An exploratory PHYS-STROKE biomarker analysis links baseline neuronal autoantibodies to selected six-month outcomes, but only the NMDAR–subjective mobility association survives correction for multiple comparisons.
Soft Robotic Glove Versus GRASP in Subacute Stroke: A Dose and Selection Question
In an under-enrolled, assessor-blinded trial, a soft robotic glove was not superior to supervised GRASP for upper-limb recovery after subacute stroke; a post-hoc distal-hand signal needs confirmation.
Speech Therapy Combined With Cerebrolysin in Enhancing Nonfluent Aphasia Recovery After Acute Ischemic Stroke: ESCAS Randomized Pilot Study
The ESCAS pilot found a 14.805-point greater mean 90-day Western Aphasia Battery–Aphasia Quotient gain with Cerebrolysin plus speech therapy, with uncertain generalizability and functional benefit.
Longitudinal Cognitive Trajectories After Stroke: What the Oxford Cognitive Screen Shows
A longitudinal Oxford cohort found that cognitive recovery after stroke is common but heterogeneous: acute cognitive burden was the strongest predictor of chronic impairment, while a small subgroup declined over time.
Action Observation Combined With Virtual Reality Promotes Motor Recovery After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial
In adults 3 to 18 months after stroke, adding action observation to virtual-reality training improved paretic-hand dexterity more than virtual reality alone, …
Deep-Dive: Home-Based HIIT for Poststroke Fatigue — First RCT, Small N, Real Signal
First RCT of home-based HIIT for poststroke fatigue: 8-week intervention cut S-FAS by 5.35 points and improved VO2peak by 4.48 mL/kg/min in 43 completers.