About this Research Topic
Traditional neurorehabilitation procedures appear to have limited efficacy in most patients with common neurological diseases, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, severe brain injury, spasticity due to other diseases and cognitive disorders. In recent years, new technologies have been suggested to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation strategies in these conditions. They include robotic-assisted training, virtual reality, functional electrostimulation, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to enhance the intensity and quality of neurorehabilitation, and to manipulate brain excitability and plasticity, as well as innovative approaches such as assistive technology and domotics.
The exploration of the effects of neurorehabilitation and NIBS on plasticity by advanced technologies (i.e., functional MRI, near infrared spectroscopy, high-density EEG, etc.) is a relevant goal and may represent a surrogate outcome measure in the near future.
The correlation between central nervous system lesions to clinical findings and outcome represents the basis for personalized medicine in neurorehabilitation, a promising perspective to explain the different individual response to the treatment, and to improve the quality of care. The timing of neurorehabilitation seems to play a relevant role and the definition of new approaches to the acute and chronic phases of disease is an important field of investigation. Moreover, new randomized controlled trial designs aimed to explore the role of combined drug and physiotherapy treatment have accumulated.
Finally, despite for many years evidence-based medicine was, to some extent, far from the field of neurorehabilitation, the interest for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and consensus conferences is increasing. Taken together, these technological and methodological advances are changing the face of neurorehabilitation.
This Research Topic will be open to all authors interested in these new features and approaches in neurorehabilitation. Original papers, reviews, case reports, commentaries, and letters will be all welcome.
The exploration of the effects of neurorehabilitation and NIBS on plasticity by advanced technologies (i.e., functional MRI, near infrared spectroscopy, high-density EEG, etc.) is a relevant goal and may represent a surrogate outcome measure in the near future.
The correlation between central nervous system lesions to clinical findings and outcome represents the basis for personalized medicine in neurorehabilitation, a promising perspective to explain the different individual response to the treatment, and to improve the quality of care. The timing of neurorehabilitation seems to play a relevant role and the definition of new approaches to the acute and chronic phases of disease is an important field of investigation. Moreover, new randomized controlled trial designs aimed to explore the role of combined drug and physiotherapy treatment have accumulated.
Finally, despite for many years evidence-based medicine was, to some extent, far from the field of neurorehabilitation, the interest for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and consensus conferences is increasing. Taken together, these technological and methodological advances are changing the face of neurorehabilitation.
This Research Topic will be open to all authors interested in these new features and approaches in neurorehabilitation. Original papers, reviews, case reports, commentaries, and letters will be all welcome.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
