ANPT Stroke Special Interest Group

The Student Corner of the Stroke SIG (Ben Lindaman, Pam Bosch, and Dana Kohl) assisted with this podcast idea, challenging our thoughts regarding neuroplasticity and how functional improvements occur. This podcast will likely be enjoyed by both students and clinicians. We would love to hear your thoughts on this podcast! We look forward to discussing this podcast in an upcoming membership meeting (Spring 2026).

Article Referenced: Makin, T. R., & Krakauer, J. W. (2023). Against cortical reorganisation. eLife. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16560

Note: This podcast used Artificial Intelligence (AI) for its creation! Source: Notebook LM

If yo...

The Student Corner of the Stroke SIG (Ben Lindaman, Pam Bosch, and Dana Kohl) took a question from a student regarding the role of neurotechnology in stroke rehabilitation. This podcast discusses the evidence behind some of the neurotechnology you may (or may not have!) heard of to support the recovery of those with neurologic impairments.

Article Referenced: Putrino D, Krakauer JW. Neurotechnology’s prospects for bringing about meaningful reductions in neurological impairment. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2023;37(6):356-366. doi:10.1177/15459683221137341

Note: This podcast used Artificial Intelligence (AI) for its creation! Source: Notebook LM

If you are a...

Dr. Dana Kahl, PT, DPT, EdD and Dr. Benton Lindaman, PT, DPT answer a question a student submitted to the Stroke SIG regarding spasticity after stroke. They discuss assessment and management of flaccidity and spasticity within this episode. This discussion may be helpful for both students and PTs/PTAs alike!

Note: This podcast used Artificial Intelligence (AI) for its creation! Source: Notebook LM

Article referenced: Suputtitada A, Chatromyen S, Chen CPC, Simpson DM. Best Practice Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Modified Scoping Review. Toxins (Basel). 2024 Feb 10;16(2):98. doi: 10.3390/toxins16020098. PMID: 38393176; PMCID...

In this episode, host Marissa Moran, PT, DPT is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Thompson, PT, PhD, NCS and Dr. Darcy Reisman, PT, PhD, FAPTA to discuss their article “Increasing Activity After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial of High-Intensity Walking and Step Activity Intervention”. This article was published in January 2024 in Stroke. The conversation surrounding capacity vs. performance is continued in this episode.

Article Citation: Thompson ED, Pohlig RT, McCartney KM, et al. Increasing activity after stroke: A randomized controlled trial of high-intensity walking and step activity intervention. Stroke. 2024;55(1):101-109. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.044596

The information in this podca...

In this episode, host Marissa Moran, PT, DPT is joined by Dr. Carey Holleran, MPT, DHS to discuss her article “Improvement in the Capacity for Activity Versus Improvement in Performance of Activity in Daily Life During Outpatient Rehabilitation.” This article was published within the JNPT in January 2023. Activity capacity is what a person is capable of doing, and activity performance is what a person does in their daily life. Dr. Holleran discusses the implications of assessments of capacity vs. performance, and how these measurements can be used for decision-making for physical therapy plans of care.

Article citation: Lang...

In this episode, host Marissa Moran, PT, DPT is joined by Ariana Jones, PT, DPT, Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy, and Gillian McLean, PT, DPT, Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, to discuss pelvic health therapy across the continuum of care for the neurologic population, particularly those following a stroke. In this podcast, you may expand your knowledge on the pelvic floor and normal urination/bowel movements. Listen to learn how pelvic health and neurologic physical therapists can collaborate to deliver the effective and holistic care to patients, as well as education you can pr...

In this episode, host Marissa Moran, PT, DPT is joined by author (and current Stroke SIG Nominating Committee Member!) Dr. Chitra Balasubramanian, PT, PhD, CEEAA to discuss her research article titled “Walking Adaptability after a Stroke and Its Assessment in Clinical Settings”. Dr. Balasubramanian was awarded the Stroke SIG Research Award in 2022. Dr. Balasubramanian discusses the importance of walking adaptability within the realm of stroke recovery and why assessment of this construct matters.

The information in this podcast is meant for the benefit of physical therapists. It is not meant for personal medical diagnosis and/or treatment. Indi...

In this episode, host Marissa Moran, PT, DPT is joined by authors Dr. Anjali Sivaramakrishnan and Dr. Sandeep Subramanian to discuss their recent article published in the Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair titled “A Systematic Review on the Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Neurophysiological, Molecular, and Behavioral Measures in Chronic Stroke”. The authors share their research, which is a systematic review aimed at examining the effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise on neuroplasticity measures. They discuss aerobic priming and considerations for the clinic to promote improved motor learning for individuals with chronic stroke.

The information in t...

In this episode, host Marissa Moran PT, DPT is joined by Pierce Boyne, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS, Sandra A. Billinger, PT, PhD, and Darcy S. Reisman, PT, PhD to discuss their recent article posted in JAMA Neurology titled “Optimal Intensity and Duration of Walking Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Control Trial.” The authors discuss their research that investigated the gains in walking capacity between two different training parameters (high intensity interval training and moderate intensity aerobic training) after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of training.

The information in this podcast is meant for the benefit of physical ther...

In this episode, host Jackie Loeshelle, PT, DPT is joined by Michelle Sawtelle, PT, PhD. Dr. Sawtelle currently serves on the Stroke SIG leadership board. This interview discusses why the sit to stand task is an important clinical indicator in the stroke population, the findings of Dr. Sawtelle’s research, and how we can translate findings from this article into clinical practice. The article “Gluteus Maximus Muscle Activation During a Chair-Rise in Adults With Chronic Stroke” is featured in the October 2022 issue of the JNPT. The JNPT is a partner on this episode. The article can be found here: https...

In this episode, host Jackie Loeshelle, PT, DPT is joined by Nancy Salbach, PT, PhD to discuss Dr. Salbach’s article, “Assessment of Walking Speed and Distance Post-Stroke Increases after Providing a Theory-Based Toolkit”, published in the JNPT. The JNPT is a partner on this episode.

Resources on the measurement of gait speed and distance can be found here:

Host Jackie Loeshelle, PT, DPT is joined by Jennith Bernstein, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS of the Assistive Technology/Seated and Wheeled Mobility SIG to discuss wheelchair prescription for the neurologic population and the important role physical therapists have in this process.

Disclosure: Dr. Bernstein is a Clinical Affairs Manager for Permobil.

Resources on this topic are listed below:

In this episode, physical therapist and clinician, Jonathan Kinzinger, shares his story of finding evidence that he could apply to practice. Resources such as the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the core outcome measures and locomotor training inspired him to change practice. He is now embarking on systematic change.   For more information on the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy and the Evidence Elevates campaign visit www.neuropt.org.

Host Dr. Jackie Loeshelle is joined by Dr. Evan Cohen and Dr. Mark Manago to discuss blood flow restriction training for patients with neurologic deficits. During the interview, Drs. Cohen and Manago discuss how blood flow restriction works physiologically and evidence on using this intervention for individuals with a variety of neurologic diagnoses. They discuss how fatigue is often a limiting factor of exercise (for both strengthening and aerobic training) with patient with neurologic conditions, and that the addition of blood flow restriction may allow patients to be able to work at a higher intensity when fatigue is a...

In this episode, host Jackie Loeshelle is joined by Dr. Catherine Siengsukon, PT, PhD to discuss her article “Association Between Sleep Duration and Functional Disability in Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Pilot Observational Study”. This interview highlights the important role of sleep in stroke recovery and how physical therapists should aim to assist patients in optimizing sleep. Listen to this episode to

Read the article.

Please send comments or questions this podcast to strokesig@gmail.com

The Stroke Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.

In this episode, the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (JNPT) partners with the ANPT Stroke Special Interest Group for an interview with Amanda DeMartino conducted by host Jackie Loeshelle. Dr. DeMartino is an author of a recently published article examining manual dexterity measures and their relationship to use of the paretic upper extremity in individuals with stroke. This article is included in the October 2021 issue of JNPT.

Find more about this article here:  https://journals.lww.com/jnpt/Abstract/2021/10000/Manual_Dexterity_Is_Associated_With_Use_of_the.7.aspx

Link for podcast transcript: https://www.neuropt.o...

In this episode, the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (JNPT) partners with the ANPT Stroke Special Interest Group for an interview with Dr. Therese Johnston and Dr. Lisa Brown conducted by host Jackie Loeshelle. Drs. Johnston and Brown are authors of a recently released clinical practice guideline examining the use of ankle foot orthoses and functional electrical stimulation for individuals post-stroke. Their article is included in the April 2021 issue of JNPT.

Find more about the CPG here: https://www.neuropt.org/practice-resources/anpt-clinical-practice-guidelines/AFO_FES-post-stroke

Link for podcast transcript: https://www.neuropt.org...

For this episode, host Jackie Loeshelle is joined by Dr. Dileep Yavagal, MD to discuss mechanical thrombectomy as a medical intervention for acute onset ischemic stroke. Dr. Yavagal discusses mechanical thrombectomy and its outcomes to allow us as therapists to better understand how it may impact our patients’ progress in rehabilitation.

Please send comments or questions on this podcast to strokesig@gmail.com.

The Stroke Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy.

This podcast is the fourth installation in the ANPT Stroke SIG’s podcast series about locomotor training.  In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jenni Moore, Dr. Chris Henderson, Dr. Lauren Lenca, and Dr. Elisabeth Bø and examine their project conducted called FIRST (Focused Intensity Repetitive Step Training). This project implemented the evidence-based, as per the recent locomotor CPG, and laboratory tested intervention of high intensity gait training in inpatient stroke rehabilitation facilities and compared its outcomes with traditional care interventions. At all the sites during this project, high intensity gait training was performed for the majority of the sess...

Host Jackie Loeshelle is joined by members of the Locomotion – Chronic CPG Knowledge Translation Task Force for a Part III discussion on the Locomotor CPG. In this episode, Dr. Carey Holleran and Dr. Maghan Bretz discuss the Intensity Matters Campaign, which provides clinicians with guidance on how to focus on intensity when providing intervention for improving locomotor function in individuals with chronic neurologic conditions (CVA, iSCI, and TBI). The Task Force has created guidelines that can be found on the ANPT website. This podcast episode will provide clinically applicable knowledge to implement intense and task-specific gait training into your pr...

Host Jackie Loeshelle is joined by Dr. George Hornby for a Part II discussion on the Locomotor CPG. The Locomotor CPG identifies the most optimal interventions for gait recovery based on current evidence for individuals with chronic stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury. This episode delves deeper into the background and design of the CPG, how the literature search occurred, and how the authors interpreted results to develop recommendations. Dr. Hornby also discusses implementation and audit strategies for high intensity gait training in the clinical setting.

Read the full-text CPG here: https://journals.lww...

In this episode, Cory Hall has a conversation with Dr. George Hornby, Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Indiana University. He is the primary author of the 2020 Clinical Practice Guideline to Improve Locomotor Function Following Chronic Stroke, Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, and Brain Injury. In this engaging conversation you will learn direct clinical tips and tricks to help you in your clinical practice to improve locomotor function. The full article can be found on the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy. Find additional resources at this website: http://www.neuropt.org/practice-resources/anpt-clinical-practice-guidelines/locomotor-training-cpg

The Stroke Special Interest G...

Dr. Stephen Page OTR/L, PhD joins us to discuss constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) after stroke. Listen as he discusses the benefits of CIMT and some of his research involving a modified CIMT program.

The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, www.neuropt.org.

Dr. Sandra Billinger, PT, PhD, FAHA Associate Professor at the University of Kansas joins us to talk about physical activity and exercise after stroke. She discusses physical activity levels after stroke, how to encourage patients to be more active, exercise dosage, and exercise testing, including the use of a recumbent stepper to conduct submaximal exercise testing. Dr. Billinger also talks about her current research examining cerebral blood flow during exercise.
The Stroke Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.

Dr. Sarah Blanton PT, DPT, NCS Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine joins us to talk about caregiving after stroke. Listen as Dr. Blanton discusses how caregivers or care partners can be ill-prepared for their role, how to assess caregiver burden and ways we can address the needs of caregivers.

The Stroke Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.

Heather Hayes, Stroke SIG chair, interviews professor Julie Bernhardt. Professor Berhnardt is a clinician researcher at University of Melbourne. She is a National Health and Medical Research Council established fellow and senior principal florey research fellow at the florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia. Julie has been working with people with stroke for 30 years. She is Head of the Stroke Division at the Florey and leader of the AVERT Early Intervention Research Program. Working in a large multidisciplinary team of researchers, the focus of Julie’s group is the development and testing of new, exercise and re...

This Stoke SIG podcast discusses vision impairments after stroke with Kathleen Digre, MD who specializes in neuro-ophthalmology and Kasey Mitchell an occupational therapist who has specialized training in vision therapy. Listen as they discuss how to evaluate patients with suspected vision impairments, the prognosis for vision impairment post stroke, and treatment options.
The Stroke Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.

On the Stroke SIG 3rd episode we are joined by Victoria Pardo, PT, DHS and Sujay Galen, PT, PhD to discuss Contraversive Pushing. Victoria and Sujay have developed a continuing education course on contraversive pushing which is available through ANPT Education Center and they share some of their insight into assessing and managing contraversive pushing.

The Stroke Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.

On the ANPT Stroke SIG 2nd episode we are joined by Nora Fritz, PhD, DPT, PT, NCS, Suzanne Trojanowski, PT, DPT, NCS, Amy Yorke, PT, PhD to discuss knowledge translation. Nora, Suzanne and Amy talk about what is knowledge translation and why it is needed in our profession. Our guests also share their experience conducting a knowledge translation project.
The Stroke Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.

In the ANPT Stroke SIG premiere episode we are joined by physical therapists and members of the Core Outcome Measures Clinical Practice Guideline Work Group Jenni Moore PT, NCS, DHS; Kirsten Potter PT, DPT, MS; Jane Sullivan PT, DHS to discuss the CPG. We discuss the rationale for the CPG, how it was developed and issues related to its implementation.

For more information on the Core Outcome Measure CPG click here.

The Stroke Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.