https://medicalxpress.com/physiatry-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Physiatry The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed a soft, pneumatic glove that restores the ability of people with paralyzed hands to grasp objects. To achieve this, researchers at the TUM Chair of Cognitive Systems use electrical signals from the forearm muscles to reliably predict when a person intends to grasp an object. The invention could one day help people whose hands have been paralyzed as a result of accidents or neurological disorders. The research is published in Nature Machine Intelligence. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-special-glove-people-paralyzed-grasp.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:00:03 EDT news702550674 A UTHealth Houston neurologist was among a group of two dozen health care professionals from across the globe who developed an international certification program designed to improve rehabilitation care among stroke survivors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-neurologist-global-certification-survivors.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:00:05 EDT news702273182 A large-scale analysis by an international research team, led by Bochum University of Applied Sciences, shows that nonsurgical treatments such as massage, exercise therapy or acupuncture for chronic back pain can alleviate symptoms—but usually only for a few weeks. Clinically significant improvements do not persist in the long term. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-treatments-chronic-pain-short-term.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:20:08 EDT news702128500 Taking part in sport offers more than just improved fitness or mental well-being for people with disability; it can also build confidence, independence and create a deeper sense of belonging in the community. Despite the well-known benefits, participation in sport by individuals with disability remains low. Around 5.5 million people live with a disability in Australia, but only 14% participate in sport at least once a week, compared with about 67% of Australians without disability. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-people-disability-sport.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:20:08 EDT news701944442 Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna and ETH Zurich have developed a rehabilitation platform for people suffering from the long-term effects of a stroke that combines virtual reality with targeted sensory nerve stimulation. In a randomized feasibility clinical study with stroke patients, recently published in Nature Medicine, the new technology contributed to improvements in arm and hand function, as well as in tactile and body awareness. These results open up the prospect of personalized and more accessible rehabilitation that can support patients' recovery beyond the limits of conventional therapy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-vr-combined-nerve-arm-function.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:20:02 EDT news701686201 Chronic pain can affect work, everyday life and quality of life. Patients with chronic pain do not have access to specialized rehabilitation on equal terms. Education, age, sex and region of birth appear to play a role, particularly in combination, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg published in the Scandinavian Journal of Pain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-equal-access-pain.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:20:08 EDT news701603302 Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have found that how quickly an older adult can execute a voluntary step—especially when distracted (concurrently performed cognitive task)—may serve as a valuable clinical predictor of survival. The exploratory study suggests that dynamic balance assessments capture an integration of neuromuscular vitality and central cognitive processing, offering a window into an individual's long-term functional health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-quickly-older-adults-longevity.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:40:07 EDT news701353880 Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, the Technical University of Munich and Medical Faculty Belgrade, have developed a wearable neurorobotic system that combines electrical neurostimulation with hand exoskeletons. In a clinical trial involving 14 patients with hand impairments caused by neurological injury, the technology supported finger mobility, tactile perception and grip control. The results demonstrate the potential of personalized assistive systems for people living with the consequences of spinal cord or brain injury. The study has recently been published in the journal Science Advances. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-combined-nerve-exoskeleton-patient-trial.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:20:08 EDT news701352061 The risk of a fall is typically discussed with patients after they have experienced a fall or reported poor balance. For researcher James Richardson, M.D., a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at University of Michigan Health, this approach seemed backward. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-method-falls.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:20:02 EDT news700995375 Each year, nearly 800,000 Americans survive a stroke. For many, the journey to recovery includes relearning one of life's most fundamental activities: walking. Weakness, impaired coordination and reduced control of the legs can make even simple movements challenging, often requiring months of intensive rehabilitation led by physical therapists as patients work to regain mobility, independence and confidence. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-kind-exoskeleton-therapy-redefine-survivors.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:00:09 EDT news700897381 New research by the University of Limerick in Ireland has found that collaborative sessions combining music therapy with speech and language therapy can support meaningful communication gains in young children recovering from acquired brain injuries. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-music-speech-therapy-combined-children.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:40:06 EDT news700834802 A new study demonstrates that a person with severe paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can use a brain-computer interface (BCI) at home to communicate, work and interact with the digital world—without the need for researcher support. Published in Nature Medicine, the results mark a significant step toward delivering practical assistive technology for people with severe speech and motor impairments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-brain-interface-enables-independent-accurate.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:00:07 EDT news700747147 Daniel Daneshvar, MD, Ph.D., director of the HealthSpan Lab and Chief of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mass General Brigham, and Charlotte Luster, of the HealthSpan Lab, are the senior and lead authors of a paper published in Neuroepidemiology, "Brain Cancer Mortality following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A TBI Model Systems Study." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-people-traumatic-brain-injury-die.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:20:01 EDT news700315158 Fewer than one in four people with stroke and fewer than one in seven people with traumatic brain injury receive inpatient rehabilitation care after being hospitalized, according to a study published in Neurology Open Access. Researchers found disparities in access across sex, race, insurance coverage and income level. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-patients-brain-injury-inpatient-rehab.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:00:06 EDT news700241401 A customized throw-back video game may offer a surprisingly futuristic path to stroke recovery. In a new study, Northwestern University scientists developed a 90s-style video game to help chronic stroke survivors regain lost arm function. While wearing a small device on their impaired arm and using a laptop computer, players use their arm muscles to complete tasks such as flying a helicopter around the screen to hit a moving target. The muscle retraining helps separate the brain's uncoordinated movement signals, enabling muscles to work independently again. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-video-game-rehab-arm-movement.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:00:03 EDT news700214221 Muscle spasticity is a common and often debilitating consequence of spinal cord injury that can significantly affect mobility and quality of life. Spasticity is a condition in which muscles become abnormally stiff or tight because of disrupted nerve signaling, often causing exaggerated reflexes, involuntary muscle spasms, and difficulty with movement. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-gene-therapy-approach-muscle-spasticity.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:40:01 EDT news700203961 Researchers at Kanazawa University and the Japanese Stroke & Physical Activity Multiple Center Research Team have identified distinct sedentary behavior patterns among patients with stroke undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-patients-sedentary-profiles-inpatient-rehab.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:30:01 EDT news699872936 Cerebral palsy is the most common disability that starts in childhood, affecting about 50 million people worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-exoskeletons-people-cerebral-palsy-reality.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:20:06 EDT news699797523 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report the final outcomes of a pioneering pilot clinical trial using electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to improve arm and hand mobility in people with chronic stroke in Nature Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-years-spinal-cord-arm-function.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:00:01 EDT news699698402 New paper-thin piezoelectric patch sensors designed for at-home stroke rehabilitation may soon revolutionize post-stroke care by offering potential accessible, efficient rehabilitation and improving patient outcomes through self-motivated health care and entertainment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-sensors-rehab-screen-game.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:40:06 EDT news699631981 For the roughly 300,000 Americans living with a spinal cord injury (SCI), chronic pain is often a part of daily life, and—for many—opioids are prescribed to combat it. In addition to the serious physical considerations, mental health concerns are prevalent in this population. Depression is common among individuals with SCIs, whose risk is three times higher than that of the general population. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-complex-relationship-opioids-suicidal-ideation.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:10:06 EDT news699633661 A team of Rice University mechanical and electrical engineering students has developed an interactive, modular rehabilitation system designed to make stroke recovery more engaging, adaptable and effective for patients at home. The project, called TacTile, was created in Rice's Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) and earned top honors at the HUFF OEDK Engineering Design Showcase, where it won first place in the Willy Revolution Award for Outstanding Innovation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-students-rehab-interactive-gameplay.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:20:01 EDT news699540781 More than half of those who are homeless have suffered a brain injury at some point in their lives, whether it be a traumatic brain injury (TBI) such as a blow to the head or concussion, a stroke, a brain tumor or an alcohol-related injury. And that injury most likely occurred before the person became homeless, not as a result of living on the street. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-hidden-link-brain-injuries-homelessness.html Thu, 28 May 2026 20:00:01 EDT news699183658 The vagus nerve connects the brain to major organs throughout the body and plays important roles in many bodily functions. For people with mobility issues participating in physical therapy, stimulating the vagus nerve with a noninvasive technique—transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)—is emerging as an additional treatment intervention. But researchers have not assessed how taVNS interacts with motor systems during movement, which could inform treatment strategies for those with mobility issues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-vagus-nerve-treatment-movement.html Mon, 25 May 2026 13:00:02 EDT news698671322 Electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, such as following a spinal cord injury, has made great strides in recent years. However, high-frequency stimulation pulses, which are used in many current applications, appear less efficient at activating those nerve fibers that are believed to contribute decisively to therapeutic effects. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by an international team with the participation of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-spinal-reveal-high-frequency-pulses.html Thu, 21 May 2026 19:00:02 EDT news698593321 A lightweight robotic device that facilitates neuromuscular recovery in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), helping them to stand unassisted, is published in Nature this week. Improved function persists after discontinuing training, demonstrating the potential for enduring recovery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-wearable-knee-robot-children-muscle.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:40:04 EDT news698581801 Competing in esports, also known as electronic sports, can mean training for several hours a day in front of a screen. Whether people participate in video game competitions at the professional or amateur level, they face physical and cognitive demands. Jane Konidis, M.D., a physiatrist and director of Gaming and Esports Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, shares tips to protect your health, whether you're using a video game console, computer, or smartphone for esports activities. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-health-esports-circuit-competitive-video.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:20:06 EDT news698582641 A UK-wide trial, managed by Warwick Medical School, finds that online rehabilitation at home can meaningfully improve quality of life for some intensive care survivors. The iRehab Trial tested an online rehabilitation program for people recovering at home after being on a ventilator in intensive care. The trial was conducted across 52 NHS hospitals and managed by Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, with leadership from Ulster University and Queen's University Belfast. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-clinical-trial-online-home-recovery.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:40:08 EDT news698421122 Researchers have proposed new standards into the decades-old prosthetic donations market, improving the quality of lower limb prosthetic feet by two-thirds—a major quality of life boost for recipients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-prosthetic-feet-curb-medical-equipment.html Wed, 13 May 2026 14:00:03 EDT news697886281 Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains one of the most devastating neurological conditions, severing communication between the brain and the body and leaving millions worldwide with permanent paralysis. Despite decades of research, restoring movement after spinal cord injury has remained one of neuroscience's most intractable problems. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-reconnecting-body-brain-europe-breakthrough.html Mon, 11 May 2026 19:20:04 EDT news697737061