Using mechanistic knowledge to appraise contemporary approaches to the rehabilitation of upper limb function following stroke.

ABSTRACT: It is a paradox of neurological rehabilitation that, in an era in which preclinical models have produced significant advances in our mechanistic understanding of neural plasticity, there is inadequate support for many therapies recommended for use in clinical practice. When the goal is to estimate the probability that a specific form of therapy will have a positive clinical effect, the integration of mechanistic knowledge (concerning 'the structure or way of working of the parts in a natural system') may improve the quality of inference. This is illustrated by analysis of three contemporary approaches to the rehabilitation of lateralized dysfunction affecting people living with stroke: constraint-induced movement therapy; mental practice; and mirror therapy. Damage to 'cross-road' regions

SUBMITTER: Carson RG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11782907 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature