Neuro Simplified • Easy to Digest Neuro Rehab

Strive PT • Las Vegas
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New Episodes: Tuesdays and Thursdays Created by: Strive Physical Therapy | Las Vegas www.striveptlv.com We discuss the latest neurological rehab research studies and how it can realistically affect people's recovery and clinician's practice. Each episode breaks down what evidenced-based research studies for stroke recovery, vestibular disorders, and other neurologic conditions without much of the jargon. This Google Notebook LM-powered podcast is designed for patients navigating recovery and clinicians to understand the latest research and use in real life.

  1. 1d ago

    Laughing Gas and Spinal Cord Injury

    In this episode of Neuro Simplified, we’re talking about nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, and why recreational use can become a serious neurologic problem. Nitrous oxide can interfere with vitamin B12 metabolism and create a functional B12 deficiency, even when the serum B12 number looks normal or even elevated. That matters because B12 is essential for myelin health. When that pathway is disrupted, patients can develop subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, a condition that commonly affects the dorsal columns and can lead to numbness, loss of vibration sense, impaired proprioception, sensory ataxia, weakness, gait instability, and sometimes cognitive changes. One case report described an 18-year-old male with six months of nitrous oxide use who developed progressive limb numbness, unsteady walking, weakness, sensory loss, impaired vibration and position sense, positive Romberg sign, peripheral nerve injury, and acute cognitive impairment. His homocysteine was elevated, and MRI showed cervical spinal cord T2 hyperintensity with posterior column involvement and the classic “inverted V sign.” The big clinical message: do not stop at “B12 is normal.” Nitrous oxide can inactivate B12 at the functional level, so the neurologic exam, homocysteine, methylmalonic acid when available, exposure history, and spinal MRI may tell the real story. Other reports also reinforce that serum B12 may not always reflect true cellular B12 status, and that MRI findings such as dorsal column hyperintensity and the inverted V sign can be key clues. Source: AMA Citations Wu H, Huang H, Xu L, Ji N, Zhou X, Xie K. Case report: Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord due to nitrous oxide abuse. Front Neurol. 2023;14:1099077. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1099077 Al-Jizani AS, Pathak S, Palit P, Achufusi N. Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord caused by an impairment in the functional vitamin B12 metabolic pathway. Cureus. 2024;16(11):e73617. doi:10.7759/cureus.73617 Van Berkel B, Vandevenne J, Vangheluwe R, Van Cauter S. Subacute combined degeneration of the cervical and dorsal spinal cord in a 40-year-old male patient: A case report. Radiol Case Rep. 2021;16(1):13-17. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2020.10.033 Powered by Google Notebook LM

    18 min

  2. 3d ago

    AFib and Stroke: The Heart-Brain Connection We Can’t Ignore

    In this episode of Neuro Simplified, we look at three recent papers on atrial fibrillation and stroke and why this connection matters for prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation. AFib is more than an irregular heartbeat. It is one of the major cardiac contributors to stroke risk, and AFib-related strokes are often associated with worse outcomes. These papers discuss how stroke risk is not always fully explained by traditional scoring systems, why heart structure and comorbidities may matter, and why better detection and long-term management are critical. We also highlight a practical rehab angle: people living with AFib may benefit from more comprehensive care that includes education, physical exercise, symptom management, psychosocial support, and risk factor control. For clinicians, this is a reminder that stroke recovery does not start and stop with the brain. The heart, vascular system, lifestyle factors, and long-term prevention plan all matter. Source: Alonso A, Akin I, Hochadel M, et al. Atrial fibrillation in patients with very high risk for stroke and adverse events: insights from the observational ARENA study. J Clin Med. 2024;13(22):6645. doi:10.3390/jcm13226645. Elsheikh S, Hill A, Irving G, Lip GYH, Abdul-Rahim AH. Atrial fibrillation and stroke: state-of-the-art and future directions. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2024;49:102181. doi:10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.102181. Elnegaard CM, Pedersen MK, Zwisler ADO, et al. Atrial fibrillation and primary care prevention and rehabilitation: a feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2025;11:150. doi:10.1186/s40814-025-01724-3. Powered by: Google Notebook LM

    20 min

  3. 5d ago

    Is Dizziness After a Stroke Normal?

    In this episode of Neuro Simplified, we look at a 2025 comprehensive review on vestibular rehabilitation after stroke. The review highlights an important gap in stroke rehab: many stroke survivors experience dizziness, gaze instability, balance problems, gait impairments, and vestibulo-ocular reflex deficits, yet vestibular rehab is not always emphasized in standard stroke rehabilitation. The authors explain that eye movement disorders may be present in a large portion of stroke survivors, and vestibular dysfunction can contribute to falls, poor postural control, reduced mobility, and slower recovery. We break down what vestibular rehab can include, such as VOR x1 and VOR x2 exercises, gaze stabilization, habituation, balance training, gait training, head-turn walking, sensory reweighting, and endurance work. The biggest clinical takeaway: vestibular rehab should not be one-size-fits-all. It should be tailored to the patient’s specific symptoms, lesion presentation, visual dependence, balance deficits, and recovery response. This episode is for clinicians who treat stroke and want to think beyond strength, tone, and mobility, because sometimes the missing piece is the system helping patients keep their world still while they move. Source: Fan H, Ding Y, Elmadhoun A, Mangal R, Feng J, Geng X. Vestibular rehabilitation in patients with stroke: a comprehensive review of past and current evidence. Brain Circ. 2025;11(2):107-112. doi:10.4103/bc.bc_16_23.

    24 min

  4. Jun 27

    Why Your Brain Forgets Which Hand is Left and Right After a Stroke

    In this episode, we dive into groundbreaking research exploring how stroke impacts the brain’s internal representation of the body, known as the body schema. While traditional rehabilitation for upper limb impairment often produces only modest gains, new evidence suggests that the fundamental way a person perceives their limbs is altered following a stroke. We examine an observational study involving 895 participants that utilized left/right judgment tasks to measure the accuracy and speed of limb recognition. The findings reveal that individuals with stroke are significantly slower and less accurate in identifying the laterality of hand and shoulder images compared to those without stroke. Importantly, these deficits exist regardless of whether the individual experiences chronic pain or which side of the brain was affected. Join us as we discuss how these insights into "scrambled" body maps are shaping the future of motor imagery training and providing a foundation for more effective, tailored neurorehabilitation strategies. Source: Haslam BS, Butler DS, Cocks TS, Kim AS, Carey LM. Body schema as assessed by upper limb left/right judgment tasks is altered in stroke: implications for motor imagery training. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2023;47(1):26-34. doi:10.1097/NPT.0000000000000412. Powered by: Google Notebook LM

    18 min

  5. Jun 25

    Can Dry Needling Support Stroke Recovery?

    Dry needling is making its way into stroke rehabilitation, but how safe is it, does it actually ease post-stroke spasticity, and what do the field's leading clinicians actually agree on? In this episode, we break down three studies that together form the most complete picture yet of dry needling's role in stroke recovery. We look at what a 2024 scoping review tells us about safety and adverse events in stroke patients, how an ongoing randomized trial is testing dry needling paired with exercise therapy for spasticity and motor function, and what a 2025 modified Delphi consensus reveals about expert practice recommendations. If you work in neurorehabilitation or just want to understand where the evidence stands, this one's for you. Sources: Malfait I, Gijsbers S, Smeets A, et al. Safety of dry needling in stroke patients: a scoping review. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2024;60(2):225-232. doi:10.23736/S1973-9087.24.08224-8Babazadeh-Zavieh SS, Ansari NN, Ghotbi N, et al. Effects of dry needling and exercise therapy on post-stroke spasticity and motor function– protocol of randomized clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2022;28:100921. doi:10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100921Velázquez-Saornil J, Abuín-Porras V, Frutos-Llanes R, Barragán-Casas JM, Campón-Chekroun A, Sánchez-Milá Z. Expert consensus on the application of dry needling in stroke patients: A modified delphi method. Clin Rehabil. 2025;39(7):955-966. Powered by: Google Notebook LM

    18 min

  6. Jun 23

    Can Physical Exercise Improve Cognition After Stroke?

    In this episode of Neuro Simplified, we break down a 2025 systematic review and network meta-analysis on physical activity interventions for post-stroke cognitive recovery. The study analyzed 26 randomized controlled trials with 1,408 stroke survivors and compared different exercise approaches for improving cognition after stroke. The biggest takeaway: multi-modal exercise ranked highest for cognitive recovery, followed by aerobic exercise. Multi-modal programs included combinations of strength training, balance work, aerobic training, and sometimes cognitive or task-based components. For clinicians, this reinforces something important: post-stroke cognition is not only trained at the table with worksheets or apps. It can also be influenced through structured movement, intensity, repetition, cardiovascular challenge, and whole-body rehabilitation. In this episode, we discuss why combined exercise may have a stronger effect than single-mode training, how aerobic exercise may support brain health, and why long-term adherence remains one of the biggest challenges in stroke rehab. Source: Wang H, Li D, Li S, Zhang X, Zang W, Zhu Y, Zhang S, Xu F, Xiao Z, Guo K. Physical activity interventions for post-stroke cognitive recovery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of comparative effects. Front Neurol. 2025;16:1646328. doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1646328. Powered by: Google Notebook LM

    16 min

  7. Jun 18

    Treating Knee Locking After A Stroke

    After a stroke, one of the most common and debilitating walking problems is knee hyperextension — where the knee snaps backward during the stance phase of gait, slowing patients down, wasting energy, and risking long-term joint damage. But what actually works to treat it? In this episode, we break down a landmark systematic review that examined the best available evidence across three treatment categories: proprioceptive training, orthotic devices, and functional electrical stimulation. Spoiler: not all treatments are created equal. We explore why teaching the brain to "feel" the knee again may be the most promising first-line approach, why your choice of brace matters more than you'd think, and why electrical stimulation still has a lot to prove. Whether you're a physio, rehab specialist, neurologist, or a stroke survivor curious about your options, this episode gives you a clear-eyed look at where the science stands — and where the gaps still are. Source: Geerars M, Minnaar-van der Feen N, Huisstede BMA. Treatment of knee hyperextension in post-stroke gait: a systematic review. Gait Posture. 2022;91:137-148. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.08.016 Powered by Notebook LM

    24 min

  8. Jun 16

    Young Athletes, Brain Inflammation, and the Path to CTE

    For years, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was thought of as a disease that appeared decades after an athlete's playing career ended. New research is challenging that belief. In this episode, we connect three landmark studies that examined young athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts. Researchers found evidence of CTE in athletes under 30, identified brain inflammation and neuron loss that may occur before CTE develops, and reviewed the growing evidence linking repetitive head impacts to long-term neurodegeneration. We break down what these findings mean, what remains unknown, and why the conversation around concussion and contact sports is rapidly evolving. Whether you're a clinician, athlete, coach, or family member, this episode explores the latest science behind one of the most debated topics in brain health. Sources: McKee AC, Mez J, Abdolmohammadi B, et al. Neuropathologic and clinical findings in young contact sport athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts. JAMA Neurol. 2023;80(10):1037-1050. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2907Butler MLMD, Pervaiz N, Breen K, et al. Repeated head trauma causes neuron loss and inflammation in young athletes. Nature. 2025;647(8045):228-262. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09534-6McKee AC, Stein TD, Huber BR, et al. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): criteria for neuropathological diagnosis and relationship to repetitive head impacts. Acta Neuropathol. 2023;145(4):371-394. doi:10.1007/s00401-023-02540-wPowered by: Google Notebook LM

    24 min
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About

New Episodes: Tuesdays and Thursdays Created by: Strive Physical Therapy | Las Vegas www.striveptlv.com We discuss the latest neurological rehab research studies and how it can realistically affect people's recovery and clinician's practice. Each episode breaks down what evidenced-based research studies for stroke recovery, vestibular disorders, and other neurologic conditions without much of the jargon. This Google Notebook LM-powered podcast is designed for patients navigating recovery and clinicians to understand the latest research and use in real life.

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