I Love Neuro

Vestibular rehabilitation is incredibly effective at treating dizziness, yet barriers exist. Just to name a few - access to expert care, scheduling, ability for patients to adhere to home programs and billing. What if there were a device that helped not only with all of those issues while also helping clinicians get vestibular patients better? The Vertigenius may just be the answer! In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews experienced physiotherapist and Vertigenius inventor and founder, Dr. Dara Meldrum, PhD as well as Sparky and neuro biz owner using Vertigenius in practice, Hilary Register, PT, DPT, NCS, AVPT, NCPT to explore how it works. Dara explains how the FDA‑listed medical device combines a small head sensor worn behind the ear, a patient app, and a clinician portal. Vertigenius offers clinicians the opportunity to prescribe precisely dosed gaze, balance, gait, and habituation exercises with real‑time color‑coded feedback, while capturing objective data on symptoms and adherence. She shares the origin story of the technology, its validation against gold‑standard measures, and its role in expanding access to care and supporting both novice and expert clinicians, especially in telehealth and remote therapeutic monitoring. As an experienced vestibular rehab clinician and researcher herself, she ensures the device is completely evidence-based and constantly evolving as the research grows. Hilary describes how she uses Vertigenius in private practice and concussion rehab to reduce in‑person visit burden, track meaningful functional gains patients often don't recognize, offer high touch points to progress plans of care and design cost‑effective care packages that still feel highly personalized. Together, they highlight how this digital platform can improve outcomes, clinician efficiency, and patient empowerment in managing dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. Learn more and set up a demo: https://vertigenius.com FaceBook: Vertigenius IG: @vertigenius LinkedIn

Are you a business owner looking to increase revenue streams and add more cash-based services into the mix? In this episode host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and NeuroBiz coach Emily Duval Ledger explore how personal trainers can significantly strengthen neuro-focused businesses by offering wellness sessions that complement therapy. This is a 100% collaboration over competition focus and you'll learn exactly who to look for to hire in your neuro biz. The benefits to having personal trainers is that this service can clearly separate insurance-based medically necessary care from ongoing cash-based wellness, improve client outcomes, and dramatically increase client lifetime value. Emily shares her 20-year journey as a self-employed fitness professional working with people with Parkinson's and older adults, emphasizing that trainers bring a distinct strength and conditioning lens that complements PT expertise. Together, Erin and Emily dive into practical considerations like how to price and pay trainers sustainably, who the ideal hires are, and how to write job descriptions that attract people who genuinely love working with older adults and neuro populations. They also discuss membership and package models to create consistent revenue and foster client commitment, stressing the importance of honest, direct conversations about what it truly takes for clients to see meaningful change. They close by encouraging neuro business owners to embrace their uniqueness, think creatively about integrating trainers, and reach out with questions or ideas as they grow their own "unicorn" practices.

Working with people with dementia and their care partners can be complicated and confusing. What does the evidence say is the best approach? Is it rehabilitative or habilitative?? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interview occupational therapist and Dementia Collaborative founder Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L about her approach to working with people with dementia and their care partners. Rachel shares how past experiences with conflicting recommendations between professionals—and the confusion and mistrust this caused for families—motivated her to create a more advanced, evidence-based program that gets teams using the same language and approaches, especially around topics like rehabilitation vs. habilitation, assistive devices, responsive behaviors, and fall risk. She explains her practical, detective-style framework for understanding and managing responsive behaviors (like waking at night or agitation) by identifying triggers and using strategies such as acknowledge–reassure–redirect and meaningful routines. The episode also touches on the complexities of billing, maintenance care, and determining medical necessity in a progressive condition, emphasizing person-centered, ethical care that balances evidence, function, safety, and the realities of caregiving. Rachel recently launched the beta cohort of her new Certified Dementia Clinician (CDCn) Course, a 20-module, interdisciplinary training designed for OTs, PTs, SLPs, social workers, and other clinicians working with people living with dementia. www.dementiacollaborative.com www.daybydaydementiaconsulting.com www.rachelwileyot.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-wiley-ms-otrl-cdp-80521079/

This is the episode that will help you understand the opportunities and functionality of dry needling! Host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews Tyler Niemack, PT, DPT, OCS, Functional Dry Needling Certified Specialist about how dry needling can be used not just to relax tight muscles, but to "reset" the neuromuscular system and improve function. Tyler, who teaches Dry Needling Certification courses for Evidence In Motion explains how PTs approach dry needling differently from acupuncturists, using their orthopedic and neurological assessment skills to decide whether to target spinal segments, peripheral nerves, or specific muscles. Through examples ranging from rotator cuff issues to stroke, spasticity, and Parkinson's disease, he describes using dry needling as not just a treatment tool but also a diagnostic. He also shares his 3 R's approach to treatment: Reset, Reinforce and Reload. They discuss fascia, pain perception, emerging research on how needling changes the brain's pain maps, and ongoing legal barriers in states where PTs still cannot perform dry needling. Tyler encourages clinicians to think of themselves as neuro-orthopedic specialists and to use neuroanatomy and sound clinical reasoning to get the most from this very promising intervention. **Apologies for some tech malfunctions that occurred in the recording. They don't take away from the learning, but wanted to mention there are a couple of glitchy spots. Thank you for understanding! Get in touch with Tyler here: https://www.toetouchpt.com/ IG @toetouchpt Email: tyler@toetouchpt.com Sign up for a dry needling course with EIM here

Interested in looking at how a nonprofit clinic operates for neuro rehab? In this episode hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interview co-founder Meagan George, PT, DPT, NCS about how she and her partners built a nonprofit, cash-based neuro clinic in Encinitas, California. After feeling constrained by insurance limitations in hospital systems, the trio incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2021 with a mission to deliver intensive, goal-oriented PT, OT, and wellness services regardless of a person's financial situation. NeuroLab 360 operates using a scholarship program—reviewed and approved by their board of directors—to make care accessible, with about 30–40% of patients receiving financial support and everyone paying something to maintain commitment and value. Meagan shares how they've grown from three founders to a team of nine therapists, outfitted their gym-like clinic with donated and grant-funded specialty equipment like an AlterG and driving simulator, and built strong community ties through support groups, free and low-cost classes, and collaborations with local hospitals, researchers, and nonprofits. She also opens up about the real challenges of running a nonprofit—especially grant writing, budgeting with variable donations, and preventing burnout—while still staying true to their core mission of providing high-quality, high-intensity neuro rehab that isn't dictated by insurance. www.neurolab360.com https://www.instagram.com/neurolab360/

In this episode host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews Multiple Sclerosis specialist and researcher Dr. Herb Karpatkin, PT, DSc, NCS, MSCS to discuss how therapy for people with multiple sclerosis must be fundamentally different from approaches used for stroke, spinal cord injury, or TBI. In his research Herb discovered an incidental finding that led to more questions that he and his team wanted to investigate: does treadmill walking carry over to overground walking in persons with MS? In the show he explains the nuances of treadmill walking for persons with MS vs healthy controls and when to use it or not. Herb shares his framework on intermittent, high-intensity interval walking and strength training, which allow people with MS to push hard, rest, and achieve meaningful aerobic gains and functional improvements without excessive fatigue. Instead of telling people with MS they can't work hard or lift heavy, his research finds that to be absolutely untrue. Herb and Erin also discuss a couple of past patients who wanted to complete the MS Society 5k walk and what the training looked like and what could have been done differently. The topic of cooling came up and how to effectively implement this technique to allow persons with MS to do more without overheating. Check out episode 233 with Herb MS: Update on evidence based interventions to improve gait and balance 1.5 hour Mini Course

In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews the Motus Nova clinical team—occupational therapists Jamie Kurtz, MS, OTR/L, Keisha Burrous, OTR/L, CBIS, Amie Canning, MS, OTR/L, and Mirasol Jacobs, PT, DPT — about the Motus Hand and Motus Foot robotic devices for neurorehabilitation. The team explains how these FDA Class I medical devices provide active-assistive, game-based training at home to help patients achieve the high repetition doses (500–600 reps per day) needed for neuroplastic change, without replacing traditional therapy. Built on pneumatic "artificial muscle" technology, the devices adapt in real time to the user's movement, address tone and spasticity, and can be customized for a wide range of neurologic conditions, from stroke and MS to Parkinson's disease and Guillain-Barré. The conversation covers who is appropriate for the devices, how they integrate with inpatient and outpatient care, real-world success stories—including improved gait, grip strength, and mental health—and the practical steps for clinicians to refer patients, arrange demos, and navigate the 13‑month rental-to-own DME model now supported by a dedicated Medicare code, which means patients can get the device through their insurance and it does not impact their ability to get other durable medical equipment (DME). Overall, the episode highlights Motus Nova as an accessible way to extend evidence-based neuro rehab beyond the clinic and into patients' homes. You will likely have a patient (or several) who come to mind while listening to this, so check it out and learn more today! Keisha Burrous LinkedIN Motus Nova https://motusnova.com Therapists! Contact Motus Nova with questions, schedule an inservice, or refer a patient here: clinical@motusnova.com

Do you work with people who have falls? Maybe you've seen that just training fall prevention isn't quite doing enough. In this episode hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS talk with physiotherapist Naomi Casiro, founder of NeuroFit BC and creator of the Functional Movement and Falls training paradigm about why adding falls training to an overall balance plan is imperative. We explore why traditional fall prevention—focused mainly on prevention—has not been enough, and why a two-part approach that includes both prevention and explicit "how to fall" training is crucial, especially for people with Parkinson's disease and older adults who are still falling at high rates. Naomi explains how teaching patients to roll, dissipate force, and land safely allows therapists to challenge them more intensively and functionally in rehab, while also preserving autonomy and true informed choice around mobility and assistive devices. They discuss how falls training progresses from simple, low-level skills on the mat rather than immediately falling from standing, the importance of repetition (even for those with cognitive impairment), and the central role of addressing anxiety. We also discuss how often providers themselves are scared to perform this training and what to do about it. Naomi shares how her background in martial arts and clinical experience with frequent fallers led to her "aha" moment about falls training, and previews upcoming opportunities to learn her approach through the NeuroFit Academy, an online Functional Movement and Falls Training Foundations course with NeuroCollaborative, live Q&A follow-ups, and a practical hands-on session at the World Parkinson Congress. You can reach out to Naomi and learn more about the fall training courses she teaches for healthcare professionals here: www.neurofitbc.com www.neurofitbc.com/courses Free exercise videos: www.neurofitbc.com/move naomi@neurofitbc.com

In this episode host, Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS speaks with Chris McElderry, PT, DPT, NCS about how dry needling can be used in neuro rehab, particularly for people post-stroke. Chris explains why he pursued dry needling, how using it in PT differs from acupuncture, and walks through what a typical session looks like, including safety, side effects, and billing considerations. He shares clinical examples of using dry needling to address spasticity, hypertonicity, pain, and range of motion limitations, and discusses current research on short-term effects for spasticity and pain reduction. Erin and Chris also clarify the differences between spasticity and hypertonicity, touch on contracture management, and highlight where dry needling can be a useful adjunct—not a standalone cure—in helping neuro clients move and feel better. Follow Chris McElderry, PT, DPT, NCS @theneuroguy_dpt Ebrahimzadeh M, Nakhostin Ansari N, Abdollahi I, Akhbari B, Dommerholt J. Changes in Corticospinal Tract Consistency after Dry Needling in a Stroke Patient. Case Rep Neurol Med. 2024 Sep 14;2024:5115313. doi: 10.1155/2024/5115313. PMID: 39309410; PMCID: PMC11416164. Fakhari Z, Ansari NN, Naghdi S, Mansouri K, Radinmehr H. A single group, pretest-posttest clinical trial for the effects of dry needling on wrist flexors spasticity after stroke. NeuroRehabilitation. 2017;40(3):325-336. doi: 10.3233/NRE-161420. PMID: 28222554. Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Pérez-Bellmunt A, Llurda-Almuzara L, Plaza-Manzano G, De-la-Llave-Rincón AI, Navarro-Santana MJ. Is Dry Needling Effective for the Management of Spasticity, Pain, and Motor Function in Post-Stroke Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Med. 2021 Feb 4;22(1):131-141. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa392. PMID: 33338222. Núñez-Cortés R, Cruz-Montecinos C, Vásquez-Rosales P, et al. Effectiveness of dry needling in the treatment of spasticity in stroke patients: A systematic review. J Body Mov Ther. 2020;24(3):113-122. Suputtitada A, et al. Emerging theory of sensitization in post-stroke muscle spasticity: Implications for dry needling and other interventions. Front Rehabil Sci. 2023;4:1169087. Valencia-Chulián R, Heredia-Rizo AM, Moral-Munoz JA, Lucena-Anton D, Luque-Moreno C. Dry needling for the management of spasticity, pain, and range of movement in adults after stroke: A systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Aug;52:102515. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102515. Epub 2020 Jul 16. PMID: 32951759.

In this episode, Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews physical therapist Mariah King, PT, DPT from RISE Healthcare Group and Hiroki (Hiro) Kimura from Cyberdyne about the HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) robotic exoskeleton and its role in neurologic rehabilitation. They discuss how the HAL system reads patients' intent to move via surface EMG signals and converts those signals into assisted movement to drive neuroplasticity and functional recovery for people with spinal cord injury, stroke, TBI, Parkinson's disease, and progressive neuromuscular disorders such as MS, SMA, and muscular dystrophy. Mariah explains RISE's one-on-one outpatient model, how patients are evaluated for HAL use, typical dosing (2–3x/week over about 2 months), and the outcome measures they track, including 10-Meter Walk, 2-Minute Walk, 30-Second Sit-to-Stand, and TUG. She shares powerful case examples, including a person with MS who relies on a wheelchair for mobility progressing to prolonged standing and assisted gait, and another individual with MS whose falls dropped from several per month to just one across four months. Hiro digs into what makes HAL unique compared to other exoskeletons: its emphasis on intention-based control, the ability for therapists to visualize and shape EMG patterns (for example, reducing co-contraction), and asymmetric or joint-specific assistance tailored to each limb. They also touch on the different HAL configurations (lower limb, single-joint, lumbar), its current status as a clinic-based rehab device (not take-home), billing considerations, the new pediatric version and forthcoming wrist device, as well as opportunities for students, clinicians, and clinic owners to get involved with RISE's HAL programs. Website: www.risehealthcaregroup.com Instagram: risehealthcaregroup Facebook: risehealthcaregroup YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risehealthcaregroup7766 Cyberdyne USA Inc. https://www.cyberdyne.jp/english/ mariah@socalelitephysicaltherapy.com