Neurorehabilitation research group

Our research is part of the Prevention, Performance and Rehabilitation research theme in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Keele University (hosted by the School of Allied Health Professions).

The aim of our research is to influence, impact and improve the assessment and management of long-term neurological conditions, such as stroke, acquired brain injury, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Cerebral Palsy, particularly in relation to patient care delivered by Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). Despite the substantial impact of long-term neurological conditions on individuals and society, rehabilitation and AHP related research has not received the research attention it deserves. We are therefore passionate about partnering with people living with long-term neurological conditions, AHPs involved in neuro-rehabilitation, NHS services, and third sector organisations, as well as other researchers.

We want to:

  • evaluate and test complex interventions for people living with long-term neurological conditions
  • explore people’s experiences of living with long-term neurological conditions
  • explore and evaluate opportunities for self-management and novel methods of delivering ongoing therapy and rehabilitation in the community
  • use real-world data to inform quality improvements in AHP services and reduce the impact these conditions have on the lives of patients.

Honorary and external members

Dr Judith Purton

Dr Judith Purton
Honorary Research Fellow

  • School of Allied Health Professions, Keele University
Dr Jacqui Winter

Dr Jacqui Winter
Honorary Research Fellow

  • School of Allied Health Professions, Keele University

Staff

Research interests

Dr Sue Hunter (group lead)

  • Evaluating complex therapy interventions for people with long-term neurological conditions
  • Somatosensory stimulation to improve functional recovery post-stroke
  • Experiences of living with a long-term neurological condition
  • Novel ways of delivering therapy in the home for chronic stroke
  • Use of arts for health to improve health and well-being for people with long-term neurological conditions

Dr Ali Aries (co-lead)

  • Somatosensory stimulation to improve lower-limb recovery, balance and gait post-stroke
  • Neuroplasticity and rehabilitation of stroke patients
  • Patient and public involvement 

Abbey Fitzgerald

  • The phenomenon of spasticity
  • Neurological rehabilitation
  • The effect of somatosensory stimulation on spasticity and function post stroke
  • Improving outcomes for the moderate to severe post-stroke population and managing secondary complications and complex disability
  • Effect of timely orthopaedic surgical management in the treatment of complex post-stroke foot and ankle spasticity

Dr Alison Rogers

  • Stroke, neurological disorders
  • Neurological rehabilitation / exercise
  • Lower Limb biomechanics
  • Assessment of outcomes (body structure and function) 

Dr Aseel Aburub

  • Cardiovascular and respiratory rehabilitation in neurodegenerative diseases (mainly Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis)
  • Women health physiotherapy
  • Telerehabilitation/digital health for people with multiple sclerosis, and people with Parkinson's

Dr Badrieh Alabbad

  • Self-management for people with long-term neurological conditions
  • Experiences of living with multiple sclerosis
  • Neurological rehabilitation / exercise

Eleanor Latham

  • Mechanisms of persistent pain / imaging of persistent pain.
  • Use of Graded Motor Imagery in persistent pain
  • Improving patient experience and engagement in Pain Clinics
  • Psychologically-informed Physiotherapy - how improving psychological understanding in Physiotherapists may improve adherence and outcomes in patients with long term conditions.

Fran Quinn-Thomas

  • Use of upper limb tasks boards in stroke recovery  
  • Holistic management of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness including: communication with family, sensory stimulation and tracheostomy weaning 

Dr Jacqui Winter

  •  Rehabilitation after stroke
  • Hands-on therapy for the upper limb post stroke
  • The chronic phase of rehabilitation
  • Carer support and involvement in post-stroke therapy interventions
  • Somatosensory interventions post stroke and effects on function, cognition and communication

Dr Judy Purton

  • Stroke and upper limb recovery
  • People's experiences of living with upper limb dysfunction
  • People's priorities for upper limb recovery and therapy after stroke
  • Qualitative research methods in stroke

Dr Kathryn Jarvis

  • Digital health technologies for rehabilitation
  • Leisure participation following stroke
  • Upper limb neurological interventions
  • Implementation

Poppy Downing

  • Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (therapeutic and functional)
  • Sensory stimulation

Rachel Rutley

  • Parkinson's rehab
  • Exercise for neurological conditions, particularly Parkinson’s
  • Long term management of progressive disability (any condition, including the ataxias and neuromuscular conditions) 
  • Dystonia, generalised and specific to Parkinson's.
  • Perceptions of and attitudes towards aging in clinical Allied Health Professionals: lessons for educators. Carole Watkins. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Professor Julius Sim 
  • Experiences of counselling for mental health in older women. Bridget Jones. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Professor Sue Read 
  • Mobilization and Tactile Stimulation for the upper limb post-stroke: enabling carers to deliver aspects of physical therapy in the community. Remi Popoola. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Dr Jacqui Winter 
  • Wheelchair prescription for children with mobility problems in the UK and Kuwait. Sarah Alsuwailam. Supervisors: Dr Ali Aries, Dr Sue Hunter 
  • Dr Alison Rogers – PhD, 2022, University of East London. Thesis: Foot and ankle impairments affecting mobility in stroke. Supervisors: Dr Mary Cramp,  
  • Dr Aseel Aburub – PhD, 2021, Keele University. Thesis: Aerobic exercise to improve respiratory function in Parkinson’s. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Professor Julius Sim 
  • Dr Badrieh Alabbad PhD, 2020, Keele University. Thesis: Self-management support for people with Multiple Sclerosis. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Dr Helena Priest 
  • Dr Ali Aries PhD, 2020, Keele University. Thesis: Somatosensory stimulation to improve lower-limb recovery after stroke. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Professor Julius Sim, Professor Val Pomeroy (UEA) 
  • Dr Judith Purton PhD, 2017, Keele University. Thesis: Stroke survivors’ experiences of upper limb dysfunction: a longitudinal exploratory study. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Professor Julius Sim 
  • Dr Kathryn Jarvis PhD, 2016, Keele University. Thesis: Occupational Therapy for the upper limb after stroke: implementing evidence-based constrain induced movement therapy into practice. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Professor Nicky Edelstyn 
  • Dr Jacqueline Winter, PhD, 2009, Keele University. Thesis: Chronic upper limb sensorimotor dysfunction following stroke: its perceived impact on activity and participation and the effects of hands-on intervention. Supervisors: Dr Sue Hunter, Professor Peter Crome, Professor Julius Sim 
  • Dr Sue Hunter, PhD, 2004, Keele University. Thesis: Definition and effects of physical therapy treatment for sensorimotor dysfunction in the hemiplegic upper limb after stroke. Supervisors: Professor Peter Crome, Professor Val Pomeroy (UEA), Professor Julius Sim.  
  • Alternative compression garments to reduce upper limb spasticity post-stroke - experiences of stroke survivors 
  • Use of a task board to improve upper limb function post-stroke - experiences of stroke survivors 
  • Somatosensory stimulation to improve disorders or consciousness following acquired brain injury – a scoping review  
  • Exploring clinician's experiences of strategies for communication with relatives of patients in a persistent disorder of consciousness (PDoC) 
  • Foot dystonia and gait in people living with Parkinson’s  
  • STROKESTRA® Stoke service evaluation – interviews with musicians, therapists and particiapnts 
  • The prevalence of pain in Parkinson's: a systematic review  
  • Effects of MTS on somatopic mapping in the hand in healthy adults/stroke survivors  
  • Somatosensory stimulation to improve limb function in children with Cerebal Palsy - a systematic review 
  • Awareness of dementia causes, risk factors, prevention and management: a survey of healthy young adults in the UK 
  • Somatosensory stimulation to improve body awareness following acquired brain injury – a systematic review  
  • Hands-on interventions to improve upper limb function post-stroke - update of Cochrane review 
  • Stroke survivors' experiences of MTS and its perceived effects and mechanism of action 
  • Physiotherapists' knowledge of foot dystonia and treatment options in Parkinson's Disease: an online questionnaire with follow up qualitative interviews 
  • An Integrated Care System: A service evaluation of an integrated, patient-centred care therapy model between the NHS and voluntary sector following acquired brain injury
  • Somoatosensory stimluation to reduce symptoms of hemineglect post-stroke: a systematic review (update)
  • Reliability of somatotopic mapping in the hand in stroke survivors and age-matched non-stroke adults
  • Reliability of somatotopic mapping in the hand in healthy young adults
  • The role of compression garments in upper limb spasticity management in stroke patients: a pilot study  
  • Stretching for people living with Parkinson’s: an exploratory online survey  
  • Community rehabilitation services for stroke: service evaluation 
  • The effectiveness of active video games in rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review 

Date  

Title   

Collaborators and funders 

2022 

A study exploring stroke survivors' experiences of receiving somatosensory interventions to the foot and ankle and the mechanisms involved – the SSENSI-Foot study

NIHR RDS – PPI bursary

2021-22

ReCast project – evaluation of use of ceramics for people recovering from addiction 

British Ceramics Biennial funded 

2020-22  

Interventions for the management of perceptual disorders following stroke - PIONEER – evidence synthesis 

Glasgow Caledonian University funded by NIHR HTA grant 

2019-20  

STROKESTRA® Stoke: group-based active music-making to improve function and psychosocial outcomes following stroke  

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; New Vic Borderlines; Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust Community Stroke Team; funded by Goodwins PLC 

2017-20  

The effect of aerobic exercise on lung function, exercise capacity and cognitive function in Parkinson’s – pilot and feasibility study 

ISRA University scholarship  

2015-18  

Somatosensory stimulation of the lower limb to improve balance and gait post-stroke: a feasibility study  

NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship  

2014  

Mobilization and Tactile Stimulation for the foot after stroke – PPIE consultation 

NIHR RDS – PPI bursary  

2012-15  

Clinical efficacy of functional strength training for upper limb motor recovery early after stroke: neural correlates and prognostic indicators – randomized controlled trial 

Collaboration with University of East Anglia - NIHRMRC Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation project grant   

2010-13  

Longitudinal study exploring longitudinal stroke survivors' experiences and perceptions of the impact of upper limb dysfunction.   

Supported by Physiotherapy Research Foundation funding 

2009  

Evaluation of acute stroke workshops throughout the West Midlands  

Commissioned by West Midlands Strategic Health Authority   

2008  

Service evaluation of Stroke Early Supported Discharge Scheme (SESD)  

Commissioned by North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare   

2006-09  

Therapy for the hemiplegic upper limb  

NHS R&D funding  

2005-07  

Mobilization and tactile stimulation to enhance upper limb recovery after stroke: Phase I investigation of acceptable dose, efficacy and underlying mechanism  

The Stroke Association project grant, in collaboration with University of East Anglia 

2003-06  

Can surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation (sNMES) of the wrist and hand, in conjunction with routine therapy, facilitate recovery of arm function in people with poor prognostic indicators of functional recovery?  

Action Medical Research funding 

2000-03  

Effects of retraining hand sensation on the recovery of upper limb function after stroke  

Funded by Research into Ageing – Bernard Isaacs Memorial Fellowship