Feasibility of further motor recovery in patients undergoing physiotherapy more than 6-months after severe traumatic brain injury: an updated literature review

The aim of this updated literature review was to evaluate the extent to which adults are documented as being capable of further motor recovery more than 6 months after a severe traumatic brain injury. This topic has high potential relevance for neurological physiotherapists, some of whom may be tasked with implementing physical treatment programmes for this challenging patient group. A revised search of relevant databases was carried out, using the previous review as a starting point. A further 10 papers were identified, extending the original total to 18 published studies. Of the 18 papers, 13 were single-case studies, with 5 being reports of subject groups (8–80 subjects; median, 20 subjects). Recovery was documented as occurring over periods which extended up to 180 months' post-injury, though more reports fell within the 60 months' post-injury period. Evidence supporting the hypothesis that subjects are readily capable of continuing and/or further change was not overwhelming; reasons for this are discussed.