Clinical Guidelines: Neurology

Original Editor - Lucinda Hampton Top Contributors - Naomi O'Reilly, Evan Thomas, Candace Goh, Wendy Walker, Admin, Kim Jackson, Alexandra Stead, Scott Buxton and Tolulope Adeniji

Introduction

The Clinical Guidelines: Neurology page provides a comprehensive collection of evidence-based guidelines for neurological conditions commonly encountered in physiotherapy practice. Organised by specific neurological disorders, these guidelines cover the complete spectrum of care from diagnosis to long-term management.

The collection spans major neurological conditions including stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and motor neurone disease. These guidelines represent current best practice recommendations designed to support clinical decision-making in neurological physiotherapy, providing practitioners with reliable, evidence-based resources for optimal patient care.

Ataxia

• Management of the Ataxias: Toward Best Clinical Practice (Third Edition) Ataxia UK (2016)

Brain Injury

• A 3-Step Process to Diagnose (or Rule Out) Concussion within 48 Hours of Injury: World Rugby Guideline Raftery M et al. (2016)
• Brain Injury Rehabilitation in Adults: A National Clinical Guideline Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2013)
• Guidelines for Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury & Persistent Symptoms (Second Edition) Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (2013)
• Living Concussion Guidelines - Resources: Tools and Other Materials The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (2024)
• Clinical Practice Guidelines for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Persistent Symptoms Marshall S et al. (2012)
• Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Hawryluk et al. (2020)

Cerebral Palsy 

• Cerebral Palsy Clinical Practice Guideline Waikato Distric Health Board (2014)
• The HELP Guide to Cerebral Palsy (2nd Edition) Global HELP (2010)
• Guidelines for Rehabilitation of Children with Cerebral Palsy  Europa Medicophysica (2005)

Concussion

• Guidelines for Diagnosing and Managing Paediatric Concussion Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (2014)
• Evaluation and Management of Children and Adolescents with Sports-Related Concussion Healthy Active Living and Sports Medicine Committee, Canadian Paediatric Society. Paediatr Child Health, 2012; 17(1): 31-37

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

• Guideline for Neuromuscular Rehabilitation in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: What can we do Rev Neuroscience 18(4):572-580 (2010)
• Physician's Booklet on Guillain-Barré Syndrome Malaysian Society of Neuroscience (2022)

Motor Neurone Disease

• Irish Guidelines for the Physiotherapy Management of Motor Neuron Disease Health Service Executive (2014)
• Motor Neurone Disease - A Problem Solving Approach for General Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals MND Scotland (2012)
• Motor neurone disease. The use of non-invasive ventilation in the management of motor neurone disease National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2010)

Multiple Sclerosis 

• Multiple Sclerosis in Adults: ManagementNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2022) 
• Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for management of MS. (2013)
• Aquatic Exercise & Multiple Sclerosis: A Healthcare Professional’s Guide Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (2013)
• Spasticity Management in Multiple Sclerosis: Evidence-Based Management Strategies for Spasticity Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis Spinal Cord Med, 28(2): 167-199 (2005)

Muscular Dystrophy

• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Scottish Physiotherapy Management Profile Scottish Muscle Network (2012)
• Role of Physiotherapy in the Assessment and Management of Individuals with Myotonic Dystrophy Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation. Shree Pandya, PT, DPT, MS, & Katy Eichinger, PT, DPT, NCS (2015)

Paediatrics

• Motor Disorders: Assessment and Intervention for Young Children New York State Department of Health (2009)

Parkinson's

• European Physiotherapy Guidelines for Parkinson’s Disease Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy, KNGF (2013)
• Guidelines for Physical Therapy in Patients with Parkinson's Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy, KNGF (2004)

Spina Bifida

• The Health and Therapy Needs of Children with Spina Bifda in Ireland Temple Street Childrens University Hospital (2014)

Spinal Cord Injury

• Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Patients with Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression GAIN and the Northern Ireland Cancer Network (NICaN) MSCC Allied Health Professional (AHP) Sub Group (2017)
• Clinical Guideline for Standing Adults following Spinal Cord Injury Spinal Cord Injury Centre Physiotherapy Lead Clinicians United Kingdom and Ireland (2013)
• Canadian Best Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers in People with Spinal Cord Injury Houghton PE, Campbell KE and CPG Panel (2013)

Stroke

• Stroke Rehabilitation: Long-term Rehabilitation after Stroke Clinical Medicine 2015 Vol 15, No 5: 461-4 (2015)
• Clinical Practice Guideline for Physical Therapy in Patients with StrokeRoyal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy, KGNF (2014)
• Evidence-Based Review of Stroke Rehabilitation  Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery (2022)
• New Zealand Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management 2010 Stroke Foundation of New Zealand (2010)
• National Clinical Guideline for Stroke for the United Kingdom and Ireland NICE (2023)
• Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management 2010 National Stroke Foundation (2010)
• Management of Patients with Stroke: Rehabilitation, Prevention and Management of Complications, and Discharge Planning. A National Clinical Guideline Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2010)
• Ottawa Panel Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Khadilkar A, Phillips K, Jean N, Lamothe C, Milne S, Sarnecka J. Top Stroke Rehabil, 2006; 13 (2): 1-269.

Vestibular Dysfunction

• Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (Update) Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 156(3_suppl): S1-S47 (2017)
• Vestibular Rehabilitation for Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: An Updated Clinical Practice Guideline (Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, APTA) J Neurol Phys Ther, 46(2): 118-177 (2022)
• Vestibular Rehabilitation for Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: An Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline American Physical Therapy Association Neurology Section (2015)

Other

• The National Service Framework for Long­term Conditions Department of Health (2005)
• Functional Electrical Stimulation for Drop Foot of Central Neurological Origin National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2009).
• Guidelines for the Physiotherapy Management of the Adult, Medical, Spontaneously Breathing Patient Thorax, 64 (Suppl 1), i1-i51 (2009)
• Resources and Guidelines by the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences (2025)