Have you ever felt like there was a disconnect between what the researchers are thinking and what you, as a clinician, are thinking? You’re not the only one! The desire to bridge the gap between research and what really goes on in the clinic has been a topic of discussion for decades. We interviewed Dr. Carolee Winstein, PhD, PT, FAPTA about this very topic and what the possible solutions may be. Dr. Winstein, a pivotal figure in redirecting professional focus towards motor control, motor learning and neuroplasticity, shares her transformational journey. When working with individuals with neurologic conditions in the 1990s (“before neuro rehab was a thing,” as she laughs) she wondered, why do some people get better and some don’t? Her intellectual curiosity propelled her into the sphere of motor learning and control under the tutelage of the esteemed Richard (Dick) Schmidt, PhD, an intellectual leader in motor learning and control and founder and founding editor of the Journal of Motor Behavior. 

Accumulating over 34,000 citations, Dr. Winstein stands as a luminary in the realm of neuro rehabilitation, boasting an unparalleled expertise in motivation, motor control, and neuroplasticity. She shares why the practice of neuro rehabilitation must be accompanied by an understanding of the behavioral literature. She provides advice and guidance for the clinician struggling to incorporate the research into practice, a warning about Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), and what types of studies you should actually pay attention to in order to implement emerging evidence. Have you ever felt like your patient population doesn’t really match those studied in the research? She addresses that too and provides advice and encouragement about how to shift this disconnect.   

Articles mentioned in the interview can be found and downloaded here:

Boyne, et al Optimal Intensity and Duration of Walking Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Stroke

Dawson, et al Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischemic stroke (VNS-REHAB)

Hornby, et al Clinical Practice Guideline to Improve Locomotor Function Following Chronic Stroke, Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, and Brain Injury

Tsay, et al Five Features to Look for in Early-Phase Clinical Intervention Studies