NeuroHarmony Conference & Workshop

Conference & Workshop

A Multidisciplinary Approach in Neuro-Rehabilitation and Neuro-Palliative Care
February 16-18, 2024 Swami Vivekananda Hall, MIT WPU, Kothrud, Pune
Register now
Jointly Organized by

Know the topics

  • Post stroke spasticity
  • Music therapy
  • Gait and Foot Pressure 
  • Cognitive Assessment
  • Emotional Wellness Assessment
  • Alternative Augmentative Communication
  • Integrated and Comprehensive Assessment
  • Biopsychosocial Model for healthcare
  • Cognitive Reserve
  • Parkinson’s disease and Dementia
  • Neuroplasticity and Brain Health
  • Early Detection in Neurodegeneration
  • Functional Neurological Disorders
  • Neurodivergence
  • Personality disorders in clinical Practice
  • Neurorehabilitation across conditions
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Brain stroke
  • Neuro-critical care: role of Therapist
  • Epilepsy Surgery and rehabilitation
  • Advanced Neurorehab and technology
  • Neuro-Modulation in Neurology and Psychiatry
  • Sleep Medicine in context of Neuro-Rehab
  • Neuro-Rehabilitation
  • Neuro-Palliation
  • End of Life Care and Advanced care directives
  • Living Wills
Post Stroke Spasticity:

Post-stroke spasticity is a common complication following stroke, characterized by increased muscle tone, stiffness, involuntary muscle contractions, and abnormal posturing due to damage to upper motor neuron pathways. It can significantly impair mobility, hand function, gait, activities of daily living, and overall quality of life. Early recognition and multidisciplinary rehabilitation are essential to prevent contractures and functional disability.
Botulinum toxin plays an important role in the management of focal post-stroke spasticity. By blocking acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, it produces temporary muscle relaxation, thereby reducing stiffness, pain, and abnormal muscle overactivity. Botulinum toxin therapy, when combined with physiotherapy, stretching, splinting, and functional training, can improve limb positioning, ease of caregiving, gait, hygiene, and functional outcomes. It is considered a safe and evidence-based treatment for selected patients with focal spasticity.

Music Therapy and its role as an adjunct to Mainstream Rehab for the allied Healthcare Professional:
Music therapy is an emerging adjunctive modality in neurorehabilitation and holistic healthcare, utilizing rhythm, melody, vocalization, and structured musical engagement to support physical, cognitive, emotional, and social recovery. In neurological rehabilitation, music-based interventions have shown benefit in improving gait, motor coordination, speech fluency, mood, attention, and emotional well-being through activation of widespread neural networks and promotion of neuroplasticity. As an adjunct to mainstream rehabilitation, music therapy can enhance patient participation, motivation, emotional resilience, and quality of life when integrated with physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support. Its patient-centered and non-pharmacological approach makes it a valuable complementary tool in multidisciplinary rehabilitation settings.
 
Gait and Foot Pressure Analysis:
Gait and foot pressure analysis are important components of neurological rehabilitation assessment, helping clinicians objectively evaluate walking patterns, balance, posture, weight distribution, and movement abnormalities. Neurophysiotherapists use observational assessment along with pressure-sensitive platforms, wearable sensors, or computerized gait analysis systems to identify deficits related to stroke, Parkinsonism, neuropathy, spinal disorders, cerebellar dysfunction, and musculoskeletal imbalance. Assessment of temporal-spatial gait parameters and plantar pressure distribution aids in understanding compensatory mechanisms, fall risk, asymmetry, and abnormal loading patterns. These findings help in individualized rehabilitation planning, including gait training, balance therapy, orthotic prescription, posture correction, and functional mobility enhancement, thereby improving overall mobility and quality of life.
 
Cognitive Assessment: 
Cognitive assessment is an essential component of neurorehabilitation, aimed at evaluating higher mental functions such as attention, memory, language, executive function, visuospatial abilities, processing speed, and social cognition. Neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis can significantly affect cognitive functioning and daily independence. Structured cognitive evaluation by neuropsychologists and rehabilitation professionals helps identify specific deficits, monitor recovery, and guide individualized rehabilitation strategies. Early cognitive assessment during neurorehabilitation supports goal setting, improves functional outcomes, enhances patient and caregiver understanding, and facilitates targeted interventions including cognitive retraining, behavioral strategies, compensatory techniques, and psychosocial support.
 
Emotional Wellness Assessment:
Emotional wellness assessment is an important aspect of neurorehabilitation, focusing on the psychological and emotional impact of neurological illness on patients and caregivers. Conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, chronic pain, and neurodegenerative disorders are frequently associated with anxiety, depression, emotional lability, adjustment difficulties, stress, and reduced quality of life. Systematic assessment by mental health professionals and rehabilitation teams helps identify emotional distress, coping patterns, behavioral changes, and psychosocial challenges that may influence recovery and treatment adherence. Integrating emotional wellness assessment into neurorehabilitation enables holistic care planning, supports resilience and motivation, improves participation in therapy, and promotes overall functional and psychosocial well-being.
 
Alternative Augmentative Communication:
Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) forms an important component of speech and language pathology rehabilitation for individuals with impaired speech, language, or communication abilities due to neurological conditions such as stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, motor neuron disease, Parkinsonism, and developmental disorders. AAC includes a range of communication methods such as picture boards, gestures, writing systems, communication books, and electronic speech-generating devices that help individuals express needs, thoughts, and emotions effectively. Speech and language pathologists assess communication abilities and select individualized AAC strategies to enhance functional communication, social participation, autonomy, and quality of life. Integration of AAC within multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation supports patient engagement, caregiver interaction, and long-term communication outcomes.
 
Integrated and Comprehensive Assessment and Intervention in Neurodivergence: 
Integrated and comprehensive assessment in neurodivergence involves a multidisciplinary evaluation of cognitive, behavioral, emotional, sensory, communication, social, and functional domains in individuals with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Early and holistic assessment by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, educators, and mental health professionals helps identify strengths, challenges, comorbidities, and individualized support needs. Comprehensive intervention focuses on improving communication, attention, emotional regulation, adaptive skills, learning, sensory integration, and social participation through evidence-based and person-centered approaches. Collaborative care involving families, schools, and rehabilitation professionals promotes long-term developmental outcomes, functional independence, and overall well-being.
 
Biopsychosocial Model for Healthcare:
The biopsychosocial model of healthcare is a holistic approach that recognizes health and illness as the result of complex interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors. Beyond the traditional disease-centered model, it emphasizes that physical symptoms, emotional state, behavior, relationships, lifestyle, culture, environment, and socioeconomic conditions all influence an individual’s health outcomes and quality of life. Widely applied in neurology, rehabilitation, mental health, pain medicine, and chronic disease management, this model encourages patient-centered and multidisciplinary care. Integration of medical treatment with psychological support, rehabilitation, family involvement, and social interventions helps improve functional recovery, treatment adherence, resilience, and overall well-being.
 
Cognitive Reserve: 
Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and maintain functional performance despite aging, neurological disease, or brain injury. It is believed to develop through lifelong intellectual engagement, education, occupational complexity, social interaction, physical activity, and mentally stimulating activities. Individuals with higher cognitive reserve may show better resilience to conditions such as dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative disorders, often demonstrating fewer clinical symptoms despite underlying brain pathology. The concept of cognitive reserve highlights the importance of lifelong brain health promotion, cognitive stimulation, rehabilitation, and preventive strategies aimed at preserving cognitive functioning and enhancing quality of life.
 
Parkinson’s disease:
Your daily routine for the morning includes brushing your teeth, making coffee, getting dressed. Imagine now that those easy chores are becoming difficult. The onset of tremors, stiffness, and slowness makes routine activities seem like a dance with an uncoordinated partner. That’s how Parkinson’s illness really is.
Parkison’s disease stands as the second most prevalent neurological disorder. Common symptoms include slowness of movement, muscle rigidity and tremors while resting, psychological conditions like depression and anxiety, cognitive impairments, sleep disorders, loss of smell, bladder and gastrointestinal malfunction and cardiovascular issues.
Risk factors being age, exposure to pesticides and toxic fumes, traumatic brain injuries, etc. Most commonly, it is credited to a convergence of environmental and genetic variables. There is no known cure for complete recovery from this disease.
The treatment for this disease includes consulting various professionals like neurologists(for diagnosis and medication), physical therapists(for motor issues), speech therapists(for difficulty swallowing and for production of speech), occupational therapists(for impairment in everyday life activities), dietitians(for advice on a proper, balanced diet), psychologists(for mental health improvement) and a social worker for support to family and friends.  
 
Dementia
Consider the library-like quality of your own thoughts. Imagine now that certain books are moving and disappearing from sight. That is dementia’s basic nature; it is a brain disease that impairs thinking, memory, and behavior.
It’s more than just misplacing your keys, although that does happen occasionally. It feels as though your identity, special occasions, and even well-known people are going dark.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms associated with cognitive impairment in thinking, memory, and our functionality to carry out daily tasks. Although it is frequently linked to age, it is not a typical aspect of aging. It is a neurological condition.
Completely influenced are our cognitive abilities like thinking, memory, direction, decision making, learning ability, language, and judgment. The most prevalent kind of dementia is thought to be Alzheimer’s. It is responsible for 60–70% of dementia cases. Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia are among more forms of dementia.
A variety of clinical evaluations, cognitive tests, and brain imaging methods and tools are used in the diagnosing process. Most dementias have no known cure, although early intervention can help patients manage illness more skillfully, enhance their quality of life, and support their career.
 
Neuroplasticity and Brain Health:
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganize, adapt, and form new neural connections in response to learning, experience, injury, and environmental stimulation. It plays a central role in recovery following neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Brain health is supported by factors that promote positive neuroplastic changes, including physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, sleep, nutrition, emotional well-being, social engagement, and rehabilitation therapies. Understanding neuroplasticity has transformed modern neuroscience and neurorehabilitation by emphasizing that the brain retains the capacity for adaptation and functional improvement throughout life.
 
Early Detection of Neurodegeneration:
Early detection of neurodegeneration is crucial for timely intervention, rehabilitation planning, symptom management, and preservation of functional independence in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and related disorders. Subtle early features may include changes in memory, attention, behavior, gait, speech, mood, sleep, or daily functioning, often preceding significant disability. Therapists including neurophysiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and neuropsychologists play an important role in recognizing these early functional and behavioral changes during routine clinical interactions and rehabilitation assessments. Their contribution to screening, functional evaluation, caregiver education, cognitive and physical rehabilitation, and interdisciplinary referral supports holistic management and may help improve long-term quality of life and participation.
 
Functional Neurological Disorders:
Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) are conditions in which individuals experience genuine neurological symptoms such as weakness, abnormal movements, tremors, gait disturbances, non-epileptic seizures, sensory symptoms, or speech difficulties without a structural neurological disease fully explaining the presentation. FND is understood as a disorder of nervous system functioning involving complex interactions between brain networks, psychological factors, stress responses, attention, and maladaptive movement or behavioral patterns. Accurate diagnosis, clear communication, and validation of symptoms are essential to reduce stigma and improve treatment engagement. Management typically involves a multidisciplinary approach including neurology, neurophysiotherapy, psychology, psychiatry, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, with emphasis on rehabilitation, functional restoration, emotional support, and patient education.
 
Neurodivergence
Neurodivergence is a concept that recognizes natural variations in human brain functioning, cognition, behavior, learning, communication, and sensory processing. It includes conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, and related neurodevelopmental differences. Rather than viewing these solely through a deficit-based model, the neurodiversity perspective emphasizes individual strengths, unique abilities, adaptive challenges, and the importance of inclusive and supportive environments. A multidisciplinary and person-centered approach involving education, therapy, emotional support, skill development, and social inclusion can help neurodivergent individuals achieve improved participation, well-being, independence, and quality of life.
 
Personality Disorders in Clinical Practice:
Personality disorders are enduring patterns of thinking, emotional response, interpersonal behaviour, and self-perception that differ significantly from cultural expectations and often lead to distress, relational difficulties, or functional impairment. They are not simply “difficult personalities,” but complex biopsychosocial conditions shaped by temperament, early life experiences, attachment patterns, trauma, and neuropsychological factors. Healthcare professionals should recognise that patients with personality disorders may present with emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, mistrust, dependency, rigid coping styles, or challenges in therapeutic engagement. A trauma-informed, non-judgmental, and boundary-aware approach is essential. Consistency in communication, empathy without overinvolvement, collaborative goal-setting, and interdisciplinary mental health support can improve therapeutic outcomes while reducing burnout and countertransference among caregivers.
 
Neurorehabilitation across conditions: What does good REHAB look like?
Neurorehabilitation is a comprehensive, person-centered process aimed at improving function, participation, adaptation, and quality of life in individuals with neurological conditions across the lifespan. It extends across disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neurodevelopmental conditions, dementia, epilepsy, functional neurological disorders, and peripheral neuropathies. Effective neurorehabilitation integrates medical care with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, neuropsychology, social work, assistive technology, and community reintegration. Modern neurorehabilitation is guided by principles of neuroplasticity, functional recovery, task-specific training, cognitive-emotional rehabilitation, and biopsychosocial care, with emphasis on maximizing independence, participation, dignity, and long-term brain health.
 
Traumatic Brain Injury
Any head trauma, from non-penetrating injuries like vehicle accidents to penetrating ones like gunshot wounds, can result in head injuries . While many people recover from severe head injuries in a matter of days, they can cause lifelong harm or even death. Head Injury  symptoms might vary according to the extent of the damage, although losing consciousness following a hit is a crucial indicator. A mild head injury can cause a variety of symptoms, most of which appear hours or days after the head impact. Behavior changes, disorientation, seizures, dilated pupils, impaired vision, headaches, nausea, vomiting, agitation, sensitivity to light and scent, sleep difficulties, and slurred speech are all indicators of a head injury. Children and infants may also cry, be uneasy, and refuse to eat, drink, or be breastfed. Minimal intervention is needed for mild to moderate head  injuries, such as counseling, surgery, and rehabilitation. More intensive therapies and inpatient care may be necessary for severe Head Injuries. Depending on the type of head injuries  and the extent of the injury, different rest times may be required. While more serious injuries could take longer to heal, minor injuries might make it harder to resume activities. The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms and enhance quality of life; certain effects get better with time.
 
Brain stroke
Consider your mind to be a city. Transporting essential resources (nutrients and oxygen) to every corner are the cars (blood), and they begin to speed along highways (arteries). But what happens if a large highway is blocked by a blood clot or traffic jam? What if a neighborhood is flooded by a ruptured pipe that leaks blood vessels? During a stroke, that is what occurs. Your voice, your body, and even your life may become uncontrollable when brain cells begin to die in the absence of blood. Your brain’s version of heart attack is Brain Stroke. 
Brain stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to a portion of the brain is interrupted. Common symptoms include paralysis or weakness on one side, speech difficulties or loss of speech skills (aphasia), speaking incoherently or slurred (dysarthria), weakness in one side of your face’s muscle control, sudden loss of vision, hearing, taste, smell, or touch, either completely or partially, double or fuzzy vision, or diplopia, loss of motor skills or incoordination (ataxia), vertigo or dizziness, vomiting and uneasy feeling, stiff neck, personality shifts and emotional instability, confusion or frenziedness, fits, Amnesia, or loss of memory, headaches (typically intense and abrupt), unconsciousness or fainting.
Noticed these symptoms? Well, with Neurological diagnosis and examination, a healthcare provider can easily diagnose a stroke. Using CT scans, blood tests, MRI scans, ECG and EEG, a  healthcare provider suspects a stroke.
Who’s at risk? Patients of hypertension (High Blood Pressure), diabetes, High Cholesterol; The risk of stroke increases with age, and men have a slightly higher risk than women; consumption of alcohol and smoking just doubles the risk of a brain stroke! 
From children to adults, everyone can have a stroke, although certain
people are more susceptible than others. Later in life, strokes are more common (those over 65 account for around two thirds of all stroke cases).
 

Role of therapist in Neuro-critical Care:

Therapists play a vital role in neuro-critical care by contributing to early rehabilitation, prevention of secondary complications, functional recovery, and continuity of care in critically ill neurological patients. Working alongside intensivists, neurologists, nurses, and rehabilitation teams, neurophysiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and neuropsychologists help address issues such as positioning, respiratory care, early mobilization, spasticity prevention, dysphagia, communication deficits, cognitive changes, sensory stimulation, and family education. Early therapeutic intervention in conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, encephalitis, neuromuscular crises, and post-neurosurgical states can reduce ICU-related disability, improve neuroplastic recovery, and support smoother transition from critical care to rehabilitation and community reintegration.

Epilepsy Surgery and Rehabilitation:

Epilepsy surgery and rehabilitation represent an integrated approach for individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy, aiming not only for seizure reduction but also for improvement in cognition, psychosocial functioning, independence, and quality of life. Pre-surgical evaluation involves detailed neurological, neuropsychological, imaging, and functional assessment to identify suitable candidates and preserve critical brain functions. Post-surgical rehabilitation may include cognitive rehabilitation, speech and language therapy, psychological support, occupational therapy, vocational guidance, and social reintegration depending on the individual’s deficits and goals. Healthcare professionals should recognise that successful epilepsy care extends beyond seizure control and requires long-term multidisciplinary support addressing emotional wellbeing, stigma, education, employability, and participation in daily life.

Advanced Neuro-Rehab and Technology:
Advanced neuro-rehabilitation increasingly integrates technology to enhance recovery, functional independence, and patient engagement across neurological conditions. Innovations such as robotic-assisted therapy, virtual reality, brain-computer interfaces, functional electrical stimulation, wearable sensors, telerehabilitation, neuroprosthetics, and AI-assisted assessment are transforming rehabilitation practice by enabling intensive, task-specific, data-driven, and personalized interventions. These technologies support motor recovery, cognitive rehabilitation, communication, gait training, upper-limb function, and remote monitoring in conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Healthcare professionals should combine technological advances with human-centred, ethical, and biopsychosocial care to ensure accessibility, meaningful participation, and real-world functional outcomes.
Neuro-Modulation in Neurology and Psychiatry
Neuromodulation in neurology and psychiatry refers to the therapeutic alteration of neural activity using electrical, magnetic, or chemical stimulation techniques to improve symptoms, restore function, or modulate dysfunctional brain circuits. Common modalities include deep brain stimulation (DBS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), spinal cord stimulation, and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). These approaches are increasingly used in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, epilepsy, chronic pain, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Modern neuromodulation reflects the evolving understanding of brain networks, neuroplasticity, and circuit-based models of disease, while also highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary assessment, ethical considerations, rehabilitation integration, and long-term psychosocial support in patient care.
 
Sleep Medicine in context of Neuro-Rehab
Sleep medicine plays a crucial role in neuro-rehabilitation, as sleep significantly influences neuroplasticity, cognition, emotional regulation, motor recovery, pain perception, and overall brain health. Sleep disturbances are common in conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, dementia, spinal cord injury, and neurodevelopmental disorders, often affecting rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life. Healthcare professionals should recognise and address problems such as insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, circadian rhythm disturbances, restless legs syndrome, excessive daytime sleepiness, and medication-related sleep issues as part of comprehensive neurorehabilitation care. Integrating sleep assessment, sleep hygiene education, behavioural interventions, and appropriate medical management can enhance recovery, participation, learning, and long-term functional outcomes.
 
Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities (LDs) affect the brain’s interpretation and use of knowledge, affecting the acquisition, organization, storage, recognition, and utilization of nonverbal and verbal information. These disabilities can be minor or severe, affecting writing, reading, and math performance.Learning disabilities (LDs) are distinct from intellectual disabilities as they don’t affect IQ but present unique learning challenges. LDs are typically learned early, but some are diagnosed in their teens or early 20s. A child with learning impairments has a discrepancy between their academic potential and performance. Difficulties in reading (Dyslexia), counting, rhyming, expanding one’s vocabulary, solving problems, and recognizing letters, understanding numbers and mathematical concepts (Dyscalculia) are indications of a learning disability.
Individuals with learning disabilities require varying levels of help, often requiring a multidisciplinary team comprising educators, remediation specialists, psychologists, special education services, and medical professionals.
 
Neuro-Rehabilitation: 
Neurological rehabilitation (rehab) is a doctor-supervised program designed for people with diseases, injuries, or disorders of the nervous system. Neurological rehab can often improve function, reduce symptoms, and improve the well-being of the patient. In spite of AI, AR, VR invasion in this field, we still need good team workers from all the above allied healthcare fields. NeureRehab is a person intensive field. Many aspects of our life need to be repaired and nurtured during the process of rehabilitation, such as speech, cognition, movement, posture.
 
Neuro-Palliation:
Neuropalliative care is a new and growing field within neurology that focuses on improving the quality of life of patients with serious neurologic illnesses. The misconception that palliative care is reserved for people who are terminally ill, needs to be revised. Palliation begins from the time of onset of symptoms.
(By definition palliation means easing the severity of a pain or a disease without removing the cause. It is a type of: alleviation, easement, easing, relief. It is the act of reducing something unpleasant and distressing) Neuro-Rehabilitation and Neuropalliative care need not exist in their own silos either. There is a vast overlap in the services provided. The rehab specialist should know about palliative care and vice versa. Very often both are needed together.
 
End of Life Care and Advanced care directives:
In India, how people are cared for at the end of their lives is influenced by various factors, like culture and family roles. Families usually take on the responsibility of caregiving, and some special services are starting to provide support. However, there are challenges, such as not enough access to palliative care and not enough awareness. It’s important to include palliative care in the regular healthcare system to make sure people with serious illnesses have a good quality of life at the end. We need better policies, education, and community involvement to make the end of life more compassionate and respectful for patients and their families in India.
Living Wills: 
Living wills, or advance directives, are becoming more popular in India as people want more say in their medical decisions. These documents let individuals state their preferences for treatment if they can’t speak for themselves. The Supreme Court of India recognizes living wills, giving people the power to make choices that match their values. But, there are challenges, like not many people knowing about them and unclear laws. To make living wills more common, we need to educate the public, change laws, and train healthcare providers. This way, medical decisions in India can better reflect what patients really want.