Board Cert · PT
Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS)
45 citations · 3 lenses scored
ABPTS board certification. No outcome data despite high-need neurological population. Signals specialty expertise.
Score anatomy · every lens
Clinical outcomes ×35
30/100
Neurological rehab evidence base is strong; NCS-specific comparative outcomes absent.
Caseload applicability ×15
70/100
Applicable to any neurological PT caseload; broadly useful across stroke, TBI, MS, and Parkinson programs.
Billing & reimbursement ×15
52/100
No NCS-specific billing premium; some specialty neuro programs recognize it for program credentialing.
Certification investment ×20
28/100
ABPTS exam plus 2,000 hours neurologic clinical experience; major career investment.
Employer demand ×10
72/100
High demand in inpatient rehab and neuro specialty PT; ~10,000 holders; among more sought-after ABPTS certs.
Patient experience ×5
35/100
Neurological patients and families value specialist expertise.
Cash-pay viability ×25
60/100
Neuro niches (Parkinson's, MS, post-stroke wellness, vestibular) have meaningful cash-pay and concierge demand.
Pricing leverage ×20
65/100
NCS supports premium positioning in vestibular and neuro-wellness cash markets.
Market differentiation ×15
80/100
Relatively rare credential; strong professional differentiator.
Owner leverage ×15
55/100
A neuro specialty clinic can be staffed by trained generalists around an NCS-led model.
Consumer demand ×15
40/100
Consumers don't know NCS but actively seek neuro specialists.
Credential investment ×10
30/100
Substantial clinical hours and exam prep required.
Faculty recognition ×25
92/100
ABPTS NCS is among the most respected credentials in PT academia.
Scholarship signal ×20
80/100
NCS holders heavily populate neuro rehab research and EDGE task forces.
Teaching value ×15
90/100
Maps directly to core DPT neuro curriculum across multiple courses.
Evidence depth ×20
80/100
Underlying neuro rehab evidence base is robust and rapidly growing.
Faculty demand ×10
85/100
Frequently required/preferred for neuro faculty lines.
Credential investment ×10
45/100
Time cost is real but efficient relative to academic payoff.
Sources · 45 on file
Evidence mix
- 24
- 53%
- 12
- 27%
- 2
- 4%
- 2
- 4%
- 1
- 2%
- 4
- 9%
Publication years62% since 2022
9
Last reviewed 2026-1045 sources
- 01DOI ↗Benefits of an interdisciplinary stroke clinic: addressing a gap in physical therapy at post-stroke neurology follow-upN. Nagaraja; A. R. Kraus; D. K. Rose; E. B. Olasoji; A. Y. Khanna; A. N. Simpkins; C. A. Wilson; R. R. Dickens; V. Shushrutha Hedna; C. Geis; T. Youn; M. M. Musalo · Disabil Rehabil · 2022doi:10.1080/09638288.2021.2008527
- 02(REH06) Feasibility of Telehealth Rehabilitation for Veterans with Progressive Neuromuscular Disease...2020 Virtual Annual Meeting Of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, May 26-29-, 2020B. Dons · International Journal of MS Care · 2020Pilot/feasibility
- 03DOI ↗Yoga led by a physical therapist for individuals with Essential Tremor: An explorative pilot studyN. E. Vance; E. A. Ulanowski; M. M. Danzl · Complement Ther Clin Pract · 2019Pilot/feasibilitydoi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.10.010
- 04DOI ↗Competency-based validation of neurologic specialty practiceS. B. Perry; R. P. Rauk; A. McCarthy; M. K. Milidonis · J Neurol Phys Ther · 2008Cross-sectionaldoi:10.1097/NPT.0b013e31817584d9
- 05DOI ↗Planning a Clinical Practice Guideline Revision for a Core Set of Outcome Measures in Adults Undergoing Neurologic Physical Therapy, Part 1: Assessing Dissemination and Scholarly UptakeJ. L. Moore; J. E. Sullivan; M. Bland; W. Romney; E. Anderl; Z. G. Erkoc; K. Potter · Clin Public Health Guidel · 2026Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1002/gin2.70086
- 06DOI ↗A physiotherapy protocol* for stroke patients in acute hospital settings: expert consensus from the Brazilian early stroke rehabilitation task forceI. Maso; G. J. Luvizutto; J. M. A. Miranda; C. F. D. Nascimento; L. A. M. Bonome; E. B. Pinto; F. M. Klitzke; R. M. Souza; C. H. C. Moro; R. Bazan; P. A. P. Jesus; E. M. C. Rocha; C. Minelli; S. O. Martins; J. A. O. Baggio · Arq Neuropsiquiatr · 2025Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1055/s-0045-1806924
- 07DOI ↗Accessibility to Telerehabilitation Services for People With Multiple Sclerosis: Analysis of Barriers and LimitationsA. Gopal; V. Bonanno; V. J. Block; R. M. Bove · Int J MS Care · 2022doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2022-002
- 08DOI ↗Understanding Behavior Change in Clinical Practice Guideline Implementation: A Qualitative StudyJ. K. Tilson; C. Martinez; S. Mickan; L. J. D'Silva; R. Howard; S. MacDowell; H. R. Roth; K. M. Skop; E. Dannenbaum; L. Farrell · J Neurol Phys Ther · 2025Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1097/NPT.0000000000000498
- 09DOI ↗An Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guideline for the physiotherapy management of people with spinal cord injuriesJ. V. Glinsky; L. A. Harvey; K. E. Tranter; L. Rees; M. McDonald; B. Wadsworth; E. Gollan; V. Stavric; J. Nunnerley; J. Dunn; D. Wilson; Australian and New Zealand Clinical Practice Guidelines Consortium · Spinal Cord · 2025Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1038/s41393-025-01088-8
- 10DOI ↗Initial validation of a script concordance test to measure the development of clinical reasoning among physical therapy residentsS. R. O'Brien; N. Dillon; M. Linskey; K. Lagueras; J. Uhl; S. Conroy; A. Kiley; N. Lanzafame; E. States; E. Sturm · J Clin Educ Phys Ther · 2023Cohort studydoi:10.52214/jcept.v5.9014
- 11DOI ↗Physiotherapy interventions for the respiratory management of people with spinal cord injury: recommendations from an Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelineK. E. Tranter; L. A. Harvey; J. Ross; B. Wadsworth; D. J. Berlowitz; E. A. Bye; L. W. Chen; H. Patterson; M. McDonald; S. Calthorpe; J. Agostinello; E. Gollan; S. Denis; L. Blecher; D. Wilson; J. Peach; T. McDonald; M. Walters; J. Mather; L. Davis; M. D'Cruz; J. V. Glinsky · Spinal Cord · 2025Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1038/s41393-025-01116-7
- 12DOI ↗Physical Therapy Evaluation and Treatment After Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain InjuryC. C. Quatman-Yates; A. Hunter-Giordano; K. K. Shimamura; R. Landel; B. A. Alsalaheen; T. A. Hanke; K. L. McCulloch · J Orthop Sports Phys Ther · 2020Clinical guidelinedoi:10.2519/jospt.2020.0301
- 13DOI ↗Academicians and Neurologic Physical Therapy Residents Partner to Expand Clinical Reflection Using the SOLO Taxonomy: A Novel ApproachG. Pinto Zipp; C. Maher; E. Donnelly; B. Fritz; L. Snowdon · J Allied Health · 2016PMID 27262476
- 14DOI ↗Knowledge Translation Task Force for core measures clinical practice guideline: a short report on the process and utilizationM. D. Bland; J. L. Moore; E. Anderl; M. Eikenberry; A. McCarthy; G. N. Olivier; T. Rice; A. Siles; H. Zeleznik; W. Romney · Implement Sci Commun · 2024Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1186/s43058-024-00580-1
- 15DOI ↗Effects of dual-task training on walking and balance in stroke patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysisY. Zhao; C. Guo; D. Zhang; X. Wei; X. Jiang; H. Bi · Clin Rehabil · 2026Meta-analysisdoi:10.1177/02692155251394944
- 16DOI ↗Vestibular Rehabilitation for Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: An Updated Clinical Practice Guideline From the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy AssociationC. D. Hall; S. J. Herdman; S. L. Whitney; E. R. Anson; W. J. Carender; C. W. Hoppes; S. P. Cass; J. B. Christy; H. S. Cohen; T. D. Fife; J. M. Furman; N. T. Shepard; R. A. Clendaniel; J. D. Dishman; J. A. Goebel; D. Meldrum; C. Ryan; R. L. Wallace; N. J. Woodward · J Neurol Phys Ther · 2022Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1097/NPT.0000000000000382
- 17DOI ↗Electromechanical-assisted training for walking after strokeJ. Mehrholz; J. Kugler; M. Pohl; B. Elsner · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2025Meta-analysisdoi:10.1002/14651858.CD006185.pub6
- 18DOI ↗Physical Therapist Management of Parkinson Disease: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American Physical Therapy AssociationJ. A. Osborne; R. Botkin; C. Colon-Semenza; T. R. DeAngelis; O. G. Gallardo; H. Kosakowski; J. Martello; S. Pradhan; M. Rafferty; J. L. Readinger; A. L. Whitt; T. D. Ellis · Phys Ther · 2022Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1093/ptj/pzab302
- 19DOI ↗Intensity of task-specific training for functional ability post-stroke: Systematic review and meta-analysisR. Ibrahim; A. Abdullahi; A. T. Salihu; I. U. Lawal · Clin Rehabil · 2025Meta-analysisdoi:10.1177/02692155251351906
- 20DOI ↗A Core Set of Outcome Measures for Adults With Neurologic Conditions Undergoing Rehabilitation: A CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINEJ. L. Moore; K. Potter; K. Blankshain; S. L. Kaplan; L. C. OʼDwyer; J. E. Sullivan · J Neurol Phys Ther · 2018Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1097/NPT.0000000000000229
- 21DOI ↗Effectiveness of Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisJ. H. Lee; G. Kim · J Clin Med · 2025Meta-analysisdoi:10.3390/jcm14134809
- 22DOI ↗Selecting relevant and feasible measurement instruments for the revised Dutch clinical practice guideline for physical therapy in patients after strokeN. Otterman; J. Veerbeek; S. Schiemanck; P. van der Wees; F. Nollet; G. Kwakkel · Disabil Rehabil · 2017Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1080/09638288.2016.1196399
- 23DOI ↗Comparative efficacy of robotic exoskeleton and conventional gait training in patients with spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsS. Liu; F. Chen; J. Yin; G. Wang; L. Yang · J Neuroeng Rehabil · 2025Meta-analysisdoi:10.1186/s12984-025-01649-1
- 24DOI ↗Vestibular Rehabilitation for Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline: FROM THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION NEUROLOGY SECTIONC. D. Hall; S. J. Herdman; S. L. Whitney; S. P. Cass; R. A. Clendaniel; T. D. Fife; J. M. Furman; T. S. Getchius; J. A. Goebel; N. T. Shepard; S. N. Woodhouse · J Neurol Phys Ther · 2016Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1097/NPT.0000000000000120
- 25DOI ↗The Effectiveness of Therapeutic Exercise Interventions With Virtual Reality on Balance and Walking Among Persons With Chronic Stroke: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression of Randomized Controlled TrialsM. Krohn; A. Rintala; J. Immonen; T. Sjögren · J Med Internet Res · 2024Meta-analysisdoi:10.2196/59136
- 26DOI ↗Validation of extended international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) core set for stroke in post-acute stroke rehabilitation using FIM ScoringR. Abbas; A. N. Malik; H. Gul · J Pak Med Assoc · 2025Cross-sectionaldoi:10.47391/JPMA.20659
- 27DOI ↗High-intensity locomotor training during inpatient rehabilitation improves the discharge ambulation function of patients with stroke. A systematic review with meta-analysisA. Tapp; D. Griswold; D. Dray; N. Landgraff; K. Learman · Top Stroke Rehabil · 2024Meta-analysisdoi:10.1080/10749357.2024.2304960
- 28DOI ↗Connecting Practice to Data: Implementation Strategies to Increase Collection of Core Outcome Measures in an Inpatient Rehabilitation FacilityS. Zalanowski; E. Riley; A. Spaulding; E. Hansen; D. Clooney; C. Modoono; E. Evans · J Head Trauma Rehabil · 2024doi:10.1097/HTR.0000000000000987
- 29DOI ↗Efficacy of robot-assisted gait training on lower extremity function in subacute stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysisM. M. Hu; S. Wang; C. Q. Wu; K. P. Li; Z. H. Geng; G. H. Xu; L. Dong · J Neuroeng Rehabil · 2024Meta-analysisdoi:10.1186/s12984-024-01463-1
- 30DOI ↗How robot-assisted gait training affects gait ability, balance and kinematic parameters after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysisS. Chen; W. Zhang; D. Wang; Z. Chen · Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · 2024Meta-analysisdoi:10.23736/S1973-9087.24.08354-0
- 31DOI ↗Artificial Intelligence machine learning and conventional physical therapy for upper limb outcome in patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysisH. Mahmoud; F. Aljaldi; A. El-Fiky; K. Battecha; A. Thabet; M. Alayat; E. Abd Elkafy; A. Ebid; A. Ibrahim · Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci · 2023Meta-analysisdoi:10.26355/eurrev_202306_32598
- 32DOI ↗Effectiveness of the physiotherapy interventions on complex regional pain syndrome in patients with stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysisKanika; M. Goyal; K. Goyal · J Bodyw Mov Ther · 2023Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.040
- 33DOI ↗Bobath therapy is inferior to task-specific training and not superior to other interventions in improving arm activity and arm strength outcomes after stroke: a systematic reviewS. Dorsch; C. Carling; Z. Cao; E. Fanayan; P. L. Graham; A. McCluskey; K. Schurr; K. Scrivener; S. Tyson · J Physiother · 2023Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.jphys.2022.11.008
- 34DOI ↗Impact of Active Physiotherapy on Physical Activity Level in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisS. Goncalves; M. Le Bourvellec; S. Mandigout; N. C. Duclos · Stroke · 2023Meta-analysisdoi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.043629
- 35DOI ↗Effects of physical therapy-based rehabilitation on recovery of upper limb motor function after stroke in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsJ. Huang; J. R. Ji; C. Liang; Y. Z. Zhang; H. C. Sun; Y. H. Yan; X. B. Xing · Ann Palliat Med · 2022Meta-analysisdoi:10.21037/apm-21-3710
- 36DOI ↗Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation-Based Physical Therapy on the Improvement of Balance and Gait in Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisP. T. Nguyen; L. W. Chou; Y. L. Hsieh · Life (Basel) · 2022Meta-analysisdoi:10.3390/life12060882
- 37DOI ↗Functional electrical stimulation of the peroneal nerve improves post-stroke gait speed when combined with physiotherapy. A systematic review and meta-analysisM. Jaqueline da Cunha; K. D. Rech; A. P. Salazar; A. S. Pagnussat · Ann Phys Rehabil Med · 2021Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.rehab.2020.03.012
- 38DOI ↗Effectiveness of an ankle-foot orthosis on walking in patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysisY. J. Choo; M. C. Chang · Sci Rep · 2021Meta-analysisdoi:10.1038/s41598-021-95449-x
- 39DOI ↗Core Stability Exercises in Addition to Usual Care Physiotherapy Improve Stability and Balance After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisK. Gamble; A. Chiu; C. Peiris · Arch Phys Med Rehabil · 2021Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.apmr.2020.09.388
- 40DOI ↗Effects of robotic gait training after stroke: A meta-analysisG. Moucheboeuf; R. Griffier; D. Gasq; B. Glize; L. Bouyer; P. Dehail; H. Cassoudesalle · Ann Phys Rehabil Med · 2020Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.rehab.2020.02.008
- 41DOI ↗Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training for Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Muscle Strength, and Walking Capacity after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisJ. Lee; A. J. Stone · J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · 2020Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2019.104498
- 42DOI ↗Bobath therapy is inferior to task-specific training and not superior to other interventions in improving lower limb activities after stroke: a systematic reviewK. Scrivener; S. Dorsch; A. McCluskey; K. Schurr; P. L. Graham; Z. Cao; R. Shepherd; S. Tyson · J Physiother · 2020Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.jphys.2020.09.008
- 43DOI ↗The Improvement of Walking Ability Following StrokeJ. Mehrholz; M. Pohl; J. Kugler; B. Elsner · Dtsch Arztebl Int · 2018Meta-analysisdoi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0639
- 44DOI ↗Treadmill training and body weight support for walking after strokeJ. Mehrholz; S. Thomas; B. Elsner · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2017Meta-analysisdoi:10.1002/14651858.CD002840.pub4
- 45DOI ↗Robot-assisted gait training (Lokomat) improves walking function and activity in people with spinal cord injury: a systematic reviewK. Y. Nam; H. J. Kim; B. S. Kwon; J. W. Park; H. J. Lee; A. Yoo · J Neuroeng Rehabil · 2017Meta-analysisdoi:10.1186/s12984-017-0232-3