Akanksha Saxena

Scopus Publications

Commentary on “Six weeks to health: a promising low-cost educational intervention targeting physical fitness and healthy habits in children”: methodological and Statistical considerations
Himanshu Jaiswal, Akanksha Saxena
Sport Sciences for Health, 2026
The efficacy and safety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for comorbid chronic low back pain and insomnia
Abhishek Mandal, Akanksha Saxena, Ruchika
Journal of Pain, 2026
Letter to the Editor : Acute effects of flossing band application on hamstring muscle mechanical properties and stretch tolerance: a randomized controlled crossover trial
Sayani Das, Mandeep Kumar Jangra, Kanupriya Mehta, Akanksha Saxena
European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2026
Letter to the editor - Effectiveness of perception–interaction-enhanced rehabilitation in post-stroke recovery: A real-world propensity-matched cohort study
Tamanna Sharma, Mandeep Kumar Jangra, Akanksha Saxena
Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2026
Letter to the editor: Effects of NeuroReAlign therapy on cognition in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial
Abhay Sharma, Mandeep Kumar Jangra, Akanksha Saxena
Applied Neuropsychology Adult, 2026
To the Editor,We read with great interest the article by Alashram titled “Effects of NeuroReAlign therapy on cognition in patients with stroke: A randomized controlled trial” (Alashram, 2023). The ...
Nerve-Targeted Rehabilitation Approaches for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Akanksha Saxena, Kanika
Rehabilitation in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, 2025
Problems Associated with Persisting Primitive Reflexes in Healthy Schoolchildren: A Scoping Review
Yukta Sharma, Mandeep Kumar Jangra, Sukhpreet Kaur, Akanksha Saxena
Critical Reviews in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2025
Primitive reflexes are involuntary movements mediated by the brainstem. Integration of these reflexes, crucial for motor development, is regulated by the cortex and basal ganglia. Persistent primitive reflexes beyond the typical developmental period can indicate neurological issues affecting motor abilities, balance, coordination, and learning. We explore and compare research on persistence of primitive reflexes among healthy schoolchildren and its associated problems. Out of 3,988 articles published between 2004-2024 from PubMed, PEDro and Ovid-SP, 285 duplicates were removed. The remaining 3,614 articles were screened by titles and abstracts, leading to the removal of 3,551 articles. Following further analysis based on the selection criteria and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we selected nine papers for review. Persistent symmetrical tonic neck reflex (STNR) and asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) were linked to gait issues, lower motor efficiency, behavioral problems, pelvic tilt, reading difficulties (including clocks), and psychomotor inefficiency, while the spinal galant reflex was linked to trunk rotation and potential scoliosis. Persistent primitive reflexes disrupt neural pathways, affecting motor skills, cognitive function, balance, and coordination. Early identification and targeted therapeutic interventions are crucial to mitigate these adverse effects on child development.
Generation and content validation of physical and vocational rehabilitation in paraplegics: An interview guide
Akanksha Saxena, Manu Goyal, Asir John Samuel
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 2024
BACKGROUND: As the mainstay treatment for paraplegics is rehabilitation, patient satisfaction and experience are important predictors of the care being provided. To understand whether the current arrangements of rehabilitation services are sufficient to help an individual with paraplegia return to a productive life. Patient-centered interview guides to explore their rehabilitation experience are lacking, which calls for a generation of the same. OBJECTIVE: To generate and validate an interview guide (PVR-PIG), which aims at understanding and exploring the experience of physical and vocational rehabilitation for individuals with paraplegia. METHODS: After an extensive literature search, an initial 27-item interview guide was formulated under three domains: general experience and expectations from rehabilitation care; physical rehabilitation experience, barriers, and facilitators; and vocational rehabilitation. Later, it was sent for content validation to a multidisciplinary expert panel with prior experience in spinal cord injury (SCI) management. RESULTS: After suggestions were received from nine experts with an average of 14 years of experience in dealing with SCI, a 15-item interview guide was finalized, with a scale-level and item-level content validity index of 0.897 and 0.78–1, respectively. CONCLUSION: The generated interview guide (PVR-PIG) aimed to explore physical and vocational rehabilitation experiences in paraplegics was found to be valid.
Lived experiences of caregivers and survivors of paediatric spinal cord injury: A scoping review of qualitative studies
Akanksha Saxena, Asir John Samuel, Manjeet Singh
Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2024
CONTEXT Paediatric Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) has an impact on a child's dynamic development, disrupting their participation in school, community, and social relationships while simultaneously causing repercussions on their caregiver's life. The rare nature of paediatric SCI calls for a detailed inspection of the literature from the perspective of children and their caregivers. OBJECTIVE This scoping review of qualitative research determines the extent of literature from perspective of caregivers and individuals with paediatric SCI. METHODS 9351 full-text published articles were identified from CINAHL, Ovid, PubMed, and Scopus between 2001 and 2021. After duplicate deletion, 8354 articles were left, and 103 full-text articles were assessed for their eligibility. Finally, eight articles were assessed for their relevance. Key themes that emerged from the data were summarized, compared, and synthesized. RESULTS Six studies were from the perspectives of individuals with SCI and two from caregiver's perspective. Three major themes were identified from caregivers' opinion studies: "Obstacles to community participation"; "Unmet needs related to a child with SCI"; and "Radiating effect on caregivers' lives"; whereas five were obtained from individuals with paediatric SCI opinion studies: "Adjusting to life with SCI"; "Hardships & hardiness"; "Peers & family/emotional support"; "Perception of self & body-image post injury"; and "Transitioning into post-traumatic life". CONCLUSION There is a need for more specialized rehabilitation centers and an accessible environment in public spaces. Also, the review sheds some light on the discriminatory attitude of society as a whole, which can be improved by providing proper knowledge and awareness of SCI.
The level of perceived stress, burnout, self-efficacy, and coping strategies among physiotherapy academicians during the COVID-19 lockdown
Akanksha Saxena, Mandeep Kumar Jangra
Work, 2023
BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, academicians were juggling their personal and professional life amid lockdown while trying to deliver maximum knowledge through online classes. This chronic stress is emotionally draining and can eventually lead to burnout. OBJECTIVE: To examine the levels of perceived stress and burnout and examine the effects of self-efficacy and coping in reducing stress and preventing burnout in academicians during the COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: This survey included 63 physiotherapy academicians from various physiotherapy colleges in India. Assessments used to collect data were the Perceived Stress Scale, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. The data was collected through Google Forms and sent through an online mode via various social media apps. RESULTS: This study revealed that the majority of the physiotherapy academicians were experiencing moderate levels of stress eventually leading to burnout. Stress levels were higher in academicians with more than 10 years of experience. Also, self-efficacy and resilient coping were negatively correlated with perceived stress and burnout. CONCLUSION: Academicians experienced increasing amounts of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, if not addressed on time, can lead to job burnout.
COMMENTARY ON "COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF ROBOT-ASSISTED TRAINING VERSUS ENHANCED UPPER EXTREMITY THERAPY ON UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITY FOR STROKE SURVIVORS: A MULTICENTRE RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL"
Aastha Sharma, Sonali Kumari, Akanksha Saxena
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2023
Study Protocol titled as “Effectiveness of neural mobilization in improving the ankle ROM and plantar pressure distribution in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A single group, pre post, quasi experimental study protocol”
Madhu Goyat, Akanksha Saxena, Manu Goyal
Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, 2022
Effects of Dual Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy to Improve Upper-Limb Function After Stroke: A Double-Blinded, Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Rittu Sharma, Vencita Priyanka Aranha, Akanksha Saxena, Asir John Samuel
Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2022
Knowledge and awareness among physiotherapy students to combat COVID-19: A questionnaire based study
Mandeep Kumar Jangra, Akanksha Saxena, Praharsh Anurag
Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 2021
Effectiveness of Neurodynamic Mobilization versus Conventional Therapy on Spasticity Reduction and Upper Limb Function in Tetraplegic Patients
Akanksha Saxena, Stuti Sehgal, Mandeep Kumar Jangra
Asian Spine Journal, 2021
Significance of physiotherapy in "sARS-CoV-2/COVID-19: An Epidemic"
MandeepKumar Jangra, Akanksha Saxena
Annals of Thoracic Medicine, 2020