Can Movement Really Rewire the Brain?

Neuroplasticity is real—and it’s helping patients regain what they thought was lost. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Nupur Hajela shares her inspiring journey as a neuroscientist and physical therapist working at the forefront of neurorehabilitation. She explores the power of movement, neuroplasticity, and innovative technologies like transcranial magnetic stimulation and virtual reality to help stroke patients and those with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s.

Dr. Nupur Hajela is a licensed physical therapist, neuroscientist, and professor at California State University, Fresno, where she teaches neurological evaluation and management for future doctors of physical therapy. She also serves as Director of Rehabilitation Technologies and Outcome Research at the Central California Sports Science Institute. With expertise in neuroplasticity, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and immersive virtual reality, her work bridges clinical practice and cutting-edge research to help patients with stroke, neurological diseases, and traumatic brain injury regain function and hope.

A gold medalist in physiotherapy from India with a doctorate in rehabilitation neuroscience from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Hajela completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where she advanced brain stimulation research. Today, she is pioneering neuro-gaming applications for veterans and athletes with concussions and leading initiatives like Fresno’s Innovation Village to expand digital healthcare access. Her mission is to combine technology with human connection to transform neurorehabilitation for underserved communities.

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Dr. Nupur Hajela

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nupur-hajela-pt-dpt-phd-3a241327/

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Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamynds.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://palamedicine.com/⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Too Curious MDs

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Produced by DrTalks:  https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/