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Novel Approaches of Physical Therapy-Based Rehabilitation

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 250

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Physiotherapy and Center for Rehabilitation Research (CIR), School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: physical therapy; rehabilitation; integumentary physical therapy; electrotherapy

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Guest Editor
Department of Physiotherapy and Center for Rehabilitation Research (CIR), School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: biomechanics; rehabilitation; human movement; postural control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on innovative and novel approaches in the field of physical therapy that improve rehabilitation outcomes for diverse populations. This Special Issue aims to bring together the cutting-edge research, clinical innovations, and evidence-based practices that are redefining the field of physical therapy and rehabilitation sciences.

In the face of evolving patient needs and advances in technology, physical therapy is entering a new era marked by interdisciplinary approaches, precision interventions, and digital health integration. This Special Issue seeks to highlight these novel strategies and foster knowledge exchange across research, clinical, and academic communities.

We invite submissions on the following topics:

  • Innovative therapeutic techniques in musculoskeletal, neurological, integumentary and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation;
  • Integration of digital tools and tele-rehabilitation;
  • Robotics and exoskeletons in physical therapy;
  • Virtual reality, gamification, and immersive rehabilitation technologies;
  • Patient-centered care models and personalized rehabilitation plans;
  • Early intervention strategies and prevention-based approaches;
  • Outcome measures and assessment tools for novel interventions;
  • Interdisciplinary and community-based rehabilitation programs;
  • Evidence-based updates on manual therapy and functional training;
  • Education and training innovations for physical therapy professionals.

Prof. Dr. Andreia Noites
Prof. Dr. Andreia S. P. Sousa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical therapy
  • rehabilitation
  • integumentary physical therapy
  • electrotherapy
  • biomechanics
  • rehabilitation
  • human movement
  • postural control

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of an Intervention Program for Informal Carers of Children Admitted to a Rehabilitation Centre
by Sónia Morais, Rui Esteves Pimenta, Carminda Morais, Rui Macedo, Inês Ribeiro and Pedro Lopes Ferreira
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8544; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158544 (registering DOI) - 31 Jul 2025
Abstract
Health literacy improves informal caregivers’ knowledge and ability to provide care. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of a group-based intervention on the health literacy of informal caregivers of children with special health needs (SHNs). The intervention focuses on [...] Read more.
Health literacy improves informal caregivers’ knowledge and ability to provide care. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of a group-based intervention on the health literacy of informal caregivers of children with special health needs (SHNs). The intervention focuses on movement, hydrotherapy, walking, and relaxation, with three evaluation stages. Participants included 34 informal caregivers of children with SHNs, recruited at a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. We collected sociodemographic data of the participants and measured their health literacy through the short-form version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16). Around 70% of the participants were female, with a mean age of 41.06 ± 4.98 years, and nearly 85% were married or in a de facto union. About 26% were unemployed, and more than 65% had completed secondary education or higher. The mean scores of the HLS-EU-Q16 were statistically significantly higher throughout the intervention, with differences over the evaluation stages [F(2,56) = 75.55; p < 0.05]. A structured, dynamic, and group-based intervention plan showed improvements in the health literacy of the participants, with an increase in the percentage of participants with sufficient and excellent levels of health literacy at the end of the intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches of Physical Therapy-Based Rehabilitation)
17 pages, 876 KiB  
Article
Feasibility and Perceptions of Telerehabilitation Using Serious Games for Children with Disabilities in War-Affected Ukraine
by Anna Kushnir, Oleh Kachmar and Bruno Bonnechère
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8526; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158526 (registering DOI) - 31 Jul 2025
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using serious games for the (tele)rehabilitation of children with disabilities affected by the Ukrainian war. Additionally, it provides requirements for technologies that can be used in war-affected areas. Structured interviews and Likert scale assessments were [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using serious games for the (tele)rehabilitation of children with disabilities affected by the Ukrainian war. Additionally, it provides requirements for technologies that can be used in war-affected areas. Structured interviews and Likert scale assessments were conducted on-site and remotely with patients of the tertiary care facility in Ukraine. All participants used the telerehabilitation platform for motor and cognitive training. Nine serious games were employed, involving trunk tilts, upper limb movements, and head control. By mid-September 2023, 186 positive user experiences were evident, with 89% expressing interest in continued engagement. The platform’s accessibility, affordability, and therapeutic benefits were highlighted. The recommendations from user feedback informed potential enhancements, showcasing the platform’s potential to provide uninterrupted rehabilitation care amid conflict-related challenges. This study suggests that serious games solutions that suit the sociopolitical and economic context offer a promising solution to rehabilitation challenges in conflict zones. The positive user experiences towards using the platform with serious games indicate its potential in emergency healthcare provision. The findings emphasize the role of technology, particularly serious gaming, in mitigating the impact of armed conflicts on children’s well-being, thereby contributing valuable insights to healthcare strategies in conflict-affected regions. Requirements for technologies tailored to the context of challenging settings were defined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches of Physical Therapy-Based Rehabilitation)
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