New Approaches in Invasive and Non-Invasive Rehabilitation: From Basic Science to Clinical Intervention—Second Edition

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Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: ultrasound; invasive physiotherapy;neuromodulation; percutaneous electrolysis; anatomy
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Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC-Barcelona), C/Josep Trueta s/n, 08017 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
Interests: ultrasonography; physiotherapy; rehabilitation; physical therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue entitled "New Approaches in Invasive and Non-Invasive Rehabilitation: From Basic Science to Clinical Intervention—Second Edition". This Special Issue seeks to address the growing interest in innovative strategies within the field of rehabilitation and will cover both invasive and non-invasive techniques.

Recent years have witnessed a remarkable evolution in therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring function and enhancing tissue healing which has been driven by advances in basic science, imaging technology, and evidence-based clinical practice. From percutaneous interventions and electrotherapies to manual therapy and exercise-based programs, the integration of minimally invasive strategies has transformed the rehabilitation landscape.

This area of research is especially relevant in the context of musculoskeletal, neurological, and post-surgical rehabilitation, where early and effective interventions can significantly improve patient outcomes. By bridging the gap between laboratory findings and clinical applications, this Special Issue aims to stimulate a multidisciplinary dialogue and promote the development of effective, targeted, and patient-centered therapies.

This Special Issue aims to explore and disseminate novel and emerging approaches within invasive and non-invasive rehabilitation, with a special focus on translating findings from basic science into clinical practice. The goal is to enhance our understanding and the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies that support functional recovery, pain reduction, and tissue regeneration.

The subject of this Special Issue is fully aligned with the scope of this journal, as it includes the advancement of healthcare through innovative clinical research, translational studies, and novel therapeutic applications. By combining experimental, mechanistic, and clinical perspectives, this Special Issue will appeal to a broad readership including physiotherapists, physicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals involved in rehabilitation science.

We particularly encourage contributions that integrate biological mechanisms with clinical efficacy, bridging laboratory studies with patient-oriented care.

Original research articles and comprehensive reviews are welcome in this Special Issue. Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

  • Ultrasound-guided interventions in rehabilitation.
  • Invasive techniques such as dry needling, percutaneous electrolysis, or neuromodulation.
  • Manual therapy approaches and their clinical outcomes.
  • Exercise-based interventions for musculoskeletal or neurological recovery.
  • The integration of basic science into clinical rehabilitation protocols.
  • Minimally invasive surgical techniques and their rehabilitation implications.
  • Imaging and biomechanical analysis in therapeutic monitoring.
  • Translational models in clinical regenerative rehabilitation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz
Dr. Carlos López-de-Celis
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ultrasound
  • invasive techniques
  • manual therapy
  • exercise
  • minimally invasive surgery

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 1273 KiB  
Article
Safety and Anatomical Accuracy of Dry Needling of the Quadratus Femoris Muscle: A Cadaveric Study
by Marta Sánchez-Montoya, Jaime Almazán-Polo, Néstor Vallecillo Hernández, Charles Cotteret, Fabien Guerineau, Domingo de Guzman Monreal-Redondo and Ángel González-de-la-Flor
Healthcare 2025, 13(15), 1828; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151828 - 26 Jul 2025
Viewed by 97
Abstract
Introduction: Deep dry needling (DDN) is commonly applied in physiotherapy to treat musculoskeletal pain. The quadratus femoris (QF) muscle, located in the ischiofemoral space (IFS), represents a clinically relevant yet anatomically complex target. However, limited evidence exists on the safety, accuracy, and reliability [...] Read more.
Introduction: Deep dry needling (DDN) is commonly applied in physiotherapy to treat musculoskeletal pain. The quadratus femoris (QF) muscle, located in the ischiofemoral space (IFS), represents a clinically relevant yet anatomically complex target. However, limited evidence exists on the safety, accuracy, and reliability of non-ultrasound-guided DDN in this region. Aims: To assess the safety and accuracy of a standardized, non-ultrasound-guided DDN approach to the QF muscle, and to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of key procedural outcomes. Additionally, to determine the agreement between ultrasound imaging and anatomical dissection as validation methods for needle placement. Methods: An experimental cross-sectional study was conducted on five fresh cadavers (n = 24 approaches) by two physiotherapists with different DN experience. A standardized dry needling protocol was executed without ultrasound guidance, and anatomical and procedural variables were documented. Reliability (intra/inter-rater) was assessed for needle size, sciatic nerve (SN) puncture, IFS targeting, and overall success. In a subset, needle placement was validated through ultrasound and subsequent dissection. Results: The IFS was reached in 70.8% of procedures, and the SN was punctured in 16.7%. Inter-rater reliability for needle size was poor (κ = 0.04). Agreement between ultrasound and dissection was excellent for the ischiofemoral location and success (100%) and moderate for non SN puncture (90%; κ = 0.62). Conclusions: The standardized protocol demonstrated moderate accuracy and revealed a relevant clinical risk when targeting the quadratus femoris muscle. While inter-rater reliability was limited, agreement between ultrasound and dissection methods was high, supporting their complementary use for validating needle placement in anatomically complex procedures. Full article
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