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Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in Modern Rehabilitation
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Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in Modern Rehabilitation

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 7 January 2027 | Viewed by 2106

Editors

Prof. Dr. Luis Ceballos-Laita

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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Interests: physiotherapy; therapeutic exercise; muscle pain; trigger points; myofascial pain; manual therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Sandra Jiménez-Del-Barrio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Interests: diacutaneous fibrolysis; carpal tunnel syndrome; peripheral neuropathies; neurodynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ricardo Medrano-De-La-Fuente

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Interests: physical therapy; pain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ignacio Hernando-Garijo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Interests: physical therapy; muscle pain
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 “Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in Modern Rehabilitation”. Physiotherapy and physical therapy play a central role in contemporary rehabilitation across a wide range of clinical conditions, including musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiorespiratory, and age-related disorders. Advances in assessment, therapeutic exercise, manual techniques, technology-assisted interventions, and patient-centered care models have expanded the scope and impact of rehabilitation practice within modern healthcare systems.

This Special Issue aims to highlight current evidence and emerging perspectives on physiotherapy and physical therapy in modern rehabilitation, focusing on clinical effectiveness, innovation, and integration into multidisciplinary healthcare pathways. The topic aligns with the scope of Healthcare by addressing rehabilitation practice, health services, clinical outcomes, prevention, and quality of life across diverse populations and care settings.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following: rehabilitation strategies across clinical populations; therapeutic exercise and physical modalities; manual therapy approaches; technology-based and digital rehabilitation; outcome measurement; patient-reported outcomes; interprofessional rehabilitation models; education, implementation, and healthcare policy.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Prof. Dr. Luis Ceballos-Laita
Prof. Dr. Sandra Jiménez-Del-Barrio
Dr. Ricardo Medrano-De-La-Fuente
Dr. Ignacio Hernando-Garijo
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare 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 2700 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
  • manual therapy
  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • chronic pain
  • physiotherapy
  • rehabilitation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 874 KB  
Article
Regional Analysis of the Structural Availability of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Services Funded by the National Health Insurance Fund for Patients with Rare Diseases in Bulgaria
by Evelina Razheva, Georgi Iskrov, Tsonka Miteva-Katrandzhieva and Rumen Stefanov
Healthcare 2026, 14(12), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121691 - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 243
Abstract
Background: Rare diseases are associated with chronic progression, functional impairment, and complex care needs, requiring long-term and coordinated rehabilitation. Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) plays a key role in maintaining functional capacity and improving quality of life; however, access to rehabilitation services remains [...] Read more.
Background: Rare diseases are associated with chronic progression, functional impairment, and complex care needs, requiring long-term and coordinated rehabilitation. Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) plays a key role in maintaining functional capacity and improving quality of life; however, access to rehabilitation services remains uneven across regions. Aim: This study aims to assess the regional structural availability of PRM services across Bulgaria and to identify territorial differences in the organizational profile of rehabilitation services that may influence the potential availability of rehabilitation care for patients with rare diseases. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using publicly available aggregated data from the NHIF and the National Statistical Institute as of 31 December 2024. Structural indicators included the number of outpatient and inpatient PRM healthcare facilities and PRM specialists, standardized per 100,000 population, as well as the outpatient-to-inpatient facility ratio (OFs/IFs). Hierarchical cluster analysis (Ward’s method, Euclidean distance) was applied as an exploratory tool to identify similarities in regional service availability profiles. Results: Substantial regional differences in the structural availability of PRM services were identified. Outpatient facilities ranged from 4.46 to 6.74 per 100,000 population, while inpatient facilities ranged from 2.30 to 3.42 per 100,000 population. The OFs/IFs ratio varied between 1.30 and 2.26, indicating different organizational profiles of PRM service provision. Exploratory hierarchical clustering suggested two broad regional service profiles: one characterized by a relatively balanced distribution of outpatient and inpatient structures and another characterized by a predominance of outpatient-oriented rehabilitation services. Conclusion: The findings reveal substantial regional differences in the organization of PRM services in Bulgaria. Regions with a predominance of outpatient structures may demonstrate different capacities for delivering comprehensive rehabilitation services, particularly for patients with complex long-term needs, including rare diseases. The results highlight the need for targeted regional planning, improved integration of rehabilitation services, and policy measures aimed at ensuring equitable access to care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in Modern Rehabilitation)
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19 pages, 2578 KB  
Article
Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS) as an Adjunct to a Multimodal Physical Therapy Program for Postoperative Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
by Mario J. Abril-Serván, Fernando García-Sanz, Adrián Cases-Sebastia, Jorge Rodríguez-Jiménez, Gracia María Gallego-Sendarrubias, Joshua A. Cleland and José L. Arias-Buría
Healthcare 2026, 14(11), 1471; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14111471 - 26 May 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 601
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is associated with postoperative pain and loss of function. Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) may serve as an effective adjunct to postoperative rehabilitation. This randomized clinical trial examined whether adding ultrasound-guided PENS to a multimodal rehabilitation program improves pain, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is associated with postoperative pain and loss of function. Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) may serve as an effective adjunct to postoperative rehabilitation. This randomized clinical trial examined whether adding ultrasound-guided PENS to a multimodal rehabilitation program improves pain, disability, pressure pain sensitivity, shoulder range of motion, and muscle strength in individuals with postoperative pain following shoulder arthroscopy. Methods: A randomized, parallel-group clinical trial (registry: NCT06331871) was conducted. Seventy patients who had undergone shoulder arthroscopy were randomized to receive manual therapy/exercise alone (n = 35) or manual therapy/exercise/PENS (n = 35). All participants received the multimodal program including manual therapy and exercises four weeks after surgery for a duration of 12 weeks (five sessions/week). Those allocated to the PENS group also received two sessions (once per week) of ultrasound-guided PENS targeting the suprascapular and axillary nerves. Pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)) and disability (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)) were the primary outcomes, whereas function (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)), pressure pain threshold (PPT), isometric strength, and shoulder range of motion (ROM) were secondary outcomes. Pain, PPT, strength, and ROM were assessed before and after treatment, and at 1 and 3 months. Disability and function were assessed at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Results: Patients receiving PENS showed greater improvements in shoulder pain (F2.72, 182.32 = 7.76, p = 0.007, η2p = 0.10), disability (F1, 68 = 5.63, p = 0.020, η2p = 0.08), function (F1, 68 = 4.15, p = 0.046, η2p = 0.02) and PPT over the infraspinatus muscle (F3.20, 217.28 = 2.93, p = 0.032, η2p = 0.04) than those receiving manual therapy/exercise alone. No between-group differences were observed for PPT at the deltoid or tibialis anterior muscles. The PENS group also showed greater improvements in some, but not all, measures of shoulder strength and range of motion; however, the effect sizes were small and the clinical relevance of these differences remains uncertain. Conclusions: Adding ultrasound-guided PENS targeting the suprascapular and axillary nerves to a multimodal physical therapy program resulted in greater improvements in pain, disability, and shoulder-specific function, with limited additional benefits for some measures of strength and range of motion, compared with physical therapy alone, in individuals with postoperative shoulder pain. However, many of the lower-bound estimates of the 95% confidence interval did not surpass the minimal clinically important difference. Therefore, the clinical relevance of the results should be considered with caution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in Modern Rehabilitation)
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13 pages, 373 KB  
Article
Factors Associated with Pain, Disability, and Quality of Life in Adults Aged 18–65 with Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain: A Single-Center Observational Study
by Nerea de Miguel-Hernando, Daniel Pecos-Martín, Rubén Cámara-Calmaestra, Daniel Rodríguez-Almagro, Agustín Aibar-Almazán, Samuel Fernández-Carnero, Alfonso Javier Ibáñez-Vera and Alexander Achalandabaso-Ochoa
Healthcare 2026, 14(8), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14081030 - 14 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 755
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Non-specific chronic neck pain is one of the biggest problems in the current population, with high levels of pain and disability and a decrease in the quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess possible variables that may [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Non-specific chronic neck pain is one of the biggest problems in the current population, with high levels of pain and disability and a decrease in the quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess possible variables that may be associated with neck pain, such as disability, pain, quality of life, sex, neck muscle endurance, active range of motion (AROM) and frequency of drug use. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of non-specific chronic neck pain with a total of 105 subjects. The variables pain-related disability, pain, quality of life, sex, AROM and frequency of drug use were evaluated. Results: A total of 105 patients with chronic neck pain were included (mean age 40.47 ± 12.18 years; 67.6% women). Neck pain–related disability showed significant negative correlations with all cervical AROM variables, particularly left rotation (r = −0.507) and right rotation (r = −0.489) (p < 0.001). Disability was also negatively correlated with health-related quality of life (r = −0.604) and positively correlated with pain intensity (r = 0.414) and frequency of drug consumption (r = 0.546) (p < 0.001). Regression analyses indicated that disability was associated with reduced left rotation mobility and higher drug consumption (R2 = 0.424). Pain intensity was associated with female sex, reduced right rotation mobility, and higher drug consumption (R2 = 0.246). Lower health-related quality of life was associated with higher drug consumption and female sex (R2 = 0.174). Conclusions: Being female, having a reduction in active rotational mobility, and a high frequency of drug consumption are associated with greater pain-related disability and pain intensity, and a lower HRQoL in subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in Modern Rehabilitation)
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