Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Sports

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1705

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Interests: muscle pain; trigger points; myofascial pain; manual therapy; exercise therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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

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

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 Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, significant advances have been made in the fields of physical therapy and rehabilitation. Despite this progress, diagnostic algorithms and decision-making processes remain unclear in many clinical situations. It is essential to continue the scientific development of clinical resources for healthcare professionals in physical therapy and exercise-based rehabilitation, as well as to investigate their short-, medium-, and especially long-term effects. The goal is to generate essential resources for daily clinical practice and to further advance health science professions.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish the most current and innovative scientific evidence in the field of physical therapy and rehabilitation, encompassing both interventional and observational studies. In this context, all types of systematic reviews and clinical trials are welcome, as well as other cross-sectional study designs, provided that the applied methodologies are sufficiently robust and the topics align with the scope of the Special Issue.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses;
  • Validation studies related to physical therapy and rehabilitation in sports;
  • Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy or the effectiveness of non-surgical interventions in sports medicine;
  • Pilot and feasibility studies;
  • Diagnostic studies;
  • Cross-sectional, cohort, or case–control studies;
  • Validation and reliability studies;
  • Pertinent clinical reports or case series.

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

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Keywords

  • physical therapies
  • rehabilitation
  • exercise
  • exercise medicine
  • resistance training
  • aerobic training
  • prevention
  • muscle injuries
  • tendinopathies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 505 KiB  
Article
The Influence of the Menstrual Cycle on Electrical Thresholds for Sensory and Pain Perception: Implications for Exercise and Rehabilitation in Women With and Without Primary Dysmenorrhea—A Pilot Study
by Ana Cristina Morales-Lalaguna, Izarbe Ríos-Asín, Pilar Pardos-Aguilella, Jorge Pérez-Rey, Elena Estébanez-de-Miguel and Miguel Malo-Urriés
Healthcare 2025, 13(11), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111240 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 832
Abstract
Background: Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle (MC) influence pain perception, potentially affecting exercise performance and rehabilitation in women. This effect may be more pronounced in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea (PD), requiring tailored physiotherapeutic and exercise interventions. Objective: To analyze the [...] Read more.
Background: Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle (MC) influence pain perception, potentially affecting exercise performance and rehabilitation in women. This effect may be more pronounced in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea (PD), requiring tailored physiotherapeutic and exercise interventions. Objective: To analyze the influence of MC phases on sensory electrical threshold (SET) and pain electrical threshold (PET) in eumenorrheic women with and without PD, considering the potential implications for physical activity and rehabilitation. Methods: An observational longitudinal study was conducted with 34 physically active women, divided into a control group (CG) and a PD group. SET and PET were measured using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at the forearm (peripheral site) and lower abdomen (pain-referred site) across five MC phases. Pain intensity was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: SET and PET were significantly lower in the premenstrual phase (p < 0.001), suggesting increased pain sensitivity. VAS scores were higher in the PD group during all phases, except for the follicular phase (p < 0.033), with the highest pain levels recorded in the menstrual and premenstrual phases. While no significant differences in SET and PET were found between groups across most phases, the PD group exhibited a significantly higher SET in the forearm during the premenstrual phase (p = 0.005), potentially indicating altered central pain modulation. Conclusions: MC-related hormonal fluctuations affect pain sensitivity, particularly in women with PD. These findings underscore the need for phase-specific exercise adaptations and rehabilitation strategies to improve performance, pain management, and recovery in physically active women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Sports)
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12 pages, 493 KiB  
Article
Muscle Activation Differences Between CKCUEST and Modified CKCUEST: A Pilot Study
by Samuel Eloy Gutiérrez-Torre, Miguel Ángel Lozano-Melero, Maria Gómez-Jiménez and Daniel Manoso-Hernando
Healthcare 2025, 13(8), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080922 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 641
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The validity of shoulder orthopaedic tests to establish a diagnosis has recently been challenged. For this reason, functional tests, such as the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), have started to be used in clinical settings. The aim of this [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The validity of shoulder orthopaedic tests to establish a diagnosis has recently been challenged. For this reason, functional tests, such as the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), have started to be used in clinical settings. The aim of this study is to compare the electromyography (EMG) activity during the CKCUEST and the modified CKCUEST in a healthy adult population. Methods: Ten male (age: 26.6 ± 4.8) and ten female participants (age: 24.2 ± 6.0) were recruited from a university setting. The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the percentage of activation of the maximum voluntary contraction of the infraspinatus, anterior deltoid and upper trapezius, of both upper limbs, throughout the CKCUEST and modified CKCUEST were analysed. Results: The percentage of activation of the infraspinatus (p < 0.01), anterior deltoid (p < 0.01) and upper trapezius (p < 0.01) in both sides was significantly higher in the CKCUEST compared to the modified CKCUEST. No differences were observed between laterality and the activation percentage of the infraspinatus (p > 0.05), anterior deltoid (p > 0.05) and upper trapezius (p > 0.05) in both sides during the CKCUEST. Conclusions: The results of this research showed a higher percentage of EMG activation during the CKCUEST compared to the modified CKCUEST in all the muscular structures analysed, regardless of the participants’ hemibody. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Sports)
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