Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy: Second Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 6087

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
Interests: knee osteoarthritis; ergonomics; occupational health and safety; exoskeleton devices; work-related musculoskeletal disorders; physical fatigue; wearable sensors
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Guest Editor
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
Interests: spinal pain; ergonomics; work-related musculoskeletal disorders; physical fatigue; wearable sensors; aging
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Guest Editor
School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
Interests: biomechanical analysis; sports injuries; overuse injuries; spinal mobilization; ergonomics; posture; scoliosis; mobile application
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to direct your attention to a Special Issue of the international, scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal Healthcare entitled "Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy: Second Edition", for which we are Guest Editors.

As the population as a whole continues to get older, the number of patients who are affected by musculoskeletal disorders that either necessitate rehabilitation on their own or surgical intervention followed by further rehabilitation is expected to increase. There has been a rise in the requirement for rehabilitation, which has led to the development of improved rehabilitation technology. Despite this, surgeons and therapists do not always recognize the role that this technology plays or its effectiveness. The goal of rehabilitation in musculoskeletal disorders is to increase muscle strength, reduce pain and improve function. Recently, wearable sensing technology and robotics in rehabilitation have been developed and used to enable the quantification of these outcomes in three dimensions. Recent advancement in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders have a lot of potential to change the way patients with musculoskeletal disorders are monitored by tracking and sending clinical information in real time. Therefore, these technologies might improve patient monitoring, treatment outcome, and feedback.

We are pleased to invite you to this Special Issue, which aims to publish technical, empirical, and review papers that are both practical and theoretical contributions to cutting-edge advanced rehabilitation technology, as well as the latest research findings and practical interventions for improving the musculoskeletal health of a general population.

As such, this Special Issue focuses on all aspects of Advances in Rehabilitation and Therapy that contribute to improved musculoskeletal health. Suggested topics of interest are outlined below. This list is not exhaustive; therefore, feel free to be inventive!

  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Wearable sensing technology in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Robotics in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Biomechanical analysis of musculoskeletal disorders
  • Artificial intelligence in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Ergonomics
  • Application of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Sports injury and rehabilitation

Dr. Shahnawaz Anwer
Dr. Arnold Wong
Dr. Kandasamy Gok
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. 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

  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • wearable sensing technology in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • robotics in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • biomechanical analysis of musculoskeletal disorders
  • artificial intelligence in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • ergonomics
  • application of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • sports injury and rehabilitation

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 298 KiB  
Article
Prevalence of Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dentists—A Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal and Italy
by Alessandro Bracciale, Maria Conceição Manso, Francesca Bracciale and Liliana Gavinha Costa
Healthcare 2025, 13(9), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13091020 - 28 Apr 2025
Viewed by 131
Abstract
Objectives: A dentist may assume incorrect working positions throughout their professional career, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of self-reported MSDs in dentists and the body region most affected, as well as to evaluate [...] Read more.
Objectives: A dentist may assume incorrect working positions throughout their professional career, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of self-reported MSDs in dentists and the body region most affected, as well as to evaluate the most frequent working position, the area of work and the age group most frequently associated with MSDs. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study adhering to the STROBE and CHERRIES guidelines, approved by the local Ethics Committee. An online questionnaire (including the Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptoms Questionnaire) was applied to a convenience sample of Portuguese and Italian dentists. Data analysis was conducted with non-parametric comparisons (IBM© SPSS® Statistics vs. 28.0, p < 0.05). Results: A total of 341 dentists (170 Portuguese, 171 Italian) aged 18–75 years participated. The prevalence of self-reported MSDs in Portugal and Italy was 78.8% and 81.9%, respectively. The most affected self-reported MSD body regions were the neck (65.3% Portuguese and 61.4% Italian dentists), shoulder (49.4% Portuguese and 39.2% Italian) and lumbar region (52.4% and 39.2%, respectively). The neck region was the one reported to cause the highest work absenteeism. The higher age group (41–50 years and higher) has a higher risk for self-reported MSD. Multivariate analysis highlighted increased practice time as a significant risk factor for MSDs in the previous year in both countries. Age group, practice duration and work position relative to the patient were significantly linked to MSD occurrence and work avoidance. Conclusions: Dentists showed a high prevalence of self-reported MSD despite performing clinical activity mostly seated. It was concluded that dentists older than 40 years and those who have been working for more than 20 years have a higher risk of MSD, and that endodontics is the area where they report feeling more discomfort. Dentists should be encouraged to take more breaks between appointments and regular exercise to prevent the development/progression of MSDs. Full article
13 pages, 6656 KiB  
Article
Effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage with Mobilization and Myofascial Release on Muscle Activities during Dynamic Balance in Adults with Calf Muscle Shortening
by Se-Yeon Kim, Ki-Song Kim and Young-In Hwang
Healthcare 2024, 12(10), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12101038 - 17 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2308
Abstract
Mobilization with movement (MWM) and myofascial release (MFR) are treatment techniques that increase ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM). Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) facilitates waste drainage and improves soft tissue tension in peripheral tissues. To date, no studies have investigated how the combination [...] Read more.
Mobilization with movement (MWM) and myofascial release (MFR) are treatment techniques that increase ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM). Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) facilitates waste drainage and improves soft tissue tension in peripheral tissues. To date, no studies have investigated how the combination of MLD, MWM, and MFR influences the human body. The purpose of this study is to determine how the combination of MLD, MWM, and MFR affects DFROM and balance ability. We randomly assigned 16 individuals (26 feet) to one of three groups: MWM-MFR (MR), MWM-MLD (MD), or MWM-MFR-MLD (MRD) intervention. To confirm the intervention effect of each group, DFROM was assessed using a modified lunge test, and dynamic balance was measured using a modified star excursion balance test. In the results, differences were found between the MR and MRD groups in PL and mGCM activities in the 1 section (p = 0.008, p = 0.036) and between the MD and MRD groups in mGCM activity in the 4 and 5 sections (p = 0.049, p = 0.004). We suggest that the application of MRD is the most effective intervention for increasing muscle activation of the PL and mGCM during the modified star excursion balance test. Full article
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12 pages, 1334 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Accuracy of Upper Limb Movement in the Sagittal Plane among Computer Users during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Arkadiusz Jaskólski, Ewa Lucka, Mateusz Lucki and Przemysław Lisiński
Healthcare 2024, 12(3), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12030384 - 2 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1322
Abstract
(1) Background: The most common musculoskeletal pathology among healthcare professionals is neck and/or shoulder pain. The aim of this study was to determine the dominant upper limb functionality concerning the ability to replicate a given movement pattern among employees reporting neck or upper [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The most common musculoskeletal pathology among healthcare professionals is neck and/or shoulder pain. The aim of this study was to determine the dominant upper limb functionality concerning the ability to replicate a given movement pattern among employees reporting neck or upper limb pain while using a computer during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: The study was conducted from March to April 2021 on a group of 45 medical employees who used a computer workstation for 4 to 6 h of their working time. In the design of this study, three study groups were created: a group of patients with pain syndrome of segment C5/C7 of the spine, a group of patients with shoulder pain syndrome, and a control group of healthy volunteers. (3) Results: The examined groups significantly differed in the correctness of performing the given movement (p = 0.001) and the minimum value of inclination during the exercise session (p = 0.026), as well as the maximum lowering (p = 0.03) in relation to the control group. (4) Conclusions: The VECTIS device can be used to assess the accuracy of reflecting the prescribed movement of the upper limb in rehabilitation programs for patients with cervical spine pain syndrome and shoulder pain syndrome. Full article
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11 pages, 478 KiB  
Article
Musculoskeletal, Functional and Performance Impairment in Female Overhead Athletes with a Previous Shoulder Injury
by María Belén Alonso-Muñoz, Andrés Calvache-Mateo, Javier Martín-Núñez, Laura López-López, Alba Navas-Otero, Alejandro Heredia-Ciuró and Marie Carmen Valenza
Healthcare 2024, 12(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010021 - 21 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1487
Abstract
Background: Shoulder injuries are substantial problems in overhead athletes, and more studies are necessary to deepen the knowledge on this type of injury. The objective of this study was to compare the overall function and performance of female overhead athletes with and without [...] Read more.
Background: Shoulder injuries are substantial problems in overhead athletes, and more studies are necessary to deepen the knowledge on this type of injury. The objective of this study was to compare the overall function and performance of female overhead athletes with and without a previous history of shoulder injuries. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, female overhead athletes with and without a previous shoulder injury were included. Muscular impairment, the stability of the shoulder, strength, scapular dyskinesia, functionality and sports performance were evaluated. A total of 50 females were included. Results: There were significant differences in strength (p = 0.046) and stability (p = 0.039) between groups, with a poorer score in the group with a history of shoulder injury. Regarding scapular dyskinesia, significant differences were also observed between groups (p = 0.048), with higher levels of dyskinesia in the group with previous shoulder injury. Also, muscular impairment showed significant differences between groups for the three muscles evaluated (p < 0.005). Additionally, the group without a previous shoulder injury presented with a significantly greater score in functionality (p = 0.046) and sports performance (p = 0.004). Conclusion: In conclusion, previous shoulder injuries are an important factor to take into account in female overhead athletes. Players with a history of shoulder injury present clinical impairments during the game, leading to poorer functional status and performance in sport. Full article
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