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Health, Musculoskeletal Pain, Neurological and Respiratory Pathology, Based on Rehabilitation

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 12 July 2024 | Viewed by 14287

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Ávila, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Interests: musculoskeletal disorders; neurological pathology; respiratory pathology

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Ávila, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Interests: musculoskeletal disorders; sports medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neurological injuries lead to a decrease in the quality of life of the people who suffer from them, influencing their health, psychosocial environment and activities of daily living. Likewise, respiratory pathology is currently one of the most common reasons for consultation in physiotherapeutic approaches, given the pandemic situation due to COVID-19 and its sequelae, with secondary effects such as neurological, respiratory and even musculoskeletal injuries. Musculoskeletal injuries are increasing rapidly due to increased participation in sports and recreational activities, as well as the growth and ageing of the population.

Today, advances in physiotherapy provide patients with a better quality of life by addressing their health demands. The rehabilitation of these injuries is essential to recover capacities, functions and autonomy after a musculoskeletal, respiratory or neurological injury.

In this Special Issue, we are pleased to invite researchers in health, especially neurological rehabilitation, cardio-respiratory, musculoskeletal and orthopedic disorders, to submit high-quality clinical cases, clinical trials or reviews related to the topics of these research areas.

Dr. Zacarías Sánchez Milá
Dr. Jorge Velázquez-Saornil
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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2500 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

  • health
  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • neurological pathology
  • respiratory pathology
  • pain
  • rehabilitation
  • treatment

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1286 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Single and Combined Treatment with Exercise Therapy and Collagen Supplementation on Early Knee Arthritis among Athletes—A Quasi-Randomized Trial
by Dias Tina Thomas, Ashish John Prabhakar, Charu Eapen, Vivek D. Patel, Vijayakumar Palaniswamy, Molly Cynthia Dsouza, Shruthi R and Yogeesh Dattakumar Kamat
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(23), 7088; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20237088 - 21 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1698
Abstract
Athletic injuries are commonly implicated in the development of early osteoarthritic (EOA) changes in the knee. These changes have a significant impact on athletic performance, and therefore the early detection of EOA is paramount. The objective of the study is to assess the [...] Read more.
Athletic injuries are commonly implicated in the development of early osteoarthritic (EOA) changes in the knee. These changes have a significant impact on athletic performance, and therefore the early detection of EOA is paramount. The objective of the study is to assess the impact of different interventions on individuals with EOA, particularly focusing on recreational athletes. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of three treatment groups in improving various aspects related to knee EOA, including pain, range of motion, strength, and function. A study was undertaken with 48 recreational athletes with EOA who were assigned to one of three groups by the referring orthopedic surgeon: collagen (Col), exercise (Ex), or collagen and exercise (ColEx) groups. All the participants received their respective group-based intervention for 12 weeks. Visual analog scale (VAS), knee flexion range of motion (ROM) knee flexors and extensors strength, and KOOS were assessed at baseline, and after 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of intervention. VAS for activity improved in all treatment groups, with no difference between groups. The between-group analysis for knee ROM revealed a significant difference (p = 0.022) in the Col vs. Ex group at 12 weeks. The knee flexor and extensor strength and the KOOS scores improved considerably in the Ex and the ColEx group (p < 0.05) at 12 weeks. Exercise therapy improved pain, strength and function in subjects with EOA, whereas the association of collagen seems to have accentuated the effects of exercise in bringing about clinical improvements. Full article
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13 pages, 1564 KiB  
Article
Immediate Effect Evaluation of a Robotic Ankle–Foot Orthosis with Customized Algorithm for a Foot Drop Patient: A Quantitative and Qualitative Case Report
by Dimas Adiputra, Ully Asfari, Ubaidillah, Mohd Azizi Abdul Rahman and Ahmad Mukifza Harun
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3745; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043745 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2917
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the immediate effect of a robotic ankle–foot orthosis developed in previous studies on a foot drop patient. The difference with previous research on AFO evaluation is that this research used a setting based on the patient’s request. The [...] Read more.
This study aims to evaluate the immediate effect of a robotic ankle–foot orthosis developed in previous studies on a foot drop patient. The difference with previous research on AFO evaluation is that this research used a setting based on the patient’s request. The robotic AFO locked the foot position on zero radians during the foot flat until the push-off but generates dorsiflexion with a constant velocity in the swing phase to clear the foot drop. A kinematic and spatiotemporal parameter was observed using the sensors available on the robotic AFO. The robotic successfully assisted the foot drop (positive ankle position of 21.77 degrees during the swing phase and initial contact) with good repeatability (σ2 = 0.001). An interview has also conducted to investigate the qualitative response of the patient. The interview result reveals not only the usefulness of the robotic AFO in assisting the foot drop but also some improvement notes for future studies. For instance, the necessary improvement of weight and balance and employing ankle velocity references for controlling the walking gait throughout the whole gait cycle. Full article
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9 pages, 591 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Epidemiological Data of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Patients in Relation to Disease Severity—A Retrospective Single-Center Study
by Julian Diepold, Christian Deininger, Berndt-Christian Von Amelunxen, Amelie Deluca, Paul Siegert, Thomas Freude and Florian Wichlas
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 946; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20020946 - 04 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1471
Abstract
A retrospective data analysis of 159 complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients (n = 116 women, 73.0%, mean age 60.9 ± 14.4 years; n = 43 men, 27.0%, mean age 52.3 ± 16.7 years) was performed from 2009 to 2020. The right side [...] Read more.
A retrospective data analysis of 159 complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients (n = 116 women, 73.0%, mean age 60.9 ± 14.4 years; n = 43 men, 27.0%, mean age 52.3 ± 16.7 years) was performed from 2009 to 2020. The right side was affected in 74 patients (46.5%), the left in 84 patients (52.8%), and 1 patient (0.7%) developed a bilateral CRPS. Data were analyzed for the frequency and distribution of symptoms. The number of reduction maneuvers and the number of Budapest criteria were compared in relation to the severity of CRPS. Hand and wrist (n = 107, 67.3%), followed by foot and ankle (n = 36, 22.6%) and other locations (n = 16, 10.1%) were mainly affected by CRPS. The main causes included direct trauma (n = 120, 75.5%), surgery without previous trauma (n = 25, 15.7%), other causes (n = 9, 5.7%), and spontaneous development (n = 3, 1.9%); there was also missing documentation (n = 2, 1.3%). The most common symptoms were difference in temperature (n = 156, 98.1%), limitation of movement (n = 149, 93.7%), and swelling (n = 146, 91.8%). There was no correlation between the number of reduction maneuvers and the number of Budapest criteria. In summary, patients with the following constellation are at increased risk of CRPS: a female, over 60 years old, who has fallen and has sustained a fracture in the hand or wrist with persistent pain and has been immobilized with a cast for approx. 4 weeks. Full article
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11 pages, 1355 KiB  
Article
Test of the Rehabilitation Goal Screening (ReGoS) Tool to Support Decision Making and Goal Setting in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Practice
by Christoph Gutenbrunner, Christoph Korallus, Christoph Egen, Joerg Schiller, Christian Sturm, Lidia Teixido, Isabelle Eckhardt and Andrea Boekel
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315562 - 23 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1276
Abstract
Background: It has already been shown that it is feasible to use International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Sets as self-assessment instruments. We used this idea to design an ICF-based screening tool to assess patients of a broadly based rehabilitation department. [...] Read more.
Background: It has already been shown that it is feasible to use International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Sets as self-assessment instruments. We used this idea to design an ICF-based screening tool to assess patients of a broadly based rehabilitation department. It was developed for the purpose of having a screening tool before taking the anamnesis, as well as for rehabilitation planning and follow-up. Methods and Materials: The Rehabilitation Goal Screening (ReGoS) instrument is a self-report questionnaire which was developed based on the most relevant domains from the ICF Core Sets for chronic pain and rehabilitation. The ICF categories were translated into plain language and 0–10 Likert scales were used. A retrospective analysis of routine clinical data using the ReGoS tool, Work Ability Index (WAI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in paper- or tablet-based form was performed. Results: The average age of the N = 1.008 respondents was 53.9 years (SD = 16.2). Of the respondents, 66% (n = 665) were female. At the time of the survey, 48.3% (n = 487) of the patients were employed. ReGoS results demonstrated that the highest restrictions on a scale from 0 to 10 were found in the areas of energy and drive (M = 5.79, SD = 2.575) and activities of daily living (M = 5.54, SD = 2.778). More than a third of the respondents rated their work ability as critical. Conclusion: The use of the ReGoS instrument as an ICF-based screening tool based on a self-report questionnaire provides relevant information for clinical diagnosis, participative goal setting and a detailed functional capacity profile. Full article
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14 pages, 943 KiB  
Article
Cost-Effective Healthcare in Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy for Total Endoprosthesis Surgeries from Prehabilitation to Function Restoration
by Tünde Szilágyiné Lakatos, Balázs Lukács and Ilona Veres-Balajti
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15067; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215067 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1710
Abstract
Knee and hip joint replacements for the elderly are increasingly placing a burden on healthcare. Our aim was to verify the efficiency of the prehabilitation program among patients with knee arthroplasty (TKA) and hip arthroplasty (THA), taking into account the length and cost [...] Read more.
Knee and hip joint replacements for the elderly are increasingly placing a burden on healthcare. Our aim was to verify the efficiency of the prehabilitation program among patients with knee arthroplasty (TKA) and hip arthroplasty (THA), taking into account the length and cost of postoperative rehabilitation and the restoration of function. We introduced a two-week preoperative physiotherapy program for patients awaiting knee and hip replacement surgery. We measured the duration and costs of the hospital stays, the active and passive range of motion of the hip and knee joints, and the quality of life. In the study, 99 patients participated (31 male, 68 female), with a mean age of 69.44 ± 9.69 years. We showed that, as a result of the prehabilitation program, the length of postoperative hospital stay decreased (THA: median 31.5 (IQR 26.5–32.5) vs. median 28 (IQR 21–28.5), TKA: median 36.5 (IQR 28–42) vs. median 29 (IQR 26–32.5)), and the patients’ quality of life showed a significant improvement (TKA: median 30.5 (IQR 30–35) vs. median 35 (IQR 33–35), THA: median 25 (IQR 25–30) vs. median 33 (IQR 31.5–35)). The flexion movements were significantly improved through prehabilitation in both groups. Based on our positive results, we recommend the introduction of prehabilitation into TKA- and THA-related care. Full article
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9 pages, 3116 KiB  
Article
Effect of Dry Needling Treatment on Tibial Musculature in Combination with Neurorehabilitation Treatment in Stroke Patients: Randomized Clinical Study
by Zacarías Sánchez Milá, Jorge Velázquez Saornil, Angélica Campón Chekroun, José Manuel Barragán Casas, Raúl Frutos Llanes, Arantxa Castrillo Calvillo, Cristina López Pascua and David Rodríguez Sanz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12302; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912302 - 28 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3165
Abstract
(1) Background: Introducing ultrasound-guided dry needling to neurorehabilitation treatments increases the beneficial effects of therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of including an ultrasound-guided dry needling session in neurorehabilitation treatment on spasticity and gait–balance quality versus neurorehabilitation treatment [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Introducing ultrasound-guided dry needling to neurorehabilitation treatments increases the beneficial effects of therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of including an ultrasound-guided dry needling session in neurorehabilitation treatment on spasticity and gait–balance quality versus neurorehabilitation treatment in subjects who had suffered a stroke. (2) Methods: A single-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted. Thirty-six patients who had suffered a stroke in the right middle cerebral artery signed the informed consent for participation in the study. Twenty patients finally participated and were randomly assigned to the control group (neurorehabilitation treatment) or experimental group (neurorehabilitation treatment plus ultrasound-guided dry needling). Pre-treatment and post-treatment data were collected on the same day. The experimental group (n = 10) first underwent an ultrasound-guided dry needling intervention on the tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior musculature, followed by neurorehabilitation treatment; the control group (n = 10) underwent their corresponding neurorehabilitation without the invasive technique. Pre-treatment and post-treatment measurements were taken on the same day, assessing the quality of balance–gait using the “Up and Go” test and the degree of spasticity using the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale. (3) Results: The patients who received neurorehabilitation treatment plus ultrasound-guided dry needling showed a greater decrease in spasticity in the tibial musculature after the neurorehabilitation treatment session (p < 0.001), improving balance and gait (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: An ultrasound-guided dry needling session combined with neurorehabilitation treatment reduced spasticity and improved balance and gait in stroke patients. Full article
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Review

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9 pages, 331 KiB  
Review
Physical Rehabilitation of Motor Functional Neurological Disorders: A Narrative Review
by Ayelet N. Kelmanson, Leonid Kalichman and Iuly Treger
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(10), 5793; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105793 - 11 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2009
Abstract
Functional Neurological Disorders (FNDs) are one of the most common and disabling neurological disorders, affecting approximately 10–30% of patients in neurology clinics. FNDs manifest as a range of motor, sensory, and cognitive symptoms that are not explained by organic disease. This narrative review [...] Read more.
Functional Neurological Disorders (FNDs) are one of the most common and disabling neurological disorders, affecting approximately 10–30% of patients in neurology clinics. FNDs manifest as a range of motor, sensory, and cognitive symptoms that are not explained by organic disease. This narrative review aims to assess the current state of knowledge in physical-based rehabilitation for motor/movement FNDs in the adult population, with the goal of improving research and medical care for this patient population. To ensure optimal outcomes for patients, it is critical to consider several domains pertaining to FNDs, including which field of discipline they should belong to, how to investigate and test, methods for rating outcome measures, and optimal courses of treatment. In the past, FNDs were primarily treated with psychiatric and psychological interventions. However, recent literature supports the inclusion of physical rehabilitation in the treatment of FNDs. Specifically, physical-based approaches tailored to FNDs have shown promising results. This review utilized a comprehensive search of multiple databases and inclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. Full article
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