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Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation
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Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation

A Special Issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383) belonging to the section "Clinical Rehabilitation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 5574

Editors

Dr. Inés Llamas Ramos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: pediatric development; neurology; healthy aging; physiotherapy; innovation; instruments's validation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rocío Llamas-Ramos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: pediatric development; neurology; healthy aging; physiotherapy; innovation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue, “Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation”, aims to present an updated and comprehensive perspective on the evolving role of physiotherapy within multidisciplinary practice. Its purpose is to gather high-quality scientific contributions that demonstrate how rigorous assessment methods, clinical reasoning, and personalized rehabilitation programs can improve patient outcomes and functional recovery.

This issue encourages the submission of studies that explore novel diagnostic approaches, innovative rehabilitation technologies, and integrative models of care applied to musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory conditions. It also welcomes research addressing preventive physiotherapy, chronic disease management, and the promotion of physical activity across the lifespan.

In addition, the issue seeks to foster discussion on emerging trends such as artificial intelligence and new approaches to physiotherapy. By linking assessment, intervention, and evaluation, this collection aims to strengthen the scientific foundation of physiotherapy practice, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and inspire new strategies that enhance both clinical effectiveness and patient experience.

Dr. Inés Llamas Ramos
Dr. Rocío Llamas-Ramos
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. Journal of Clinical Medicine 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 2600 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

  • clinical assessment
  • rehabilitation
  • clinical practice
  • patient-centered care
  • physiotherapy innovation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 436 KB  
Article
Examining the Effects of Dual and Single Task Exercises in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Sidrenur Aslan Kolukisa, Ferruh Taspinar and Betul Taspinar
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(7), 2761; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15072761 - 6 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 888
Abstract
Background: Complications developing in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) lead to functional impairments and losses in postural balance; however, changes in cognitive functions are also observed and are often overlooked. Dual-task exercises allow simultaneous engagement of balance and cognitive functions. [...] Read more.
Background: Complications developing in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) lead to functional impairments and losses in postural balance; however, changes in cognitive functions are also observed and are often overlooked. Dual-task exercises allow simultaneous engagement of balance and cognitive functions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of dual-task exercise training on cognitive functions, balance, and functional status in individuals with T2DM. Methods: In this study, 40 individuals diagnosed with T2DM were randomly assigned to three groups: the dual-task exercise group (DTEG, n = 13), the single-task exercise group (STEG, n = 13), and the control group (CG, n = 14). Over eight weeks, balance exercises were administered to the STEG, while simultaneous balance and cognitive exercises were applied to the DTEG, twice weekly under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Participants in the control group received no intervention. Dual-task performance, cognitive functions, balance, and functional status were assessed at baseline and at the end of eight weeks. Dual-task performance was defined as the primary outcome. Results: After the intervention, for the primary outcome, dual-task performance (TUG single-task condition and TUG dual-task condition), both exercise groups showed greater improvements than controls. Both exercise groups also demonstrated significant improvements in balance, functional status, and cognitive outcomes compared to the control group. In the between-group comparisons, both exercise groups showed significant improvements in several cognitive functions compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the MoCA total score was significantly higher in the DTEG compared with the other groups. Conclusions: Both dual-task and single-task exercises improve cognitive function, balance, and functional status in individuals with T2DM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation)
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15 pages, 444 KB  
Article
The Impact of Breast-Conserving Therapy and Radiotherapy on Respiratory Parameters and Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer in Terms of Rehabilitation
by Bartosz Mroczkowski, Paulina Okrzymowska and Krystyna Rozek-Piechura
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(4), 1593; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041593 - 18 Feb 2026
Viewed by 935
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of oncological treatment including surgery and radiotherapy on the respiratory function and quality of life of women treated for breast cancer, considering the effects of physiotherapy and additional inspiratory muscle training. [...] Read more.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of oncological treatment including surgery and radiotherapy on the respiratory function and quality of life of women treated for breast cancer, considering the effects of physiotherapy and additional inspiratory muscle training. Methods: A quantitative, repeated-measures study included 26 women (aged 30–69) with breast cancer who had undergone breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy, randomly assigned to an IMT group or a sham IMT group. The following tests were performed on each patient: respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire. The tests were performed five times as follows: before surgery, after surgery (4–6 days), before the start of radiotherapy (4–5 weeks after surgery), after the end of radiotherapy, and follow-up 4 weeks after the end of radiotherapy. Group I-IMT: patients underwent physiotherapy according to hospital rehabilitation standards and inspiratory muscle strength training at 15–60% PImax. Group II-sham-IMT: patients underwent physiotherapy according to hospital rehabilitation standards and inspiratory muscle strength training at 15% PImax. Results: After the surgery, a reduction in all parameters was observed, which improved gradually and depending on the group after physiotherapy and inspiratory muscle training. The PImax value decreased significantly after the procedure in both groups (p = 0.00), but its significant increase after 4 weeks and radiotherapy (p = 0.00) was noted only in the I-IMT group. The quality of life assessed by women (WHO1) was significantly higher (p = 0.009) only in the group using IMT training with a load of 60% PImax. Conclusions: Radical breast cancer treatment, including surgery and radiotherapy, significantly impairs respiratory function and quality of life in women, with the greatest deterioration observed after surgery. The use of prehabilitation and postoperative physiotherapy reduces the adverse effects of radical treatment, while additional inspiratory muscle training supports the improvement of respiratory function and the subjective assessment of quality of life in patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation)
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14 pages, 2730 KB  
Article
Hidden Adaptations: Ultrasound Evidence of Intrinsic Foot and Tendon Changes in Basketball Players with Hallux Limitus
by Samuel Eloy Gutiérrez-Torre, Nerea Molina-Hernández, Álvaro García-Vázquez, César Calvo-Lobo, David Rodríguez-Sanz and Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(22), 8154; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14228154 - 17 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1334
Abstract
Background: Hallux limitus (HL) is a restriction of first metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion, commonly linked to foot biomechanics-related disorders or trauma, increasing sports injury risk. It involves plantar fascia tension, compensations, and tendon adaptations. Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) accurately assesses musculoskeletal changes, supporting physiotherapy [...] Read more.
Background: Hallux limitus (HL) is a restriction of first metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion, commonly linked to foot biomechanics-related disorders or trauma, increasing sports injury risk. It involves plantar fascia tension, compensations, and tendon adaptations. Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) accurately assesses musculoskeletal changes, supporting physiotherapy evaluation and the study of HL-related structural adaptations. Objectives: Comparing the thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) of flexor hallucis brevis (FHB), flexor digitorum brevis (FDB), abductor hallucis (AbH), and quadratus plantae (QP) muscles, as well as the thickness of the plantar fascia (PF), Achilles tendon (AT), and plantar calcaneal fat pad (CFP), between participants with and without HL. Methods: Case–control study included 80 basketball players recruited from semi-professional teams by consecutive non-probabilistic sampling. Participants were divided into two groups: an HL group (n = 40) and a healthy group (n = 40). Musculotendinous parameters were assessed using RUSI. Results: The FDB, FHB, AB, and QP showed significant reductions in thickness and CSA at rest and at contraction in the HL group. PF thickness increased in participants with HL, while CFP thickness decreased significantly. Significance was established at (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HL participants exhibited reduced muscle size and CSA, increased PF, and lower CFP thicknesses, indicating adaptive tissue alterations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation)
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Review

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24 pages, 305 KB  
Review
Physiotherapy for Urinary Incontinence After Radical Prostatectomy: Current Evidence and Therapeutic Challenges
by Izabela Mastej-Stawarska, Edyta Łuszczki and Maciej Tomasz Kochman
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(18), 7245; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15187245 - 17 Sep 2026
Viewed by 177
Abstract
Urinary incontinence remains one of the most frequent and distressing complications after radical prostatectomy and can substantially affect quality of life. Physiotherapy, particularly pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), is widely used as part of conservative postoperative management; however, substantial variation exists in patient [...] Read more.
Urinary incontinence remains one of the most frequent and distressing complications after radical prostatectomy and can substantially affect quality of life. Physiotherapy, particularly pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), is widely used as part of conservative postoperative management; however, substantial variation exists in patient populations, surgical and perioperative factors, intervention protocols, timing of initiation, adjunctive modalities, outcome definitions, and follow-up. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on pelvic floor rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy, focusing on prehabilitation, PFMT, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, neuromodulation, and emerging modalities such as transfer energy capacitive and resistive (TECAR) therapy. PFMT is the most widely studied conservative physiotherapy intervention and may accelerate early recovery of continence in some patients, although its effects on longer-term continence rates are less certain. The role of biofeedback and electrical stimulation remains unclear because of heterogeneous protocols and inconsistent outcome reporting. Evidence for neuromodulation is limited and should be interpreted according to the specific intervention and study population. TECAR therapy currently lacks direct clinical evidence supporting its efficacy in post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Across the literature, differences in continence definitions, intervention content and dose, baseline symptom severity, surgical techniques, timing of treatment, and follow-up complicate direct comparison and may confound observed improvements because spontaneous recovery is common after surgery. Current evidence supports PFMT as a reasonable core component of conservative management after radical prostatectomy, particularly for accelerating early continence recovery, whereas long-term superiority and the added value of adjunctive modalities remain uncertain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation)

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

16 pages, 506 KB  
Protocol
Effects of Physical Exercise, Cognitive Stimulation, and Their Combination on Mobility, Cognitive Function, and Psychosocial Well-Being in Older Adults Residing in Long-Term Care: Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial
by Nuno Carvalho, Rocío Llamas-Ramos and Inés Llamas-Ramos
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(16), 6327; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15166327 - 16 Aug 2026
Viewed by 371
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Older adults residing in long-term care frequently experience multimorbidity, low habitual activity, mobility decline, executive dysfunction, and reduced quality of life. Evidence separating the effects of exercise, cognitive stimulation, and their combination remains limited. The primary objective of this trial is [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Older adults residing in long-term care frequently experience multimorbidity, low habitual activity, mobility decline, executive dysfunction, and reduced quality of life. Evidence separating the effects of exercise, cognitive stimulation, and their combination remains limited. The primary objective of this trial is to determine whether a 12-week combined physical exercise plus cognitive stimulation programme improves executive function, functional mobility, and health-related quality of life compared with usual care. Secondary objectives are to estimate the effects of each single-component programme, compare the combined programme with each component, and examine maintenance at six months. Methods: This is a four-arm, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial in Portuguese long-term care facilities. A total of 140 residents aged 65 years or older, residing in long-term care for at least three months and able to provide informed consent, will be allocated 1:1:1:1 to supervised multicomponent exercise, group cognitive stimulation, combined exercise plus cognitive stimulation, or usual care. Active programmes will be delivered three times weekly for 12 weeks. Assessments are planned at baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up according to the prespecified schedule. Primary outcomes are the Stroop interference score, Timed Up and Go time, and EQ-5D-5L index value at 12 weeks. Analyses will follow the intention-to-treat principle using mixed-effects models; multiplicity across the three primary endpoints will be controlled using Holm’s procedure, and interaction analyses will be exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Results: Recruitment and data collection had not started at manuscript submission; therefore, no participant data are reported. Conclusions: The trial will estimate the effects of the combined programme versus usual care and provide exploratory comparative evidence on the single-component programmes in real-world long-term care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation)
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30 pages, 2847 KB  
Systematic Review
Instrumented Timed Up and Go (iTUG): A Systematic Review of Parameters Across Healthy, Older, and Neurological Populations
by Piotr Szaflik and Katarzyna Nowakowska-Lipiec
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(9), 3307; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15093307 - 26 Apr 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 877
Abstract
Background: The use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test enables the quantitative assessment of functional performance and mobility. It allows for the determination not only of the total test completion time, but also of the [...] Read more.
Background: The use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test enables the quantitative assessment of functional performance and mobility. It allows for the determination not only of the total test completion time, but also of the durations of individual phases, as well as the derivation of spatiotemporal gait parameters and turning velocity. The aim of this review article was to compile parameters of the instrumented Timed Up and Go (iTUG) test and to identify the parameters most commonly analyzed in populations of healthy adults, older adults, and patients with neurological disorders. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases. The authors included studies in which commercial IMUs were used during the TUG test and quantitative parameters were analyzed. Methodological quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for cross-sectional studies. Results: A total of 36 studies were included in the review. Only those disease entities represented by at least four studies were included in the tabular analysis. The study presents results for a total of 1268 individuals, including 192 healthy adults, 514 older adults, 230 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and 332 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The analysis showed that temporal parameters, particularly the total test duration and the durations of individual phases, were the most commonly reported across all populations. Conclusions: Turning-related parameters were analyzed frequently, whereas spatiotemporal parameters were assessed less often. The results indicate a lack of standardization both in the selection of iTUG parameters as well as in the measurement methods and systems used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy in Clinical Practice: From Assessment to Rehabilitation)
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