jcm-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Rising Star: Advanced Physical Therapy and Expansion

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Rehabilitation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 4691

Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Therapy, Kangwon National University, Samcheok-si, Republic of Korea
Interests: pediatric; neurological physical therapy; dementia and cognition; hand function

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global trend of population aging is leading to an increased prevalence of chronic diseases, alongside a growing number of cases involving physical impairments due to war, accidents, and other causes. In this context, the necessity and importance of physical therapy are being emphasized more than ever. Even in Asian regions, where traditional medicine has long been prioritized, there is a rapidly growing interest in physical therapy. This suggests the potential for the field’s extensive expansion. At the same time, physical therapy is being called upon to achieve not only external growth but also internal expansion that goes beyond traditional intervention-based research. Collaboration with other health-related disciplines—such as medicine, nursing, and kinesiology—can enhance the academic depth of physical therapy and broaden its clinical applications.

In light of this, this Special Issue seeks to gather studies that not only provide empirical evidence for physical therapy interventions but also expand the theories and practices of physical therapy through interdisciplinary collaboration. We believe such efforts will open new horizons in the field of physical therapy and present innovative therapeutic approaches. We invite active participation and interest from both emerging and established researchers.

Prof. Dr. Hyolyun Roh
Guest Editor

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

  • physical therapy
  • digital therapeutic technology
  • geriatric diseases
  • pediatric
  • psychology of physical therapies
  • clinical approach

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 241 KB  
Article
Predictors of Independent Community Ambulation in Individuals with Chronic Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study of Gait Speed, Gait Endurance, and Balance Self-Efficacy
by SeungHeon An, DongGeon Lee, DongMin Park and Kyeongbong Lee
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(24), 8649; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14248649 - 6 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1068
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Community ambulation after stroke depends on locomotor capacity and confidence in everyday environments. We compared functional performance across three community walking levels and identified constructs independently associated with being an independent community walker in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: Adults [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Community ambulation after stroke depends on locomotor capacity and confidence in everyday environments. We compared functional performance across three community walking levels and identified constructs independently associated with being an independent community walker in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: Adults admitted to an acute-care general hospital or an inpatient rehabilitation hospital were enrolled. Community walking level was classified by a self-reported questionnaire. Primary constructs were gait speed, gait endurance, and balance self-efficacy measured with standard clinical tests. Additional measures described balance, lower-limb motor function, and task-based mobility. Group differences were examined with one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni comparisons. Community walking status was modeled with binary logistic regression using forward stepwise selection. Results: Fifty-nine individuals were analyzed. Performance differed across levels. Effect sizes were small, medium, or large overall. Independent community walkers showed faster gait speed, longer walking distance, and higher balance self-efficacy, with the same direction for balance and lower-limb motor scores and shorter times on task-based tests. In univariable models, age, sex, and time since stroke were not associated with independence, whereas assistive device use related to lower odds. In the multivariable model, gait speed, gait endurance, and balance self-efficacy retained independent associations with independent community walking. Other measures were not retained after adjustment. Conclusions: Community walking status in chronic stroke relates most closely to gait speed, gait endurance, and balance self-efficacy. Evaluation can emphasize the 10 m Walk Test, 6 Min Walk Test, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, with impairment and task-based tests used to guide intervention planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rising Star: Advanced Physical Therapy and Expansion)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 558 KB  
Article
Differences in Functional Performance and Minimal Detectable Change According to Levels of Ankle Plantar Flexor Spasticity in Patients with Chronic Stroke
by SeungHeon An, DongGeon Lee, DongMin Park and Kyeongbong Lee
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(20), 7358; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207358 - 17 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1196
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Ankle plantar flexor spasticity after stroke may limit mobility, especially during turning and multi-directional stepping. Evidence on performance differences and measurement properties across spasticity levels is limited. We examined whether performance on the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale), Five Times [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Ankle plantar flexor spasticity after stroke may limit mobility, especially during turning and multi-directional stepping. Evidence on performance differences and measurement properties across spasticity levels is limited. We examined whether performance on the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale), Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5xSTS), Figure-of-8 Walk Test (F8WT), and Four-Square Step Test (FSST) differs by spasticity severity, and evaluated test–retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of measurement (SEM), and the minimal detectable change (MDC). Methods: In an observational cross-sectional comparative study, 54 individuals more than 6 months post-stroke were classified into three groups by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS = 0, MAS = 1 − 1+, MAS ≥ 2). Participants completed the ABC Scale, 5xSTS, F8WT, and FSST. One-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustment tested group differences. Reliability was quantified using ICC (2,1); SEM and MDC at the 95% confidence level indexed absolute reliability. Results: No significant differences were found for the ABC Scale or 5xSTS. F8WT and FSST differed by spasticity level (p < 0.05), with poorer performance in the highest-spasticity group versus no spasticity. ICCs were high across assessments. All SEMs were <20% of test–retest means, and all MDCs were <20% of maximum scores. Conclusion: Assessments that require directional change detected differences across spasticity levels, whereas balance confidence and repeated sit-to-stand did not. All measures showed acceptable relative and absolute reliability. Findings support selecting outcomes by spasticity severity and using SEM and MDC as reference values when interpreting change in stroke rehabilitation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rising Star: Advanced Physical Therapy and Expansion)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 1895 KB  
Review
Physical Therapist-Led Therapeutic Exercise and Mobility in Adult Intensive Care Units: A Scoping Review of Operational Definitions, Dose Progression, Safety, and Documentation
by Kyeongbong Lee
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(24), 8948; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14248948 - 18 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1972
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Intensive care units (ICU) immobility and weakness impair recovery, yet practice for Physical Therapist (PT)-led therapeutic exercise and mobility varies in definitions, dosing, safety, and documentation, which limits comparability and complicates quality assessment. This study aims to integrate adult ICU evidence [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Intensive care units (ICU) immobility and weakness impair recovery, yet practice for Physical Therapist (PT)-led therapeutic exercise and mobility varies in definitions, dosing, safety, and documentation, which limits comparability and complicates quality assessment. This study aims to integrate adult ICU evidence and present PT-led operational definitions, dose progression principles, safety parameters, outcome measurement, and a documentation minimum dataset. Methods: A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR is used. Eligibility used Population, Concept, and Context: adults in ICU; PT-led therapeutic exercise or mobility; and ICU-initiated or directed care. Primary studies and prespecified quality-improvement reports were included. Data were extracted with a standardized form and summarized descriptively without meta-analysis. Results: Sixty studies were included. Based on the extracted data, this review synthesizes current evidence to propose standardized PT-led operational definitions and a graded progression from in-bed exercise to ambulation. While the individual components are derived from the literature, the conceptual framework for safety parameters and the stop rules were integrated and elaborated to guide clinical decision-making. Adverse events were uncommon and manageable. Outcome measurement centered on validated mobility and function measures at prespecified time points. A concise electronic record minimum dataset specifies provider attribution, timing and duration, activity level with assistance or device, planned and delivered dose with progression, in-session responses, and adverse events, supporting unit-level quality review and comparisons across ICU. Conclusions: A PT-led, graded program that applies shared thresholds, uses validated outcome measures, and employs standardized electronic documentation is feasible and supports safe delivery, clinically meaningful change, and quality improvement across adult ICU. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rising Star: Advanced Physical Therapy and Expansion)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop