Search Results (53)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect over 1.7 billion people globally and represent the leading cause of disability worldwide. Conventional rehabilitation strategies face challenges including limited accessibility, suboptimal adherence, and lack of personalization. Digital therapeutics (DTx)—evidence-based, software-driven interventions regulated as medical devices—have emerged as transformative solutions in chronic disease management. This review provides a narrative synthesis of representative studies in the field, drawing on a broad survey of literature from medical and engineering sources to capture current trends and clinically relevant developments. Seventy-five publications were examined, including clinical trials and validation studies, many of which reported outcomes comparable or superior to traditional rehabilitation approaches, with adherence gains of 15–40% and cost reductions of approximately 30–40%. We summarize the major technological foundations of musculoskeletal DTx and digital rehabilitation across orthopedic subspecialties, describing core-enabling technologies including artificial intelligence-driven motion analysis, wearable sensors, tele-rehabilitation platforms, and cloud-based ecosystems. Clinical applications spanning spine, upper and lower extremities, sports injuries, and trauma were analyzed alongside global regulatory frameworks, economic considerations, and implementation challenges. Early clinical evidence demonstrates improvements in functional outcomes, adherence, and cost-effectiveness. Future directions include digital twin-based precision rehabilitation, predictive analytics, and scalable integration into value-based orthopedic care. By establishing a comprehensive framework for musculoskeletal DTx implementation, this review highlights their potential to improve outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and address global rehabilitation access gaps. However, evidence on long-term effectiveness, sustained cost benefits, and large-scale clinical integration remains limited and warrants further investigation. Full article

The purpose of this longitudinal case report was to assess physical fitness changes in world-class shot put para athletes during six months of training. One male (age: 34.8 years; mass: 96.9 kg; height: 1.79 m; sport class: F42), and one female (age: 45.3 years; mass: 60.1 kg; height: 1.64 m: F54) shot put para-thrower were assessed during a 24-week periodized training program, including strength and power training, throws, and plyometrics. Monthly assessments included competitive shot put throwing performance, the medicine ball throw test, and upper-body maximal strength, while body composition was measured before and after the training period. Shot put throwing performance improved by 10.1% and 1.6% for the male and female athletes, respectively. Similarly, performance in the medicine ball throw test increased by 15.2% and 8.4% for the male and female athletes, respectively. Maximal strength increased by 10.3% (male) and 3.3% (female). Body composition changes included an increased lean mass (2.5%) and reduced sum of six skinfolds (−9.8%) in the male athlete, while the female athlete experienced decreased body mass (−2.5%) and skinfolds (−11.7%). World-class shot put para athletes can improve strength and power through a structured periodized training plan. Monitoring strength and performance indicators monthly effectively tracked training adaptations in elite para athletes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Participation in sports activities is one of the risk factors for traumatic dental injuries. Nevertheless, little data are available in the literature on such problems in persons with disabilities. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and severity of traumatic dental injuries in athletes with intellectual disabilities and other coexisting chronic diseases, as well as the use of mouthguards and the level of treatment of injuries in this population. Methods: The research was carried out in seven special needs schools. Two calibrated dentists performed dental examinations in 100 subjects practicing sports, aged 8–30 years (study group), and in 128 individuals, aged 8–25 years, who do not perform systematic physical activity (control group). Statistica Software v.10 was used for statistical analysis, with the level of statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The majority of individuals had one tooth affected by traumatic injury in the study and control individuals, with the results amounting to 14% and 5%, respectively; the difference between both groups was statistically significant (p = 0.02). Only one athlete used a mouthguard during training and competitions. Restorative treatment of traumatically damaged teeth was performed in six athletes (37%) out of the total sixteen subjects affected by dental injuries from the study group and in two (15%) out of thirteen participants from the controls. Conclusions: This study reveals that dentists should be professionally prepared to meet the special needs of the population with disabilities and chronic disorders to minimize the burden of dental trauma. There is an urgent need for preventive programs for special needs athletes, their parents/caregivers, and trainers concerning the use of mouthguards. Full article

Over the past decade, a growing body of evidence has highlighted the positive impact of full and equal participation in sport on the quality of life (QoL) of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). However, access to mainstream sports remains limited due to persistent barriers, which leads to low participation levels among people with IDs. In this context, the Mixed Ability (MA) model offers an innovative approach by promoting the inclusion of people with and without disabilities in the same mainstream teams, without classification processes or modifications to the rules of the sport. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between rugby MA and the QoL and the needs of players with IDs. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the quantitative aspect involved 46 participants aged 18–57, engaged in eight different rugby teams, while the qualitative component included a focus group with four ID players from a rugby team. The findings revealed a positive correlation between higher QoL and the duration of participation in mainstream sports among the participants. Furthermore, a positive trend was also observed among individuals with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities. Qualitatively, participants highlighted the model’s emphasis on inclusivity, familial bonds, enjoyment, community spirit, active engagement, and opportunities to experience new activities. The shift towards inclusion requires modifying the community so that every person has opportunities to lead a valuable, meaningful, and self-determined life. In this sense, the MA sports model emerges as a potent instrument for fostering inclusive communities and enhancing the QoL of people with IDs. Full article

Background/Objective: Research indicates that sport is a useful avenue in rehabilitation for redeveloping identity for people with a limb amputation. However, the available research focusses on Paralympians or elite athletes with disabilities. By contrast, this study aimed to explore the experience of sport participation and identity in lay members of the public who had undergone limb amputation. Methods: Semi-structured interviews took place with nine people who had undergone amputation and participated in sport. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Four themes were developed from the data: (1) enabling a feeling of normality and equality; (2) becoming a better person; (3) belonging and connection; and (4) experiencing and responding to the gaze of others. The findings highlight the role of sport in facilitating personal growth through a desire to help and inspire others. Conclusions: Rehabilitation professionals involved in care following amputation could offer person-centred therapies to those who may be reluctant to participate in sport in a way that makes use of a person’s values and facilitates personal growth. Full article

Sports participation among young people with disabilities offers significant physical, psychological, and social benefits, yet participation rates remain lower than among their non-disabled peers. This study, conducted in Hungary, explores how value orientations, health perceptions, and disability characteristics interact to shape sports engagement. Using a cluster analysis approach, we identified three distinct groups based on how young individuals with disabilities prioritize various life aspects. Data were collected through a survey of 771 participants aged 8–18, including individuals with diverse disability types. K-means clustering revealed three profiles: (1) a low sports activity group with moderate health consciousness, (2) a health-conscious group with broad life engagement but lower sports participation, and (3) a sports-oriented group that demonstrated strong interest in sports despite reporting lower self-rated health. The findings suggest that personal value orientation is a stronger predictor of sports participation than disability type or perceived health status. Furthermore, access to sports facilities alone does not guarantee participation, emphasizing the need for motivational and psychological interventions. These results highlight the importance of tailored, value-driven strategies in promoting physical activity among young people with disabilities, shifting focus from disability-specific adaptations to broader engagement-based approaches. Full article

Background and Objectives: As the world enters an aging society, it is necessary to focus on older individuals, especially those with disabilities. The latter must face two issues, their disability and their age; therefore, a lot of attention must be paid to their health. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between participation in leisure sports activities, health behaviors, and life satisfaction among older adults with disabilities. The research question we aimed to address was as follows: Can participation in leisure sports activities positively affect the health behaviors and life satisfaction of older adults with disabilities? Materials and Methods: Data were sourced from the 2023 Survey on the Status of Persons with Disabilities organized by the Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analyses, chi-squared tests, and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that regarding sex, the average odds ratio (OR) was 1.525 (p = 0.001) for males. Regarding efforts to control weight, the average OR was 1.808 (p < 0.001) for “tried to reduce”, 1.893 (p < 0.001) for “tried to maintain”, and 1.245 (p = 0.345) for “tried to increase”. Regarding smoking, the average OR was 0.612 (p = 0.008) for “smoke daily”, 0.947 (p = 0.889) for “smoke occasionally”, and 1.175 (p = 0.255) for “smoked in the past but do not smoke now”. Regarding health status satisfaction, the average OR was 2.014 (p = 0.022) for very satisfied, 1.846 (p = 0.013) for somewhat satisfied, and 1.347 (p = 0.220) for somewhat dissatisfied. Regarding friendship satisfaction, the average OR was 9.177 (p < 0.001) for very satisfied, 5.428 (p < 0.001) for somewhat satisfied, and 3.024 (p = 0.011) for somewhat dissatisfied. Namely, participation in leisure sports activities was significantly related to weight control efforts, smoking cessation, increased health status satisfaction, and increased friendship satisfaction among older adults with disabilities. Conclusions: Access to leisure sports activities should be increased to improve the health of older adults with disabilities. Furthermore, leisure sports activities should be considered in the establishment of policies and services to enhance the health of these individuals. Full article

Volunteering in sports for people with disabilities is a crucial element for social inclusion and development. Therefore, this systematic review aims to analyze the existing literature on the motivation, satisfaction, engagement, and commitment of volunteers in sports for people with disabilities. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across four databases, the Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and SportDiscus, resulting in the inclusion of 16 studies. The geographic distribution showed the existence of studies on all continents, particularly in Europe and Asia, and most studies were quantitative. The findings revealed that volunteer motivation was predominantly intrinsic, driven by values, understanding, and personal growth, with less emphasis on extrinsic factors such as career advancement. Satisfaction levels were generally high, particularly among student volunteers, who also showed strong future intentions to continue volunteering. As a conclusion, there was a limited number of studies exclusively focused on volunteers participating in sports for people with disabilities. This review highlights the need for more research on diverse types of disabilities and the development of inclusive policies and training programs to enhance volunteer experiences. The study underscores the importance of recognizing both personal and professional motivators to effectively recruit and retain volunteers in sports organizations supporting people with disabilities. Full article

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated human activity recognition (HAR) is essential in enhancing assistive technologies for disabled individuals, focusing on fall detection, tracking rehabilitation progress, and analyzing personalized movement patterns. It also significantly manages and grows multiple industries, such as surveillance, sports, and diagnosis. Methods: This paper proposes a novel strategy using a three-stage feature ensemble combining deep learning (DL) and machine learning (ML) for accurate and automatic classification of activity recognition. We develop a unique activity detection approach in this study by enhancing the state-of-the-art convolutional neural network (CNN) and bi-directional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) models with selective ML classifiers and an attention mechanism. Thus, we developed an ensemble activity recognition model, namely “Attention-CNN-BiLSTM with selective ML”. Results: Out of the nine ML models and four DL models, the top performers are selected and combined in three stages for feature extraction. The effectiveness of this three-stage ensemble strategy is evaluated utilizing various performance metrics and through three distinct experiments. Utilizing the publicly available datasets (i.e., the UCI-HAR dataset and WISDM), our approach has shown superior predictive accuracy (98.75% and 99.58%, respectively). When compared with other methods, namely CNN, LSTM, CNN-BiLSTM, and Attention-CNN-BiLSTM, our approach surpasses them in terms of effectiveness, accuracy, and practicability. Conclusions: We hope that this comprehensive activity recognition system may be augmented with an advanced disability monitoring and diagnosis system to facilitate predictive assistance and personalized rehabilitation strategies. Full article

For children with disabilities, participation in group physical activities can promote inclusion and a sense of belonging, enhance physical functioning, and improve mental health. Yet, there are very few youth sports programs that offer adaptive programs for children with disabilities. Why do some youth sports programs offer these special programs? The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences and challenges of select youth gymnastics and dance programs in the eastern part of the U.S. that offer adaptive programs for children with disabilities. Nine program directors individually participated in zoom interviews between 45 and 60 min. Results revealed the background of program directors (limited disability experience), why they started their programs (parent requests/personal experiences), challenges faced when creating and sustaining their program (recruitment of participants), advertising the program and recruiting participants (mostly word of mouth), and recruiting and training coaches (within the gym). Full article

Background: This research explored how tele-exercise influenced physical fitness and mental well-being in individuals with and without disabilities and with different training habits. Methods: One hundred and ninety-three participants were categorized into two groups: athletes and non-athletes. Participants were involved in either synchronous or asynchronous tele-exercise programs of two or three sessions of workouts per week, lasting eight weeks. Psychological well-being was evaluated pre- vs. post-intervention by the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Fitness assessment tools included the 2-minute step test, curl-up test, forward bending test, and squat test. Body weight was also assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: The analysis showed a significant increment in all fitness scores (p-value ranged from <0.001 to 0.015) with no change in body weight. Psychological tests indicated an overall increment in the participants’ well-being measured by the WHO-5 and unexpectedly, also in the stress level assessed through PSS-10. Conclusions: Enabled by technology, tele-exercise provides a flexible and convenient complementary approach to conventional workouts, helping individuals maintain an active lifestyle and improve their well-being. Positive effects on the sedentary population’s lifestyles are discussed. Full article

In the context of the practice of physical sports activities (PSA), people with intellectual disabilities (PID) have up to a 62% lower possibility of responding to internationally agreed-upon physical activity requirements, showing a higher risk of presenting serious health problems. This study aimed to analyze the levels of perception towards the latent construct of quality of life that a PID who practices PSA would have with respect to those PIDs who do not practice PSA. The sample consisted of 371 PIDs, of whom 278 practiced PSA and 93 did not practice PSA. The instrument used for data collection was the INICO-FEAPS scale. Methodologically, 12 binary logistic regression models were fitted. The results identify greater possibilities of perception by PIDs who perform DFA at the level of self-determination (4.88 OR), rights (5.0 OR), social inclusion (2.06 OR), personal development (2.80 OR), interpersonal relationship (3.19 OR), material well-being (4.41 OR) and quality of life (3.97 OR). Furthermore, when grouping the dimensions by independence (3.67 OR), social (4.34 OR) and well-being (3.91 OR), the odds were favourable toward those PIDs performing PSA. In conclusion, PIDs who perform PSA may present greater possibilities of having the quality of life construct. Full article

Ballet is a discipline that combines art and sport in a harmonious way. It is a practice that has high physical and mental demands to achieve the proper body precision. During this activity, numerous muscles, including those in the legs, need to be exercised. Therefore, individuals who have lost part of their lower limb due to amputation face numerous significant challenges when it comes to practicing ballet. Throughout this article, the key aspects that influence the design of a lower limb prosthesis specifically adapted for ballet practice will be analyzed. New materials will be explored with the goal of designing an optimal model that ensures maximum performance and comfort for the users. Additionally, the prosthesis will be customized using 3D-printing technology, and a prototype will be presented. This study will merge biomechanics, ergonomics, and design. Its goal is to find a solution that improves the quality of life for lower limb amputees whose passion is ballet. The aim is to overcome physical and emotional barriers and provide a way to reintegrate amputee dancers into the world of dance. It is important to highlight the novelty of this work: combining different disciplines to provide a solution for individuals who engage in dance as a hobby rather than professionally. The proposed methodology aims to enable users with disabilities to access a personalized, complex, and potentially costly product. Full article

Background: Enthesitis is a common feature of spondyloarthritis and can severely impair the patient’s quality of life. International guidelines recommend multidisciplinary management of this condition, combining physical and pharmacological interventions. In this case report, we demonstrate clinical and ultrasonographic improvements by prescribing local cryotherapy and therapeutic exercise alone in an adult woman with non-radiographic axial SpA (nRX-AxSpA) complaining of heel enthesitis. Methodology: A personalized program was prescribed that focused on reducing pain, joint stiffness, and muscle tightness, improving strength and endurance. Pain, function, and degree of disability were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale, the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles, the single-leg heel lift test, and the Foot Function Index. In addition, lower limb muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer and enthesitis was assessed ultrasonographically using the Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Score System. Results: Benefits were evident as early as week 5 and persisted at 3 months on ultrasound assessment. No side effects were reported. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of prescribing such a strategy in a patient with nRX-AxSpA. Given the good tolerability, this intervention could be considered in patients with contraindications to pharmacologic approaches. Full article

Wheelchair basketball (WB) is a sport modality adapted for people with disabilities who present functional classification (FC) according to their mobility, from 1.0 for players with lesser functional capacity up to 4.5 for great mobility and trunk control players. This study aimed to analyze and compare the external load (EL) and the internal load (IL) of the WB players according to their FC in 5 × 5 simulation game tasks. The main objective of this task was to develop a simulated game in which two teams of five players faced each other to resemble the physical demands of an official match. The development of these tasks allowed for the players to learn the different systems of play, and to improve tactical skills. To conduct the study, 12 (male) national professional WB players (years: 30.7 ± 4.82 and WB experience: 5 ± 1.43) participated in the study and were grouped according to FC. WIMU PRO^TM devices monitored the EL manufactured by RealTrack Systems in Almería, Spain, and to measure the player’s IL, Garmin^TM Heart Rate (HR) bands were used (Garmin^TM in Olathe, KS, USA). The EL variables were divided as kinematic (distance, explosive distance, acc, dec, max. acc, max. dec, average speed, max. speed) and neuromuscular (player load, impact). The IL variables were average HR, max. HR and %max. HR. The main results show that players with greater functional capacity (FC = 4.0) developed higher values in the IL and neuromuscular variables analyzed (p < 0.05), as well as in some kinematic variables like distance, dec and average speed (p < 0.05). This information is relevant because it helps to personalize the training load based on competitive demands and create a gradual and adaptable training program. This information helps athletes to develop better performance during training and prevent injuries caused by overexertion. Full article