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PLoS One 2022 26;17(5):e0268652. Epub 2022 May 26.

Physiotherapy Department of University of West Attica, Egaleo, Attica, Greece.

Due to the chronic nature of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) self-management is considered an essential part of therapy to improve physical function, activity, pain and quality of life (QoL). Web-based rehabilitation may be a potential innovative mode of patient' training to guide management compared to usual care, especially with the current restrictions pandemic imposed. Moreover, in order to alter KOA patients' behavior towards physical activity (PA), it may be more attractive and motivating to combine within their rehabilitation program, outdoor real life local activity that could feasible to be sustained in the future. Read More

Trials 2022 May 21;23(1):425. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Background: The etiology of neck pain is multifactorial and includes personal and work-related factors such as age, sex, wrong postures, and repeated strains. Studies based on bio-psychosocial model also link chronic neck pain to psychological factors. Over time, the use of multidisciplinary interventions for chronic neck pain has grown in order to improve disability, pain, and adaptive cognitions and behaviors towards patients' problems. Read More

BMJ Open 2022 May 6;12(5):e060480. Epub 2022 May 6.

School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Introduction: Low health literacy is common in people with cardiovascular disease and may be one factor that affects an individual's ability to maintain secondary prevention health behaviours following myocardial infarction (MI). However, little is known about the association between health literacy and longer-term health outcomes in people with MI. The ENhancing HEAlth literacy in secondary pRevenTion of cardiac evENts (ENHEARTEN) study aims to examine the relationship between health literacy and a number of health outcomes (including healthcare costs) in a cohort of patients following their first MI. Read More

Clin Rehabil 2022 May 6:2692155221088777. Epub 2022 May 6.

Center for Health, Culture and Leisure, Municipality of Vallensbaek.

Objective: To test the feasibility of a pilot study for a future definitive trial investigating the effect of different meal service programs for old people living at home.

Design: An 8-week randomized controlled trial was performed.

Setting: Three municipalities in the Nordic country, Denmark. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2022 29;13:171. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Background: For a neurotrauma unit to be defined as a structured neurotrauma service (NS) the following criteria must be satisfied: A dedicated neurointensive care unit, endovascular neuroradiology, in-hospital neurorehabilitation unit and helicopter platform within the context of a Level I trauma center. Designing an effective NS can be challenging, particularly when considering the different priorities and resources of countries across the globe. In addition the impact on clinical outcomes is not clearly established. Read More

Cureus 2022 Mar 25;14(3):e23485. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York City, USA.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs support the health, wellness, and recovery of patients with cardiovascular conditions. This systematic review attempts to expand these findings while analyzing the latest randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on the long-term advantages of home/center-based cardiac rehabilitation interventions. This study also comparatively analyzes the benefits of opting for home-based cardiac rehabilitation instead of center-based measures to improve the long-term clinical outcomes of cardiac patients. Read More

Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2022 Jul-Aug;101:104707. Epub 2022 Apr 19.

School of Nursing, Jilin University, No.965 Xinjiang Street, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: To identify the effects of personally tailored exercise programmes for improving physical outcomes amongst older people living in the community.

Methods: Four databases (the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science) were searched (from inception until Jan 25th, 2022) for original articles. All studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental trials reporting the effects of personally tailored exercise programmes on physical outcomes. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 04 17;19(8). Epub 2022 Apr 17.

ESDRM Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior-Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal.

Current scientific evidence supports the recommendation to initiate or continue physical exercise in healthy pregnant women. Group exercise programs have positive effects on improving health, well-being, and social support. In 2015, a systematic review was provided to evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of group exercise programs in improving pregnant women's and newborns' health outcomes and to assess the content of the programs. Read More

Trials 2022 Apr 18;23(1):323. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of global disability. According to current guidelines, exercise is the most recommended and important non-surgical treatment for knee OA. However, the best type of exercise for this condition remains unclear. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2022 Apr 18;23(1):366. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (Cirris), Québec, Canada.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and the most prevalent source of disability among soldiers. Their high prevalence in armed forces and limited ressources have led to problems related to access to physical rehabilitation care. To increase access, supervised group-based exercise programs for the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders (low back pain, patellofemoral pain, rotator cuff-related shoulder pain or lateral ankle sprain) have been developed at a Canadian Armed forces (CAF) base, but their effectiveness has not been evaluated. Read More

Trials 2022 Apr 15;23(1):315. Epub 2022 Apr 15.

School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Background: Clinical recommendations suggest exercises as the main treatment modality for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to compare the effects of two different exercise interventions, i.e. Read More

J Physiother 2022 04 5;68(2):123-129. Epub 2022 Apr 5.

Department of Community & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India.

Question: In people in the chronic phase of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), how much more does a supervised, individualised exercise program improve functional independence with activities of daily living than a home-based exercise program? How do the two exercise programs compare regarding their effects on muscle strength, fatigue, pain and quality of life?

Design: Randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinding of outcome assessors.

Participants: Sixteen adults with stable residual disability ≥ 6 months after the onset of GBS.

Intervention: Participants in the experimental group were allocated to 60-minute sessions of physiotherapist-supervised strengthening, endurance and breathing exercises, gait training and pain management, two to three sessions/week for 12 weeks. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2022 Apr 1;5(4):e225982. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Importance: Strategies that enhance self-care of patients with heart failure reduce mortality and health care use.

Objective: To examine whether an empowerment-based self-care education program was more effective and cost-effective to improve self-care, health status, and hospital service use than a didactic education program in patients with heart failure.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, a consecutive sample of 988 patients with heart failure from the cardiac clinics of 2 regional hospitals underwent eligibility screening from February 1, 2017, to May 31, 2019, using the criteria of age of 55 years or older, heart failure diagnosed 6 months before screening, and New York Heart Association class II to IV. Read More

Cerebellum 2022 Mar 24. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Samanpazari, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.

This study aims to measure the effects of two different exercise programs on neck pain, proprioception, balance, coordination, posture, and quality of life in patients with Chiari malformation (CM) type 1. Sixteen patients were randomized to two different exercise programs: a tailored exercise protocol for CM (TEP-CM) and cervical spinal stabilization exercises (CSSE). Both exercise programs were implemented by a physiotherapist 3 days a week for 6 weeks. Read More

Respir Med 2022 05 1;196:106798. Epub 2022 Mar 1.

Faculty of Sport Science, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte - INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Evidence on resistance-training programs for cystic fibrosis (CF) is limited and the possible benefits of the addition of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a supervised resistance-training program, associated or not with NMES, on muscle strength, aerobic fitness, lung function and quality of life in children with CF presenting mild-to-moderate pulmonary impairment.

Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial including CF patients aged between 6 and 17years. Read More

J Phys Ther Sci 2022 Mar 14;34(3):204-212. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Physical Therapy Department, King Fahad Medical City, Rehabilitation Hospital: Riyadh, 11525, Saudi Arabia.

[Purpose] Cancer survivors have functional impairments that adversely affect patients' quality of life (QoL). Acute rehabilitation helps to reduce disability and improves QoL in cancer survivors. This study investigated the potential improvement in mobility levels and QoL of cancer patients during acute inpatient physical therapy (PT) from admission to discharge. Read More

Aust Occup Ther J 2022 Mar 15. Epub 2022 Mar 15.

Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Introduction: This study was conducted to examine the impact of a group cognitive rehabilitation program for people with dementia on everyday memory function and quality of life.

Methods: Participants included in the study were community-dwelling adults with a diagnosis of dementia. The intervention was a 5-week occupational therapy lead group cognitive rehabilitation program delivered once a week for 1. Read More

J Bodyw Mov Ther 2022 01 20;29:146-153. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Istinye University Topkapı Campus, Maltepe Neighbourhood, Teyyareci Sami Street, Building no.3, Zeytinburnu, İstanbul, Turkey, PC: 34010.

Objective: The main aim of this pilot study was to examine the effect of diaphragmatic breathing exercise on urinary incontinence treatment. The secondary purpose was to compare the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises and diaphragmatic breathing exercises on urinary incontinence women.

Design: Participants were randomized into two groups: pelvic floor muscle exercises (Group PFM n = 20) and diaphragmatic breathing exercises (Group DB n = 20). Read More

Health Qual Life Outcomes 2022 Feb 24;20(1):34. Epub 2022 Feb 24.

Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Background: Aerobic exercise is an important part of obesity treatment and may improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two different exercise programs on health-related quality of life in patients with severe obesity.

Methods: This was a single-center, open-label, randomized, parallel-group study comparing the effects of a 24-week moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) program and a combined high-intensity interval training program with MICT (HIIT/MICT). Read More

BMC Psychiatry 2022 02 21;22(1):135. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Centre de recherche Charles-Le Moyne, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke (Quebec), J1H 5N4, Canada.

Background: The integration of a personal recovery-oriented practice in mental health services is an emerging principle in policy planning. Self-management support (SMS) is an intervention promoting recovery that aims at educating patients on the nature of their mental disorder, improving their strategies to manage their day-to-day symptoms, fostering self-efficacy and empowerment, preventing relapse, and promoting well-being. While SMS is well established for chronic physical conditions, there is a lack of evidence to support the implementation of structured SMS programs for common mental disorders, and particularly for anxiety disorders. Read More

Vasc Med 2022 Apr 15;27(2):142-149. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.

We estimated minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for small, moderate, and large changes in daily step counts and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) following both supervised and home-based exercise programs in symptomatic patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Patients were randomized to either 12 weeks of a supervised exercise program ( = 60), a home-based exercise program ( = 60), or an attention-control group ( = 60). Using the anchor-based method to determine MCID, the MCID value for a large change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was an increase of 1211 total daily steps and an increase in 11 minutes in the time spent in MVPA following 12 weeks of exercise intervention. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2022 Feb 11. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Division of Post-Acute Care, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, MD.

Objective: To describe the abilities of Medicare patients in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) at admission and discharge using the standardized self-care and mobility data elements and examine the validity of the data elements. These data are used in the Center for Medicare & Medicaid's IRF payment and quality reporting programs.

Design: Descriptive study reporting IRF patients' self-care and mobility scores. Read More

PLoS One 2022 8;17(2):e0262023. Epub 2022 Feb 8.

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

Research Questions: 1) Do exercise-based rehabilitation programs reduce re-injury following acute ankle sprain?; 2) Is rehabilitation effectiveness moderated by the exercise's therapeutic quality, content and volume?

Methods: This systematic review with meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42020210858) included randomized controlled trials in which adults who sustained an acute ankle sprain received exercise-based rehabilitation as an intervention. Databases CINAHL, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro and Google Scholar were searched for eligible articles (last search: March 2021). ROB II screening tool by Cochrane was used to assess risk of bias and the i-CONTENT tool was used to assess quality of interventions. Read More

J Healthc Eng 2022 25;2022:1420392. Epub 2022 Jan 25.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Baotou Mongolian Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Baotou 014040, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.

Objective: To explore the curative effects of remote home management combined with Feng's spinal manipulation on the treatment of elderly patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: The clinical data of 100 patients with LDH in our hospital (December 2019-December 2020) were retrospectively reviewed. The 100 patients were equally divided into a routine treatment group and interventional group according to the order of admission. Read More

Vasc Med 2022 Apr 12;27(2):150-157. Epub 2022 Jan 12.

School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Treadmill walking is the most commonly recommended exercise modality in supervised exercise therapy (SET) for peripheral artery disease (PAD); however, other modalities may be equally effective and more tolerable for patients. The primary aim of this single-blind, randomized pilot study was to compare the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of a treadmill walking (TM) versus a total body recumbent stepping (TBRS) exercise program for treatment of PAD (i.e. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 01 5;19(1). Epub 2022 Jan 5.

Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.

Universal health coverage (UHC) is defined as people having access to quality healthcare services (e.g., treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care) they need, irrespective of their financial status. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2021 12 1;4(12):e2140591. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Importance: Digital health programs may have the potential to prevent hospitalizations among patients with chronic diseases by supporting patient self-management, symptom monitoring, and coordinated care.

Objective: To compare the effect of an internet-based self-management and symptom monitoring program targeted to patients with 2 or more chronic diseases (internet chronic disease management [CDM]) with usual care on hospitalizations over a 2-year period.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This single-blinded randomized clinical trial included patients with multiple chronic diseases from 71 primary care clinics in small urban and rural areas throughout British Columbia, Canada. Read More

J Affect Disord 2022 02 19;299:393-407. Epub 2021 Jul 19.

University of Padua, Neurosciences Department, Padua, Italy. Electronic address:

Background: . High-quality comprehensive data on short-/long-term physical/mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are needed.

Methods: . Read More

JMIR Res Protoc 2021 Dec 23;10(12):e34534. Epub 2021 Dec 23.

Australian Centre for Heart Health, North Melbourne, Australia.

Background: After a cardiac event, a large majority of patients with cardiac conditions do not achieve recommended behavior change targets for secondary prevention. Mental health issues can also impact the ability to engage in health behavior change. There is a need for innovative, flexible, and theory-driven eHealth programs, which include evidence-based strategies to assist patients with cardiac conditions with their recovery, especially in behavioral and emotional self-management. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2021 6;8:740834. Epub 2021 Dec 6.

Research Center and Centre ÉPIC, Montreal Heart Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, confinement measures are likely to produce collateral damage to health (stress, confusion, anxiety), especially in frail individuals and those living with cardiovascular disease (CVD). In cardiac patients in particular, these measures dramatically increase the level of physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle, which can decrease cardiorespiratory capacity and increase the risk of acute events, rehospitalization, and depressive syndromes. Maintaining a minimum level of physical activity and cognitive stimulation during the COVID-19 crisis is essential for cardiac patients. Read More