Objective
To compare the outcome of rectal and surface electrode stimulation, when performed concomitantly with routine anal sphincter (AS) exercises and bio-feedback training, in children who have received corrective surgery to address Hirschsprung disease (HD).
Methods
Sixty-seven patients (pediatric) who underwent corrective surgery due to HD were randomly assigned to Group A (rectal electrode, n=34) or Group B (surface electrode, n=33). The two groups were given the same protocols of AS and bio-feedback training. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Bowel Function Score (BFS), Pediatric Incontinence and Constipation Scoring System Scale (PICSS) were measured at baseline, post intervention and follow-up.
Results
There were significant improvements in both groups over time across all outcomes. PedsQL increased (d=0.42–1.28, η²p up to 0.37), BFS improved notably (d=1.21, η²p=0.35), and PICSS decreased (d up to 1.15, η²p=0.33). The greatest gains occurred from baseline to follow-up, with smaller but significant changes from post-treatment to follow-up, indicating sustained effects.
Conclusion
Electrical stimulation with rectal electrodes, combined with AS exercises and bio-feedback training, is a major way of improving bowel functioning, continence and quality of life in Hirschsprung child. Such results highlight the promise of multimodal rehabilitation and should be supported by additional multicenter studies.

Objective
To identify early clinical predictors associated with dysphagia and delayed swallowing recovery in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Methods
In this retrospective study, we enrolled adult TBI patients admitted to the rehabilitation unit of a tertiary medical center between June 2019 and June 2023. Data on baseline characteristics, neurological status, imaging findings, and rehabilitation-related variables were collected. Swallowing function was assessed using two indicators: (1) nasogastric (NG) tube retention and (2) the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-injury. Regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors associated with dysphagia and swallowing recovery.
Results
A total of 160 patients were included. At 1 week post-injury, longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay, poor initial sitting balance and use of sedative medication in ICU were associated with NG tube retention. At 4 weeks, lower initial Rancho Los Amigos Scale (RLAS) scores, immobility-related complications, longer hospitalization, and temporal lobe hematomas were associated with persistent NG tube dependence. By 12 weeks, older age, delayed ability to follow commands, and poor initial sitting balance remained associated with NG tube retention. FOIS outcomes were also associated with older age, delayed time to follow commands, impaired initial sitting balance, prolonged ICU stay, temporal lobe hematomas, lower initial RLAS scores, immobility-related complications, prolonged endotracheal tube placement and extended hospital stays.
Conclusion
Impaired cognitive status, poor physical function, immobility-related complications, and temporal lobe hematomas were key factors associated with dysphagia and delayed oral intake in individuals with TBI.

Objective
To assess maladaptive beliefs about low back pain (LBP), valid and reliable measurement tools are required. Although some tools exist to assess them, the Low Back Pain-related Beliefs Screening Tool (LBP-BST) was developed in order to explore all different categories of misbeliefs in individuals chronic low back pain (CLBP). This study aimed to evaluate the main psychometric properties of both the short and long versions of the revised LBPBSTv2.
Methods
A total of 108 patients with CLBP completed the LBP-BSTv2 to assess its potential floor/ceiling effects, internal consistency, and construct validity. The latter was evaluated by comparing scores with the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ). Test-retest reliability was assessed in 47 of the participants one week later.
Results
No floor or ceiling effects were observed. The short and long versions of the LBPBSTv2 showed strong construct validity, with significant correlations with BBQ scores. Internal consistency was acceptable to good (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.77–0.84), and test-retest reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.76–0.81).
Conclusion
The LBP-BSTv2 is a valid and reliable tool for assessing maladaptive beliefs in patients with CLBP. Its integration into clinical practice could help healthcare professionals identify and address unhelpful beliefs that may hinder rehabilitation. Further research is needed to confirm its usefulness in tracking changes over time and guiding individualized interventions and to study other psychometric properties such as responsiveness.

Objective
To investigate the effects of social restrictions imposed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on postoperative functional recovery in patients who underwent surgery for degenerative musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods
This longitudinal prospective cohort study included 291 patients categorized into pre-pandemic (surgery in 2018), early pandemic (2019), and late-pandemic (2020) groups based on their 1-year recovery period. The primary outcome was improvement in locomotive syndrome (LS) status 1 year after surgery. We analyzed the association between social limitations and LS improvement using multivariate logistic and segmented regression analyses.
Results
The late-pandemic group exhibited the lowest LS improvement rate (50.6%) and the highest prevalence of postoperative social contact limitations (61.0%). Multivariate analysis identified the absence of postoperative social contact limitation as a highly potent independent predictor of LS improvement (odds ratio, 10.01; 95% confidence interval, 5.40–19.34; p<0.01). Segmented regression analysis revealed a time lag: social contact limitations peaked in March 2020, whereas the decline in LS improvement rates began in October 2020.
Conclusion
Prolonged social restrictions negatively impacted functional recovery, particularly during the late phase of the pandemic. Social participation, specifically direct social contact, could be a critical and independent component of postoperative rehabilitation. These findings underscore the need to integrate psychosocial assessments into standard postoperative care to optimize patient outcomes.

Objective
To compare the walking ability, mobility, and satisfaction among 24 ambulatory participants with stroke while walking under four conditions: without an ankle support device (ASD), with a plastic ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), and with two types of elastic ASDs— namely, a long ankle sling made from a 3- to 4-inch bandage, and elastic ankle support equipment (EASE) made from elastic bands with buttonholes and rivet buttons.
Methods
This crossover design study assessed spatiotemporal gait variables and mobility using the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) while participants walked under the four conditions in random order. They then completed a self-report questionnaire regarding satisfaction with the three ASDs. The findings were compared using the Friedman and Wilcoxon signed rank test.
Results
The participants’ spatiotemporal and TUG data improved significantly when walking with a long ankle sling and EASE compared to the other two conditions (p<0.05). Participants satisfied with the dimensions, weight, safety, security, and effectiveness of the long ankle sling and EASE (p<0.001). The EASE was also comfortable and easy to adjust, whereas the AFO was noted for its durability (p<0.01).
Conclusion
With the design to promote mobility during both the swing and stance phases, the present findings support the clinical benefits of elastic ASDs, specifically a long ankle sling and EASE. The EASE is also user-friendly; thus, it can be applied in various clinical and community settings, particularly in those with limited budget.

Objective
To test the feasibility and usability of an artificial intelligence (AI)-guided mobile cognitive telerehabilitation program for patients with stroke or older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Methods
Thirteen participants with cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score≤26; nine with stroke and four with MCI) were enrolled in the study. Each participant was provided with an AI-guided mobile cognitive rehabilitation program (Zenicog®). Participants were instructed to complete 24 sessions within 6 weeks, and those with sufficient adherence (≥70%, 17 sessions) were included in the analysis. Cognitive assessments included the MMSE, digit span, and Trail Making Tests A & B. The usability questionnaire investigated equitable use and flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, size and space for use, overall product quality, overall satisfaction.
Results
Eleven participants completed the study, and 10 participants met adherence criteria. The MMSE score increased significantly from 24.00 [21.00, 25.75] at baseline to 27.50 [26.00, 28.75] after intervention. The overall product quality (Likert scale: 1–5) score was 4.00±0.87. The lowest score in the usability questionnaire was for tolerance for error. Female participants and participants with <12 years’ education gave lower scores for tolerance for error and equitable/ flexibility in use, respectively.
Conclusion
The AI-guided mobile cognitive telerehabilitation program is feasible and potentially beneficial for improving cognitive function in patients with stroke or older adults with MCI. Individuals who are less familiar with electronic devices require special consideration to improve their usability.

Citations

• AI-driven telerehabilitation for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial
  Minsong Kim, Doo Young Kim, Taeksoo Jeong, Si-Woon Park
  Frontiers in Neurology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To compare the efficacy, safety, and patient compliance of tele-cardiac rehabilitation (T-CR) versus center-based cardiac rehabilitation (C-CR) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). A secondary aim was to assess the effects of both interventions on quality of life (QoL) and kinesiophobia.
Methods
This nonrandomized, patient-preference controlled trial included 40 CAD patients (83% post-myocardial infarction) at a university hospital. Participants selected either C-CR or T-CR. The four-week intervention included supervised in-hospital exercise (C-CR) or telemonitored exercise with heart rate feedback (T-CR). The primary outcome was peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak). Secondary outcomes included VO2 at ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VO2 at VAT), time to VAT, oxygen pulse, QoL, Fear of Activity in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (Fact-CAD) scores, and exercise adherence.
Results
Baseline VO2 peak was higher in the T-CR group (23.2±3.5 vs. 19.4±4.2, p=0.004). Rehabilitation improved VO2 peak (p<0.001), VO2 at VAT (p=0.004), and time to VAT (p<0.001) in both groups. Fact-CAD scores decreased (p=0.004), and QoL improved (p<0.001). However, C-CR led to greater kinesiophobia reduction (p=0.038) and slightly higher QoL improvements (p=0.05). T-CR participants completed more exercise sessions (14.9±2.9 vs. 12.0±0, p<0.001), with no serious adverse events reported.
Conclusion
T-CR is a safe and effective alternative to C-CR, providing similar physiological benefits. However, C-CR may be superior in reducing kinesiophobia. Future studies should assess long-term adherence and psychological outcomes in diverse populations.

Citations

• Intervention to improve kinesiophobia in patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  Lingqiao Gong, Panpan Xu, Xue Chen, Yue Kuang, Hong Tang
  BMC Cardiovascular Disorders.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To examine the effect of the telerehabilitation program on sleep quality and fatigue level in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was aimed in this study. MS is a demyelinating disease defined by various signs and symptoms that affects physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functioning. Fatigue, depression, sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment are the among common symptoms of MS.
Methods
The study implemented an individual exercise program for twice a week for 12 weeks via telerehabilitation. In the home-based video exercise group, the same exercises were given as video recordings and the patients were asked to do the exercises twice a week for 12 weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Scale-54 and Timed 25 Foot Walk Test were used in the evaluation. The trial is registered with the number of NCT04979845 on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Results
PSQI scores changed from 5.6 (2.1) to 3.66 (2.09) in telerehabilitation group (p=0.03) while no significant change were seen in the video exercise group. Similarly FSS scores decreased from 4.37 (1.42) to 3.67 (1.68) in telerehabilitation group (p=0.04) while no significant changes were seen in the video based exercise group.
Conclusion
The telerehabilitation program is thought to be an effective and accessible non-pharmacological application that can be used in the treatment of sleep quality and fatigue in individuals with MS.

Citations

• Comparative efficacy of non- pharmacological interventions on sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
  Yanping Liu, Xiaoli Zhao, Congying Luo, Ai Chen, Xiaopeng Zeng
  PeerJ.2026; 14: e20900.     CrossRef
• FATIGUE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS – MECHANISMS, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
  Kornelia Kaźmierkiewicz-Makanga, Weronika Spychalska, Emilia Piotrowicz, Filip Witowicz, Julia Glińska, Aleksandra Krawczyk, Wiktoria Waldon, Paulina Sumlet, Maria Gofron, Michał Duliński
  International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To increase participation in cardiac rehabilitation among outpatients with heart disease in Thailand. Factors contributing to low participation are poorly understood. A scale is needed to identify barriers to participation in cardiac rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the newly translated Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale Thai version to justify its use in the Thai population with cardiovascular diseases.
Methods
Psychometric testing was conducted using a cross-sectional survey of 200 outpatients at a Bangkok hospital eligible for the cardiac rehabilitation program from April 2023 to mid-April 2024. Construct validity was evaluated using principal axis factor analysis and first- and second-order confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach’s alpha assessed the scale’s internal consistency.
Results
The average age of the total sample was 62.60±12.37 years. Principal axis factoring with Oblimin rotation and Kaiser normalization extracted four components (subscales) that explained 61.8% of the cumulative percentage of variance. These were labeled work and time conflicts, lack of perceived need factors, comorbidities, and logistical barriers. Values for the confirmatory factor analysis goodness of fit indices exceeded recommended minimum thresholds. The internal consistencies for the total scale and the four components were entirely acceptable.
Conclusion
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale Thai version has acceptable psychometric properties for Thai outpatients with cardiovascular diseases. It may be used to identify barriers to participating in cardiac rehabilitation, promote rehabilitation attendance, and improve patient care.

Wearable robotic exoskeletons have emerged as promising technologies for enhancing gait rehabilitation and providing mobility assistance in individuals with neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. This narrative review summarizes recent advances in wearable robots—including both rigid exoskeletons and soft exosuits—and evaluates their clinical application across diverse conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson’s disease. For rehabilitation purposes, these devices enable repetitive, task-specific gait training that promotes motor learning, reduces therapist burden, and facilitates improvements in walking speed, balance, and endurance. Rigid exoskeletons provide substantial joint support and are particularly effective for patients with severe gait impairments, whereas soft exosuits offer lightweight assistance suited to individuals with milder deficits or fatigue, albeit with limited capacity to deliver high-torque support. Beyond rehabilitation, wearable robots are increasingly used as assistive devices to compensate for permanent gait limitations and restore mobility in daily life. However, widespread clinical adoption remains constrained by several challenges, including a lack of standardized protocols; limited evidence from large-scale, multicenter studies; and practical issues such as device weight, comfort, and ease of use in community settings. Recent developments—such as adaptive control algorithms, volition-adaptive assistance, and artificial intelligence integration—are addressing these barriers by enabling more personalized and responsive support. With continued research investment, user-centered design, and supportive policies, wearable exoskeletons hold considerable potential to improve independence, participation, and quality of life for individuals across a broad spectrum of mobility impairments.

Citations

• The potential of robotics: A systematic review of neuroplastic changes following advanced lower limb rehabilitation in neurological disorders
  Rocco Salvatore Calabrò, Andrea Calderone, Laura Simoncini, Antonino Naro, Lorenzo Octavio Small Haughton, Angelo Quartarone, Carl Froilan D. Leochico
  Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.2026; 180: 106459.     CrossRef
• A review of treatment methods for movement disorders
  Mahdi Khezri, Shakiba Afsar
  Behavioural Brain Research.2026; 500: 115979.     CrossRef
• Transforming telemedicine through predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM): innovations, challenges, and future directions
  Yufan Yang, Wangzheqi Zhang, Chang Liu, Haoling Zhang, Xinyu Shen, Yan Liao, Wenwen Shi, Li Gui
  EPMA Journal.2026; 17(1): 21.     CrossRef
• Trust Isn’t Binary: Analysis of User Sentiment for Assistive Human–Robot Interaction
  Randyll Pandohie, Edgard M. Maboudou-Tchao, Nihad Habizada, Morris Beato, Aman Behal
  Machines.2026; 14(5): 488.     CrossRef
• A Soft Wheel Robotic Cane for Light Mobility Disabilities
  Tomás Ferreira, João Silva Sequeira, Isabel Marques Santos, Ana Marques Oliveira
  Actuators.2026; 15(5): 232.     CrossRef
• Interpretable side-aware kinematic-sEMG gait-state representations relevant to adaptive neurorobotic assistance after stroke: a public-dataset study
  Rocco Salvatore Calabrò, Andrea Calderone, Alessio Baricich, Andrea Santamato, Francesca Antonia Arcadi, Alessandro Marco De Nunzio, Angelo Quartarone
  Frontiers in Neurorobotics.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Design and analysis of lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton based on pneumatic artificial muscle
  Tianhong Luo, Xiangyu Ma, Tianhao Feng, Yuan Li, Changdeng Hou
  Smart Materials and Structures.2026; 35(6): 065003.     CrossRef
• Influence of Rehabilitation Aid Use on Obstacle Height During Gait in Patients with Foot Drop: A Case Series Study
  Joonsung Park, Himchan Shim, Changho Jang, Hanyang Yin, Jongbin Kim
  Healthcare.2025; 13(22): 2984.     CrossRef
• A Wearable System for Knee Osteoarthritis: Based on Multimodal Physiological Signal Assessment and Intelligent Rehabilitation
  Jingyi Hu, Shuyi Wang, Yichun Shen, Xinrong Miao
  Sensors.2025; 25(23): 7334.     CrossRef
• Ethical Horizons in Robotic Rehabilitation: Ensuring Safe AI Use Under the EU AI Act
  Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
  Medical Sciences.2025; 13(4): 317.     CrossRef

Objective
To investigate the effects of a home-based rehabilitation program on physical capacity, lung function, and health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced lung cancer undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy.
Methods
Between December 2021 and December 2023, participants were randomly assigned to exercise and control groups. The exercise group engaged in a home-based exercise program, including respiratory, aerobic, and resistance training, for 60 minutes per session, three times per week, before the first tumor response evaluation. Outcome evaluations included the 6-minute walk test, spirometry to measure lung function (specifically assessing forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] and forced vital capacity, hand grip strength, and QOL assessments using the Short Form 36-Item Health Survey and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer Module 29. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and followed up for 1 year.
Results
Twenty-one of the 26 participants completed the study. The control group showed a significant decrease in FEV1 (p=0.011). Delays in chemotherapy occurred in 40.0% of participants in the control group but none in the exercise group (p=0.019). Mental health showed improvement in the exercise group (p=0.041), whereas adverse effects were more common in the control group (p=0.007), according to QOL questionnaire results.
Conclusion
Home-based rehabilitation during chemotherapy may help maintain lung function, improve mental health, and reduce side effects in patients with lung cancer, warranting further research.

Citations

• Nurse-supported hybrid home-based pulmonary rehabilitation improves psychological distress, quality of life, and functional performance in advanced lung cancer: A randomized controlled trial
  Wei-Ling Liu, Jung-Yien Chien, Yu-Ying Lu, Kuei-Fen Liu
  European Journal of Oncology Nursing.2026; 81: 103130.     CrossRef
• The Role of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Inoperable Advanced Lung Cancer: A Scoping Review
  Huang Yi, Zeng Fan, Feng Lijuan, Ricardo Santiago Gomez
  European Journal of Cancer Care.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Construction of the central symptom cluster management program for patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a Delphi study
  Le Zhang, Yuanyuan Luo, Dongmei Mao, Benxiang Zhu, Zhihui Yang, Cui Cui, Jingxia Miao, Lili Zhang
  BMC Nursing.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To examine the contribution of perceived upper limb function to participation and activity among community-dwelling people with chronic stroke.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with eighty-one people with stroke aged ≥50 years. The outcome measures included the Oxford Participation and Activities Questionnaire (Ox-PAQ), Arm Activity Measure (ArmA), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).
Results
Correlation analyses revealed that perceived upper limb function, as measured using the ArmA, had the strongest and most significant correlations with the levels of participation and activity, as measured using the Ox-PAQ, among all of the tested variables (rs=0.35–0.59, p<0.01). Multiple linear regression analyses also showed that perceived upper limb function significantly associated the levels of participation and activity, accounting for 2.0% to 9.0% of the variance in the Ox-PAQ scores. The final model, which included TUG time, the GDS score, the WMFT score, and the ArmA score, could explain 54% and 28% of the variance in the routine activities and social engagement subscales of the Ox-PAQ, respectively. The model including the GDS score, the WMFT score, and the ArmA score explains 32% of the variance in the emotional well-being subscale of the Ox-PAQ.
Conclusion
Perceived upper limb function is a crucial determinant of participation and activity among community-dwelling people with chronic stroke. It could thus be a target component of stroke rehabilitation interventions to facilitate participation and activity after stroke.

Citations

• Upper Limb Capacity, Performance, and Leisure Participation in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
  Manel Abid, Isabelle Poitras, Léandre Gagné-Pelletier, Carole Rigourd, Charles Sèbiyo Batcho, Catherine Mercier
  Sensors.2025; 25(23): 7120.     CrossRef

Objective
To investigate the impact of self-efficacy in using one’s upper limbs on the overall wellbeing of stroke patients, we developed the Korean version of the Confidence of Arm and Hand Movement (K-CAHM) scale by modifying the original CAHM to suit Korean cultural conditions.
Methods
This study was conducted from May 2022 to June 2023 at a rehabilitation hospital with 54 stroke patients. Participants with sufficient cognitive and verbal abilities were included, while those with severe comorbidities were excluded. For the translation and cultural adaptation of CAHM into Korean, permission was obtained from the original author. Two translators independently translated the questionnaire, followed by a consensus discussion and expert review to create K-CAHM version 1.0. After back-translation and further review, the final Korean version was completed. Reliability and validity were assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), exploratory factor analysis, Bland–Altman analysis, and Pearson correlation.
Results
The K-CAHM showed good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha=0.97; ICC=0.895). Bland–Altman plot analysis showed good agreement, indicating test-retest reliability. Moreover, K-CAHM showed good concurrent validity, demonstrated by its correlation with three domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Fugl-Meyer assessment, the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, personal hygiene and bathing in the modified Barthel Index, and hand and stroke recovery domain in the Stroke Impact Scale.
Conclusion
The newly developed K-CAHM could complement other outcome measures, facilitating patient-centered rehabilitation in the Korean context.

Objective
To determine the effectiveness of adding inspiratory muscle training (IMT) alongside a pulmonary rehabilitation protocol in terms of inspiratory muscle strength, lung function, and exercise capacity in burned adults.
Methods
A randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study. Fifty-two adult patients with burn injuries, more than 20 years old and at least 20% total body surface area, were assigned randomly either to the experimental or the conventional group. The participants in the experimental group were given IMT plus a pulmonary rehabilitation program; the conventional group received only a pulmonary rehabilitation program. The interventions were performed for 8 weeks. At the beginning and after 8 weeks of training, the respiratory muscles’ strength, lung function and exercise capacity were all examined.
Results
After 2 months of training, the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements than conventional group in maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, 6-minute walk test, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (p<0.05).
Conclusion
An 8-week IMT program coupled with pulmonary rehabilitation increases respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary functions, and functional capacity in burn patients. IMT is a beneficial and efficient therapy that can be easily implemented for burn patients.

Objective
To implement early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists is recommended. However, the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is unclear. We analyzed a multicenter prospective observational study (Post-Intensive Care outcomeS in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019) to examine the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment.
Methods
An analysis was performed on COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and March 2021, and required mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was the incidence of PICS physical impairment (Barthel Index≤90) after one year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment by adjusting ICU mobility scale (IMS) during seven-day following ICU admission, and clinically relevant risk factors.
Results
The analysis included 259 patients, 54 of whom developed PICS physical impairment one year later. In 81 patients, physical therapists intervened within seven days of ICU admission. There was no significant difference in mean IMS by day seven of admission between the early and non-early rehabilitation patients (0.70 and 0.61, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that early rehabilitation interventions were significantly associated with a low incidence of PICS physical impairment (odds ratio, 0.294; 95% confidence interval, 0.123–0.706; p=0.006).
Conclusion
Early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists were an independent factor associated with the decreased development of PICS physical impairment at one year, even though early rehabilitation had no significant effect on IMS.

Citations

• Post-COVID Respiratory Sequelae in COPD: Mucus Plugging, Infectious Complications, and Risk-Stratified Follow-Up
  Florina Cristiana Lucaciu, Norbert Wellmann, Ana Maria Mihai, Alexandra Sima, Ovidiu Rosca, Madalina-Ianca Suba, Andrada Tarau, Alexandra Bosoanca, Monica Marc
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2026; 15(8): 2890.     CrossRef

This systematic review aims to determine the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for the management of spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). A comprehensive literature search in health science databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, CINHAL) was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (up to April 2024). Manual searching in journals and screening of the reference lists of identified studies were conducted. Two authors independently selected the studies, assessed the methodological quality, and summarized the evidence. A meta-analysis was not feasible due to the methodological, clinical, and statistical diversity of the included studies. Overall, 32 RCTs (n=1,481 participants) investigated various types of non-pharmacological interventions including: physical activity, transcranial magnetic stimulation (intermittent theta burst stimulation [iTBS], repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation [rTMS]), electromagnetic therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, vibration therapy, shock wave therapy, self-management educational programs, and acupuncture. All studies scored ‘low’ on the methodological quality assessment, implying a high risk of bias. The findings suggest ‘moderate to low certainty’ evidence for physical activity programs used in isolation or combination with other interventions (pharmacological or non-pharmacological), and for iTBS/rTMS with or without adjuvant exercise therapy in improving spasticity in adults with MS. There is ‘very low certainty’ evidence supporting the use of other modalities for treating spasticity in this population. Despite a wide range of non-pharmacological interventions used for the management of spasticity in pwMS, there is a lack of conclusive evidence for many. More robust trials with larger sample sizes and longer-term follow-ups are needed to build evidence for these interventions.

Citations

• Development and validation of a practical documentation of inpatient rehabilitation goals, therapy content and outcomes for improving mobility in people with multiple sclerosis in Austria: A multicentre single-arm pragmatic clinical trial
  Andreas Wanitschek, Barbara Seebacher, Barbara Linert, Andreas Mühlbacher, Robert Hatschenberger, Nicole Kranawetter, Lisa Tischler, Monika Scarpatetti, Verena Walder, Alexandra Holzinger, Bernhard Haider, Doris Hörtenhuber, Eva Kronberger-Schaffer, Vikto
  Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.2026; 109: 107100.     CrossRef
• The effect of the EXOPULSE Mollii suit on motor functions in patients with multiple sclerosis – a randomized sham-controlled crossover trial
  Samar S Ayache, Joseph G Mattar, Alain Créange, Mohamed Abdellaoui, Mickael Zedet, Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur, Hana Megherbi, Hayfa Khaled, Georges Naïm Abi Lahoud, Moussa A Chalah
  Multiple Sclerosis Journal – Experimental, Translational and Clinical.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Efeito agudo do ultrassom no padrão espástico do bíceps braquial em indivíduos com distúrbios neurológicos
  João Sávio Carneiro Silva, Letícia Costa Mengoni, Gabriel Pádua da Silva, Wellington Marcelo Queixas Moreira, Oswaldo Luiz Stamato Taube, Bruno Ferreira
  RCMOS - Revista Científica Multidisciplinar O Saber.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Balancing innovation and affordability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a budget impact analysis from Saudi Arabia
  Ahmed Al-Jedai, Hajer Almudaiheem, Faisal Al-Suweidan, Mohamed al Jumah, Ahmed al-Thobaiti, Fahad Alzureiqan, Wejdan Abu Ras, Fahad M. Al-Dosari, Yaser Al Malik, Pratik Dhopte, Rita Ojeil
  Frontiers in Public Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of minimally invasive surgical procedures, decompression, and the pain outcomes
  Daniel Encarnación-Santos, Gennady Chmutin, Nazmin Ahmed, Egor Chmutin, Emmanuel Batista-Geraldino, Bipin Chaurasia
  Headache Medicine.2025; 16(4): 244.     CrossRef

Objective
To distinguish infarct location and type with the utmost precision using the advantages of the Swin UNEt TRansformers (Swin UNETR) architecture.
Methods
The research employed a two-phase training approach. In the first phase, the Swin UNETR model was trained using the Ischemic Stroke Lesion Segmentation Challenge (ISLES) 2022 dataset, which included cases of acute and subacute infarcts. The second phase involved training with data from 309 patients. The 110 categories result from classifying infarcts based on 22 specific brain regions. Each region is divided into right and left sides, and each side includes four types of infarcts (acute, acute lacunar, subacute, subacute lacunar). The unique architecture of Swin UNETR, integrating elements of both the transformer and u-net designs with a hierarchical transformer computed with shifted windows, played a crucial role in the study.
Results
During Swin UNETR training with the ISLES 2022 dataset, batch loss decreased to 0.8885±0.1897, with training and validation dice scores reaching 0.4224±0.0710 and 0.4827±0.0607, respectively. The optimal model weight had a validation dice score of 0.5747. In the patient data model, batch loss decreased to 0.0565±0.0427, with final training and validation accuracies of 0.9842±0.0005 and 0.9837±0.0010.
Conclusion
The results of this study surpass the accuracy of similar studies, but they involve the issue of overfitting, highlighting the need for future efforts to improve generalizability. Such detailed classifications could significantly aid physicians in diagnosing infarcts in clinical settings.

Citations

• Deep learning–based cognitive impairment brain imaging analysis: New methods, new technologies, and new paradigms
  Qingqin Xu, Jianwei Lu, Zhongfu Zhang, Dongsheng Xu, Chengxiang Guo
  Neural Regeneration Research.2026; 21(9): 4135.     CrossRef
• Prediction of NIHSS Scores and Acute Ischemic Stroke Severity Using a Cross-attention Vision Transformer Model with Multimodal MRI
  Pahati Tuxunjiang, Chencui Huang, Zhen Zhou, Wenyi Zhao, Bingyan Han, Weixiong Tan, Jingru Wang, HuangHanjiaerbieke Kukun, Wei Zhao, Rui Xu, Ainikaerjiang Aihemaiti, Yimuran Subi, Jingyang Zou, Chao Xie, Yifan Chang, Yunling Wang
  Academic Radiology.2025; 32(9): 5453.     CrossRef

Objective
To prospectively compare the efficacy of conventional center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) and home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods
Ninety Patients were divided into HBCR and CBCR groups based on cardiovascular risk stratification and individual preference. The CBCR group performed supervised in-hospital exercise training 2–3 times/week and subsequent self-exercise at home. The HBCR group performed self-exercise at home after one or two sessions of exercise education. The cardiopulmonary exercise test results at baseline and those at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups were analyzed as primary outcome.
Results
The peak oxygen consumption (peak VO₂, mL/kg/min) in the CBCR group was 20.1 and 24.0 at baseline and 12 months, respectively, showing significant improvement (p=0.006). In the HBCR group, it only increased from 24.4 to 25.5, showing suboptimal improvement. A significant increase in the Korean activity scale/index was confirmed only in the CBCR group (p=0.04). The cardiovascular outcome did not differ between the two groups, nor did the dropout rate or demographic factors.
Conclusion
During the COVID-19 pandemic, only CBCR was associated with a significant improvement in peak VO₂ and physical activity levels, a finding that differs from those of other studies and seems to be affected by COVID-19. Therefore, in situations where the importance of HBCR is emphasized, it is essential to introduce measures to monitor and enhance exercise adherence among participants.

Citations

• Design and Rationale of the EARMI Trial: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Early-Phase Cardiac Rehabilitation Post-Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients
  Kaiyuan Cen, Fatimah Ahmedy, Mexmollen Marcus, Mohd Fadzli Shukor, Sukhbeer Kaur Darsin Singh
  Cardiology.2026; : 1.     CrossRef
• Prognostic Factors for Responders of Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation—Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
  Chul Kim, Hee-Eun Choi, Chin Kook Rhee, Jae Ha Lee, Ju Hyun Oh, Jun Hyeong Song
  Healthcare.2025; 13(3): 308.     CrossRef
• Cardiovascular disease prevention and management in COVID-19: a clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology, the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging, the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Profe
  Vassilios S Vassiliou, Vasiliki Tsampasian, Maria Luiza Luchian, Flavio D’Ascenzi, Fabrizio D’Ascenzo, Marc R Dweck, Javier Escaned, Sabiha Gati, Martin Halle, Konstantinos C Koskinas, Lis Neubeck, Michael Papadakis, Steffen E Petersen, Arsen Ristic, Marc
  European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
The purpose of this study was to examine how rehabilitation and patient education for knee osteoarthritis improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and to identify factors influencing HRQOL.
Methods
Between May 2020 and March 2022, 30 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were treated conservatively and rehabilitated with a patient education program. The patient education program was based on the health belief model by Sedlak et al., and patient education using pamphlets was provided during the rehabilitation intervention. The survey items were patient basic information, instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) (FAI), fear of falling (FES), degree of depression (GDS), HRQOL (SF-8), knee function assessment (JOA score), and X-ray classification (K-L classification), and the survey method was a self-administered questionnaire at the start of rehabilitation, 1 month after the intervention, and at the end of the rehabilitation intervention. We examined factors affecting the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of HRQOL scores.
Results
JOA score, FES, FAI, GDS, and SF-8 improved significantly (p<0.01). MCS was also negatively correlated with FES and age (r=-0.486, -0.368). Sex was extracted as a factor for PCS as a factor affecting HRQOL (p<0.01). MCS was extracted with FES as a factor (p=0.046).
Conclusion
A rehabilitation intervention incorporating patient education in osteoarthritis of the knee showed improvement in HRQOL and may be useful for improving depression, fear of falling, and instrumental ADL.

Citations

• Effectiveness of 6 weeks individual rehabilitation on the functionality and quality of life in patients with bilateral gonarthrosis
  Amanda Maria Kostro, Anna Kuryliszyn-Moskal, Anna Hryniewicz, Artur Augustynik, Janusz Dzięcioł, Zofia Dzięcioł-Anikiej
  Acta Balneologica.2025; 67(1): 15.     CrossRef

Objective
To develop a computerized visuomotor integration system for assessment and training of visual perception impairments and evaluate its safety and feasibility in patients with a stroke. Visual field defects and spatial neglect lead to substantial poststroke impairment. Most diagnostic assessments are anchored in traditional methods, and clinical effects of rehabilitation treatments are limited.
Methods
The CoTras Vision system included two evaluations and four training modules. The evaluation modules were based on the Albert’s test and Star cancellation test, and training modules were based on visual tracking, central-peripheral integration, and visuomotor perception techniques. Bland–Altman plots for agreement with the traditional paper-and-pencil test were performed, and the modified Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Simulator Sickness Questionnaire were conducted.
Results
Ten patients with acute stroke completed the study. Bland–Altman plots revealed good agreements for Albert’s test (mean difference, -0.3±4.5) and Star cancellation test (mean difference, 0.3±0.7). The mean±standard deviation scores of the modified Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, Patient Satisfaction Survey, and Simulator Sickness Questionnaire were 84.7±30.6, 40.5±7.9, and 34.0±34.5 respectively.
Conclusion
The CoTras Vision system is feasible and safe in patients with stroke. Most patients had a high degree of motivation to use the system and did not experience severe adverse events. Further studies are needed to confirm its usefulness in stroke patients with visual field defects and hemineglect symptoms. Furthermore, a large, well-designed, randomized controlled trial will be needed to confirm the treatment effect of the CoTras Vision system.

Citations

• Tablet computer-based cognitive training for visuomotor integration in children with developmental delay: a pilot study
  Jee Hyun Suh, Soo Jeong Han, Sun Ah Choi, Hyesung Yang, Sihyun Park
  BMC Pediatrics.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To establish reference values for the computerized cognitive test and evaluate cognitive function improvements across different age groups, we introduce the computerized Cognitive Function Test program (eCFT), specifically designed for children. We aimed to establish eCFT reference values and assess cognitive function improvements across different age groups.
Methods
We included children aged 3–6 years with confirmed normal cognition based on the Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-II. The eCFT consists of 8 subtests for visual perception, attention, memory, and executive function.
Results
A total of 66 participants (36 males and 30 females) with an average age of 4.4 years participated. The age 6 group consistently outperformed both age group 3 and 4 in terms of correct responses. With regard to the completed stage, the “selective auditory stimulus” test findings were 2.0 and 3.9 for the age 3 and age 6 groups, respectively (p<0.05). The “trail-making” test findings were 1.7, 2.1, 2.6, and 2.8, respectively (between ages 3 and 6, p<0.01; between ages 4 and 6, p<0.05); moreover, the age 5 group surpassed the age 3 group (2.6 and 1.7, respectively, p<0.05).
Conclusion
The eCFT is an easily accessible tool to evaluate cognitive function in young children. We introduce reference values with a cutoff range for preschool-aged children, enabling early intervention for those with cognitive impairment. Given its accessibility and relatively short evaluation time, the eCFT has potential for clinical use.

To synthesise the best available evidence for the effectiveness of interventions delivered in community-based rehabilitation (CBR) centers on physical fitness, for community-dwelling older adults living in Asian countries. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Seven English and two Chinese electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies that were conducted by centers providing CBR. Independent reviewers screened, quality-appraised and extracted data. The primary outcome was physical fitness measured by validated assessment tools, including the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), gait speed, hand grip strength, Functional Reach Test (FRT), and one-leg standing test. Assessments of activity of daily living and quality of life using tools including the Barthel Index, Short Form (SF)-12, and SF-36 were secondary outcomes. After screening 5,272 studies, 29 studies were included (16 RCTs, 13 quasi-experimental studies) from four countries. Meta-analyses found that CBR programs significantly decreased TUG time (mean difference [MD], -1.89 seconds; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], -2.84 to -0.94; I²=0%; Z=3.90, p<0.0001), improved gait speed (MD, 0.10 m/s; 95% CI, 0.01–0.18; I²=0%; Z=2.26, p=0.02), and increased one-leg standing time (MD, 2.81 seconds; 95% CI, 0.41–5.22; I²=0%; Z=2.29, p=0.02). Handgrip strength and FRT showed no statistically significant improvement in the meta-analyses. CBR may improve aspects of physical fitness for older adults in Asian countries. However, variability in intervention components and measurement tools reduced the ability to pool individual studies. Further trials are required with robust designs including standardised measures of physical fitness.

Objective
To assess, analyse, and infer the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people living with locomotor disability in North India.
Methods
Patients with locomotor disabilities who met the inclusion criteria received a questionnaire that had already undergone testing and validation. It covered topics highlighting the effect of the pandemic on general health, financial burden, psychological and mental health, social life and behaviour, disability and comorbidity management, transportation, and healthcare accessibility during the pandemic. In order to gauge the pandemic’s effects on the population of people with locomotor disabilities, the answers to the questions were collected and analyzed.
Results
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected people living with locomotor disability, ranging from loss of wages and financial crisis to anxiety, depression and lack of sleep. People with disabilities had limited reach to health and community services that were vital for them, including basic life and functional needs, besides risks of mistreatment and other psychological consequences.
Conclusion
This analysis suggests that the root cause of pandemic disparities is the lack of disability-inclusive planning and, more significantly, the pre-existing socioeconomic disparities and challenges that disabled people have been experiencing for a long time. We suggest that unambiguous public health and policy responses should be incorporated, and health, social participation, and socioeconomic disparity causes for disabled people should be addressed in tandem.

Objective
To show the effectiveness of goal-oriented proprioceptive training in subacute stroke for balance, autonomy, and fall risk.
Methods
Out a total of 35 patients, consistent in age (75.31±8.65 years), type of stroke (ischemic, 3 to 11 weeks before), and motor impairment, 18 patients underwent solely proprioceptive rehabilitation, the other 17 dual task exercises. The study assessed autonomy using Barthel Index, fall risk with Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), balance through Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Tinetti test.
Results
After two months, significant improvements were recorded in Barthel Index, BBS (p<0.0001), Tinetti test (p<0.0001 in dual task group, p=0.0029 in single task group), and TUG (p=0.0052 in dual task group, p=0.0020 in single task group) in both groups. Comparing the two groups, dual task group showed a significant difference in Tinetti balance assessment (p=0.0052), between the total score of Tinetti test and TUG in single (p=0.0271), and dual task (p=0.0235). Likewise, Tinetti gait test was significantly related to TUG in single (p=0.0536), and dual task (p=0.0466), while Tinetti balance test to Barthel Index (p=0.0394), BBS (p<0.0001), and TUG in single (p=0.0219), and dual task (p=0.0196). Lastly, there is a positive correlation of the use of aids with BBS (p=0.0074), and total score of Tinetti test (p=0.0160).
Conclusion
In subacute stroke, goal-oriented proprioceptive training improved balance, but only partially autonomy. Furthermore, the use of aids after dual-task exercises improved recovery of balance, but did not reduced falls.

Citations

• Interaction effect of rehabilitation initiation timing and hospitalization frequency on long-term functional outcomes after stroke in rural China: a retrospective cohort study
  Juming Liu, Luwen Zhang, Changyu Ju, Xiping Jia, Chao Zhang, Feng Wu, Tao Qin, Qianqian Sun
  Frontiers in Neurology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Lower‐Limb Spasticity in an Individual With Subacute Stroke: A Case Report
  Daisuke Kato, Satoshi Hirano, Naoki Mori, Shota Itoh, Toshiki Ito, Taiki Yokote, Hirofumi Maeda, Yohei Otaka
  Clinical Case Reports.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effect of dual-task exercises on balance, risk for fall and activities of daily living dependency of patients with stroke: a quasi-experimental study
  Mona Mahmoud Ali, Dalia Abdallah Abdelatief, Mona Mohamed Saad, Heba Abdelgawad Elfeky
  Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Comparative effects of transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation combined with cognitive-motor dual-task training on functional and cognitive recovery in stroke survivors
  Yutong Fu, Wenli Wang, Qianxi Yan, Jin Song, YanMei Li, Chang Zhu, Siaw Chui Chai, Ponnusamy Subramaniam, Liqing Yao, Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh
  Frontiers in Neurology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effect of Goal Oriented Dual Task Training Versus Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Balance and Gait in Post Stroke Subjects
  Chunduru Durga Pavan Kalyan, Kiran Prakash Pappala, Patchava Apparao, Nandina Venkatesh, Chintada Ganapathi Swamy
  International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research.2026; : 166.     CrossRef
• Effects of Combining Modified Response Elaboration Training, Semantic Feature Analysis, and Arm Ability Training on Cognitive, Language, and Motor Recovery in Poststroke Broca's Aphasia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  Reihaneh Saber-Moghadam, Milad Karimi, Afsaneh Zeinalzadeh, Negar Sangsefidi, Mohammad Taghi Farzadfard, Davood Sobhani-Rad
  American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.2026; 35(3): 1063.     CrossRef
• Effect of occupational therapy on upper limb function and related rehabilitation outcomes after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Jie Bai, Tianyun Liu, Xuelian Du, Wenrui Huang
  Frontiers in Neurology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The public health system and the longing for autonomy. Enhancing ability through powered mobility aid in a metropolitan urban area: a cross-sectional cohort study
  Rita Chiaramonte, Michele Vecchio, Matteo Cioni, Fabrizio Li Gotti, Francesco Leonforte, Antonio Mistretta, Giuseppe Laganga Senzio, Tamara Civello
  Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.2026; : 1.     CrossRef
• AI-Enhanced Extended Reality for Rehabilitation in Africa: A Perspective on Explainable Agents, Co-Creation, and Generative Worlds
  Chala Diriba Kenea, Bruno Bonnechère
  Applied Sciences.2026; 16(10): 4946.     CrossRef
• Validez convergente de la escala Tinetti en pacientes con ictus en fase subaguda
  Adrián Arranz–Escudero, Patricia Martín–Casas, Ester Carpio–Calatayud, Ibai López–de–Uralde–Villanueva
  Revista Científica de la Sociedad Española de Enfermería Neurológica.2025; 62: 500168.     CrossRef
• A scoping review on the body awareness rehabilitation after stroke: are we aware of what we are unaware?
  Davide Cardile, Viviana Lo Buono, Francesco Corallo, Angelo Quartarone, Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
  Frontiers in Neurology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Dual tasking as a predictor of falls in post-stroke: A cross-sectional analysis comparing Walking While Talking versus Stops Walking While Talking
  Disha Lamba, Abraham M. Joshua, Vijaya kumar K, Akshatha Nayak, Prasanna Mithra, Rohit Pai, Shivananda Pai, Shyam Krishnan K., Vijayakumar Palaniswamy
  F1000Research.2025; 13: 1395.     CrossRef
• Effects of Unpredictable Perturbation Training on a Split-Belt Treadmill on Physical Performance in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  Kap-Soo Han, Myoung-Hwan Ko
  Geriatrics.2025; 10(1): 23.     CrossRef
• AdaptRehab VR: Development of an Immersive Virtual Reality System for Upper Limb Stroke Rehabilitation Designed for Low- and Middle-Income Countries Using a Participatory Co-Creation Approach
  Chala Diriba Kenea, Teklu Gemechu Abessa, Dheeraj Lamba, Bruno Bonnechère
  Bioengineering.2025; 12(6): 581.     CrossRef
• Making Sense of Proprioception by Bibliometric Research
  Kevser Sevik Kacmaz
  Brain and Behavior.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Time course for acquiring toileting independence in patients with subacute stroke: a prospective cohort study
  Shin Kitamura, Yohei Otaka, Shintaro Uehara, Yudai Murayama, Kazuki Ushizawa, Yuya Narita, Naho Nakatsukasa, Daisuke Matsuura, Rieko Osu, Kunitsugu Kondo, Sachiko Sakata
  Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.2025; 57: jrm42390.     CrossRef
• Eye tracking-based dual task in rehabilitation of motor and cognitive function in post-stroke patients: a literature review
  Marcella Sugianto, Yuda Zhou, Jifang Qiu
  Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Validity and Reliability of the Berg Balance Scale in Different Tele‐Assessment Methods in Patients With Stroke
  Birol Önal, Nezire Köse, Şeyma Nur Önal, Hatice Yağmur Zengin
  Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Convergent validity of the Tinetti scale in subacute stroke patients
  Adrián Arranz-Escudero, Patricia Martín-Casas, Ester Carpio-Calatayud, Ibai López-de-Uralde-Villanueva
  Revista Científica de la Sociedad de Enfermería Neurológica (English ed.).2025; 62: 500168.     CrossRef
• Parameters of dual task walking in patients with stroke: a scoping review
  Katsuya Sakai, Yuichiro Hosoi, Yusuke Harada
  Physical Therapy Reviews.2025; 30(4): 268.     CrossRef
• Dual tasking as a predictor of falls in post-stroke: A cross-sectional analysis comparing Walking While Talking versus Stops Walking While Talking
  Disha Lamba, Abraham M. Joshua, Vijaya kumar K, Akshatha Nayak, Prasanna Mithra, Rohit Pai, Shivananda Pai, Shyam Krishnan K., Vijayakumar Palaniswamy
  F1000Research.2025; 13: 1395.     CrossRef
• A single-blind randomized trial on the efficacy of telerehabilitation in post-stroke cognitive impairment. CIPS-TER study: rationale, design and methodology
  Eleonora Barucci, Arianna Cavaliere, Eleonora Pavan, Benedetta Formelli, Francesca Cecchi, Cristina Polito, Giulia Salti, Filippo Fratini, Costanza Parenti, Francesca Pescini, Giacomo Redi, Marzia Baldereschi, Antonio Di Carlo, Emilia Salvadori, Anna Pogg
  Frontiers in Stroke.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Short-Term Effects of Rock Steady Boxing Exercise on the Balance Ability of People with Parkinson’s Disease: An Interventional Experimental Study
  Michał Staniszewski, Artur Kruszewski, Monika Lopuszanska-Dawid
  Applied Sciences.2025; 15(22): 12107.     CrossRef
• A Scoping Review of Advances in Active Below-Knee Prosthetics: Integrating Biomechanical Design, Energy Efficiency, and Neuromuscular Adaptation
  Zanodumo Godlimpi, Thanyani Pandelani
  Prosthesis.2025; 7(6): 165.     CrossRef
• Motor-cognitive analysis of dual task walking in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: An observational study using functional near infrared spectroscopy
  Ahmed S. Hassan, Leandro Viçosa Bonetti, Manjiri Kulkarni, Dmitry Rozenberg, W. Darlene Reid, Mohammad (Md) Jobair Khan
  PLOS One.2025; 20(12): e0337647.     CrossRef
• Multidimensional Stratification of Severe Disability: Demographic, Clinical, Geographic, Socio-Economic Profiles and Healthcare Pathways in a Cross-Sectional Italian Cohort
  Rita Chiaramonte, Tamara Civello, Giuseppe Laganga Senzio, Liberato Longo, Alessandro Santo De Caro, Fabrizio Li Gotti, Michele Vecchio
  Healthcare.2025; 13(24): 3200.     CrossRef
• Using deep learning to detect upper limb compensation in individuals post-stroke using consumer-grade webcams—A feasibility study
  Tim Unger, Benjamin Kühnis, Lena Sauerzopf, Martina R. Spiess, Alexander de Spindler, Andreas R. Luft, Chris Easthope Awai, Josef G. Schönhammer, Elena Gavagnin
  Frontiers in Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Balance impairment as a limiting factor of functioning after stroke: a contemporary interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation
  Aleksandra L. Gaganova, Marina A. Kravtsova, Ekaterina E. Pavlova, Ruslan A. Gaynullin, Sadiyat D. Jamalutinova, Yulia R. Samodelkina, Maya F. Ikhsanova, Andrey V. Sergeev, Kosimjon I. Boltaboev, Sardorbek B. Makhamadaliev, Azaliya Z. Farrakhova, Renata R
  Medical and Social Expert Evaluation and Rehabilitation.2025; 28(3): 163.     CrossRef
• Influence of taping on joint proprioception: a systematic review with between and within group meta-analysis
  Shashank Ghai, Ishan Ghai, Susanne Narciss
  BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Application of an Auditory-Based Feedback Distortion to Modify Gait Symmetry in Healthy Individuals
  Le Yu Liu, Samir Sangani, Kara K. Patterson, Joyce Fung, Anouk Lamontagne
  Brain Sciences.2024; 14(8): 798.     CrossRef
• Time-course for acquiring transfer independence in patients with subacute stroke: a prospective cohort study
  Shin Kitamura, Yohei Otaka, Shintaro Uehara, Yudai Murayama, Kazuki Ushizawa, Yuya Narita, Naho Nakatsukasa, Daisuke Matsuura, Rieko Osu, Kunitsugu Kondo, Sachiko Sakata
  Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 56: jrm40055.     CrossRef
• Efficacy and safety of very early rehabilitation for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Ying Lou, Zhongshuo Liu, Yingxiao Ji, Jinming Cheng, Congying Zhao, Litao Li
  Frontiers in Neurology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Challenges in Accessing Community-Based Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care for Older Adult Stroke Survivors and Their Caregivers: A Qualitative Study
  Sining Zeng, Min Wu, Ling Xu, Zining Guo, Shufan Chen, Keyu Ling, Haihan Li, Xiaoli Yu, Xiaoping Zhu
  Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare.2024; Volume 17: 4829.     CrossRef
• The Impact of Virtual Reality as a Rehabilitation Method Using TRAVEE System on Functional Outcomes and Disability in Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study
  Claudia-Gabriela Potcovaru, Delia Cinteză, Miruna Ioana Săndulescu, Daniela Poenaru, Ovidiu Chiriac, Cristian Lambru, Alin Moldoveanu, Ana Magdalena Anghel, Mihai Berteanu
  Biomedicines.2024; 12(11): 2450.     CrossRef
• Synergistic effects of combined motor and language interventions on stroke rehabilitation: a holistic approach
  Reihaneh Saber-Moghadam, Afsaneh Zeinalzadeh, Jamshid Jamali, Mohammad Taghi Farzadfard, Davood Sobhani-Rad
  Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The importance of recovering body awareness in post-stroke rehabilitation: insights from clinical case reports
  Davide Cardile, Viviana Lo Buono, Francesco Corallo, Simona Cammaroto, Caterina Formica, Angelo Quartarone, Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
  Frontiers in Neurology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To examine the association between the mobilization level during intensive care unit (ICU) admission and independence in activity of daily living (ADL), defined as Barthel Index (BI)≥70.
Methods
This was a post-hoc analysis of the EMPICS study involving nine hospitals. Consecutive patients who spend >48 hours in the ICU were eligible for inclusion. Mobilization was performed at each hospital according to the shared protocol and the highest ICU mobility score (IMS) during the ICU stay, baseline characteristics, and BI at hospital discharge. Multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for baseline characteristics, was used to deter-mine the association between the highest IMS (using the receiver operating characteristic [ROC]) and ADL.
Results
Of the 203 patients, 143 were assigned to the ADL independence group and 60 to the ADL dependence group. The highest IMS score was significantly higher in the ADL independence group than in the dependence group and was a predictor of ADL independence at hospital discharge (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.38; adjusted p=0.002). The ROC cutoff value for the highest IMS was 6 (specificity, 0.67; sensitivity, 0.70; area under the curve, 0.69).
Conclusion
These results indicate that, in patients who were in the ICU for more than 48 hours, that patients with good function in the ICU also exhibit good function upon discharge. However, prospective, multicenter trials are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Citations

• Health-Related Quality of Life and Mobility Levels in ICU Survivors with Heel Pressure Ulcer: An Observational Study
  Filippo Binda, Federica Marelli, Veronica Rossi, Lucia Villa, Andrea Cislaghi, Giacomo Grasselli
  Nursing Reports.2026; 16(1): 30.     CrossRef
• Impact of Preexisting Diabetes on Activities of Daily Living Independence at Hospital Discharge in Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study
  Shinichi Watanabe, Kota Yamauchi, Yuji Naito, Ayato Shinohara, Yasunari Morita, Yuki Iida
  Diabetology.2026; 7(2): 27.     CrossRef
• Occupational Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study
  So Hyun Jeon, Sung Eun Hyun, Chae Hyeon Lee, Yeong Ae Yang, Shashank Kaushik
  Occupational Therapy International.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Definitions and Prognoses of Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome: A Comparative Analysis via Systematic Review and Observational Study in Japan
  Shinya Suganuma, Naoki Kanda, Minoru Yoshida, Hayabusa Takano, Hideaki Sakuramoto, Akane Kariya, Hiroyuki Ohbe, Kensuke Nakamura
  Critical Care Medicine.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Factors associated with functional recovery after intensive care unit discharge in patients with mechanical ventilation: A multi-centre prospective observational study
  Kota Yamauchi, Shinichi Watanabe, Yuji Naito, Kei Goto, Shota Tanaka, Tokuaki Shinya, Yoshihisa Fujino, Kazuki Ogawa, Tomohiro Yoshikawa, Yoshie Hirota
  Clinical Rehabilitation.2025; 39(7): 945.     CrossRef
• Impact of Early Rehabilitation Initiation on Walking Recovery in Critically Ill Patients
  Ryuji Yoshinaga, Narumi Yamada, Ryo Kozu
  Cureus.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Balancing Rehabilitation Dose in Acute Stroke Decision-Making and Global Assessment (The BRIDGE Study)
  Shinichi Watanabe, Wataru Yamauchi, Katsuma Shoka, Asahi Kawashima, Shogo Sawamura, Kousuke Kanamori, Tetsuya Furukawa, Yuji Naito, Naoki Takeshita, Keita Utiyama, Rtota Imai, Kanari Kiritani, Naoyuki Hashimoto, Hideaki Tanaka, Yushi Mitani, Takayuki Kita
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(19): 6786.     CrossRef
• Factors associated with functional independence at hospital discharge and 6 months post-hospitalization in intensive care unit survivors with cancer: A prospective cohort study
  Gustavo Telles da Silva, Lavinia Gomes Cavalcante, Maria Luiza Valério Dalzini, Leda Tomiko Yamada da Silveira, Débora Stripari Schujmann, Carolina Fu
  Supportive Care in Cancer.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association between changes in disease severity and physical function after surviving a critical illness: A multicentre retrospective observational study
  Keibun Liu, Tomohiro Hamagami, Naoki Sugiyasu, Kenji Fujizuka, Akira Kawauchi, Sou Yamada, Takayuki Ogura, Naoko Hirata, Takafumi Tani, Shunsuke Taito, Kohei Ota, David McWilliams, Hajime Katsukawa, Toru Kotani
  Australian Critical Care.2024; 37(6): 889.     CrossRef

Objective
To examine the impact of telerehabilitation training on exercise capacity, lung function, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in comparison to no rehabilitation for post-COVID-19 symptoms in adult females.
Methods
A randomized controlled trial of 48 females after mild to moderate COVID-19 survival were equally and randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention group or control group. Three sessions per week for 6 weeks of a telerehabilitation program provided via a smartphone to the intervention group. Spirometry was used to quantify lung function, a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) measured in meters to measure exercise capacity, and the Short Form Health Survey-36 was used to assess HRQOL.
Results
After treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in forced vital capacity (FVC) or forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) between groups (p>0.05), but the 6MWT of the intervention group increased significantly more than that of the control group (p=0.001). The percent of change in 6MWT for the intervention group and control group was 14.22% and 4.21%, respectively. After therapy, the intervention group’s HRQOL significantly improved when compared to the control group’s (p=0.001).
Conclusion
This study showed that a telerehabilitation programs improved exercise capacity and HRQOL in young females post-COVID-19 compared to no rehabilitation.

Citations

• Overview of outcomes measurement tools used to evaluate outpatient and home-based exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs for COVID-19: A systematic review
  Fabrice Gambaraza, Germain Perrin, Sven Günther, Virginie Korb-Savoldelli, Anne-Isabelle Tropeano, Thibaut Caruba, Sarah Berdot, Brigitte Sabatier
  Health Sciences Review.2026; 18: 100262.     CrossRef
• The effectiveness of the AI-based RehabLung mobile rehabilitation system on cardiopulmonary function and user satisfaction in lung cancer patients undergoing thoracic surgery: a protocol for a two-arm randomized clinical trial
  Hsin-Lun Yang, Ching-Hsia Hung, Yu-Ting Huang, Hui-Ching Cheng, Yau-Lin Tseng, Jun-Ming Su, Kun-Ling Tsai
  Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effects of exercise programs on cardiopulmonary function and signs and symptoms in patients with post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Lalita Khuna, Ruschada Sriarmad, Marco Y. C. Pang, Khomkrip Longlalerng
  Frontiers in Medicine.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Physical Therapy Outcome Measures Used in Persons With Long Covid: A Systematic Review of Interventional Studies Up to 1-Year Postglobal Health Emergency
  Andrea Lopes Sauers, Liana Johnson, Marissa Mortensen, Laura Bianca Dorásio da Silva, Luciana Angélica da Silva de Jesus, Jaime González, Cristino Oliveira
  Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal.2025; 36(2): 105.     CrossRef
• Efficacy of Telerehabilitation Protocols for Improving Functionality in Post-COVID-19 Patients
  Jose Luis Estela-Zape, Valeria Sanclemente-Cardoza, Leidy Tatiana Ordoñez-Mora
  Life.2025; 15(1): 44.     CrossRef
• Advances in home-based respiratory muscle training for improving physical function in older adults with long COVID
  Xu Guo, Xuemei Li
  Frontiers in Physiology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Yinghua Yue, Xinyi Han, Qiming Chen, Lirong Dai, Qingjuan Ai, Zhigang Zhang, Fangli Ma, Jing Gao
  Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• REHABILITATION IN PERSISTENT EFFECTS OF COVID-19 INFECTION REVIEW: IMPORTANCE OF TELE-REHABILITATION, INTEGRATED MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
  Kamil Franczyk, Wojciech Machulski, Karolina Świerk, Damian Podkościelny, Jan Krzysztof Makulski, Adam Januszkiewicz, Wiktoria Januszkiewicz, Maria Gierasimiuk, Michał Górski, Martyna Ciarkowska
  International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Practical Recommendations for Exercise Training in Patients with Long COVID with or without Post-exertional Malaise: A Best Practice Proposal
  Rainer Gloeckl, Ralf H. Zwick, Ulrich Fürlinger, Tessa Schneeberger, Daniela Leitl, Inga Jarosch, Uta Behrends, Carmen Scheibenbogen, Andreas Rembert Koczulla
  Sports Medicine - Open.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of telerehabilitation in patients with post-COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
  Jiang Yang, Huiru Li, Hulei Zhao, Yang Xie, Jiansheng Li, Minghang Wang
  BMJ Open.2024; 14(7): e074325.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of telerehabilitation versus face-to-face pulmonary rehabilitation on physical function and quality of life in people with post COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
  Oliver MARTÍNEZ-POZAS, Camilo CORBELLINI, Juan N. CUENCA-ZALDÍVAR, Érika MELÉNDEZ-OLIVA, Pierluigi SINATTI, Eleuterio A. SÁNCHEZ ROMERO
  European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health challenge globally, including in Korea, due to its status as a leading cause of death and its impact on cardiopulmonary function. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a well-established program that not only aids in restoring cardiopulmonary function, but also improves physical and social conditions. The benefits of CR are widely recognized, and it is implemented globally. While the effectiveness of CR has been proven in Korea, it is underutilized. This fact sheet summarizes the current status of CR in Korea, including the prevalence of CVD, the clinical practice guidelines for CR programs, and the challenges of implementing CR in Korea.

Citations

• Beat-to-Beat Heartbeat Detection Using a Smartphone Acoustic Operator
  Kounkou Vincent, Lin Wang, Ke Sun, Tao Gong, Xiyue Tan, Danyang Bao
  IEEE Sensors Journal.2026; 26(2): 2457.     CrossRef
• Residential green space and incidence of cardiovascular disease: Evidence from a nationwide population-based study
  Junhyun Kwon, Hyeon Chang Kim, Eunji Kim, YunJae Jung, Eunji Kim
  International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health.2026; 276: 114831.     CrossRef
• Factors influencing active participation in cardiac rehabilitation among patients with cardiovascular disease: A nationwide cohort study
  Chul Kim, Jung Hwa Hong, Jang Woo Lee
  PM&R.2025; 17(10): 1140.     CrossRef
• 2024 Cardio-cerebrovascular disease fact sheet in Korea
  Kyungdo Han, Jin-Hyung Jung, Sang-Suk Choi, Seung-Hyun Ko
  Cardiovascular Prevention and Pharmacotherapy.2025; 7(3): 85.     CrossRef
• Feasibility and Effects of a Home-Based Cardiac Telerehabilitation Program Following Coronary Intervention: A pilot study
  Min Soo Lim, Ju Yeon Lee, So Jung Lee, Youngjee Jeon
  The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy.2025; 37(6): 329.     CrossRef
• The Accessibility and Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in COVID-19 Pandemic Era
  Chul Kim, Jun Hyeong Song, Seung Hyoun Kim
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(4): 249.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation with Optimized Exercise Prescriptions Using a Mobile Healthcare App in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  Hyun-Seok Jo, Hyeong-Min Kim, Chae-Hyun Go, Hae-Young Yu, Hyeng-Kyu Park, Jae-Young Han
  Life.2024; 14(9): 1122.     CrossRef
• Cardiac rehabilitation for patients with coronary artery disease
  Jang Woo Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(9): 566.     CrossRef

Objective
To translate and culturally adapt the Information Needs in Cardiac Rehabilitation (INCR) questionnaire into Korean and perform psychometric validation.
Methods
The original English version of the INCR, in which patients are asked to rate the importance of 55 topics, was translated into Korean (INCR-K) and culturally adapted. The INCR-K was tested on 101 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants at Kangwon National University Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in Korea. Structural validity was assessed using principal component analysis, and Cronbach’s alpha of the areas was computed. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing information needs according to CR duration and knowledge sufficiency according to receipt of education. Half of the participants were randomly selected for 1 month of re-testing to assess their responsiveness.
Results
Following cognitive debriefing, the number of items was reduced to 41 and ratings were added to assess participants’ sufficient knowledge of each item. The INCR-K structure comprised eight areas, each with sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha>0.7). Criterion validity was supported by significant differences in mean INCR-K scores based on CR duration and knowledge sufficiency ratings according to receipt of education (p<0.05). Information needs and knowledge sufficiency ratings increased after 1 month of CR, thus supporting responsiveness (p<0.05).
Conclusion
The INCR-K demonstrated adequate face, content, cross-cultural, structural, and criterion validities, internal consistency, and responsiveness. Information needs changed with CR, such that multiple assessments of information needs may be warranted as rehabilitation progresses to facilitate patient-centered education.

Citations

• Identification of patient-reported core information needs and associated factors in hospitalized patients with heart failure: A network analysis
  Mei Yang, Yilin Zhang, Wenjie Fang, Wenjie Sun, Ziwei Geng, Xiuzhen Fan
  Heart & Lung.2025; 74: 27.     CrossRef

Post-stroke spastic movement disorder (PS-SMD) develops in up to 40% of stroke survivors after a first ever stroke within the first year. Chronic PS-SMD is often associated with severe disabilities and complications, emphasizing the importance of its early recognition and early adequate management. Extensive research has aimed to accurately predict and sensitively detect a PS-SMD. Symptomatic therapies include conventional rehabilitation and local intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A). The latter is widely used, but primarily in the chronic phase of stroke. However, recent studies have shown the safety and efficacy of BoNT-A therapy even in the acute phase and early sub-acute phase after stroke, i.e., within three months post-stroke, leading to an improved long-term outcome in stroke rehabilitation. Local BoNT-A injections evolve as the primary approach in focal, multifocal, and segmental chronic or acute/subacute PS-SMD. Patients at high risk for or manifest PS-SMD should be identified by an early spasticity risk assessment. By doing so, PS-SMD can be integral part of the patient-centered goal-setting process of a multiprofessional spasticity-experienced team. The benefit of an early PS-SMD treatment by BoNT-A should predominate putative degenerative muscle changes due to long-term BoNT-A therapy by far. This, as early treatment effectively avoids complications typically associated with a PS-SMD, i.e., contractures, pain, skin lesions. The management of PS-SMD requires a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. Early assessment, patient-centered goal setting, early intervention, and early use of BoNT-A therapy prevents from PS-SMD complications and may improve rehabilitation outcome after stroke.

Citations

• Impact of Early Versus Late Treatment with Botulinum Toxin A on Goal Attainment in Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Retrospective Cohort Study
  Atul Patel, Jinming Zhang, Simon Page, Sarah Harding, Mathieu Beneteau, Colin Navickas, Alberto Esquenazi
  Toxins.2026; 18(2): 68.     CrossRef
• Beyond spasticity reduction: botulinum toxin-a injection is associated with changes in abnormal flexor synergies of the upper limb in chronic stroke
  Michiyuki Kawakami, Daisuke Ito, Ken Azuma, Takayuki Kamimoto, Arisa Kawabata, Tetsuya Tsuji
  Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.2026; 58: jrm44906.     CrossRef
• Botulinum toxin from foodborne hazard to aesthetic and biomedical tool: mechanisms, applications, detection strategies, and future perspectives
  Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Waqar, Rais Ahmed, Haroon Afzal, Muhammad Abdullah Mueen, Urooj Qayyum, Farhang Hameed Awlqadr, Muhammad Talha Yaqoob, Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim, Gamal A. Mohamed, Iqra Rafiq, Hagar M. Mohamed
  Archives of Microbiology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Early recognition of post-stroke spasticity: the I-REFER study
  Klemens Fheodoroff, Benjamin Waeschle, Manuela Schuetzer, Georg Comes, Joerg Wissel
  Frontiers in Neurology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• How many stroke survivors develop problematic spasticity requiring pharmacological therapy? An international (Europe and USA) observational study protocol
  Richard D Zorowitz, Laura Serrano Barrenechea, Simon Butet, Sergiu Groppa, David Hernández Herrero, Rama Prasad, Susan Sandars, Seema Meloni, Simon Page, Pascal Maisonobe, Alessandro Picelli
  BMJ Open.2025; 15(1): e087404.     CrossRef
• Acupuncture waggle needling alleviates spastic movement disorder in post-stroke rats via GLT-1 activation to modulate Glu/GABA-Gln cycle
  Zhou Zhang, Liang-Xiao Ma, Jie-Dan Mu, Meng-Yu Chen, Xu Qian, Qin-Yong Zhang, Ling-Hui Ma
  Physiology & Behavior.2025; 301: 115059.     CrossRef
• Does preconditioning with serial casting prior to abobotulinumtoxinA injection improve outcomes in the rehabilitation of post-stroke wrist and finger flexor spasticity?
  Peter Kossmehl, Katrin Naupold, Ricarda Temp, Christiane Brendel, Nicole Kuhle, Jörg Wissel
  Journal of Neural Transmission.2025; 132(12): 1841.     CrossRef
• The effect of short-term treatment with botulinum toxin a on muscle stiffness in stroke patients: an exploratory study
  Jelena Simic, Kristin Østlie, Fin Biering-Sørensen , Bo Biering-Sørensen, Derek John Curtis, Arve Opheim
  Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.2025; 57: jrm44318.     CrossRef
• Early Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection May Improve Motor Recovery in Patients with Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Secondary Analysis from a Longitudinal Cohort Study
  Alessandro Picelli, Andrea Santamato, Michela Cosma, Alessio Baricich, Carmelo Chisari, Marzia Millevolte, Cristina Del Prete, Ilenia Mazzù, Rita Di Censo, Nicola Smania, Mirko Filippetti
  Toxins.2025; 17(11): 558.     CrossRef
• The Role of Botulinum Toxin Type-A in Spasticity: Research Trends from a Bibliometric Analysis
  Salvatore Facciorusso, Stefania Spina, Alessandro Picelli, Alessio Baricich, Gerard E. Francisco, Franco Molteni, Jörg Wissel, Andrea Santamato
  Toxins.2024; 16(4): 184.     CrossRef
• Botulinum Toxin in Treatments for Abnormal Movements
  María Gabriela González Chico, Xaviera Elizabeth Medina Godoy, Miliana Esperanza Estupiñan Bazurto, María José López Becerra
  Más Vita.2024; 6(2): 82.     CrossRef
• Botulinum Toxin Type A (BoNT-A) Use for Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Multicenter Study Using Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning
  María Jesús Antón, Montserrat Molina, José Gabriel Pérez, Santiago Pina, Noemí Tapiador, Beatriz De La Calle, Mónica Martínez, Paula Ortega, María Belén Ruspaggiari, Consuelo Tudela, Marta Conejo, Pedro Leno, Marta López, Carmen Marhuenda, Carlos Arias-Ca
  Toxins.2024; 16(8): 340.     CrossRef
• Risk factors for post-stroke spasticity: a retrospective study
  Chuanxi Zhu, Lingxu Li, Long Qiu, Guangcheng Ji
  Frontiers in Neurology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Modulation of spasticity in patients following a cerebrovascular accident in the subacute pase
  Agustín Musuruana, Martin Ricardo Revelant
  International Journal of Neurology.2024; 58: 154.     CrossRef
• Early is Better, Then, How Early and How to Apply: Practical Approach of Botulinum Toxin Injection
  Joon-Ho Shin
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(6): 439.     CrossRef

Objective
To investigate the relationship between the torque onset angle (TOA) of the isokinetic test for knee extensors in the paretic side and walking related balance in subacute stroke patients.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed patients with first-ever strokes who have had at least two isokinetic tests within 6 months of onset. 102 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. The characteristics of walking related balance were measured with the Berg Balance Scale sub-score (sBBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), 10-m Walk Test (10MWT) and Functional Independence Measure sub-score (sFIM). The second isokinetic test values of the knee extensor such as peak torque, peak torque to weight ratio, hamstring/quadriceps ratio, TOA, torque stop angle, torque at 30 degrees, and peak torque asymmetry ratio between paretic and non-paretic limb were also taken into account. Pearson’s correlation, simple regression and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the correlation between TOA and walking related balance.
Results
TOA of the knee extensor of the paretic limb showed significant correlations with BBS, sBBS, TUG, 10MWT, and sFIM according to Pearson’s correlation analysis. TOA also had moderate to good correlations with walking related balance parameters in partial correlation analysis. In multiple regression analysis, TOA of the paretic knee extensor was significantly associated with walking related balance parameters.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that TOA of the paretic knee extensor is a predictable parameter of walking related balance. Moreover, we suggest that the ability to recruit muscle quickly is important in walking related balance.

Citations

• Using HD-EMG to Assess Motor Units in Vastus Lateralis With the Lokomat: A Pilot Study With Young, Elderly and Individuals Post-Stroke
  G. Corvini, M. Lorusso, N. L. Tagliamonte, M. Masciullo, M. Molinari, G. Scivoletto, F. Tamburella, J. C. Moreno
  IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics.2025; 7(4): 1693.     CrossRef

With the increasing frequency of disasters and the significant upsurge of survivors with severe impairments and long-term disabling conditions, there is a greater focus on the importance of rehabilitation in disaster management. During disasters, rehabilitation services confront a greater load due to the influx of victims, management of persons with pre-existing disabilities and chronic conditions, and longer-term care continuum. Despite robust consensus amongst the international disaster response and management community for the rehabilitation-inclusive disaster management process, rehabilitation is still less prioritised. Evidence supports the early involvement of rehabilitation professionals in disaster response and management for minimising mortality and disability, and improving clinical outcomes and participation in disaster survivors. In the last two decades, there have been substantial developments in disaster response/management processes including the World Health Organization Emergency Medical Team (EMT) initiative, which provides a standardized structured plan to provide effective and coordinated care during disasters. However, rehabilitation-inclusive disaster management plans are yet to be developed and/or implemented in many disaster-prone countries. Strong leadership and effective action from national and international bodies are required to strengthen national rehabilitation capacity (services and skilled workforce) and empower international and local EMTs and health services for comprehensive disaster management in future calamities. This narrative review highlights the role of rehabilitation and current developments in disaster rehabilitation; challenges and key future perspectives in this area.

Citations

• A Survey on Awareness of Disaster Rehabilitation among Therapists
  Akiyuki Okamoto, Yui Kasamatsu, Hiromi Hashimoto, Rikito Zaiki, Koya Nakai, Ken Kouda
  The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.2026; 63(2): 185.     CrossRef
• Rehabilitation under fire: insights from SUMC
  Alan Friedman, Cheryl Benjamin, Iuly Treger
  The Lancet.2025; 405(10487): 1338.     CrossRef
• Interleaved Practice in Remediating Basic Arithmetic Proficiency in Grade One
  Junessa Bonite
  Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Management of the Province of Siquijor: A Basis for a Strategic Development Plan
  Enrico Zerna
  Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health: A Sequential Explanatory Approach
  Mary Joy Hermosura, Aaron Carlo Decendario, Leo Chiong
  Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Ensuring Delivery of Effective Pain Management during Disasters
  Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava, Prateek Sudhakar Bobhate, Sanjay Deshpande
  Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal.2025; 32(3): 259.     CrossRef
• Disaster competencies among physiotherapists in a Conflict-Ridden world: an overview of current Challenges and future directions – “Letter to the editor”
  Mohammad Sidiq, Aksh Chahal, Jyoti Sharma
  European Journal of Physiotherapy.2025; 27(5): 328.     CrossRef
• Unprepared and Overlooked: Strengthening Disaster Readiness in Vocational Rehabilitation
  Lee Ann Rawlins Williams
  The Rehabilitation Professional.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Afet Sonrası Tıbbi Rehabilitasyon Süreci ve Küresel Gelişmeler
  Cem Zafer Yıldır
  Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi.2024; 19(1): 134.     CrossRef
• Development and implementation of a rehabilitation triage algorithm for disasters in the subacute phase: an experience from the 2024 Noto peninsula earthquake
  Shigehito Shiota, Naoya Orita, Yuma Tsubakita, Masaya Ichimoto, Noboru Shimada, Naoya Goto, Tomohiro Hirota, Shunsuke Taito, Kazuhiko Hirata, Yukio Mikami
  Frontiers in Disaster and Emergency Medicine.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Prosthesis applications and challenges in children with earthquake-related amputations
  Sibel Basaran, Aylin Sariyildiz, Sila Olmez, Bugra Kundakci, Omer Sunkar Bicer
  Injury.2024; 55(11): 111920.     CrossRef
• Efficacy of a Novel Recording Method in Facilitating Rapid Documentation of Disaster Rehabilitation Support Activities
  Akira Morikawa, Masao Tomioka, Ryuichi Saura
  The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 61(8): 757.     CrossRef
• Challenges in accessing health care services for women and girls with disabilities using a humanitarian physical rehabilitation program in Lebanon: a mixed method study
  Linda Abou-Abbas, Diana Sabbagh, Rodolfo Rossi, Lavanya Vijayasingham, Maria Rita Lteif, Haya Rawi, Rouba Mitri, Hala Al Sultan, Aicha Benyaich, Ahmad AL-MOSA, Claudia Truppa
  International Journal for Equity in Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To compare the efficacy of home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) and center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) in cardiovascular risk factor management.
Methods
We performed retrospective review of the electronic medical records of 72 patients who were hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome and participated in a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program for the first time. The participants were stratified into the HBCR group, receiving educational programs and performing self-exercise at home, and the CBCR group, participating in electrocardiogram monitoring monitoring exercise training in hospital settings. The results of the Lifestyle Questionnaire survey were investigated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
Results
Both groups showed significant improvements in serum low-density lipoprotein levels, frequency of alcohol consumption, eating habits and psychological status. Moderate-intensity exercise duration and the maximal metabolic equivalents values improved significantly in both groups but slightly more in the CBCR group. However, the number of current smokers increased in both groups, and no significant changes were found in body mass index, serum glycated hemoglobin levels, serum high-density lipoprotein levels, or high-intensity exercise duration.
Conclusion
Regardless of the CR program type, a patient’s lifestyle can be modified. Therefore, patients should continue participating in any type of CR program.

Citations

• Actualización en rehabilitación cardiaca en el paciente crítico cardiovascular: una revisión de tema
  Juan Santiago Serna-Trejos, Carlos Andrés Castro-Galvis, Stefanya Geraldine Bermúdez-Moyano, Laura Catalina Rodríguez-Fonseca, Álvaro Andrés Montenegro-Apraez, Jorge Fernando Miño-Bernal, Lina María Salazar-Rodríguez, Valentina Bravo-Echeverry
  Acta Colombiana de Cuidado Intensivo.2025; 25(2): 350.     CrossRef
• The cytoplasmic sensor, the AIM2 inflammasome: A precise therapeutic target in vascular and metabolic diseases
  Jiuguo Lin, Jiaojiao Wang, Jian Fang, Meihang Li, Suowen Xu, Peter J. Little, Dongmei Zhang, Zhiping Liu
  British Journal of Pharmacology.2024; 181(12): 1695.     CrossRef
• Cardiac rehabilitation centers in Romania: Where are we now?
  Mihaela Mandu, Gabriel Olteanu, Andreea Elena Lăcraru, Gelu Onose, Narcisa Lazăr, Liviu Șerbănoiu, Maria-Alexandra Ciucă-Pană, Ioana Andone, Aura Spinu, Andreea Ancuta Vataman, Gabriela Dogaru, Ștefan Busnatu
  Balneo and PRM Research Journal.2024; 15(Vol.15, no): 707.     CrossRef
• Optimizing Cardiac Rehabilitation in Heart Failure: Comprehensive Insights, Barriers, and Future Strategies
  Francisco Epelde
  Medicina.2024; 60(10): 1583.     CrossRef

Objective
To assess the accuracy of recently commercialized wearable devices in heart rate (HR) measurement during cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) under gradual increase in exercise intensity, while wearable devices with HR monitors are reported to be less accurate in different exercise intensities.
Methods
CPX was performed for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Twelve lead electrocardiograph (ECG) was the gold standard and Apple watch 7 (AW7), Galaxy watch 4 (GW4) and Bio Patch Mobicare 200 (MC200) were applied for comparison. Paired absolute difference (PAD), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were evaluated for each device.
Results
Forty-four participants with CAD were included. All the devices showed MAPE under 2% and ICC above 0.9 in rest, exercise and recovery phases (MC200=0.999, GW4=0.997, AW7=0.998). When comparing exercise and recovery phase, PAD of MC200 and AW7 in recovery phase were significantly bigger than PAD of exercise phase (p<0.05). Although not significant, PAD of GW4 tended to be bigger in recovery phase, too. Also, when stratified by HR 20, ICC of all the devices were highest under HR of 100, and ICC decreased as HR increased. However, except for ICC of GW4 at HR above 160 (=0.867), all ICCs exceeded 0.9 indicating excellent accuracy.
Conclusion
The HR measurement of the devices validated in this study shows a high concordance with the ECG device, so CAD patients may benefit from the devices during high-intensity exercise under conditions where HR is measured reliably.

Citations

• The accuracy of Apple Watch measurements: a living systematic review and meta-analysis
  Rory Lambe, Maximus Baldwin, Ben O’Grady, Moritz Schumann, Brian Caulfield, Cailbhe Doherty
  npj Digital Medicine.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Is my smartwatch a valid witness? A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Marcello Sicbaldi, Laura Bartoli, Jose Albites-Sanabria, Ilaria D’Ascanio, Alessandro Silvani, Lorenzo Chiari, Alberto Camon, Luca Palmerini
  Forensic Science International.2026; 384: 112901.     CrossRef
• Safety considerations and adverse events associated with exercise across medical disciplines
  Amin Roshdy Soliman, Gehad Maghraby, Farouk Mostafa Faris, Amany Abouzeid, Rabab Mahmoud Ahmed, Ebtesam Fahmy, Mona Hegazy, Alia A. Saleh, Shereen Abdelghaffar, Inass Shaltout
  The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Heart Rate Estimation Using the Galaxy Watch During Maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: Cross-Sectional Validation Study
  Allan Inoue, João Paulo Ferreira Soares, Felipe Antunes-Santos, Alexandre Ferreira, Alberto Gonçalves, João Arthur Alcântara, Marcelo Rodrigues dos Santos
  JMIR Cardio.2026; 10: e81917.     CrossRef
• Physiological load estimation in athletes using ECG-derived features and gradient-boosted modeling
  Mei Li, Jichao Xu
  Frontiers in Public Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Prognostic Factors for Responders of Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation—Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
  Chul Kim, Hee-Eun Choi, Chin Kook Rhee, Jae Ha Lee, Ju Hyun Oh, Jun Hyeong Song
  Healthcare.2025; 13(3): 308.     CrossRef
• Wearable Devices for Exercise Prescription and Physical Activity Monitoring in Patients with Various Cardiovascular Conditions
  Tasuku Terada, Matheus Hausen, Kimberley L. Way, Carley D. O’Neill, Isabela Roque Marçal, Paul Dorian, Jennifer L. Reed
  CJC Open.2025; 7(5): 695.     CrossRef
• Apple watch accuracy in monitoring health metrics: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Ju-Pil Choe, Minsoo Kang
  Physiological Measurement.2025; 46(4): 04TR01.     CrossRef
• Continuous heart rate measurements in patients with cardiac disease: Device comparison and development of a novel artefact removal procedure
  Paulien Vermunicht, Katsiaryna Makayed, Christophe Buyck, Lieselotte Knaepen, Juan Sebastian Piedrahita Giraldo, Sebastiaan Naessens, Wendy Hens, Emeline Van Craenenbroeck, Kris Laukens, Lien Desteghe, Hein Heidbuchel
  DIGITAL HEALTH.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Evaluating the Accuracy of Low-Cost Wearable Sensors for Healthcare Monitoring
  Tatiana Pereira Filgueiras, Pedro Bertemes-Filho, Fabrício Noveletto
  Micromachines.2025; 16(7): 791.     CrossRef
• Validation of heart rate measured by the consumer-level wearable device Fitbit: a cross-sectional observational study
  Daisuke Higuchi, Yuko Takahashi, Shigeya Tanaka, Yosuke Tomita
  Journal of Physical Therapy Science.2025; 37(11): 561.     CrossRef
• Evaluation of ECG Waveform Accuracy in the CardioBAN Wearable Device: An Initial Analysis
  Inês Escrivães, Diogo Lopes, João L. Vilaça, Leonor Varela-Lema, Pedro Morais
  Applied Sciences.2025; 15(24): 13143.     CrossRef
• Analysis of a Medically Certified, Wrist-Worn Sensor for the Assessment of Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure During Daily Activities in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure or Coronary Artery Disease and Recreational Athletes: Validation Study
  Ignace L J De Lathauwer, Valerie A A van Es, Mayke M C J van Leunen, Steven Onkelinx, Rutger W M Brouwers, Danny A J P van de Sande, Mathias Funk, Hareld M C Kemps
  JMIR Cardio.2025; 9: e69343.     CrossRef
• Validity of Heart Rate Measurement Using Wearable Devices During Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: Prospective Pilot Validation Study
  Kazufumi Kitagaki, Yuji Hongo, Rie Futai, Takeshi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Morikawa, Hisashi Shimoyama
  JMIR Cardio.2025; 9: e77911.     CrossRef
• Assessment of Samsung Galaxy Watch4 PPG-Based Heart Rate During Light-to-Vigorous Physical Activities
  Caíque Santos Lima, Felipe Capiteli Bertocco, José Igor Vasconcelos de Oliveira, Thiago Mattos Frota de Souza, Emely Pujólli da Silva, Fernando J. Von Zuben
  IEEE Sensors Letters.2024; 8(7): 1.     CrossRef
• The Accessibility and Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in COVID-19 Pandemic Era
  Chul Kim, Jun Hyeong Song, Seung Hyoun Kim
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(4): 249.     CrossRef
• The eTRIMP method for bodybuilding training load assessment: A review with a case study
  Fernandes Haniel
  Annals of Musculoskeletal Medicine.2023; 7(2): 016.     CrossRef
• Recommendations for Measurement of Bodybuilding Internal Training Load by eTRIMP Method
  Haniel Fernandes
  Journal of Sports Medicine and Therapy.2023; 8(4): 051.     CrossRef

Objective
Dysphagia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It is sub-classified into oropharyngeal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the mouth and pharynx, and esophageal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction. Dysphagia can have a significant negative impact one’s physical health and quality of life as its severity increases. Therefore, proper assessment and management of dysphagia are critical for improving swallowing function and preventing complications. Thus a guideline was developed to provide evidence-based recommendations for assessment and management in patients with dysphagia.
Methods
Nineteen key questions on dysphagia were developed. These questions dealt with various aspects of problems related to dysphagia, including assessment, management, and complications. A literature search for relevant articles was conducted using Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and one domestic database of KoreaMed, until April 2021. The level of evidence and recommendation grade were established according to the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology.
Results
Early screening and assessment of videofluoroscopic swallowing were recommended for assessing the presence of dysphagia. Therapeutic methods, such as tongue and pharyngeal muscle strengthening exercises and neuromuscular electrical stimulation with swallowing therapy, were effective in improving swallowing function and quality of life in patients with dysphagia. Nutritional intervention and an oral care program were also recommended.
Conclusion
This guideline presents recommendations for the assessment and management of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, including rehabilitative strategies.

Citations

• Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of SOS Dysphagia: Brief educational interventions for adults with oropharyngeal dysphagia and their informal caregivers
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  International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.2026; 28(2): 229.     CrossRef
• Effects of Tongue Resistance and Strengthening Exercises on Tongue Strength and Oropharyngeal Swallowing in Frail Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Double‐Blind Randomised Controlled Trial
  Shu‐Hua Kao, Hsin Chu, Kondwani Joseph Banda, Chien‐Mei Sung, Ruey Chen, Li‐Fang Chang, Kai‐Jo Chiang, Li‐Chung Pien, Kuei‐Ru Chou
  Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.2026; 53(2): 402.     CrossRef
• Consensus expert recommendations for management of dysphagia during hospital admission in Parkinson's disease
  Delaram Safarpour, Annie Brooks, Adrianne Smiley, David A Katzka, David R Shprecher, James G Greene, Rajesh Pahwa, Michelle S Troche, Zoe Kriegel, Emily P Peron, Amanda Bryant, Alfonso Fasano, Mary Ochoa, Adolfo Ramirez-Zamora, Marty Acevedo, Gina Mari Bl
  Journal of Parkinson’s Disease.2026; 16(1): 16.     CrossRef
• Cortical and peripheral neurostimulation to improve swallowing function, aspiration, and dysphagia severity in dysphagia management: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  Kondwani J. Banda, Hsin Chu, Chien-Mei Sung, Ruey Chen, Pi-Yu Su, Li-Fang Chang, Li-Chung Pien, Chu-Yi Wang, Kuei-Ru Chou
  Clinical Nutrition.2026; 57: 106567.     CrossRef
• Patients’ experiences of dysphagia and rehabilitation care needs across the pre-, intra-, and post-radiotherapy phases for head and neck cancer: a qualitative study
  Tingting Yang, Biling Su, Jing Zheng, Xiumei Chen, Xiaomin Chen, Zhijiang Li, Hua Ye, Jie Jia
  Supportive Care in Cancer.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Application of the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle in Reducing the Incidence of Dysphagia in Oral Cancer Patients After Radical Surgery
  Ze-Ying Hu, Ling-Nv Xie, Guan-Mian Liang, Lan-Ying Qiu, Hang Gao, Jian-Wen Hou
  Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare.2026; Volume 19: 1.     CrossRef
• Peroral endoscopic myotomy in the treatment of cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction
  K.V. Shishin, I.Yu. Nedoluzhko, N.S. Semenova, A.V. Pyatakova, I.A. Pavlov, E.A. Grishina, V.V. Tsvirkun
  Russian Journal of Evidence-Based Gastroenterology.2026; 15(1): 12.     CrossRef
• Optimizing texture-modified broccoli purées for dysphagia diets in collective catering
  Sara Remón, Teresa Sanclemente, Ana Ferrer-Mairal
  Applied Food Research.2026; 6(1): 101939.     CrossRef
• Assessing the Performance and Reliability of Deep Learning Autosegmentation in Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
  Wei-Kai Chuang, Bing-Fong Lin, Yu-Hao Lee, Po-Hsun Su, Yung-Shuo Kao, Chia-Feng Lu
  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A scoping review of oral care protocols for preventing non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia in hospital settings (part 1): defining protocol components and implementation strategies
  S. Pojmonpiti, V. De Herdt, J. Van Esbroeck, R. Blommaert, K. Batens, M. Baudelet, B. Janssens
  Journal of Hospital Infection.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Rehabilitation of post-stroke dysphagia using swallowing exercises: a quasi-experimental pre–post study
  Bushra Alshammari, J. Silvia Edison, Awatif Alrasheeday, Sameer A. Alkubati, Sahar Mazied Alshammari, Athar Odah Alshammari, Layla Salem Alshammari, Laila Lafi Alharbi, Hind Mobark Alshamry, Athari Alenazi, Salwa Abd-ElGawad Sallam, Eman Breikan Alshammar
  Frontiers in Neurology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Using concept mapping to guide dysphagia service enhancements in Singapore: Recommendations from the speech-language pathology workforce
  Flora M.M Poon, Elizabeth C. Ward, Clare L. Burns
  International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.2025; 27(1): 56.     CrossRef
• Dysphagia Screening in Residential Long-Term Care Settings in the Republic of Ireland: A Cross-Sectional Survey
  Constantino Estupiñán Artiles, Claire Donnellan, Julie Regan, Mary Mooney
  Dysphagia.2025; 40(3): 614.     CrossRef
• Dysphagia and Dysphonia After Head and Neck Cancer
  Aaron Parsons, Karuna Dewan
  Oral Diseases.2025; 31(9): 2753.     CrossRef
• Cough Suppression Therapy in Patients With Chronic Refractory Cough and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
  ShengYing A. Chen, Jessica F. Kim, Priya Krishna, Ethan Simmons, Brianna K. Crawley, Thomas Murry
  American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.2025; 34(3): 1058.     CrossRef
• Characterization of Beverage Viscosity Based on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative and Its Correspondence to the Japanese Dysphagia Diet 2021
  Mari Nakao-Kato, Aya Takahashi, Jin Magara
  Nutrients.2025; 17(6): 1051.     CrossRef
• Factors influencing oropharyngeal dysphagia in individuals with chronic neurological disorders presenting to the outpatient swallowing disorder clinic
  Güleser Güney Yılmaz, Müberra Tanrıverdi, Remzi Doğan, Orhan Özturan
  Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.2025; 97: 106387.     CrossRef
• The Efficacy of Outpatient Swallowing Therapy: A Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Study
  Tyler W. Crosby, Sonja Molfenter, Matina Balou, Uche C. Ezeh, Milan R. Amin
  Dysphagia.2025; 40(5): 1250.     CrossRef
• The Role of Dysphagia on Head and Neck Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life, Functional Disabilities and Psychological Distress: Outcomes of Cancer Rehabilitation from an Observational Single-Center Study
  Špela Matko, Christina Knauseder, David Riedl, Vincent Grote, Michael J. Fischer, Samuel Moritz Vorbach, Karin Pfaller-Frank, Wilhelm Frank, Thomas Licht
  Current Oncology.2025; 32(4): 220.     CrossRef
• Neuromyostimulation methods for treatment of neurogenic dysphagia
  S. A. Zaytsevskaya, R. Kh. Lyukmanov, N. B. Loginova, A. A. Panina, E. S. Berdnikovich, N. A. Suponeva
  Russian neurological journal.2025; 30(2): 4.     CrossRef
• Mind the gap: Which are the gaps in dysphagia management?
  Carlo Pedrolli
  Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.2025; 69: 1.     CrossRef
• Effects of oral hygiene and oral exercise on oral hypofunction in residents of long-term care facilities
  Chih-Hung Ko, Ming-Chu Feng, Chia-Ling Chao, Chih-Hsing Hung, Meng-Ling Hou, Ming-Feng Wu, Sheng-Hsiu Wu
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effectiveness and safety of oral nutrition in older patients with moderate dysphagia: a real-world cohort study in geriatric inpatients
  Mohan Li, Shan Jiang, Jiaojiao Li, Xiling Chen, Lan Ma, Qihao Guo, Yuehui Wang, Lan Luo, Liping An, Yonghua Wu, Wei Huang, Ludan Yuan, Lin Wang, Xiping Ding, Xujing Zhao, Zhongyuan Zhang, Hongyu Zhang, Yin Wu, Rong Yang, Yang Liu, Jian Cao, Xiaohong Liu
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• Initial encounter and discharge disposition of Medicare beneficiaries with post-stroke dysphagia
  Molly Jacobs, Richard C. Lindrooth, Marcelo C. Perraillon, Karen Hegland, Robert McGowan, Charles Ellis
  Frontiers in Stroke.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Safety of FEES Performed by Speech-Language Pathologists and Physicians–Evidence Supporting Task Sharing from a Retrospective Observational Study of 964 Consecutive Examinations
  Małgorzata Polit, Joanna Chmielewska-Walczak, Maria Sobol, Izabela Domitrz, Kazimierz Niemczyk
  Nutrients.2025; 17(20): 3193.     CrossRef
• La formación como estrategia para mejorar la atención de los pacientes con disfagia orofaríngea
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• A dysphagia és a neglektszindróma kapcsolata a rehabilitáció során
  Mariann Németh, Babett Tóth, Gyula Demeter, Zoltán Dénes
  Orvosi Hetilap.2025; 166(27): 1053.     CrossRef
• Clinical and Economic Impact in Dysphagia Management: A Preliminary Economic Evaluation for the WeanCare-Dysphameal Approach
  Chiara Monti, Paolo Landa, Antonio Rosario Romano, Marco Di Nitto, Axsinia Torsello, Stefania Ripamonti, Gianluca Catania, Annamaria Bagnasco, Milko Zanini
  Nutrients.2025; 17(20): 3259.     CrossRef
• The effectiveness of kinesiology taping on dysphagia in brain tumor survivors after neurosurgery: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
  Júlio Belo Fernandes, Leonor Monteiro, Abílio Costa, Ana Sofia Gonçalves, John Dean, Carlos Família, Josefa Domingos, Catarina Godinho
  Frontiers in Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Preventing Aspiration Among Older Adults in Long-term Care
  Felice Chang, Kathy Shaw
  Clinical Nurse Specialist.2025; 39(6): 247.     CrossRef
• Knowledge Levels and Learning Needs in Dysphagia Management: Perspectives from Professional and Non-Professional Stakeholders in Five European Countries
  Sara Remón, Ana Ferrer-Mairal, Vijolė Bradauskienė, Ana Cristina Cortés, Teresa Sanclemente
  Healthcare.2025; 13(23): 3140.     CrossRef
• Feasibility and acceptability of a dysphagia screening intervention for hospitalised older patients - a process evaluation
  Helene Nørgaard Kristensen, Charlotte Overgaard, Dorte Melgaard, Anja Leth Egsgaard, Kirstine Lyngsøe Hvidberg, Michella Stenholt, Asger Roer Pedersen, Anne Mette Schmidt
  Disability and Rehabilitation.2025; : 1.     CrossRef
• Structure-Charge-Network Relationships Governing Rheology and Cohesiveness of Hydrocolloid-Based Dysphagia Thickeners
  Varanya Techasukthavorn, David Julian McClements, Jiakai Lu, Joseph Heng, Jirarat Anuntagool
  Food Biophysics.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations for Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19
  Jun-Won Seo, Yu Bin Seo, Seong Eun Kim, Yoonjung Kim, Eun Jung Kim, Tark Kim, Taehwa Kim, So Hee Lee, Eunjung Lee, Jacob Lee, Yeong-Hoon Jeong, Yeong Hee Jung, Yu Jung Choi, Joon Young Song
  Infection & Chemotherapy.2025; 57(4): 478.     CrossRef
• The impact of physical therapy on dysphagia in neurological diseases: a review
  Kun Li, Cuiyuan Fu, Zhen Xie, Jiajia Zhang, Chenchen Zhang, Rui Li, Caifeng Gao, Jiahui Wang, Chuang Xue, Yuebing Zhang, Wei Deng
  Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Clinical Characteristics and Evaluation of Dysphagia in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
  Seo Jung Yun, Han Gil Seo
  Journal of the Korean Dysphagia Society.2024; 14(1): 10.     CrossRef
• Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Long COVID
  Jun-Won Seo, Seong Eun Kim, Yoonjung Kim, Eun Jung Kim, Tark Kim, Taehwa Kim, So Hee Lee, Eunjung Lee, Jacob Lee, Yu Bin Seo, Young-Hoon Jeong, Young Hee Jung, Yu Jung Choi, Joon Young Song
  Infection & Chemotherapy.2024; 56(1): 122.     CrossRef
• Association between the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio and mortality in older Japanese patients with dysphagia
  Chunhong Guo, Pingping Zheng, Shiyang Chen, Lin Wei, Xiuzhen Fu, Youyuan Fu, Tianhong Hu, Shaohua Chen
  Frontiers in Nutrition.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Compensatory strategies of dysphagia after anterior cervical spinal surgery: A case report
  Sung Joon Chung, Jun Ho Lee, Yunsoo Soh
  Medicine.2024; 103(29): e39016.     CrossRef
• The Right ICD Code, Right Now: A Call to Action for Pragmatic Language Disorders After Right Hemisphere Stroke
  Jamila Minga, Shanika Phillips Fullwood, Deborah Rose, Danai Kasambira Fannin
  American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.2024; 33(6): 3121.     CrossRef
• The pathophysiology of dysphagia post‐lung transplant: A systematic review
  Sana Smaoui, Elly Cummins, Maryah Mena, Summer Scott, Rodrigo Tobar‐Fredes
  Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effect of segmental tongue function training on tongue pressure attributes in individuals with dysphagia after receiving radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  Fei Zhao, Chen Yang, Si-Ming Sun, Yao-Wen Zhang, Hong-Mei Wen, Zu-Lin Dou, Xiao-Mei Wei, Chun-Qing Xie
  BMC Oral Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia
  Kyoung Hyo Choi
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2023; 66(10): 604.     CrossRef

The survival rate of children admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after birth is on the increase; hence, proper evaluation and care of their neurodevelopment has become an important issue. Neurodevelopmental assessments of individual domains regarding motor, language, cognition, and sensory perception are crucial in planning prompt interventions for neonates requiring immediate support and rehabilitation treatment. These assessments are essential for identifying areas of weakness and designing targeted interventions to improve future functional outcomes and the quality of lives for both the infants and their families. However, initial stratification of risk to select those who are in danger of neurodevelopmental disorders is also important in terms of cost-effectiveness. Efficient and robust functional evaluations to recognize early signs of developmental disorders will help NICU graduates receive interventions and enhance functional capabilities if needed. Several age-dependent, domain-specific neurodevelopmental assessment tools are available; therefore, this review summarizes the characteristics of these tools and aims to develop multidimensional, standardized, and regular follow-up plans for NICU graduates in Korea.

Citations

• Early developmental intervention and neurodevelopmental trajectories in preterm infants without severe brain injury
  Jungha Yun, Seong Phil Bae, Do Hyun Kim, Woo Ryoung Lee, Suyeon Park
  Pediatric Research.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Recurrent peripheral intravenous catheterization in neonates: A case series
  Stephanie Hall, Emily Larsen, Linda Cobbald, Nicole Marsh, Linda McLaughlin, Mari Takashima, Robert S. Ware, Amanda Ulman, Deanne August
  Nursing in Critical Care.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Evaluating Non-Invasive Computer Vision-Based Quantification of Neonatal Movement as a Marker of Development in Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study
  Janet Pigueiras-del-Real, Lionel C. Gontard, Isabel Benavente-Fernández, Syed Taimoor Hussain, Syed Adil Hussain, Simón P. Lubián-López, Angel Ruiz-Zafra
  Healthcare.2025; 13(13): 1577.     CrossRef
• Improvement in functional motor scores in patients with non-ambulatory spinal muscle atrophy during Nusinersen treatment in South Korea: a single center study
  Jin A. Yoon, Yuju Jeong, Jiae Lee, Dong Jun Lee, Kyung Nam Lee, Yong Beom Shin
  BMC Neurology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• NICU Graduates and Psychosocial Problems in Childhood: A Systematic Review
  Ravi Gajula, Veerabadram Yeshala, Nagalakshmi Gogikar, Rakesh Kotha
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Performance of Activities of Daily Living in Typically Developing Children in Korea: Normative Value of K-MBI
  Mi-Jeong Yoon, Sungwoo Paek, Jongbin Lee, Youngdeok Hwang, Joon-Sung Kim, Yeun-Jie Yoo, Bo Young Hong
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(4): 281.     CrossRef
• Modern approaches to assessing motor development in infants and young children in clinical practice
  Natalia V. Andrushchenko, Alexander B. Palchik, Marina V. Osipova
  Russian Family Doctor.2024; 28(4): 24.     CrossRef

Objective
To evaluate the feasibility and usability of cost-effective complex upper and lower limb robot-assisted gait training in patients with stroke using the GTR-A, a foot-plate based end-effector type robotic device.
Methods
Patients with subacute stroke (n=9) were included in this study. The enrolled patients received 30-minute robot-assisted gait training thrice a week for 2 weeks (6 sessions). The hand grip strength, functional ambulation categories, modified Barthel index, muscle strength test sum score, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, and Short Physical Performance Battery were used as functional assessments. The heart rate was measured to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate the usability of robot-assisted gait training. All the parameters were evaluated before and after the robot-assisted gait training program.
Results
Eight patients completed robot-assisted gait training, and all parameters of functional assessment significantly improved between baseline and posttraining, except for hand grip strength and muscle strength test score. The mean scores for each domain of the questionnaire were as follows: safety, 4.40±0.35; effects, 4.23±0.31; efficiency, 4.22±0.77; and satisfaction, 4.41±0.25.
Conclusion
Thus, the GTR-A is a feasible and safe robotic device for patients with gait impairment after stroke, resulting in improvement of ambulatory function and performance of activities of daily living with endurance training. Further research including various diseases and larger sample groups is necessary to verify the utility of this device.

Citations

• Effect of Progressive Speed Increase Versus Constant Speed in Robot-Assisted Gait Training on Balance and Gait Ability in Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  Dong-Yun Bae, Soo-Yong Kim, Jong-Chul Jung, Min-Chull Park
  NeuroRehabilitation.2026; 58(1): 135.     CrossRef
• Changes in body composition, physical fitness and quality of life on robotic gait assisted training in patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome: a case report
  Moon Jin Lee, Sung Jin Yoon
  Physical Activity and Nutrition.2024; 28(4): 009.     CrossRef
• Smart Devices for Health and Wellness Applied to Tele-Exercise: An Overview of New Trends and Technologies Such as IoT and AI
  Antonio Fabbrizio, Alberto Fucarino, Manuela Cantoia, Andrea De Giorgio, Nuno D. Garrido, Enzo Iuliano, Victor Machado Reis, Martina Sausa, José Vilaça-Alves, Giovanna Zimatore, Carlo Baldari, Filippo Macaluso
  Healthcare.2023; 11(12): 1805.     CrossRef

Objective
To assess the relationships between phase angle and muscle mass, strength, and physical function in patients with heart failure.
Methods
This study used a cross-sectional design. The analysis included 51 patients with heart failure. The Short Physical Performance Battery, one-leg standing time, handgrip strength, phase angle, and skeletal muscle index were measured. To identify explanatory variables of phase angle, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed.
Results
Handgrip strength was found to be an explanatory variable of phase angle independent of age, sex, and body mass index. This model was able to explain 30.4% of the model variance for phase angle.
Conclusion
In patients with heart failure, improving muscle strength rather than muscle mass or physical function might be more important for improving phase angle. Handgrip strength is an important outcome for improving prognosis in patients with heart failure.

Citations

• Phase Angle and Impedance Ratio as Indicators of Physical Function and Fear of Falling in Older Adult Women: Cross-Sectional Analysis
  Danielle A Sterner, Jeffrey R Stout, Kworweinski Lafontant, Joon-Hyuk Park, David H Fukuda, Ladda Thiamwong
  JMIR Aging.2024; 7: e53975.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and clinical characteristics of Sarcopenia in older adult patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional and follow-up study
  Sang Hun Kim, Cho Hui Hong, Myung-Jun Shin, Ki Uk Kim, Tae Sung Park, Jun Yong Park, Yong Beom Shin
  BMC Pulmonary Medicine.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Malnutrition in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Insights from Morphofunctional Assessment and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition Criteria
  María Teresa Zarco-Martín, Carmen Freire, María Carmen Andreo-López, Socorro Leyva-Martínez, María Luisa Fernández-Soto
  Nutrients.2024; 16(16): 2625.     CrossRef

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has been recognized as a medically complex and life-disrupting condition. As the aging of the population accelerates, the trend of SCI has changed. This review aimed to provide comprehensive statistics and recent epidemiological changes in SCI and rehabilitation in Korea. All three insurance databases (National Health Insurance Service [NHIS], automobile insurance [AUI], and industrial accident compensation insurance [IACI]) were considered. These nationwide databases provide data on the current trends in term of incidence, etiology, and rehabilitation of SCI. Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) was more frequent among the elderly in the NHIS compared to working age individuals in the AUI and IACI. In all three trauma-related insurance databases, male with TSCI outnumbered female. TSCI incidence per year was approximately 17 times higher among males than females, on average, in IACI. In all three insurances, the cervical level of TSCI was the most frequent. Although the ratio of SCI patients receiving rehabilitation treatment at primary and secondary hospitals increased for nine years, the increase in training on activities of daily living (ADL training) was found to be relatively small. This review provides a broader and comprehensive understanding of the incidence, etiology, and rehabilitation treatment of SCI in Korea.

Citations

• Clinical Predictors of Dysphagia in Acute and Subacute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective Observational Study
  Yong Beom Shin, Jin A Yoon, Byeong Ju Lee, Myung Hun Jang, Hyuk Jin Choi, Sang Hun Kim
  Dysphagia.2026; 41(1): 149.     CrossRef
• Traumatic spinal cord injury: A four-year study in Puerto Rico
  Manuel F. Mas, Félix Pérez, Anna Blanco, Javier Deya, Natasha L. Frontera, Marcos R. Latimer, José Quintana, José G. Conde, Walter R. Frontera
  The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine.2025; 48(5): 773.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of a Community-Based Exercise Program for Ambulatory Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  Sungchul Huh, Yuna Kim, Hyun-Yoon Ko, Mi Sook Yun, Yong Il Shin, Jung Lim Lee, Sung-Hwa Ko
  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.2025; 106(4): 481.     CrossRef
• Capturing Community Living Experiences and Health of Korean Community Spinal Cord Injury Population: A Cross-Sectional Survey
  Boram Lee, Hyeong Jun Kim
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(8): 1222.     CrossRef
• Deep Learning-Based Prediction Model for Gait Recovery after a Spinal Cord Injury
  Hyun-Joon Yoo, Kwang-Sig Lee, Bummo Koo, Chan-Woo Yong, Chae-Won Kim
  Diagnostics.2024; 14(6): 579.     CrossRef
• Risk of fracture among patients with spinal cord injury: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea
  Seonghye Kim, Bongseong Kim, Kyung-Do Han, Junhee Park, Jung Eun Yoo, Hea Lim Choi, Won Hyuk Chang, In Young Cho, Dong Wook Shin
  Bone.2024; 183: 117093.     CrossRef
• Significance of physical factors on activities of daily living in patients with tetraplegia after spinal cord injury: a retrospective study
  Kimin Yun, Jin-cheol Lim, Onyoo Kim
  BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Community-Based Exercise Programs Post Spinal Cord Injury Hospitalization: A Pilot Study for a Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind Controlled Setting
  Dongheon Kang, Jiyoung Park
  Life.2024; 14(9): 1135.     CrossRef
• Trends in the Incidence and Etiology of Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study From 2007 to 2020
  Yoonjeong Choi, Ja-Ho Leigh, Jooeun Jeon, Goo Joo Lee, Hyung-Ik Shin, Moon Suk Bang
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Risk Factors for Suicidality in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Focus on Physical and Functional Characteristics
  Sora Han, Wooyeung Kim, Onyoo Kim
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(5): 377.     CrossRef

Objective
To assess the impact of a “one-stop”, multi-modal, hospital-associated-home-based prehabilitation model, helmed by a small core team, on newly diagnosed gastrointestinal and urological cancer patients planned for surgery.
Methods
This is a retrospective study in a tertiary public hospital, involving all newly diagnosed gastrointestinal and urological cancer patients planned for surgery. The primary outcome measure was the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Other outcomes included physical, psychological and quality-of-life measures, and patient satisfaction surveys, taken at baseline, pre-operatively (post-prehabilitation), and at 3 months post-operatively.
Results
When comparing the baseline to pre-operatively (post-prehabilitation), there was a statistically significant improvement in the 6MWT (21.52 m, p<0.001), 30-Second Sit to Stand test (STS) (1.08 repetitions, p<0.001), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) (0.83 seconds, p=0.014) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (total score 1.77, p<0.001). These were sustained (6MWT: 0.22, p=0.964; STS: 0.08 repetitions, p=0.863; TUG: 0.04 seconds, p=0.939) or further improved (HADS total score 2.06, p=0.003) at 3 months post-operatively. There was also a statistically significant improvement in the EuroQol-5 dimension health score (health-related quality-of-life measure) from baseline to 3 months post-operatively (7.04 points, p=0.001), with more than 90% overall patient satisfaction reported.
Conclusion
Prehabilitation applied via our model resulted in significant improvements in functional capacity, psychological and quality-of-life outcomes, sustained at 3 months post-operatively, and is a feasible and effective approach that is well-received by our patients.

Citations

• Effects of a functional training prehabilitation program supported by the Prehab® App on functional capacity in preoperative oncological patients
  Monique Messaggi-Sartor, Raquel Sebio Garcia, Marta Amor-Barbosa, David Blanco, Graciela Martinez-Pallí
  Supportive Care in Cancer.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Feasibility, User Acceptance, and Outcomes of Using a Cancer Prehabilitation App for Exercise: Pilot Cohort Study
  Fuquan Zhang, Deepali Bang, Christine Alejandro Visperas, Mon Hnin Tun, San San Tay
  JMIR Formative Research.2025; 9: e64427.     CrossRef
• Participation and Adherence to Prehabilitation Programs for Colorectal Cancer
  Misha Sier, Eva Godina, Omar Mollema, Maud Cox, Thais Tweed, Jan Greve, Jan Stoot
  Nutrients.2025; 17(11): 1792.     CrossRef
• Measures of preoperative anxiety: Part two
  Katarzyna Nowicka-Sauer, Adam Zemła, Dorota Banaszkiewicz, Bartosz G. Trzeciak, Krzysztof Jarmoszewicz
  Anaesthesiology Intensive Therapy.2024; 56(1): 9.     CrossRef
• Prevention and treatment of noncognitive complications
  André van Zundert, Stephen P. Gatt, Tom Christophe van Zundert
  Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia.2023; 17(4): 557.     CrossRef

Objective
To define the effect of the inspiratory method and cough timing on peak cough flow (PCF).
Methods
We investigated the effect of measurement conditions on PCF in healthy subjects (n=10). We then compared obstructive and restrictive pulmonary diseases (n=20) to assess for similar results in respiratory diseases. The PCF was measured under four conditions: before coughing, without maneuver 1 or with maneuver 2 a temporary respiratory pause (4–6 seconds) after rapid inspiration, and without maneuver 3 or with maneuver 4 a temporary respiratory pause after slow inspiration. After the measurements were completed, the PCF between the four conditions was compared for each subject group, and the effect size was calculated.
Results
PCF of maneuvers 1 and 3 were significantly higher than maneuver 4 in healthy subjects (476.34±102.05 L/min and 463.44±107.14 L/min vs. 429.54±116.83 L/min, p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) and patients with restrictive pulmonary disease (381.96±145.31 L/min, 354.60±157.36 L/min vs. 296.94±137.49 L/min, p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). In obstructive pulmonary disease, maneuver 1 was significantly higher than maneuver 4 (327.42±154.73 L/min vs. 279.48±141.10 L/min, p<0.05). The largest effect sizes were shown by maneuvers 4 and 1.
Conclusion
PCF depends on changes in inspiratory speed before coughing and on temporary respiratory pauses after maximal inspiration. It will become necessary to unify the measurement methods for coughing strength and present appropriate coughing methods.

Citations

• Objective Assessment of the Cough: Listening to the Patient’s Voice. A Narrative Review
  Tai Joon An
  Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases.2026; 89(2): 193.     CrossRef
• Factors related to pre-operative cough strength in cardiac surgical patients: a cross-sectional study
  Yan Zhang, Zheng Lin, Yuhong Chen, Liang Hong, Xiao Shen
  Heart & Lung.2024; 63: 128.     CrossRef

Objective
To clarify the profile of cognitive dysfunction and the effects of intensive exercise in spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD).
Methods
We enrolled 60 healthy controls and 16 patients with purely cerebellar type SCD without gait disturbance or organic changes other than cerebellar changes. To assess cognitive function, we evaluated the participants using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Japanese (MoCA-J) at admission and after intensive exercise.
Results
Compared to the controls, SCD patients showed significant cognitive decline. As a result of intensive exercise, significant improvements in motor and cognitive functions were observed: the MMSE score improved from 27.7±1.9 to 29.0±1.3 points (p<0.001); the FAB score improved from 14.8±2.2 to 15.8±2.0 points (p=0.002); and the MoCA-J score improved from 24.6±2.2 to 26.7±1.9 points (p<0.001). For sub-scores, significant improvements were noted in serial 7, lexical fluency, motor series, and delayed recall.
Conclusion
Our study indicates that intensive exercise can be effective not only for motor dysfunction but also for cognitive dysfunction (Clinical Trial Registration No. UMIN-CTR: UMIN000040079).

Citations

• Exercise and cognition in people with degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a narrative review
  Chelsea E. Macpherson, Meghan Bjalme-Evans, Fatima Awad, Sheng-Han Kuo, Lori Quinn
  Neurodegenerative Disease Management.2026; 16(1): 81.     CrossRef
• Home-based Hybrid Assistive Limb Lumbar Type Telerehabilitation in Spinocerebellar Ataxias: A Nonrandomized Open-label Trial
  Yoshiyuki Kishimoto, Shinichiro Yamada, Atsushi Hashizume, Daisuke Ito, Shota Komori, Takahiro Kawase, Ayano Kondo, Yu Mori, Kazuki Obara, Munetaka Yamamoto, Yachiyo Kuwatsuka, Masahiko Ando, Tomokazu Abe, Yoshihiro Yasunaga, Masahisa Katsuno
  The Cerebellum.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Cancer rehabilitation aims to enable patients to maximize their physical, social, psychological, and vocational functions within the limits that arise during the course of the disease and its treatment. According to recent domestic studies, most patients report one or more physical problems during or after cancer treatment. This review presents the latest updates on cancer-related rehabilitation issues. Cancer rehabilitation in Korea still faces various barriers, including a lack of awareness, problems with the healthcare delivery system, and high costs, and recognizing the need for rehabilitation during cancer treatment varies among patients and even physicians. Hence, an appropriate cooperative referral system for cancer rehabilitation requires improvement. We herein review the current status of and barriers to cancer rehabilitation in South Korea to resolve the issues of domestic cancer rehabilitation.

Citations

• Use of Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Lung Cancer Patients in Korea: Analysis of the National Health Insurance Service Database
  Sang Hun Kim, Cho Hui Hong, Jong-Hwa Jeong, Jinmi Kim, Jeong Su Cho, Jin A Yoon, Jung Seop Eom, Byeong Ju Lee, Myung Hun Jang, Myung-Jun Shin, Yong Beom Shin
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Factors associated with sedentary behavior among community-dwelling breast cancer survivors aged 50 years or older
  Jae Hyeon Park, Jung Soo Lee, Hyung Seok Nam, Yeo Hyung Kim
  Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To assess the accuracies and validities of popular smart bands for heart rate (HR) measurement in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients during a graded exercise test (GXT).
Methods
Seventy-eight patients were randomly assigned to wear two different smart bands out of three possible choices: Samsung Galaxy Fit 2, Xiaomi Mi Band 5, or Partron PWB-250 on each wrist. A 12-lead exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) and patch-type single-lead ECG were used to assess the comparative HR accuracy of the smart bands. The HR was recorded during the GXT using the modified Bruce protocol.
Results
The concordance correlation coefficients (r_c) were calculated to provide a measure of agreement between each device and the ECG. In all conditions, the Mi Band 5 and Galaxy Fit 2’ correlations were r_c>0.90, while the PWB-250 correlation was r_c=0.58 at rest. When evaluating the accuracy according to the magnitude of HR, all smart bands performed well (r_c>0.90) when the HR was below 100 but accuracy tended to decrease with higher HR values.
Conclusion
This study showed that the three smart bands had a high level of accuracy for HR measurements during low-intensity exercise. However, during moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise, all the three smart bands performed less accurately. Further studies are needed to find a more optimal smart band for HR measurement that can be used for precise HR monitoring during formal cardiac rehabilitation exercise training, including at high and maximal intensity (Clinical Trial Registration No. cris.nih.go.kr/KCT0007036).

Citations

• Is my smartwatch a valid witness? A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Marcello Sicbaldi, Laura Bartoli, Jose Albites-Sanabria, Ilaria D’Ascanio, Alessandro Silvani, Lorenzo Chiari, Alberto Camon, Luca Palmerini
  Forensic Science International.2026; 384: 112901.     CrossRef
• Psychological and physiological moderators of perceived exertion in aerobics: a repeated-measures study
  Xiaoxue Gao, Jincheng Zhao, Tongkai Zhao, Yong-Gwan Song, Yuyao Zhi, Xinyi He
  Frontiers in Psychology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Validation of the Use of a Smart Band in Recording Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in the 6-Minute Walk Test
  Rosa María Ortiz-Gutiérrez, José Javier López-Marcos, José Luis Maté-Muñoz, Paloma Moreta-de-Esteban, Patricia Martín-Casas
  Sensors.2025; 25(8): 2621.     CrossRef
• Validity of Heart Rate Measurement Using Wearable Devices During Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: Prospective Pilot Validation Study
  Kazufumi Kitagaki, Yuji Hongo, Rie Futai, Takeshi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Morikawa, Hisashi Shimoyama
  JMIR Cardio.2025; 9: e77911.     CrossRef
• İŞE BAĞLI DİNLENME SÜRELERİNİN MAKİNE ÖĞRENMESİ İLE TAHMİN EDİLMESİ
  Melis Türksever, Emin Kahya, N. Fırat Özkan
  Endüstri Mühendisliği.2025; 36(3): 367.     CrossRef
• The Accessibility and Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in COVID-19 Pandemic Era
  Chul Kim, Jun Hyeong Song, Seung Hyoun Kim
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(4): 249.     CrossRef
• An Evaluation of the Effect of App-Based Exercise Prescription Using Reinforcement Learning on Satisfaction and Exercise Intensity: Randomized Crossover Trial
  Cailbhe Doherty, Rory Lambe, Ben O’Grady, Diarmuid O’Reilly-Morgan, Barry Smyth, Aonghus Lawlor, Neil Hurley, Elias Tragos
  JMIR mHealth and uHealth.2024; 12: e49443.     CrossRef
• Women’s Involvement in Steady Exercise (WISE): Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
  Irene Ferrando-Terradez, Lirios Dueñas, Ivana Parčina, Nemanja Ćopić, Svetlana Petronijević, Gianfranco Beltrami, Fabio Pezzoni, Constanza San Martín-Valenzuela, Maarten Gijssel, Stefano Moliterni, Panagiotis Papageorgiou, Yelko Rodríguez-Carrasco
  Healthcare.2023; 11(9): 1279.     CrossRef

Objective
To compare the predicted and actual maximal heart rate (HRmax) values in the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).
Methods
We retrospectively investigated 1,060 patients who underwent a CPET between January 2016 and April 2020 at our institution’s cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center. The following patients were included: those aged >20 years, those tested with a treadmill, and those who underwent symptom-limited maximum exercise testing— reaching ≥85% of the predicted HRmax (62% if taking beta-blockers) and highest respiratory exchange ratio ≥1.1. Ultimately, 827 patients were included in this study. Data on diagnosis, history of taking beta-blockers, age, body mass index (BMI), and CPET parameters were collected. Subgroup analysis was performed according to age, betablockers, BMI (low <18.5 kg/m², normal, and high ≥25 kg/m²), and risk classification.
Results
There was a significant difference between the actual HRmax and the predicted value (p<0.001). Betablocker administration resulted in a significant difference in the actual HRmax (p<0.001). There were significant differences in the moderate-to-high-risk and low-risk groups and the normal BMI and high BMI groups (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the elderly and younger groups. We suggest new formulae for HRmax of cardiopulmonary patients: estimated HRmax=183-0.76×age (the beta-blocker group) and etimated HRmax=210-0.91×age (the non-beta-blocker group).
Conclusion
Age-predicted HRmax was significantly different from the actual HRmax of patients with cardiopulmonary disease, especially in the beta-blocker group. For participants with high BMI and moderate-tosevere risk, the actual HRmax was significantly lower than the predicted HRmax.

Citations

• MITO-VATION: Feasibility of a technology-supported structured home exercise program in Mitochondrial Disease
  Jeremey Thomas Horne, Natalie E. Allen, Serene S. Paul, Judith Walker, Carolyn Sue, Hisham Al-Obaidi
  PLOS Digital Health.2026; 5(2): e0001257.     CrossRef
• Diagnosing chronotropic incompetence: a scoping review of current approaches and their application in a cardiac rehabilitation cohort
  Margot Vermeiren, Nore Primus, Kato Heyns, Véronique Cornelissen, Rik Willems, Tim Van Puyvelde, Joris Ector, Kaatje Goetschalckx, Peter Sinnaeve
  European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Prognostic Factors for Responders of Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation—Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
  Chul Kim, Hee-Eun Choi, Chin Kook Rhee, Jae Ha Lee, Ju Hyun Oh, Jun Hyeong Song
  Healthcare.2025; 13(3): 308.     CrossRef
• Free-Living Physical Activity Energy Expenditure Based on Accelerometry Versus Heart Rate in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
  Joona Neuvonen, Timo Aittokoski, Timo Rantalainen, Jukka Lipponen, Lotta Palmberg, Soren Brage, Tomas I. Gonzales, Erja Portegijs, Taina Rantanen, Laura Karavirta
  Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Validity Study of the Age-Predicted Maximum Heart Rate Equations in Athletes
  祥昊 付
  Advances in Clinical Medicine.2025; 15(07): 152.     CrossRef
• Efficacy of a digital lifestyle intervention on health-related QUAlity of life in non-small cell LUng CAncer survivors following inpatient rehabilitation: protocol of the QUALUCA Swiss multicentre randomised controlled trial
  Manuel Weber, Anja Maria Raab, Kai-Uwe Schmitt, Gilbert Büsching, Thimo Marcin, Marc Spielmanns, Milo Alan Puhan, Anja Frei
  BMJ Open.2024; 14(3): e081397.     CrossRef
• High-intensity interval training improves bone remodeling, lipid profile, and physical function in multiple sclerosis patients
  Alessandra Amato, Patrizia Proia, Anna Alioto, Carlo Rossi, Andrea Pagliaro, Paolo Ragonese, Giuseppe Schirò, Giuseppe Salemi, Rosalia Caldarella, Sonya Vasto, Robert Nowak, Dorota Kostrzewa-Nowak, Giuseppe Musumeci, Sara Baldassano
  Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association between short-term exposure to high-level particulate matter (PM1 , PM2.5, and PM10) of smoke Peganum harmala seeds with blood pressure: A quasi-experimental study
  Yadolah Fakhri, Ibrahim Ziad Abdullah, Ayham Issam Qasem Al-issa, Elham Rahmanzadeh, Somayeh Hoseinvandtabar, Somayyeh Dehghani, Mahdi Ghorbanian, Amin Ghanbarnejad
  Environmental Health Engineering and Management.2024; 11(4): 419.     CrossRef
• Exergaming in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity and physical activity
  Helen Müller, Jochen Baumeister, Ellen Marie Bardal, Beatrix Vereijken, Nina Skjæret-Maroni
  Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef

Objective
To compare the outcomes of a 6-month-long accelerated rehabilitation with a 12-month-long rehabilitation. There is no consensus on the optimal duration of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Trends in the past decades have shifted towards accelerated programs, often resulting in a return to play (RTP) at 4–6 months, postoperatively. However, longer rehabilitation cycles have recently experienced renaissance due to a greater understanding of graft remodeling.
Methods
Adult athletes who underwent ACLR between 2015 and 2018 by the same surgeon were included and followed-up prospectively for 24 months. Participants were allocated into two groups based on their RTP (6 months vs. 12 months) and compared with graft elongation, reoperation rate, and sports career (quit or continue) outcomes.
Results
Fifty-four patients underwent accelerated rehabilitation and 92 completed conventional rehabilitation. The accelerated rehabilitation was significantly associated with graft elongation—the accelerated rehabilitation group (n=9) and the conventional rehabilitation group (n=0), p<0.001—and need for reoperation—the accelerated rehabilitation group (n=5) and the conventional rehabilitation group (n=1), p=0.026. Although the relationship between rehabilitation time and quitting competitive sports did not reach significance at 0.05 level (p=0.063), it was significant when p<0.1, thereby showing a clear trend.
Conclusion
Accelerated rehabilitation increased graft elongation risk. Knee laxity ≥3 mm measured at 6 months after ACLR should be accompanied by RTP time frame re-evaluation. Arthrometry checkups or routine magnetic resonance imaging shortly after RTP may be considered in cases of accelerated rehabilitation.

Citations

• Movement Assessments as Predictors for Initial Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Critically Appraised Topic
  Destinee Johnson, Rebecca Maldonado, Erin Lally
  Journal of Sport Rehabilitation.2025; 34(7): 767.     CrossRef
• Global Variations in Surgical Techniques for Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction at Minimum 2-Year Follow-up: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials
  Sina Tartibi, Derrick M. Knapik, S. Ryan Pierson, Christopher K. Bozorgmehr, Daniel C. Touhey, Matthew J. Matava, Matthew V. Smith, Robert H. Brophy
  Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Return to Sport and Risk of Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury in Elite Male Footballers: 10-Year Experience From a Single Center
  Alberto Grassi, Tommaso Bonanzinga, Federico Maria Adravanti, Gian Andrea Lucidi, Emanuele Altovino, Stefano Zaffagnini, Maurilio Marcacci
  Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the elderly: 5-Year follow-up study
  Takayuki Kurokawa, Károly Csete, Péter Jávor, Lilla Sándor, Bálint Baráth, Helga Holovic, László Török, Petra Hartmann
  Injury.2024; 55: 111529.     CrossRef
• Blood Flow Restriction Training and Its Use in Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Jamaal Butt, Zubair Ahmed
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(20): 6265.     CrossRef
• Reasons for the Variability of Rehabilitation Programs and the Perspective of the Standardized Guidelines Development for Patients after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
  V.V. Kotiuk, O.O. Kostrub, I.A. Zasadniuk, D.O. Smirnov, V.A. Podik, R.I. Blonskyi
  TERRA ORTHOPAEDICA.2023; (3(118)): 64.     CrossRef

Objective
To develop an objective and quantitative clinical evaluation tool that can be used for diagnosis and severity assessment of dysarthria in patients with stroke.
Methods
A prototype test comprising 23 items was developed to test the function of each speech organ. The scoring of the prototype test was based on the analysis of the result values obtained from 50 healthy individuals. The test was performed for 50 patients with stroke who were suspected to have dysarthria. For evaluating the correlation between each prototype test item and the Urimal Test of Articulation and Phonation (U-TAP), the odds ratio was obtained for each result, based on which the final test items for composing the Korea Dysarthria Test (KDT) were selected. The validity of the test was evaluated using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve. We used the intraclass correlation coefficients to quantify inter- and intra-rater reliability. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used for examining the correlation between the KDT and the Speech Mechanism Screening Test and U-TAP.
Results
Among the 23 prototype test items, 16 exhibiting significant results were finally selected as the KDT. The higher score of the KDT is reflected the better speaking function. The sensitivity and specificity of the KDT were shown to be high at the cutoff value of 76.50 point.
Conclusion
KDT is a useful evaluation tool for dysarthria, showing a significant correlation with SMST and U-TAP.

Citations

• Correlation Between Articulatory Diadochokinetic Parameters and Dysphagia Parameters in Subacute Stroke Patients
  Back Min Oh, Hyun Seok, Sang-Hyun Kim, Seung Yeol Lee, Su Jung Park, Beom Jin Kim, Hyun Jung Kim
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(3): 192.     CrossRef
• Destruction of Vowel Space Area in Patients with Dysphagia after Stroke
  Min Kyu Choi, Seung Don Yoo, Eo Jin Park
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(20): 13301.     CrossRef

With rapid aging, the number of stroke survivors with disabilities in Korea is increasing even if mortality is declining. Despite coordinated efforts for quality improvement of stroke rehabilitation in Korea, the statistics of stroke rehabilitation were not well reported. This review aimed to provide contemporary and comprehensive statistics and recent changes in stroke rehabilitation in Korea. The Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea was developed in 2009 and updated in 2012 and 2016. Additionally, the representative databases for stroke rehabilitation include the Korean Brain Rehabilitation Database and the Korean Stroke Cohort for functioning and rehabilitation. These nationwide databases provided current information on stroke rehabilitation. Among Korean stroke survivors, one in three had motor impairment, one in four had cognitive impairment, one in three had speech impairment, one in four was dependent in ambulation, one in six had swallowing difficulty, and one in four was dependent in activities in daily living at 5 years after stroke. Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation following transfer to the department of rehabilitation medicine significantly decreased stroke-related mortality and long-term disability. This review provides an improved understanding of stroke rehabilitation and guidance to implement timely, coordinated, evidence-based stroke rehabilitation services to relieve the socioeconomic burden of stroke.

Citations

• Post-acute care systems for stroke rehabilitation in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan
  Yeh-Kai Liao, Tae-Woo Kim, Toyoko Asami, Der-Sheng Han, Huey-Wen Liang
  Journal of the Formosan Medical Association.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Longitudinal comparison of health-related quality of life at 3 and 12 months post-stroke using patient-reported outcome measures
  Hojin Ju, Won Kee Chang, Hee-Mun Cho, Hyo Jong Kim, Miji Kang, Yun-Sun Jung, Nam-Jong Paik, Won-Seok Kim
  Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.2026; 35(3): 108559.     CrossRef
• Impact of Designated Recovery Rehabilitation Institutions on the Readmission Rate of Older Adults
  Kwang Bae Lee, Tae Hyun Kim, Sung-In Jang, Yun Seo Jang, Eun-Cheol Park
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2026; 15(3): 1009.     CrossRef
• Stroke recurrence, uncertainty in illness, and self-efficacy as predictors of post-stroke depression in Korean survivors: a cross-sectional study
  Jin-Gyeong Lee, Insook Lee
  BMC Psychology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Trends in Acute Care and Rehabilitation for First-Ever Stroke Patients: A 12-Year Perspective, the KOSCO Study
  Dae Hyun Kim, Min Kyun Sohn, Jongmin Lee, Deog Young Kim, Yong-Il Shin, Gyung-Jae Oh, Yang-Soo Lee, Min Cheol Joo, So Young Lee, Min-Keun Song, Junhee Han, Jeonghoon Ahn, Ho Seok Lee, Yun-Hee Kim, Won Hyuk Chang
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Herbal medicine evaluation for reimbursement-based post-stroke sequelae (HERB-PSS): a retrospective analysis using Korean health insurance claim data, 2020–2024
  Soo-Dam Kim, Man Young Park, Jiyun Cha, Changsop Yang, Eunbyul Cho, Sungha Kim
  Frontiers in Neurology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Elevated risk of end-stage kidney disease in stroke patients: A population-based observational study
  Sohyun Chun, Kyungdo Han, Bongseong Kim, Dagyeong Lee, In Young Cho, Hea Lim Choi, Jun Hee Park, Junseok Jeon, Hye Ryoun Jang, Dong Wook Shin
  International Journal of Stroke.2025; 20(4): 461.     CrossRef
• Age-Period-Cohort analysis and 2036 projections of the burden of ischemic stroke in Finland, Korea, Singapore and China, 1990–2021
  Jiayue Zhang, Bowei Zhao, Kai Wang, Lijing Zhao, Zhongxin Xu
  Frontiers in Neurology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A qualitative exploration of acute stroke patients’ experiences with aphasia in Korea
  Jiyeon Kang, Hyunyoung Heo
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2025; 55(4): 621.     CrossRef
• Two stroke education programs designed for older adults
  Jeongha Sim, Chanam Shin
  Geriatric Nursing.2024; 55: 105.     CrossRef
• Changes in dementia treatment patterns associated with changes in the National Policy in South Korea among patients with newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease between 2011 and 2017: results from the multicenter, retrospective CAPTAIN study
  Young Jin Kim, Ki-Youn So, Hyo Min Lee, Changtae Hahn, Seung-Hoon Song, Yong-Seok Lee, Sang Woo Kim, Heui Cheun Park, Jaehyung Ryu, Jung Seok Lee, Min Ju Kang, JinRan Kim, Yoona Lee, Jun Hong Lee
  BMC Public Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Health-Related Quality of Life of Post-Stroke Patients in a Public Hospital
  Mijung Jang, Heedong Park, Miyoung Kim, Galam Kang, Hayan Shin, Donghyun Shin, KyooSang Kim
  Brain & Neurorehabilitation.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Predictors of Burden for First-Ever Stroke Survivor’s Long-Term Caregivers: A Study of KOSCO
  Jin-Won Lee, Min Kyun Sohn, Jongmin Lee, Deog Young Kim, Yong-Il Shin, Gyung-Jae Oh, Yang-Soo Lee, Min Cheol Joo, So Young Lee, Junhee Han, Jeonghoon Ahn, Yun-Hee Kim, Min-Keun Song, Won Hyuk Chang
  Medicina.2024; 60(4): 559.     CrossRef
• Association between the Thickness or Area of the Temporal Muscle and Skeletal Muscle Mass in Bioimpedance Analysis
  Jee Myung Han, Du Hwan Kim, Byung Chan Lee
  Gerontology.2024; 70(8): 823.     CrossRef
• Association between Height and Functional Outcomes of Patients 6 Months after a Stroke: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Cohort Study
  Nae Yoon Kang, Sung-Hwa Ko, Yong-Il Shin, Ji Hong Min, Mi Sook Yun, Min Kyun Sohn, Jongmin Lee, Deog Young Kim, Gyung-Jae Oh, Yang Soo Lee, Min Cheol Joo, So Young Lee, Min-Keun Song, Junhee Han, Jeonghoon Ahn, Yun-Hee Kim, Won Hyuk Chang
  Journal of Personalized Medicine.2024; 14(6): 610.     CrossRef
• Impact of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice on Functional Improvements Among Post-Acute Stroke Survivors: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
  Tsen-Pei Chen, Ying-Jia Lin, Yu-Lin Wang, Li-Min Wu, Chung-Han Ho
  Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare.2024; Volume 17: 3945.     CrossRef
• Association Between Frequency of Rehabilitation Therapy and Long-Term Mortality After Stroke: A Nationwide Cohort Study
  Je Shik Nam, Seok-Jae Heo, Yong Wook Kim, Sang Chul Lee, Seung Nam Yang, Seo Yeon Yoon
  Stroke.2024; 55(9): 2274.     CrossRef
• Functional Recovery in Acute and Subacute Stroke Patients With or Without Post-stroke Fatigue
  Juwon Lee, Gowun Kim
  Brain & Neurorehabilitation.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Safety and Efficacy of Balance Training on Stroke Patients With Reduced Balance Ability: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  Yong Wook Kim, Seo Yeon Yoon
  Brain & Neurorehabilitation.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Discordance Between Spine-Hip and Paretic-Nonparetic Hip Bone Mineral Density in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
  Seung Don Yoo, Tae-Woo Kim, Byung-Mo Oh, Seung Ah Lee, Chanwoo Kim, Ho Yeon Chung, Jung Eun Son, Ji Yeon Lee, Hyunji Lee, Hoo Young Lee
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(6): 413.     CrossRef
• Geographic Distribution of Central Nervous System Rehabilitation Treatment in Korea and Its Associated Factors
  Dong-Gyun Sohn, Jaehong Yoon, Jun-Soo Ro, Ja-Ho Leigh
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Response to Letter to the Editor on “Chronic Phase Survival Rate in Stroke Patients With Severe Functional Limitations According to the Frequency of Rehabilitation Treatment”
  Dougho Park, Hyoung Seop Kim
  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.2023; 104(7): 1157.     CrossRef
• Over- and under-supply of inpatient rehabilitation after stroke without a post-acute rehabilitation system: a nationwide retrospective cohort study
  Suk Won Bae, Junhyun Kwon, Hyung-Ik Shin
  Frontiers in Neurology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Poststroke rehabilitation using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation during pregnancy: A case report
  Joongho JO, Hyojong KIM
  World Journal of Clinical Cases.2023; 11(19): 4707.     CrossRef
• Predictors of quality of life at 6 months in patients with mild stroke: A prospective observational cohort study
  Mu Su Kim, Ji Hong Min, Yong-Il Shin, Min Kyun Sohn, Jongmin Lee, Deog Young Kim, Gyung-Jae Oh, Yang Soo Lee, Min Cheol Joo, So Young Lee, Min-Keun Song, Junhee Han, Jeonghoon Ahn, Yun-Hee Kim, Sung-Hwa Ko, Won Hyuk Chang
  Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.2023; 32(10): 107302.     CrossRef
• Risk Factors and Prognosis of Stroke in Gynecologic Cancer Patients
  Ji Young Kwon, Kena Park, Jeong Min Song, Seung Yeon Pyeon, Seon Hwa Lee, Young Shin Chung, Jong-Min Lee
  Cancers.2023; 15(19): 4895.     CrossRef
• A Comparative Analysis of Functional Status and Mobility in Stroke Patients with and without Aphasia
  Zbigniew Guzek, Wioletta Dziubek, Małgorzata Stefańska, Joanna Kowalska
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2022; 11(12): 3478.     CrossRef
• Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A (NABOTA) for Post-stroke Upper Extremity Spasticity: A Multicenter Phase IV Trial
  Wonjae Hwang, Seong Min Kang, Sang Yoon Lee, Han Gil Seo, Yoon Ghil Park, Bum Sun Kwon, Kwang Jae Lee, Deog Young Kim, Hyoung Seop Kim, Shi-Uk Lee
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2022; 46(4): 163.     CrossRef

Objective
To analyze how Pilates exercises affect standing, walking, and balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy throughout a 10-week program.
Methods
We included 40 children aged 7–9 years with diplegic cerebral palsy, and randomly allocated them into two groups of the same size: conventional therapy group (group A) and conventional therapy+Pilates group (group B). We administered the same conventional physical therapy program to both groups for 45 minutes, with group B receiving additional Pilates exercises for 45 minutes. Both groups attended the intervention program three times/week for 10 weeks. We used the Growth Motor Function Measure Scale (GMFM-88) to evaluate standing and walking (Dimensions D and E), and the Pediatric Balance Scale to evaluate balance function before and after treatment.
Results
Comparison of the average values of all measured variables before and after therapy showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups. All measured variables showed a significant difference between groups A and B, in favor of group B (p<0.05).
Conclusion
Pilates exercise in addition to conventional therapy is more effective in improving balance and gross motor function in children with diplegic cerebral palsy than the conventional therapy alone.

Citations

• Effects of Pilates Exercise Training on Static Balance and Lower Limbs Proprioception in Adult Females With and Without Flexible Flatfeet
  Maryam Ghorbani, Rasoul Yaali, Hassan Sadeghi, Urs Granacher
  Foot & Ankle Specialist.2026; 19(2): 196.     CrossRef
• Lower Limb Training Threshold Dose and Motor Learning Strategy Reporting in Children With Cerebral Palsy
  Matthew Haddon, Isabella Pessóta Sudati, Jizelle Kenworthy-Groen, Dayna Pool, Lauren O’Connor, Robert Ware, Cristina Lee, Kate Dolling, Leanne Sakzewski
  Pediatric Physical Therapy.2026; 38(1): 2.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of physical activity counseling and PILATES exercises in women with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial
  Merve Şuay Uçgul, Ela Tarakcı, Gamze Kus, Nimet Bilge Shalaby
  Physiotherapy Theory and Practice.2026; : 1.     CrossRef
• Effects of mind-body exercise in children with cerebral palsy—A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Ye Long, Xinping Jiang, Juan Li, Bingxue Liu
  Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.2025; 58: 101930.     CrossRef
• Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Helps to Improve Postural Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial
  Mohamed A. Abdel Ghafar, Osama R. Abdelraouf, Eman M. Harraz, Mohamed K. Seyam, Walaa E. Morsy, Wafaa Mahmoud Amin, Hanaa Mohsen Abd-Elfattah
  Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics.2025; 45(4): 423.     CrossRef
• Rehabilitation techniques to improve lower limb function for children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Huijuan Lin, Xiaoying Zhang, Tingting Chen, Kaishou Xu
  Neuroscience.2025; 588: 11.     CrossRef
• A Network Meta-Analysis of the Effects of the Exercise Interventions on Balance in Children with Cerebral Palsy
  Jae-Heon Lim
  PNF and Movement.2025; 23(3): 377.     CrossRef
• Optimization of Postural Control, Balance, and Mobility in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Comparative Analysis of Independent and Integrated Effects of Pilates and Plyometrics
  Ragab K. Elnaggar, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Alshimaa R. Azab, Saud M. Alrawaili, Mshari Alghadier, Mazyad A. Alotaibi, Ahmed S. Alhowimel, Mohamed S. Abdrabo, Mohammed F. Elbanna, Ahmed M. Aboeleneen, Walaa E. Morsy
  Children.2024; 11(2): 243.     CrossRef
• Differences in the effectiveness of adding Bobath Exercise with (task-oriented training) on the balance of children with Cerebral Palsy
  Suharto Anwar, Sri Saadiyah Leksonowati, Suriani Suriani, Dwi Rustianto
  International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach Research and Science.2024; 2(02): 667.     CrossRef
• Effects of Standing Board on Antigravity Muscles in Children with Cerebral Palsy Aging between 3 to 10 Years; A Multi-Centered Randomized Control Trial
  Aqsa Faiz, Bushra Zaman, Mubushara Afzal, Malik Osama, Mustafa Zaveri
  Pakistan BioMedical Journal.2024; : 11.     CrossRef
• Effect of Pilates exercises on balance and gross motor coordination in children with Down syndrome
  Alaa AL-Nemr, Shimaa Reffat
  Acta Neurologica Belgica.2024; 124(5): 1499.     CrossRef
• Association Between Calf Muscle Tone, Plantar Surface Area, and Gross Motor Function in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
  Hisham Hussein, Amsha Alshammari, Hand Alshammari, Monira Aldhahi, Yahya Suwaidi, Ahmed Ibrahim
  International Journal of General Medicine.2024; Volume 17: 4037.     CrossRef
• Effects of Modified Pilates Training on Hemodynamic Responses in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Single-Blinded Randomised Controlled Study
  Hatice Adıgüzel, Bülent Elbasan
  Medical Records.2024; 6(3): 426.     CrossRef
• Effects of Pilates in children and adolescents – A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Fabíola Unbehaun Cibinello, Jessica Caroliny de Jesus Neves, Paola Janeiro Valenciano, Dirce Shizuko Fujisawa, Carlos Augusto Marçal Camillo
  Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.2023; 35: 400.     CrossRef
• An Intensive Combination of Bobath Therapy and Core Stability Exercises Is More Effective In Improving the Sitting Balance of Cerebral Palsy Children
  Suharto Anwar, Suriani Suriani, Asmawati Gasma
  International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach Research and Science.2023; 1(03): 527.     CrossRef

Objective
To investigate the clinical demographics and rehabilitative assessments of encephalitis survivors admitted to a rehabilitation center, and to confirm the effects of inpatient rehabilitation manifested by changes in muscle strength and function after hospitalization.
Methods
Data of encephalitis survivors who received rehabilitation at our institution from August 2009 to August 2019 were reviewed. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed, and motor, functional, and cognitive assessments were collected. Manual muscle testing (MMT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), grip strength, Box and Block Test (BBT), and Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) were performed, and the results upon admission and discharge were compared and analyzed.
Results
Most of the patients with encephalitis admitted to our institution had viral or autoimmune etiologies. The assessment results of 18 encephalitis patients upon admission and discharge were compared. The total K-MBI score, FAC, grip strength, and BBT significantly improved, but not the MMT and FMA. Subgroup analysis was performed for viral and autoimmune encephalitis, which are the main causes of the disease, but there was no difference in items with significant changes before and after hospitalization.
Conclusion
Encephalitis survivors showed a significant improvement in functional assessment scale during their hospital stay through rehabilitation, without significant changes in motor strength. Hence, we can conclude that encephalitis survivors benefit from inpatient rehabilitation, targeting functional gains in activities of daily living training more than motor strength.

Citations

• Activated Microglia Mediate the Motor Neuron‐, Synaptic Denervation‐ and Muscle Wasting‐Changes in Burn Injured Mice
  Jingyuan Chen, Yoshinori Kitagawa, Fei Xie, Haobo Li, William R. Kem, Zerong You, Shingo Yasuhara, J. A. Jeevendra Martyn
  Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Socioeconomic drivers of encephalitis burden in the post-COVID era: a 204-country analysis from global burden of disease study 2021
  Yikang Wang, Di Wang, Yu Tian, Yilong Yao, Qi Yu
  Frontiers in Public Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Epidemiology and Prognostic Factors of Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis in Japan: A Nationwide Database Study
  Satoshi Kutsuna, Hiroyuki Ohbe, Yuya Kimura, Keito Shinmoto, Yuichiro Matsuo, Hiroki Matsui, Kiyohide Fushimi, Hideo Yasunaga
  Journal of Epidemiology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Handgrip strength and upper limb functional performance measures in people over 18 years old: Analysis of relationships and influencing factors
  Julio Ernesto Pérez-Parra, Claudia Patricia Henao-Lema, Anyi Vanesa Arcos-Rodríguez, Natalia López-Ocampo, Carolina Castaño-García, Olga Patricia Pérez-Gamboa
  Journal of Hand Therapy.2024; 37(1): 101.     CrossRef
• Outcome and Sequelae of Autoimmune Encephalitis
  Kathryn A. Kvam, Jean-Paul Stahl, Felicia C. Chow, Ariane Soldatos, Pierre Tattevin, James Sejvar, Alexandra Mailles
  Journal of Clinical Neurology.2024; 20(1): 3.     CrossRef
• Effect of Timing of Rehabilitation Nursing Intervention on Children with Acute Viral Encephalitis
  Haiyan Zhang, Shuangying Huang, Biyun He, Lingming Shen, Xiaoqing Li, Chen Shen, Bo Chen
  Iranian Journal of Pediatrics.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• State of the Art: Acute Encephalitis
  Karen C Bloch, Carol Glaser, David Gaston, Arun Venkatesan
  Clinical Infectious Diseases.2023; 77(5): e14.     CrossRef

Objective
To examine the frequency and timing of inpatient engagement in meaningful activities within rehabilitation (within and outside of structured therapy times) and determine the associations between activity type, goal awareness, and patient affect.
Methods
This prospective observational study performed behavioral mapping in a 42-bed inpatient brain injury rehabilitation unit by recording patient activity every 15 minutes (total 42 hours). The participants were randomly selected rehabilitation inpatients with acquired brain injury; all completed the study. The main outcome measures included patient demographics, observation of activity, participation, goal awareness, and affect.
Results
The inpatients spent 61% of the therapeutic day (8:30 to 16:30) in their single room and were alone 49% of the time. They were physically socially inactive for 76% and 74% of their awake time, respectively, with neutral affect observed for about half of this time. Goal-related activities were recorded for only 25% of the inpatients’ awake time. The odds of physical activity were 10.3-fold higher among in patients receiving support to address their goals within their rehabilitation program (odds ratio=10.3; 95% confidence interval, 5.02–21.16).
Conclusion
Inpatients in a mixed brain injury rehabilitation unit spent a large amount of their awake hours inactive and only participated in goal-related activities for a quarter of their awake time. Rehabilitation models that increase opportunities for physical, cognitive, and social activities outside of allied health sessions are recommended to increase overall activity levels during inpatient rehabilitation.

Citations

• Geriatric evaluation and management inpatients spend little time participating in physically, cognitively or socially meaningful activity: a time–motion analysis
  Laura Jolliffe, Taya A Collyer, Ka Hei Sun, Lisa Done, Siobhan Barber, Michele L Callisaya, David A Snowdon
  Age and Ageing.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Building consensus on prescribing self‐directed occupational therapy activities: A Delphi study
  Anna Joy, Alicia Devlin, Natasha A. Lannin, Libby Callaway, Sara L. Whittaker, Natasha K. Brusco
  Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Lose yourself: Harnessing music therapy to enhance neuroplasticity and motor learning in the rehabilitation of a young man with traumatic brain injury and significant physical injuries
  Amanda J Thorpe, Connor Byrne
  British Journal of Music Therapy.2025; 39(2): 70.     CrossRef
• Effects of Neurophysiotherapy Based on Physical Activity on Cognitive and Psychosocial Functioning in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury
  Verónica Morales-Sánchez, Javier Cuesta-Aguilar, Daniel Asensio-Pérez, Desirée Gálvez-Guerrero, Lorena Morales-Blanca, Eva María Cubero-Lama, Gerardo Ricardo Moreu-Pérez-Artacho, Antonio Hernández-Mendo, Rafael E. Reigal
  Healthcare.2025; 13(20): 2610.     CrossRef
• Addressing the intensity of rehabilitation evidence-practice gap: rapid review, stakeholder perspectives and recommendations for upper limb rehabilitation after acquired brain injury
  Natasha A Lannin, Michael Pellegrini, Madeleine J Smith, Laura Jolliffe, Meg E Morris
  International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation.2024; 31(7): 1.     CrossRef
• Environmental modifications to rehabilitate social behavior deficits after acquired brain injury: What is the evidence?
  Salome Bozkurt, Natasha A. Lannin, Richelle Mychasiuk, Bridgette D. Semple
  Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.2023; 152: 105278.     CrossRef
• Mapping physical activity patterns in hospitalised patients with moderate to severe acquired brain injury - MAP-ABI: Protocol for an observational study
  Vibeke Wagner, Pi Gravesen, Emma Ghaziani, Markus Harboe Olsen, Christian Gunge Riberholt
  Heliyon.2023; 9(11): e21927.     CrossRef