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Hallux valgus (HV) and hallux rigidus (HR) are common foot conditions that lead to deterioration of health status. This review aims to summarize and update information on the currently published research explicitly related to the influence of HV and HR surgeries on lower extremity gait biomechanics. A review of papers published from 1999 to 2020 has been conducted. The databases searched included Science Direct, PubMed Central, PubMed and EBSCO. After HV surgeries, most of patients’ spatio-temporal parameters remain the same as they were before them. Changes in plantar pressure parameters of the hallux region are inconclusive and depend on a study. In patients after HR surgeries, such as cheilectomy and Ist metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP I) arthrodesis, they do not affect knee or hip kinematics. The influence of MTP I arthrodesis on ankle joint kinematics is unclear. Cheilectomy in most cases increases MTP I motion in the sagittal plane. The HV angle and the intermetatarsal angle have significantly decreased after surgeries in all papers. American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society MTP–IP score results are also much better than their pre-operative values in patients after HV and HR surgeries. Surgical treatment decreases pain and allows patients to perform activities of daily living, but it does not normalize gait parameters. Further research on a large group of patients is needed to comprehensively assess kinetic, kinematic and plantar pressure parameters as well as muscle activity after HV and HR surgeries.

Walker orthoses are one of the most popular substitutes to regular cast. They are used by people who have experienced acute trauma to the ankle complex. This review aimed to summarize and update information on the currently published research explicitly related to the application of ankle-foot orthoses and to help improve the understanding of how orthoses influence gait pattern, in particular the kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity parameters. A review of papers published from 1999 to 2019 was conducted. The databases searched included PubMed Central, PubMed, ScienceDirect and EBSCO, a total of 546 articles were found. The review is based on 11 articles that were selected for further analysis. Kinematics parameters were described in 8 papers, kinetics parameters in 6 papers, the effect of a Walker orthosis on muscle activity in 2 papers, and the effects of a Walker boot on energy cost, pain and balance were discussed in 3 papers. A Walker orthosis significantly reduces ankle joint motion and significantly reduces lower leg muscle activity. On the other hand, it may cause secondary site pain due to leg length differences and increase in energy expenditure. A Walker orthosis is a useful tool replacing total contact casts and allowing earlier weight bearing and rehabilitation. It is important to use it for the shortest possible period of time and to always use compensation of leg length discrepancy.

Senility is strongly associated with changes in body composition. Sarcopenic obesity (SO) consists of symptoms such as increased body fat mass and a reduction in muscle strength and/or mass. The review covered treatment methods and diagnostic criteria used in SO patients. Moreover, the impact of SO on the health of older people was reviewed. Papers from the Science Direct and PubMed databases were analysed. The following keywords were used: “sarcopenic obesity”, "diagnostic", "treatment", "elderly", and "physical therapy". The inclusion criteria encompassed research studies on SO in older people. To be precise, the review included papers from January 2015 to March 2020, and the review itself was carried out from March to April 2020. Out of over 1,200 SO articles, 18 met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. All of the chosen papers were divided into two main groups. The first group contained papers about SO’s impact on the health of older people. The second comprised works about SO treatment methods. The most commonly used SO diagnostic indicators were: BMI (25kg/m2-30kg/m2), BF% (27%-42%), SMI (x

Rehabilitation of patients with a diagnosed cancer poses a major challenge for physiotherapists (PT) due to the limited number of methods which may be used on every stage of cancer treatment (including convalescence). Kinesiology Taping (KT) is one of the few available options that enable pain and oedema reduction. Limited number of studies with significantly varied study methods makes it difficult to draw clear conclusions on the legitimacy of KT use. Aim of the review was to analyse available studies on the KT use in pain management and associated discomfort reported by cancer patients. Six papers met the criteria for the review and were included in the detailed pooled analysis (2 clinical studies and 4 case studies). Analysis emphasized papers describing analgesic effect of KT. On the basis of available studies, it proved to be beneficial for oncology patients (breast cancer, lung cancer, multiple myeloma). Additionally, studies reported an increased ability to carry out daily activities, decreased ‘psychological suffering’ and lower fatigue which directly resulted in the improvement of the quality of life (QoL) – a main goal of palliative care. The number of studies that evaluate the effectiveness of KT in pain reduction in oncology patients is scarce. Since KT has minor adverse effects it is recommended to be used as an adjunct analgesic therapy. Review supports the effectiveness of KT for pain management in oncologic patients. In order to confirm the efficacy of KT use in cancer patients, a greater number of randomized clinical trials, covering larger study groups, is required with special emphasis on malignant neoplasms.

The most common type of arthritis that alters a joint's mechanical and structural properties is osteoarthritis (OA). Resistance training combined with blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is one of the new and promising non-pharmacological strategies for treating OA that has received attention recently. This paper aims to identify the outcomes and outcome measures used for BFRT in knee OA, evaluating BFRT intervention and cuff parameters. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews is followed while reporting on scoping reviews. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and PubMed were among the databases that were searched for research. Eight studies were included. The range of outcomes used in the study were knee pain, function, strength, quadriceps cross-sectional area, quality of life, disease severity, growth hormone level, and Range of motion. The parameters that were used in the included studies ranged from 4-5 sets of 10-15 repetitions at 20%–30% of 1RM load; progressive blood restriction ranging from 30%–80% of arterial occlusion pressure occurred with placement of the cuff at the most proximal part of the thigh. Low-intensity exercise training combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) used with appropriate parameters is a viable alternative to traditional strategies for improving knee OA patients' pain, strength, muscle mass, hormones, functionality, range of motion, and overall quality of life.