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Background Physiotherapists have strong knowledge and skills to deal with many of the functional problems that result from cancer treatment. The role of physiotherapy spans from cancer prevention to palliative and end of life care. Physiotherapeutic interventions offer a solution for many of the impairments experienced by patients living with and beyond cancer such as declines in physical function and quality of life. Specialized physiotherapeutic interventions can manage complex cancer-related side effects. The aim of this position paper is to outline the role of physiotherapy in the cancer journey. Material and methods The research was performed by eleven physiotherapy experts in oncology between May and October 2021 by using PubMed, PeDro and clinical guidelines databases. The search was divided according to the phases of the cancer journey: primary and secondary prevention, prehabilitation, during cancer treatment, post-treatment cancer rehabilitation, long-term rehabilitation of people living after cancer and advanced cancer. The role of physiotherapy is described and statements for each phase are developed. The final text was reviewed by three external reviewers, who provided feedback to improve the final version. Results Ten statements were developed by the authors, including general statements and statements for the different phases of the cancer journey. An infographic compiles all the statements providing a general and graphic vision of the role of physiotherapy in cancer care, based on the evidence. Conclusions Physiotherapists play an increasingly important role in the multidisciplinary care of cancer survivors. Many oncology physiotherapists have skills that can help to manage cancer-related impairments such as lymphedema, functional decline and cancer-related fatigue. Physiotherapists have strong knowledge and skills to deal with many of the functional problems that result from cancer treatment. Rehabilitation services, including physiotherapy, should be integrated at the point of diagnosis to assess an individual's baseline functional performance status and inform about the cancer care plan.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of mobile video-guided home exercise program and standard paper-based home exercise program. Methods: Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either experimental group with mobile video-guided home exercise program or control group with home exercise program in a standard pamphlet for three months. The primary outcome was exercise adherence. The secondary outcomes were self-efficacy for exercise by Self-Efficacy for Exercise (SEE) Scale; and functional outcomes including mobility level by Modified Functional Ambulatory Category (MFAC) and basic activities of daily living (ADL) by Modified Barthel Index (MBI). All outcomes were captured by phone interviews at 1 day, 1 month and 3 months after the participants were discharged from the hospitals. Results: A total of 56 participants were allocated to the experimental group (n=27) and control group (n=29). There were a significant between-group differences in 3-months exercise adherence (experimental group: 75.6%; control group: 55.2%); significant between-group differences in 1-month SEE (experimental group: 58.4; control group: 43.3) and 3-month SEE (experimental group: 62.2; control group: 45.6). For functional outcomes, there were significant between-group differences in 3-month MFAC gain (experimental group: 1.7; control group: 1.0). There were no between-group differences in MBI gain. Conclusion: The use of mobile video-guided home exercise program was superior to standard paper-based home exercise program in exercise adherence, SEE and mobility gain but not basic ADL gain for patients recovering from stroke.

Respiratory physiotherapy in patients with COVID-19 infection in acute setting: a Position Paper of the Italian Association of Respiratory Physiotherapists (ARIR) On February 2020, Italy, especially the northern regions, was hit by an epidemic of the new SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus that spread from China between December 2019 and January 2020. The entire healthcare system had to respond promptly in a very short time to an exponential growth of the number of subjects affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) with the need of semi-intensive and intensive care units.

There is a gap in research on how best to support exercise in moderate to severe MS. The objective of this study is to share perspectives of people living with MS and physiotherapists on their experiences in a randomized clinical trial of online physiotherapy vs. an active comparator. Semi-structured exit interviews were conducted with volunteer participants from the online and comparator arms of the trial, and focus groups were held with study physiotherapists. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Perspectives from participants with MS yielded three themes: usability of their program, utility of their program, and motivation to participate. Visual and dexterity impairments limited the usability of the online program. Having an opportunity "to be pushed" was valued by participants in both trial arms. Motivation to exercise was variable, and participants desired periodic face-to-face contact with their physiotherapists. Perspectives from trial physiotherapists yielded similar and complementary findings concerning usability and utility. Participants with MS and physiotherapists found the online physiotherapy platform useful for supporting exercise, yet they identified some limitations. As the appeal of online platforms has increased since the pandemic, it will be important to consider the needs of people with moderate to severe MS. NCT03039400. People with moderate-to-severe MS and physiotherapists involved in a clinical trial found online physiotherapy useful for supporting exercise. Physiotherapists and participants using the online program desired improved platform accommodations for people living with MS with visual and dexterity impairments. Physiotherapists and people living with MS from both the online exercise program and comparator groups perceived a need for more face-to-face contact and opportunities to build therapeutic alliance. Perspectives from prescribing physiotherapists and people living with MS about supporting exercise online may have practice implications during and post-pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Physical therapy modalities are often applied in treatment of neurological conditions in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the methodological quality of research focusing on the application of physical therapy modalities in children and adolescents with neurological conditions. METHODS: Papers published between 2007 and 2018 were included in the review. 149 papers were analyzed and finally 26 studies investigating the use of physical therapy modalities in children and adolescents with neurological conditions were included in the review. Jadad scale (0–5) was used to assess the methodological value of the studies. RESULTS: The mean Jadad score was 1.46 (researcher 1) and 1.38 (researcher 2). A score of 0 was awarded to nine (r1) and eight papers (r2). A score of 5 points was awarded to three (r1) and two papers (r2). CONCLUSION: 1. The evidence showing the effectiveness of the use of physical therapy modalities is mainly of low quality. 2. The Jadad scale is a valuable tool to assess the quality of research, although it does not always reflect the real value in the case children participate in studies. 3. The analyzed studies show that physical therapy modalities are effective in the treatment of children and adolescents with neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Telehealth and mHealth apps become increasingly popular in health professions such as physiotherapy calling for increased awareness on functionality, privacy, and data security. Objectives: This work presents a functionality, privacy, and data-security evaluation of four telehealth services commonly used in physiotherapy. Methods: We examined functionality and features, data protection, privacy implementations and data-security with a questionnaire and performed an in-depth investigation of the services. Results: Privacy and security relevant findings such as use of outdated webservers, problems with certificate renewal as well as questionable GDPR compliance were reported. Conclusion: Due to the privacy and security relevant findings in this analysis it can be concluded that there is a need for improvement in design, development, operation as well as regulation of telehealth apps and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Despite the glowing advancement of Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT), clear evidence about its effectiveness in stroke is still scarce. Hence it is essential to review the current information to provide up-to-date insight. Therefore the aim of this review is to evaluate the effects of VRT on the balance and Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with stroke. Data Sources: A literature search was done in Google Scholar, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. Eligibility Criteria: We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials published from June 2014 to January 2020, evaluating the effects of VRT on the balance and/ or HRQoL in stroke. Fourteen eligible trials were analyzed, of which, 7 studies focused on balance and 7 on HRQoL. Quality Appraisal: Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Cochrane tool. Results: Most of the trials supported the effectiveness of VRT in improving balance and HRQoL. However, few trials reported similar improvements in HRQoL using VRT via Nintendo WiiTM games and conventional physiotherapy. Conclusions: High to moderate evidence supports the effectiveness of VRT use in improving balance and HRQoL in stroke survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lack of a clear answer regarding the efficacy of physiotherapy in the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) has led to attempts to critically assess the scientific studies conducted to date. Materials and Methods: Two databases (MEDLINE via PubMed and PEDro) and Google Scholar were used to search for papers. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials, case series, and case reports that evaluate the effects of physiotherapy in the treatment of patients with CuTS. Results: A total of 18 studies met the eligibility criteria, capturing a total of 425 participants. Seven papers were randomized controlled trials, three more described prospective studies without a control group, and eight papers contained case reports. An analysis of the literature evaluating the effectiveness of various forms of broadly defined physiotherapy indicates that their use can have a beneficial effect in reducing many subjective and objective symptoms and improving function. In the majority of papers included in this review, their authors indicated positive therapeutic effects. Only one randomized controlled trial reported no change following therapy. It can therefore be stated that the results of the research conducted so far are optimistic. However, only 7 of the 18 papers were randomized controlled trials, while 3 were prospective studies, and 8 papers were case studies, in which 23 people with CuTS were studied. Conclusions: The small number of randomized clinical trials and their considerable heterogeneity do not allow firm conclusions to be drawn about the effectiveness of physiotherapy in the conservative treatment of CuTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether, in patients with trauma and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, an exercise program performed on a touchscreen tablet-based app reduces the consumption of face-to-face resources and improves clinical recovery, compared to a conventional home exercise program prescribed on paper. Design: Pragmatic, multicentre, parallel, two-group, controlled clinical trial with blinded assessor. Participants and setting: Eighty-one patients with traumatic bone and/or soft tissue injuries of the hand, wrist and/or fingers recruited in four hospitals of the Andalusian Public Health System. Interventions: The experimental group received a home exercise program using a touchscreen tablet application and the control group received a home exercise program on paper. Both groups received the same treatment of face-to-face physiotherapy. Primary outcome: Number of physiotherapy sessions. Secondary outcomes were the duration of physiotherapy and clinical variables such as functional ability, grip strength, pain and manual dexterity. Results: The experimental group required fewer physiotherapy sessions (MD −11,5 sessions; 95% CI −21.4 to −1.4), showed a shorter duration of physiotherapy (MD −3.8 weeks, 95% CI −7 to −1) and had better recovery of grip strength, pain and dexterity compared to the control group. Conclusions: In patients with trauma and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, an exercise program performed on a touchscreen tablet-based app in combination with face-to-face physiotherapy reduces the consumption of face-to-face resources and improves clinical recovery, compared to conventional home exercise program prescribed on paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter is to highlight errors made by Liu et al. in their 2020 paper in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, "Complementary and alternative medicine—practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review". Substantial errors in their citation of the recent research and methodology by McDowell, Kohut & Betts (2019) pertaining to the practice of acupuncture in New Zealand by physiotherapists are presented. The actual results of McDowell et al.'s work and the true state of acupuncture use by their sample group is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Background: Physiotherapists are health professionals who enhance mobility and quality of life (QoL) through clinical reasoning and the application of evaluation and treatment strategies. Their role is crucial in promoting health, preventing injury, and maintaining function. Aim: This paper aims to (1) share early experiences and learnings from integrating physiotherapy in rural primary health care, (2) discuss the scope and role of physiotherapists in the primary care team, (3) list the competencies of physiotherapists in rural primary care settings, and (4) advocate for a re-imagined role of physiotherapists as multi-skilled "primary care physiotherapists." Setting and Method: Using a selection of case stories from rural primary health care settings, the paper provides insights into the integration and impact of physiotherapy within these communities. Results: The integration of physiotherapy in rural primary health care has demonstrated significant benefits in promoting comprehensive primary health care. The case stories highlight the expanded scope and essential competencies of physiotherapists as vital members of the primary care team. Conclusion: This paper emphasizes the critical role physiotherapy plays in primary health care and calls for broader recognition and support for physiotherapists. It underscores the need for a re-imagined perspective of physiotherapists in rural settings, advocating for their role as multi-skilled primary care professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in tertiary education at Universities of Applied Sciences recommend a high level of competence orientation. This can be achieved and evaluated by the definition of Learning Outcomes. Furthermore, these Outcomes can assure a comparison of the level of education after graduation. Efforts should be made to achieve this form of Quality Assurance for the professional education of physiotherapists.

Research on patient-centeredness within physiotherapy points to a need for clarification about what the concept entails in science and practice and how research positions itself within health care. Thus, the aim is to systematically map the characteristics of research on patient-centeredness in physiotherapy and critically discuss the dominant understandings within. A systematic research mapping was carried out, based on searches in leading bibliographic databases. Four categories were selected in order to characterize the research field: focus, design, theoretical approach and inherent logic. Of 5,324 studies, 101 were included in the final mapping, pointing to a limited amount of research. The papers included were published in 47 different journals. Two major research foci emerges: one testing or developing technologies (tools) to promote patient-centeredness and one exploring patients' or professionals' experiences related to physiotherapy practice. Most papers reported on empirical research and there seems to be a dearth of conceptual papers. The theoretical approaches applied were mainly psychological, pedagogical and biomedical. The papers included were divided into equal amounts of studies carried out within inherent logics of causality and complexity. The mapping suggests an incipient awareness of patient-centeredness within the research field of physiotherapy. Empirical studies dominate the field, whereas conceptual and critical papers seem in need of wider acknowledgment. The research field is divided into two mutually disconnected trends: one concerned with understanding the complexity of clinical practice and patients' experiences of treatment and illness, and another trend concerned with solving "the problem" of patient involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the respiratory physiotherapy in patients with COVID-19 infection in acute setting. Topics include the hospitals entire buildings and wards have been converted in semi-intensive and trained dedicated COVID-19 teams consisting of physicians, the acute hypoxemic patients may experience dyspnoea that may persist despite the administration of oxygen flows, and the potential rapid worsening of hypoxemia with subsequent need of intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation.

To review the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of physiotherapy when delivered remotely. CINAHL, MEDLINE, EBM Reviews, and Cochrane Library databases (January 2015–February 2022) were searched and screened for papers (of any design) investigating remote physiotherapy. Data were extracted by two independent raters. Methodological quality of the identified papers was not assessed. Thematic content analysis drew out the key issues. Forty-one papers (including nine systemic reviews and six with meta-analyses) were selected involving musculoskeletal, stroke and neurological, pulmonary, and cardiac conditions. The most commonly delivered intervention was remote exercise provision, usually following assessment which was completed in-person. All studies, which assessed it, found that remote physiotherapy was comparably effective to in-person delivery at lower cost. Patient satisfaction was high, they found remote physiotherapy to be more accessible and convenient. It boosted confidence and motivation by reminding patients when and how to exercise but adherence was mixed. No adverse events were reported. Barriers related to access to the technology; technical problems and concerns about therapists' workload. Remote physiotherapy is safe, feasible, and acceptable to patients. Its effects are comparable with traditional care at lower cost. Remote physiotherapy is safe, feasible, and acceptable to patients with comparable effects to in-person care. Remote delivery increases access to physiotherapy especially for those who cannot travel to a treatment facility whether due to distance or disability. Remote physiotherapy may increase adherence to exercise by reminding patients when and how to exercise. Remote physiotherapy does not suit everyone, thus a hybrid system with both in-person and remote delivery may be most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fizioterapija is the property of Slovenian Association of Physiotherapists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: Internationally, hip or knee arthroplasty (TJA) with a 1-day hospital length of stay (LOS) is common and demonstrates improved patient and health service outcomes. This study aimed to develop and pilot an enhanced recovery program (ERP) for patients undergoing TJA to achieve a next-day discharge in an Australian public hospital setting. Methods: A project lead and six perioperative clinical craft group leads developed an ERP protocol based on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles. Strict patient eligibility criteria were developed. Quality improvement methodology was used to implement the ERP. A patient navigator was put in place as a single contact point for patients. Results: A total of 825 patients were screened for the ERP and 47 patients completed the protocol. The mean ± standard deviation (s.d.) of the LOS was 34.7 (± 7.2) h with 41 patients (87%) achieving next-day discharge, the remaining six (13%) discharged on Day 2. Compliance with ERAS was high (96%) with mobilisation within 12 h occurring on 87% of occasions. There were no adverse events. Patient experience was positive. Conclusion: Next-day discharge was achieved with a selected cohort of patients with no adverse events and positive patient experience, using a multidisciplinary approach and an improvement framework. Broadening inclusion criteria will make ERP available to more patients. What is known about the topic? Next-day discharge following hip or knee arthroplasty in Australian public hospital settings is uncommon and little has been published reflecting enhanced recovery principles in this local context. What does this paper add? This paper describes the development and piloting of an enhanced recovery program using a novel approach to achieve next-day discharge following hip and knee replacement. What are the implications for practitioners? Other health services may leverage this approach to design and implement an enhanced recovery program to reduce hospital length of stay and improve patient and health service outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Psychosocial factors are a barrier to recovery for people with musculoskeletal pain and psychosocial screening tools are consistently recommended by best practice guidelines to assist in identification. However, many physiotherapists do not use these tools. Presently, the perspectives on psychosocial screening tools of Australian physiotherapists are unknown. Exploration of these factors may create targets for increased uptake. The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively explore Australian physiotherapists' attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours towards psychosocial screening tools for musculoskeletal pain conditions. Materials and Methods: An Interpretive description qualitative study design was employed. Seventeen Australian physiotherapists were interviewed about their attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours towards psychosocial screening tools. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to interpretive description. Results: Analysis highlighted three major themes: (1) understanding the patient through psychosocial screening, (2) confidence and competence with psychosocial factors, and (3) factors outside of my control influence screening. Conclusions: This study presents a deeper understanding of Australian physiotherapists' diverse attitudes and practices regarding psychosocial screening tools. The research highlights not only the variability in perspectives towards the relevance of psychosocial factors in patient assessments, but also the influence of external elements such as patient demographics and clinic culture on the utilization of these screening methods. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Australian physiotherapists' varying attitudes and limited understanding of the impact of psychosocial factors may hinder the use of recommended psychosocial screening. Concerns about scope of practice, tool appropriateness for different patients, and clinic culture further challenge the integration of psychosocial assessments. The findings from this study indicate the need to provide more education to Australian physiotherapists on the importance and use of psychosocial risk factor screening, as part of clinical care standards and best practice guidelines in the management of patients, with musculoskeletal pain conditions. The findings from this study can support the creation of targeted training/innovations to improve the uptake of screening tools in Australian musculoskeletal clinical practice, to improve the care of patients with musculoskeletal pain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Continuous health promotion systems are increasingly important, enabling decentralized patient care, providing comfort, and reducing congestion in healthcare facilities. These systems allow for treatment beyond clinical settings and support preventive monitoring. Wearable systems have become essential tools for health monitoring, but they focus mainly on physiological data, overlooking motor data evaluation. The World Health Organization reports that 1.71 billion people globally suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, marked by pain and limited mobility. (2) Methods: To gain a deeper understanding of wearables for the motor rehabilitation, monitoring, and prediction of the progression and/or degradation of symptoms directly associated with upper-limb pathologies, this study was conducted. Thus, all articles indexed in the Web of Science database containing the terms "wearable", "upper limb", and ("rehabilitation" or "monitor" or "predict") between 2019 and 2023 were flagged for analysis. (3) Results: Out of 391 papers identified, 148 were included and analyzed, exploring pathologies, technologies, and their interrelationships. Technologies were categorized by typology and primary purpose. (4) Conclusions: The study identified essential sensory units and actuators in wearable systems for upper-limb physiotherapy and analyzed them based on treatment methods and targeted pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bell palsy is a sudden facial nerve paralysis that affects many individuals annually. It significantly impacts patients and their families, leading to a reduced quality of life if left untreated. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework focuses on outcome measures, functional limitations, and overall quality of life of the patients. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective management of the condition. In order to standardize clinical practice and contribute to recommendations of certain interventions, this paper focuses on the optimal dosage of physiotherapy intervention for Bell palsy patients, which includes exercise therapy and electrotherapy. Case presentation: An Indian 33-year-old male visited our physiotherapy department 15 days after being diagnosed with right-sided Bell palsy with unknown aetiology. His chief complaints were right-eye dryness, facial pain, drooping of the face, and difficulty performing facial activities. The outcome measures are the strength duration curve (SD curve), House-Brackmann grading, manual muscle testing, and visual analogue scale (VAS) scale. The physiotherapy intervention includes two primary components: electrotherapy and exercise therapy. Conclusion: The Kabat rehabilitation technique, along with nerve stimulation and an active exercise regimen, is significantly effective in treating Bell palsy, and the outcome measures show significant improvement with optimal therapy dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The WHO emphasises that rehabilitation services must be integrated into primary healthcare as an inherent part of universal health coverage. However, there is limited research on the integration of rehabilitation services in primary healthcare in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe the literature on service guidelines, models, and protocols that support the integration of rehabilitation services in primary healthcare in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Methods: A scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework was conducted. Structured database and website searches identified published and unpublished records from 2010, which were subjected to eligibility criteria. Mendeley, JBI SUMARI, and Microsoft Excel were used to extract and synthesise the data. Results: The search strategy identified 542 records. Thirty-two records met the inclusion criteria. Shared care and community-based rehabilitation were the most reported practice models, and the implementation of the models, guidelines, and protocols was mostly described in mental health services. Conclusion: This review discusses BRICS countries' rehabilitation service guidelines, models, and protocols for primary healthcare integration and implementation challenges. Rehabilitation professionals should rethink, realign, and apply existing models because of the lack of primary healthcare integration directives. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The integration of rehabilitation services in low-resourced and remote settings can be improved by involving community health workers and community rehabilitation workers in transdisciplinary teams. Peer support workers and community health workers can improve rehabilitation outcomes, particularly through shared care models that emphasize peer-to-peer learning, mentoring, and coaching. Self-management interventions can have a positive impact on functional outcomes. Integrated rehabilitation services in primary healthcare can be supported through community-based rehabilitation, which emphasises community involvement and engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent marketing literature suggests that brand orientation is an alternative concept for the public health because it is believed to address the shortcomings of market orientation. Brand orientation is specifically of interest to the sector of healthcare, due to the complex nature of the sector. The purpose of the study described in this paper was to find out what the possibilities are of brand orientation for local healthcare providers. The study shows that brand orientation is relevant for physical therapy primary healthcare organizations (PTPHOs), but is not always adopted effectively. PTPHOs are strongly focused on the patient as the only stakeholder. A more powerful option would be to choose a brand positioning strategy for all relevant stakeholders. PTPHOs have to design integrated marketing activities to encourage consumers directly to use our products/services, and to encourage suppliers, distributors, and other key stakeholders to promote our products/services to consumers. In order to safeguard their role and position in the context of community care for the future, the PTPHO is challenged to become more active and more visible, and must collaborate more with other (healthcare) professionals in the community, broaden their services, and focus more on the (future) needs of the citizen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-specific back pain is a global concern. Exercise and health education are crucial components in its management. The Back School is a theoretical practical program that integrates both elements. The objective of this study is to determine if Back School-based programs are effective in reducing pain, disability, and kinesiophobia in patients with non-specific back pain. Methods: A systematic review of research involving participants with non-specific back pain was carried out on databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline. Results: In total, 25 papers were chosen for review. All of these papers focused on the effects on the lumbar area, with the exception of one paper that specifically targeted the cervical region. The pain variable showed statistically significant results with standardized mean differences of −1.01 (950 confidence interval = −1.39 to −0.63; p < 0.001), and the disability variable had standardized mean differences of −0.98 (95% confidence interval = −1.38 to −0.58; p < 0.001), and only one study analysed the kinesiophobia variable and concluded that Back School programs have a positive effect on kinesiophobia between the baseline and post-intervention levels. Conclusions: Back School programs have shown effectiveness in reducing non-specific back pain and lowering disability rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Sports Medicine / Medycyna Sportowa is the property of Agencja Wydawnicza Medsportpress Sp. z o. o. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Post-stroke patients constitute a large group suffering from disabilities that require rehabilitation long after discharge. Quality indicators (QIs) that specify the minimum expected standard of quality in outpatient rehabilitation could contribute to the valuation of the effectiveness of rehabilitation on decision-makers, health professionals, patients, and relatives. This review aims to identify QIs focusing on physiotherapists' outpatient rehabilitation of stroke patients. Materials and methods: The databases Cinahl, Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus were searched for publications, and the grey literature was also searched. Through a pragmatic appraisal and assessment with the modified AGREE II-QI instrument, relevant QIs were selected. Results: A total of 1129 papers were retrieved, and five papers presenting 91 QIs were included. Thirty-six QIs were considered relevant to physiotherapy in outpatient rehabilitation. The QIs cover structure, process, and outcome and concern basic mobility, spasticity, organisation and content of the training, patient-reported outcome measures, education of patients and relatives, and follow-up and goal setting. Conclusions: The study appraised 36 QIs relevant for outpatient rehabilitation of stroke survivors conducted by physiotherapists. A Delphi panel is required to develop the final set of QIs for physiotherapists and, subsequently, the development of a core set of multidisciplinary QIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide increase in the number of disorders requiring rehabilitation is weighing more and more on healthcare systems, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. Emergent technologies and techniques should be used more and more in both physical and psychological rehabilitation, after a thorough study of their potential and effects. Our paper presents an original virtual reality-based system including gamified immersive physio-psychological exercises, which was tested in a clinical setting with 25 patients suffering from various musculoskeletal, neuromotor, or mental disorders. A thorough testing protocol was followed during a two-week period, including repeated trials, progress tracking, and objective and subjective instruments used for data collection. A statistical analysis helped us identify interesting correlations between complex virtual reality games and people's performance, and the high level of relaxation and stress relief (4.57 out of 5 across all games) which can be offered by VR-based psychotherapy exercises, as well as the increased ease of use (4.26 out of 5 perceived across all games) of properly designed training exercises regardless of patients' level of VR experience (84% of patients with no or low experience and no patient with high experience). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dizziness and vertigo are common referrals to Ear Nose Throat (ENT) outpatient services however these services have long waitlists for assessment. Primary contact physiotherapy-led vestibular clinics are recognized as improving access to care. This pilot study investigated agreement between physiotherapists and an ENT medical practitioner for diagnostic and management decisions in patients attending a primary contact physiotherapy-led vestibular clinic. Methods: Prospective blinded inter-rater agreement study undertaken in an ENT primary contact physiotherapy-led vestibular clinic. Participants were adults referred to ENT from general practitioners, triaged (Category 2 or 3) to the primary contact physiotherapy-led vestibular clinic with clinical symptoms consistent with vestibular disorder. Primary outcome measures included agreement of diagnoses and management decisions made by an ENT medical practitioner and Physiotherapist based on a vestibular physiotherapy assessment. Adverse events were reviewed 11 months post data collection. Gwet's first order agreement co-efficient (AC1) calculated inter-rater reliability between physiotherapy and ENT. Results: Fifty-one participants were recruited consecutively from the primary contact physiotherapy-led vestibular clinic. Physiotherapy and ENT had a substantial agreement (AC1 0.613) on diagnosis. AC1 between physiotherapy and ENT for recommending Magnetic resonance imaging (0.810) and computerized tomography (0.935) both indicated near perfect agreement. There was moderate to near-perfect agreement regarding management recommendations between physiotherapy and ENT. Substantial agreement (AC1 0.720) was found for recommendations for ENT input, near perfect agreement (AC1 0.933) for neurology input and moderate agreement (AC1 0.574) for physiotherapy input. There were no adverse events from physiotherapist's management decision, based on final recommendations undertaken 11-months post data collection. Conclusions: Physiotherapists and ENT medical practitioner made comparable diagnostic and management decisions, based on physiotherapy and audiology hearing assessment, for adults with signs of vestibular dysfunction, within an ENT primary contact physiotherapy-led vestibular clinic. This study provides support for this type of Physiotherapy-led service in managing patients referred to an ENT service with vestibular dysfunction. Key points: 1. This is the first study investigating interprofessional agreement between physiotherapists and an ENT medical practitioner in the diagnosis and management of patients within an ENT primary contact physiotherapy-led vestibular clinic (recommendations were based on a vestibular physiotherapy assessment as participants were not directly assessed by ENT). 2. Physiotherapists and ENT agreement on diagnosis was substantial. 3. Agreement between physiotherapy and ENT on requesting MRI brain and CT head were near perfect; and agreement between physiotherapy and ENT for onward management to ENT, neurology or physiotherapy was moderate to near perfect. 4. There were no adverse events from physiotherapy's management decision, based on the final recommendations. 5. This paper provides support for the competency of physiotherapists in managing patients referred to ENT with vestibular dysfunction and the safety of ENT primary contact physiotherapy-led vestibular clinics, albeit the presence of bias given the recommendations were based on a vestibular physiotherapy assessment only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physiotherapy education meant that innovative responses were needed quickly. This paper describes a scholarly approach to changes within an entry-level physiotherapy program where one of its clinical placements was replaced with a fully online unit during 2020, as well as exploring the experiences of students who completed this newly developed online unit. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used. Sixteen of a possible 31 students responded to an online survey comprising quantitative and open-ended questions. Results: The majority of participants were satisfied with the unit and reported that: the unit helped them to learn valuable skills; feedback from educators was helpful; and that they were able to apply to future contexts. Small numbers of students were more ambivalent about the use of online media and tools including discussion boards, the workload and being part of a learning community. Conclusion: The online unit described in this research is evidence that non-traditional forms of clinical education might also address clinically important learning outcomes, provide sustainable options and alleviate some of the stresses that both tertiary providers and healthcare settings endure. However, these types of placement experiences require a paradigm shift from educators, the profession, accrediting bodies and even future students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appreciation of the history of physiotherapy permits an understanding of the development of the profession and appreciates its societal role. However, the study of history within physiotherapy is confounded by methods favoring a deductive approach and the exclusion of bias. To discover the historical elements of a profession or a technique, methods applied in research need to be abductive, inclusive of bias, and open to alternative sources of information enabling the discovery and emplotment of new narratives. There is minimal attention to the historical development of the physiotherapy profession or the genesis of techniques utilized. Research methodologies used by those seeking to expand understanding are limited by the scientific health-care research methods chosen. This paper discusses a hybrid approach for historical research in our profession, using the example of an analytical framework to address the question of the historical genesis of manual therapy in health care, outlining the development of this method and including the creation of a novel historical source appraisal tool, as we seek to emplot an updated historical narrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laparotomy is now an integral component of the modern surgical practice from simple elective appendicitis to complex oncological operations. However, with the years, the operative risks have been minimized by the advancement in surgical procedures, but the postoperative period is crucial for the patient's healing and subsequent physiotherapy. This phase includes concerns like pai n management, complications related to immobility, and the use of multiple approaches to improve the patient's outcome. Today, physiotherapy is considered one of the critical steps in the postoperative care of patients who have undergone abdominal surgery. They are the promotion of early mobility to avoid complications such as muscle atrophy and thromboembolism, pain management that does not involve the use of opioids, and physical therapy to enable patients to regain their mobility and hence have a better quality of life. In addition, physiotherapy addresses the psychological and emotional aspects of the patient's state and guarantees the patient's adherence to the proposed therapy. This review article is intended to describe the modern challenges and concerns in the rehabilitation of patients after abdominal surgery and to emphasize the role of physiotherapy in improving the results of the patients. Therefore, the implementation of EBP by physiotherapists is crucial in enhancing the outcomes of postoperative patients and the reduction of the overall costs of health care since the patients stay longer in the hospital and are prone to complications. Stressing the necessity of early intervention and individualized approach, this paper demonstrates the potential of physiothe rapy interventions to provide comprehensive and person-centered rehabilitation after abdominal surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Healthcare requires new technologies to deliver hybrid services. Before embedding health-delivery transformations including physiotherapy in asthma clinics, it is essential to give young people and their carers a voice to facilitate co-designing of services. Objective: To co-design hybrid telehealth physiotherapy services and online resources for, and in partnership with, young people with asthma and dysfunctional breathing, and their families. Methods: Experience based co-design study undertaken at a specialist paediatric difficult asthma clinic, including online service user focus groups and electronic questionnaires for service providers. Eight children aged between 11 and 17 years and their families and 11 members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) managing children with difficult asthma were recruited purposively. Results: A series of seven online videos were created, topics included: how to support a breathless child, education on how we breathe, breathing patterns, symptom differentiation, breathlessness, rescue breathing techniques, and exercise. Each video has downloadable resources. Five children and four parents wrote blogs to share their experiences. A live online 12-week physiotherapy program was developed on a web-based platform called Asthma Kids. Conclusion: Co-design enabled partnership working to develop hybrid telehealth physiotherapy services and prototype interventions to support home practice for children with asthma and dysfunctional breathing. CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAPER: Service provider and service user insight into experiences of using digital healthcare technologies. Novel co-designed physiotherapy-based 12-week program of interventions for children and young people with asthma and dysfunctional breathing. Novel co-designed online resources to support physiotherapy home practice for children and young people with asthma and dysfunctional breathing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]