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Background: In the medical and rehabilitative field, it is essential to employ tools such as evaluation scales and performance tests to assess the impact of Parkinson's disease on QoL of affected individuals. The Short Parkinson's Evaluation Scale (SPES) is a reliable and valid tool, applicable both in research and clinical practices, useful in assessing motor damage, activities of daily living, and motor complications in patients with Parkinson's disease. The aim of the study is to investigate validity and reliability of the Italian version of the SPES-SCOPA scale. Methods: Translation and cultural adaptation were performed. Included patients had diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, no concurrent pathologies, MiniMental test score above 2 and signed informed consent; they were recruited at the Department of Human Neurosciences in Sapienza University of Rome, from February 2023 to November 2023. Test-retest reliability was evaluated through Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha and construct validity using Pearson's correlation between SPES-SCOPA and the gold standard PDQ-39. Results: 101 patients were recruited. Inter-rater evaluation was conducted on 62 patients, while 39 underwent an intra-rater assessment. The analysis showed statistically significant data with a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.89 for the entire scale; test-retest reliability results are statistically significant for all subscales. Correlation between PDQ-39 domains and SPES/SCOPA subscales were statistically significant for most measurements. Conclusion: This research shows that the Italian version of SPES-SCOPA scale has excellent psychometric properties.

This paper describes the validation process of the Italian version of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Scale (ITRAPS), describing its translation and adaptation to Italian culture. The cultural adaptation and validation were based on data from a sample of people affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The process required a forward and backward translation of the original language, reviewed by an expert panel. The adapted version of the RAPS was then tested on a community and clinical sample, in order to test its psychometric properties. The IT-RAPS was submitted to 122 people affected by RA. The data was analyzed using Cronbach’s coefficient alpha and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. The IT-RAPS showed an internal consistency reliability coefficient of 0.96. This is the first study reporting the validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the RAPS in Italian. The study’s findings provided support for the IT-RAPS as a reliable and valid measurement of multidimensional pain in RA patients.

Background. Disasters are increasingly more frequent events on our planet. During disaster the role of the occupational therapist will require a more specific operative framework within nongovernmental organizations and community health services. Design. Systematic review. Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the evidence that highlight occupational therapist’s role in disaster area through a systematic review. Materials and Methods. Research on MEDLINE was performed. All articles from 2005 to 2015 concerning rehabilitation and occupational therapy in disaster areas were included. Results. Ten studies were selected to be included in this review. Four interesting points emerged: the importance of having rehabilitation intervention in postdisaster situations, the necessity to include a rehabilitation team in the early phase of disaster response, the need to provide a method to address the difficult evacuation, and finding the safest method of transport of people with preexisting disabilities and new injuries. Conclusions. The amount of evidence with respect to specific intervention of the occupational therapist’s role in a disaster situation is limited. However some evidence suggests that it could be a good means for reducing the number of medical complications and deaths of persons with preexisting disabilities. The evidences found highlight the necessity to create a multidisciplinary team addressing needs in disasters situation, in which the occupational therapist could certainly contribute.

Objective: Data on disability in refugees is lacking, hindering effectiveness of humanitarian response. We investigated disability condition in refugees, identifying possible mechanisms that affect their health., Methods: The Washington Group Short Set - Enhanced was used to identify people at risk experiencing disability. Data on migration routes were collected and the relationship with functioning limitations was explored., Results: 483 refugees (58.18% males - 41.82% female) were interviewed. 23.8% were found to have a disability, with a higher risk for those who travelled along the central Mediterranean route OR (95% CI) 2.08 (1.33-3.24). Affect domain represented the main weight for disability (28.16%), followed by mobility limitation (8.28%). People who travelled across the central Mediterranean route were found to have a high risk of developing anxiety problems OR (95% CI) 2.19 (1.33-3.6), while people who crossed the Balkan route had a higher risk of mobility limitation OR (95% CI) 3.03 (1.23-7.44)., Conclusion: This study provides the first available data on disability among refugees in Italy, revealing a high prevalence of disability and a significant association with migration routes. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted health and rehabilitation interventions to address the specific vulnerabilities of this population., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Tofani, Marceca, Valente, Galeoto, Ben Zina, Salhi, Elmadmad, Tak Tak, Gosling, Mishra, Gazzaniga, Cilione and Iorio.)

In the last few years, we have seen the gradual spread of a new treadmill training modality, which involves walking not on the flat but downhill, also known as "downhill". This review aims to qualitatively assess the efficacy of downhill treatment on different patient populations and outline treatment routes for future efficacy studies. We searched five different databases: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PEDro, and LILACS for studies to include. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English were considered. PEDro scales and Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) assessment were used to evaluate the risk of bias. Forty-one RCTs were included, and three articles remained to be analyzed; the included studies showed 110 participants for three RCTs; of these, two were performed on patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while one was for treating people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The outcome measures used in the studies were the pulmonary function test, the cardiopulmonary exercise test, the 6-Minute Walking Test, and the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire. In patients diagnosed with COPD, downhill training appears effective on functional capacity and symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue, while in people with MS, it increases strength and activity performance when compared to other walking training modalities. RoB 2 tool shows good methodological quality for all studies included in the review; when evaluated with the PEDro scale, all presented a score of 8. Downhill could be such an effective, safe, and feasible eccentric training modality that it can be considered a new rehabilitation strategy that could be implemented for patients with low exercise tolerance.

Background: The Mobility Scale for Acute Stroke Patients (MSAS) was developed to discriminate between the lower levels of mobility in acute stroke patients in the first two weeks post-onset., Objective: The present study aims to develop and validate an Italian version of the MSAS., Methods: The English version of the MSAS was translated into Italian according to international guidelines. We recruited 58 patients admitted to a rehabilitation facility within 14 days of the stroke onset and administered the MSAS to test the internal consistency, concurrent validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the scale., Results: As for internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha showed values equal to 0.96, and the alpha deleted analysis indicated that all the items have reason to exist. Concurrent validity showed statistically significant data for all sub-scales. The Italian version of the MSAS showed significant and high inter-rater reliabilities (all ICCs ≥ 0.75). The MSAS also showed excellent test-retest reliabilities (all ICCs ≥ 0.90). The reactivity of the scale, evaluated through the Student's t-test for paired samples on a sub-sample of 32 patients, showed statistically significant improvements over time for all items and the total scale., Conclusions: The results show that the scale is stable and reliable both in the evaluation after 24 h and between different operators. High internal consistency and a strong concurrent validity were found. The scale also proved able to detect the improvement obtained by patients following the rehabilitation treatments., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: Approval was obtained from the Local Ethics Committee of the regional health service, i.e., the Tuscany South-East area, on 21 December 2020 (Protocol number: 2020/000291; Project identification code: 18837). The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Competing interests: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (© 2024. Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia.)

Purpose: This study aims to culturally adapt and validate the Stroke Upper Limb Capacity Scale (SULCS) and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) for use with post-stroke patients in Italy., Methods: The original scales were translated and culturally adapted following the "Translation and Cultural Adaptation of Patient Reported Outcomes Measures - Principles of Good Practice" guidelines. We assessed internal consistency and test-retest reliability, while concurrent validity was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients with the Italian version of the Disability Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH)., Results: A total of 56 participants were recruited for the study. The Italian versions of the scales demonstrated excellent stability and reliability both within and between raters. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.904 for SULCS and 0.998 for ARAT, indicating strong internal consistency among items. The interclass correlation coefficients were 0.998 (95% C.I.: 0.993-0.990) for inter-rater reliability and 0.987 (95% C.I.: 0.984-0.995) for intra-rater reliability for SULCS, and 0.998 (95% C.I.: 0.999-0.996) for inter-rater reliability and 0.992 (95% C.I.: 0.998-0.987) for intra-rater reliability for ARAT., Conclusions: Both scales exhibit robust validity and reliability, making them valuable tools for clinical assessment and functional evaluation of upper limb capacity in post-stroke patients. We recommend the integration of the ARAT and SULCS into initial patient assessments and ongoing monitoring to enhance rehabilitation outcomes., Competing Interests: Declarations. Institutional review board: All procedures were performed in accordance with the ethics standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008. Ethics committee approval for this study was Rif. 4816 Prot.03/01/2018, this research involves data which is provided without any identifier or group of identifiers which would allow attribution of private information to an individual. Informed consent was obtained from all participants for being included in the study. Research involving human participants and/or animals: This study involved research with human participants, and all procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Ethical approval: All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Sapienza University of Rome (Ref. 4816 Prot. 03/01/2018). This research involves data provided without any identifiers or group of identifiers that would allow the attribution of private information to an individual. Informed consent was obtained from all participants for their inclusion in the study., (© 2024. Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia.)

Background and Objectives : Musculoskeletal disorders affect a large portion of the population worldwide. The Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) is a helpful tool for assessing the health state of patients with these disorders. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MSK-HQ-IT in a population of kitesurfers. Materials and Methods : The study was conducted from September 2023 to July 2024. The questionnaire was completed using an online or paper form. Data were collected by submitting both the Italian and English versions of the MSK-HQ to a global sample of kitesurfers from various countries. Results : A total of 102 participants were recruited, consisting of 40 professionals and 62 non-professional kitesurfers. Cervical spine discomfort was significantly more prevalent among professionals (42.5%) compared to non-professionals (24%), as well as right shoulder pain (37.5% vs. 22.5%) and right wrist pain (12.5% vs. 3.2%). Non-professionals exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of functional limitations in the lumbar spine (25.8% vs. 5%) and reported more thoracic pain (21% vs. 17.5%). These findings indicate differing biomechanical stress patterns between the two groups, with professionals showing higher upper limb strain and non-professionals experiencing more lower back issues due to harness reliance. Conclusions : The MSK-HQ proved to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing musculoskeletal health in kitesurfers. The study highlights distinct injury patterns between professionals and non-professionals, with professionals being more prone to upper limb injuries and non-professionals showing a higher prevalence of lumbar and thoracic spine issues. These findings emphasize the need for targeted injury prevention strategies. Further research should focus on expanding the sample size and investigating long-term impacts of repetitive high-impact landings on musculoskeletal health in kitesurfers.

Background: Patients with cancer (PwC) who undergo specific treatments reported greater fatigue and reduced functional capacity as predominant outcomes, compromising their QoL during and following the treatment. Prehabilitation intervention, provided after diagnosis and before treatments, is to optimize the physiological reserve and address modifiable risk factors before surgery or chemotherapy to improve post-treatment results. The primary aim of this study is to obtain a common line of efficacy compared with prehabilitation treatment; the secondary endpoint is to assess the methodological quality of the studies eligible in the review., Methods: The systematic review was conducted from September to February 2024, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Databases consulted were MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of science and CINAHL, RCTs related to Prehabilitation intervention on PwC were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed through the RoB2 Cochrane tool and the PEDro scale. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate relative treatment effects among evaluated outcomes., Results: Forty-two studies were included in the systematic review, 13 were included in the quantitative analysis. The results of the studies reporting reduced postoperative hospital stay, improved endurance, muscle strength, respiratory function, quality of life, and urinary incontinence. Critical analysis of the articles using the PEDro scale revealed 28 RCTs with a good rating, 9 with a fair rating, and 5 with a poor rating; in contrast, the Cochrane RoB2 tool revealed that all articles were at high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed statistically significant values for 6MWT (38.53, 95%CI 33.03 - 44.04); HADS-depression (-0.71, 95%CI -0.93 -0.49) and HADS-anxiety (-0.49, 95%CI -0.76 -0.23)., Conclusions: Prehabilitation represents a specific intervention that aims to improve postoperative outcomes in fragile patients undergoing surgery, increasing their preoperative physiological reserve in anticipation of the stress they will face and facilitating the postoperative recovery of functional capacity. Prehabilitation is a good intervention to use, especially in terms of functional capacity and mental health, the latter being very impactful in terms of reduced levels of anxiety and depression. These data make it possible to justify supportive intervention by physical therapists aimed at improving and restoring health-related QoL especially in the short term., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background/Objective : Parkinson's disease (PD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, leads to motor and non-motor impairments, affecting quality of life. Camptocormia can be one of the motor signs of PD, characterized by a severe and abnormal forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine that typically occurs when walking or standing. The following study aims to verify whether postural gymnastics can be an effective treatment for trunk control, balance, activities of daily living, and general well-being in patients with early-stage PD and camptocormia. Methods : Nine participants (mean age 67.7 ± 7.8) with early PD (Hoehn and Yahr Scale ≤ 2) received 10 biweekly physiotherapy sessions. Outcomes were measured using the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) along with trunk mobility and muscle tests according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. Results : Statistically significant results were noted in the PDQ-39 mobility, ADLs and emotional well-being subscales and in the BBS; statistically significant improvements were also seen in trunk mobility and muscle strength. Conclusions : This study shows that the postural gymnastic treatment, according to Souchard, in patients with PD's camptocormia has obtained good results and has the potential timprove mobility and balance, encouraging and motivating patients in their rehabilitation journeys.

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are musculoskeletal disorders characterised by jaw pain and typically temporomandibular joint limitations. Resistance training (RT) has been shown to be effective at reducing pain and improving function for different musculoskeletal conditions (eg, neck pain, low back pain); however, the effectiveness of RT for patients with TMDs remains unclear. This systematic review will evaluate the effectiveness of RT on pain and temporomandibular joint range of motion in people with TMDs., Methods and Analysis: The report of this protocol aligns with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols. The search strategy will be conducted from 1 March 2024 to 31 March 2024 via the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (OVID interface), EMBASE (OVID interface), SCOPUS, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Any randomised controlled trials or non-randomised studies of interventions in adults with TMD that examine RT targeting the masticatory muscles, compared to other interventions not including RT, will be included. Primary outcomes will be jaw pain intensity and maximal mouth opening. Secondary outcomes will include measures of neuromuscular performance and pressure pain thresholds. Two independent reviewers will conduct the screening of articles for inclusion, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for included studies and will evaluate the overall quality of evidence following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. A meta-analysis will be performed where applicable. Alternately, a narrative synthesis will be performed by adhering to the synthesis without meta-analysis guidelines. Data will be summarised according to the outcome measures or, when this is not possible, according to other pertinent variables such as TMD type (ie, temporomandibular joint disorders, masticatory muscle disorders and mixed disorders)., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval is not necessary, since this study does not involve the collection of primary data. The results will be disseminated through presentations at scientific conferences and publication in a peer-reviewed journal., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42023476269., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Children/adolescents with cancer can develop adverse effects impacting gross motor function. There is a lack of gross motor function assessment tools that have been validated for this population. The aim of this multicenter cross-sectional study was to preliminary validate the 88-item Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) for use in children/adolescents with cancer, exploring internal consistency and floor/ceiling effect. Inclusion criteria regarded children/adolescents diagnosed with cancer on treatment or <1 year off therapy. The internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's α, and the floor-ceiling effects were calculated through percentage. This study involved 217 participants with heterogeneous neoplasm conditions. Internal consistency was good, with a Cronbach's α of 0.989. Floor-ceiling effect analysis reveals that several items obtained a dichotomous scoring distribution in each of the five sub-scales of the GMFM-88. This can be explained by the heterogeneous clinical characteristics of the target population. The preliminary validation of GMFM-88 in a group of children/adolescents affected by cancer suggests that some items are not able to discriminate between different gross motor function levels, and therefore it does not represent an informative tool to measure gross motor function in children with cancer. Future research is needed to define which ones could be more useful for clinical practice.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) in post-stroke individuals. The original MASA scale was translated and culturally adapted from English to Italian following the international guidelines. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the MASA-IT were assessed, and its concurrent validity was examined through Pearson correlation coefficients with the Italian versions of two established gold standard scales for dysphagia assessment: the Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (DOSS) and the De Pippo Test-Three Oz Water Swallow. The MASA-IT was administered to 78 participants. The items demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha ranging between 0.86 and 0.89. The interclass correlation coefficient was 0.98 for inter-rater reliability and 0.99 for intra-rater reliability, indicating high reproducibility. Regarding concurrent validity, the MASA-IT showed a strong direct correlation with the DOSS scale (r = 0.949, p = 0.01) and an inverse correlation with the De Pippo Test (r = -0.783, p = 0.01), confirming its good concurrent validity. The Italian version of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA-IT) is a reliable and valid tool for assessing swallowing ability in post-stroke patients. Its strong psychometric properties make it well suited for clinical use in Italy.

Background: Work-related quality of life (WRQoL) is a multidimensional concept related to life satisfaction. Evaluating WRQoL is essential in healthcare settings since employee satisfaction affects patient service quality. Only a few studies have focused on the quality of life of rehabilitation health workers. We aimed to validate the Italian version of the WRQoL scale on a population of rehabilitation health professionals; the secondary objective was to investigate the work-related quality of life of professionals concerning the work settings in which they operate., Methods: Participants were recruited from January 2022 to December 2023 according to specific inclusion criteria. Questionnaires were administered through an online survey requiring also personal employment data, and together with the SF-12 questionnaire, a test-retest was performed on 30 therapists. Reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha, test-retest stability through intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and concurrent validity was calculated using Pearson's correlation., Results: We enrolled 284 individuals. Internal consistency analysis showed statistically significant results: Cronbach's alpha was > 0.70; construct validity analyses revealed statistically significant data for total scores and subscales, compared to SF-12 scores., Conclusion: The WRQoL scale is a valid and reliable tool to assess the quality of working life of rehabilitation professionals.

Background: Assessment of upper limb function is critical in the rehabilitation process of people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), and universally validated outcome measures are needed to allow comparisons across the practice. Moreover, the study of psychometric properties of the same tool on different clinical populations guarantees the possibility of reliably evaluating the same rehabilitation treatment in people with different clinical conditions., Aim of the Study: The aim of this research was to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Italian adaptation of the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) in individuals with PD., Methods: The reliability and validity of the test were assessed in accordance with international standards. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliability was determined via the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The construct validity and cross-cultural validity of the test were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient with three assessment tools on upper limb function, independence, and quality of life, with hand grip power measured by a dynamometer and an Italian pangram. Finally, responsiveness after a one month of rehabilitation treatment was measured using the Wilcoxon rank test., Results: Fifty-two Italian people with PD were recruited. Cronbach's alpha values ranged from 0.556 (non-dominant hand) to 0.668 (dominant hand); ICC values ranged from 0.754 to 0.988. Construct validity showed that several statistically significant correlations were detected. Wilcoxon's test showed that the assessment tool can detect a change in this population after treatment., Conclusions: The JTHFT is a reliable, valid, and respondent tool to evaluate the upper limb and hand functionalities in PD patients. It should be added to the toolkit for measuring upper limb performance in this population, adding value to clinical evaluation and ensuring comparable results for different clinical populations and different countries.

Introduction: According to leading occupational therapy models, the environment appears to be a key element in fostering occupational performance and participation. There is an emerging need to identify an instrument that can assess these aspects in the school environment. Currently, there are no rating scales in Italy for the school participation of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. For this reason, this study aims to culturally adapt and translate the School Participation Questionnaire (SPQ) to Italian and to pilot test the translated Italian version on children with neurodevelopmental disorders., Methods: The original scale was translated from English to Italian using the guidelines "Translation and Cultural Adaptation of Patient Reported Outcomes Measures-Principles of Good Practice". The psychometric properties analyzed were the following: content validity, construct validity, cross-cultural validity, and internal consistency. Construct validity was assessed using the Italian version of the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM)., Results: The Italian version of the SPQ was administered to 22 children. The mean ± SD of the score was 9.32 ± 1.36; Cronbach's α was 0.935 ( p < 0.01). The Pearson's correlation coefficient with the SPM scores was -0.622 ( p < 0.01)., Conclusions: This pilot testing study for the validation of the Italian version of the SPQ showed good validity and reliability results. Thanks to this study, it would be possible to further analyze the tool for the evaluation of the environment and school participation of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular autism spectrum disorder. It is a quick and easy instrument that focuses on the environment as an active variable in the child's occupational performance.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the cultural adaptation and validation in Italian of the Seated Postural Control Measure for Adults 2.0 (SPCMA 2.0)., Methods: The original scale was translated and culturally adapted from French to Italian using the "Translation and Cultural Adaptation of Patient Reported Outcomes Measures-Principles of Good Practice" guidelines. Its internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined. Its concurrent validity was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients with the Italian version of the Wheelchair use Confidence Scale and Wheelchair Skills Test 4.2., Results: Fifty-nine people were evaluated and re-evaluated after 48 h. Most of the items and subscale totals were stable in the 2 evaluations as they reported an intraclass correlation coefficient value of >0.77. The test-retest analysis of the dynamic evaluation was performed on the same patients 48 h apart. The analysis for construct validity showed statistically significant correlations with Wheelchair use Confidence Scale and Wheelchair Skills Test 4.2., Conclusions: Seated Postural Control Measure for Adults 2.0 is one of the few tools that allow researchers to perform a quantitative and standardized posture assessment in a cost-effective and time-saving way. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that it is an easy-to-administer scale and requires readily available tools. The limitations of this study highlighted above and the need to use quantitative and qualitative tools in clinical practice imply the need to conduct future studies., (Copyright © 2024 International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.)

Objective: To develop a self-report version of the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II) and to test its reliability and validity., Study Design: Psychometric study., Setting: Spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation centres in Australia and Italy., Participants: Eighty people with SCI were recruited from a sample of convenience., Methods: Two self-report versions of the WISCI II were developed. Both versions were administered in English at the Australian site, and in Italian at the Italian site through an online platform. The format of the first self-report version (SR-V1) was similar to the original face-to-face WISCI II. The second self-report version (SR-V2) had more questions, but each question required participants to focus on one aspect of walking at a time. Participants completed SR-V1 and SR-V2 with assistance from research physiotherapists on two separate occasions, three to seven days apart. The original WISCI II was then administered through a face-to-face assessment by an independent physiotherapist. The intra-rater reliability and validity of SR-V1 and SR-V2 were determined with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and percent close agreements., Results: The data from the Australian and Italian sites were pooled. The validity and reliability of the two self-report versions were very similar, with SR-V2 performing slightly better than SR-V1. The ICC (95% confidence interval) of SR-V2 was 0.87 (0.81-0.92). The ICC reflecting the agreement between the self-report and the face-to-face WISCI was 0.89 (0.84-0.93)., Conclusion: Both versions of the self-report WISCI II provide a reasonable substitute for a face-to-face assessment although therapists preferred SR-V2., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to research studies in the literature regarding the role of the occupational therapist within penitentiary facilities., Design/methodology/approach: The study design is a systematic review using five different databases., Findings: Findings can therefore ascertain the potential role of occupational therapists in penitentiary institutions because they can contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners both inside and outside prisons with a view to their reintegration into society., Research Limitations/implications: It is necessary for clinical practice, and especially to increase the health of people within prisons, to update the occupational therapist interventions in the literature that are effective within prisons., Practical Implications: According to this study, the intervention of occupational therapists in the prison setting reduces recidivism and contributes to social and work reintegration. This has positive effects in terms of costs related to incarceration., Originality/value: Findings can therefore ascertain the potential role of occupational therapists in penitentiary institutions because they can contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners both inside and outside prisons with a view to their reintegration into society., (© Emerald Publishing Limited.)

Background: Conservative therapy is currently the elective treatment for peripheric facial palsy according to scientific literature. The success of conservative therapy is due to physiotherapy and the application of its methods. The aim of this systematic review was to assess mirror therapy, a physiotherapeutic method., Objectives: The aim of the following systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of using mirror therapy in patients with peripheral paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve., Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The screening of literature was carried out on Cochrane, PEDro, PubMed/Medline, Scopus and Web of Science databases up until August 2022. All studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 5 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. The risk of bias was evaluated with PEDro and Jadad scales., Discussion: In the present study, we reviewed 5 RCTs that compared mirror therapy with other physiotherapy treatments or placebo to reduce pain, depression and improve range of motion in patients with peripheric facial nerve palsy., Conclusions: Further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of this type of treatment, but nevertheless the data obtained are very encouraging.

This cross-sectional study assessed the psychometric properties of the movement assessment battery for children second edition (M-ABC2) in Italian children with typical development, focusing on reliability and percentile rank establishment. The M-ABC2 is widely utilized but lacks validation in Italian populations. One hundred and eight children were recruited. Test-retest reliability was evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), indicating good to excellent reliability across age groups, albeit with outliers requiring further scrutiny. Standard scores and percentile ranks were established, revealing age-related variations in motor performance. Noteworthy differences in completion times and error rates were observed among the age groups, highlighting the dynamic nature of motor development. While the findings provide valuable insights for clinicians and researchers, limitations such as sample size and geographic representation should be addressed in future studies. This study underscores the importance of employing reliable assessment tools for comprehensive understanding and effective intervention in pediatric motor development.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST)., Materials and Methods: Searches were conducted in August 2021 on four electronic databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligible papers included cross-sectional validation studies evaluating the psychometric properties of all QUEST versions. Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient, and comparison tools were reported. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist., Results: Nineteen studies were included in this systematic review. Results showed that the QUEST and QUEST 2.0 were available in 10 languages, and most validation studies analysed this tool in patients using mobility devices in various clinical conditions. One article analysed the child version (QUEST 2.1) in English. The most analysed psychometric property was Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency in 14 out of 19 studies, with values ranging between 0.74 and 0.79. Overall, 17 out of 19 studies were of adequate quality, though responsiveness was never studied., Conclusion: Our systematic review showed that the QUEST and its subsequent versions are reliable and valid measurement instruments to evaluate satisfaction in patients with different disabilities using various assistive technologies. This study provides useful information on the instrument's psychometric properties in different populations and cultures.

Parkinson's disease (PD) affects Quality of Life (QoL), since it is responsible for cognitive impairment, non-motor, and motor symptoms. Outcome measures are fundamental for evaluating treatment's effect on QoL over time. This systematic review aimed to identify the psychometric properties of PDQ-39 and PDQ-8 in the different populations in which they were validated. The electronic databases systematically searched are MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL, SCOPUS, and Web of Science; the research was conducted in July 2023. The psychometric properties considered were those of the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. Risk of bias was assessed using the COSMIN checklist. The search identified 1306 articles. 398 duplicates were eliminated; 908 articles were analyzed reading title and abstract; 799 were finally excluded because used PDQ-39 and PDQ-8 as outcome measures or were not dealing with psychometric properties; 66 articles were excluded after reading the full text. 43 articles were included in the review; meta-analysis showed all the Cronbach's alpha values were statistically significant for all the subscales of PDQ-39 and PDQ-8. PDQ-39 demonstrated to be a specific HRQoL questionnaire that is correlated with generic HRQoL questionnaires, in fact in many studies included in the review, correlations with SF-36 were found. In the last studies about psychometric properties of PDQ-8 emerged that it is a practical and informative instrument that can be easily used in clinical settings, especially in busy ones, but also in large-scale studies in which a brief instrument would be preferred., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Physical fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms in people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Several factors might influence the development of fatigue, such as gender, education, body mass index (BMI), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), disease duration, working status (Ws), physiotherapy (Ph), and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Fatigue Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire-Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FSIQ-RMS) is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) that allows one to define the impact of fatigue in PwMS clearly. This study aimed to assess fatigue impact on PwMS by using FSIQ-RMS., Methods: The participants were enrolled from May to July 2021 in MS Centers of Sant'Andrea Hospital and Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome. Fatigue was evaluated using the FSIQ-RMS, validated, and culturally adapted in Italian. Clinical and demographic data were collected at the same time., Results: We enrolled 178 PwMS [Female 74.16%; RMS 82.58%, SPMS 17.52%]. FSIQ-RMS scores were significantly correlated with EDSS (p-value < 0.01). Analysis of variance between means showed a statistically significant difference between the BMI groups at the 24hours&#95;FSIQ-RMS score and the 7days&#95;FSIQ-RMS score (p < 0.01), with the lower BMI group having the highest scores. Furthermore, perceived fatigue significantly improved both in subjects performing Ph (p < 0.05) and in those who actively work (p < 0.01)., Conclusions: The use of FSIQ-RMS in a real-world setting confirmed that underweight and high levels of disability are closely related to fatigue. In addition, Ph and active Ws are strongly correlated with fatigue in PwMS., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Objective: Musculoskeletal disorders affect a large portion of the population worldwide. The musculoskeletal health questionnaire is a helpful tool for assessing the health state of patients with these disorders. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MSK&#95;HQ-IT in a population of professional basketball players. The secondary aim is to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. Material and Methods: The study was performed from September to October 2022. The questionnaire was completed using an online or paper form, to which personal data were collected. Data were collected by submitting a translated version of the musculoskeletal health questionnaire directly to professional athletes. Results: A total of 63 basketball players were recruited. Regarding functional limitations, the body parts mentioned by the sample were the left ankle (23.8%) and the right ankle (17.5%), followed by the lumbar column and right hip (15.9%). Regarding pain, the data are more homogeneous, with a distribution in line with functional limitations. A peak of pain was perceived in the left foot, with a mean score of 4. Cronbach's alpha showed a value of 0.85. Conclusions : The musculoskeletal health questionnaire shows promising results in evaluating the health state of a population of professional athletes. Further studies are needed to enlarge the sample and possibly open it to more categories of professional sports.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to update a systematic review of instruments for evaluating the executive functions (EFs) in a pediatric population to assess their measurement properties., Area Covered: Studies describing evaluation tools of EFs were systematically searched on four electronic databases: PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science. To be included studies had to be on a population aged 0 to 18 were included. The individuals were either healthy or presented a neurodevelopment disorder. Risk of Bias was evaluated through the Consensus-based Standards to select the health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN)., Expert Opinion: The search was conducted on April 2023. Eighty-four papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study; the studies refer to 72 different evaluation tools of EFs. Most of the studies analyzed through a methodological quality analysis received an 'adequate' score. The instrument most mentioned was the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF2) in seven articles.

Introduction: Sleep disorders are frequent non-motor symptoms affecting patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Insomnia represents the most common sleep disorder. Parkinson's disease Sleep Scale 2 (PDSS-2) is a specific tool to investigate sleep problems in PD. The General Sleep Disturbances Scale (GSDS) was a general scale validated for the Italian population. Our goal was to assess the psychometric characteristics of PDSS-2 and the GSDS in this population, calculating a cut-off score for insomnia symptoms by using subitems of PDSS-2., Methods: Patients admitted at the PD Unit of the Hospital of Rome Tor Vergata outpatient clinic and those afferent to PD associations were asked to complete PDSS-2 and GSDS to be correlated to identify a cut-off for insomnia symptoms. Items 1,2,3,8,13 of PDSS-2 were used to detect insomnia. An ROC curve to assess a cut-off score for insomnia was determined. A cross-cultural analysis of PD population characteristics was performed., Results: In total, 350 PD patients were recruited. Cronbach's alpha was high for the total score (0.828 for PDSS-2 and 0.832 for GSDS). A cross-cultural analysis did not show any significant p -value. The ROC curve yielded an AUC of 0.79 (CI: 0.75-0.84). The cut-off value for insomnia disorder based on items 1,2,3,8,13 of PDSS-2 was >10, demonstrating a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 69% in determining the presence of subjective insomnia symptoms in PD., Discussion: PDSS-2 is demonstrated to be a valid, specific tool to address sleep disturbances in PD patients. A cut-off score of 10 for items 1,2,3,8,13 was identified for detecting insomnia symptoms in PD patients.

Background: In literature there is a lack of specific evaluation tools for behavior in intellectual disabilities in general and during an activity, this is one of the most important field of the Occupational Therapy intervention., Objective: Authors developed an Italian version of the Occupational Therapy Task Observation Scale (OTTOS) and an Italian version of the Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Evaluation Scale (COTES) and examined their reliability and validity., Methods: The original scales were translated from English to Italian using the "Translation and Cultural Adaptation of Patient Reported Outcomes Measures-Principles of Good Practice" guidelines. Both scales were administered to adults with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities. People under eighteen years, with severe and profound intellectual disabilities and deaf people were excluded from the study. Their reliability and validity have been examined. Relia-bility was analyzed via internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and stability (intra/inter-rater coefficient), while validity was investigated via construct validity (p-value) and criterion validity using Pearson's correlation coefficients between them and with the Mini Mental State Examination and the Barthel Index Scale., Results: The OTTOS and the COTES were administered to 30 subjects. Cronbach's α for the COTES was 0,91 and Cronbach's α for the OTTOS was 0,92. Regarding the criterion of validity, the two scales have numerous statistically positive correlations, particularly with the Mini Mental State Examination in the Orientation and total part. Furthermore, the correlation with the Barthel scale is present in the total scores, the COTES's third subscale, and the OTTOS's first., Conclusions: The OTTOS and the COTES were reliable and valid outcome measures for assessing behavior in the Italian population.

Objective: The study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and test the psychometric properties of the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians (MPIIQM) in an Italian population of professional and amateur musicians., Methods: The translation and cultural adaptation process followed international guidelines, while the reliability and validity of the questionnaire were assessed against the COSMIN checklist. The internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha (a) coefficient. Construct validity was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal axis factoring (PAF) extraction. The sample adequacy and data suitability were assessed through the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett's sphericity tests, respectively. Concurrent validity was analyzed by assessing Pearson's correlation coefficient with the Italian version of the Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ-I). Finally, the cross-cultural validity was investigated by analyzing score differences between amateur and professional musicians, and differences based on musical practice habits., Results: The tool was administered to 311 subjects recruited from across Italy. The MPIIQM-IT was found to have high levels of internal consistency for the entire tool and each of the two subscales (Cronbach's a = 0.875, 0.877, and 0.845, respectively). The recruited sample was found to be adequate (KMO = 0.810) and the data suitable (C2 = 341.040, p < 0.001) for factor analysis, which produced 9 items contained in two main factors. Pearson's correlation coefficients showed a positive, statistically significant correlation between the MSK-HQ-I and the two subscales of the MPIIQM-IT with p < 0.01. Analysis of Student's t-test for independent samples and the ANOVA test for continuous variables showed statistically significant differences between male and female, professional and non-professional musicians, and conservatory and non-conservatory students., Conclusions: The MPIIQM-IT is a valid and reliable tool, useful for investigating the presence of pain and playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) in both professional and non-professional musicians.

The actual literature highlights the importance of the socio-cultural context in the development of children. However, there is a lack of specific evidence about the middle East, especially regarding the development of Kurdish children who are living in a post-war scenario, in a country which is experiencing continuous instability due to the different crises. The main aim of this study is to identify the features of the motor development of Kurdish children according to parents' opinion. A comparison with Italian children is provided as a Western example, which reflects data from the literature. In the study, 331 parents of Kurdish and Italian children aged between 3 and 7 years were involved. Parents filled the questionnaire at kindergartens, after providing consent. The questionnaire was conceptualized, designed, tested and provided ad hoc for this study; it focused on the timing of development, concerning major milestones like head control, sitting and standing-up. The questionnaire consists of 15 questions and has not been standardized yet. A logistic regression showed several differences between Kurdish and Italian children, like head control ( p = 0.007) or the manipulation of big objects ( p < 0.0001). These results identify the effect of the socio-cultural context and the impact of the growing environment of the child. Moreover, the results of this survey show the need for introducing different adapted, translated and validated assessment tools for motor development, considering differences related to the socio-cultural context.

Introduction: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often seem not to feel the need to go to the bathroom in whatever context they are in and may suffer from hypo-responsiveness. Recent studies show a correlation between sensory problems, constipation, and fecal incontinence in children. This requires an assessment tool to identify evacuation issues in children with sensory dysfunction. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to validate the Italian version of The Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire-Revised (THPQ-R) in children with ASD., Methods: The inclusion criteria were a confirmed diagnosis of ASD and an age between 3 and 8 years old. The Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire Revised (THPQ-R) was recently validated in the Italian language on a healthy population. The Italian version has 17 items with two alternative response options, frequently/always or never/rarely, based on how often the behavior occurs. The THPQ-R questionnaire is easy to administer, interpret, and manage. For concurrent validity, we used the Italian version of the Sensory Processing Measure and Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool., Results: For the THPQ-R validation, 43 participants were recruited. The internal consistency, reporting an α value of 0.763, showed that the THPQ-R was a very reliable scale. The THPQ-R appears to be correlated only with the domains "Social Participation T-point", "Hearing T-point", and "Planning and Ideas T-point". However, these correlations are not statistically significant. Conclusion : The THPQ-R highlights positive results regarding validity and reliability and shows a positive correlation between defecation disorders and social participation.

Introduction: Freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is a challenging clinical symptom to assess, due to its episodic nature. A valid and reliable tool is the New FOG Questionnaire (NFOG-Q) used worldwide to measure FOG symptoms in PD., Objective: The aim of this study was to translate, to culturally adapt, and to test the psychometric characteristics of the Italian version of the NFOG-Q (NFOG-Q-It)., Methods: The translation and cultural adaptation was based on ISPOR TCA guidelines to finalize the 9-item NFOG-Q-It. Internal consistency was assessed in 181 Italian PD native speakers who experienced FOG using Cronbach's alpha. Cross-cultural analysis was tested using the Spearman's correlation between the NFOG-Q-It and the Modified Hoehn-Yahr Scale (M-H&Y). To assess construct validity, correlations among NFOG-Q-It, Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), the 6-min Walking Test (6MWT), the Mini Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest) and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were investigated., Results: The Italian N-FOGQ had high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.859). Validity analysis showed significant correlations between NFOG-Q-IT total score and M-H&Y scores (r = 0.281 p < 0.001), MDS-UPDRS (r = 0.359 p < 0.001), FES-I (r = 0.230 p = 0.002), Mini BESTest (r = -0.256 p = 0.001) and 6MWT (r = -0.166 p = 0.026). No significant correlations were found with SPPB, MOCA and MMSE., Conclusion: The NFOG-It is a valuable and reliable tool for assessing FOG symptoms, duration and frequency in PD subjects. Results provide the validity of NFOG-Q-It by reproducing and enlarging previous psychometric data., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

There is increasing literature showing that the presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) could be different according to the sex of the patient. Through the analysis of the Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised interview results of a study group consisting of 56 preschool children diagnosed with ASD potential differences in the presentation of ASD were searched. Variables investigated were verbal abilities, the presence/absence of unusual sensory interests, as well as of echolalia. The results showed significant differences between gender in restricted and repetitive behavior (p < 0.01), in particular for those children who have no unusual sensory interest (p < 0.05) and with minimal verbal ability (p < 0.05). The findings contribute providing evidences on phenotypical differences in preschool children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: There are many different types of Leukodystrophies. Specifically, children with hypomyelination and congenital cataract syndrome (HCC) in addition to motor retardation development, hypotonia and progressive spastic paraplegia, associated with cerebellar ataxia and peripheral neuropathy, have early bilateral cataracts and intellectual disability as pathognomonic symptoms. HCC rehabilitation treatment is not well defined, but a significant amount of evidence in the literature has demonstrated the effectiveness of occupational therapy (OT) treatment in children with similar symptomatology. For this reason, the aim of this study was to describe the improvement in the autonomies and social participation of a child with HCC following OT treatment., Methods: A.E. was a 9-year-old child with HCC with severe intellectual disability. OT intervention lasted 3 months biweekly and each session lasted 45 min. Each session was divided into two parts: The first part aimed to increase the child's active involvement through activities; the second part involved training in Activities of Daily living (ADL). The outcome measures were: ABILHAND-Kids; Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory; Comprehensive OT Evaluation Scale; ADL and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living., Results: A.E.'s outcome measure reported an improvement from an autonomy standpoint and in the child's general activity participation; there was also an increase in A.E.'s interpersonal skills., Conclusion: OT treatment improved A.E.'s autonomy.

Food selectivity is among the most common problems for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The present study aims to validate the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) in an Italian population of children with ASD. BAMBI was translated and cross-culturally adapted following international guidelines, then we investigated internal consistency as measured by Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability, as measured by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) in a sample of both children with ASD and with typical development (TD). A total of 131 children were recruited in a clinical and community sample. Internal consistency revealed significant data for both TD and ASD children, with a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.86 and 0.71, respectively. Test-retest reliability showed excellent values for each item of the BAMBI (range 0.83-1.00). Furthermore, we investigated differences in gender and body max index; however, no significant differences were found among groups. In conclusion, the Italian version of the BAMBI showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability and it can be used for clinical and research purposes.

Introduction: Irritability represents a transdiagnostic symptom in youths, which can become a predictor of long-term psychosocial adversity. Yet, few tools investigate this symptom in childhood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the CL-ARI in an Italian population, analyzing the correlations between irritability and other pathological constructs., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a Child Neuropsychiatry Unit in Rome. A transdiagnostic sample of 67 youths aged 7-17 years, which underwent to a psychodiagnostic evaluation, was administered by a clinician with the translated version of the CL-ARI, along with tools exploring irritability and other constructs (depressive symptoms, anxiety, global impairment in functioning)., Results: The most frequent diagnosis obtained by the psychodiagnostic evaluation was anxiety disorder, followed by disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) and no diagnosis. Cronbach's alpha values revealed good internal consistency for the total score (0.86), as well as for the score of each subscale of the tool (0.81 for temper outbursts, 0.89 for irritable mood, 0.71 for impairment). Test-retest reliability showed excellent values (ICC 0.89 to 0.98), and criterion validity exhibited good correlation among the sub-scales and between each sub-scale and the total score. Finally, positive correlations were found between total scores of the parent and the child interview, and between the CL-ARI, the measure of DMDD severity (CGI) and of depressive symptoms (CDI 2)., Conclusions: These data confirmed that the CL-ARI is a promising tool designed to intercept irritability, with good psychometric properties. Further research on the assessment of irritability is critical and thus encouraged.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected education at all levels in various ways. This paper provides a review of the literature on the challenges of online learning for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)., Method: In total, 17 studies from nine countries were analysed. The challenges of online learning for children with SEND reported by teachers and parents and the strategies applied to overcome the challenges were identified., Results: The challenges of online learning were the need of parental support, routine change, inequities of resources and access to technology, lack of accommodations, and social isolation. There was a considerable lack of interventions aimed at promoting the educational outcomes of children with SEND., Conclusions: The findings emphasise the importance of parent-teacher collaboration and communication. Suggestions for strategies to address challenges as well as for further research are also discussed.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a pathological condition that provokes the loss of one or more body functions due to an injury to the spinal cord as a result of trauma or disease. Hydrotherapy plays a key role in the rehabilitation of neurological patients due to the properties of water environments., Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hydrotherapy in patients who suffer from SCIs., Methods: We searched 5 different databases: CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PEDro for studies to include. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English were considered. To evaluate the risk of bias, Jadad and PEDro scales were used., Results: Eleven Randomized Controlled Trials were included, and 3 articles remained to be analyzed. According to the evaluation through Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, one study had a high level of quality. The remaining 2 studies achieved a score indicative of a low level of quality. A total of 71 individuals with SCI were included in the studies; age and level of injury varied in each study. The outcome measures used in the studies were: Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Ashworth scale, CardioTouch 3000 s in sitting position and Quark CPET., Conclusion: The aquatic environment provides a rehabilitation tool able to facilitate movement, physical and cardiovascular exercise, resistance training, and body relaxation., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society.)

Since foot posture is one of the main predictors of lower limb musculoskeletal injuries, it is crucial to use appropriate tools to define the foot's posture. The Foot Posture Index is, therefore, a reliable method to measure foot posture and is widely known and used in clinics and research. This study aimed to translate the Foot Posture Index 6 (FPI6) into Italian and to assess its psychometric properties. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation were obtained using a popular guideline. Two examinators assessed 68 subjects, and data were collected to test intra/inter-rater reliability, internal consistency and cross-cultural validity. The Italian version of FPI6 showed excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability (ICC 0.96 and 0.97), and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.9, thus showing excellent internal consistency. The FPI-6 version has proved to be reliable in terms of inter- and intra-rater reliability and can, therefore, be used in clinical practice and scientific research.

Objective: To use the Italian version of the General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS-IT) to assess the psychometric properties in a sample of orthopedic patients., Methods: Participants were divided into sleepless and non-sleepless according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-V). Reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. To evaluate responsiveness, the scale was administered a second time after the rehabilitation program., Results: The scale was administered to the 158 patients recruited. The GSDS-IT had good internal consistency (Cronbach's α of 0.752) and good responsiveness (ICC of 0.78). The optimal cut-off point for the GSDS-IT was 48.5., Conclusion: The GSDS-IT was demonstrated to be a valid and rapid tool to detect the presence of sleep disorders in a clinical setting in patients admitted to an intensive care unit and allowed the detection of the onset one week after admission and persisting until the time of discharge.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the new grave and acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), generated an unprecedented danger to public health. This condition may impact survivors' quality of life and includes extensive pulmonary and respiratory outcomes. Respiratory rehabilitation is known for its effects in improving dyspnea, alleviating anxiety and depression, reducing complications, preventing and ameliorating dysfunctions, reducing morbidity, preserving functions and improving subjects' quality of life. For this reason, respiratory rehabilitation may be recommended for this category of patients., Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and benefits produced by the adoption of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs in COVID-19's post-acute phase., Material and Methods: A search of relevant publications was conducted using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, and Cochrane Library. A single reviser selected pertinent articles that studied the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation during COVID-19's post-acute phase in improving the respiratory function, physical performance, autonomy and quality of life (QoL)., Results: After an initial selection, 18 studies were included in this systematic review, of which 14 concern respiratory rehabilitation delivered in conventional form and 4 concern respiratory rehabilitation provided in telehealth., Conclusions: Pulmonary rehabilitation combining different types of training-breathing, aerobic, fitness and strength-and not bypassing the neuropsychological aspects revealed itself to be capable of improving pulmonary and muscular functions, general health and quality of life in post-acute COVID-19 patients, besides increasing workout capacity and muscle strength, improving fatigue states and reducing anxiety and depression.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative movement disorder, whose symptoms have a negative impact on quality of life and functionality. Although its main treatment is pharmacological, non-pharmacological aids such as the dynamic elastomeric fabric orthosis (DEFO) merit an evaluation. Our objective is to assess the DEFO in upper limb (UL) functional mobility and in the quality of life of PD patients. A total of 40 patients with PD participated in a randomized controlled crossover study, and were assigned to a control group (CG) and to an experimental group (EG). Both groups used the DEFO for two months, the experimental group the first two months of the study and the control group the last two. Motor variables were measured in the ON and OFF states at the baseline assessment and at two months. Differences from the baseline assessment were observed in some motor items of the Kinesia assessment, such as rest tremor, amplitude, rhythm or alternating movements in the ON and OFF states with and without orthosis. No differences were found in the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) or the PD quality-of-life questionnaire. The DEFO improves some motor aspects of the UL in PD patients but this does not translate to the amelioration of the standard of functional and quality-of-life scales.