Physiotherapy Research International最新文献

{"title":"Environmental Scan of the United States Regulatory Practices of Physical Therapy Dry Needling.","authors":"Nadine Crocker, Eric Parent","doi":"10.1002/pri.70225","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70225","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the dry needling (DN) regulation of physical therapists across United States (US) regulatory jurisdictions and assess alignment of these regulations with identified DN regulatory recommendations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using Choo's modes of environmental scanning framework, we conducted a comprehensive review of DN regulations by collecting data from physical therapy jurisdictional regulatory authorities' websites and by contacting their representatives directly. Comparisons of DN regulation to documents offering DN regulation recommendations were made by collecting information on DN regulation, pre-requisites, approved courses, course criteria, instructional hours, method of registration, and continued competency.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 56 physiotherapy jurisdictions in the United States (50 states, 1 district and 5 territories), 43 jurisdictions permit physical therapists to practice DN. Of these, 22 legislate it, 2 regulate it using DN policy, 5 have both legislation and policy, and 14 have neither. Additionally, 5 prohibit the practice and 8 are silent on the topic. Comparisons of jurisdictional DN regulations to documents presenting regulation recommendations highlight gaps in regulation across jurisdictions. Jurisdictions have multiple and inconsistent requirements, including 24 jurisdictions having a course approval process, 22 requiring specific course content for DN courses, 21 requiring a minimum duration of DN instruction, 11 requiring clinical experience prior to practicing DN, 7 having an attestation form for DN, 4 reporting a registration or rostering system of physical therapists practicing DN and 1 mandating continued competency education for DN.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This environmental scan highlights the heterogeneity and gaps in DN regulations across US physical therapy regulatory jurisdictions. Our findings suggest that national regulatory guidelines may help reduce heterogeneity across jurisdictions by ensuring a minimal standard of competency, specifically from a safety perspective.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70225"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147989539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Test-Retest Reliability of Postural Sway Measures Using a Portable Low-Cost Force Plate in Healthy Adults.","authors":"Miha Vindiš, Žiga Kozinc, Nenad Nedović","doi":"10.1002/pri.70270","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70270","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Center of pressure (CoP) metrics derived from force plates are widely used to quantify postural control, but laboratory-grade systems limit routine clinical and field implementation. Portable low-cost force plates could enable physiotherapists to monitor balance longitudinally, provided that their measurements are sufficiently reliable and clinically interpretable. This study addresses a gap in the literature by systematically comparing the test-retest reliability of CoP outcomes across bipedal and single-leg stance conditions using a portable low-cost force plate, providing device-specific and task-specific validation data relevant to clinical and field-based implementation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This test-retest reliability study included 27 healthy young adults who completed two laboratory sessions 7-10 days apart. In each session, participants performed three 30-s trials of bipedal quiet stance and three 30-s trials of single-leg stance on each leg barefoot with standardized arm position and visual fixation. Mean values across repetitions were analyzed. Relative reliability was assessed using two-way mixed-effects ICC for absolute agreement (3,1), with 95% confidence intervals. Absolute reliability was quantified using typical error (TE) and coefficient of variation (CV). Paired t-tests evaluated systematic between-session differences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across all outcomes, single-leg stance demonstrated substantially higher inter-session reliability compared to bipedal stance. Measures of total CoP displacement and velocity during single-leg stance exhibited good to excellent reliability (ICC = 0.85-0.90) and low absolute error (CV ≈ 8%), with direction-specific displacements showing similarly consistent results (ICC = 0.83-0.90; CV generally < 10%). In contrast, the CoP ellipse area and standard deviation measures were considerably less stable (ICC = 0.57-0.79) and displayed markedly higher variability (CV ≈ 16%-23%). The contrast was even more pronounced in the bipedal stance, where reliability was poor to moderate across all parameters (ICC = 0.39-0.65), with the ellipse area exhibiting excessive variability (CV > 60%). Notably, no systematic between-session differences were observed for most outcomes, further supporting the consistency of the measurements.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>In healthy young adults, single-leg stance provides more reliable CoP measures than bipedal quiet stance when using a portable low-cost force plate. Displacement- and velocity-based outcomes during single-leg stance appear most suitable for repeated assessments and monitoring. MDC₉₅ values should be interpreted strictly as measurement-error thresholds and not as indicators of clinical responsiveness or meaningful clinical change because responsiveness was not evaluated.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70270"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13326530/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148370170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Tissue Flossing and Neural Mobilization Techniques in Adolescent Basketball Athletes: Randomized, Cross-Over, Controlled Trial.","authors":"Luiza Raulino de Oliveira, Gabriella Lavarda do Nascimento, Aline Faquin, Suzana Matheus Pereira, Anelise Sonza","doi":"10.1002/pri.70293","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70293","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Basketball has a high prevalence of lower limb injuries, particularly at the ankle. Reduced ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) has been identified as a potential risk factor. Acute interventions such as flossing (FL) and neural mobilization (NM) may influence ankle ROM and neuromuscular function; however, their immediate effects in adolescent athletes remain unclear. This study compared the acute effects of flossing and sciatic neural mobilization on ankle ROM, isometric strength, and dynamic postural balance in adolescent basketball athletes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adolescent basketball athletes participated in two sessions of a randomized crossover design with a 1-week washout period. In each session, either FL or NM was applied to the dominant ankle, while the contralateral limb served as a within participant control. Outcomes included the Weight Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT), two-dimensional kinematic assessment of ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, isometric ankle strength and the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT). Generalized estimating equations accounted for repeated measures and crossover effects. Period and carryover effects were tested and were not significant. Standardized effect sizes (Cohen's dz) and 95% confidence intervals were used to describe magnitude.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Small to moderate immediate increases in WBLT distance were observed following both interventions (NM: Δ ≈ 0.5 cm, dz^z ≈ 0.49; FL: Δ ≈ 1.3 cm, dz^z ≈ 0.73), with similar changes in control limbs. Changes in dorsiflexion angulation showed small to moderate standardized effects in both intervention and control conditions. Dynamic postural balance measures demonstrated trivial to small changes. No differences were observed in ankle muscle strength.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Both interventions produced small immediate changes in ankle dorsiflexion-related outcomes. However, comparable responses in control limbs and the lack of meaningful changes in strength or dynamic postural balance indicate that these acute effects are likely limited and should be interpreted with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70293"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13380187/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148498186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Different Exercises for Relieving Menstrual Symptoms: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Tanisha Chaurasia, Yash Pratap, Aniket Karn","doi":"10.1002/pri.70229","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70229","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Menstrual problems such as dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome affect a significant proportion of women during their reproductive years and often cause problems in mood, productivity, and day-to-day activities. A safe and non-invasive alternative to pharmacological treatments, which may be associated with adverse effects, is exercise.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This narrative review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different exercise interventions in reducing menstrual symptoms.</p><p><strong>Materials and procedures: </strong>This narrative review summarised studies published between January 2000 and December 2023 from the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, PEDro, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and Google Scholar. A total of 86 studies were included with women aged 18-35 years with dysmenorrhea or PMS. Studies that evaluated aerobic, resistance, stretching, yoga or multimodal exercise interventions for ≥ 4 weeks were included. Non-English studies, case reports and studies that used a pharmacological intervention were excluded. Extracted data included study design, intervention, outcome and adherence.</p><p><strong>Statistical analysis: </strong>The narrative synthesis approach was followed. The risk of bias of the included studies was extracted using the ROBINS-I approach. Meta-analysis was not successful due to the variation in study methods and findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results indicate that yoga and aerobic therapy interventions demonstrated consistent improvements in overall health and a reduction in the severity of pain. Stretching and resistance training interventions also offer benefits, but the consequences are much less clear. Multimodal interventions have the potential to address both physical and psychological issues. There were no major adverse effects reported overall, and compliance was high.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Exercise interventions appear to be effective, safe, and clinically applicable for managing menstrual discomfort, that is, aerobic and yoga interventions. More high-quality randomised controlled trials are needed to support clinical recommendations. This review uniquely provides a comparative synthesis across multiple therapeutic exercise modalities and highlights clinically relevant dose-response patterns.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70229"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147959455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regional Disparities in Functional and Socioeconomic Impacts of Long COVID in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.","authors":"Ana Cleides Pereira Dos Santos, Cássia da Luz Goulart, Victor Ribeiro Neves, Mauricio Milani, Everton Silva, Fernando Almeida-Val, Fabrício Braga, Cristiane Maria Carvalho Costa Dias, Luiz Eduardo Fonteles Ritt, Graziella França B Cipriano, Audrey Borghi-Silva, Leandro Tolfo Franzoni, Filipe Ferrari, Lawrence P Cahalin, Ricardo Stein, Gerson Cipriano","doi":"10.1002/pri.70251","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70251","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction and objective: </strong>In low- and middle-income countries such as Brazil, regional inequalities in healthcare access and socioeconomic conditions may exacerbate the functional and occupational consequences of Long COVID. This study explored between-center differences in functional and socioeconomic outcomes among individuals with Long COVID from three Brazilian centers in Brazil, while examining how these findings may have been influenced by acute disease severity, symptom burden, and contextual factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study conducted with individuals diagnosed with Long COVID from three Brazilian regions (Federal District, Goiás, and Sergipe). Functional limitations were assessed through the 6-Minute Step Test (6MST) and muscle strength via Handgrip Strength (HGS). Additionally, cardiorespiratory responses and work productivity impairments were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 142 participants were included: 47 from the Federal District, 59 from Goiás, and 36 from Sergipe. Most participants were classified as non-critical (n = 129), while 13 were classified as critical, all from the Federal District. Significant differences in 6MST performance were observed across regions (p < 0.005). Critical patients exhibited lower SpO₂ at rest and peak compared to non-critical patients from Goiás and Sergipe (mean difference: -4%; 95% CI: -6% to -2%). Non-critical patients from Sergipe had higher peak systolic (+25 mmHg; 95% CI: +20 to +30 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (+16 mmHg; 95% CI: +14 to +18 mmHg). Critical patients showed work productivity loss (-2.8%; 95% CI: -4.6% to -1.0%) compared to non-critical patients from Goiás. Weak negative correlations were found between peak SpO₂ in the 6MST and age (r = -0.25; p = 0.01) and between HGS and HADS scores for anxiety (r = -0.20; p = 0.05) and depression (r = -0.20; p = 0.04).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Long COVID was associated with heterogeneous functional and socioeconomic impairments across the evaluated centers; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, as regional comparisons were substantially confounded by the unequal distribution of acute disease severity.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70251"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148392038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of a Telerehabilitation-Based Motor Imagery and Exercise Program on Postural Kyphosis in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Emrah Zirek, Dilan Acar, Fidan Zeynallı, Yildiz Analay Akbaba","doi":"10.1002/pri.70268","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70268","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Postural kyphosis is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition characterized by impaired postural control, reduced quality of life, and an increased risk of psychosocial complications. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding telerehabilitation-based motor imagery (MI) to home exercises on kyphosis level, posture, pain, depression, and quality of life in young adults with postural kyphosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-five young adults with postural kyphosis were randomly assigned into two groups: Home Exercise (n = 19) and Home Exercise + MI Group (n = 16). The outcome measures included the kyphosis index (KI), wall occiput distance (W-OD), New York posture analysis (NYPA), visual analog scale (VAS), Beck depression scale (BDS), and scoliosis research society-22 (SRS-22).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both groups showed significant within-group changes over time on the majority of outcomes (p < 0.05). Compared with exercise alone, the Exercise + MI group showed greater improvements in KI (p < 0.001, g = 2.16), NYPA (p = 0.001, g = 1.39), BDS (p = 0.001, SMD = 1.33), and SRS-22 (p < 0.001, SMD = 2.53).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Integration of MI into the telerehabilitation-delivered home-based exercise program showed significant improvements in postural alignment, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in young adults with postural kyphosis, compared with exercise alone. However, no difference was found in terms of pain reduction and postural stability. These findings suggest that MI may enhance neuromotor control and psychosocial outcomes when integrated into telerehabilitation-based exercise programs.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>https://clinicaltrials.gov/ NCT07122791.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70268"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148406332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical Activity in Women With Obesity: Fatigue, Knee Symptoms, and Functional Capacity.","authors":"Çağla Çiçekdemir, Ummuhan Baş Aslan, Raziye Şavkın, Semin Melahat Fenkci","doi":"10.1002/pri.70272","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.70272","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Women with obesity often experience low physical activity alongside functional limitations, musculoskeletal symptoms, and perceived barriers. The concurrent associations of these domains with physical activity remain insufficiently clarified. This study examined the adjusted associations of functional capacity, musculoskeletal symptoms, and perceived barriers with total physical activity level and compared low and moderate physical activity groups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 85 women with obesity. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Functional capacity was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go Test, 30-Second Chair Stand Test, and Duke Activity Status Index. Perceived barriers and musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed using the Self-Perceived Barriers for Physical Activity Scale and Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, respectively. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>TUG performance, DASI-derived METs, fatigue-related barriers, and knee symptoms in the past 12 months were associated with total physical activity score in univariate analyses. In the multivariate model, fatigue-related barriers (B = -71.69, β = -0.298, p = 0.005) and knee symptoms (B = -261.62, β = -0.225, p = 0.026) remained negatively associated with total physical activity. The final model explained 26.2% of the variance (adjusted R² = 0.226). TUG performance and DASI-derived METs were not independently associated with physical activity after adjustment. Compared with the low activity group, women with moderate activity had higher DASI-derived METs, lower fatigue-related barrier scores, and lower lifetime knee symptom prevalence.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Physical activity participation in women with obesity may not be fully captured by measured functional capacity alone and appears to be related to perceived fatigue and knee symptom burden. Physiotherapy practice may benefit from integrating fatigue management, knee symptom screening, progressive load management, and individualised pacing strategies alongside functional capacity training.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70272"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148370175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Employing a Coaching Model of Supervision During Physiotherapy Placements: A Qualitative Study of the Practice Educator Experience.","authors":"Sarah Smith, Adele Anderson, Simon Godley, Paul K Miller","doi":"10.1002/pri.70275","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70275","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>The current expansion of Allied Health Profession training places in the UK presents significant challenges for clinical placement provision. Coaching and Peer-Assisted Learning (C-PAL) models have shown success in helping reduce placement pressure in nursing and midwifery, but there is limited evidence around how such approaches might inform traditionally one-to-one physiotherapy placements. Addressing a gap in C-PAL research, which has largely focused on nursing and midwifery, and on learner rather than educator experience, this exploratory qualitative study examined the experiences of Practice Educators (PEs) in implementing a C-PAL intervention during physiotherapy placements in one UK National Health Service trust.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews and Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Ten PEs (seven female, three male; mean 9 years PE experience) participated. All had experience of supervising learners in traditional placements. With institutional ethical approval, interviews were conducted online, recorded and transcribed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four themes emerged: (1) 'Oversight and Management'-initial concerns about managing multiple learners diminished when PEs observed peer support creating effective self-monitoring mechanisms. (2) 'Teamworking and Learning'-a shift emerged from direct teaching to facilitating peer learning, with the collaborative environment viewed as accelerating professional development. (3) 'Patient Contact'-increased therapeutic contact time and continuity of care were highlighted, though direct supervision of clinical skills was more challenging. (4) 'Collaborative Working and Support Networks'-the intervention facilitated collaborative relationships, though required additional administrative effort.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Participants found that C-PAL offered a promising alternative to traditional physiotherapy placement supervision, potentially addressing educational capacity challenges while promoting greater learner autonomy and interdisciplinary skills. They also highlighted complex challenges emerging from managing multiple learners across locations and coordinating with colleagues. Preliminary findings suggest that C-PAL approaches may offer potential for expanding placement capacity while maintaining educational quality, though this warrants investigation across a wider range of clinical contexts. Sufficient preparation time, clear role delineation, and educator development focused on facilitation skills are likely to be important enabling conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70275"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13318423/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148363021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does Resistance Training Improve the Quality of Life of People With Parkinson's Disease? Evidence and Recommendations for Clinical Application Through a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.","authors":"Loiane Cristina de Souza, Luiz Senna, Anderson D'Oliveira, Rubia Truppel, Guilherme Torres Vilarino, Alexandro Andrade","doi":"10.1002/pri.70266","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70266","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition with motor and non-motor symptoms that negatively affect well-being and quality of life.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This review aimed to analyze the effects of resistance training on quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease and to summarize recommendations for clinical application.</p><p><strong>Data sources: </strong>Following PRISMA recommendations, searches were conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE (with ClinicalTrials.gov), PEDro, CINAHL, and Scopus.</p><p><strong>Study selection: </strong>RCTs were included that compared the effects of resistance training with other therapeutic modalities or a control group on the quality of life in people with Parkinson's.</p><p><strong>Data extraction and synthesis: </strong>Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed in RevMan. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, the protocol reporting completeness was evaluated using CERT and certainty of the evidence was rated using GRADE.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fourteen studies were included, featuring highly heterogeneous protocols. Resistance training was superior to control (SMD -0.81; CI -1.45 to -0.18; I² 88%; moderate certainty of the evidence), although no significant difference was found compared to other therapeutic modalities (SMD -0.02; CI -0.44 to 0.41; low certainty of the evidence). Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested a trend toward more favorable results in trials lasting longer than 12 weeks, involving patients with mild-to-moderate disease severity (H&Y ≤ 3), and reporting high protocol completeness (CERT > 11). Most of the studies were classified as having a low risk of bias and presented a moderate description of the protocols in the CERT.</p><p><strong>Limitations: </strong>The included studies exhibited high heterogeneity and required data imputation for missing standard deviations. Additionally, exploratory subgroup analyses were underpowered due to the limited number of trials.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Current evidence suggests that resistance training may improve quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Exploratory subgroup analyses tentatively suggest potential trends favoring mild-to-moderate stages and intervention exceeding 12 weeks, while being a safe practice. However, high heterogeneity limits the certainty of the evidence. Future studies should prioritize standardized reporting (CERT) to ensure intervention reproducibility.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>PROSPERO record (CRD42024588780).</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70266"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13312437/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148346851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anti-Compensatory Saccades Changes After Visuo-Vestibular Physical Therapy in People With Acute Unilateral Vestibulopathy: A Prospective Observational Study.","authors":"Marco Boldreghini, Andrea Canale, Andrea Albera, Simona Minichiello, Claudia Cassandro, Giancarlo Pecorari, Paolo Tasca, Diletta Balta, Marco Caruso, Andrea Cereatti, Marco Tramontano","doi":"10.1002/pri.70274","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUVP) impairs the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), leading to gaze instability and significant functional disability. Anti-compensatory saccades (AcS) assessed using the Suppression Head Impulse Paradigm (SHIMP) reflect vestibulo-saccadic interaction and may represent a marker of central compensation. The aim of the study was to analyze changes in AcS following structured visuo-vestibular physical therapy (VVPT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ninety-two patients with AUVP (mean age 59 years, 57 women and 35 men) completed an 8-week VVPT program (one session per week). Assessments at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1) included the video Head Impulse test (vHIT- HIMP and SHIMP) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). The primary outcome was the change in AcS amplitude. Secondary outcomes included changes in VOR gain and DHI score. Paired comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank-test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>AcS amplitude increased significantly after VVPT (median 189.5°-239.0°; p < 0.001). VOR gain showed a modest but significant increase (0.37-0.40; p < 0.001), remaining within dysfunctional ranges. DHI scores decreased markedly (51-26; p < 0.001). No significant association was found between baseline VOR gain and AcS variation (R² = 0.001; p = 0.723), suggesting that baseline residual vestibular function did not explain the magnitude of the observed AcS change.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>A significant increase in AcS amplitude was observed after an 8-week VVPT program in people with AUVP, despite only limited improvement in VOR gain. These findings suggest that AcS may provide clinically relevant information on vestibulo-saccadic adaptation during recovery after unilateral vestibular loss and may complement traditional VOR gain and patient-reported outcome measures. However, given the study design, the observed changes should be interpreted with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 3","pages":"e70274"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13318424/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148363062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}