Physiotherapy Research International最新文献

{"title":"Design and Development of an Automated Electroencephalogram Signal Processing and Diagnostic Support Architecture Employing Advanced Deep Learning Models for Early Accurate and Scalable Detection of Neurological Diseases.","authors":"Rajesh Thammuluri, Rajeshwari S Mathad, Ch M H Saibaba, Kancharla Nagababu, Ashok Koujalagi, Mukesh Soni","doi":"10.1002/pri.70204","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals play a vital role in analyzing neurological activity and diagnosing various neurological disorders. With the rapid growth of the Internet of medical things (IoMT), EEG-based diagnostic systems have become more interconnected and scalable. However, early and accurate diagnosis of neurological diseases remains challenging due to the intrinsic complexity, high dimensionality, and noise-prone nature of EEG signals. This study aims to design an automated, robust, and intelligent diagnostic support framework for reliable early detection of neurological diseases.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This paper proposes the design and development of an automated electroencephalogram signal processing and diagnostic support architecture employing advanced deep learning models (EEG-DSS-SMCNN). EEG signals were collected from Alzheimer's disease and Frontotemporal Dementia datasets. Initially, a Fast Desensitized Kalman Filter Algorithm (FDKFA) is applied for preprocessing to remove noise, artifacts, and signal distortions while ensuring data normalization. Subsequently, a Graph Fractional Fourier Transform (GFFTT) is employed to extract discriminative features from time, spatial, and channel domains. The extracted features are then fed into a Self-Modulating Convolutional Neural Network (SMCNN) to perform automatic disease detection and classification. Furthermore, the network parameters were optimized using an elephant clan optimization (ECO) algorithm to enhance classification accuracy and model robustness.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Experimental evaluation demonstrates that the proposed EEG-DSS-SMCNN framework significantly outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods. The proposed approach achieves accuracy improvements of 6.42%, 6.58%, and 8.27% compared to RT-EEG-DL, EEML-DLT-EEG, and EDDL-ED-EEG methods, respectively, confirming its superior diagnostic performance.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The results highlight the effectiveness of integrating advanced signal preprocessing, graph-based feature extraction, and deep learning within a unified diagnostic framework. The proposed EEG-DSS-SMCNN model efficiently handles noisy EEG signals and captures complex neurological patterns, making it suitable for early-stage disease diagnosis in IoMT-enabled healthcare environments. The optimized SMCNN further enhances classification reliability, suggesting strong potential for real-time clinical decision support and scalable neurological disease monitoring systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70204"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147533479","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":"Multi-Level Determinants of Evidence-Based Practice Adoption Among Physiotherapists: A Mixed-Methods Study Across Urban and Rural Clinical Settings.","authors":"Hariharasudhan Ravichandran, Balamurugan Janakiraman, Kshama Susheel Shetty, Sridharan Balaji, Kumaragurubaran Ravikumar","doi":"10.1002/pri.70205","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>High-quality physiotherapy care requires Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), but different clinical settings have different adoption rates, especially in regions with low or middle incomes. It is unclear how systemic, Organizational, and individual factors interact to affect the use of EBP by physiotherapists, or how these factors vary between rural and urban environments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three hundred physiotherapists participated in a convergent mixed-methods design (117 rural, 183 urban). A content-validated 43-item questionnaire measuring EBP Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, Organizational factors, and adoption behaviors was used to gather the quantitative data. T-tests were used to analyze group differences, and hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine predictors. The results were integrated during interpretation following a reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 18 purposively selected participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>While rural physiotherapists reported more financial pressure and hierarchical limitations, urban physiotherapists showed significantly higher Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, resource access, managerial support, and policy support (p < 0.001). In urban settings, EBP adoption was significantly higher (p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that while financial pressure (B = -0.145) and hierarchical culture (B = -0.108) were significant negative predictors of EBP adoption, Knowledge (B = 0.012), Attitude (B = 0.268), Skill (B = 0.008), Resource access (B = 0.120), Managerial support (B = 0.065), and Policy support (B = 0.179). The urban practice setting continued to be a positive independent predictor (B = 0.515). The final hierarchical regression model explained 63.1% of the variance in EBP adoption (R² = 0.631). These findings were supported by qualitative research, which identified systemic limitations, a lack of autonomy, resource barriers, and patient preferences for passive treatments as the main obstacles.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Individual ability as well as Organizational and systemic factors influence the adoption of EBP among physiotherapists. Clearly visible differences between rural and urban areas are a reflection of systematic disparities that restrict the use of EBP in rural regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70205"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582682","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":"Inertial Motion Capture of Sagittal Kinematics Reveals Compensatory Strategies for Forward Loss of Balance in Individuals With Visual Impairment.","authors":"Juncong Yang, Kun Wang, Yongxin Zhu, Lianhui Fu, Xinwei Huang, Qi Qi","doi":"10.1002/pri.70168","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Improving the ability of visually impaired (VI) people to react quickly to daily falls is crucial. However, it is not clear whether long-term vision impairment leads to unique reactive balance strategies compared with those with visually healthy (VH). To examine whether the lower-limb compensatory strategies identified through wearable sensor-based biomechanical analysis in the sagittal plane are distinctive and measurable in VI individuals responding to postural perturbations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted from August 2023 to October 2024. A total of 13 VI individuals and 13 age-matched VH controls were recruited. High-precision IWS inertial sensors were used to collect kinematic data from the pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle joints during balance perturbations. The joint motion responses were divided into the perturbation phase and the response phase. Key parameters analyzed included peak angles, angular displacement, time to peak angle, response time, response velocity, and inter-joint coordination (e.g., pelvis/hip, pelvis/ankle, and hip/ankle angular displacement ratios) during both phases. Between-group comparisons were performed using independent samples t-tests, with the significance level set at α = 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>While the lower limb joint movement trajectories of VI and VH showed overall similarity, significant intergroup differences emerged in key kinematic parameters. During the perturbation phase, the VI demonstrated significantly shorter peak ankle plantar flexion and pelvic anteversion durations, indicating more abrupt initial compensatory strategies. In the reaction phase, they exhibited markedly greater joint mobility at the pelvis, knee, and ankle joints, accompanied by significantly prolonged response times for the pelvic and ankle joints. Additionally, their hip, knee, and ankle joint response rates were notably slower, with significant differences in the response angle displacement ratios between the pelvic/hip and pelvic/ankle joints. These findings collectively reflect the lower efficiency of VI in restoring overall stability following balance perturbations.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study demonstrates that individuals with visual impairment employ kinematically distinct and measurable compensatory strategies in the lower limbs when responding to sagittal plane postural perturbations. These results substantiate the use of wearable sensor-based biomechanics for objectively evaluating balance recovery strategies in visually impaired populations, providing a foundation for future interventions aimed at fall prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70168"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146097608","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":"Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling for Gait Rehabilitation in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.","authors":"Anas R Alashram","doi":"10.1002/pri.70188","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70188","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>People with stroke often experience gait impairments. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling allows patients with little or no voluntary lower limb movement to pedal a stationary bicycle. This review examines the effects of FES cycling on gait ability post-stroke.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>\"PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, REHABDATA, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PEDro, and Web of Science\" were reviewed until July 10, 2024. Randomized controlled trials that included ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke patients who received lower limb FES cycling, compared with passive or active interventions, and assessed gait parameters (i.e., kinematic, kinetic, spatial, temporal) were included in this review. The risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale. The results were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 4.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten studies met our criteria. In total, 311 patients with stroke (mean age 63.44 years; 58% male) were included in this review. Gait speed, walking endurance, and spatiotemporal gait variables were assessed as outcomes. The included studies ranged from 6 to 9 on the PEDro scale, with a median of 8. The meta-analysis showed a small, non-significant effect of FES cycling on gait in stroke patients, including the 10-m Walk Test (SMD = -0.160, 95% CI: -0.631 to 0.311, p = 0.505, I² = 60%), the 50-m Walk Test (SMD = -0.071, 95% CI: -0.841 to 0.700, p = 0.857, I² = 66%), and the 6-Minute Walk Test (SMD = -0.083, 95% CI: -0.739 to 0.574, p = 0.806, I² = 55%). Some descriptive outcomes showed improvements in gait parameters, but the overall evidence remains inconclusive.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The evidence for the effects of FES cycling on gait ability in patients with stroke is limited. The optimal treatment parameters are not yet firmly established. Additional high-quality studies are recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70188"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349576","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":"Changes in Distal Radius Fracture Incidence Across COVID-19 Lockdown Phases: A Nationwide Population-Based Study of 62,731 Cases in Israel.","authors":"Mahmod Hasan, Yaron Berkovich, Yaniv Yonai, Eyal Ginesin","doi":"10.1002/pri.70194","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are common upper-extremity fractures in older adults and are often considered sentinel events for frailty and future falls. COVID-19 lockdowns introduced major mobility restrictions that altered physical activity patterns and injury epidemiology.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe nationwide trends in DRF incidence before, during, and after COVID-19 lockdown phases in Israel, and to interpret these trends in the context of deconditioning and rehabilitation needs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed electronic health records from Clalit Health Services, covering > 4.5 million insured individuals. Adults aged ≥ 18 years with a documented DRF between June 2019 and December 2022 were included in the phase-based analysis. Seven pandemic phases were defined according to national restriction policies. DRF incidence was calculated as cases per 100,000 insured individuals per day, and demographic trends were described across phases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 62,731 DRFs were identified (mean age 57.1 ± 19.0 years; 58.4% female). DRF incidence declined by 27% during the first national lockdown compared with the pre-pandemic period. Incidence increased across later phases and exceeded baseline in the post-pandemic period (+19.8%). Mean age rose over time, and the proportion of fractures among women was higher in later phases.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>DRF incidence showed a marked short-term decline during strict lockdowns followed by a sustained rebound above baseline. These patterns likely reflect combined effects of restrictions, behavioral adaptations, and lockdown-related deconditioning. DRFs may indicate functional vulnerability, supporting timely rehabilitation and integrated fall-prevention strategies, including tele-rehabilitation, during and after periods of restricted mobility.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147469651","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":"Immediate Postoperative Ultrasound Assessment of Quadriceps Muscle and Femoral Nerve Morphology After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Methodological Feasibility Study.","authors":"Fernando García-Sanz, Sara Mogedano-Cruz, Ángel González-de-la-Flor, Mario Avril-Serván, Elena Isla-Paredes, Carlos Romero-Morales","doi":"10.1002/pri.70183","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70183","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) has been introduced to improve surgical accuracy, but its effects on periarticular soft tissues in the early postoperative period remain insufficiently described. Ultrasound imaging allows non-invasive assessment of muscle and nerve morphology after surgery. The primary objective of this exploratory case series was to demonstrate the feasibility of early postoperative ultrasound assessment and to describe quadriceps muscle and femoral nerve morphological findings, thereby providing a methodological framework for future longitudinal studies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective exploratory ultrasound case series included 11 patients undergoing conventional TKA (n = 5) or rTKA (n = 6). Quadriceps muscle thickness (rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis) and femoral nerve morphological parameters were assessed preoperatively and within the first 24 h after surgery. Analyses focused on descriptive within-group pre-post variations, with effect sizes and percentage changes reported to characterize the magnitude and direction of observed changes. The study was not designed or powered for inferential or inter-group comparisons.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Postoperative variations in quadriceps muscle thickness were observed in both surgical groups, most consistently in the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius, while changes in the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis were smaller and less consistent. In contrast, femoral nerve morphological measures demonstrated minimal variation, representing a relatively stable pattern across individuals. Overall, the observed changes were small in magnitude and showed inter-individual variability.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>At this early postoperative time point, the observed ultrasound findings primarily reflect initial postoperative tissue behavior rather than structural adaptation. The relative stability of femoral nerve morphology represents a reassuring descriptive observation, while the small and variable quadriceps changes highlight the need for cautious interpretation at this stage.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This exploratory case series demonstrates the feasibility of early postoperative ultrasound assessment of quadriceps muscle and femoral nerve morphology following conventional and robot-assisted TKA. These descriptive findings provide preliminary data and a methodological basis for future longitudinal studies integrating functional and clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70183"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327766","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":"\"Investigating Predictive Associations Among Postural Balance, Functional Mobility, Cognitive Function and Psychological Well-Being in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study\".","authors":"Ashraf Ahmed Abdelmoneim Darwesh, Rawan Mohammed Batarfi, Azza Mohammed Abdelmohsen, Rasha Meselhy Hegazy","doi":"10.1002/pri.70213","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purposes: </strong>Balance deficits, gait abnormalities, impaired cognitive function, psychological disturbances and disconnection from community are key characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS). Thus, exploring the interrelationships and the primary risk factors related to clinical manifestations and consequences of MS is of definite clinical significance. This study aimed to examine the associations among balance, functional mobility, cognitive function, psychological well-being, and community participation in patients with MS, and to identify key predictors of balance and mobility performance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was carried out on 64 patients with MS. Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), functional mobility using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), psychological well-being using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and community participation using the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pearson correlation analyses revealed significant negative correlations between scores of BBS and TUG (r = -0.342, p < 0.05), scores of TUG and CIQ (r = -0.345, p < 0.05) and scores of MoCA and HADS (r = -0.476, p < 0.01). Meanwhile, significant positive correlations were observed between scores of BBS and CIQ (r = 0.510, p < 0.01) and scores of CIQ and MoCA (r = 0.227, p < 0.05). Additionally, multiple regression analysis model confirmed that BBS score function as a significant independent predictor of functional mobility (β1 = -0.580, p < 0.01) and community integration levels (β1 = 0.354, p < 0.05) in patients with MS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Balance and cognitive function are closely associated with functional mobility and community participation in patients with MS, highlighting the importance of addressing both motor and non-motor factors in clinical assessment and rehabilitation. The findings emphasize the necessity for wide-ranging assessment and individualized intervention protocols that address motor, psychological, and social risk factors to effectively improve balance and reduce fall risk in patients with MS.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The study was registered in ClinicalTrial.gov and given the number NCT06998147.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70213"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647039","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":"Empowering Women Through Movement: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Effects of Strengthening Exercises and Tai Chi on Menstrual Symptoms, Pain, and Psychological Outcomes in Primary Dysmenorrhea.","authors":"Shikshita Sharan, Priyanka Sethi, Waqas Sami, Moattar Raza Rizvi","doi":"10.1002/pri.70212","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Primary dysmenorrhea affects women's quality of life through menstrual pain and associated psychological distress. While pharmacological treatments are available, concerns over side effects highlight the need to explore non-pharmacological approaches. This study compared the short-term effects of strengthening exercises and Tai Chi on menstrual symptoms, pain, and self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression in women with primary dysmenorrhea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This randomized controlled trial included 90 women aged 18-25 years with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomly assigned to strengthening exercises, Tai Chi, or a control group (n = 30 per group). Interventions were conducted for 4 weeks with five sessions per week. The primary outcome was menstrual symptom severity measured using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ). Pain intensity and emotional distress were assessed using a 0-10 visual analog scale (VAS) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), respectively. Baseline-adjusted repeated-measures ANCOVA was used to test group × time interactions with baseline values included as covariates to account for baseline variability between groups. Post hoc analysis with Holm adjustment was performed where appropriate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant baseline-adjusted group × time interactions were observed for the primary outcome, menstrual symptoms as well as pain intensity, stress, anxiety, and depression (all p < 0.001), with both intervention groups demonstrating greater short-term reductions than the control group. Strengthening exercises were associated with comparatively greater reductions in pain intensity (mean difference = 3.43, p < 0.001) and menstrual symptoms (mean difference = 26.56, p < 0.001), relative to Tai Chi. Tai Chi demonstrated comparatively larger short-term improvements in stress (mean difference = 9.04, p < 0.001) and anxiety scores (mean difference = 6.51, p < 0.001), relative to strengthening exercises. Both interventions significantly reduced depression scores compared with control (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Strengthening exercises and Tai Chi were associated with short-term changes in symptoms and self-reported mental health scores over 4 weeks; however, given the short intervention period, reliance on self-reported outcomes, and greater contextual exposure in the supervised intervention groups compared with the control group, findings should be interpreted cautiously as context-dependent effects rather than definitive evidence of specific therapeutic mechanisms. Replication using attention-matched comparators and longer follow-up is needed to clarify the durability and specificity of effects.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI): CTRI/2022/06/043223.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70212"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147785525","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":"Tracking Sarcopenia and Physical Activities Among Korean Adults Aged 50 Years and Older During COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"HaeIn Kim, MyungChul Kim","doi":"10.1002/pri.70202","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted daily life and physical activity (PA) routines among older adults, potentially accelerating sarcopenia progression. This study aimed to examine longitudinal changes in sarcopenia prevalence and PA indicators in Korean adults aged 50 years and older before and during the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective cohort study included 50 community-dwelling adults who participated in the 2019 Korean Health Survey and completed follow-up assessments in 2021. Sarcopenia was defined using the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria, including muscle mass (via bioelectrical impedance analysis), grip strength, and gait speed. PA levels were assessed using validated items from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, covering frequency and duration of work-related activity, exercise, active transportation, sedentary time, and sleep. Changes between 2019 and 2021 were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank, McNemar, and McNemar-Bowker tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of sarcopenia increased from 18.0% in 2019 to 28.0% in 2021. Among diagnostic components, handgrip strength significantly declined (from 24.7 to 22.8 kg, p < 0.05), whereas muscle mass and gait speed remained relatively stable. Participation in vigorous-intensity work and exercise declined markedly, whereas moderate-intensity activity showed a slight increase. Walking for transportation decreased in both frequency and duration. Sedentary time increased significantly (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Sarcopenia risk increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely driven by decreased PA and increased sedentary behavior. These findings underscore the importance of maintaining muscle strength and mobility in older adults, especially during public health emergencies. Limitations include small sample size, potential recall bias from self-reported PA, and absence of dietary or cognitive measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70202"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13031430/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147533536","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":"Validity and Reliability of a Laser Pointer Device to Assess Knee Proprioception in Healthy and Active Individuals.","authors":"Héctor González-Pons, Elena Muñoz-Gómez, Sara Mollà-Casanova, Noemí Moreno-Segura, Pilar Serra-Añó, Marta Inglés","doi":"10.1002/pri.70219","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Knee proprioception offers valuable information about the state of the knee joint. The most widely used protocol to estimate it is the joint position reproduction (JPR), although the validated instruments for its measurement are expensive and complex. The aim of this study was to estimate the validity and reliability of a laser pointer device to assess knee proprioception in healthy and active subjects.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at a Research Laboratory of the Faculty of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia (Spain). Twenty-five healthy and active individuals (mean (SD) age = 27.24 (3.93) years) were assessed. Proprioception measurements were evaluated with 15° and 50° knee flexion in closed kinetic chain (CKC) and open kinetic chain (OKC), respectively, using a laser device and also a digital inclinometer (to validate the first), on two days by two different evaluators.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Validity analysis indicated a moderate to strong correlation between the laser pointer device and the digital inclinometer in all the tests (Pearson's correlation = 0.40-0.55 (CKC) and 0.54-0.82 (OCK)). In the OKC 50° knee test, a moderate inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.54) and a strong intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.65) was shown, and in the CKC 15° test a strong inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.62) and moderate intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.58) was shown. The rest of the tests showed no intra-rater and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.10-0.24).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Though further research is needed, the results suggest that it could be considered as an affordable, simple and effective resource both in research and in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"31 2","pages":"e70219"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13088210/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700357","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}