Abstract Introduction Since 2022, the increasing number of injuries in Ukraine has created an urgent need to strengthen rehabilitation services, particularly physiotherapy in intensive care units (ICUs). Materials and methods This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. Eligible English-language documents published between 2015 and 2025 addressed physiotherapy and/or respiratory physiotherapy in adult ICUs, including general, cardiac surgery, and burn ICUs, and comprised clinical practice guidelines, consensus-based guidelines, practical statements, local clinical documents; COVID-19-related publications were restricted to 2022–2025. Electronic databases were supplemented by reference-list screening, grey-literature searches, and snowballing. Records identified through database searches were imported into Rayyan. Grey literature was assessed independently outside Rayyan using the same eligibility criteria. Results 21 documents (100%) were included: 16 international and national guidance documents (76.2%) and 5 local clinical documents (23.8%). 9 documents (42.9%) addressed general ICUs, 1 (4.8%) burn ICU, and 1 (4.8%) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. No physiotherapy-specific guidance document for cardiac surgery ICUs was identified. 11 documents (52.4%) provided physiotherapy-specific recommendations, while 10 (47.6%) addressed physiotherapy within broader ICU guidance documents. Early mobilisation and respiratory physiotherapy were most consistently addressed, whereas guidance on intervention dosage, progression, and specific ICU settings was limited. Local clinical documents generally provided more detailed recommendations. Conclusions The evidence base demonstrates gaps in physiotherapy guidance documents, particularly regarding intervention dosage, progression, and specific ICU settings. Findings support adapting international guidance to the Ukrainian healthcare context and developing physiotherapy-specific recommendations for ICU practice.
Abstract Introduction This study aimed to compare the effects of universal exercise unit (UEU) versus rebounding on genu recurvatum (GR) in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Material and methods A total of 51 children aged 5–7 years with spastic hemiplegic CP were randomly allocated into three groups: control group ( n = 17), and study groups A ( n = 17) and group B ( n = 17). While all groups received a designed physical therapy programme, the control group additionally received traditional progressive strengthening exercises; group A received the UEU programme, and group B underwent rebound therapy. The primary outcome was GR, while secondary outcomes comprised muscle strength, including the quadriceps and gluteus maximus muscles, balance skills, functional mobility and quality of life, which were evaluated pre- and post-treatment using X-ray, Lafayette manual muscle tester, Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Mobility Questionnaire and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, respectively. Results All groups showed significant post-treatment improvements in all measured outcomes ( p < 0.001). Post-treatment comparisons of the outcome measures among the three groups demonstrated a significant enhancement in favour of groups A and B compared with the control group. Post-treatment comparison between groups A and B revealed no significant difference across most measured variables, except for PBS scores, which was significantly improved in favour of group B ( p = 0.01). Conclusions Both UEU and rebound therapy may be incorporated into the rehabilitation protocol of children with spastic hemiplegic CP to manage GR, while rebound therapy demonstrated an additional statistically significant advantage over UEU, specifically for balance.
Abstract Introduction Frozen shoulder (FS) is a disabling musculoskeletal condition characterised by persistent pain and progressive restriction of shoulder mobility. It is frequently associated with underlying shoulder disorders such as rotator cuff injuries and impingement syndrome. Material and methods This cross-sectional study included 76 patients, who were categorised into two groups: those diagnosed with rotator cuff injury ( n = 44) and those with shoulder impingement syndrome ( n = 32). Differences in FS prevalence between these groups were assessed using the chi-square test (Hypothesis 1). Binary logistic regression was applied to evaluate the influence of age, gender, diabetes mellitus and history of shoulder trauma on FS development (Hypothesis 2). Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between pain severity and movement limitations (Hypothesis 3). Results The prevalence of FS was present in 71 of 76 patients (93.4%); prevalence was 95.5% among patients with rotator cuff injury and 90.6% among those with impingement syndrome, with no significant difference between the groups ( p = 0.402). Logistic regression analysis identified age ( p < 0.001), gender ( p = 0.024), and history of shoulder trauma ( p < 0.001) as significant factors associated with frozen shoulder, whereas diabetes mellitus was not significant based on the Firth penalized logistic regression model ( p = 0.412); the standard maximum-likelihood estimate for this predictor ( p = 0.998) was unstable due to sparse-data bias and was not used for interpretation (table 4).. A strong positive correlation was observed between pain severity and movement limitations ( r = 0.685, p < 0.001). Conclusions FS demonstrates a consistently high prevalence among patients with different shoulder musculoskeletal disorders, and may reflect shared pathophysiological pathways, though this cannot be confirmed by a cross-sectional design. Key determinants include age, gender and prior shoulder trauma, while diabetes was not a significant predictor in this cohort.
ABSTRACT Introduction Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is characterised by recurrent sprains, impaired balance and reduced perceived joint stability. Kinesiotape (KT) is commonly used in rehabilitation, but its effects on the functional outcomes remain unclear. Material and methods This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis) guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024497654). PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro and SPORTDiscus were searched for randomised controlled trials, including crossover studies, comparing KT with no tape (NT) or other taping methods in CAI populations from January 2014 to September 2025. Eligible studies reported ankle functional performance or perceived ankle stability outcomes. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed where appropriate, and evidence certainty was assessed using GRADE (grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation). Results Seventeen studies involving 451 participants were included, with most outcomes reflecting immediate effects. Compared with NT, KT improved star excursion balance test performance in the posterolateral and posteromedial directions and reduced the mediolateral centre-of-pressure range and sway area. KT also improved anterior reach versus rigid tape and was associated with greater perceived stability. No significant effects were observed for proprioception assessed by joint position sense tests. Overall evidence certainty ranged from low to moderate. Conclusions KT may improve postural control and perceived stability in individuals with CAI, mainly in the short term; however, the evidence certainty is low to moderate. KT may be considered as a complementary rehabilitation intervention, but further high-quality studies are needed.
ABSTRACT Introduction This scoping review sought to characterize how serious games are used to support motor rehabilitation in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases by identifying (1) the range of target populations, interventions, and study procedures in research involving serious games for motor rehabilitation in neurodegeneration and (2) the range and types of serious games reported in this literature. Material and methods A scoping review was conducted across three databases (final search in September 2025) to identify literature addressing (a) serious games/gamification, (b) neurodegenerative diseases, and (c) motor rehabilitation. This review adhered to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. For both the initial and updated searches, as well as duplicate removal, two blinded reviewers screened titles and abstracts in Covidence, followed by full-text review. All conflicts were resolved via consensus meetings. Results Notably, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria, with the majority involving participants with Parkinson’s disease ( n = 17/28, 60.7%). Rehabilitation targets most commonly fell within the physical therapy discipline ( n = 15/28, 53.6%) and least commonly within speech-language pathology ( n = 4/28, 14.3%), including gross, fine, voice/speech, and swallowing motor skills. Over half of the studies ( n = 16/28, 57.1%) reported motor skill improvements following game-based interventions, with treatment intensity and feedback influencing outcomes. Conclusions Research on game-based motor rehabilitation is growing, yet the evidence remains preliminary, heterogeneous, and limited in generalizability. Most studies focus on Parkinson’s disease, with emerging work in multiple sclerosis, highlighting the need for further research on effectiveness, implementation, and long-term outcomes (e.g., quality of life and adherence).
