The purposes of the study were to identify whether differences exist between Spanish children with ASD and neurotypical development in relation to Activities of Daily Living (ADL), playfulness, and sensory processing; as well as to confirm whether a relation exists between those areas and sensory processing. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty children, 20 with a diagnosis of ASD and 20 with neurotypical development, were recruited. The measurement tools used were the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), Test of Playfulness (ToP), and Sensory Processing Measure (SPM). Results: The sensory processing of children with ASD were related to decreased functional skills performance of ADL (F = 94.4, p = 0.00) and playfulness (p = 0.00) than neurotypical children; in addition, the problems of sensory reactivity were associated with worse development in these occupational areas (p = 0.00 for both Spearman correlations). Conclusions: Children with ASD present worse performance of functional skills and playfulness than neurotypical ones. Likewise, sensory reactivity is related to the development in the occupational areas.

(1) Background: confinement by COVID-19 in 2020 meant that face-to-face teaching changed to virtual teaching. The goal of this study was to test how confinement affected to self-regulation of motivation (SRM); (2) Methods: a longitudinal design was used to obtain information from 75 university students in three moments: before confinement, 20 days after confinement, and 40 days after confinement. The SRM Strategies Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Index were used to evaluate the study variables; (3) Results: the SRM decreased as confinement progressed. Moreover, those students who had higher levels of SRM before confinement, showed worse sleep quality 20 days after. There was no interaction effect between moments and gender and between moments and work situation on any of the dimensions of the SRM. There were gender differences (women scored higher) in almost all of the SRM dimensions in the three moments, but there were no differences dependent on the work situation (i.e., only study or study and work); (4) Conclusions: the change from face-to-face classes to virtual learning decreased the SRM of university students and was related to worse sleep quality. Women showed higher levels of SRM than men, but these levels were reduced to the same extent in both genders.

This study investigates the use of multi-field electrostimulation with the Fesia Grasp device for hand rehabilitation in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this novel approach in improving hand function and dexterity in MS patients. A cohort of MS patients with varying degrees of hand impairment underwent a structured rehabilitation program using the Fesia Grasp device, which delivers targeted electrical stimulation to specific muscle groups. Outcome measures assessed multiple aspects of hand function, including gross and fine motor skills, strength, and functional independence, at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. The main finding was a sustained between-group improvement in gross manual dexterity, measured by the Box and Block Test, at 1-month follow-up (p = 0.008, η²ₚ = 0.429). Secondary analyses showed task-specific gains in the experimental group, with significant intragroup improvements in Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test items related to simulated feeding (p = 0.012) and lifting light objects (p = 0.036), and a trend toward better performance in stacking checkers (p = 0.069) and faster page-turning (p = 0.046) after the intervention. Other outcomes showed non-significant changes favoring the experimental group. This research contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of advanced electrostimulation techniques in neurological rehabilitation and offers promising implications for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with MS-related hand dysfunction.

Background: Motor imagery (MI) is a cognitive process that has been shown to be useful in the rehabilitation process after brain injury. Moreover, functional electrical stimulation (FES) and virtual reality (VR) have also been shown to be effective interventions in many parameters, and there is some evidence of their contribution to the improvement of MI capacity. Objective: This study aimed to compare the improvements in MI parameters, grip strength, and manual dexterity obtained using VR, FES, and selective FES based on multifield electrodes in healthy people. Methods: This clinical randomized controlled trial (RCT)with 4 branches will involve 80 healthy university students, with blinded third-party assessment. Participants will be divided into 4 groups: control (no intervention), selective FES (Fesia Grasp), traditional FES (Globus Elite), and Virtual Rehab Hands (Leap Motion sensor). Each group will receive 5 daily sessions, and assessments will be conducted at baseline, postintervention, and follow-up. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised (MIQ-RS) and chronometry will be used to assess MI, strength will be measured with a digital dynamometer, and manual dexterity will be evaluated with the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) and the Box and Block Test (BBT). Statistical analyses will include 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction to compare group differences over time, with nonparametric tests (eg, Kruskal-Wallis) being used if normality or variance assumptions are violated. The study will be organized into 3 phases: preparation, data collection, and analysis. The preparation phase will involve finalizing project protocols and obtaining ethical approvals. The data collection phase will consist of recruiting participants, randomizing them into 4 intervention groups, and conducting baseline assessments, followed by intervention sessions. Finally, the analysis phase will focus on evaluating the data collected from all groups and compiling the results for presentation. Results: The study received approval in July 2023, with recruitment and data collection starting in September 2023. The recruitment phase was expected to conclude by July 2024, and the entire study, including the 2-week follow-up, was set to finish in September 2024. As of July 2024, we had enrolled 100% of the sample (N=80 students). We plan to publish the study findings by the end of 2024. Conclusions: Improvements in MI and upper limb functionality are expected, particularly in the selective FES group. This RCT will identify which intervention is most effective in enhancing these skills, with potential benefits for patients with neurological motor disorders. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06109025; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06109025 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/63329

Human hands have a complex anatomical structure. The thumb, being an integral part of the hand, has an essential function in gripping. In this sense, thumb fractures account for 4% of all hand fractures (it may occur in association with fractures of the trapezium). The majority of hand fractures should be treated non-surgically and surgeons must avoid unnecessary surgery. Historically, hand surgery has used a combination of local/regional/general anaesthesia and a tourniquet. This study aims to carry out a systematic review to determine whether the WALANT technique is an advantageous alternative to conventional anaesthesia for surgical procedures on thumb injuries, in terms of patient function and pain. Method: We conducted a search in the following databases: Pubmed/Medline, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, using the equation "WALANT" OR "Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet" AND "thumb pathology". Results: In five of the 584 articles included, two studied trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, one De Quervain's disease and the remaining two flexor injuries. WALANT showed good results in active movements, but with similar levels of pain between anaesthetics. Patients were more anxious during general anaesthesia, plus the fact that they were fasting and suspending medication. Conclusion: WALANT is a convenient and favourable option in several studies. It has been demonstrated the benefits in terms of return to function and pain.

Introduction: In recent years video games and games consoles have been developed that are potentially useful in rehabilitation, which has led to studies conducted to evaluate the degree of efficacy of these treatments for people following a stroke. Aim: To analyse the literature available related to the effectiveness of applying video games consoles in the functional recovery of the upper extremities in subjects who have survived a stroke. Patients and methods: A review of the literature was conducted in the CINHAL, Medline, PEDro, PsycArticles, PsycInfo, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science databases, using the query terms 'video game', 'stroke', 'hemiplegia', 'upper extremity' and 'hemiparesis'. After applying the eligibility criteria (clinical trials published between 2007 and 2017, whose participants were adults who had suffered a stroke with involvement of the upper extremity and who used video games), the scientific quality of the selected studies was rated by means of the PEDro scale. Eleven valid clinical trials were obtained for the systematic review. Results: The studies that were selected, all of which were quantitative, presented different data and the inferential results indicated different levels of significance between control and experimental groups (82%) or between the different types of treatment (18%). Conclusions: The use of video games consoles is a useful complement for the conventional rehabilitation of the upper extremities of persons who have survived a stroke, since it increases rehabilitation time and enhances the recovery of motor functioning. Nevertheless, homogeneous intervention protocols need to be implemented in order to standardise the intervention.