This pilot study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of an EMG-driven rehabilitation robot in patients with Post-Viral Fatigue (PVF) syndrome after COVID-19. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups (IG—intervention group and CG—control group) in an inpatient neurological rehabilitation unit. Both groups were assessed on admission and after six weeks of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation was carried out six days a week for six weeks. The patients in the IG performed additional training using an EMG rehabilitation robot. Muscle fatigue was assessed using an EMG rehabilitation robot; secondary outcomes were changes in hand grip strength, Fatigue Assessment Scale, and functional assessment scales (Functional Independence Measure, Barthel Index). Both groups improved in terms of the majority of measured parameters comparing pre- and post-intervention results, except muscle fatigue. Muscle fatigue scores presented non-significant improvement in the IG and non-significant deterioration in the CG. Using an EMG rehabilitation robot in patients with PVF can be feasible and safe. To ascertain the effectiveness of such interventions, more studies are needed, particularly involving a larger sample and also assessing the participants’ cognitive performance.

Traditional physiotherapy is often perceived as repetitive and boring by patients, leading to issues in maintaining their interest and performing the required exercises. This paper investigates older patients’ engagement and motivation for physical activity using a serious game-based rehabilitation compared to a control group using a standard care therapy, during hospitalization. We conducted a randomized clinical trial with 57 geriatric patients and demonstrated that the serious game-based rehabilitation was as efficient as the standard rehabilitation program in terms of improving their functional capacity. In this paper, we mainly focus on reporting qualitative analysis of the patient’s behavior change thorough the intervention. The intervention lasted 3 weeks. Semi-structured interviews, including all the participants, were conducted before and after the intervention. Patients’ attitudes towards rehabilitation process, physical activity and innovation technology were investigated. Motivation to be active following the intervention were explored. Participants admitted feeling bored at the hospital and only following along the care process routine. Enthusiasm towards the progress brought by technological solution was observed. At the end of the hospital stay, the serious game-based rehabilitation received positive feedback. Patients felt more active and observed significant improvement of their general condition. The analysis suggests that patients participating in the gamified rehabilitation are more motivated. Several recommendations on designing serious game for elderly rehabilitation are proposed.

Background and Objectives: Application of the EMG-driven robotic training in everyday therapeutic processes is a modern and innovative form of neurorehabilitation among patients after stroke. Active participation of the patient contributes to significantly higher activation of the sensorimotor network during active motor control rather than during passive movement. The study objective was to determine the effect of electromyographic triggering (EMG-triggered) robotic rehabilitation device treatment on walking, muscle force, and spasticity after an ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 participants with impaired motor function and gait after subacute stroke were included in the study. Each patient was randomly assigned to an intervention or control group (IG or CG). All patients, except standard therapy, underwent 1 additional session of therapy per day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. IG had 30 min of training on the robot, while CG received exercises on the lower limb rotor. The subjects were assessed with Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Ashworth scale, knee range of motion (ROM), Lovett Scale, and tight circumference at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, and 6. Results: For seven parameters, the values credibly increased between consecutive measurements, and for the Ashworth scale, they credibly decreased. The biggest changes were observed for the measurements made with Lovett scale. The average thigh circumference as measured 5 and 15 cm above the knee increased credibly more in the robot condition, as compared to control condition. Additionally, the decrease in Ashworth values over time, although statistically credible in both groups, was credibly higher in the robot condition. Conclusion: The inclusion of the EMG-triggered neurorehabilitation robot in the patient’s daily rehabilitation plan has a positive effect on outcomes of the treatment. Both proposed rehabilitation protocols significantly improved patients’ condition regarding all measured outcomes, but the spasticity and thigh circumference improved significantly better in the robotic group in comparison to controls.

Aim of the study : Malignant breast tumours are the largest oncological problem in the developed world. In the recent years the number of new diagnoses has exceeded 16,500 per year. Published data regarding far-distant results of breast cancer treatment that take under consideration the...

Use of sentinel lymph node biopsy limits the frequency and severity of sequelae of surgical treatment. However, the procedure itself may not be completely free of complications. The goal of this work was to analyze prospectively the occurrence of undesirable sequelae in patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy as an isolated intervention in the axillary fossa. This prospective observational study was conducted on a group of 104 women. Patients were examined on five occasions: one day before the procedure, one day after the procedure, one month, three months, and six months after the procedure. At every stage of the study they were assessed for tactile sensation, range of motion in the shoulder joint, upper limb circumference, sensation abnormalities, winged scapula sign, and pain severity according to Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In the study group we observed statistically significant differences, such as limited mobility in the shoulder joint (p ≤ 0.01), gradual increase in limb circumference on the operated side (p < 0.01) and pain (p ≤ 0.01). Despite relatively low invasiveness of the procedure, sentinel lymph node biopsy is not entirely devoid of the risk of undesirable sequelae.

「福祉科技與服務管理學刊」創辦於2012年12月，由中華福祉科技與服務管理學會發行，旨在提供老人福祉科技(gerontechnology)及高齡者照護服務與管理之相關學者、產業界和從業人員，以中文發表研發成果或實務經驗之平台，期能促進跨領域知識交流與傳播，提升整體研究水平與相關產業發展，進而為高齡化社會衍生之各種問題提出具體解決方案，提升高齡者之生活品質。