Metaverse physical therapy (MPT), an adjuvant technology for the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP), has gained notoriety in the clinical field owing to its accessibility and because it provides motivation for rehabilitation. The aim is to compare the gross motor function and cardiopulmonary function, the activities of daily living, quality of life (QOL), and the perceived risk of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 transmission between MPT and conventional physical therapy (CPT). A convenience sample of 26 children with CP (mean age, 11.23 ± 3.24 years, 14 females) were randomized into either the MPT or CPT group and received therapy three days/week for four weeks. Clinical outcomes included gross-motor-function measure 66 (GMFM-66), heart rate (HR), Borg-rating perceived exertion (BRPE), functional independence measure (FIM), pediatric QOL, and the risk of COVID-19 transmission. An analysis of variance showed that compared with CPT, MPT exerted positive effects on GMFM, HR, and BRPE. An independent t-test showed that compared with CPT, MPT exerted positive effects on the perceived transmission risk of COVID-19 but not on FIM and QOL. Our results provide promising therapeutic evidence that MPT improves gross motor function, cardiopulmonary function, and the risk of COVID-19 in children with CP.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effects of a deep learning–based digital application with digital application physical therapy (DPT) and those of conventional physical therapy (CPT) on back pain intensity, limited functional ability, lower extremity weakness, radicular symptoms, limited range of motion (ROM), functional movement, quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and postintervention questionnaires for perceived transmission risk of COVID-19 and satisfaction results in 100 participants with low back pain (LBP). Methods: One hundred participants with LBP were randomized into either DPT or CPT groups, three times per week over four weeks. Outcome measures included the (1) Oswestry Disability Index, (2) Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, (3) Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), (4) Numeric Pain Rating Scale, (5) functional movement screen (FMS), (6) short form-12, (7) lower extremity strength, (8) ROM of trunk flexion, extension, and bilateral side bending, (9) questionnaires for perceived transmission risk of COVID-19, (10) preliminary cost-effectiveness, and (11) postintervention satisfaction questionnaire results. The analysis of variance was conducted at p < 0.05. Results: Analysis of variance showed that DPT showed superior effects, compared to CPT on RMDQ, hip extensor strength, transmission risk of COVID-19, as well as satisfaction. Both groups showed significant improvement pre- and postintervention, suggesting that DPT is as effective as CPT, and was superior in preliminary cost-effectiveness and transmission risk of COVID-19. Conclusions: Our results provide novel, promising clinical evidence that DPT was as effective as CPT in improving structural and functional impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction. Our results highlight the successful incorporation of DPT intervention for clinical outcome measures, lower extremity strength, trunk mobility, ADL improvement, QOL improvement, and FMS in LBP.

The rate of obesity in adolescents has increased due to social distancing measures and school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues have caused adolescents to change their lifestyles and eating habits. Furthermore, the growth in inactive behavior and computer screen or watching TV time, as well as the reduction in physical activity, could similarly be related with obesity. To overcome this problem, we recently developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based gesture recognition game application called Super Kids Adventure (SUKIA, Funrehab, Daejeon, Korea), which provides inexpensive and motivational game applications. This research is designed to assess the effects of SUKIA and Nintendo Switch (NINS) on calorie consumption, VO2 max, 6-minute walking test (6MWT) as well as body mass index (BMI), and the Borg rating of perceived exertion scale (RPE) in adolescents with obesity. A convenience sample of 24 adolescents with obesity were randomized into either the NINS or SUKIA groups 5 days/week for 3 weeks. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-tests were presented with significant level at p < 0.05, and the analysis indicated that SUKIA showed superior effects on calorie consumption, VO2 max, and RPE compared to NINS. Our results provide evidence that SUKIA can more effectively improve cardiopulmonary function and calorie consumption than NINS in adolescents with obesity during COVID-19.

This study was designed to determine the best intervention time (acute, subacute, and chronic stages) for Walkbot robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) rehabilitation to improve clinical outcomes, including sensorimotor function, balance, cognition, and activities of daily living, in hemiparetic stroke patients. Thirty-six stroke survivors (acute stage group (ASG), n = 11; subacute stage group (SSG), n = 15; chronic stage group (CSG), n = 10) consistently received Walkbot RAGT for 30 min/session, thrice a week, for 4 weeks. Six clinical outcome variables, including the Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and Mini-Mental State Examination, were examined before and after the intervention. Significant differences in the FMA, BBS, TIS, and MBI were observed between the ASG and the SSG or CSG. A significant time effect was observed for all variables, except for the MAS, in the ASG and SSG, whereas significant time effects were noted for the FMA, BBS, and TIS in the CSG. Overall, Walkbot RAGT was more favorable for acute stroke patients than for those with subacute or chronic stroke. This provides the first clinical evidence for the optimal intervention timing for RAGT in stroke.