Wearable robotic devices have been strongly put into use in both the clinical and research fields of stroke rehabilitation over the past decades. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of soft robotic gloves (SRGs) towards improving the motor recovery and functional abilities in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. Five major bibliographic databases, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, were all reviewed for enrollment regarding comparative trials prior to 7 March 2023. We included adults with stroke and compared their rehabilitation using SRGs to conventional rehabilitation (CR) on hand function in terms of the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Assessment (FMA-UE), Fugl-Meyer Distal Upper Extremity Motor Assessment (FMA-distal UE), box and blocks test score, grip strength test, and the Jebsen–Taylor hand function test (JTT). A total of 8 studies, comprising 309 participants, were included in the analysis. Compared to CR, rehabilitation involving SRGs achieved better FMA-UE (MD 6.52, 95% CI: 3.65~9.39), FMA-distal UE (MD 3.27, 95% CI: 1.50~5.04), and JJT (MD 13.34, CI: 5.16~21.53) results. Subgroup analysis showed that stroke latency of more than 6 months and training for more than 30 min offered a better effect as well. In conclusion, for patients with stroke, rehabilitation using SRGs is recommended to promote the functional abilities of the upper extremities.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most significant complications seen after surgery. Several studies demonstrated that extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), in addition to conventional complex decongestive therapy (CDT), had a positive effect on BCRL in various aspects. The systematic review and meta-analysis aim to explore the effectiveness of ESWT with or without CDT on BRCL patients. We searched PubMed, Embase, PEDro, Cochrane Library Databases, and Google Scholar for eligible articles and used PRISMA2020 for paper selection. Included studies were assessed by the PEDro score, Modified Jadad scale, STROBE assessment, and GRADE framework for the risk of bias evaluation. The primary outcomes were the volume of lymphedema and arm circumference. Secondary outcome measures were skin thickness, shoulder joint range of motion (ROM), and an impact on quality-of-life questionnaire. Studies were meta-analyzed with the mean difference (MD). Eight studies were included in the systemic review and four in the meta-analysis. In summary, we found that adjunctive ESWT may significantly improve the volume of lymphedema (MD = −76.44; 95% CI: −93.21, −59.68; p < 0.00001), skin thickness (MD = −1.65; 95% CI: −3.27, −0.02; p = 0.05), and shoulder ROM (MD = 7.03; 95% CI: 4.42, 9.64; p < 0.00001). The evidence level was very low upon GRADE appraisal. ESWT combined with CDT could significantly improve the volume of lymphedema, skin thickness, and shoulder ROM in patients with BCRL. There is not enough evidence to support the use of ESWT as a replacement for CDT. This study was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42021277110.

Background: Intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW) is a common neuromuscular complication of critical illness, impacting patients’ recovery and long-term outcomes. However, limited evidence is available on pooled prevalence and risk factors of ICUAW specifically in the COVID-19-infected population. Methods: We searched on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PEDro, and EBSCOhost/CINAHL up to January 31, 2024. Data synthesis was conducted using the Freeman-Tukey double-arcsine transformation model for the pooled prevalence rate and odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals was used to identify risk factors. Results: The pooled prevalence of ICUAW in COVID-19 patients was 55% in eight studies on 868 patients. Risk factors for developing ICUAW in these patients were: old age (WMD 4.78, 95% CI, 1.06-8.49), pre-existing hypertension (OR = 1.63, 95% CI, 1.02-2.61), medical intervention of prone position (OR = 5.21, 95% CI, 2.72-9.98), use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) (OR = 12.04, 95% CI, 6.20-23.39), needed tracheostomy (OR = 18.07, 95% CI, 5.64-57.92) and renal replacement therapy (RRT) (OR = 5.24, 95% CI = 2.36-11.63). Conclusions: The prevalence of ICUAW in patients with COVID-19 was considered relatively high. Older age, pre-existing hypertension, medical intervention of prone position, NMBA use, needed tracheostomy and RRT were likely risk factors. In the future, interdisciplinary medical team should pay attention to high-risk groups for ICUAW prevention and early treatments.

Background: Global aphasia without hemiparesis (GAWH) is a rare stroke syndrome characterized by the dissociation of motor and language functions. Here, we present a case of GAWH with the patient later regaining speech fluency. Case presentation: A 73-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department immediately after an episode of syncope. On arrival, we noted his global aphasia but without any focal neurologic signs. Computed tomography (CT) perfusion scans showed a large hypodense region over his left perisylvian area. Under the impression of acute ischaemic stroke, he received recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) injection and was treated as an inpatient. The patient was later discharged with GAWH status and received regular speech rehabilitation. After 14 months of rehabilitation, the patient gradually recovered his language expression ability. The degree of aphasia was evaluated with the Concise Chinese Aphasia Test (CCAT), and we obtained brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans to assess cerebral blood flow. Conclusion: A patient with severe impairments of Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas was able to talk fluently despite being unintelligible. SPECT revealed relative high level of radioactivity uptake in the right frontal lobe, suggesting the deficits in speech fluency could have been compensated by the right hemisphere. Although this is a single case demonstration, the results may strengthen the role of the right hemisphere in GAWH patients and suggests additional study that examines the possible benefits of stimulating activity at right homologous regions for recovering language function after global aphasia.

Objective: Pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block and quadratus lumborum block (QLB) are regional anesthesia techniques for postoperative analgesia after hip surgery. No meta‐analysis has directly compared these techniques. This systematic review and meta‐analysis compared analgesic, opioid‐sparing, functional, and safety outcomes between PENG block and QLB. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles until April 15, 2026. Head‐to‐head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PENG block with QLB were included. The primary outcome was postoperative pain, and the secondary outcomes were opioid consumption, functional recovery, and adverse events. Pain outcomes were pooled as standardized mean differences and converted to mean differences on a 0–10 scale for comparison with the 1‐point minimal clinically important difference. Results: Seven RCTs (536 patients) were included. No significant differences were observed between PENG block and QLB across eight pain assessment windows (four time points, at rest and during movement). After pain data conversion, six of eight pooled estimates fell within ±1 point, indicating no clinically important difference. Scores for the remaining two windows (early pain during movement and 24‐h resting pain) were inconclusive because of high heterogeneity and very low certainty evidence. Notably, 24‐h opioid consumption and nausea and vomiting incidence were similar between PENG block and QLB. Narrative synthesis suggested a preliminary, transient motor‐sparing advantage with PENG in some RCTs, requiring confirmation in adequately powered trials. Conclusion: PENG block and QLB provide comparable analgesia, opioid‐sparing benefits, and short‐term safety after hip surgery. However, the evidence for early pain during movement and 24‐h resting pain exhibited high heterogeneity and very low certainty of evidence and should be interpreted cautiously. A possible early motor‐sparing benefit of PENG block is an exploratory signal and warrants further confirmation in adequately powered trials using objective functional endpoints.

Background/Objectives: Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy are clinically linked conditions that share numerous biomechanical predispositions; however, the sonographic morphological correlations between the plantar fascia (PF) and Achilles tendon (AT) remain underutilized in routine diagnostic algorithms. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the concurrent relationship between the ultrasound morphometrics of the PF and AT in patients with plantar fasciitis. The secondary objective was an exploratory assessment to evaluate whether AT measurements can serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool. Methods: A cross-sectional diagnostic study was conducted, evaluating 45 adults with clinically and ultrasonographically confirmed unilateral plantar fasciitis. The evaluation encompassed 45 affected feet and 45 contralateral unaffected control feet (internal controls). The main outcome measures included ultrasonographic PF thickness, AT thickness, and AT width. Statistical evaluations utilized the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired comparisons, Spearman correlations, Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) multivariable logistic regression to account for paired-limb data clustering, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: AT thickness and width correlated moderately, yet significantly, with PF thickness (r_s = 0.49 and 0.59, p < 0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated that an AT thickness >0.43 cm achieved 86.0% sensitivity, 48.1% specificity, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.71. Furthermore, an AT width >1.48 cm yielded 85.2% specificity and an 88.9% positive predictive value. GEE multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age and gender and accounting for within-subject clustering revealed that an AT thickness >0.43 cm was significantly associated with a 6.99-fold increase in the odds of having concurrent plantar fasciitis (Adjusted OR 6.99, 95% CI: 2.05–23.89, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Ultrasonic AT thickness and width exhibit a moderate, significant morphological association with PF thickness. An AT thickness >0.43 cm serves as a valuable supplementary diagnostic indicator associated with plantar fasciitis, underscoring the clinical importance of evaluating the entire enthesis complex concurrently.