A stroke is a neurological condition with a high impact in terms of physical disability in the adult population, requiring specific and effective rehabilitative approaches. Virtual reality (VR), a technological approach in constant evolution, has great applicability in many fields of rehabilitation, including strokes. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a traditional neurological physiotherapy-based approach combined with the implementation of a specific VR-based program in the treatment of patients following rehabilitation after a stroke. Participants (n = 24) diagnosed with a stroke in the last six months were randomly allocated into a control group (n = 12) and an experimental group (n = 12). Both groups received one-hour sessions of neurological physiotherapy over 6 weeks, whilst the experimental group was, in addition, supplemented with VR. Patients were assessed through the Daniels and Worthingham Scale, Modified Ashworth Scale, Motor Index, Trunk Control Test, Tinetti Balance Scale, Berg Balance Scale and the Functional Ambulation Classification of the Hospital of Sagunto. Statistically significant improvements were obtained in the experimental group with respect to the control group on the Motricity Index (p = 0.005), Trunk Control Test (p = 0.008), Tinetti Balance Scale (p = 0.004), Berg Balance Scale (p = 0.007) and the Functional Ambulation Classification of the Hospital of Sagunto (p = 0.038). The use of VR in addition to the traditional physiotherapy approach is a useful strategy in the treatment of strokes.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease associated with pain, disability, and functional limitations. Kinesiophobia, the fear of movement, has been linked to disability and pain in KOA patients. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between kinesiophobia and symptoms of KOA. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in four electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct) with the following inclusion criteria: 1) recruited participants with diagnostic of knee osteoarthritis; 2) measures of pain, disability and/or functional limitation through questionnaires or physical tests; 3) articles exploring the correlation between kinesiophobia, and pain, disability, and/or functional limitation as principal or secondary outcome; 4) primary data studies (observational and experimental). A total of 17 studies involving 1,574 participants (mean age 61.04 ± 5.79 years) were included in the corresponding meta-analyses. Results showed a moderate correlation between kinesiophobia and disability (r = 0.519; p-value=0.004), and fair correlations of kinesiophobia with pain (r = 0.362; p-value<0.001), and functional limitation (r = 0.270; p-value<0.001). Despite high heterogeneity (I²: 89.4% for pain, 94.6% for disability, and 90.4% for functional limitation), 52% of studies displayed low risk of bias. In conclusion, kinesiophobia positively correlates with pain, disability, and functional limitation in KOA patients.

The identification of variables that can modulate the efficacy of cue exposure using virtual reality (VR) is crucial. This study aimed to explore determinant variables of cue-elicited alcohol craving and perceived realism (PR) of environments and alcoholic beverages during a VR cue-exposure session among alcohol use disorder (AUD) outpatients. A prospective cohort study was conducted amongst 72 outpatients with AUD from a clinical setting. Alcohol craving experienced during VR exposure and PR of virtual environments and alcoholic drinks were evaluated after a VR session of exposure to alcohol-related contexts and cues. Sociodemographic, psychological and consumption characteristics were examined as possible predicting variables. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the AUD severity and PR of beverages were predictors of cue-elicited alcohol craving. Educational level, PR of beverages and age were predictors of the PR of VR environments. In relation to the PR of VR beverages, cue-elicited alcohol craving and the PR of environments were predictors. A simple mediational model was also performed to analyze the influence of the PR of beverages on the relationship between the AUD severity and alcohol craving experienced during VR exposure: an indirect or mediational effect was found. PR of alcoholic beverages was (1) a key predictor of the PR of VR environments (and vice versa) and the alcohol craving (and vice versa) experienced during VR cue-exposure sessions using ALCO-VR software among AUD patients and (2) a mediator between AUD severity and cue-elicited alcohol craving.

The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is frequently used for the assessment of walking distances in several conditions, as knee osteoarthritis, but it can be both time-consuming for the researcher or clinician, and exhausting of painful for the subject suffering from this condition. The objective of our study was to analyze the concurrent validity of the 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT) for patients with knee osteoarthritis compared to the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Cross-sectional validation study. Scores from the 6MWT of 42 ambulatory patients affected by knee osteoarthritis were compared to those from the shorter 2MWT. An initial correlation test was used to assess correlation between both measures, and a subsequent univariate regression analysis was performed with the aim of comparing the estimated outcomes of the 6MWT versus the actual 6MWT. The scores from the 2MWT and 6MWT showed excellent correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.976; p-value < 0.001); the predictive equation based on the scores from the 2MWT (R² = 0.952, p-value < 0.001) estimates the 6MWT scores with a relative error of 3.23%. The 2MWT may be a practical assessment tool in replacement for the 6MWT in clinical assessment due to its low burden on patients and as a means of improving efficiency in a timely manner.

Determining the predictive variables associated with cannabis use and cannabis-related problems can ease the identification of young cannabis consumers who can benefit from prevention interventions. This study aimed: (1) to describe, among university students, the cannabis use and cannabis-use problems, intention to use cannabis and family climate based on the gender and the people the student lives with; (2) to explore whether the family climate and intention to use cannabis are predictors of cannabis use and cannabis-related problems. The sample was composed of 339 Spanish undergraduates (51.9% females) in a 17-to-25 age range (19.67 ± 1.53). The variables were assessed through a battery based on the ESPAD survey, cannabis abuse screening test, cannabis use intention questionnaire and family climate scale. More men than women had used cannabis in the precedent year and showed greater intention to use cannabis, whereas more women than men showed greater self-efficacy in not using cannabis. The family climate did not predict cannabis use and cannabis-related problems. However, subjective norms and self-efficacy were key predictors of cannabis use and cannabis-use problems, respectively. Different factors seemed to predict the use cannabis in the past year versus cannabis-related problems, and these differences may help inform the development and delivery of preventative efforts.

Context: The assessment of strength is one of the most usual practices among professionals involved in health care or sport. Quadriceps and hamstrings are the most commonly assessed muscle groups. Generally, the methods used to assess muscle strength are active and, therefore, alternative passive methods could be useful. Myoton provides measures on 3 mechanical properties of the muscle: tone, elasticity, and stiffness. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association of Myoton, an easy-to-use tool not requiring voluntary stimulus from the subject, with strength values in quadriceps and hamstrings. Study Design: Experimental. Setting: University kinesiology laboratory. Participants: Thirty-eight recreational athletes were evaluated. Main Outcome Measures: Anthropometric and demographic data, Myoton-based measures of vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus, and the maximum voluntary isometric contraction of quadriceps and hamstrings. Procedures: The association was examined using multiple regression models to estimate strength through Myoton-based parameters and different patient characteristics. The models encompassed either 2 or 3 independent variables. Results: The adjusted R² values for predicting quadriceps strength were .666 for rectus femoris, .726 for vastus lateralis, and .667 for vastus medialis, while in regard to hamstrings, they were .617 for biceps femoris and .604 for semitendinosus. Conclusions: The main finding was that acceptable relationships were found between muscle strength and Myoton-based parameters when variables such as gender and/or age are considered. Our study reveals a new tool for estimating strength with outstanding advantages: it is easy, time-efficient, adaptable, and highly manageable through the feasible equations provided.