The advancement of computer science technologies and telemedical devices has led to an increase in the use of telerehabilitation (TR) as a therapeutic intervention. In our days, TR interventions can be considered as alternative solutions to face-to-face therapy. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether TR can be effective in physiotherapy. This can be adjudicated by investigating the use of the TR applications, their cost effect, and the level of effectiveness each one of them can provide. Randomized controlled trials that were published between 2003 and 2023 in the English language and used TR as the intervention were collected from online databases (MEDLINE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Cochrane) to be reviewed. Twenty of them met the criteria and were included in the study. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were categorized by the body system investigated. Out of the 20 studies that met the inclusive criteria, five are related to the musculoskeletal system, six are related to the nervous system, two are related to proprioception and balance, one is related to the respiratory system, one is related to the cardiovascular system, two are related to pelvic floor control, and three are related to autoimmune disorders. Studies have shown that implementing TR has resulted in significant improvements in terms of functionality, muscle strength, endurance, and self-improvement. Proprioception, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular health have shown the most improvement. The most commonly used tools for implementing TR are gamified virtual reality (VR) and digital apps. However, there are some disadvantages, such as the lack of personal contact and the cost involved. We found that TR has the potential to positively impact various health disorders, making it a suitable form of therapy for people who can't receive in -person treatment. Nonetheless, it cannot replace traditional physiotherapy, nor does it hold the same value as it.

Background/Objective: Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears represent a distinct, highly prevalent clinical entity governed by a multifactorial continuum of intrinsic senescence and extrinsic biomechanical overload, rather than an oversimplified acute traumatic versus degenerative dichotomy. While conservative management centered on kinesiotherapy is primary, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (MENS) are widely utilized as adjunctive electrophysical modalities. However, empirical trials directly comparing their long-term therapeutic longevity and structural stability remain scarce. This prospective, randomized, participant- and outcome assessor-blinded clinical trial evaluated the 12-month effectiveness of combining structured kinesiotherapy with either TENS or MENS in patients with partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Methods: Of 47 candidates screened via standardized physical provocation tests and musculoskeletal ultrasound, 5 were excluded prior to treatment allocation. Exactly 42 eligible patients (n = 42; 22 males, 20 females; mean age: 46.71 ± 12.24 years) were formally enrolled and randomized (1:1) to receive 15 supervised sessions of either conventional sensory TENS (n = 21; 100 Hz, 10–15 mA) or subsensory MENS (n = 21; 50 Hz, 100 μA) alongside an identical kinesiotherapy program. Longitudinal evaluations were conducted at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment, achieving a 100% participant retention rate (n = 42). Clinical outcomes comprised the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, and the EuroQoL 5-Dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D). Structural tear dimensions were monitored via serial ultrasonography. Longitudinal data were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA)with Bonferroni adjustment applied for post hoc pairwise comparisons for normally distributed metrics and the Friedman and Mann–Whitney U tests for non-parametric variables, assessing both within-group trajectories and between-group interaction effects across time. Results: Baseline demographic, occupational, and clinical characteristics showed no significant differences between cohorts (p > 0.05). At the 3-month post-treatment mark, both groups exhibited equivalent, statistically significant within-group improvements across all clinical scores (p < 0.01). However, longitudinal trajectories diverged significantly thereafter. Between-group comparative analyses established that the MENS cohort achieved statistically and clinically superior outcomes over the TENS cohort at both 6 and 12 months. Specifically, at the 12-month primary endpoint, between-group comparisons favored MENS for SPADI Pain (mean difference: 14.39 ± 3.51, 95% CI: 7.28 to 21.50, p < 0.001), SPADI Disability (mean difference: 13.56 ± 2.89, 95% CI: 7.71 to 19.42, p < 0.001), NRS pain (mean difference: 2.33 ± 0.32, p < 0.001), and EQ-5D health status (p < 0.001), substantially exceeding established Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) benchmarks. Musculoskeletal ultrasound demonstrated post-intervention stabilization of tear progression in the MENS cohort (0.02 mm secondary depth increase between months 3 and 12), whereas the TENS arm exhibited progressive expansion (0.45 mm increase), presenting a classic clinicoradiological paradox against functional recovery. Conclusions: Both TENS and MENS serve as effective adjunctive modalities for acute symptom alleviation when paired with kinesiotherapy. However, based on robust between-group comparisons, subsensory MENS provides significantly superior long-term clinical durability, tear containment, and functional stability over a 12-month timeline, making it the preferred adjunctive electrophysical intervention for sustained conservative management.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a leading cause of chronic disability. Loss of upper extremity (U.E.) function is central to limitations, in mobility, postural control, transfers, and self-care. The aim of this exploratory pilot study was to investigate whether self-reported UE function is associated with independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) in people with motor-incomplete tetraplegia. Methods: Eleven (n = 11) individuals with motor-incomplete tetraplegia (AIS C–D; neurological levels C4–T1; injury duration ≥ 1 year), recruited through convenience sampling from five specialist rehabilitation centres, participated in an exploratory cross-sectional pilot study designed to generate hypotheses rather than test them. U.E. function was assessed using the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire, selected for its ability to capture pain and task-related functional difficulty in the elbow, wrist, and hand; its application in this neurological population is considered exploratory. Independence in ADLs was evaluated using the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III). Given the small sample, all analyses were primarily descriptive and along with bivariate associations (Spearman correlations). Regression findings are reported strictly for exploratory purposes. Results: The median age was 50 years (interquartile range [IQR] 43–55). A strong negative correlation was observed between PRTEE total score and SCIM III (r_s = −0.76). In an exploratory univariate analysis, each 1-point increase in PRTEE total score was associated with a 1.3-point lower SCIM III score (β = −1.3, 95% CI −2.34 to −0.26, p = 0.02). Age also showed a positive association (β = 1.31, 95% CI 0.04 to 2.58, p = 0.05) with SCIM III; however, this finding is highly likely to reflect a statistical artefact of the small and unrepresentative sample. Multivariable regression was not conducted as a primary analysis due to insufficient statistical power. All findings should be treated as strictly exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Conclusions: Self-reported U.E. function appears to be associated with ADL independence in motor-incomplete tetraplegia. U.E. capacity may contribute to functional tasks requiring postural stability and mobility-related activities, but no predictive inferences can be made from this underpowered, convenience sample. Future studies with larger cohorts and performance-based measures are needed to confirm these preliminary observations and clarify the role of U.E. function in rehabilitation planning.

Background: This systematic review evaluates clinical trials on spinal cord injury (SCI) physical therapy interventions. The objective is to assess the impact of contemporary physical therapy interventions on patients’ functional parameters and recovery outcomes, based on the literature published in the preceding six years. Methods: Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical trials involving adult participants with SCI who received physiotherapy interventions. Studies published more than six years ago or those not involving physiotherapy as a primary intervention were excluded. Data Synthesis and Presentation: Results were synthesized qualitatively. Due to substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity across the included trials, a meta-analysis was not performed, and findings are based entirely on qualitative synthesis. Main outcomes were categorized into primary (muscle strength, walking ability, balance, activities of daily living [ADL]) and secondary outcomes (cardio-respiratory function, mental health, pain management) and are presented in order of the number of supporting studies. Results: Study Numbers and Characteristics: Of 181 records initially identified, 23 studies (all high-quality clinical trials/RCTs; mean PEDro score 7.2) were ultimately included in the review. Main Outcomes and Direction of Effect: The included studies generally reported positive effects of physiotherapy interventions on several functional and physiological outcomes. Statistically significant improvements favoring the physical therapy groups were reported for balance (7 studies), ADLs (4 studies), and respiratory function (6 studies) across the clinical spectrum. Conversely, positive outcomes in muscle strength (12 studies) and gait/walking ability (7 studies) were predominantly localized within motor-incomplete cohorts. Cardiovascular function outcomes (5 studies) remained inconsistent, while secondary psychological metrics and formal mental health parameters (6 studies) showed no statistically significant changes between groups. Discussion: Limitations of the Evidence: The primary limitation identified across the included evidence is the substantial heterogeneity in the specific physical therapy intervention protocols utilized across trials, which limits direct comparison. Interpretation and Implications: Current evidence suggests that tailored physical therapy interventions play an important role in driving functional adaptations and managing specific physiological complications in adult SCI populations. The principal implication of these findings is that, while physical therapy is potentially effective, findings must be interpreted with caution due to protocol diversity, and further high-quality, standardized research is urgently required to establish uniform clinical guidelines. Other: Funding Source: This systematic review received no specific grant or primary funding from any agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.