Background: Adults who live in residential aged care can have reduced participation in physical activities and sit for prolonged periods. Therapeutic dancing aims to optimize movement, creative expression, well-being, and social interaction. Objectives: To investigate the benefits, challenges, and facilitators to implementing therapeutic dancing in residential aged care. Methods: Thematic analysis of semistructured interviews of residential aged care staff and therapists. Interviews were digitally audio-recorded and thematically analyzed. Findings: Four main themes were identified: (a) despite frailty, dancing classes afforded motor and nonmotor benefits, (b) music and dance genre selections were key to success, (c) the skills of the dance instructor were associated with successful outcomes, and (d) there were modifiable and nonmodifiable facilitators and barriers to implementation. Conclusion: Enablers included support from management, resident supervision, age-appropriate music with a strong rhythmical beat, and a dance instructor skilled in comprehensive care. Barriers included multimorbidity, frailty, severe cognitive impairment, and funding.

Objective: To present the extent of evidence concerning the effectiveness of extended reality telerehabilitation and patients’ experiences of using different types of virtual reality exercises at home. Methods: We included studies on virtual reality and augmented reality telerehabilitation published in English. Systematic searches were undertaken in PubMed, Web of Sciences, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PEDro, with no date limitations. We included only RCTs and qualitative studies exploring patients’ experiences. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool for quantitative papers and the CASP scale for qualitative studies. All results are presented narratively. Results: Thirteen studies, nine quantitative and four qualitative, were included, with one qualitative and seven quantitative having a high risk of bias. All studies reported that extended reality-based telerehabilitation may be effective compared to conventional exercises or other extended reality exercises. Seven quantitative studies focused on upper limb function. Qualitative papers suggested that VR exercises were perceived as feasible by patients. Conclusions: The literature suggests VR home exercises are feasible and potentially effective for patients after a stroke in the upper limb. Further high-quality studies are needed to examine the effectiveness of XR exercises early adoption on different qualitative and quantitative outcomes. Registration number: (CRD42022384356).

Objective: Transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation (TENS) is a noninvasive, nonpharmacological, and least expensive technique to improve sensitivity and reduce pain in patients with neuropathy. Evidence reported on the effectiveness of TENS on neuropathy was inconclusive. This study was aimed at providing recent evidence on the effectiveness of TENS for neuropathic pain, using data from randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Control Trials (CENTRAL), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (Pedro), and Google Scholar from January 1, 1999, to May 5, 2024. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies on TENS for neuropathic pain, without restrictions based on language or country. Key inclusion criteria were studies on TENS for neuropathic pain, while exclusion criteria included studies on neuropathic pain due to cancer, HIV infection, or stroke. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the GRADE tool. Results: Thirty articles met the eligibility criteria, and 25 were included in the meta‐analysis. Overall, TENS slightly reduced neuropathic pain compared to placebo, but this was not clinically significant (SMD = −0.35; 95% CI: −0.90 to 0.10, p = 0.13). For patients with diabetic neuropathic pain, TENS was similar to placebo and other electrotherapies. However, it was better than placebo and other interventions for reducing neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients (SMD = −1.14; 95% CI: −2.22 to −0.06, p = 0.04). Conclusions: TENS generally seems to provide a small reduction in neuropathic pain compared with a placebo, other electrotherapies, or other interventions.

Background Falls are common in older people and individuals with neurological conditions. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is known for postural instability causing mobility disabilities, falls and reduced quality of life. The fear of falling (FOF), a natural response to unstable balance, can worsen postural control problems. Evaluating FOF relies largely on affected persons’ subjective accounts due to limited objective assessment methods available. The aim of this mixed-methods feasibility study is to develop an assessment method for FOF while in motion and walking within virtual environments. This study will assess a range of FOF-related responses, including cognitive factors, neuromuscular response and postural stability. Methods and analysis This feasibility study will consist of four phases: the first two phases will include people without PD, while the other two will include people diagnosed with PD. Participants will be assessed for direct and indirect responses to real life, as well as virtual environment walking scenarios that may induce FOF. Data from questionnaires, different neurophysiological assessments, movement and gait parameters, alongside evaluations of usability and acceptability, will be collected. Semistructured interviews involving both participants and research assistants shall take place to elicit their experiences throughout different phases of the assessments undertaken. Demographic data, the scores of assessment scales, as well as feasibility, usability and acceptability of the measurement methods, will be illustrated via descriptive statistics. Movement and gait outcomes, together with neurophysiological data, will be extracted and calculated. Exploring relationships between different factors in the study will be achieved using a regression model. Thematic analysis will be the approach used to manage qualitative data. Ethics and dissemination This feasibility study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Kafr El Sheikh University, Egypt (number: P.T/NEUR/3/2023/46). The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT05931692).

Objective: To provide a strong foundation for the use of high-intensity laser therapy in carpel tunnel syndrome, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the outcomes of short- and long-term follow-up studies. Design: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: Sample sizes of included studies ranged from 16 to 98 patients (N = 308). Overall, a significant difference between the treatment and control groups were found across majority of the measures. Studies using a 4-wk follow-up period, however, only found significantly greater benefits for high-intensity laser therapy in visual analog scale compared with placebo (P = 0.0191), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (P = 0.0026), and low-intensity laser therapy 20 J/cm² (P < 0.0002), and exercise (P < 0.0001). For improvement in visual analog scale score over a long treatment period, high-intensity laser therapy was also preferred over control group (P < 0.0071). Insufficient evidence exists to determine effect of high-intensity laser therapy on nerve conduction examinations. The only statistically significant differences observed in examinations were in relation to sensory nerve action potential (P = 0.0083) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (P = 0.0468). Conclusions: Moderate evidence exists regarding efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy compared with placebo, high-intensity laser therapy + wrist splint, and exercise in a short period of follow-up time but evidence on long-term follow-up is limited.