The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the McKenzie method compared to manual therapy in the management of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Randomised controlled trials evaluating the McKenzie method in treating CLBP in adults compared to manual therapy (MT) were searched in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PEDro. The primary outcomes were pain and disability. Five trials were eligible for inclusion in the review, of which, most had a score of 8 out of 11 on the PEDro scale. At 2-3 months, all studies reported significant improvement in the pain level in the McKenzie group, and more than that in the MT group. At 6 months, significant improvements had occurred in the disability index reported by two trials in the McKenzie group than the MT group. At 12 months follow-up, there were no significant differences in measures of LBP, but three studies reported that the McKenzie method group had a better disability level than the MT group. In patients with CLBP, many pain measures showed that the McKenzie method is a successful treatment to decrease pain in the short term, while the disability measures determined that the McKenzie method is better in enhancing function in the long term.

Self-paced treadmill walking is becoming increasingly popular for the gait assessment and re-education, in both research and clinical settings. Its day-to-day repeatability is yet to be established. This study scrutinised the test-retest repeatability of key gait parameters, obtained from the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL) system. Twenty-three male able-bodied adults (age: 34.56 ± 5.12 years) completed two separate gait assessments on the GRAIL system, separated by 5 ± 3 days. Key gait kinematic, kinetic, and spatial-temporal parameters were analysed. The Intraclass-Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Standard Error Measurement (SEM), Minimum Detectable Change (MDC), and the 95% limits of agreements were calculated to evaluate the repeatability of these gait parameters. Day-to-day agreements were excellent (ICCs > 0.87) for spatial-temporal parameters with low MDC and SEM values, <0.153 and <0.055, respectively. The repeatability was higher for joint kinetic than kinematic parameters, as reflected in small values of SEM (<0.13 Nm/kg and <3.4°) and MDC (<0.335 Nm/kg and <9.44°). The obtained values of all parameters fell within the 95% limits of agreement. Our findings demonstrate the repeatability of the GRAIL system available in our laboratory. The SEM and MDC values can be used to assist researchers and clinicians to distinguish ‘real’ changes in gait performance over time.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) technologies are increasingly applied in neurorehabilitation, but most research has focused on their therapeutic applications rather than assessment potential. Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to map the evidence on VR-based assessment tools in neurorehabilitation, including types of tools, targeted neurological conditions, technological specifications, and research gaps. Methods: A scoping review was conducted and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. The protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251113260). Searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), IEEE Xplore, and grey literature were performed from inception to July 2025. Eligible studies involved VR for assessment purposes in neurological populations and reported validity, reliability, usability, or assessment performance. Data were charted and synthesised thematically. Results: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most adapted established assessments such as the Box and Block Test, Action Research Arm Test, or Virtual Peg Insertion Test into VR formats. Populations included stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and movement disorders. VR systems ranged from custom-built motion-tracking platforms to commercial head-mounted displays with controllers or optical hand-tracking. Convergent validity ranged from moderate to excellent ( r = 0.65–0.99), with optical tracking and mixed reality systems ( r > 0.90) generally outperforming controller-based approaches (r ≈ 0.65). Usability was often rated highly but varied across conditions and modalities, with some studies reporting higher usability ratings for physical tasks compared to VR. Key gaps included limited normative datasets, heterogeneous hardware/software, and minimal longitudinal evaluations. Conclusions: VR-based assessments in neurorehabilitation remain a developing field. Preliminary evidence suggests good validity, usability, and feasibility, with potential to provide richer performance data that augment conventional assessment. However, large-scale, standardised, and condition-specific studies are required before widespread clinical implementation.

Perthes disease is a condition that affects walking patterns in young children due to poor blood circulation in the hip joint. Understanding the gait strategies of affected children is of great importance for an objective assessment and better management of this condition. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the current literature to identify gait compensation patterns in non-operative children with Perthes disease. Methods: A systematic electronic search was performed using MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, BIOSIS, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies published from inception up until December 2023. An adapted Downs and Black checklist was utilised to assess methodological quality and project risk of bias. Percentage agreement and nominal kappa statistics with bootstrapped bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used. Result: A comprehensive literature search revealed 277 citations for review, of which 210 studies entered full-text screening. In total, eight studies met the inclusion criteria for quality assessment by two independent reviewers. The results revealed variations in data quality, with scores ranging from 12 to 17 due to missing information related to subject characteristics, biomechanical model, and power calculation. Conclusions: This review reveals common compensation strategies associated with walking among non-operative children with Perthes disease such as Trendelenburg gait due to weakness of the hip abductor muscle.

Background: Text neck is a common postural malalignment that significantly affects daily activities. Reliable and user-friendly assessment tools are essential for physiotherapists, and evaluating text neck prevalence in both sitting and standing positions is crucial for effective rehabilitation. This study aimed to compare text neck prevalence between students in practical and non-practical disciplines using multiple assessment methods. Methodology: A total of 82 female students (18–24 years) from Taibah University participated. The practical group included students from the Colleges of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences and Applied Medical Sciences, who engage in hands-on learning. The non-practical group consisted of Business Administration students, whose coursework is primarily theoretical. Text neck was assessed using observational methods, tragus to wall distance (TWD), craniovertebral angle (CVA) via a smartphone application, and PostureCo in both sitting and standing positions. Results: Observational assessment showed text neck prevalence of 95.5% in the non-practical group and 70% in the practical group while sitting, and 91% versus 80% while standing. Based on TWD, prevalence was 48% in non-practical students and 32% in practical students. Using Physiomaster, prevalence was 71% in standing and 54% in sitting for non-practical students, compared to 39% and 14%, respectively, for practical students. Significant differences were found between groups in sitting (p < 0.002) and standing (p < 0.001) using TWD, and in CVA measurements (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Text neck is more prevalent among non-practical students, while practical students exhibit milder cases. Both sitting and standing assessments are essential for accurate diagnosis and rehabilitation planning. Future studies should analyze the accuracy of various measurement tools to identify the most precise methods for assessing text neck prevalence, taking into consideration both sitting and standing positions.

Background: Physical therapy is crucial in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP), aiming to enhance motor function, postural control, and functional independence. Objective: The study explored the current physical therapy interventions for children with CP in Saudi Arabia, including waiting time, the most used interventions, the focus of therapy, and parents’ desired goals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 215 children with CP (aged 6 months to 18.2 years). Face-to-face surveys were conducted to collect data on CP classification (based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System), age at first referral, types of interventions used, intervention goals, and parents’ desired goals for their children. Results: Children with severe CP (non-ambulators) received physical therapy services significantly earlier than those with milder involvement (ambulators). The most commonly used interventions were therapeutic exercises and home exercises, followed by standing frames. Hydrotherapy was the least utilized intervention. The focus of therapy was mainly on joints and muscles, as well as mobility and transfers. Conclusions: The study underscores the need to identify and refer children with CP for physical therapy. The findings suggest further investigation into barriers to utilizing certain interventions like hydrotherapy and emphasize the need for more inclusive goal-setting processes in the rehabilitation of children with CP based on both physical therapy and parent perspectives.