Patients with cancer (PwC) who undergo specific treatments reported greater fatigue and reduced functional capacity as predominant outcomes, compromising their QoL during and following the treatment. Prehabilitation intervention, provided after diagnosis and before treatments, is to optimize the physiological reserve and address modifiable risk factors before surgery or chemotherapy to improve post-treatment results. The primary aim of this study is to obtain a common line of efficacy compared with prehabilitation treatment; the secondary endpoint is to assess the methodological quality of the studies eligible in the review. The systematic review was conducted from September to February 2024, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Databases consulted were MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of science and CINAHL, RCTs related to Prehabilitation intervention on PwC were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed through the RoB2 Cochrane tool and the PEDro scale. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate relative treatment effects among evaluated outcomes. Forty-two studies were included in the systematic review, 13 were included in the quantitative analysis. The results of the studies reporting reduced postoperative hospital stay, improved endurance, muscle strength, respiratory function, quality of life, and urinary incontinence. Critical analysis of the articles using the PEDro scale revealed 28 RCTs with a good rating, 9 with a fair rating, and 5 with a poor rating; in contrast, the Cochrane RoB2 tool revealed that all articles were at high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed statistically significant values for 6MWT (38.53, 95%CI 33.03 - 44.04); HADS-depression (-0.71, 95%CI -0.93 -0.49) and HADS-anxiety (-0.49, 95%CI -0.76 -0.23). Prehabilitation represents a specific intervention that aims to improve postoperative outcomes in fragile patients undergoing surgery, increasing their preoperative physiological reserve in anticipation of the stress they will face and facilitating the postoperative recovery of functional capacity. Prehabilitation is a good intervention to use, especially in terms of functional capacity and mental health, the latter being very impactful in terms of reduced levels of anxiety and depression. These data make it possible to justify supportive intervention by physical therapists aimed at improving and restoring health-related QoL especially in the short term.

Background: Physical fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms in people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Several factors might influence the development of fatigue, such as gender, education, body mass index (BMI), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), disease duration, working status (Ws), physiotherapy (Ph), and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Fatigue Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire-Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FSIQ-RMS) is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) that allows one to define the impact of fatigue in PwMS clearly. This study aimed to assess fatigue impact on PwMS by using FSIQ-RMS. Methods: The participants were enrolled from May to July 2021 in MS Centers of Sant’Andrea Hospital and Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome. Fatigue was evaluated using the FSIQ-RMS, validated, and culturally adapted in Italian. Clinical and demographic data were collected at the same time. Results: We enrolled 178 PwMS [Female 74.16%; RMS 82.58%, SPMS 17.52%]. FSIQ-RMS scores were significantly correlated with EDSS (p-value < 0.01). Analysis of variance between means showed a statistically significant difference between the BMI groups at the 24hours_FSIQ-RMS score and the 7days_FSIQ-RMS score (p < 0.01), with the lower BMI group having the highest scores. Furthermore, perceived fatigue significantly improved both in subjects performing Ph (p < 0.05) and in those who actively work (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The use of FSIQ-RMS in a real-world setting confirmed that underweight and high levels of disability are closely related to fatigue. In addition, Ph and active Ws are strongly correlated with fatigue in PwMS.

Background/Objectives: Aphasia is a neurological condition affecting the ability to understand and/or express language fluently and accurately, and can occur following stroke, traumatic injuries, or other brain pathologies. The aim of the following study was to provide clinicians and researchers information regarding the existing assessment tools to assess aphasia. Methods: For this Systematic Review, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for articles published up to August 2024. Authors independently identified eligible studies based on predefined inclusion criteria and extracted data. The study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. Results: Of the 1278 publications identified and screened, 238 studies fell within the inclusion criteria and were critically reviewed, and 164 assessment tools were found and divided into 8 main domains; the most used tools were the Language Screening Test (LAST), the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 (SAQOL-39), the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS), and the Token test. Conclusions: This review has emphasized the need for agreement among researchers as to which tool must be studied or adapted to other national contexts to develop universal norms and standards.

Background: Conservative therapy is currently the elective treatment for peripheric facial palsy according to scientific literature. The success of conservative therapy is due to physiotherapy and the application of its methods. The aim of this systematic review was to assess mirror therapy, a physiotherapeutic method. Objectives: The aim of the following systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of using mirror therapy in patients with peripheral paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The screening of literature was carried out on Cochrane, PEDro, PubMed/Medline, Scopus and Web of Science databases up until August 2022. All studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 5 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. The risk of bias was evaluated with PEDro and Jadad scales. Discussion: In the present study, we reviewed 5 RCTs that compared mirror therapy with other physiotherapy treatments or placebo to reduce pain, depression and improve range of motion in patients with peripheric facial nerve palsy. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of this type of treatment, but nevertheless the data obtained are very encouraging.

Fatigue is a multifactorial phenomenon that affects individuals across several conditions. Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) is a widely used questionnaire to measure perceived fatigue. This systematic review aims to identify the psychometric properties of FSS across different populations where it has been validated. The study selection process was conducted from April 2024 to January 2025. The databases used to identify included studies were MEDLINE (via PubMed), SCOPUS, Web of Science, and CINAHL (via EBSCO). The risk of bias was evaluated using the COSMIN checklist. For the meta-analysis, studies reporting the internal consistency of the scale were analyzed. At the end of the selection process, 59 articles were included in the review; the sample sizes ranged from 20 to 2017 participants, and the mean age spanned from 21,86 to 68,1 years. The FSS is a valid and reliable instrument for fatigue assessment. It would be desirable to investigate heterogeneity; it would be beneficial to investigate responsiveness and to explore the settings in which it is used. Another advise would be to calculate cutoff in healthy subjects to better understand fatigue symptoms and the differences in perception between populations. : PROSPERO (CRD42025635211).

Background/Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, leads to motor and non-motor impairments, affecting quality of life. Camptocormia can be one of the motor signs of PD, characterized by a severe and abnormal forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine that typically occurs when walking or standing. The following study aims to verify whether postural gymnastics can be an effective treatment for trunk control, balance, activities of daily living, and general well-being in patients with early-stage PD and camptocormia. Methods: Nine participants (mean age 67.7 ± 7.8) with early PD (Hoehn and Yahr Scale ≤ 2) received 10 biweekly physiotherapy sessions. Outcomes were measured using the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) along with trunk mobility and muscle tests according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. Results: Statistically significant results were noted in the PDQ-39 mobility, ADLs and emotional well-being subscales and in the BBS; statistically significant improvements were also seen in trunk mobility and muscle strength. Conclusions: This study shows that the postural gymnastic treatment, according to Souchard, in patients with PD’s camptocormia has obtained good results and has the potential timprove mobility and balance, encouraging and motivating patients in their rehabilitation journeys.