Background: Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) indicates bowel dysfunction due to a lack of nervous control after a central nervous system lesion. Bowel symptoms, such as difficulties with evacuation, constipation, abdominal pain and swelling, are experienced commonly among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Consequentially, individuals with SCI experience a general dissatisfaction with the lower perceived quality of life (QoL). Several studies have demonstrated the positive effects of manual therapies on NBD, including Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT). This study aimed to explore OMT effects on NBD in individuals with SCI compared with Manual Placebo Treatment (MPT). Methods: The study was a double-blind randomized controlled trial composed of three phases, each one lasting 30 days (i: NBD/drugs monitoring; ii: four OMT/MPT sessions; iii: NBD/drug monitoring and follow-up evaluation). Results: the NBD scale, the QoL on worries and concerns sub-questionnaire, and the perception of abdominal swelling and constipation significantly improved after treatments compared to baseline only for individuals who underwent OMT. Conclusion: These preliminary results showed positive effects of OMT on bowel function and QoL in individuals with SCI, but further studies are needed to confirm our results.

Background/Objectives: Vestibular rehabilitation, an evidence-based physical therapy approach, plays a crucial role in managing and recovering from gaze and balance disorders, including those of central origin. This study, targeted at the community of Italian healthcare practitioners, is vital in understanding the application of vestibular rehabilitation in neurological disorders and in identifying knowledge gaps, barriers, and future directions. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study directed at healthcare professionals involved in neurorehabilitation in Italy. The survey consisted of 29 items grouped in 4 sections, which was estimated to take approximately 10 min to complete. The questions covered socio-demographic information, professional information, clinical practice, and future perspectives on vestibular rehabilitation. Results: Out of the 435 respondents, 290 completed the survey. Most of the respondents reported either no (32.87%) or little (42.91%) experience in vestibular rehabilitation. However, most participants (72.98%) recognized the importance of vestibular rehabilitation in treating neurological disorders. The most common condition treated was stroke (46.39%), while balance training (52.69%) and visual input exercises (26.35%) were the two most frequently used strategies. The main barriers to implementing vestibular rehabilitation in clinical practice were equipment cost and insufficient skills. Conclusions: Vestibular physical therapy is a promising complementary approach in neurorehabilitation. However, the study reveals a perceived lack of basic training in vestibular assessment and therapy. This suggests that more efforts are needed to bridge this knowledge gap and make necessary equipment more accessible.

Background/Objectives: Manual therapies like Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and Gentle Touch Intervention (GTI) are widely employed for improving posture and spinal alignment, but their effects as measured using advanced technologies remain underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the short-term postural effects of these interventions using a non-invasive three-dimensional rasterstereography-based approach, focusing on the cervical arrow, lumbar arrow, kyphotic angle, and lordotic angle parameters. Methods: A three-armed randomized controlled trial was conducted with 165 healthy participants. The subjects were divided into control (CTRL), OMT, and GTI groups. Their postural parameters were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Spine3D system by Sensor Medica (Guidonia Montecelio, Italy). The statistical analyses included paired t-tests and an ANOVA, with the significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Significant reductions in the cervical arrow were observed in both the OMT (p < 0.005) and GTI (p < 0.05) groups, while the kyphotic angle significantly improved only in the GTI group (p < 0.05). No significant changes were found in the lumbar arrow or the lordotic angle across the groups. The control group showed no postural variations, reinforcing the specificity of the interventions. Conclusions: Both OMT and GTI influence spinal posture, particularly in the cervical and thoracic regions. GTI, with its gentle approach, demonstrated unique effects on the thoracic curvature, suggesting neurophysiological mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of manual therapies for posture modulation and suggest future research should explore their long-term benefits and applications in clinical populations.

Background/Objectives: Stroke frequently leads to balance deficits. Vestibular physical therapy (VPT) may enhance postural control through neuroplastic mechanisms. Virtual reality (VR) can provide ecologically valid environments for rehabilitation, increasing patient engagement. Methods: In this randomized feasibility study, nine individuals with chronic stroke were randomized to either a Real visuo–vestibular rehabilitation group (n = 6) or a Sham VR group (n = 3) to explore the feasibility of the protocol and randomization procedures rather than to compare clinical efficacy. Both groups were trained in immersive VR environments for 12 sessions. The Real group experienced visuo–vestibular stimuli requiring sensorimotor integration; the Sham group trained in the same environments without such stimuli. Feasibility was assessed through attendance, participation (Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale, PRPS), and user satisfaction (USEQ). Safety and acceptability were monitored through adverse event reporting. Secondary exploratory outcomes included measures of balance—the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (MiniBESTest), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)—as well as functional independence (Barthel Index), health-related quality of life (Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale, SSQoL), and a set of spatiotemporal and gait quality parameters derived from inertial measurement unit (IMU) data collected during the 10-Meter Walk Test and the Figure of 8 Walk Test. Results: All participants completed the protocol without adverse events. Participation, as measured by the PRPS, remained consistently high across sessions (mean ≥5.7/6), while USEQ scores indicated excellent user satisfaction (mean ≥28/30). Exploratory analyses revealed improvements in MiniBESTest and BBS scores for the Real group. Instrumental measures derived from IMUs demonstrated improvements across groups. Conclusions: Exploratory outcomes suggested positive trends in balance improvements, and the integration of clinical scales with wearable sensors proved feasible and informative.

Background/Objectives: Manual therapies like Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and Gentle Touch Intervention (GTI) are widely employed for improving posture and spinal alignment, but their effects measured through advanced technologies remain underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the short-term postural effects of these interventions using a non-invasive three-dimensional rasterstereography-based approach, focusing on cervical arrow, lumbar arrow, kyphotic angle, and lordotic angle parameters. Methods: A three-armed randomized controlled trial was conducted with 165 healthy participants. Subjects were divided into control (CTRL), OMT, and GTI groups. Postural parameters were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Spine3D system. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and ANOVA, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Significant reductions in the cervical arrow were observed in both OMT (p<0.005) and GTI (p<0.05) groups, while the kyphotic angle significantly improved only in the GTI group (p<0.05). No significant changes were found in lumbar arrow or lordotic angle across groups. The control group showed no postural variations, reinforcing the specificity of the interventions. Conclusions: Both OMT and GTI influence spinal posture, particularly in the cervical and thoracic regions. GTI, with its gentle approach, demonstrated unique effects on thoracic curvature, suggesting neurophysiological mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of manual therapies for posture modulation and suggest future research to explore their long-term benefits and applications in clinical populations.