[Purpose] The present study aimed to determine the effects of a task-oriented training on paretic upper extremity functional performance in patients with subacute stroke. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-eight subacute stroke sufferers (mean age: 50.07, standard deviation 9.31 years; mean time since stroke 11.11, standard deviation 6.73 weeks) were randomly allocated to task-oriented training (n=14) or conventional exercise program (n=14) group. They were trained as a hospital-based, individualized training 1 hour a session, 5 sessions a week for 4 weeks. Wolf Motor Function Test (primary outcome), motor portion of Fugl-Meyer assessment upper extremity, and hand function domain of Stroke Impact Scale were assessed at baseline, after 2 and 4 weeks of training. [Results] All participants completed their training programs. At all post-training assessments, the task-oriented training group showed significantly more improvements in all outcomes than the conventional exercise program group. No serious adverse effects were observed during or after the training. [Conclusion] Task-oriented training produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements of paretic upper extremity functional performance in patients with subacute stroke. These beneficial effects were observed after 2 weeks (10 hours) of training. Future investigation is warranted to confirm and expand these findings.

Background: Anxiety affects approximately 40% to 50% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet evidence-based nonpharmacological interventions remain limited. Trampoline exercise, which combines vestibular stimulation and aerobic activity, may offer dual benefits by reducing anxiety and improving motor skills in this population. To examine the effects of an 8-week trampoline exercise program on anxiety, motor performance, and physiological outcomes (heart rate variability, HRV) in children with mild-to-moderate ASD. Methods: This assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial (Registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2500104402; Date: June 17, 2025) enrolled 50 children with mild-to-moderate ASD (aged 9–14 years) from Shandong Special Education Rehabilitation Center, China. Participants were allocated 1:1 to an 8-week trampoline intervention group (IG, n = 25; 3 sessions/wk, 30 min/session) or a resistance training control group (CG, n = 25). Primary outcomes: anxiety (screen for child anxiety related disorders [SCARED] questionnaire) and HRV root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD). Secondary outcomes: standing long jump (SLJ), one-leg stance with eyes closed (OLS), and BMI (body mass index). Between-group differences were analyzed via Mann–Whitney U tests; effect sizes were reported as Cliff δ (thresholds: small = 0.11, medium = 0.28, large = 0.43). Results: All 50 participants completed the intervention and assessments. Compared with CG, IG showed significantly greater reductions in SCARED scores (Δ = −9.4 vs Δ = 0, false discovery rate-corrected P < .001, δ = −0.92) and improvements in HRV (RMSSD: Δ = +8.51 ms vs Δ = +1.45 ms, false discovery rate-corrected P = .003, δ = −0.66). Standing long jump (SLJ) improved markedly in IG (Δ = +15.0 cm vs CG Δ = +4.0 cm, false discovery rate-corrected P < .001, δ = −0.68). However, one-leg stance with eyes closed (OLS) showed no significant between-group difference after false discovery rate correction (Δ = +0.65 seconds vs Δ = +1.14 seconds, false discovery rate-corrected P = .076, δ = −0.37). BMI remained stable in both groups (false discovery rate-corrected P = .348). Conclusion: Trampoline exercise significantly reduces anxiety and enhances lower limb explosive power in children with mild-to-moderate ASD, with effect sizes exceeding clinical thresholds. Its low cost (<$100) and high adherence (85%) support integration into school-based interventions. Future studies should explore long-term effects (3–6 months) and neural mechanisms via functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Stroke is a major public health problem affecting disability to people after stroke. Deficits in motor function resulting from stroke can impact the mobility of patient, ability to perform tasks in everyday life, social interaction, and likelihood of resuming work. The recovery of stroke is important for the survivors to return to daily life. Several factors influence the stroke recovery and can predict the conditions of the patients to obtain the optimal rehabilitative therapeutics individually. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the influential factors contributing to stroke recovery. When the clinicians from rehabilitation teams have a better understanding of these individualized factors, the therapeutic goals can become holistic, effective and realistic for the patients to achieve the maximal motor function recovery after stroke.