BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Telerehabilitation is the remote delivery of rehabilitation services using telecommunication technologies. Its local adoption was catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the need to assess user acceptance. This study aimed to determine the acceptance of stroke telerehabilitation among patients, carers, and rehabilitation providers in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City and Quezon City.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study used purposive sampling to recruit 73 rehabilitation providers and 10 consumers. Data were collected using a self-administered survey based on the Technology Acceptance Model, covering perceived ease of use, usefulness, and behavioral intent. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis.

RESULTS

Most providers (94.4%) were familiar with telerehabilitation, while only half of the consumers were aware of it. Acceptance was moderate among providers (mean score: 35.75 ± 8.67) and high among consumers (mean score: 31.6 ± 7.52). Female providers were less likely to accept telerehabilitation (p=0.049). Consumers identified financial constraints and lack of a companion as key barriers, while providers cited internet issues and technology use. Both groups viewed telerehabilitation positively for teleconsultation, teletherapy, and telemonitoring. Smartphones were the preferred device; Viber and Facebook Messenger were the most commonly chosen platforms.

CONCLUSION

Stroke telerehabilitation was moderately to highly accepted by rehabilitation stakeholders in two tertiary private hospitals in Manila. Findings may guide institutional planning for telerehabilitation services. Training, infrastructure support, and awareness campaigns can help address implementation barriers.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult: 25-44 Yrs Old ; Middle Aged: 45-64 Yrs Old ; Remote Consultation ; Physical And Rehabilitation Medicine ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Telecommunications ; Telerehabilitation ; Cross-sectional Studies ; Technology ; Stroke ; Covid-19

Effective discharge planning is crucial for ensuring safe transitions and sustained occupational participation as clients transition from professional care to their desired community settings. Despite its importance, current discharge practices in occupational therapy remain inconsistent, often relying on informal communication, variable team coordination, and unstructured decision-making. These gaps contribute to client–caregiver unpreparedness, fragmented services, and increased readmissions. This manuscript presents the Building Rehabilitation Into Discharge Goals and Engagement (BRIDGE) Framework, a client-centered, occupation-focused conceptual model designed to structure and support the discharge planning process in occupational therapy.

The BRIDGE framework was developed through an iterative process of literature review, theoretical grounding, and integration of clinical experience. It synthesizes principles from the Canadian Practice Process Framework, Person–Environment–Occupation frameworks, the Kawa Model, and Bioecological Systems Theory. The framework outlines six discharge planning steps, ranging from goal and timeline setting to follow-up and monitoring, supported by four foundational pillars: patient and family factors, occupational therapy factors, interdisciplinary team factors, and environmental or system influences. Together, these components provide a comprehensive guide for clinical reasoning, collaborative planning, caregiver preparation, and transitional support.

The framework clarifies the role of occupational therapy, enhances interprofessional coordination, and promotes consistent transition planning. Future work should include empirical testing, case-based application, and population-specific adaptations.

Human ; Patient Discharge ; Residence Characteristics ; Rehabilitation ; Communication ; Clinical Reasoning

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe nontraumatic brain injuries often present with disorders of unconsciousness. Immediate neurologic care, neuroprotection, and early neurorehabilitation are core principles for better outcomes. Neurorehabilitation, through both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, aims to enhance neuroplasticity for faster recovery. Amantadine, primarily known as an antiviral and used in Parkinson’s treatment, has shown a potential role for accelerating neuronal recovery and neurorehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE

Available literature on the use of amantadine for nontraumatic brain injury patients is limited. This scoping review aims to identify the potential benefits and limitations of amantadine in neurorehabilitation.

METHODOLOGY

In the literature review, the keywords "Amantadine" AND "Neurorehabilitation" were used to search PubMed, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Library for articles published between January 1, 2003, and August 2024. Inclusion criteria required that articles have clear research objectives, strict subject eligibility criteria, a detailed methodology, and the administration of amantadine for nontraumatic brain injuries. Out of 57 identified articles, only 7 were included in the study.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Its benefits include improving the level of consciousness, accelerating recovery, decreasing mortality, managing delayed post-hypoxic encephalopathy, and improving verbal fluency in nonfluent speech. Its adverse effects and the paucity of available literature recommending amantadine for neurorehabilitation are the possible limitations.

CONCLUSION

Amantadine accelerates the neurologic recovery of patients with disorders of unconsciousness secondary to nontraumatic brain injuries.

RECOMMENDATION

Future studies may conduct meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials of amantadine in patients with nontraumatic brain injury to further strengthen its promising role in neurorehabilitation.

Human ; Amantadine ; Neurological Rehabilitation ; Neurorehabilitation

BACKGROUND

A substantial number of COVID-19 recoverees are working-aged individuals, which makes return-towork (RTW) an essential part of rehabilitation. Many COVID-19 recoverees must deal with physical and mental symptoms of post-COVID conditions such as fatigue, dyspnea, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, and anxiety. These symptoms coupled with often insufficient support from employers and the government can make the RTW process complicated. Although research related to RTW after COVID-19 has begun to emerge over the years, few primary studies have come out from developing countries.

OBJECTIVES

This exploratory study aims to describe perceived work ability and health-related quality of life, lived experiences of the RTW process, and role of rehabilitation in a limited sample of Filipino COVID-19 recoverees. 

METHODS

Using purposive sampling and a convergent parallel mixed-method design, the study draws on an online survey and group interviews to understand expectations, experiences, and self-rated work ability of working-age adults with post-COVID condition. We report the findings of the questionnaire data using descriptive statistics. From the questionnaire respondents, eight participants were interviewed to explore the RTW experiences from multiple perspectives. The group interview was conducted online, and narrative analysis was used to explore the data. This analytic process involved an iterative and inductive process between data gathering and data analysis.

RESULTS

Findings from our narrative analysis are reported under four themes: 1) The period of liminality; 2) A ‘positive’ problem; 3) Health as a psychosocial and justice issue; and 4) The reimagination of paid work. The narratives gathered document an overview of how selected Filipinos overcame the COVID-19 infection and their recovery and RTW process.

CONCLUSION

Results call for a re-examination of the concept of health and paid work for individuals undergoing rehabilitation and recovery.

Human ; Pandemics ; Rehabilitation, Vocational ; Occupational Therapy

INTRODUCTION

Strength is a key modifiable risk factor for hamstring strains with significant differences between injured and non-injured sides in the lengthened position. Ensuring the test-retest reliability of measurement protocols ensures consistent injury prevention, rehabilitation and return-to-sport planning.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the test-retest reliability of hamstring strength protocols in both standardized and lengthened positions among healthy adults.

STUDY DESIGN

Test-retest reliability study.

SETTING

Human Performance Laboratory, Fr. Roque Ruano building, University of Santo Tomas, Espana Manila.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten healthy adults (six males and four females; mean age: 26.5 ± 4.03 years).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Absolute and relative peak torque for concentric and eccentric hamstring and quadriceps were measured at 60°/sec, 180°/sec and 240°/sec in the standardized position (hip and knee flexed at 90°). In the lengthened position (hip flexed at 85° and knee at 30°), isometric knee flexion and peak torque for concentric and eccentric hamstring and quadriceps were assessed at 60°/sec and 180°/sec. Strength ratios were calculated for both positions.

RESULTS

Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) values demonstrated good to excellent reliability for peak torque measurements, with higher reliability in the standardized position (ICC 0.83-0.94) than in the lengthened position (ICC 0.79-0.96). Conventional and functional ratios varied, with lower ICCs for the right leg in the standardized position (ICC 0.32-0.92) and moderate to good reliability in the lengthened position (ICC 0.63-0.87).

CONCLUSION

Standardized and lengthened positions provide reliable assessments of absolute and relative peak torque for hamstring and quadriceps muscles during concentric and eccentric contractions across all speeds, including conventional and functional strength ratios.

Human ; Rehabilitation

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation （rTMS） is an emerging technique for noninvasive brain stimulation and plays an increasingly important role in the rehabilitation treatment of post-stroke aphasia due to its advantages of noninvasiveness，safety，and targeting ability. With reference to related articles in China and globally in recent years，this article elaborates on the role，mechanism，and target of rTMS in post-stroke aphasia，in order to provide a reference for the rehabilitation treatment of patients with post-stroke aphasia.
Rehabilitation

BACKGROUND

A substantial number of COVID-19 recoverees are working-aged individuals, which makes return-towork (RTW) an essential part of rehabilitation. Many COVID-19 recoverees must deal with physical and mental symptoms of post-COVID conditions such as fatigue, dyspnea, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, and anxiety. These symptoms coupled with often insufficient support from employers and the government can make the RTW process complicated. Although research related to RTW after COVID-19 has begun to emerge over the years, few primary studies have come out from developing countries.

OBJECTIVES

This exploratory study aims to describe perceived work ability and health-related quality of life, lived experiences of the RTW process, and role of rehabilitation in a limited sample of Filipino COVID-19 recoverees. 

METHODS

Using purposive sampling and a convergent parallel mixed-method design, the study draws on an online survey and group interviews to understand expectations, experiences, and self-rated work ability of working-age adults with post-COVID condition. We report the findings of the questionnaire data using descriptive statistics. From the questionnaire respondents, eight participants were interviewed to explore the RTW experiences from multiple perspectives. The group interview was conducted online, and narrative analysis was used to explore the data. This analytic process involved an iterative and inductive process between data gathering and data analysis.

RESULTS

Findings from our narrative analysis are reported under four themes: 1) The period of liminality; 2) A ‘positive’ problem; 3) Health as a psychosocial and justice issue; and 4) The reimagination of paid work. The narratives gathered document an overview of how selected Filipinos overcame the COVID-19 infection and their recovery and RTW process.

CONCLUSION

Results call for a re-examination of the concept of health and paid work for individuals undergoing rehabilitation and recovery.

Human ; Pandemics ; Rehabilitation, Vocational ; Occupational Therapy

BACKGROUND

Acute ICH represents a serious form of stroke, associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early rehabilitation has been recommended in order to improve motor function recovery and functional independence of the patients with ICH. However, the timing at which rehabilitation should be initiated remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of early rehabilitation in motor function recovery and functional independence as well as to investigate the ideal timing for initiating rehabilitation post-ICH.

METHODS

Four RCTs were retrieved in this meta-analysis (Bai et al – 364 patients, Liu et al – 243 patients, Yen et al – 60 patients, Zhu et al – 84 patients). Selection criteria included early rehabilitation intervention for acute ICH patients, with measurable objective assessment of motor function and evaluation of ADLs at 1 and 3 months post-rehabilitation. Data extraction was done from the selected studies, followed by statistical analysis, using a random effects model, calculating the SMD with 95% CI.

RESULTS

Early rehabilitation significantly improved motor function at 1 month [SMD = 0.55, 95% CI 0.09, 1.00, p = 0.02] and independence in ADLs at 1 month [SMD = 0.57, 95% CI 0.10, 1.05, p = 0.02]. However, this did not persist at 3 months [SMD = 0.17, 95% CI 0.00, 0.35, p = 0.05].

CONCLUSION

Results of this meta-analysis support that early rehabilitation within 72 hours post-ICH significantly improved motor recovery and independence in ADLs at 1 month but uncertainties still surround benefits at 3 months.

Human ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Rehabilitation ; Patients

OBJECTIVE: To precise classify sacral meningeal cysts, effective guide minimally invasive neurosurgery and postoperative personalized rehabilitation by multiple dimensions radiographic reconstruction MRI. METHODS: From March to December 2021, based on the original 3D-fast imaging employing steadystate acquisition (FIESTA) scanning sequence, 92 patients with sacral meningeal cysts were pre-operatively evaluated by multiple dimensional reconstruction MRI. The shape of nerve root and the leakage of cyst were reconstructed according to the direction of nerve root or leakage track showed on original MRI scans. Sacral canal cysts were accurately classified as including nerve root and without nerve root, so as to accurately design the incision of skin and formulate corresponding open range of the posterior wall of the sacral canal. Under the microscope intraoperation, the shape of the nerve roots inside cysts or leakage track of the cysts without nerve roots were verified and explored. After the reinforcement and shaping operation, several reexaminations of multiple dimensional reconstruction MRI were performed to understand the deformation of the nerve root and hydrops in the operation cavity, so as to formulate a persona-lized rehabilitation plan for the patients. RESULTS: Among the 92 patients with sacral mengingeal cyst, 58 (63.0%) cysts with nerve root cyst, 29 (31.5%) cysts without nerve root cyst, and 5 (5.4%) cysts with mixed sacral canal cyst. In 58 patients with nerve root cysts, the accuracy of preoperative clinical classification on MRI image reached 96.6% (56/58) through confirmation by operating microscope. Only 2 cases of large single cyst with nerve root on the head of cyst were mistaken for without nerve root type. In 29 patients with sacral cyst without nerve root, the accuracy of preoperative image reached 100% through confirmation by operating microscope. The accuracy of judging the internal nerve root and leakage of 12 cases with recurrent sacral cyst was also 100%. Two cases of delayed postoperative hydrops were found one month after operation. After rehabilitation treatment by moxibustion and bathing, the hydrops disappeared 4-6 months after operation. CONCLUSION Multiple dimensional reconstruction MRI can precisely make clinical classification of sacral meningeal cysts before operation, guide minimally invasive neurosurgery effectively, and improve the rehabilitation effect.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Sacrum/surgery* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods* ; Cysts/rehabilitation* ; Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Spinal Nerve Roots/diagnostic imaging* ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Neurosurgical Procedures/methods*

The importance of gait assessment in the rehabilitation of cancer patients is gradually being recognized. However, quantitative analysis of balance ability in cancer patients is still limited. A total of 102 cancer patients meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited from Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Their balance ability was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Gait data were collected by an electronic walkway and an IMU sensor system, including spatial-temporal and kinematic gait features such as step length, cadence, support time, and range of motion. Recursive feature elimination was used for feature selection. Ridge, Elastic Net, SVR, RF, and AdaBoost models were used to predict balance ability scores. Five-fold cross-validation was used to evaluate the performance of these models. Results show that the SVR model achieves the best performance with fifteen features (RMSE=3.22, R ²=0.91), followed by Ridge (RMSE=3.63, R ²=0.89). A method for evaluating balance ability based on gait features is proposed, providing a quantitative tool for personalized rehabilitation interventions in cancer patients.
Humans ; Postural Balance ; Neoplasms/rehabilitation* ; Gait ; Gait Analysis ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female