Critical review of the evidence for Vojta Therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: It is essential to link the theoretical framework of any neurophysiotherapy approach with a detailed analysis of the central motor control mechanisms that influence motor behavior. Vojta therapy (VT) falls within interventions aiming to modify neuronal activity. Although it is often mistakenly perceived as exclusively pediatric, its utility spans various functional disorders by acting on central pattern modulation. This study aims to review the existing evidence on the effectiveness of VT across a wide range of conditions, both in the adult population and in pediatrics, and analyze common therapeutic mechanisms, focusing on motor control modulation. Aim: The goals of this systematic review are to delineate the existing body of evidence concerning the efficacy of Vojta therapy (VT) in treating a broad range of conditions, as well as understand the common therapeutic mechanisms underlying VT with a specific focus on the neuromodulation of motor control parameters. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for eligible studies. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro list and the Risk-Of-Bias Tool to assess the risk of bias in randomized trials. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Risk-Of-Bias Tool for randomized trials. Random-effects meta-analyses with 95% CI were used to quantify the change scores between the VT and control groups. The certainty of our findings (the closeness of the estimated effect to the true effect) was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE). Results: Fifty-five studies were included in the qualitative analysis and 18 in the meta-analysis. Significant differences in cortical activity (p = 0.0001) and muscle activity (p = 0.001) were observed in adults undergoing VT compared to the control, as well as in balance in those living with multiple sclerosis (p < 0.03). Non-significant differences were found in the meta-analysis when evaluating gross motor function, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, height, and head circumference in pediatrics. Conclusion: Although current evidence supporting VT is limited in quality, there are indications suggesting its potential usefulness for the treatment of respiratory, neurological, and orthopedic pathology. This systematic review and meta-analysis show the robustness of the neurophysiological mechanisms of VT, and that it could be an effective tool for the treatment of balance in adult neurological pathology. Neuromodulation of motor control areas has been confirmed by research focusing on the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of VT.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=476848, CRD42023476848.

Associations between respiratory function, balance, postural control, and fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis: an observational study.

Introduction: Fatigue, postural control impairments, and reduced respiratory capacities are common symptoms in persons diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, there is a paucity of evidence establishing correlations among these factors. The aim of this study is to analyze respiratory function in persons with MS compared to the control group as well as to analyze the relationship between fatigue, respiratory function and postural control in persons with MS. Materials and methods: A total of 17 persons with MS and 17 healthy individuals were enrolled for this cross-sectional study. The evaluated parameters included fatigue assessed using the Visual Analog Scale-fatigue (VAS-F) and the Borg Dyspnea Scale, postural control assessed through the Mini Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS); and respiratory capacities measured by Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, Diaphragmatic excursion and diaphragmatic thickness. Results: A very high correlation was observed between the Borg Dyspnoea Scale and the BBS (r = -0.768), TUG (0.867), and Mini-BESTest (r = -0.775). The VAS-F exhibited an almost perfect correlation solely with the TUG (0.927). However, none of the variables related to fatigue exhibited any correlation with the respiratory variables under study. Balance-related variables such as BBS and Mini-BESTest demonstrated a very high and high correlation. Respectively, with respiratory function variables MEP (r = 0.783; r = 0.686), FVC (r = 0.709; r = 0.596), FEV1 (r = 0.615; r = 0.518). BBS exhibited a high correlation with diaphragmatic excursion (r = 0.591). Statistically significant differences were noted between the persons with MS group and the control group in all respiratory and ultrasound parameters except for diaphragmatic thickness. Conclusion: The findings suggest that decreased postural control and balance are associated with both respiratory capacity impairments and the presence of fatigue in persons with MS. However, it is important to note that the alterations in respiratory capacities and fatigue are not mutually related, as indicated by the data obtained in this study. Discrepancies were identified in abdominal wall thickness, diaphragmatic excursion, and respiratory capacities between persons with MS and their healthy counterparts.

Natural Semantic Networks of the Neurorehabilitation Concept by Spanish Physiotherapists-A Qualitative Phenomenological Representational Study.

The Natural Semantic Networks (NSN) model is highly useful in analyzing the words that define a concept in terms of the value, strength, weight, or density that a specific population assigns to the construction of a learned concept. The main objective of this study was to describe the conceptualization of the concept of neurorehabilitation by Spanish physiotherapists specializing in this field using NSN. A phenomenological study is presented. The participants were physiotherapy professionals who graduated from three Spanish universities and were working in the field of neurorehabilitation. A questionnaire was administered via Google Forms, which was constructed using the NSN technique. A total of 191 physiotherapists participated in this study. The Spanish physiotherapists interviewed used a total of 1247 defining words for the concept of neurorehabilitation. The semantic core of the concept was mainly formed by the words 'treatment', 'recovery', 'functionality', 'neuroplasticity', and 'learning', which carried significant weight. Results were also presented taking into account the academic level and years of professional experience of the sample. The semantic network observed in this study allows us to elucidate the polysemy of the concept of neurorehabilitation, which is composed not only of certain associated words but also the meanings they imply.

Synergy of Muscle and Cortical Activation through Vojta Reflex Locomotion Therapy in Young Healthy Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Vojta Therapy is a neurorehabilitation therapy that allows to activate reflex movement patterns. The scientific literature has shown its ability to generate muscle contractions. The activation of brain neural networks has also been proven. However, the relationship between these processes has not yet been demonstrated. For this reason, the aim of this study is to verify brain activation produced by recording with near-infrared spectroscopy and its relationship with muscle activation produced in the abdominal muscles recorded with surface electromyography. METHODS: A total sample of 27 healthy subjects over 18 years of age was recruited. An experimental study on a cohort was conducted. Two experimental conditions were considered: stimuli according to the Vojta protocol, and a control non-stimuli condition. Abdominal muscle activation was measured using surface electromyography, and the activation of the motor cortex was assessed with near-infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: In relation to the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (HbO), an interaction between the stimulation phase and group was observed. Specifically, the Vojta stimulation group exhibited an increase in concentration from the baseline phase to the first resting period in the right hemisphere, contralateral to the stimulation area. This rise coincided with an enhanced wavelet coherence between the HbO concentration and the electromyography (EMG) signal within a gamma frequency band (very low frequency) during the first resting period. CONCLUSIONS: The results underscore the neurophysiological effects on the brain following tactile stimulation via Vojta Therapy, highlighting increased activity in pivotal areas essential for sensory processing, motor planning, and control. This activation, particularly evident in the Vojta stimulation group, aligns with previous findings, suggesting that tactile stimuli can not only evoke the intention to move but can also initiate actual muscle contractions, emphasizing the therapy's potential in enhancing innate locomotion and rolling movements in patients with neurological disorders.

Understanding pediatric palliative care within interdisciplinary palliative programs: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: To describe the process of delivery of pediatric palliative care from the perspective of a pediatric interdisciplinary team and the children's parents. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive case study was conducted. Purposeful sampling took place within a specialized pediatric palliative care Unit in Madrid (Spain), located at the Niño Jesus Hospital. The study participants included a specialized pediatric palliative care team from Madrid's pediatric palliative care program, other professional teams involved in interdisciplinary care and parents of children under pediatric palliative care. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, focus groups and researchers' field notes. A thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: This study included 28 participants (20 women, 8 men), of whom 18 were professionals who belonged to the pediatric palliative care interdisciplinary team, 4 professionals were from other units that collaborated with the pediatric palliative care, and 6 were parents (5 women, 1 man). The mean age of the pediatric palliative care members was 38.2 years (SD ± 7.9), that of the collaborating professionals was 40.5 (SD ± 6.8), and that of the parents was 44.2 (SD ± 5.4). Two main themes emerged: a) Pediatric palliative care has a distinct identity, associated with life. It represents the provision of special care in highly complex children, in the context of the home, far from the hospital environment; b) The team is key: its interdisciplinary organization provides a more comprehensive view of the child and their family, fosters communication among professionals, and improves coordination with other services involved in the care of children. The mindset shift experienced by ID-PPC professionals towards a palliative approach makes them more sensitive to the needs of their patients and leads them to develop specific skills in areas such as communication, decision-making, and adaptability that were identified as differentiating aspects of pediatric palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: Describing pediatric palliative care from the professional and parental perspective helps to establish realistic and comprehensive goals for the care of children and their parents. The findings of this study may help with the establishment of a pediatric palliative care team, as a necessary organizational change in a health care system that cares for children with complex and life-threatening conditions. Promoting training in pediatric palliative care, prioritizing more horizontal organizations, providing tools and spaces for coordination and communication between professionals from different services, together with the creation of a position of case coordinator in the care process of children could enhance the understanding of pediatric palliative care services.

Effectiveness of a Program Based on Action-Observation Training (AOT) on Motor, Functional and Cognitive Aspects in Patients with Cognitive Impairment: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cognitive impairment is frequent in elderly subjects. It is associated with motor impairment, a limitation in quality of life and frequently, institutionalization. The aim of this work is to test the efficacy of a therapeutic group program based on action-observation learning. METHODS: a non-randomized controlled trial study was conducted. We included 40 patients with cognitive impairment from a nursing home who were categorized into mild and moderate cognitive impairment and divided separately into a control and experimental group. Experimental group performed a 4-week group work, in which each patient with mild cognitive impairment was paired with a patient with moderate cognitive impairment. Thus, patients with mild cognitive impairment observed a series of functional exercises performed by their peers and replicated them. Simultaneously, the patients with moderate cognitive impairment replicated the movement after observing it performed by a patient with mild cognitive impairment. The control group continued to receive their usual care at the center. The upper limb function, cognitive level and function in basic activities of human daily life were measured before and after the intervention and compared with the control group. RESULTS: statistically significant differences were found in the functionality of basic activities of daily living, in the functionality of the upper limb and in the cognitive level in all patients in the experimental group regardless of the initial cognitive level. No statistically significant differences were found in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: the implementation of a group, peer-based, action-observation learning therapeutic program is effective in improving the basic activities of human daily life, cognitive level and upper limb functionality in patients with mild and moderate dementia.

Predictive Validity of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS) to Classify the Functionality in Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Study.

The analysis of the predictive validity of a scale allows us to establish objectives in rehabilitation and to make decisions in the clinical setting. The objective of this study was to determine the validity of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS) to predict functionality at each stage of recovery in stroke patients. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out collecting data from patients admitted to a neurorehabilitation hospital. All patients having suffered a stroke less than two months before hospital admission were included in the study. The balance was measured with the PASS scale and the functionality with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale. Simple linear regressions were performed to model the relationship between the PASS and FIM scores in the acute, subacute and chronic stages (6 and 12 months), as well as between the PASS scores at admission and the FIM values in the chronic stage. Results: The PASS scale showed a good predictive validity (R2 values from 0.54 to 0.87; ß values from 1.99 to 2.62; p < 0.001) for FIM scores at acute, subacute and chronic stages, with lower goodness-of-fit for PASS scores at admission and FIM scores at 12 months (R2 = 0.383; ß = 1.61 (0.96−2.26); p < 0.001). Cut-off points in the PASS scale to predict high functional level were 17.5 for the acute stage and 16.5 for the subacute and chronic stages. A score of 8.5 on the PASS scale measured in the acute phase predicted a high functional level at 12 months. Conclusion: The PASS scale is a useful tool to classify the functionality of stroke patients in the acute, subacute and chronic phases. The PASS score upon admission into the hospital can predict the functionality of the stroke patients after 12 months. However, future studies should be carried out to corroborate our findings with larger sample sizes.

Innate Muscle Patterns Reproduction During Afferent Somatosensory Input With Vojta Therapy in Healthy Adults. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Vojta therapy describes stereotypic widespread motor responses as a pattern of tonic muscle contractions during a peripherical pressure stimulation. The present work proposes to characterize the responses at muscles level to a specific tactile input based on Vojta therapy, assessed by sEMG, compared to a sham stimulation in healthy subjects. METHODS: Surface electromyography (sEMG) signal was acquired with dipolar electrodes placed at wrist extensors of both forearms, right tibialis anterior, and top part of rectus abdominus, ground channel placed over the right olecranon. It was amplified and digitized by a 4-channel hub Biosignalsplux device (Plux Wireless Biosignals S.A., Lisboa, Portugal), sampled at 1000 Hz with 16-bit per channel. A continuous 10-minute record of the sEMG signal from the four electrodes were registered. Resting EEG during the first minute before the stimulation period was recorded by 64 active electrodes. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were showed between sham and experimental group. Experimental group participants were subjected to cluster analysis based on their muscle activation patterns, generating three different models of activation. Differences in the previous resting cortical activity in left superior frontal area were found between clusters that activated limb muscles and the cluster that did not. CONCLUSIONS: Vojta specific stimulation area activates innate muscle responses assessed by sEMG in healthy subjects, compared to a sham stimulation. SIGNIFICANCE: This characterization might be helpful to the prescription and application of Vojta therapy in an individual-basis for non-neurophysiologically damaged adult subjects.

Spanish Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Wisconsin Gait Scale.

INTRODUCTION: the Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) has been shown to be a valid and quick tool for analyzing gait in post-stroke people in the clinical setting. Its widespread use has led to versions of the scale in other languages, but so far there has been no version in Spanish. OBJECTIVE: to conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the WGS for use in the Spanish-speaking population and to analyze the content validity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the Spanish version was obtained using the double translation method and back translation method, followed by a review by an expert committee. This expert committee evaluated the content validity index (CVI) for each item on the version obtained and for the entire scale (scale content validity index (S-CVI)). The item content validity index (I-CIV) was calculated as the number of experts whose score had been 3 or 4 divided by the total number of experts. To obtain the S-CVI, the middle of the I-CVI was calculated for all the items on the scale. RESULTS: the Spanish version of the WGS was obtained after the expert committee evaluation. The CVI was excellent for its general assessment (0.91), excellent for 85.7% of its items (≥0.78), and good for 14.3% of the CVI (≥0.72). CONCLUSIONS: the Spanish version of the WGS was developed through a process of cross-cultural adaptation from its original English version, and, according to an expert committee, it had an excellent content validity.

Cortical activity during sensorial tactile stimulation in healthy adults through Vojta therapy. A randomized pilot controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Brain's is stimulated by Vojta Therapy through selected body areas activating stored innate motor programs which are exported as coordinate movement and muscle contractions to trunk and limbs. The aim of this pilot study is to know the responses at cortical level to a specific tactile input, assessed by electroencephalography (EEG), compared to a sham stimulation, in healthy subjects. METHODS: A randomized-controlled trial was conducted. Participants were randomly distributed into two groups: a non-specific tactile input-group (non-STI-group) (n = 20) and a Vojta specific tactile input-group (V-STI-group) (n = 20). The non-STI-group was stimulated in a non specific area (quadriceps distal area) and V-STI-group was stimulated in a specific area (intercostal space, at the mammillary line between the 7th and 8th ribs) according to the Vojta therapy. Recording was performed with EEG for 10 min considering a first minute of rest, 8 min during the stimulus and 1 min after the stimulus. EEG activity was recorded from 32 positions with active Ag/AgCl scalp electrodes following the 10-20 system. The continuous EEG signal was split into consecutive segments of one minute. RESULTS: The V-STI-group showed statistically significant differences in the theta, low alpha and high alpha bands, bilaterally in the supplementary motor (SMA) and premotor (PMA) areas (BA6 and BA8), superior parietal cortex (BA5, BA7) and the posterior cingulate cortex (BA23, BA31). For the V-STI-group, all frequency bands presented an initial bilateral activation of the superior and medial SMA (BA6) during the first minute. This activation was maintained until the fourth minute. During the fourth minute, the activation decreased in the three frequency bands. From the fifth minute, the activation in the superior and medial SMA rose again in the three frequency bands CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight that the specific stimulation area at intercostal space, on the mammillary line between 7 and 8th ribs according to Vojta therapy differentially increased bilateral activation in SMA (BA6) and Pre-SMA (BA8), BA5, BA7, BA23 and BA31 in the theta, low and high alpha bands in healthy subjects. These results could indicate the activation of innate locomotor circuits during stimulation of the pectoral area according to the Vojta therapy. Trial registration Retrospectively registered. This randomized controlled trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04317950 (March 23, 2020).

Imported Mansonella perstans infection in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Mansonella perstans infection can be considered one of the most neglected tropical infectious diseases. Very few studies have reported on the clinical picture caused by infection with this nematode. Therefore, our study was aimed to describe the clinical patterns and treatment of imported M. perstans infection by migrants from Africa. METHODS: The present study evaluated a large cohort of migrants who have been diagnosed, examined and treated for imported M. perstans infection at a Spanish reference center (Hospital Carlos III Tropical Medicine Unit, Madrid, Spain) over a 19-year period. Most patients voluntarily attend the emergency unit or are referred from primary care or general hospitals in Madrid. Chi-square test was used to compare the association between categorical variables. The continuous variables were compared by Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney test. The corresponding regression models were used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Five hundred three cases of migrants from tropical and subtropical areas with M. perstans infection were identified. Two hundred sixty-four patients were female (52.5%). The mean age (± SD) was 44.6 ± 18.2 years (range: 16-93 years). The mean time (± SD) between the arrival in Spain and the first consultation was 8.6 ± 18.0 months. The major origin of the patients was Equatorial Guinea (97.6%). Regarding the clinical picture, 257 patients were asymptomatic (54.7%) and 228 were symptomatic (45.3%); 190 patients had pruritus (37.8%), 50 (9.9%) had arthralgia, 18 patients had Calabar-like swelling (3.6%), and 15 (3%) had abdominal pain. Four hundred forty-two (87.9%) migrants had hyper-IgE, and 340 (67.6%) had eosinophilia. One hundred ninety-five patients had coinfections with other filarial nematodes (38.8%), and 308 migrants had only M. perstans infection (61.2%). Four hundred thirty-seven cases (86.9%) had been treated with anti-filarial drugs; 292 cases were treated with one anti-filarial drug, and 145 cases were treated with combined anti-filarial therapy. Additionally, 20 (4%) cases received steroids and 38 (7.6%) cases received antihistamines. CONCLUSIONS: A long series of M. perstans infections is presented in sub-Saharan immigrants whose data indicate that it should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with pruritus or analytical alterations such as eosinophilia or hyper-IgE presentation, and they also have a high number of coinfections with other microorganisms whose treatment needs to be protocolized.

Mapping the human brain during a specific Vojta's tactile input: the ipsilateral putamen's role.

A century of research in human brain parcellation has demonstrated that different brain areas are associated with functional tasks. New neuroscientist perspectives to achieve the parcellation of the human brain have been developed to know the brain areas activation and its relationship with different stimuli. This descriptive study aimed to compare brain regions activation by specific tactile input (STI) stimuli according to the Vojta protocol (STI-group) to a non-STI stimulation (non-STI-group). An exploratory functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was performed. The 2 groups of participants were passively stimulated by an expert physical therapist using the same paradigm structure, although differing in the place of stimulation. The stimulation was presented to participants using a block design in all cases. A sample of 16 healthy participants, 5 men and 11 women, with mean age 31.31 ±â€Š8.13 years was recruited. Indeed, 12 participants were allocated in the STI-group and 4 participants in the non-STI-group. fMRI was used to map the human brain in vivo while these tactile stimuli were being applied. Data were analyzed using a general linear model in SPM12 implemented in MATLAB. Differences between groups showed a greater activation in the right cortical areas (temporal and frontal lobes), subcortical regions (thalamus, brainstem, and basal nuclei), and in the cerebellum (anterior lobe). STI-group had specific difference brain activation areas, such as the ipsilateral putamen. Future studies should study clinical implications in neurorehabilitation patients.