The Impact of Peripheral Vision on Manual Reaction Time Using Fitlight Technology for Handball, Basketball and Volleyball Players.

The purpose of the research was to identify the impact of peripheral (unilateral and bilateral) vision on manual reaction time to visual stimuli in handball, basketball and volleyball players by implementing a 6-week experimental program of specific exercises and some adapted tests using Fitlight technology. The research included 412 players (212 male-51.5%; 200 female-48.5%) from three team sports: basketball-146 (35.4%), handball-140 (40%) and volleyball-126 (30.6%). The experimental program carried out over 6 weeks was identical for all handball, basketball and volleyball players participating in the study; two training sessions per week were performed, with each session lasting 30 min; 15 exercises were used for the improvement of manual reaction time to visual stimuli involving peripheral vision. Through the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), we identified statistically significant differences between the arithmetic means of the samples of handball, basketball and volleyball players, as well as according to general samples also of gender (male and female), p = 0.000. Male and female handball samples achieved the greatest progress in manual reaction time to visual stimuli involving peripheral vision for the Reaction time test with a unilateral right visual stimulus (30 s) and the Reaction time test with a unilateral left visual stimulus (30 s), while general sample also of male and female basketball samples, for the Reaction time test with bilateral visual stimuli (30 s) and the Reaction time test with six Fitlights (1 min); male and female volleyball samples recorded the lowest progress in all tests compared to handball and basketball groups. According to our results, female samples made greater progress in reaction time than male groups for all four tests of the present study. The implemented experimental program led to an improvement in manual reaction time to visual stimuli due to the use of Fitlight technology and the involvement of peripheral vision for all research samples.

Application of Robotic Recovery Techniques to Stroke Survivors-Bibliometric Analysis.

Stroke is a significant disability and death cause worldwide and is conventionally defined as a neurological impairment relating to the intense focal harm of the central nervous system (CNS) by vascular causative components. Although the applicability of robotic rehabilitation is a topic with considerable practical significance because it has produced noticeably higher improvements in motor function than regular (physical and occupational) therapy and exempted the therapists, most of the existing bibliometric papers were not focused on stroke survivors. Additionally, a modular system is designed by joining several medical end-effector devices to a single limb segment, which addresses the issue of potentially dangerous pathological compensatory motions. Searching the Web of Science database, 31,930 papers were identified, and using the VOSviewer software and science mapping technology, data were extracted on the most prolific countries, the connections between them, the most valuable journals according to certain factors, their average year of publication, the most influential papers, and the most relevant topical issues (bubble map of term occurrence). The most prolific country in the analyzed field and over the entire period evaluated (1975-2022) is the United States, and the most prolific journal is Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, observing a marked increase in the three periods of scientific interest for this field. The present paper assesses numerous scientific publications to provide, through statistical interpretation of the data, a detailed description of the use of robotic rehabilitation in stroke survivors. The findings may aid scientists, academics, and clinicians in establishing precise goals in the optimization of the management of stroke survivors via robotic rehabilitation, but also through easier access to scientifically validated literature.

The Outcomes of Robotic Rehabilitation Assisted Devices Following Spinal Cord Injury and the Prevention of Secondary Associated Complications.

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) have major consequences on the patient's health and life. Voluntary muscle paralysis caused by spinal cord damage affects the patient's independence. Following SCI, an irreversible motor and sensory deficit occurs (spasticity, muscle paralysis, atrophy, pain, gait disorders, pain). This pathology has implications on the whole organism: on the osteoarticular, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genito-urinary, skin, metabolic disorders, and neuro-psychic systems. The rehabilitation process for a subject having SCIs can be considered complex, since the pathophysiological mechanism and biochemical modifications occurring at the level of spinal cord are not yet fully elucidated. This review aims at evaluating the impact of robotic-assisted rehabilitation in subjects who have suffered SCI, both in terms of regaining mobility as a major dysfunction in patients with SCI, but also in terms of improving overall fitness and cardiovascular function, respiratory function, as well as the gastrointestinal system, bone density and finally the psychosocial issues, based on multiple clinical trials, and pilot studies. The researched literature in the topic revealed that in order to increase the chances of neuro-motor recovery and to obtain satisfactory results, the combination of robotic therapy, a complex recovery treatment and specific medication is one of the best decisions. Furthermore, the use of these exoskeletons facilitates better/greater autonomy for patients, as well as optimal social integration.

The Effects of the 'Catabolic Crisis' on Patients' Prolonged Immobility after COVID-19 Infection.

Background and Objectives: Quarantine, isolation and bed rest associated with COVID-19 infection favored the loss of muscle and bone mass, especially in elderly patients. The current study aims to compare the presence of sarcopenia and osteoporosis in patients with a recent (one month) history of SARS-CoV-2 infection versus the general population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 157 patients were enrolled, divided into two groups, comparable in structure. The COVID-19 group (group C) consisted of 86 patients who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection within the last 30 days. The non-COVID-19 group (group NC) consists of 71 patients who had no clinical signs of respiratory infection and were not quarantined/hospitalized in the last 3 months. Muscle strength, incidence of sarcopenia (using SARC-F score) and osteoporosis (DEXA determination) and physical performance (SPPB score) in the two groups were assessed and compared. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the SPPB scores of the C group versus the NC group. Statistically significant differences were found in the evaluation of three parameters included in the SARC-F score. Patients in the C group had difficulties in standing up from a chair (p = 0.009) and climbing stairs (p = 0.030) due to lower muscle strength (p = 0.002) compared with patients in the NC group. No correlation of the SARC F and SPPB scores with the T score values obtained by osteo-densitometry was found. Conclusions: The sudden and significant reduction in physical activity, through various measures taken in the general population during the pandemic, led to an increased incidence of sarcopenia, both in patients who did not have COVID-19 infection and among those quarantined/hospitalized for this condition.

Effects of combining modern recovery techniques with neurotrophic medication and standard treatment in stroke patients.

Stroke is the main cause of disability after age 65, leaving survivors with sequels that require care and recovery treatment lasting years. It is estimated that by the year 2030 this pathology will be leading cause of mortality. To determine the efficacy of Lokomat training combined with neurotrophic medication and balneo-physiotherapeutic treatment in rehabilitation of post-stroke patients, a prospective study of 3 parallel groups was conducted: Group I (n = 22) - Lokomat, balneo-physiotherapy, and Cerebrolysin; Group II (n = 18) - Lokomat associated with balneo-physiotherapy; and Group III (n = 30) - balneo-physiotherapy alone (Control group). Patients were evaluated physically, neurologically, and functionally, according to the evolution of their motor deficiency, spasticity, functional independence and health-related quality of life. Patient improvement is significantly better (p < 0.05) in the group with associated therapies, especially during the first 6 months. Evolution was significantly better in all groups at 12 months than initially (p < 0.05), for all studied parameters and with the best effects in Group I (the three therapies combined). Association of Lokomat training with neurotrophic factors and classic recovery techniques improves the rehabilitation process in stroke patients.

Effects of the Hormone Replacement Therapy and of Soy Isoflavones on Bone Resorption in Postmenopause.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common form of osteoporosis and one of the major public health problems in developed countries. The prevalence of this condition, associated with the physiological stage of menopause, is continuously increasing. This study evaluated the effectiveness of soy isoflavones as compared to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in low doses, on the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, by determining bone mineral density (BMD) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (D-pyr) in physiological postmenopausal women. The study was conducted over a period of 12 months, on three parallel groups, which included a total of 325 postmenopausal women (HRT group: n = 95; phytoestrogens group: n = 124; control group: n = 106). At the one-year evaluation, we observed T-score normalization in a small number of cases (5.26%, 2.42% and 0.00%, respectively). The average values of D-Pyr decreased by 11.38% in the group treated with phytoestrogens (p < 0.05) and by 15.32% in the group that followed HRT (p < 0.05); it increased by 4.38% in the control group (p > 0.05). Both therapies have beneficial effects on bone metabolism, leading to a significant decrease in the evolution of bone resorption and there are no major differences between the efficacy of HRT and phytoestrogens in terms of the effects on BMD and bone resorption.