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Healthcare
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Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice
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Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Nursing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 23830

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Masashi Kanai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Konan Women's University, Kobe 658-0001, Japan
Interests: physical activity; sedentary behavior; stroke; secondary prevention; mobile health; digital health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical inactivity has been reported as one of the risk factors for all-cause mortality. For this reason, increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior are recommended for all populations including older adults and chronic conditions, for prevention. However, only few subjects engaged in rehabilitation settings can meet the recommendations regarding physical activity. In addition, one of the problems is that intervention guidelines and methods for measuring physical activity have not been established for some chronic diseases. Thus, the aim of this Special Issue is to establish effective strategies and validated measurements for physical activity in rehabilitation practice.

In this Special Issue, we welcome any topics related to physical activity and rehabilitation practice, regardless of the target diseases or ages. This Special Issue is seeking original articles (intervention studies, epidemiologic studies, and methodological studies) or systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Dr. Masashi Kanai
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical activity
  • sedentary behavior
  • energy expenditure
  • oxygen consumption
  • accelerometer
  • wearable device
  • lifestyle disease
  • chronic condition
  • obesity
  • older adults
  • lifestyle
  • behavior change
  • goal setting
  • prevention

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 958 KiB  
Article
Sleep Should Be Focused on When Analyzing Physical Activity in Hospitalized Older Adults after Trunk and Lower Extremity Fractures—A Pilot Study
by Yoichi Kaizu, Takeaki Kasuga, Yu Takahashi, Tomohiro Otani and Kazuhiro Miyata
Healthcare 2022, 10(8), 1429; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081429 - 30 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1768
Abstract
Although the importance of resting in bed for hospitalized older adults is known, current methods of interpreting physical activity (PA) recommend the use of a broad definition of sedentary behavior (SB) that includes 0–1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs) of sleep (SL) and sitting. We [...] Read more.
Although the importance of resting in bed for hospitalized older adults is known, current methods of interpreting physical activity (PA) recommend the use of a broad definition of sedentary behavior (SB) that includes 0–1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs) of sleep (SL) and sitting. We investigated the characteristics of PA by conducting a cross-sectional study of 25 older adults with trunk and lower extremity fractures. The intensity of their PA was interpreted as SL (0–0.9 METs), SB (1–1.5 METs), low-intensity PA (LIPA: 1.6–2.9 METs), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA: >3.0 METs). We calculated the correlation coefficients to clarify the relationship between each PA intensity level. Our analyses revealed that the PA time (min/day) was accounted for by SB (53.5%), SL (23.2%), LIPA (22.8%), and MVPA (0.5%). We observed negative correlations between SL and SB (r  =  −0.837) and between SL and LIPA (r  =  −0.705), and positive correlations between SB and LIPA (r  =  0.346) and between LIPA and MVPA (r  =  0.429). SL and SB were also found to have different trends in relation to physical function. These results indicate that SL and SB are trade-offs for PA during the day. Separate interpretations of the SL and SB of older hospitalized adults are thus recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice)
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14 pages, 4428 KiB  
Article
Comparative Effects of Neuromuscular- and Strength-Training Protocols on Pathomechanical, Sensory-Perceptual, and Motor-Behavioral Impairments in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability: Randomized Controlled Trial
by Kyung-Min Kim, Alejandro Estepa-Gallego, María D. Estudillo-Martínez, Yolanda Castellote-Caballero and David Cruz-Díaz
Healthcare 2022, 10(8), 1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081364 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5643
Abstract
(1) Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a complex condition that includes limited mobility, perceived instability, and recurrent ankle sprains are common characteristics that reduce the quality of life in subjects who suffer from CAI. Neuromuscular training and strength training have been recommended [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a complex condition that includes limited mobility, perceived instability, and recurrent ankle sprains are common characteristics that reduce the quality of life in subjects who suffer from CAI. Neuromuscular training and strength training have been recommended in CAI management interventions. However, there are contradictory findings on results when comparing neuromuscular training, strength training, and the control group. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 8 weeks of neuromuscular intervention training, strength training, and no intervention in a sporting population with reported CAI. (2) Methods: Sixty-seven athletes with CAI were randomly assigned to a neuromuscular training group (NG), strength training group (SG), or control group (CG). Participants completed 8 weeks of neuromuscular training (a combination of static and dynamic exercises), strength training (resistance band exercises), or no training. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks and included selfs-reported instability feeling (CAIT), dynamic balance (SEBT), ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (WBLT), and functional status (FAAM and FAAM-SPORT). (3) Results: There were significant differences between strength and control groups in the posteromedial direction of SEBT, FAAM, and FAAM-SPORT after 8 weeks of intervention. (4) Conclusions: Neuromuscular training and strength training based on resistance bands exercises showed significant improvements in ankle dorsiflexion, subjective feeling of instability, functional status, and dynamic balance in patients with CAI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice)
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20 pages, 15434 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Study on the Influence of Undersampling and Oversampling Techniques for the Classification of Physical Activities Using an Imbalanced Accelerometer Dataset
by Dong-Hwa Jeong, Se-Eun Kim, Woo-Hyeok Choi and Seong-Ho Ahn
Healthcare 2022, 10(7), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10071255 - 5 Jul 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2381
Abstract
Accelerometer data collected from wearable devices have recently been used to monitor physical activities (PAs) in daily life. While the intensity of PAs can be distinguished with a cut-off approach, it is important to discriminate different behaviors with similar accelerometry patterns to estimate [...] Read more.
Accelerometer data collected from wearable devices have recently been used to monitor physical activities (PAs) in daily life. While the intensity of PAs can be distinguished with a cut-off approach, it is important to discriminate different behaviors with similar accelerometry patterns to estimate energy expenditure. We aim to overcome the data imbalance problem that negatively affects machine learning-based PA classification by extracting well-defined features and applying undersampling and oversampling methods. We extracted various temporal, spectral, and nonlinear features from wrist-, hip-, and ankle-worn accelerometer data. Then, the influences of undersampilng and oversampling were compared using various ML and DL approaches. Among various ML and DL models, ensemble methods including random forest (RF) and adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) exhibited great performance in differentiating sedentary behavior (driving) and three walking types (walking on level ground, ascending stairs, and descending stairs) even in a cross-subject paradigm. The undersampling approach, which has a low computational cost, exhibited classification results unbiased to the majority class. In addition, we found that RF could automatically select relevant features for PA classification depending on the sensor location by examining the importance of each node in multiple decision trees (DTs). This study proposes that ensemble learning using well-defined feature sets combined with the undersampling approach is robust for imbalanced datasets in PA classification. This approach will be useful for PA classification in the free-living situation, where data imbalance problems between classes are common. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice)
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11 pages, 568 KiB  
Article
Physical Activity and Its Diurnal Fluctuations Vary by Non-Motor Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: An Exploratory Study
by Koichi Nagaki, Shinsuke Fujioka, Hiroyuki Sasai, Yumiko Yamaguchi and Yoshio Tsuboi
Healthcare 2022, 10(4), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10040749 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2566
Abstract
Background: This exploratory study investigated the association between non-motor symptoms (NMS) and both physical activity and diurnal activity patterns in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). Methods: Participants included PwPD with modified Hoehn and Yahr stages 1–3. The presence of NMS was assessed with [...] Read more.
Background: This exploratory study investigated the association between non-motor symptoms (NMS) and both physical activity and diurnal activity patterns in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). Methods: Participants included PwPD with modified Hoehn and Yahr stages 1–3. The presence of NMS was assessed with Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part I. Physical activity was measured using a waist-mounted triaxial accelerometer. Logistic regression analyses evaluated associations between NMS and physical activity; furthermore, diurnal fluctuation in physical activity due to NMS was examined by ANCOVA. Results: Forty-five PwPD were included in the study. Among the domains of NMS, pain and other sensations (OR, 8.36; 95% CI, 1.59–43.94) and fatigue (OR, 14.26; 95% CI, 1.85–109.90) were associated with low daily step count (<4200 steps/day). Analysis by time of day showed no characteristic variability in physical activity but had constant effect sizes for pain and other sensations (p = 0.20, ES = 0.36) and fatigue (p = 0.08, ES = 0.38). Conclusion: Our exploratory study suggested that PwPD with pain and other sensations and fatigue recorded lower step counts than their asymptomatic counterparts. Therefore, PwPD with pain and fatigue may need more support in promoting physical activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice)
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7 pages, 260 KiB  
Article
Ultrasonographic Changes of Abdominal Muscles in Subjects with and without Chronic Low Back Pain
by Iria Da Cuña-Carrera, Alejandra Alonso-Calvete, Eva M. Lantarón-Caeiro and Mercedes Soto-González
Healthcare 2022, 10(1), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10010123 - 8 Jan 2022
Viewed by 1776
Abstract
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent disfunction in the spine, affecting both women and men. The implication of the abdominal muscles in this disfunction has been studied, including wrong breathing patterns or inactivity of this area. However, there is a lack [...] Read more.
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent disfunction in the spine, affecting both women and men. The implication of the abdominal muscles in this disfunction has been studied, including wrong breathing patterns or inactivity of this area. However, there is a lack of studies examining changes in thickness of abdominal with ultrasonography. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyze the differences in the thickness of abdominal muscles at rest and during breathing between subjects with and without CLBP. A total of 72 subjects were divided in two groups: participants with CLBP (n = 36) and participants without CLBP (n = 36). In both groups, the thickness of the four abdominal muscles was measured and compared at rest and during breathing with ultrasonography. In TrA and IO there were no significant differences between groups, but those subjects with CLBP increased the muscle thickness more than participants without pain during breathing. In EO there were no differences in muscle thickness between groups and between rest and breathing. In RA, subjects with CLBP showed less muscle thickness than subjects without pain during breathing, but no changes were found at rest. In conclusion, the deepest abdominal muscles, TrA and IO, appear to increase their thickness and RA appear to decrease more in subjects with CLBP, in comparison with healthy participants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice)

Review

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30 pages, 5610 KiB  
Review
A Taxonomy for Augmented and Mixed Reality Applications to Support Physical Exercises in Medical Rehabilitation—A Literature Review
by Benjamin Butz, Alexander Jussen, Asma Rafi, Gregor Lux and Jens Gerken
Healthcare 2022, 10(4), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10040646 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4672
Abstract
In the past 20 years, a vast amount of research has shown that Augmented and Mixed Reality applications can support physical exercises in medical rehabilitation. In this paper, we contribute a taxonomy, providing an overview of the current state of research in this [...] Read more.
In the past 20 years, a vast amount of research has shown that Augmented and Mixed Reality applications can support physical exercises in medical rehabilitation. In this paper, we contribute a taxonomy, providing an overview of the current state of research in this area. It is based on a comprehensive literature review conducted on the five databases Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ACM up to July 2021. Out of 776 identified references, a final selection was made of 91 papers discussing the usage of visual stimuli delivered by AR/MR or similar technology to enhance the performance of physical exercises in medical rehabilitation. The taxonomy bridges the gap between a medical perspective (Patient Type, Medical Purpose) and the Interaction Design, focusing on Output Technologies and Visual Guidance. Most approaches aim to improve autonomy in the absence of a therapist and increase motivation to improve adherence. Technology is still focused on screen-based approaches, while the deeper analysis of Visual Guidance revealed 13 distinct, reoccurring abstract types of elements. Based on the analysis, implications and research opportunities are presented to guide future work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice)
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Other

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11 pages, 479 KiB  
Study Protocol
Effects of Square-Stepping Exercise on Motor and Cognitive Skills in Autism Spectrum Disorder Children and Adolescents: A Study Protocol
by Sabina Barrios-Fernández, Jorge Carlos-Vivas, Laura Muñoz-Bermejo, María Mendoza-Muñoz, Maria Dolores Apolo-Arenas, Andrés García-Gómez, Margarita Gozalo and José Carmelo Adsuar
Healthcare 2022, 10(3), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10030450 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3600
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses present not only cognitive, emotional, communicative, and social challenges but also movement issues that affect their everyday activities, learning, and leisure. The use of the square-stepping exercise (SSE), a motor program initially created to strengthen the [...] Read more.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses present not only cognitive, emotional, communicative, and social challenges but also movement issues that affect their everyday activities, learning, and leisure. The use of the square-stepping exercise (SSE), a motor program initially created to strengthen the lower limbs of older adults, is spreading because of its advantages (e.g., balance and lower limb strength improvements). A study protocol to assess the SSE effects on motor, sensory, and cognitive skills in Spanish children and adolescents between 6 and 12 years old with ASD diagnoses is presented. A randomised clinical will be performed, recruiting 52 children and adolescents with ASD who will be distributed into two groups: an experimental (n = 26) and a control (n = 26) group. The SSE sessions will be held for 9 weeks (two times per week). The main variable will be balance, which will be measured with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 (MABC2), and secondary outcomes will include sensory processing, attention, and executive functions. Assessments will be carried out before and at the end of the program implementation, including an additional follow up one month later. If this program obtains positive results, it should be implemented in different settings (schools, clinics, associations, etc.) to improve the quality of movement and development in children and adolescents with ASD, as it is an easy-to-use and structured tool. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Practice)
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