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Abstract Background The large-scale digitalization of healthcare has induced shifts in patient preferences, prompting the introduction of therapies utilizing novel technologies. In this context, the targeted application of these interventions is deemed as crucial as assessing their overall effectiveness. The aim of this study was to characterize the patient profile who benefited most from immersive virtual reality (VR) therapy. Methods Based on the results from the previous randomized controlled trial study, we employed an exploratory study design to determine the factors associated with the most significant mental health improvement. A secondary analysis was conducted on a sample of 83 participants, with further analysis of participants with elevated depression symptoms, as indicated by a score of > 10 on the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). Both groups participated in a similar post-stroke rehabilitation program; however, the experimental group also received additional VR therapy through an immersive VR garden intervention. The GDS-30 was used to assess mood and depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic, cognitive status as well as stroke-related variables were considered as potential factors. Results In both the experimental (mean change 5.3) and control groups (mean change 2.8), interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms, with a more pronounced difference in the experimental group (p

Abstract Technological advancements facilitate feedback adaptation in rehabilitation through virtual reality (VR) exergaming, serious gaming, wearables, and telerehabilitation for older adults fall prevention. Although studies have evaluated these technologies, no comparisons of their effectiveness have been conducted to date. Thus, this study aims to assess the differences in effectiveness of these interventions on balance and functional mobility in the older adults. A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) were conducted to identify the most effective interventions for improving balance and functional mobility in adults aged 60 and over. The search was conducted in five databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Web of Science) up to June 10, 2023. The eligibility criteria were: (1) older adults, (2) functional mobility, balance, or gait as the primary outcome, (3) new technology intervention, and (4) randomized study design. New technology interventions were classified into five categories: exergaming with balance platforms or motion capture technologies, other serious gaming, interventions with wearables, and telerehabilitation. Additionally, two categories of control interventions (conventional exercises and no treatment) were extracted. The NMA was performed for the aggregated results of all outcomes, and separately for clinical functional scales, functional mobility, and gait speed results. Fifty-two RCTs with 3081 participants were included. Exergaming with motion capture was found to be statistically significant in producing a better effect than no treatment in the analysis of the functional mobility with an SMD of −0.70 (P

Using virtual reality (VR) for Muscular Dystrophy (MD) rehabilitation promises to be a novel therapeutic approach, potentially enhancing motor learning, functional outcomes, and overall quality of life. This systematic review primarily aimed to provide a comprehensive summary of the current understanding regarding the application of VR in supporting MD rehabilitation. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify relevant articles. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving individuals diagnosed with MD who underwent VR interventions, with a primary focus on assessing functional improvement. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed by using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Seven studies, involving 440 individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), were included in the review. Among these studies, six primarily explored the motor learning potential of VR, while one study investigated the impact of VR training on functional abilities. In conclusion, the qualitative synthesis supports VR-based interventions’ potential positive effects on motor learning, performance improvement, and functional outcomes in individuals with DMD. However, current usage mainly focuses on assessing the potential mechanisms’ benefits, suggesting the importance of expanding clinical adoption to harness their therapeutic potential for MD patients.

Background: While cardiac rehabilitation (CR) primarily focuses on restoring physical strength, preventing relapse, and reducing rehospitalization rates, psychological interventions play a complementary role by supporting mental health, which is crucial for patients' long-term adherence and overall recovery. The effectiveness of psychological interventions in CR is debated, and while technologies like virtual reality (VR) therapy show promise, they have limitations for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, this study examines non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) relaxation, a novel and easily implementable technique, and compares its impact on depression, anxiety, and stress with VR therapy and standard care. Methods: Forty-five CAD patients undergoing CR in ambulatory conditions were divided into three groups: the NSDR group, which received eight sessions of NSDR relaxation as part of their rehabilitation; the VR group, which received eight sessions of VR therapy as part of their rehabilitation; and the control group, which received standard care including Schultz Autogenic Training (SAT). The outcomes were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Perception of Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). Results: Both NSDR relaxation and VR therapy were effective in reducing the HADS total score, anxiety levels, the PSQ general score, and emotional tension. No significant differences were observed between the two treatment approaches. However, SAT was found to be insufficient for effectively improving the mental state of cardiac patients. Conclusions: This study suggests that NSDR relaxation is an effective psychotherapeutic intervention in CR. NSDR and VR therapy showed similar benefits, offering promising alternatives to traditional methods. Integrating these techniques could enhance patient outcomes and adherence in CR. Further research is needed to refine these interventions and optimize their clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using virtual reality (VR) for Muscular Dystrophy (MD) rehabilitation promises to be a novel therapeutic approach, potentially enhancing motor learning, functional outcomes, and overall quality of life. This systematic review primarily aimed to provide a comprehensive summary of the current understanding regarding the application of VR in supporting MD rehabilitation. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify relevant articles. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving individuals diagnosed with MD who underwent VR interventions, with a primary focus on assessing functional improvement. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed by using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Seven studies, involving 440 individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), were included in the review. Among these studies, six primarily explored the motor learning potential of VR, while one study investigated the impact of VR training on functional abilities. In conclusion, the qualitative synthesis supports VR-based interventions' potential positive effects on motor learning, performance improvement, and functional outcomes in individuals with DMD. However, current usage mainly focuses on assessing the potential mechanisms' benefits, suggesting the importance of expanding clinical adoption to harness their therapeutic potential for MD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an algorithm for detecting wave packets in a circular waveguide. The waveguide terminated with a concrete plug was used to test the method. The concrete was made in accordance with the Eurocode standard. During the tests, a significant difference was observed between the behavior of the speaker and the concrete plug. The pulse reflected from the plug maintained its shape regardless of the sound level. The reflection of the pulse from the speaker's diaphragm resulted in a significant change in the form and duration of the wave packet. These changes were dependent on the sound level of the wave packet. As a result of these modifications was a significant difference between the measurement uncertainty of detecting a pulse reflected from the concrete and the speaker. In the case of reflection from the speaker, an uncertainty of 0.036% was obtained. The smallest measurement error value for the pulse reflected from the speaker was 2.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main idea of the measurement presented in this paper was to separate the incident wave from the reflected wave. For this purpose, short wave packets and a sufficiently long waveguide with a circular cross-section were used. Several types of wave packets were developed and used in the experiment. We found that a wave packet of 5 ms duration could be propagated in a waveguide of length 5.6 meters without significant sound level losses. We used an audio interface operating at a sampling rate of 96 kHz in the measurements. The limit of wave propagation without dispersion phenomenon was determined. The developed measurement methodology made it possible to maintain the same air temperature along the entire length of the tested waveguide since short pulses did not cause the speaker temperature to rise. Avoiding this effect reduced the measurement uncertainty of the reflection coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]