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BACKGROUND Dementia causes a progressive loss of brain function which is often associated with a significant decline in autonomy to carry out activities of daily living, which can lead to functional impairments. Thanks to the current technological advances, resources aimed at cognitive stimulation have emerged. The importance of social robots is given by the ease with which they can promote interaction with the elder adults and the development of cognitive stimulation activities. OBJECTIVE The objectives of the present study were to assess the acceptability and level of interaction of the EBO social-care robot in day centre patients and to analyse whether the systematic viewing of the videos proposed in this study is a suitable tool for assessing the acceptability and interaction of the participants (day centre users) and the EBO robot of the Robolab laboratory. METHODS This study is a descriptive observational pilot study conducted on users of the AZTIDE social and health centre in Cáceres, Extremadura (Spain) who were beneficiaries of the cognitive therapy provided in the occupational therapy service. The inclusion criteria were women and men over 56 years old with a Minimental State Examination (MMSE) equal or over 21 (mild to moderate cognitive impairment). The "robot-participant" interactions took place in two individual interventions, lasting 10-15 min each, for each participant. The interactions replicated the Wizard of Oz technique where the human teleoperator acts as a robot without this being perceived by the elderly person. For this purpose, a user interface was displayed on the teleoperator's terminal and the commands were reproduced by the EBO robot. EBO is a robotic platform consisting of the following hardware for the experiment in question: display capable of generating emotions, RGB (red, green, blue) camera and basic navigation system. RESULTS A total of 6 users participated in the study. During the conversation between the participants and the EBO robot, eye contact was in all cases and in both interactions 100%, the attention paid by the participants to the robot is 10 out of 10 in 83.3%. All participants felt comfortable and calmed during the conversations (9 and 10 points out of 10). The values good and excellent were what the participants considered as regards conversational factors such as attentiveness, naturalness, meaningful conversation and feeling comfortable during both interactions with the EBO robot. CONCLUSIONS There was a high acceptability and level of interaction of the EBO social-care robot with the patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment attending the day centre. Our results suggest that the systematic viewing of the videos proposed in this study provided enough data regarding the user-robot interaction for assessing the acceptability and interaction of the participants (day centre users) and the EBO robot of the Robolab laboratory. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov registration identifier: NCT04896333

Background: In international cooperation projects that are carried out in less developed and developing countries, a large number of children with disabilities present cerebral palsy (CP). Orthopaedic disorders are frequent complications associated with this disorder. Their prevention and early intervention are essential to achieve an appropriate therapeutic approach for children with PC and to improve their quality of life. Objective: To describe the treatment approach that is currently used in international cooperation projects for the rehabilitation management of the orthopaedic disorders in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: This is an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out by means of an online questionnaire to professionals in the field of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation working in international cooperation projects. The inclusion criteria were professionals working in the rehabilitation field in development aid, humanitarian action or emergency projects that provided rehabilitation services, working with children with cerebral palsy from 0 to 18 years old. Results: Ninety-eight questionnaires were analysed. The average age of the participants was 33.2 years, they were mainly working in development cooperation projects (83.33%) that were implemented in rehabilitation centres and through community-based rehabilitation services (60%). The projects were located in countries all over the world but mainly on the Asian continent (71.4%). Physiotherapists and orthopaedic technicians (72.22%) were the main professionals working in these projects, followed by occupational therapists and social workers (55.56%). The results indicated that the orthopaedic disorders were very frequent in the sample (66.67%), with hip subluxation (50%), scoliosis (77.78%), kyphosis (61.1%), clubfoot (88.7%) and varus foot (61.11%) standing out. The most commonly used treatment approaches were positioning (88.89%) and the Bobath concept (83.33%). The technical aids that were used by the professionals were ankle foot orthosis (AFO) (94.44%), bracing (66.67%), standing frames (83.33%), moulded seats (100%), corner seats (93.75%) and adapted seats (92.85%). Conclusions: In international cooperation projects, the rehabilitation treatment of children with cerebral palsy is based on a holistic approach. This is reflected in the interventions that are carried out to treat their orthopaedic disorders and in locally produced devices, awareness raising and community education. However, the professionals surveyed considered that the aids or orthoses used are insufficient in the treatment and prevention of orthopaedic disorders in cerebral palsy.

To assess the impact of massage versus ear acupuncture on behavior and participation in occupational therapy of dementia patients.We performed a controlled, randomized longitudinal trial approved by the Bioethics Commission of the University of Extremadura. One hundred twenty elderly subjects with dementia institutionalized in residential homes in Extremadura (Spain) received treatment based on massage and ear acupuncture over three months. Behavior alterations, sleep disturbance, and participation in rehabilitation and eating were assessed every month during the three months of intervention, and at one and two months of follow-up after the end of treatment. The assessment was performed through a structured questionnaire with closed format questions done by an occupational therapist not involved in the study.There was a statistically significant positive effect of massage and ear acupuncture (P0.001) on measured variables in the third month of intervention, which were maintained at two months after completing the treatment (P0.021), when compared to the control group.Massage therapy and ear acupuncture can improve behavior and sleep disturbances, and increase the participation in eating and rehabilitation organized in residential homes, in dementia patients.

Objective. The main objective of this study was to systematically review all the scientific studies that analyse the effectiveness of mud pack therapy on patients diagnosed with knee OA. Methods. One hundred and fifteen publications were identified through an electronic and manual search and 20 of those studies were chosen based on the inclusion criteria: randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews or meta-analyses whose objective was to analyse the effect of mud pack therapy on perceived pain, function and quality of life, with a sample size of 520 subjects, published since 2000 and showing conclusive results. Results. In the studies that met the inclusion criteria, 12 analyse functionality, 17 perceived pain, 5 quality of life and all showed a significant improvement in the three analysed variables. The methodological quality of the studies had a moderate risk of bias. Conclusion. Mud pack therapy is considered an alternative and effective therapy in the clinical management of knee OA. Studies with better methodology are needed to prove its scope.