Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a well-established intervention supported by strong evidence that is used to treat patients affected by chronic respiratory diseases. However, several barriers still affect its spreading in rehabilitation clinical practices. Although chronic respiratory diseases are common age-related disorders, there is still a gap of knowledge regarding the implementation of sustainable strategies integrating PR in the rehabilitation management of frail patients at high risk of respiratory complications. Therefore, in the present study, we characterized the effects of PR in frail patients, highlighting the evidence supporting its role in improving the complex rehabilitative management of these patients. Moreover, we propose a novel organizational model promoting PR programs for frail patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Our model emphasizes the role of interdisciplinary care, specifically tailored to patients and environmental characteristics. In this scenario, cutting-edge technology and telemedicine solutions might be implemented as safe and sustainable strategies filling the gap between inpatient and outpatient settings. Future research should focus on large-scale sustainable interventions to improve the quality of life and global health of frail patients. Moreover, evidence-based therapeutic paths should be promoted and taught in training courses promoting multiprofessional PR knowledge to increase awareness and better address its delivery in frail patients.

Background: Quality of life issues is a crucial burden in breast cancer (BC) survivors with relevant implications in terms of survivorship and health-care costs. The increasing long-term survival of these patients provides new challenges, with translational research now focusing on innovative and tailored approaches to improve their complex management. In this scenario, several emerging biomarkers have the potential to improve the clinical rehabilitative management of patients with BC. However, to date, guidelines supporting biomarker implementation in this area are still lacking. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize the currently available biomarkers that might be potentially integrated into rehabilitation practice to promote a precision medicine approach to BC survivorship issues.Methods: On 9th March 2022, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and PEDro were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing rehabilitation interventions in BC patients. Molecular biomarker modifications induced by physical exercise have been assessed through the review of the study protocols and published results. The Jadad scale was used to assess the quality of the studies included.Results: Out of 2,224 records, 22 studies were included in the present systematic review. Exercise therapy showed significant results in 15 RCTs, in terms of metabolic biomarkers, including glycemic and insulin profile, and lipid profile (p ≤ 0.05). Similarly, 12 studies underlined significant effects in inflammation and immune response biomarkers, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, C-reactive protein, leptin, and adiponectin (p ≤ 0.05). On the other hand, cardiac biomarkers were assessed in three studies without reporting significant differences after exercise therapy (p = NS). The quality assessment identified 19 RCTs as high-quality studies and three RCTs of low quality.Conclusion: Our findings reveal significant biochemical perturbations in key molecules induced by physical exercise in patients with BC, suggesting room for the implementation of actionable biomarkers. Future research might clarify the role of biomarkers on treatment effectiveness monitoring, to optimize rehabilitative strategies tailored to patient’s needs.

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Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent condition affecting a growing number of patients affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with crucial implications for risk of fragility fractures, hospitalization, and mortality. Several risk factors have been identified to have a role in osteoporosis development in COPD patients, including corticosteroid therapy, systemic inflammation, smoke, physical activity levels, malnutrition, and sarcopenia. In this scenario, a personalized multitarget intervention focusing on the pathological mechanisms underpinning osteoporosis is mandatory to improve bone health in these frail patients. Specifically, physical exercise, nutritional approach, dietary supplements, and smoke cessation are the cornerstone of the lifestyle approach to osteoporosis in COPD patients, improving not only bone health but also physical performance and balance. On the other hand, pharmacological treatment should be considered for both the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in patients at higher risk of fragility fractures. Despite these considerations, several barriers still affect the integration of a personalized approach to managing osteoporosis in COPD patients. However, digital innovation solutions and telemedicine might have a role in optimizing sustainable networking between hospital assistance and community settings to improve bone health and reduce sanitary costs of the long-term management of COPD patients with osteoporosis.

Although botulinum toxin (BoNT) has been suggested as a treatment to counter neuropathic pain, no previous systematic reviews investigated the multidimensional effects of BoNT on pain relief and Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL). The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current evidence on the effectiveness of BoNT treatment for neuropathic pain, and to characterize its multidimensional effectiveness in order to guide physicians in clinical practice. Five databases were systematically searched up to 4 April 2022, to identify randomized controlled trials satisfying the following criteria: adults suffering from neuropathic pain, BoNT administration, any comparator, multidimensional assessment of pain as primary outcome, HR-QoL, physical function, anxiety and depression, and sleep quality as secondary outcomes. Twelve studies were included. The multidimensional pain scales used were short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Neuropathic pain scale, Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory, International SCI Pain Basic Data Set, West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory, Brief Pain Inventory, and Douleur Neuropathique 4. These scales highlighted the positive effects of BoNT administration. According to the Jadad scale, all the RCTs included were high-quality studies. BoNT administration might be effectively introduced in the comprehensive management of neuropathic pain. Further research should focus on optimal and cost-effective therapeutic protocols.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a burdensome condition affecting a growing number of people worldwide, frequently related to major comorbidities and functional impairment. In these patients, several factors might have a role in promoting both bone and muscle loss, including systemic inflammation, corticosteroid therapies, sedentary behaviours, deconditioning, malnutrition, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption. On the other hand, bone and muscle tissues share several linkages from functional, embryological, and biochemical points of view. Osteosarcopenia has been recently defined by the coexistence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, but the precise mechanisms underpinning osteosarcopenia in patients with COPD are still unknown. In this scenario, a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of osteosarcopenia might guide clinicians in a personalized approach integrating skeletal muscle health with the pulmonary rehabilitation framework in COPD. Taken together, our results summarized the currently available evidence about the multilevel interactions between osteosarcopenia and COPD to pave the way for a comprehensive approach targeting the most common risk factors of these pathological conditions. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of modern clinical strategies and telemedicine solutions to optimize healthcare delivery in patients with COPD, including osteopenia, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia screening in these subjects.

Background: Axillary web syndrome (AWS) is one of the most prevalent and underrecognized disorders affecting breast cancer (BC) women. However, the optimal therapeutic strategy to manage AWS is far from being fully characterized. Therefore, this systematic review aims to provide a broad overview of the available rehabilitation treatments in this burdensome condition. Methods: On 13 January 2022, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and PEDro were systematically searched for clinical studies assessing rehabilitation interventions in post-surgical BC women with AWS. The outcomes analyzed were pain, AWS clinical resolution, upper limb function, and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Results: The search identified 1115 records, of which 11 studies were included. A total of 174 patients were assessed (ages ranging from 37 and 66 years old). The interventions included manual lymphatic drainage, manual therapy, stretching, resistance training, mobilization techniques, and Kinesio tape. Positive improvements were reported in terms of pain relief (in 7 studies), AWS clinical resolution (in 9 studies), upper limb function (in 10 studies), and HR-QoL (in 2 studies). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that rehabilitation might be considered an effective therapeutic strategy in AWS patients. Further RCTs are needed to characterize the optimal rehabilitative interventions.

Rehabilitation might improve bone health in breast cancer (BC) patients, but the effects on bone biomarkers are still debated. Thus, this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aims at characterizing the impact of rehabilitation on bone health biomarkers in BC survivors. On 2 May 2022, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and PEDro were systematically searched for RCTs assessing bone biomarker modifications induced by physical exercise in BC survivors. The quality assessment was performed with the Jadad scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoBv.2). Trial registration number: CRD42022329766. Ten studies were included for a total of 873 patients. The meta-analysis showed overall significant mean difference percentage decrease in collagen type 1 cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX) serum level [ES: −11.65 (−21.13, −2.17), p = 0.02)] and an increase in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) levels [ES: +6.09 (1.56, 10.62). According to the Jadad scale, eight RCTs were considered high-quality studies. Four studies showed a low overall risk of bias, according to RoBv.2. The significant effects of rehabilitation on bone biomarkers suggested a possible implication for a precision medicine approach targeting bone remodeling. Future research might clarify the role of bone biomarkers monitoring in rehabilitation management of cancer treatment induced bone-loss.