Background: Non-specific neck pain (NNP) affects 30–50% of the general population, and it often leads to severe disability. Several manual therapy techniques are available to reduce pain and disability and to improve cervical range of motion and functional activities. Muscle Energy Technique (MET) showed more evidence for treating such a disorder. The aim of this current scientific literature analysis was to compare the clinical effects of MET with the other manual or rehabilitative treatments for non-specific acute and chronic neck pain. Methods: The literature search was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Medline, PEDro, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar from 2010 to January 2020. Clinical trials about MET were included. The quality of the trials was assessed according to the PEDro scale. Results: Twenty-one papers according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected: 15 studies about non-specific acute neck pain and 6 studies about non-specific chronic neck pain. Conclusions: This analysis suggests that the MET approach has a good clinical effect on reducing neck pain in patients with acute neck pain and improves cervical range of motion in patients with chronic neck pain, and is better if combined with a traditional rehabilitative approach. This review’s findings should be considered with caution for physiotherapy practice because of the studies’ methodologic limitations. On the basis of the current available and limited evidence, clinicians could combine MET with traditional physiotherapy and other manual techniques when treating people with non-specific neck pain.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition that leads to progressive disability. PD-related reductions in muscle strength have been reported to be associated with lower functional performance and balance confidence with an increased risk of falls. Progressive resistance training (PRT) improves strength, balance, and functional abilities. This umbrella review examines the efficacy of PRT regarding muscular strength in PD patients. The PubMed, PEDro, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from January 2009 to August 2019 for systematic reviews and meta-analyses conducted in English. The populations included had diagnoses of PD and consisted of males and females aged >18 years old. Outcomes measured were muscle strength and enhanced physical function. Eight papers (six systematic reviews and meta-analyses and two systematic reviews) were considered relevant for qualitative analysis. In six of the eight studies, the reported severity of PD was mild to moderate. Each study analyzed how PRT elicited positive effects on muscle strength in PD patients, suggesting 10 weeks on average of progressive resistance exercises for the upper and lower limbs two to three times per week. However, none of the studies considered the postworkout follow-up, and there was no detailed evidence about the value of PRT in preventing falls. The possibility of PRT exercises being effective for increasing muscle strength in patients with PD, but without comorbidities or severe disability, is discussed. Overall, this review suggests that PRT should be included in rehabilitation programs for PD patients, in combination with balance training for postural control and other types of exercise, in order to preserve cardiorespiratory fitness and improve endurance in daily life activities.

BACKGROUD: Patients with MS, regardless of the complexity of the activity or sensory conditions, commonly present a significant postural control deficit compared to healthy subjects. OBJECTIVE: To investigate which postural self-correction strategies are adopted by patients with Multiple Sclerosis versus a group of healthy-subjects and how self-correction can influence the control of postural balance. METHODS: A case-control prospective observational study was conducted. Person with Multiple Sclerosis and a group of healthy volunteers were enrolled. Patients included were instructed with vocal commands, to reach a self-correction posture, and they were compared to healthy subjects. Clinical assessments including Balance, Stabilometry and Postural evaluation of the spine were performed. RESULTS: Sixty patients (30: control-group; 30: treatment-group) were enrolled. In the treatment group, the analysis reported a significant statistical difference between path length and center of pressure speed in self-correction posture with closed-eyes (p = 0,049; 0,047) and an improvement in C7 and L3 levels in self-correction posture (p < 0,01-C7; p < 0,01-L3). There are significant statistical differences about path length between the two groups in all examined conditions (p = 0,0001). At sagittal plane evaluation, results show an increase of all measurements in both posture (C7-neutral posture p = 0,0001; L3-neutral posture p = 0,0001; C7-self-correction posture p = 0,0001; L3-self-correction posture p = 0,0001). CONCLUSION: Further study should investigate dynamic situations and different Multiple Sclerosis forms to complete balance analysis and to establish a correct rehabilitative program with self-correction exercise as powerful focus.

The COVID-19 sequelae have been shown to affect respiratory and cardiological functions as well as neuro-psychological functions, and, in some cases, metabolic/nutritional aspects. The Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (Istituto Nazionale Assicurazione Infortuni sul Lavoro, INAIL) recorded that, until December 2022, 315,055 workers were affected by COVID-19; therefore, there is a need to identify an effective approach to treat such patients. Robotic and technological devices could be integrated into the rehabilitation programme of people with long COVID conditions. A review of the literature showed that telerehabilitation may improve functional capacity, dyspnoea, performance, and quality of life in these patients, but no studies were found evaluating the effects of robot-mediated therapy or virtual reality systems. Considering the above, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi and INAIL propose a multi-axial rehabilitation for workers with COVID-19 sequelae. To accomplish this goal, the two institutions merged the epidemiological information gathered by INAIL, the expertise in robotic and technological rehabilitation of Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, and the literature review. Our proposal aims to facilitate a multi-axial rehabilitation approach customized to meet the unique needs of each individual, with a particular emphasis on utilizing advanced technologies to address the current and future challenges of patient care.

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123 Background: Approximately half of women diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) is over 65 years old. According to WHO,65 years is the cut-off age for distinguishing elderly individuals from younger people. Aim of the study was to analyze, in a 10-year retrospective series, the age-related differences in perioperative outcome of cytoreductive surgery for stage IIIC-IV ovarian cancer, identifying in ≥ 65y and < 65y patients(pts)the clinicopathological factors associated with poor prognosis. Methods: 167pts with primary epithelial AOC FIGO stage IIIC-IV underwent cytoreduction and platinum-based chemotherapy from 2005 to 2015 at “Sapienza” University of Rome. Pts ≥ 65 and < 65 years were compared regarding surgical outcome, clinicopathological variables and prognosis. Results: Median age was 56 years(19-87);50 pts (29.9%) were ≥ 65y, whereas 117 pts(70.1%) were younger.42%(21/50) of pts in elderly group and 39%(46/117) in younger group received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery. No residual tumor was achieved in 82% of elderly pts and in 82.9% of younger pts (p > 0.05).No differences between the two groups were found in terms of mean operative time, mean number of blood units transfused, mean postoperative stay and number of pts requiring intensive care unit stay. The perioperative complications rate was 16% in elderly group and 10.2% in younger pts(p > 0.05).The 60-day postoperative mortality was 2%for elderly and 0.8%for younger pts(p > 0.05).The 10y-PFS was 11.6% vs 15.2%(p = 0.84) and the 10y-OS was 16.9% vs 21.4%(p = 0.60) in elderly and younger pts, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age itself was not a prognostic factor for OS but in < 65y pts BMI had an independent prognostic significance (HR:4.97;CI 95%:2.09-11.83),together with residual tumor, which was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor also in elderly pts(HR = 7.33;CI 95% = 1.30-41.33). Conclusions: Elderly pts with AOC showed a similar perioperative outcome compared to younger pts. In ≥ 65y pts, residual tumor was the only variable impacting significantly survival, while in pts < 65y, BMI was also found to be an independent prognostic factor for OS.