The study aimed at investigating the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on functional exercises (NMES+) early after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr) with hamstring graft, on muscle strength, knee function, and morphology of thigh muscles and harvested tendons. Thirty-four participants were randomly allocated to either NMES+ group, who received standard rehabilitation with additional NMES of knee flexor and extensor muscles, superimposed on functional movements, or to a control group, who received no additional training (NAT) to traditional rehabilitation. Participants were assessed 15 (T1), 30 (T2), 60 (T3), 90 (T4) and at a mean of 380 days (T5) after ACLr. Knee strength of flexors and extensors was measured at T3, T4 and T5. Lower limb loading asymmetry was measured during a sit-to-stand-to-sit movement at T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, and a countermovement-jump at T4 and T5. An MRI was performed at T5 to assess morphology of thigh muscles and regeneration of the harvested tendons. NMES+ showed higher muscle strength for the hamstrings (T4, T5) and the quadriceps (T3, T4, T5), higher loading symmetry during stand-to-sit (T2, T3, T4, T5), sit-to-stand (T3, T4) and countermovement-jump (T5) than NAT. No differences were found between-groups for morphology of muscles and tendons, nor in regeneration of harvested tendons. NMES+ early after ACLr with hamstring graft improves muscle strength and knee function in the short- and long-term after surgery, regardless of tendon regeneration.

Information technology has become essential in supporting growth and sustainability of many types of organizations, including healthcare organizations. These organizations can improve its processes and patient flow. However, IT in the hospital sector can be considered underdeveloped when compared to other sectors. For this reason, an analysis of the healthcare system is useful, mainly with the goal of minimizing the cost of healthcare and maximizing the quality of the patient"s processes. In this paper, our aim was to present a framework showing the applicability of IT self-servicing app in patient"s treatment. The framework is structured by five types of selfservicing IT apps and eight patient"s processes steps, settled in a Polyclinic Cardiology. Our results affirm that self-servicing IT apps are applicable both for medical staff and for the patient"s satisfaction and treatment, from the "information help desk" step to the "patient check-out". Our work could contribute for implementations and suggestions in future research. In fact, in a increasingly digitalized world, the healthcare sector has a great growth and improvement potential to receive thanks to IT.