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Background: Plantar fasciitis, the impairments include pain, changed skin blood flow (SBF) and temperature, changed plantar fascia (PF) and flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) thickness, and affected foot function index. However, the association is still unknown.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the association among pain, SBF and temperature, PF and FDB thickness, and foot function index in individuals with plantar fasciitis.

Methods: Thirty-two individuals with unilateral plantar fasciitis were interviewed for demographic data and assessed for pain at the first step in the morning (Pain${}_m$), pain at rest (Pain${}_r$), and pain at 80 N/cm² pressure (Pain${}_{80}$) by visual analog scale (VAS), SBF, and skin temperature (ST) by laser dropper flowmetry (LDF), PF and FDB thickness by ultrasound imaging (USI), and foot function by foot functional index (FFI). The association was analyzed by the Spearman correlation coefficient.

Results: A significant correlation was found among Pain${}_m$ and Pain${}_r$, Pain${}_{80}$, SBF, PF, and FFI. Pain${}_r$ was correlated with SBF, and FFI. Pain${}_{80}$ was also correlated with FFI. SBF was correlated with ST and FFI.

Conclusions: The association among pain, PF thickness, and FFI was reported in individuals with plantar fasciitis, which can be meaningful relationship between clinical outcomes and ultrasonographic evidence.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of computer vision-based respiratory rehabilitation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the primary respiratory diseases worldwide. Recently, image-capturing devices are increasingly used for physical therapy during rehabilitation treatment. Among these technologies, Action recognition plays a critical role in physical exercise and rehabilitation evaluation. This study aimed to propose an action series of a respiratory training program consisting of six actions. A video camera was placed in front of the participants to record their movements. Then, a hybrid algorithm combined with a convolution neural network and long short-term memory models was employed for action recognition from a video recording. The results indicated that the model achieved a reliable classification level of 82.35% on six actions. This demonstrated the validity of the proposed approach for multi-category action recognition. It was effective for action evaluation without medical guidance under home-based rehabilitation. Furthermore, the model for weight estimation was light-weight, with no need to consider the processing time.

Background: Walking devices are frequently prescribed for many individuals, including those with spinal cord injury (SCI), to promote their independence. However, without proper screening and follow-up care, the individuals may continue using the same device when their conditions have progressed, that may possibly worsen their walking ability.

Objective: This study developed an upper limb loading device (ULLD), and assessed the possibility of using the tool to determine the optimal walking ability of ambulatory participants with SCI who used a walking device daily ($n=49$).

Methods: All participants were assessed for their optimal walking ability, i.e., the ability of walking with the least support device or no device as they could do safely and confidently. The participants were also assessed for their amount of weight-bearing on the upper limbs or upper limb loading while walking, amount of weight-bearing on the lower limbs or lower limb loading while stepping of the other leg, and walking performance.

Results: The findings indicated that approximately one third of the participants (31%) could progress their walking ability from their current ability, whereby four participants could even walk without a walking device. The amount of upper limb loading while walking, lower limb loading ability, and walking performance were significantly different among the groups of optimal walking ability ($p<0.05$). Furthermore, the amount of upper limb loading showed negative correlation to the amount of lower limb loading and walking performance ($\rho =-0.351$ to $-$0.493, $p<0.05$).

Conclusion: The findings suggest the potential benefit of using the upper limb loading device and the amount of upper limb loading for walking device prescription, and monitoring the change of walking ability among ambulatory individuals with SCI.

Background: In developing countries, lower respiratory tract infection is a major cause of death in children, with severely ill patients being admitted to the critical-care unit. While physical therapists commonly use the manual hyperinflation (MHI) technique for secretion mass clearance in critical-care patients, its efficacy has not been determined in pediatric patients.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of MHI on secretion mass clearance and cardiorespiratory responses in pediatric patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.

Methods: A total of 12 intubated and mechanically ventilated pediatric patients were included in this study. At the same time of the day, the patients received two randomly ordered physical therapy treatments (MHI with suction and suction alone) from a trained physical therapist, with a washout period of 4h provided between interventions.

Results: The MHI treatment increased the tidal volume [$V_t$; 1.2mL/kg (95% CI, 0.8–1.5)] and static lung compliance [$C_{\mathrm{\text{stat}}}$; 3.7mL/cmH₂O (95% CI, 2.6–4.8)] immediately post-intervention compared with the baseline ($p<0.05$). Moreover, the MHI with suction induced higher $V_t$ [1.4mL/kg (95% CI, 0.8–2.1)] and $C_{\mathrm{\text{stat}}}$ [3.4mL/cmH₂O (95% CI, 2.1–4.7)] compared with the suction-alone intervention. In addition, the secretion mass [0.7g (95% CI, 0.6–0.8)] was greater in MHI with suction compared with suction alone ($p<0.05$). However, there was no difference in peak inspiratory pressure, mean airway pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure or oxygen saturation ($p>0.05$) between interventions.

Conclusions: MHI can improve $V_t$, $C_{\mathrm{\text{stat}}}$ and secretion mass without inducing adverse hemodynamic effects upon the pediatric patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Background: Exotropia control is deteriorated by post-strabismus surgery in many cases. Improving this control is considered as an important factor for success of the strabismus surgery like ocular motor alignment.

Objective: To determine the therapeutic effect of postoperative eye exercises on exodeviation eye control after the strabismus surgery.

Methods: Forty patients suffering from intermittent exotropia after strabismus surgery were randomly divided into experimental group and control groups. Both groups received the usual medical care, while the experimental group received different types of eye exercises using physiotherapy modalities in 24 sessions over three months (two sessions a week). The measurement of exotropia control for near target and far target using the office-based scale was done before and after the treatment.

Results: There was a significant improvement in near eye control post-treatment ($0.45\pm 0.61$) in the experimental group compared with control group ($3.65\pm 0.88$) as the mean difference was −3.20 and 95% CI of the difference between them was −3.645–−2.755 with $P<0.01$. Also, far eye control improved post-treatment in the experimental group ($0.75\pm 0.64$) compared with control group ($4.00\pm 0.86$) with mean difference of −3.250 and 95% CI of the difference between them was −3.727–−2.773 with $P<0.01$.

Conclusions: For patients with intermittent exotropia who had undergone strabismus surgery, the addition of physiotherapy exercises for the eye provided significant improvements in exotropia control for near target and far target.

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a rare neurodegenerative condition with a prevalence of 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 300,000 worldwide. It involves a genetic mutation of chromosome 11q.26. The condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner causing atrophy of the cerebellum due to loss of Purkinje fibres. AT presents early in childhood and the clinical features depend on the type of mutation. The study is a case report of a rare genetic disorder of a 9-year-old female who came to the physiotherapy clinic with a diagnosis of AT. The patient was presented with progressively worsening gait problems with frequent falls, with complete dependence on assistance and impaired balance and coordination. The treatment program was 12 months divided into an intense physiotherapy program for two months followed by 10 months of two times per week of physiotherapy sessions. The program was divided into four elements which are: (1) Lifestyle changes, (2) Strengthening exercises, (3) Coordination exercises, and (4) Balance training exercises. The result showed a positive outcome in increasing the patient’s independence, increased muscle strength, reduced ataxia symptoms intensity, and the patient can carry out complex activities with the help of accessory orthosis devices.