Key Summary Points Aim To investigate the effectiveness of a video-supported OTAGO exercise program (OEP) in balance, functional ability, fear of falls and number of falls in Greek older adults with a history of falls. Findings A 6-month OEP helped older adults to improve their balance and functional ability test scores as well as reduce fear and number of falls, both after the intervention and at the 12-month follow-up. However, the adherence to the program remained unaffected. Message The OEP contributes to the well-being of older adults with a history of falls by improving all their relevant skills and scores. More long-term research under less adverse conditions is required to solidify these findings.

Background: As the global population ages, the prevalence of hip fractures in older adults is increasing. At the same time, the use of telemedicine and telerehabilitation is also increasing due to the development of new computer technologies and more advanced telemedicine devices. Therefore, older adults can benefit from telerehabilitation interventions after a fall and injury to their hip. Aim:The aim of this review is to study the available literature and describe research data on the feasibility and efficacy of telerehabilitation in geriatric patients after a hip injury. Method:The PubMed and Google Scholar were searched in English with the following keywords: telerehabilitation AND hip fracture OR bone fracture AND old adults OR elderly. The search was performed on studies published in the last six years.Results: A total of six studies were included in the review for further analysis. All studies involved hip fractures in older adult patients (n = 181). In three studies the telerehabilitation method was by telephone, while in the other three a computer was used. Furthermore, two of the studies did not involve a control group. All studies have concluded that telerehabilitation is not only feasible and applicable in older adults, but its effects in many cases are like those of regular rehabilitation.Discussion-Conclusions: Even though telerehabilitation is quite common these days, few studies seem to examine the effect of telerehabilitation on geriatric patients after a hip injury. For this reason, its exact effects have not yet been fully clarified. However, in situations of health crisis where standard physiotherapy is impossible, telerehabilitation is offered as an option without any negative impact on patients and with equally satisfactory results as regular rehabilitation. The subject requires further investigation.

The negative effect of diabetes on the microcirculation of the lower limbs and the lesions it causes in the peripheral nervous system have been documented. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) causes damage to the peripheral nerves of the limbs leading to paresthesia and other side effects. Exercise seems to have a positive effect on improving the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this literature review was to investigate the benefits of exercise in the context of physiotherapy intervention in patients with DPN.A literature search was performed in the databases PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in English with the following keywords: diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, physiotherapy interventions, therapeutic exercises. Clinical trials as well as systematic reviews were included in this review with a total of nine articles. Our results reinforce the notion that exercise has a positive effect in reducing sensory disorders and better managing the symptoms of diabetic patients with peripheral polyneuropathy. Physiotherapy interventions should integrate therapeutic exercise into treatment programs in order to achieve optimal results.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease characterized by the onset of movement disorders such as spasticity, fatigue, ataxia and pain. Hippotherapy helps to improve balance, endurance, increase orthostatic control, self-confidence and muscle strength. The aim of this review is to describe recent research data on the effects of hippotherapy in patients with MS. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched with the following keywords: multiple sclerosis, hippotherapy, rehabilitation. This review included both clinical trials and systematic reviews. In conclusion, it seems that the application of hippotherapy both as an individual treatment and in combination with other physiotherapy methods can contribute to the improvement of motor disorders, mental health, quality of life and functioning in the performance of daily activities in people with MS.

The carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common type of peripheral entrapment of the median nerve that occurs in the wrist and specifically in the carpal tunnel. Laser therapy is one of the most widely used therapies available to the physiotherapist for the treatment of symptoms in the management of patients with CTS. However, its exact effects as well as the appropriate treatment parameters have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this review is to describe recent research data on the efficacy of the application of laser in improving symptoms in patients with CTS as well as to provide data on device configurations and treatment time. The following databases were searched: PEDro, PubMed and Google Scholar, with the following keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome, physiotherapy, Low-Power Laser Therapy, High-Power Laser Therapy, rehabilitation. Both clinical studies and systematic reviews were included in the review and in total 10 articles were included. The results of this review show that laser treatment seems to have a positive effect on the treatment of symptoms in patients with CTS. However, the treatment parameters need to be further investigated, as different results can be obtained with different parameters.