Super Inductive System (SIS) stimulation of spastic limbs by tissue-induced electromagnetic field may have the effect of reducing spasticity and improving functionality in patients with post-stroke spasticity. The aim of the study was to evaluate two different protocols for the application of SIS on upper limb spasticity after stroke. We included 60 patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity, who were randomized into two groups: the study group, with a 9 min application protocol (1 min for agonist muscles, 8 min for antagonistic muscles); and the control group, with an 8 min protocol applied only to the antagonistic muscles. The duration of therapy was 10 days, and the results were assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Barthel Index. Both the MAS and the Barthel Index improved significantly after 10 days of treatment (p < 0.001), but 30 days after the completion of therapy, there was an attenuation of the effects in both study groups. The study group had a significantly higher percentage of patients with improved MAS after 10 days (p = 0.004) and within 30 days (p < 0.001) than the control group. An SIS protocol applied on both agonist and antagonist muscles has a more pronounced and longer lasting spasticity-reducing and improved functionality effect than its application on only antagonistic muscles.

As the number of stroke survivors is continuously growing, with an important number suffering from consequent functional deficits, the rehabilitation field is facing more complex demands. Technological progress gives us the opportunity to remotely assist patients while they exercise at home through telerehabilitation (TR), addressing the problems of limited medical resources and staff, difficult transportation, or living a long distance from rehabilitation centers. In addition, TR is a way to provide continuity in long-term post-stroke recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, which limits traveling and human interaction. While the implementation of TR is increasing, the biggest challenges are to raise patients’ acceptability of the new method and their motivation and engagement during the program. In this review, we aimed to find methods to address these challenges by identifying the patients who benefit the most from this therapy and efficiently organizing the space and technology used for telerehabilitation. User-friendly technologies and devices along with therapists’ constant support and feedback are some of the most important aspects that make TR an efficient intervention and an alternative to conventional therapy.

No abstract

Intermittent oxygen therapy (IHT), initially used in the hypoxic administration variant, has been shown to be effective in various pathologies studied, from cardiopulmonary to vascular and metabolic pathologies and more. IHT used to prevent and treat various diseases has thus gained more and more attention as the years have passed. The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects have been investigated at multiple biological levels, from systemic physiological reactions to genomic regulation. In the last decade, a new method of intermittent oxygen therapy has been developed that combines hypoxic and hyperoxic periods. They can be applied both at rest and during physical exercise, hence the specific indications in sports medicine. It has been hypothesized that replacing normoxia with moderate hyperoxia may increase the adaptive response to the intermittent hypoxic stimulus by upregulating reactive oxygen species and hypoxia-inducible genes. This systematic literature review is based on the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis”— “PRISMA”—methodology, the widely internationally accepted method.

Introduction. An unprecedented public health crisis has been triggered worldwide by SARS-CoV-2’s high contagiosity and it’s mortality rates of 1-5%. Although the majority of COVID-19 cases have a good outcome, there is a small percentage that develop severe pneumonia and citokine storm and may be in the need of mechanical ventilation. Methods. Identifying the exact drivers of the excessive inflammation and the biomarkers that can predict a hyperinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 would be extremly helpful in finding efficient anti-inflammatory interventions that may stop the progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Results. In the search for such interventions we have identified the promising effect of low level LASER therapy (LLLT) on lung inflammation from COVID-19 pneumonia. Due to its well known anti-inflammatory effect and modulatory activity on immune cells, laser therapy may be able to decrease lung and systemic inflammation without affecting lung function in acute lung lesions, relieve respiratory symptoms, normalize respiratory function and stimulate the healing process of lung tissue. The recovery time may also be significantly shortened and all blood, immunological and radiological parameters may improve. Conclusions. This findings need further confirmation from clinical trials but we are hopeful for their contribution on the global battle against COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pneumonia, low LASER level therapy, anti-inflammatory effect, citokine storm,