This quasi-experimental study explored the effects of the Otago Exercise Program on muscle endurance, power, and fall risk in community-dwelling older adults. Older adults (N = 27) completed an 8-week group Otago program. Pre-/post-tests of the 30-Second Sit to Stand Test and 5 Times Sit to Stand Test were measured along with 5 fall risk questions. Results revealed significant improvements in the 30-Second Sit to Stand and 5 Times Sit to Stand test, along with a decrease in fall risk factors. It was concluded that Otago improved muscular power and endurance in older adults, while decreasing fall risk.

Objectives: This study explores rehabilitative professionals’ perceptions, knowledge, barriers, and use of artificial intelligence (AI), identifying key factors influencing adoption. Methods: Focus groups gathered insights from licensed rehabilitation professionals. Thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Participants had limited AI familiarity and were skeptical of its reliability. AI was mainly used for education rather than clinical applications. Identified potential uses included documentation automation, patient screening, and clinical decision support. Barriers included accuracy concerns, workforce displacement, and regulatory gaps. Conclusion: AI could enhance rehabilitative care, but adoption requires education, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure improvements, and practitioner trust. Further research on AI implementation is needed.

Introduction Tremor affects up to 75% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and can be the most troublesome motor symptom of the disease. Technologies to address tremor reduction as part of rehabilitation treatments have been developed. This review will provide an overview of interventional technology shown to be effective in treating tremors in those with PD. Methods Following a systematic literature search in PubMed, Cochrane, and EBSCO databases to identify studies on individuals with PD who presented with Parkinsonian tremors and who used technology to reduce their Parkinsonian tremors, a scoping review was performed. Results Virtual reality, exergaming, motor imagery, and stimulation devices have emerged with statistically significant outcomes of reduced Parkinsonian tremors. Conclusion Technologies can support rehabilitation specialists in individualizing rehabilitation treatments to reduce Parkinsonian tremors and thus improve the quality of life in individuals with PD.

This systematic review examined artificial intelligence (AI) applications in decentralized rehabilitation care models. We analyzed studies from 2015 to 2024 across 5 major databases following PRISMA guidelines. From 237 identified studies, 10 met inclusion criteria, revealing AI applications in monitoring systems, treatment optimization, and decision support tools. Results demonstrate AI’s potential for improving rehabilitation access and personalizing care, though implementation barriers persist, including data privacy and technical limitations. While AI-supported decentralized rehabilitation shows promise for expanding personalized care access, significant research gaps remain regarding long-term outcomes and patient perspectives. Future research should focus on developing scalable solutions addressing these challenges.

Objective: This research investigated the impact of delivery formats (in-person versus virtual (telehealth)) on the efficacy of evidence-based fall prevention programs (EBP). Methods: Participants (N = 251) completed 1 of 4 EBP in either a virtual (N = 95) or in-person (N = 156) group format. Pre- and post-outcome measures included a 30-second chair stand, Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), 4-stage balance, reported fall risks, and Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Results: Significant improvements were found in all measures except the FES-I for in-person groups and the TUG for Virtual Groups. Conclusion: Virtual and in-person EBP are equally effective and safe in decreasing fall risk.

This study synthesized literature on the effectiveness of integrating virtual reality (VR)/video games in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for individuals with respiratory disease. Using standard databases, 1819 articles were screened for eligibility, where 7 were included for analysis. Pooled analysis for 6-minute walk test distance (n = 264 patients) favored the VR/video games group (mean difference: 14.96, 95% confidence interval: 5.78-24.14, χ2 = 10.02, P = .001). Heterogeneous findings were observed for pulmonary function and quality of life. The current review suggests that the use of VR/video games as an adjunct to PR may offer benefits to improve exercise tolerance in respiratory conditions.

Introduction: Tremor is a cardinal motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Technologies that detect and/or quantify tremors and promote rehabilitation have been developed. Methods: Following a systematic literature search in PubMed, Cochrane, and EBSCO databases to identify studies on individuals with PD who presented with Parkinsonian tremors and who used technology to detect and/or quantify their Parkinsonian tremors, a scoping review was performed. Results: Accelerometers and sensor-based devices have emerged to detect and/or quantify Parkinsonian tremors. Conclusion: Available technologies can aid in individual rehabilitation treatments to improve the quality of life in individuals with PD.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing lung disease that predominantly affects older adults. Structured exercise is a useful therapy in IPF. Home-based exercise enabled by mobile health monitoring may remove some accessibility barriers associated with center-based rehabilitation, but may also introduce technology-related use barriers among older adults. Subjects: Seventeen adults with IPF [7 female, mean age 67.4 ± 9 (SD)] Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews explored the usability and user experience associated with a remote monitoring system among adults with IPF, after 16 weeks of interaction with medical-grade pulse oximetry, as part of a randomized controlled trial of a 12-week home exercise intervention (NCT04838275). Results: Participants felt that the use of medical-grade pulse oximetry (1) enhanced safety during exercise, (2) enabled tracking of progress, and (3) empowered autonomy and real-time decision-making about intensity pacing and supplemental oxygen use. Barriers to pulse oximetry usability included (4) problems syncing and sharing pulse oximetry data with the study team. Despite some usability challenges, participants reported a positive overall experience with the system, with 94% perceiving medical-grade pulse oximetry as a strong exercise facilitator in IPF. Conclusions: Medical-grade pulse oximetry enhances perceived safety and autonomy during home exercise in adults with IPF, facilitating increased confidence when making decisions about exercise intensity pacing and supplemental oxygen use. As IPF disproportionately affects older adults, pulse oximetry monitoring systems should incorporate older adult-centered design principles to improve the user experience of adults with IPF during home exercise. Key words: digital health, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulse oximetry, structured exercise, usability

Background: Geriatric falls are common and dangerous. Fall risk screening is one important element to a comprehensive fall reduction program. Local Problem: A geriatric inpatient unit in Massachusetts faced high fall rates. Established fall risk screening did not incorporate mobility assessment. Methods: This pre-post study explored staff experience, engagement, compliance, and scoring accuracy with implementation of the Modified Dionne’s Egress Test (MDET). Data were collected using staff surveys, training rosters, practice assessments, and tracking sheets. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Interventions: Staff were educated using a clinical pathway tool, in-person training, and reference materials. MDET implementation occurred over 6 months, beginning April 2023. Results: Pre-intervention, staff largely viewed the MDET favorably. Post-intervention surveys revealed declining satisfaction. Staff demonstrated low training engagement (24%), low compliance (16%), and moderate scoring accuracy (75%). Conclusion: Within geriatric units, MDET implementation faces significant challenges. More work is needed to support routine patient mobility assessment.