1. Addressing the paradox of rest with innovative technologiesRado Pišot, Uroš Marušič, Luka Šlosar, 2025, other scientific articles Abstract: The paradox of rest lies in its dual nature: essential for recovery yet potentially harmful when prolonged. Prolonged physical inactivity (PI) significantly contributes to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Studies show nearly a third of adults worldwide were insufficiently active in 2022, with the economic costs of PI projected to reach INT$520 billion by 2030. Bedrest models have illuminated the rapid onset of insulin resistance, general functional decline and muscle atrophy associated with PI, particularly in hospitalised older adults. Innovative technologies, such as extended reality (XR), offer promising solutions for mitigating the effects of PI and can enhance non-physical rehabilitation techniques such as motor imagery and action observation. These technologies provide immersive, personalised therapeutic experiences that engage multiple senses, transforming passive recovery into an active process and addressing both the physical and cognitive consequences of inactivity. Results of bedrest study showed significant preservation of muscle mass, improved strength and enhanced insulin sensitivity in the intervention group compared to controls. These findings highlight the potential of XRbased strategies in addressing structural and functional declines during inactivity. As part of the Interreg VI-A Italia-Slovenija project X-BRAIN.net, advanced XR-equipped active rooms were developed to aid post-stroke rehabilitation in acute care settings. XR technologies, particularly VR, have shown promise in providing dynamic and adaptable therapeutic environments that facilitate early and targeted interventions. Future advancements focus on integrating XR with brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and synchronised visual-haptic neurofeedback, enhancing sensorimotor cortical activation and improving rehabilitation outcomes. Comprehensive multimodal approaches, including nutritional, physical and non-physical interventions, are emerging as effective strategies to personalise and optimise patient recovery. Keywords: physical inactivity, functional and cognitive decline, rehabilitation, extended reality, multimodal interventions Published in DiRROS: 05.03.2025; Views: 485; Downloads: 288
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2. Developmental trajectories of motor imagery in relation to physical fitness in children aged 7 to 14 years : a ǂ1-year follow-up studyLuka Šlosar, Katarina Puš, Uroš Marušič, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Motor imagery (MI) is fundamentally linked to the motor system. It improves motor learning and optimizes motor actions without physical execution, highlighting its unique role in rehabilitation programs and motor performance. Understanding the developmental trajectories of MI and the factors influencing its variability across ages could enable more effective, age-specific strategies for pediatric rehabilitation. This study assessed 65 children aged 7 to 14 years at two time points 1 year apart. MI ability was assessed using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire for Children, and physical fitness was evaluated using the SLOfit testing battery. Among the three perspectives assessed; internal visual imagery (IVI), external visual imagery (EVI), and kinesthetic imagery (KI), KI was unique in not correlating with age at both time points. The development of MI perspectives varied between athletes and non-athletes, with non-athletes showing a decline in IVI compared with athletes. This differential was further evidenced by significant differences in KI between the groups at the second assessment, with a similar trend observed at the first assessment. Of the physical fitness tests, only the 600-m run correlated consistently with KI at both assessments. Our findings suggest that regular participation in sports significantly affects KI performance, highlighting the importance of sports participation for the development of MI abilities in children. Future research should examine additional assessment points in different age groups and sport experience to better understand the development of MI and its potential implications for pediatric rehabilitation. Keywords: motor imagery, physical fitness, childhood development, pediatric rehabilitation Published in DiRROS: 28.10.2024; Views: 738; Downloads: 417
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4. Enhancing balance in Parkinson’s disease patients : a comprehensive literature review on the efficacy of exercise in an enriched environmentAna Ponebšek, Friderika Kresal, Luka Šlosar, 2023, review article Abstract: Various physiotherapeutic methods and approaches play a significant role in the
treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease, including the use of enriched environments. Virtual reality (VR) as a type of enriched environment has the potential to create
multiple sensory experiences and feedback, influencing various aspects of the patient’s
information processing and response. The suitability for home use and the considerable impact on motivation highlight its advantages over alternative approaches. The
objective of this review is to investigate the impact of VR-based exercise on balance
outcomes among individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The inclusion criteria consisted Parkinson’s disease. The comparable improvements in balance observed between the
experimental and control groups signify the potential effectiveness of VR-based exercises. This underscores the encouragement for further development in this technology,
particularly focusing on fully immersive VR environments, which may yield superior
effects in enhancing balance among individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of exercise in a VR
environment on individuals’ static and dynamic balance outcomes. In order to gather
relevant studies, we conducted a comprehensive search across three databases. From a
dataset of 625 records, we conducted a comprehensive full-text screening based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. This process resulted in the inclusion of 14 RCTs
in our review. The emerging evidence regarding exercising in a VR environment does
not definitively prove its superiority over standard exercise routines. However, studies
have demonstrated that both the experimental and control groups showed comparable improvements in enhancing static and dynamic balance among individuals with Keywords: virtual reality, Parkinson's disease, balance, rehabilitation Published in DiRROS: 16.04.2024; Views: 939; Downloads: 546
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5. Physical therapy of rotator cuff injuries of olympic weightlifters – a systematic literature reviewJanez Konjar, Živa Vida Arko, 2023, review article Abstract: From an injury-rate standpoint, Olympic weightlifting is a relatively safe sport. Despite that, a large number of repetitions, the ballistic nature of the lifts and the high forces sustained by the shoulder joint during their execution can lead to shoulder inju-ries, specifically rotator cuff injuries. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the scientifically proven physiotherapy methods and what their indications are when deal-ing with rotator cuff injuries of Olympic weightlifters.A qualitative literature review method was used, and the following online databases were included: PubMed, Scopus, Wiley, and PEDro in ResearchGate. The keywords in the literature search were: rotator cuff, shoulder, injury, physiotherapy, sport, weight-lifting and Olympic weightlifting. The final analysis included fully published and ac-cessible research papers in English from 2012 onwards, focusing on the physiotherapy of rotator cuff injuries.In total, 16 research papers were included in the final review. Management of rota-tor cuff injuries is a complex process, especially in sports with overhead movements. We found that the success and effectiveness of the physiotherapy process can be im-proved through a proper combination of kinesiotherapy, physical agent modalities, manual methods and other forms of therapy. The choice of the specific methods and their duration depends on the pathology of the individual injury. Further research focusing on Olympic weightlifting is needed to create precise and conclusive guidelines for rehabilitation, especially for sport specific phases occurring later in the rehabilitation process. Keywords: Olympic weightlifting, rotator cuff, rehabilitation, injuries, physiotherapy Published in DiRROS: 16.04.2024; Views: 1055; Downloads: 546
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6. Health aspects of aerobic interval training in the rehabilitation of patients with cardiovascular diseases : a sysematic reviewTamara Ilić, Doroteja Rančić, Stefan Stojanović, Ismail Ilbak, 2023, review article Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study was to review the literature analyzing the effects of aerobic interval training in the rehabilitation of cardiovascular patients.Methods: Research data was collected considering the inclusion and exclusion cri-teria of the research studies published in English. In order for the study to be included in the analysis, it had to meet the following criteria: year of publication (2004–2022), respondents were people with cardiovascular disease, and the studies included in this review must contain data on disease, training programme and outcomes. Papers with-out full texts available and systematic review studies were excluded. The first search identified 71 articles. In the initial assessment carried out in accordance with the inclu-sion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles were found suitable and were included in the study, while 20 studies were excluded for being duplicates, 28 studies excluded for not having the full text available and eight for non-compliance. Results: The reviewed materials indicate that aerobic interval training has an im-pact on VO2 max, functional abilities, VO2 peak and functional capacity in the reha-bilitation of cardiovascular diseases, especially in the elderly. The duration of the pro-gramme in most studies has a similar time range from 10 to 16 weeks. The programmes that showed the best effects are related to aerobic interval training, from 2 to 3 times per week with moderate (50–60% of VO2 max) or high intensity (80–90% of VO2 max). Conclusion: Studies indicate that properly dosed physical activity contributes to a better lifestyle for people with cardiovascular diseases. All 15 studies showed positive effects of aerobic interval training in cardiovascular disease rehabilitation. Keywords: aerobic exercise, interval training, rehabilitation, cardiovascular diseases Published in DiRROS: 16.04.2024; Views: 849; Downloads: 547
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8. Behaviour of the backfilled right bank of the Mavčiče damPavel Žvanut, Rude Brinšek, 2018, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The Mavčiče concrete gravity dam, part of the corresponding hydro-power plant, was built on the Sava River, in Slovenia, in 1986. It has a maximum structural height of 38.5 m, and the dam crest has a length of 149 m. The dam structure consists of an erection bay, a machine hall, and two spillways, followed by an embankment dam. Most of the dam is founded on permeable Quaternary conglomerate bedrock, so that a cut-off grout curtain had to be constructed to a depth of up to 60 m below the ground surface, where a layer of impermeable Oligocene marine clay occurs. However, the erection bay, which is located on the right bank of the dam, is founded on a layer of gravel backfill, up to about 25 m thick, which lies on top of the conglomerate bedrock. Long-term manual technical monitoring of the behaviour of the dam began in 1986, and an automated monitoring system was established between 2003 and 2005. In general, the results of measurements and visual inspections did not show any abnormalities. However, this was not the case for the erection bay located on the top of the backfilled right bank of the dam, where the results of measurements of vertical displacements showed increasing settlements. By 1999, i.e. over a period of 12 years, these settlements had increased to 22 mm. The results of investigations, by drilling three research boreholes in 1993, and another six such boreholes in 1996, indicated that the settlements were the consequence of the secondary consolidation of the backfill, and probable also due to scouring of fine material from the backfill. Due to the resulting differential settlements, the crane rail which connects the erection bay to the machine hall, as well as the crane rail which is located along the crest of the dam, became nonfunctional, and needed height corrections. For this reason rehabilitation works of the backfill and of the substratum of the right bank of the dam were performed between September 1999 and August 2000, using 50 m long grouted boreholes. This grouting was performed using a combination of water reactive polyurethane and a cement-bentonite mixture. Measurements performed since than have shown that the settlement rate has slowed down slightly (by 2017, i.e. over the last 17 years, the settlements had increased by up to 8 mm), but from the point of view of the operation of the two crane rails the settlement process needed to be stopped. Additional investigations, involving the drilling of two research boreholes, as well as appropriate laboratory and field measurements, were performed between November 2015 and March 2016. According to the results of these most recent investigations, the newer settlements were the consequence of additional scouring of fine material from the backfill. In order to achieve a final solution to the problem of the subsidence of the erection bay, additional rehabilitation works of the backfill and substratum of the right bank of the dam, by grouting the permeable zones, would be needed in order to stop both the scouring of fine material from the backfill, as well as any internal erosion of the cavernous conglomerate at the base of the backfill. The latter concerns the long-term stability of the right bank of the dam with potentially serious results. Keywords: concrete dams, gravity dams, Mavčiče Dam, Sava River, technical monitoring, geotechnical investigation, rehabilitation Published in DiRROS: 05.04.2024; Views: 1160; Downloads: 575
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9. Effects of meditation on cardiovascular and muscular responses in patients during cardiac rehabilitation : a randomized pilot studyMaximilian E. Rudlof, Boštjan Šimunič, Bianca Steuber, Till O. Bartel, Ruslan Neshev, Petra Mächler, Andreas Dorr, Rainer Picha, Karin Schimd-Zalaudek, Nandu Goswami, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s number one cause of death, with exceeding psychosocial stress load being considered a major risk factor. A stress management technique that has repeatedly shown positive effects on the cardiovascular system is the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique. The present pilot study aimed to investigate the potential effect of TM on the recovery of cardiac patients. Objectives: We hypothesized that practicing TM in patients undergoing a 4-week cardiac rehabilitation program augments the recovery of cardiovascular parameters and reduces skeletal muscle tone after rehabilitation. Methods: Twenty cardiac patients were recruited and randomly assigned to either the control or the TM group. Cardiovascular parameters were assessed with the Task Force Monitor (TFM) and skeletal muscle contractile properties by Tensiomyography during a sit-stand test, performed at the beginning and end of a 4-week in-patient rehabilitation program. Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly lower after 4 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation, while the RR-interval (RRI) significantly increased. At the skeletal muscle level, the contraction time and maximal displacement increased, though only in the gastrocnemius medialis and biceps femoris muscles and not in vastus lateralis. Group interactions were not observed for hemodynamic parameters nor for muscle contractile properties. Discussion: Although significant improvements in hemodynamic and muscular parameters were observed after 4 weeks of rehabilitation, we could not provide evidence that TM improved rehabilitation after 4 weeks. TM may unfold its effects on the cardiovascular system in the longer term. Hence, future studies should comprise a long-term follow-up. Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, psychosocial stress, transcendental meditation, cardiac rehabilitation, tensiomyography Published in DiRROS: 28.10.2022; Views: 1282; Downloads: 872
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10. Interventions for increasing return to sport rates after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery : aǂ systematic reviewKristina Drole, Armin Paravlić, 2022, review article Abstract: Background: An injury followed by surgery poses many challenges to an athlete, one of which is rehabilitation, with the goal of returning to sport. While total restoration of physical abilities is a primary goal for most athletes, psychosocial factors also play an important role in the success of an athlete’s return to sport (RTS). The purpose of this review was to examine the eectiveness of exercise and psychosocial interventions on RTS rates, which might be one of the most important outcomes for elite athletes. Methods: To carry out this review, PubMed, SAGE Journals, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception to July 2022. The inclusion criteria consisted exercise or psychosocial intervention for athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), with reporting RTS rates as an outcome. Results: From 1032 identified articles, four reports (N = 130) met inclusion criteria, all of which examined the recovery after ACLR. The mean MINORS score for the included studies was 16.3 ± 6.1, of which non-comparative studies scored 11.0 ± 1.4, while comparative studies scored 21.5 ± 0.7. There were consistent findings for benefits of exercise and psychosocial interventions on RTS rates. Return to preinjury rates in the reviewed studies vary between 63 and 95% with lower % observed in female athletes and with shorter follow-up. Interventional studies reporting RTS rates with a larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed. Conclusion: Physical and psychological function, as well as social support can be influenced by appropriate interventions, indicating future work on rehabilitation programs for return to preinjury might consider taking the holistic approach addressing those. Keywords: return to preinjury, anterior cruciate ligament injury, exercise interventions, psychosocial interventions, injury rehabilitation, return to play Published in DiRROS: 30.08.2022; Views: 1524; Downloads: 1659
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