Objectives: This study structurally analyzed physiotherapists’ activity outcomes dispatched via the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer program, aiming to develop future strategies for physiotherapy education, practice, and global health engagement. Methods: We analyzed Reports 1–5 from 123 JICA-dispatched physiotherapists (2014–2024), focusing primarily on the “activity outcomes” section of Report 5 using KH Coder for text mining. Additional variables, such as year of dispatch, gender, host country, geographic region, and number of physiotherapists at the placement site, were extracted. Regions were divided into 5 categories: Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Central Asia and the Middle East. Frequency and hierarchical cluster analyses were also performed. Utilizing clustering patterns, activity outcomes were classified into 8 categories. External variables—region and staffing levels—were used for cross-tabulations. Results: The study grouped outcomes into 2 main types: 4 categories reflecting direct support through clinical practice and technology transfer, and 3 categories representing institutional and organizational contributions rooted in logical problem solving. The small effect sizes indicated that external factors had limited influence on activity outcomes, such as a greater use of the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) approach in Latin America and areas with limited physiotherapy personnel. Conclusions: These findings indicate that JICA volunteer physiotherapists consistently fulfilled core professional roles across diverse contexts, emphasizing clinical support, capacity development, and system improvement. Despite regional and contextual differences, the weak effect sizes suggest that individual adaptability and shared professional values contribute to sustaining context-appropriate rehabilitation practices in global health settings.

Objectives: Gait variability, related to gait stability, is crucial because it is associated with the risk of falls in patients with hemiparesis following stroke. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding changes in gait variability over time in patients with stroke. This case report aimed to describe the improvement in gait variability over 24 months in an individual with hemiparesis following stroke. Case Description: A 34-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cerebral infarction due to atherosclerosis. The patient presented with severe motor paralysis of the right extremities, scoring 6 and 13 on the Fugl–Meyer Assessment for the upper and lower extremities, respectively. Data collection for patient examination started at 1 month post-stroke. Two measures were employed for quantifying gait variability: the Gait Variability Index (GVI) and the coefficient of variation (CV). Nine spatiotemporal parameters were collected for calculating the GVI and CV. Results: The patient was discharged after 5 months post-stroke. At 24 months, he was able to walk independently outdoors without using a cane or an ankle–foot orthosis. Improvements in the GVI and CV were observed during the first 4 months following stroke; however, no marked changes were noted thereafter. At 24 months, the CV for step length, single support time, and swing time demonstrated the most marked improvements. Conclusions: Gait variability in this patient showed the most improvement during the subacute phase. Additionally, improvement in gait variability may be the basis for achieving independent walking, and future research is warranted.

Objectives: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) effectively improves motor function and reduces pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). However, recent research emphasizes the distinction between rest pain and post-TKA pain due to their impact on treatment and recovery. This study aimed to identify factors associated with rest pain and pain intensity during movement 1 year post-TKA. Methods: A total of 126 individuals (103 females, average age: 72.3 ± 8.1 years) undergoing TKA were included. All variables were assessed 1 year postoperatively. Multiple regression analyses were performed using rest pain and pain intensity during movement as dependent variables. Independent variables included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), short form of Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI-9) score, the Fremantle Knee Awareness Questionnaire (FreKAQ) score, inappropriate femorotibial angle, and β angle. Results: Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that FreKAQ score was a significant independent predictor for both rest pain (β = 0.583, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72–1.34) and pain intensity during movement (β = 0.486, 95% CI: 0.72–1.52). Additionally, CSI-9 score (β = 0.183, 95% CI: 0.02–0.93) and the β angle (β = −0.218, 95% CI −3.17 to −0.60) were significant independent predictors for pain intensity during movement only. Conclusions: Specific treatments addressing disturbed body perception may benefit patients with rest pain. Conversely, pain intensity during movement was found to be influenced by various factors, including coronal alignment of the knee joint, central sensitization (CS)-related symptoms, and disturbed body perception. This suggests a need for more comprehensive treatment strategies for pain intensity during movement.