1

Various CR themes were tackled

First of all and logically, the validation of innovative training programmes accounted for the majority of published articles. This theme gave the Annals of PRM the opportunity to present some of the latest studies on the specific effects of eccentric and isokinetic training during the CR. Certain specific effects of CR were studied, in particular, its impact on health-related quality of life . The results of original studies were reported: the impact of CR on ventricular repolarisation indices and on left atrial function .

Then, submaximal field tests, especially walking tests, which are being used more and more often during CR to assess functional capacities, have given rise to numerous publications, either systematic review , or concerning their value in predicting mortality , or the metabolic equivalence of the 6-minute walk test.

More and more often, exercise training is proposed in disabilities other than those related to cardiovascular disease. For example, several articles assessed the effects of specific training in various chronic diseases, such as respiratory failure , chronic pain and Parkinson’s disease . Technological progress has led to new situations in which exercise training can be useful. For example, a left ventricular assistance device now provides the opportunity to extend exercise training to several chronic disabilities, including those due to severe neurological disorders. A case report published by the Annals of PRM of a hemiplegic patient was informative and suitable for rehabilitation teams that can be confronted with this situation . Finally, the characteristics of exercise tolerance in neuromuscular diseases were studied, and showed the usual peripheral (muscular) limit .

Peripheral vascular diseases, namely arterial, venous or lymphatic disorders, can responds to CR. A synthesis of the contribution of rehabilitation in patients with lymphoedema was proposed . Compression therapy is frequently used in chronic venous and lymphatic disorders and a comparative study to measure exerted interface pressures was conducted to better understand the impact of different types of bandages .

Prosthetics equipment after amputations of the lower limbs is linked to CR by the common arterial aetiology and the need to associate exercise training and therapeutic education. The results of functional assessments of a prosthetic innovation (a new hip joint for hip-disarticulated patients) were presented to readers of the Annals . Furthermore, a review of the literature on post-amputation therapeutic education was published .

2

Various article types are published

In fact, practically all types of medical publications are represented: 9 observational studies , 4 systematic reviews , 3 controlled (± randomisation) trials , and 1 case report .

The nationalities of the involved authors are diverse. However, there is a very strong predominance of the French nationality: France (64), Tunisia (6), Turkey (6), United Kingdom (4), Canada (3), Lebanon (3), Norway (3), Austria (2), Cyprus (1), Germany (1), Romania (1), Spain (1), and Sweden (1).

2

Various article types are published

In fact, practically all types of medical publications are represented: 9 observational studies , 4 systematic reviews , 3 controlled (± randomisation) trials , and 1 case report .

The nationalities of the involved authors are diverse. However, there is a very strong predominance of the French nationality: France (64), Tunisia (6), Turkey (6), United Kingdom (4), Canada (3), Lebanon (3), Norway (3), Austria (2), Cyprus (1), Germany (1), Romania (1), Spain (1), and Sweden (1).

3

Improving healthcare and bibliometry ranking in CR

These are two virtuous objectives, and the first often depends on the second!

Through its holistic approach, Physical Medicine can make an enormous contribution to the development of the CR and, as already underlined, original studies have been published by the Annals of PRM . However, several aspects have to be improved:

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  as mentioned in an earlier editorial , we have to make an effort to improve the reporting of our research, by respecting international guidelines, specifically CONSORT (CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement, which is endorsed for the randomised trials by prominent medical journals. Moreover, the percentage of controlled studies in the Annals is strikingly insufficient, in particular compared with observational works which are easier to produce, and thus have less decisive results;

  
  
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  generally, we have to increase the number of patients included in our studies, particularly by favouring multicentre research programmes;

  
  
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  we must be more attractive to foreign teams (in particular non-European) working in the field of CR;

  
  
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  future developments in CR should encourage specific studies: telerehabilitation and telemonitoring, therapeutic education, the customisation of training programmes, the validation of new functional tests, stance assistive devices (e.g., powered exoskeleton), prosthetics (e.g., osseointegration), dedicated programmes for peripheral vascular disease (too often neglected)…

This programme is ambitious, but the Editorial Board of the Annals of PRM is openly committed to following this path!