Geriatric rehabilitation. 3. Physical medicine and rehabilitation interventions for common disabling disorders1∗1No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.∗Key references

Exercise in the Elderly: Research and Clinical Practice

Exercise programs for elderly patients have received much attention recently for their potential role in preventing illness and injury, limiting functional loss and disability, and alleviating the course and symptoms of existing cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic disorders. The basic components of an exercise training program include strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility. This article reviews the main attributes of each, along with some of the most recent research defining their roles in health care. Where available, it discusses specific recommendations for prescribing exercise modalities. Finally, it presents suggestions for developing integrated exercise programs and enhancing patient compliance.

Usability of the Remote Console for Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation: Formative Evaluation

The Remote Console (ReCon) is a telerehabilitation application that allows therapists to remotely communicate with patients while monitoring and controlling their virtual rehabilitation exercises. It provides therapists visual feedback of patients' movements, their exercise simulations replicated in real time and with tools to conduct training without a face-to-face session. The Recon underwent a formative evaluation (a type of usability engineering methodology) used to refine its design. Five physical therapists from different practice settings acted as representative users. During the evaluation, these users made errors related to manipulation and finding and understanding controls. Technical issues with the server and audio communication were identified. These findings were used to fine-tune the ReCon system.