Physical activity is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, playing a critical role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, obesity, dementia, depression, cancer, and other conditions. It contributes to longevity and quality of life by influencing genetic expression and maintaining a youthful phenotype. Notably, exercise alters the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports neuron viability, growth, and adaptability—key components for learning, memory, and brain resilience.

Physical Activity: A Global Policy Priority

Dr. Fiona Bull, Head of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Department of Physical Activity, underscored the importance of promoting physical activity during the Rehabilitation and Sport Conference in Düsseldorf. She highlighted that physical inactivity significantly increases the burden of chronic diseases and healthcare costs.

Dr. Bull pointed out that only half of the world’s countries have a physical activity policy. To address this, strategies must integrate urban planning—designing safer spaces for walking and cycling, and fostering active environments in schools and workplaces. By improving physical activity levels, global healthcare systems could save up to $300 billion by 2030.

Jonas Girskis, a neurologist and founder of the Spine Treatment Center, emphasizes the importance of purposeful physical activity tailored to individual needs. Understanding the condition of one’s musculoskeletal system is essential to maximize the benefits of exercise and avoid harm.‍

Personalized Medicine

"The human relationship, the selection of treatment methods, goals, explanations, and the individual approach will always remain of great value," says Dr. R. Burzdžienė, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at the J. Girskis Spine Treatment Center. The medical specialist argues that laboratory blood test indicators often do not reflect a person’s overall health, and detailed full-body scans can be equally inadequate. According to Dr. Burzdžienė, genomic studies tend to be more statistical than a personalized assessment. "Research shows that defining a person’s health or predicting their longevity is difficult because of the many variables involved: age, gender, genetics, sleep, physical activity, nutrition, stress, and more," she explains.

“We often have an abundance of data, but a lack of human understanding and education, which leads to treatment strategies that are not tailored to an individual's specific needs,” Dr. Burzdžienė adds.

Greta Girskė, the head of the Spine Treatment Center for 15 years, believes that critical thinking and personalized treatment remain the most important factors in a patient’s recovery. Without these key elements, even the most advanced technologies can lead to misguided treatment outcomes. For example, group rehabilitation classes, despite their popularity in many medical institutions, often fail to address the unique needs of individual patients. Even if patients share similar musculoskeletal diagnoses or pain locations, their recovery pathways and underlying causes can be vastly different. “Treating movement disorders under a standardized algorithm is deeply flawed because each patient’s situation is unique and requires a personalized analysis,” comments Girskė.

Teletherapy Trends

Today, numerous tools, methods, and approaches are available to train, rehabilitate, protect, and treat the human body. Professor Silvano Zanuso highlights key trends in modern sports medicine and rehabilitation technologies.

One prominent trend is teletherapy, which has become an essential tool for remote rehabilitation. Teletherapy enables clients to perform exercises under the guidance of therapists who can monitor and adjust the exercises remotely, ensuring the continuity and quality of care.

Another significant trend is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-tech solutions to analyze large datasets. These technologies help predict potential injuries and implement preventive rehabilitation strategies. AI insights allow therapists to anticipate risks based on individual movement patterns and physiological data. For example, motion capture and video analysis technologies provide detailed insights into complex biomechanics, helping therapists identify deviations and recommend corrective measures.

This data-driven approach facilitates the creation of precise, personalized exercise programs that improve movement functionality. From Professor Zanuso’s perspective, these technologies are particularly valued for their accuracy, capacity for personalization, and emphasis on preventive care. By integrating innovations into traditional treatment protocols, these tools aim to significantly reduce the risk of injuries.

Rehabilitation Through Play

Dr. R. Burzdžienė, a rehabilitation specialist at the Spine Treatment Center, highlights the use of gamified technologies in training and rehabilitation. These technologies project interactive tasks onto floors and walls, transforming rehabilitation into an engaging activity. For example, one task might require individuals to quickly touch figures of a specific color, which are strategically projected to target specific areas of training. According to Dr. Burzdžienė, this game-based approach shifts motivation from a sense of obligation (“need”) to enthusiasm (“I want”).

She further notes that innovative sports and rehabilitation equipment often integrates visual feedback through screens or virtual reality (VR) glasses. The focus of these tools is on enhancing cognitive function, neuromuscular training, balance, and intermuscular coordination. “Patients are motivated to achieve the best possible results, much like advancing through levels in a game. This also provides objective insights into weaker areas, enabling therapists to adjust parameters and focus more on the required regions,” she explains.
For example, physiotherapy and neurorehabilitation apparatuses equipped with VR can help improve torso control by simulating movements in immersive environments. Patients may use VR glasses to virtually “fly” over a city, performing specific movements that align with their therapy goals.

The Importance of Neurotraining

The growing incidence of dementia, coupled with the decline in everyday cognitive engagement, underscores the need for consistent brain training. Dr. Burzdžienė emphasizes that the integration of physical activity with brain-focused exercises offers profound benefits for the nervous system. These include improved neuroplasticity, increased BDNF levels, enhanced adaptability, the formation of new neural connections, improved mood, better sleep, and stress reduction. Such interventions have proven effective even in treating severe depression and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

Professor Konstantin Sonkin introduces neurotraining technologies designed to enhance athletes' cognitive and motor skills, including memory, pattern recognition, and attention. These technologies use visualization exercises to simulate specific movements, which are displayed on screens. This approach enhances performance without physical exertion and is particularly valuable for recovery and rehabilitation after injuries.

One notable benefit of neurotraining is its ability to overcome neuromuscular inhibition—a phenomenon where the brain restricts full activation of an injured limb even after physical recovery. Professor Sonkin advocates for incorporating neurotraining during professional athletes’ breaks, such as pregnancy or post-traumatic periods. Early applications of this technology have yielded impressive results, with athletes demonstrating significant improvements in accuracy and strength.

Doctor or Artificial Intelligence?

Is high-tech inherently more accurate and safer? While artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies significantly enhance the precision of movement analysis, they cannot replace the human touch. AI excels in analyzing vast datasets, detecting subtle changes in biomechanics, and enabling a personalized, data-driven approach to diagnosis and treatment. For instance, AI can identify early warning signs of injury risk or suggest rehabilitation adjustments based on a patient’s movement patterns.

However, Dr. Burzdžienė emphasizes the irreplaceable role of the human factor in healthcare. “A guide is needed in the abundance of diagnostic tests and methodologies—a clinician who understands the patient’s motivation, social circumstances, and unique needs. Clinical thinking is crucial for differential diagnostics and for guiding patients through the phases of their condition and rehabilitation,” she asserts.

The integration of AI in healthcare is most effective when combined with a skilled physician’s expertise. Dr. Burzdžienė stresses that doctors must select the most appropriate tools and strategies based on the patient’s specific condition, stage of life, and individual needs. She concludes:
“Artificial intelligence will not replace the doctor, but a doctor who uses artificial intelligence will replace one who does not.”

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