Keywords
self-rehabilitation technology
servicemembers
rehabilitation of military personnel and veterans
gunshot wounds
upper extremity injury
PTSD
medico-psychological correction
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction. Gunshot wounds of the upper extremities are a frequent cause of chronic pain, functional impairment, and long-term disability in servicemembers. Chronic pain in this population is often accompanied by depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Aim. To assess the effectiveness of self-rehabilitation technology (SRT) as part of a comprehensive medico-psychological correction program in servicemembers and veterans with gunshot wounds of the upper extremities.
Materials and methods. A prospective single-group pre–post study (n=60, men) was conducted at the Rehabilitation Department of the State Institution "National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine". Patients were assessed using the PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5, DN4, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) before rehabilitation and at discharge. SRT (BLiNK Pro, SRT Lab, Dessintey) was applied as a standalone intervention immediately after psychological sessions. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used, and the effect size was expressed as r.
Results. Statistically significant improvements were observed across all outcome measures: PHQ-9 (p<0.001; r=0.67), GAD-7 (p=0.007; r=0.35), PCL-5 (p<0.001; r=0.74), DN4 (p<0.001; r=0.53), VAS (p<0.001; r=0.66), and MoCA (p<0.001; r=0.62). The largest effects were observed for PTSD symptoms and pain intensity.
Conclusions. Incorporating SRT into a comprehensive medico-psychological correction program was associated with significant improvements in psychoemotional status, pain, and cognitive functioning. The sequential use of SRT immediately after psychological sessions may facilitate simultaneous engagement of the psychological and functional dimensions of recovery.
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