Updated on July 7th, 2026.
UMSS Research Activities Featured at the 2026 Journées de l’Ecole Doctorale de Nice
Our colleague Ana Trigueros participated in the Journées de l’Ecole Doctorale de Nice (JEDNs), held at the Université Côte d’Azur (Nice, France), where she presented the poster “Integrating Music Listening into Exercise for Female Breast Cancer Survivors: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.”
The study describes the protocol for a randomized clinical trial that evaluates the impact of adding music to a concurrent exercise program on self-perception, physical fitness, and well-being among female breast cancer survivors. This line of research takes on particular relevance in a context where there is a growing call for comprehensive approaches to cancer recovery, in which physical exercise and other complementary interventions—such as music—are combined to improve patients’ quality of life beyond strictly clinical aspects.
Each year, the JEDNs bring together doctoral students, researchers, and other professionals in the life and health sciences to present their research, foster scientific exchange, and promote new collaborations among research groups. It is a leading forum for the doctoral community, where the diversity of profiles and disciplines represented fosters an enriching dialogue across different lines of research.
Our Colleague Opens Salamanca’s Scientific Outreach Conference with a Talk on Muscle Neuroscience
The 4th SCIENTIFIC OUTREACH CONFERENCE, held at the University of Salamanca on June 25 and 26, featured our colleague Juan Francisco García Vázquez @phdjuanfranciscogarciavazquez as one of its keynote speakers. His opening presentation, “Listening to the Muscles: The Hidden Language Behind Strength and Movement,” set the tone for two intense days of talks, workshops, and scientific exchange, kicking off a new edition of this important event, which has become a national benchmark in the field of neuroscience.
Bringing together researchers, professionals, and students from across the country, the conference once again proved to be a valuable space for sharing the latest advances in neuroscience and fostering dialogue between the scientific community and the wider public. Congratulations to our colleague for representing us with such a compelling and thought-provoking opening talk!
UMSS Research Group Participates in the Cancer Survivors Day 2026 in Zurich, Promoting Self-Care and Research in Cancer Survivorship
On June 13, Hermann Fricke, a member of the UMSS Research Group, participated in the Cancer Survivors Day 2026, held at the University of Zurich and organized by the Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich (UniversitätsSpital Zürich). This annual event brings together cancer survivors, family members, healthcare professionals, and researchers to share experiences, foster mutual support, and raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities associated with life after cancer. The program included lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and a variety of information stands focused on quality of life and self-care for people affected by cancer.
As part of this initiative, the ICanSelfCare study team was present with an information booth where practical recommendations for improving sleep quality among cancer survivors were shared. Visitors had the opportunity to learn about evidence-based self-care strategies and discuss common sleep-related concerns, one of the most frequent and persistent challenges experienced after cancer treatment.
The event also provided an opportunity to introduce the ICanSelfCare study and invite interested individuals to participate in the research. The project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital self-care program designed for people with a history of cancer who experience sleep difficulties. Through an online platform, participants learn and practice self-care techniques such as mindfulness and acupressure, while researchers assess their effects on sleep quality and other symptoms related to cancer and its treatment. Developed in collaboration with healthcare professionals and people affected by cancer, the study seeks to generate evidence on accessible and scalable interventions that may contribute to improving quality of life in cancer survivorship.
Music and Exercise Against Breast Cancer: The Success of the TEMPO Project in Seville
Last Friday, May 8, the UMSS research group, in collaboration with students from the University of Seville’s Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy program, participated in the Seville Science Fair, one of the region’s leading events for science communication and knowledge transfer, which annually brings together educational institutions, universities, research centers, and companies with the goal of making science more accessible to the public.
Our participation began with a mini-talk presenting the TEMPO (Therapeutic Exercise and Music in Post-Treatment Oncology) project, an initiative investigating the benefits of combining personalized music and physical exercise in female breast cancer survivors. During the presentation, findings were shared that support the use of music as a tool to improve physical performance, increase motivation, reduce the perception of fatigue, and enhance the quality of movement through synchronization with the musical rhythm—mechanisms through which music can help enhance the physical, psychological, and social benefits of exercise in this population.
Later, we had our own booth, provided by the Seville Institute of Biomedicine (IBIS), where we shared our work in a hands-on and interactive way with visitors. Through various practical activities, attendees were able to experience firsthand the effects of music on physical exercise and well-being. The activities offered included handgrip and lower limb strength tests, relaxation and guided breathing exercises, resistance band exercises, and isometric muscle endurance tests, performed both with and without musical accompaniment, to compare the results obtained under both conditions.
The initiative generated great interest among the public and provided an excellent opportunity to bring the work carried out by our group closer to the public, strengthen collaboration between research and teaching, and highlight the potential of physical therapy and therapeutic exercise as tools for improving health and quality of life.
We thank the organizers of the Science Fair and the Seville Institute of Biomedicine (IBIS) for their support and collaboration, which made our participation in this event possible. We would also like to express our gratitude to the Vice-Rectorate for Well-being, Health, Diversity, and Equality at the University of Seville and to the University of Seville Sports Activities Service (SADUS) for their support of the TEMPO project, which was essential for the completion of this study.
UMSS promotes an audiovisual resource to improve practical learning in Physiotherapy
The UMSS group, in collaboration with faculty from the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Seville (US) and with the support of the Audiovisual Resources and New Technologies Service (US), is participating in the development of new audiovisual teaching material: “FNP in practice: Kabat techniques for physical therapy students.”
The project has been selected for Action 2.2.2 of the IV Internal Teaching Plan (University of Seville), aimed at promoting the design of teaching resources based on new technologies through the creation of educational videos of practical sessions, under the responsibility of Prof. María Jesús Casuso-Holgado.
A resource for a common difficulty in clinical training
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF/Kabat) is a key part of practical teaching, but it often poses a challenge for students when it comes to understanding its logic and integrating it safely into clinical practice. With the aim of facilitating this transition between theory and practice, the audiovisual material has been designed as a structured guide, supported by demonstrations and step-by-step explanations.
What does the audiovisual material include?
Through guided demonstrations, the resource addresses essential elements of the clinical execution of PPNF, including:
- Diagonal patterns and positioning.
- Verbal commands and execution times.
- Manual contact and movement control.
- Progression of resistance and dosage.
- Specific techniques such as contraction-relaxation, repetition of effort, and rhythmic initiation.
- Precautions and common mistakes, in order to reinforce the safety and quality of the intervention.
- Cross-disciplinary application and high teaching impact
The material is designed for cross-disciplinary use in various subjects within the degree program, such as Kinesiotherapy, Neurological and Psychomotor Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy in Clinical Specialties, and Physiotherapy in Physical Activity and Sport, with an estimated reach of up to 300 students per academic year.
Overall, this resource reinforces practical classroom teaching, encourages prior preparation and independent learning, and provides reusable and scalable material for teaching complex manual techniques.
TEMPO Project: Exercise and Music to Improve Quality of Life After Breast Cancer
A team of physiotherapists and researchers from the University of Seville has launched the TEMPO Clinical Trial (Therapeutic Exercise and Music in Post-treatment Oncology). The main objective is to investigate how physical exercise, combined with music, can enhance the well-being and quality of life of women who have overcome breast cancer.
What does the program involve?
Participants will take part in a free and safe 8-week physical exercise program. The intervention includes:
- Strength training sessions: Conducted in person and supervised by experts.
- Aerobic exercise: Performed autonomously and monitored.
- Musical accompaniment: Depending on the study group, workouts may be accompanied by music.
- Continuous follow-up: All exercises are adapted to the participants and include ongoing monitoring.
Who can participate?
The study is looking for volunteers who meet the following criteria:
- Women between the ages of 18 and 75.
- A previous diagnosis of stage 0-III breast cancer.
- At least 6 months must have passed since the completion of primary medical treatment.
How to sign up?
If you are interested in improving your physical and emotional health after treatment, you can join the project held at SADUS-Bermejales (Seville).
To register or request more information:
- Scan the QR code in the document to fill out the contact form.
- Contact Ana Trigueros Murillo via email at atrigueros1@us.es or by phone at 605 386 707.
- Follow them on social media: @tempo_oncology.
UMSS researcher collaborates with the University of Iowa on a study of predictors of change in pain due to chronic Achilles tendinopathy
Researcher Alberto Heredia, a member of the UMSS research group, has participated in a secondary analysis developed in collaboration with the University of Iowa (United States), focusing on predictors of change in movement-evoked pain in people with chronic Achilles tendinopathy.
The study concludes that fear of movement decreases as pain is reduced during rehabilitation, and that patients with poorer initial functionality tend to experience greater improvements in pain. In addition, it was observed that the location of the pain—whether at the insertion or in the middle of the tendon—does not significantly influence its reduction.
These findings contribute to a better understanding of the psychological and functional factors involved in the recovery from chronic Achilles tendinopathy, with relevant implications for the design of more personalized rehabilitation programs.
NEW PROJECT PRESENTED AT THE II CONFERENCE OF THE SPANISH NETWORK FOR RESEARCH ON PERSISTENT COVID (REiCOP)
On Friday, September 12, our colleague Hermann Fricke presented at the II REiCOP Conference (Madrid) the protocol of the randomized controlled clinical trial currently being carried out by several members of the UMSS team. The presentation highlighted the urgent need to develop new, more accessible and safer rehabilitation strategies for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or long COVID. The project was very well received and was awarded the prize for the best research project presented during the conference.
Study by UMSS Group reveals anxiety lowers pain threshold while depression raises it, creating medical paradox.
A study by the UMSS group shows that pain perception differs in people with anxiety and depression compared to the general population.
The study, recently published in The Journal of Pain, analyzed research evaluating the response to painful stimuli in healthy people, people with depression, and people with anxiety. The results show that people with anxiety have a lower pain threshold than the general population; that is, they begin to feel pain in response to less intense stimuli. In contrast, higher thresholds were observed in people with depression, a striking finding given the high prevalence of pain in this population and the results of other variables measured, such as pain intensity. In future phases of the project, the aim will be to investigate the possible mechanisms that explain this paradox.
New study by the UMSS Group begins
The patient recruitment phase for the new study being conducted by some members of UMSS has begun.
If you suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) or Long COVID (LC), and the need to travel has prevented you from attending rehabilitation or participating in studies in the past, you now have the opportunity to receive a telerehabilitation program from your home. By registering through this link and leaving your details, the research team will contact you.
More information for patients can be found in the QR code on the poster.
Showcasing Innovation in Physiotherapy Education: Dr. García Vázquez Presents Digital Learning Platform at National Conference in Granada
Our colleague @phdjuanfranciscogarciavazquez has participated these days in the X NATIONAL AND VI INTERNATIONAL DAYS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY EDUCATION organized by @aefedusup @aefisio_ 🙌🏻🥼 in the city of Granada.
With an oral communication entitled “DEVELOPMENT OF AN EDUCATIONAL DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR THE LEARNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PHYSIOTHERAPY DIAGNOSIS”, he has shared with fellow teachers from all over Spain the project “CLINICAL LIAISON” (LAZARILLO CLÍNICO), on which he has been working for several years with the engineer @borjagr27 from @nttdata.espana . The aim of this new educational tool is to facilitate the learning of ICF-based Physiotherapy Diagnosis for students of the Degree in Physiotherapy.
Javier Martínez Calderón, successfully defended his second doctoral thesis “Sense and purpose of life in people with cancer: state of the art”
Our colleague, Javier Martínez Calderón, successfully defended his second doctoral thesis under the co-direction of Professors Francisco Javier Cano García and Alberto Marcos Heredia Rizo and within the Doctoral Program in Psychology at the University of Seville. During the presentation of his thesis entitled “Sense and purpose of life in people with cancer: state of the art”, Prof. Martinez Calderon made a deep reflection on the importance of multidisciplinary work in people diagnosed with chronic conditions and the need to build a solid evidence that combines a previous conceptual work and qualitative research to develop primary studies with methodological soundness and transferable to the clinician. Congratulations, Javi!