The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between postural control ability and biomechanical properties consisting of sway of center of foot pressure (CFP) and muscle activities of the lower leg in elderly subjects. Twelve healthy elderly and 10 young subjects participated in this experiment. The maximal lateral shift was defined as being greater than 80% of total CFP lateral shift distance. We compared the standard deviation of the velocity of CFP sway and the muscle activity of lower leg between the two groups at maximal lateral shift. There were no significant differences among muscle activities in the elderly group, but the elderly group showed a significant positive correlation between the standard deviation of anterior-posterior sway and the activities of the peroneus longus (r=0.752, p<0.01). In conclusion, it was clarified that stability of posture in the maximal lateral shift position was obtained by using co-contraction of circumference muscles of the ankle, and that activities of the peroneus longus muscle are related to the magnitude of anterior-posterior sway of CFP in elderly subjects.

View full abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine the factors of falls among community dwelling elderly. As subjects, 172 (31 males and 141 females, aged 60 to 95) elderly adults in Kasari town of Amami island participated in the study which evaluated 20 items. Incidence of falls were 17%, and incidence of elderly adults who had suffered fractures in falls was 33.3%. The places of falls were the living room and the road. The results indicate that falls was related to factors "Cannot lift a bucketful of water" and "Poor physical condition".

View full abstract

The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a method for evaluating motor development to differentiate between normal and disabled children. In the present study, we tried to evaluate 3 normal children using the description of AIMS. As a result, we obtained 25-50% percentage rank (PR) in one case and more than 90% PR in the other two cases. Since AIMS can be performed in a short period and even evaluators with poor experience can collect relatively accurate results. AIMS is considered to be a useful tool for screening tests.

View full abstract

This study examined the exercise capacity around the time of transplantation of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients treated a in bioclean room and its relation to knee extension muscle strength. The subjects had received hematopoietic stem cell transplants, and this study is limited to 40 subjects who were able to perform the exercise tolerance test around the time of the transplantation. They mainly carried out stretching and muscle strengthening during the bioclean room stay. Though the accomplishment rate of the exercise tolerance test before the transplantation was 100%, it was lowered after the transplantation to 57.5%. From the results of the exercise tolerance test, the subjects were classified into accomplishment and non-accomplishment groups. Discriminant analysis was performed with bioclean room stay period, knee extension muscle strength after treatment, its rate of change and strength relative to body weight, and rate of change, age, sex, weight change rate and pretreatment period as independent variables. The knee extension muscle strength was the largest discriminant factor for exercise tolerance, indicating that decrease of exercise capacity was inhibited by maintaining knee extension muscle strength in the bioclean room with difficult aerobics.

View full abstract

Relationships among knee flexion in stance, knee extension torque and gait parameters were examined for normal walking. Participants were healthy female subjects aged 41 to 82 years. Maximal knee flexion angle in stance (Kflx) and gait parameters such as stance, swing and walking speed were recorded with video and analyzed for normal walking. Knee extension isokinetic torque at Kflx and peak torque were measured using a Cybex 340 at 60°/s. Although peak torque was significantly different, knee extension torque at Kflx did not differ with age. Peak torque was significantly correlated with only the swing ratio, however knee extension torque at Kflx was significantly correlated with the swing ratio, swing/stance ratio, and the double stance phase and its ratio in the gait parameters. As a result, the usefulness of maximal knee extension torque at the near flexion angle used during walking, and swing and double stance were suggested for assessment of gait on the basis of muscle strength.

View full abstract

We studied the effects of treadmill running on preventing joint contractures due to joint immobilization. Female Wistar rats (10 weeks old) were used in this study. The ankle joint was immobilized in full plantar flexion with a cast for two weeks. For 5 rats, the casts were removed daily, and treadmill running (20 min.) was performed once a day (treadmill running group). In 10 rats, the ankles were immobilized without treadmill running (immobilized group). As a control, 10 rats were also used. After two weeks, the rats were anesthetized, and the range of motion of the ankle joint was measured with a goniometer. Joint contractures occurred not only in the immobilized group but also in the treadmill running group, but the degree of the contracture was not as bad in the treadmill running group as in the immobilized group. As a result, we concluded that treadmill running done under the above conditions could not prevent joint contractures of immobilized ankles in rats.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the length of the hamstring influences the improvement of finger-floor distance. We investigated straight leg-raising before physical therapy and the change in the value of finger-floor-distance after physical therapy. Among the subjects indicating a finger-floor distance of less than 0 cm, we created a PNF group (41 people, average age, 21) and a non-PNF group (24 people, average age, 20). We performed the hold-relax technique for PNF back pelvic lift pattern in the PNF group. From the result, the PNF group showed a significant increase in finger-floor distance (p<0.05), but there was no correlation between straight leg-raising before performance of the hold-relax technique and the changed value of finger-floor distance after performing the technique (p<0.05). The result shows that hold-relax on PNF back pelvic lift pattern improved finger-floor distance, and suggests it is not influenced by the initial length of the hamstring.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of standing balance and physical fitness on putting on slacks in toilet activity. The subjects consisted of twenty subjects with hemiplegia (mean age: 76.7 ± 10.9 years old, 8 males and 12 females) with at least six months since its onset. They were classified into two groups according to their ability to put on slacks: an independent group (n=13), and a dependent group (n=7). The results showed significant difference in total scores and dynamic balance scores of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (p<0.05), between the two groups. In particular, "arm reaching", "pick up objects" and "twisting" were significantly different (p<0.05). The correlations between BBS scores and knee extensor muscle torque on the paretic side (p<0.01), and Brunnstrom stage (p<0.01) were significant. The results suggest that ability to put on slacks in toilet activity may be influenced by dynamic balance.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between load change and muscle activities of lower limb with increasing tilt-table angle. The subjects were 7 healthy adults. We measured muscle activities of lower limbs with a gradually changing tilt table angle and compared them with unilateral muscle activities of lower limbs standing-still position (Experiment 1). Furthermore, with subjects lying on the electric tilt table, we induced unilateral muscle activities with a continuous angle change from 0° to 80° (Experiment 2). From these results, the muscle activities of the rectus femoris, medial vastus, biceps femoris, semitendinosus and tibialis anterior muscles did not show any changes despite the increase of tilt table angle and the activities were less than in the standing-still position. However, there was a strong correlation between load change and muscle activities in the soleus muscle. The lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and medial head of the gastrocnemius muscles showed different activities to the soleus muscle. We discussed the usefulness of lower limb load in a standing position on the tilt table and the kinetics of functional differences on the triceps surae muscle.

View full abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects on the duration of actual and imagined movement when mirror therapy was given. The task selected was a writing task with the non-dominant hand. Subjects were 10 healthy volunteers. The durations of actual and imagined movement were recorded by electronic stop-watch operated by the subject and experimenter. The mirror therapy consisted of 10 minutes observation of the dominant-hand movement reflected in a mirror. A significant reduction in the task time was shown in the duration of the actual and imagined movement. Motor image training with mirror therapy may improve performance in the task. Movement repetition training would not be always needed for motor recovery in patients with motor disorders.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the control mechanism of changing movement of the body's center of mass (CM) during standing up from a chair. One of the requirements of stand-up motion from a chair is that the movement of the CM must be controlled from forward horizontal direction to upward vertical direction, in order to secure upright balance at the termination of the standing. The CM trajectory and velocity for stand-up motion were computed at three movement speeds (natural, fast, and slow) by a motion analysis system (VICON). Eleven events were identified in each trial. The main events were the time of the peak propulsive power and the peak braking power, the time of the peak horizontal component of the CM velocity occurrnce, and the time from the beginning to the completion the body losing contact with the seat. The timing and sequence of these events were investigated. The results showed that the peak propulsive power in the slow speed group had the earliest timing and in the fast group had the latest at the beginning and at the completion of the body losing contact with the seat. There were statistical significant differences in the sequential times compared with the other group of events. The feature of the timing of events suggests that the control mechanism of changing movement of the CM is produced by the braking power progressively increasing before the time the subject leaves the seat. The timing of these events varied with the conditions of standing up from the chair.

View full abstract

The present study examined the relation between motor abilities and activities of daily living. The motor performance test was measured once a week for 6 months after starting gait training in 15 post-stroke hemiplegia patients. The test consisted of measurement of grip strength, knee extension strength, walking at maximum speed, activities of daily living (Barthel Index: BI). The results indicated that there was no significant improvement in any score. Relations among walking at maximum speed, grip strength of each side, knee extension strength of the affected side and BI were examined at the start and 6 months after gait training (p<0.001). The determinant of walking at maximum speed was grip strength of the affected side at 6 months after gait training. The determinants of BI were height and grip strength of the non-affected side at the start of gait training.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the standing postural control test using the Elderly Balance Board and gait performance, and to determine whether it could be used to predict an elderly person's gait instrument. Subjects were 45 elderly persons, average age 81.7 (SD; 5.6). The Elderly Balance Board was classified into four categories based on the duration of standing times on the Balance Board (less than 30 sec, or more) and the height of the Balance Board. Statistical analysis revealed that the Elderly Balance Board test differed significantly according to the gait performance. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that category IV was significantly related to the gait performance. Our results indicate that the Elderly Balance Board type N maybe a simple measure of balance function level and is related to gait performance in elderly persons.

View full abstract

The purpose of this research was to measure physical activities during 24 hours of convalescing cerebral vascular accident patients for their position and intensity of physical activities (henceforth PIPA), and to examine the relation between the paralysis and the FIM score. Subjects were 20 cerebral vascular accident patients (13 men, 7 women) hospitalized in the convalescence rehabilitation ward in the acute stage. The measurement and outcomes were PIPA in 24 hours with an estimation of energy expenditure and classification of paralytic lower extremities through interview by 3 physical therapists. Abilities of the lower extremities were classified by Brunnstrom-stage. ADL capability was assessed by the movement items of FIM. The analysis of relevance was evaluated by student's t-test between Brunnstrom groups I-II and III-VI, and I-III and IV-VI. The result shows a significant difference in the mean value of PIPA between Brunnstrom groups I-II and III-VI.

View full abstract

The present study examined the relation between motor abilities in hemiplegic stroke patents. In 2005, 34 patients (osteoarthritis of the spine, 19; hemiplegia stroke, 15, and 15 control subjects) performed physical therapy at Kasari Town Dispensary. Measurements indicated that grip strength and hemiplegia after stroke patients. Walking at maximum speed was faster in the control group than hemiplegia after stroke patients. Walking at maximum speed was faster in osteoarthritis of the spine than hemiplegia after stroke patients. An age-related decline was confirmed in knee strength of hemiplegia after stroke patients.

View full abstract

The present study examined the relation between motor ability and functional capacity, five-year longitudinal changes in community dwelling elderly. The test subjects were to 42 females, aged 85 to 91, of Kasari town, Amami island. The test consisted of measurement of grip strength, knee strength, walking at maximum speed and functional capacity. An age-related decline in all parameters was confirmed over the five years. Significant correlations were detected between all parameters evaluated in 1999. Individual differences (coefficient of variation) in knee strength increased most, and an age-related decline was confirmed in mescle strength.

View full abstract