This study aimed to investigate the lower limb musclesʼpostural dynamic response to handgrip holding and temporal instruction of floorʼs lateral movement during transient lateral floor transition in the elderly. The study included 11 healthy elderly male subjects with a mean age of 75.9±7.0 years. There were four conditions used in combination with handgrip holding and temporal instruction during transient lateral floor transition. Lower limb muscle activities before and after lateral floor transition were measured using an electromyogram. The results revealed that the maximum muscle activities dependent on the direction of disturbance were reduced in the temporal instruction condition. Furthermore, most of the leg musclesʼresting and maximal activities were decreased in the handgrip holding condition. In conclusion, it was revealed that standing balance could be maintained with a small amount of activity by handgrip holding and temporal instruction.

The Kihon Checklist is widely used as a screening tool to assess frailty in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors that influence social, cognitive,and mental scores of the Kihon Checklist. A total of 225 community-dwelling elderly women were divided into the frail risk group (n=103) and the non-frail group (n=122) according to the Kihon Checklist score. In comparison with the non-frail group, there were more subjects with pain and greater number of pain areas in the frail risk group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of pain areas was significantly associated with the social, cognitive, and mental scores of the Kihon Checklist. This study provides new insights into factors of pain that affect the cognitive and mental scores of the Kihon Checklist in community-dwelling elderly women.

[Purpose] This study focused on elderly patients in care facilities with various walking types. We examined whether the weight-bearing ratio of the lower limb (lower limb WBR) can help in determining the requirement and type of walking aids. [Method] Sixty-eight elderly patients admitted in care facilities were enrolled in this study and classified into three groups: caneless, T-shaped cane, walking vehicle. The lower limb WBR (sitting-/-standing), grip strength, one leg standing, 10-m Walking test, FRT, TUG were measured. One-way ANOVA was used to examine each target group by walking type,and multiple regression analysis was used to examine the factors affecting lower limb WBR. [Result] All the measurement had a significant impact on each target group according to the walking type. Moreover the lower limb WBR (standing) (β=0.418, p<0.001) and grip strength (β=0.386, p<0.001) were extracted as significant related factors for lower limb WBR (sitting). One-leg standing (β=0.214, p<0.039) and lower limb WBR (sitting) (β= 0.526, p<0.001) were extracted as significant related factors for lower limb WBR (standing). [Conclusion] The lower limb WBR was an effective aid in the clinical decision-making to select walking aids.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the effect of changes in trunk-leg posture on toe grip strength by comparing the toe grip strength and lower extremity muscle activity measured during upright and forward-tilted trunk postures and investigating these values in terms of reproducibility and exertion of the maximum muscle strength. [Subjects and methods] The study subjects were 18 healthy adult males. Toe grip strength was measured under two conditions: in the upright trunk posture and the anteriorly tilted trunk posture. In addition to toe grip strength, muscle activity of the rectus femoris, the long head of the biceps femoris, the anterior tibialis, and the medial head of the gastrocnemius were also measured. [Results] The results showed internal correlation coefficients (1,1) of r=0.921 and r=0.950 for the upright and anteriorly tilted trunk postures, respectively. Although the toe grip strength did not differ between the two measurement conditions,the percentage integrated electromyography (%IEMG) of the medial head of the gastrocnemius was significantly higher in the upright posture than that in the anteriorly tilted posture. [Conclusion] The results of this study showed that the different trunk posturesupright and anteriorly tilted-did not affect the reproducibility or the maximum muscle force of toe grip strength but did affect the %IEMG of the medial head of the gastrocnemius.

This study aimed to investigate whether there is a difference in foot morphology and center of gravity sway between dominant and nondominant legs in young healthy adults. Fifty­two university students were included in the study,andthedominant leg was determined by observing the movements of three items (kick the object,move at the start of walking, put on first shoes). Foot morphology and centerofgravity sway were also measured. The dominant and nondominant leg were compared for all subjects and for 23 subjects whose dominant leg was ipsilateral to all three items. The results showed no significant differences in any of the indices between the groups (p ?0.05). This study suggests that there is no difference in foot morphology or balance function between dominant and nondominant legs in young healthy adults.

The purposes of the present study were to introduce the shoe we developed for metatarsus primus varus (MPV) correction, and confirm the significance of this development by examining the relationship between the hallux valgus (HV) and MPV angles. The shoe has a structure, where a push-up metatarsal pad is elevated to correct MPV when the body weight is applied to the forefoot during gait. X-ray photography to measure the HV and first-second metatarsal (M1-M2) angles in 11 females (mean age:67.8±13.9 years) with HV revealed a significant positive correlation between the 2 angles (r=0.861,R² =0.741). Based on this, it may be necessary to examine the effectiveness of wearing the shoes for a given period to reduce pain and improve gait in those with HV, as well as to prevent and improve the deformity itself.