The present study, involving 23 elderly in need of nursing care, examined the reproducibility and validity of walking at the optimum and maximum speeds. The elderly were asked to walk at their optimum and maximum speeds twice each, and the reproducibility was calculated using inter-correlation coefficients. To evaluate the validity, correlation coefficients between walking and the FRT and Frail CS-10 (10-Second Chair Stand) tests were calculated. When the walking speed was optimum and maximum, the reproducibilities for walking-related factors such as the walking speed and rate were high, whereas that for the LNG (Length of Total COP) at the optimum speed was low, at 0.67. Both at the optimum and maximum speeds, marked correlations were noted between a number of walking-related factors and the FRT and Frail CS-10 scores. However, when the walking speed was optimum, there was no significant correlation between the stride width or LNG and Frail CS-10 scores. The results suggest that although the reproducibility and validity of both cases: walking at the optimum and maximum speeds, have been confirmed, the latter is superior as a test to evaluate the elderly's ability to maintain balance.

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The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the Quality of Life (QOL) of 161 elderly females (average age 75.0±5.7 years) community residents and examine its correlation with the time required to stand up from the floor. The time required to rise from a supine position was measured with a stopwatch. Each subject's activity capacity, subjective sense of well-being,life satisfaction, meaningfulness in life, and level of satisfaction with interpersonal relationships were assessed through interviews. A simple correlation analysis revealed that the amount of time required for the subjects to rise to their feet was significantly correlated with items measuring the activity capacity, sense of meaningfulness in life, and subjective sense of well-being. Activity capacity was the only factor extracted on multiple regression analysis showing an independent correlation with the time needed to rise from the floor. These findings suggested that elderly females requiring a shorter amount of time to stand up from a supine position had a greater capacity for activities. However, it was also found that the time required did not correlate with the QOL items of mental and psychological functions.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine any relationship between vitamin D and physical performances or functional capacities for the musculoskeletal ambulation disabilitysymptom complex (MADS) female patients. [Method] The serum level of vitamin D was measured. The physical and functional tests were performed: pain scale, knee extension strength, one leg standing time (OLS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 10 m minimum walking time (MWT) and Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) Index of Competence). We evaluated the relationship between vitamin D and physical performances or functional capacities using single and multiple regression analysis. [Results] Single regression reveals that significant correlations were observed between vitamin D and knee extension strength, OLS, BBS and MWT. Multiple regression analysis reveals that vitamin D and BBS significantly contributed to OLS and that BBS and MWT significantly contributed to TUG. [Conclusion] It was suggested that vitamin D would be useful indicator of physical performance for MADS female patients.

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The present study, involving twelve healthy adult females (at the age of 21.3 ± 0.6 years old), was conducted to examine the effects of massage on peripheral circulatory dynamics, including changes in the volume of the toe and temperature distribution of the skin of the dorsum manus or dorsal hand, which was measured using thermography. The subjects were asked to perform a control (sitting on a chair with a backrest for 15 minutes) and experimental (receiving a 15-minute massage to the shoulder, lower-back, and lower-thigh areas) task. Following the massage, there was a marked decrease in the mean volume of the toe, with -0.83 ± 0.26 ml/100 ml/min (P<0.05). There were increases in the temperature of the skin both after sitting on the chair and receiving the massage, although they were not significant. These results suggest that the massage affected the peripheral circulatory dynamics, including a reduction of edema in the leg and change in the skin temperature.

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To examine the effect of moist and dry hot packs (HPs) on lower leg circulation, 10 lower limbs of 5 healthy adults were studied. A moist or dry HP was applied to the calf in the prone position for 20 minutes; the former was wrapped in 8 cotton towels, and the latter in a vinyl bag and 3 cotton towels. The skin surface temperature and microvascular blood volume were measured before and after HP application. As a result, a significant increase in the microvascular blood volume of the lower leg was observed after the application of a moist HP. Such an increase was not observed with dry HPs. These results demonstrated that moist HPs are effective to increase lower leg circulation.

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[Purpose]We examined the deep abdominis muscle activity with the movement of the lower limb on condition that the hip-joint was flexed, using an electrode of Fine wire electromyography (EMG). [Method]For a healthy male, an electrode of Fine wire EMG was inserted into the right obliquus internus abdominis muscle and right transversus abdominis muscle. Measurements were achieved on condition of flexed hip-joint at supine position, or seated position(on the balloon), or inflating a balloon with seated position. The movements of both lower limbs were followed with resistant or non-resisitant exercises. [Results]The activities of Fine wire EMG on the deep abdominis muscle increased by resistant exercises. The contribution for the stability of the trunk on the deep abdominis muscle was affected by position of the limb or gravity. The transversus abdominis muscle may have an action, which bends the trunk to lateral side. [Conclusions]The deep abdominis muscle may affect the posture with the movement of the lower limb, and change the muscle activity, therefore, may concern with the foundation of the movement of the lower limb. However, we guess that the contribution for the stability of the trunk on the deep abdominis muscle was affected by position of the limb or gravity.

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Abstract: The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between the habit of going out and physical functioning in 30 elderly females in need of nursing care undergoing outpatient rehabilitation. As a baseline survey, their grip strength, walking speed, ADL (activities of daily living), and TUG (Timed up and go test) and FRT (Functional reach test) scores were assessed, and a follow-up survey was conducted in one and a half years to measure and compare these abilities between the elderly who did and did not go out on a regular basis. The results were as follows: Although ADL and standing balance scores in the “going out" group were markedly higher compared to the “not going out" group, there was no significant difference in the age, grip strength, and walking ability between the two groups. The results suggest that it is important for elderly females in need of nursing care to maintain their level of ADL and standing balance ability to retain the ability to go out walking on their own in the neighborhood.

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