This study examined relationships between the finger motor function and physical and cognitive functions of community dwelling elderly people by gender. The subjects were 205 female and 52 male elderly (The mean age±SD was 73.5±6.3). The Purdue Pegboard Test was used to evaluate the finger motor function. This study also measured the hand grip strength, quadriceps strength, abdominal strength, sit-and reach flexibility, one-leg standing time, fastest walking speed, and 6-minute walking distance. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used to determine cognitive functioning. As the results, female subjects showed significantly higher scores for the finger motor function and sit-and reach flexibility than male subjects. The results of multiple regression analysis using the finger motor function as a dependent variable showed a significant partial correlation in the 6-minute walking distance, one-leg standing time, and MMSE in female subjects, and abdominal strength and fastest walking speed in male subjects, suggesting that factors affecting the finger motor function differ between male and female elderly.

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Aim: The purpose of the study was to examine the characteristics of homebound in the community elderly residents and cut-off values in lifestyle. Methods: Lifestyle was evaluated with the health assessment survey in ACity in 2007 that contains questionnaire entries of problematic behavior in elderly: homebound (shutting oneself in his/her room or house), lifestyle, life function, self-rated health. The subjects of the survey were 211 residents. Results: We examined the relationship between homebound and each problem behavior. Relationships of homebound with age, lifestyle, life function, self-rated health were statistically significant. In the ROC analysis, AUC (area under the curve) of lifestyle in homebound showed high score 0.88. Conclusion: When performing prevention activities for the homebound in communities, it was suggested that it is an effective to examine the contents of social lifestyle, life function.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of foot-gripping strength training to Functional Reach Test (FRT), maximal step length and walking ability in healthy adults. Thirty six healthy adults were divided 24 people on training group and 12 people as control group. On training group, subjects were instructed to attend a 3 week‘s foot-gripping strength training program which consisted towel gathering, marble gripping and toe-gripping gait about 10 to 20 minutesfor one time, 4 times per week. We measured foot-gripping strength, FRT, maximal step length, gait velocity, step length, cadence of 10m comfortable walking and 10m maximum velocity walking before and after the training program. The results showed that on training group, significant improvement were found in foot-gripping strength per weight and 10m maximum walking speeds, FRT, maximal step length. These findings suggested that foot-gripping strength training can influence equilibrium FRT and maximal step length.

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[Purpose] The study was conducted to examine the reliability of the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments test. [Subjects] Subjects were 36 stroke patients. [Methods] Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were measured. The reliability was determined based on Spearman's rankcorrelation and Cohen's kappa coefficient scores. [Results] Whereas the reliability of the SWM test was high on the paralyzed side (r s =0.86, κ=0.71-0.79), it was low on the other side without paralysis

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[Objective] We examined the laterality of the lower limb muscles during sports activities. [Subjects] Our subjects were 44 members of a high school baseball club (mean age: 16.6±0.5). [Method] We measured the strength of the subjects' quadriceps femoris muscle and toe grip and compared the muscle strength of the dominant leg (the leg used to kick a ball) with that of the nondominant leg, as well as the muscle strength of the supporting leg (the take-off leg in long jumps) and that of the non-supporting leg. During a batting action, we defined the leg closer to the catcher as the pivoting leg and the one closer to the pitcher as the stepping leg, and compared their muscle strength. [Results] With regard to muscle strength of the dominant and non-dominant legs, as well the supporting and non-supporting legs, we did not observe significant differences in the strength of either the subjects' quadriceps femoris muscle or toe grip. On the other hand, in the batting action, the toe grip strength of the pivoting leg was significantly stronger than that of the stepping leg. We did not observe significant differences in the quadriceps femoris muscle strength. [Conclusion] Our results suggest laterality of the lower limbs during a batting action, namely the pivoting leg's stronger toe grip strength compared to that of the stepping leg.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of backward walking using a sheet-type gait analysis system in healthy adults. The subjects consisted of 23 healthy college students (13 males and 10 females). They walked forward and backward twice each on the sheet of the gait analysis system. As a result, during backward walking, the left and right stance duration and step length significantly increased, and the walking speed and stride significantly decreased. There was a significant correlation between the left and right stance duration and walking speed. These results suggested that the walking speed reduces with a decrease in stride during backward walking, and walking is stabilized by increasing the step length. Subjects with a higher walking ability could walk while maintaining a more stable posture even during backward walking.

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We evaluated the characteristics of lower limb muscle activity by measurement of the lower limb loading force in elderly hemiplegics with gait disturbance. The subjects consisted of 12 elderly stroke patients with hemiplegia (mean age, 74.0±5.0 years) requiring assistance for walking. For the limb on the non-affected side, stress associated with the stepping-on action was measured, and the muscle discharge was compared among lower limb muscles (rectus femoris, long head of the biceps femoris) and those of the crus (tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius). Comparison of the muscle discharge among the 4 muscles showed significant difference (F value=6.31, p<0.01). As a result of the multiple comparison test, the muscle discharge was significantly greater for the quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior than for the biceps femoris and gastrocnemius (p<0.01). Concerning the characteristics of muscle activity in the measurement of the lower limb loading force in elderly hemiplegics with gait disturbance, the results of this study suggest that the activity of posterior lower limb muscles is lower, the and simultaneous contraction observed in healthy adults does not occur.

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