This study investigated how dual task interference between a motor task anda cognitive task affected performance on each. The motor task was a tandem standing one,and the cognitive task was the Stroop interference task. Postural sway and the number of correct answers tasks were evaluated for60young healthy subjects. Dual task interference was found to improve performance on the motor task but lower it on the cognitive task performance. This finding indicates that considerable attentional resources are not necessary for high performance on the motor task in a dual task condition.

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The present study measured the grip strength of the toes and strength of the quadriceps of patients with Parkinsonʼs disease, and examined their relationships with walking parameters determined from the results of low- and optimum-speed walking. Subjects were17patients with Parkinsonʼs disease. The 17 patients underwent measurements of the grip strength of the toes and strength of the quadriceps, and their relationships with walking parameters obtained based on the results of walking at low and optimum speeds (walking speed, rate, stride, and step width) were examined. There were significant correlations between the grip strength of the toes, rate of low-speed walking, and stride. No significant correlations were noted between the grip strength of the toes and walking parameters determined from the results of optimum-speed walking. On the other hand,there were no significant correlations between the strength of the quadriceps and all walking parameters (of low- and optimum-speed walking). The results suggested that the ability to walk at a low speed was higher among patients with Parkinsonʼs disease when their grip strength of the toes was higher.

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We hypothesized that motor and sensory function of the face in a chronic hemiplegic stroke patient would be improved by massage using facial care equipment. To resolve this hypothesis, we measured the changes in orbicularis oris muscle strength, the number of blinks, tactile­pressure threshold, and two­point discrimination before and after using facial care equipment. The research design consisted of type A­B. Both baseline and intervention phases were performed for one month. Six chronic hemiplegic stroke patients participated in this study. Results showed that the changes in orbicularis oris muscle strength and the number of blinks did not differ between the two phases. On the other hand, tactile­pressure threshold and the distance for discriminating twostimulididnot change in the baseline phase, whereas it decreased in the intervention phase. Moreover,the laterality of facial morphology showed a tendency to decrease in the intervention phase. These results suggest that the stimulation induced by facial care equipment affects a change in sensory function rather than motor function.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarity that depression and state trait anxiety inventory (STAI), physical function, and activity of daily living in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). [Subjects] The subjects were 21 COPD patients (men n=19, female n=2). [Method] The main measurement was a Selfrating Depression Scale (SDS). The correlation between SDS and each measurement items were calculated. We examined the SDS by the multiple regression analysis with stepwise to the dependent variable as SDS, to the independent variable items that showed a significant correlation. [Result] Items that influence the SDS were chair stand up-30 second test and STAI trait anxiety (R²=0.65, p<0.01). [Conclusion] The Depression has been suggested to influence the decline of anxiety and lower limb function in patients with COPD. Therefore, this study suggested the possibility that team approach to prevent the depression.

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[Purpose] In the present study, the distance between the tips of the middle fingers of both hands with arms diagonally stretched behind the back was measured, and its relationships with the dominant hand and stiff shoulders were examined. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects were 44 healthy elderly people (25 males and 19 females) aged 60years or older, and they responded to a questionnaire regarding the dominant handandstiff shoulders. The subjects were asked to stand up and diagonally stretch both arms behind their back as much as possible, and the distance between the tips of their middle fingers (MMD) was measured with a scale. There were elderly persons whose dominant hand was placed over or under the shoulder, and the MMD was compared between thesetwo groups; the distance was also compared between stiff­shoulder and non­stiff­shoulder groups. [Results] Forty­one subjects were right­handed, and three were left­handed. Sixteen subjects complained of stiff shoulders. The MMD was significantly greater in the group whose dominant hand was placed under the shoulder, whereas no significant difference was noted between the stiff­shoulder and non­stiff­shoulder groups. [Conclusion] The ranges of extension and medial rotation of the shoulder joint on the dominant side were smaller. The movement of the shoulder joints was not significantly related to stiff shoulders.

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[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate whether fall prevention training and sound feedback training affect motor function and physical ability cognition. [Methods] A multiple baseline study was performed with four elderly adults who participated in fall prevention training and sound feedback training over a periodof 8weeks. Motor function was measured with a Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and a Maximum Step Length (MLS) test, and physical ability cognition was measured using a Step Error (SE) test. [Results] There were no statistically significant differences between the TUG and MLS results before and after training. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the SE results before and after training. [Conclusions] The results of this study suggest that fall prevention training and sound feedback training improve physical ability cognition but do not influence motor function.

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[Purpose] We investigated motor paralysis and gait ability and the dates of symptom progression in patients with branch atheromatous disease (BAD) to evaluate the validity of the criteria used to judge when to start rehabilitation in cerebral infarction. [Subjects] We studied 12 patients with BAD. [Methods] Patients were categorized into progression and non-progression groups. We investigated the Brunnstrom stage of the lower extremity and modified Rankin Scale(mRS) at admission and discharge and the gait ability at discharge. In the progression group we noted the dates of symptom progression and the Brunnstrom stages of the lower extremity on these dates. [Results] The Brunnstrom stage of the lower extremity in the progression group was improved at discharge but progressed within a few days after rehabilitation started in three patients. None of the patients in either group was unable to walk at the time of discharge. In the progression group, symptoms progressed within 4 days after admission. Good prognosis at discharge (mRS score of 0 or 2) was observed in two patients. [Conclusion] Use of these criteria to time the start of rehabilitation gave improvements in motor function through safe rehabilitation and early mobilization.

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