[Purpose] This study aimed to conduct foot care and toe-grip exercise interventions for the elderly requiring care, and evaluate the effects using a randomized controlled trial. [Methods] The subjects were 52 female elderly requiring nursing care, and they were stratified by age and randomly assigned to the following three groups: foot care and toe-grip exercise intervention group (18 subjects), toe-grip exercise intervention group (17 subjects), and a control group (17 subjects). The interventions were conducted twice a week for 12 weeks. The toe-grip strength, foot flexibility, Functional Reach Test (FRT), walking speed, body sway, grip strength of the hand, and quadriceps strength were measured before and after the intervention. [Results] As the results of a two-way ANOVA, the toe-grip strength, foot flexibility, FRT, and walking speed of the foot care and toe-grip exercise intervention group were significantly improved compared to the toegrip exercise intervention and control groups. The toe-grip exercise intervention group also showed a significant improvement in the toe-grip strength, FRT, and walking speed compared to the control group. [Conclusion] Combined intervention of foot care and toegrip exercise was more effective than conducting exercise intervention alone in improving foot flexibility, the toe-grip strength, dynamic standing balance, and walking speed.

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This study aimed to comprehensively assess the quality of life (QOL) of community-dwelling elderly, and examine relationships between their QOL and physical functional ability. We measured subjective well-being, life satisfaction, motivation in life,satisfaction with interpersonal relationships, muscles of the trunk and upper/lower extremities, flexibility, static balance ability, gait ability, and ability to perform higher levels of gait-dependent activities, involving 145 community-dwelling elderly (79 males and 66 females). As the results of a partial correlation analysis, physical functions were only factor correlated with subjective well-being. However, partial correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between life satisfaction/motivation in life/satisfaction with interpersonal relationships and the physical functional ability. These findings suggest that there is a portion that is related to the various physical functions, is part unrelated results suggest that QOL of community-dwelling elderly.

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[Purpose] This study aimed to reveal gender differences in the relation between lower extremity and cognitive function. [Methods] Participants were 124 male (mean age: 76.3, SD: 5.8) and 96 female elderly (mean age: 76.3, SD: 5.8). We measured performance in the 30-second chair stand test (CS-30), isometric knee extension strength (IKES), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) results. Participants were divided into three groups according to CS-30 score reference value: Higher, Moderate, and Lower. We compared MMSE and IKES scores among the three groups in each gender. [Results] IKES was significantly lower in the Lower than in the Higher group in each gender (p < 0.05). MMSE scores were significantly lower in the Lower than in the Higher group only in women (p < 0.05). [Conclusion] These results suggest gender differences in the relation between lower extremity and cognitive function, especially in female participants, who show a relation between cognitive decline and poor lower extremity function. We should be aware that elderly women with poor lower extremity function might also have cognitive disorders.

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【Objective】This study examined the validity of measuring pre-school childrenʼs ability to stand on one leg with eyes open based on the correlation of its measurement with the survey results of preschool childrenʼs motor ability.【Subjects】The subjects were 173 preschool children aged 4-6 years old, with an average age of 66.9±6.8 months.【Methods】We measured the duration of the subjectsʼability to stand on one leg with eyes open, and then tested their motor abilities through 25-m sprint, standing long jump, throwing a ball, hopping on both legs, and duration of being able to support the body weight, in accordance with the survey criteria on preschool childrenʼs motor ability as specified by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). We then examined the correlations with the time of being able to stand on one leg with eyes open and the results of motor ability tests using Pearson correlation coefficients【. Results】We observed marked correlations between the time of being able to stand on one leg with eyes open and the motor test results for the 25-m sprint, standing long jump, hopping on both legs, and duration of being able to support the body weight.【Conclusion】Preschool childrenʼs ability to stand on one leg with eyes open is correlated with many motor abilities, suggesting the validity of its measurement.

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This study examined the validity of a 50 m walk test to assess the elderlyʼs gait ability. The following items were measured, involving 13 elderly (mean age: 71.0) males living in the community: the times needed to walk 50 m, 10 m between laps (1 to 5), and 5 m;quadriceps muscle strength; and 30-Second Chair Stand (CS-30), Standing on one leg with eyes open, and Timed Up & Go (TUG) test scores. On comparison of the times needed to walk 10 m between laps, no significant differences were observed, indicating that the participants walked at a stable pace. Regarding the association between the gait ability and physical function, the results of the 50 m walk test were significantly correlated with the quadriceps muscle strength, as well as CS-30, Standing on one leg with eyes open, and TUG test scores. On the other hand, the time needed to walk 5 m showed a significant correlation only with the quadriceps muscle strength and TUG test scores. These results confirmed that the 50 m walk test reflects healthy elderly malesʼphysical function more accurately than the time needed to walk 5 m as a conventional index for gait assessment.

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Abstract: Objective: We have examined the reliability and validity of ipad application “Touch the Numbers”. Subjects: This study enrolled 34 healthy adult. Methods: An Intraclass correlation coefficient ICC (1, 1), as determined from the reproducibility of the Touch the Numbers, and Minimal Detectable Change were used to investigate the reliability. Additionally, a Pearsonʼs correlation coefficient, as determined from the association with TMT-A, was used to investigate the validity. Results: The ICC of the Touch the Numbers was high (0.66 [0.42-0.81]). A significant correlation was found between the TMTA and Touch the Numbers (r=0.57, p<0.01). Conclusions: Touch the Numbers was suggested to be applicable as a note function tests.

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The purpose of this study was to examine how the use of automatic excretion disposal device (AEDD) affects a sleeping state. We measured a body movement (BM) during sleep with AEDD or with a disposable diaper. BM was evaluated with an actigraph. The amount of BM during sleep with AEDD was smaller than that observed during sleep with a disposable diaper. These results suggested that sleep state was influencedbyexcretion care and that the using of AEDD in the nighttime may contribute to the decrease in sleep interruption in a diaper user.

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