[Purpose] To investigate the utility of Frail CS-10 as a scale to determine whetherornotto permit independent walking within the ward. [Subjects] The study subjects comprised patients who had been hospitalized in the year 2013 or were hospitalized at thetimeofthe study on the convalescent ward of Hospital A. [Method] We performed analyses with the presence or absence of falls during hospitalization as a dependent variable. An ROC curve was generated to determine a cutoff value for Frail CS-10. The validity of the value was examined based on logistic regression analysis with a history of falls as a dependent variable. [Results] The cutoff value for Frail CS-10 was 2.5 times. The scaleʼs AUC value was 0.97, with its sensitivity and specificity being 89 and 95%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis with a history of falls as an independent variable verified the validity of the calculated cutoff value. [Conclusion] Our findings suggest that Frail CS-10 canbeappliedtodetermine whether or not to permit independent walking within the ward.

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A questionnaire, sent via mail, was conducted for home-care patients with Parkinsonʼs disease regarding their symptoms and chief complaints in daily living as well as utilization of nursing care insurance and implementation status of therapeutic exercise. Among their chief complaints, “slow movement”and “difficulty in quick movement”had higher response rate. The chi-square test was performed based on the presence of certification of long-term care need. The test results showed significant difference in “loss of muscle strength”and “difficulty in quick movement”and the response rate was higher among those with certification of long-term care need. In this survey, certification rate of long-term care need was 75.8% while utilization rate of nursing care insurance was 67.0%. 51.6% of patients have had no therapeutic exercise at health-care facilities. 37.4% of patients have had no therapeutic exercise even outside health-care facilities. Lowering of physical function due to disuse because of lack of opportunities for therapeutic exercise as well as overuse or misuse due to exercise in their own ways are matter of deep concern.

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[Purpose] Investigate whether the purpose of this study can distinguish fall by EC-FRT (the functional reach test with eyes closed) [Subjects] Subjects were 101 local elderly residents who are not certified as being in need of care. [Methods] The EC-FRT and FRT scores were measured, and the history of falls in the past year was investigated. [Results] The EC-FRT score decreased with age. It was also lower in a group with than without fall experiences. The risk of falls was higher when the EC-FRT score was below 25.5

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This study aimed to clarify the neurophysiological effect of stretching to suppress muscle tone, involving 40 left legs of 40 healthy male students. Evoked electromyography was performed under 2 different conditions (stretch and control) to compare soleus muscle activity between the conditions and between before and after stretching,based on the maximum H- to M-wave amplitude ratio (Hmax/Mmax). While there were no significant differences in Hmax/Mmax values between the 2 conditions, a marked decrease in such values was observed after stretching, suggesting the possibility of such stretching suppressing the excitability of spinal motor neurons.

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[Purpose] In this study we evaluated performance in the 10-m hurdle walk and investigated its relationship with physical Function. [Subjects and Methods] The study included 69 among community-dwelling elderly people. We measured performance in the 10-m hurdle walk, one-leg standing time with eyes open test, Functional reach test,Timed Up & Go test (TUG), quadriceps strength test, 30-second Chair?stand test, and Trail making test. [Results] The factors affecting performance in the 10-m hurdle walk, as indicated by repeated measures regression analysis, were the one-leg standing time with eyes open and TUG time: performance in the 10-m hurdle walk performance was better with a longer one-leg standing time with eyes open and shorter TUG time. [Conclusion] These results suggested that increasing balance function is important to improving performance in the 10­m hurdle walk among community-dwelling elderly people.

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We performed an experimental study to examine the effects of natural recovery and of treadmill exercise on joint contractures induced by a one-week joint fixation. All of the ratsʼright ankle joints were immobilized with casts in full plantar flexion for one week. After one week, the casts were removed, and the rats were divided into two groups. Group 1 involved free walking daily; Group 2 involved treadmill running for 20 minutes plus free walking daily. After one week and two weeks, the ankle dorsiflexion angles of all the rats were measured. The dorsiflexion angles of Group 1 recovered in one week, but Group 2 needed two weeks for recovery. Our results suggest that inappropriate exercise for joint contractures may interfere with the recovery of the joint impairment in rats.

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This article was retracted.

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