[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting body sway during brisk walking in the elderly. The effects of knee extension strength, toe-grip strength, and hand-grip strength on body sway were analyzed.[Methods] Sixty-six community-dwelling, elderly women participated in this study. Body sway was measured using a small wireless accelerometer. Three-axis acceleration during brisk walking over 5- m was recorded. Accelerometers were firmly fixed using a dedicated belt at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. Vertical, anteroposterior, and mediolateral sway were calculated by acceleration waveform. The effects of knee extension strength, toe-grip strength,and hand-grip strength on body sway were examined using the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. [Results] Vertical sway demonstrated significant positive correlations with knee extension strength, toe-grip strength, and hand-grip strength. Anteroposterior sway demonstrated significant positive correlations with toegrip strength. Conversely, mediolateral sway did not demonstrate significant correlations with any muscle. In the analyses of vertical sway and anteroposterior sway, only the toegrip strength was a statistically significant contributor.[Conclusion] It may be possible to predict body sway using toe-grip strength in the elderly.

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The present study assessed the physical functions of the elderly living in the community to examine differences in the functions depending on the clubs they are members of. Their performance in the following tests: the sit-up, 30-second chair-stand test (CS 30), standing on one leg with the eyes open, timed 5-meter walk test, and Timed Up & Go test (TUG), was assessed, and scores received by the elderly of “Iki-Iki 100 years old Exercise”(an exercise program to live a vibrant life until 100 years old) and “Mechanical training exercise club”groups were compared. The scores were analyzed with the age and sex as covariates, and the score in the sit-up test received by the elderly of the “Iki-Iki 100 years old Exercise”group was lower than the score of “Mechanical training exercise club”groups (p<0.01). The results suggested that more training is needed for “Iki-iki 100 years old Exercise”to strengthen the trunk.

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[Purpose] We analyzed the relation of postoperative axial pain and computed tomography (CT) findings of cervical extensor muscles after laminoplasty. [Subjects] The subjects were 18 patients (male: 15, mean age: 64.9 y.o.) who underwent the laminoplasty. [Method] The patients followed up were classified into two groups, that is, one group including the patients suffering from axial pain (P group: n=8), and the other group including the patients without axial pain (N group: n=10). The degree of pain was evaluatedwithvisual analogue scale (VAS). We compared the multiple factors between two groups at the point of one year after surgery. Analyzed factors related to occurring axial pain and its degree were patientʼs basic characteristics and CT factors. [Results] In P group, the crosssectional area of cervical extensor muscles significantly increased (p<0.05), and density value of CT of them significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared with N group.Andalso,the degree of axial pain was significantly related to the increasing of cross­sectional area and the decreasing of density value of CT of cervical extensor muscles [Conclusion] It was suggested that the alteration of cross-sectional area and density value of CT of cervical extensor muscles were related to postoperative axial pain.

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Abstract: This study compared gait parameters and lower-limb muscle activity between the optimum and maximum gait velocities to clarify their characteristics. The activities of the rectus femoris, long head of the biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and medial head of the gastrocnemius, in addition to gait parameters, were measured during gait using a surface electromyograph and gait analysis device, respectively, involving 15 healthy adult females.

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This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of gaits parameters and muscle activity during backward gait. After measurement of the maximum voluntary contraction of each muscle, the forward and backward gait of 15 healthy adult females were evaluated. During backward compared with forward gait, the gait velocity, cadence, and step and stride lengths as gait parameters significantly decreased, while the durations of the stance and swing phases, as well as the double-support period, markedly increased. The muscle activity levels of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior during the stance phase and that of the biceps femoris during the swing phase significantly increased, while that of the biceps femoris during the stance phase markedly decreased. Based on these results, the velocity and cadence under the influences of distance- and time-related factors may decrease and consequently improve their stability during backward compared to forward gait. Backward gait also showed differences from forward gait in the muscle activity level during a gait cycle, revealing its kinematic characteristics.

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【Purpose】The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a walking program on physical fitness and walking ability with eyes closed in community-dwelling elderly.【Methods】Twenty healthy community-dwelling elderly participated in this study. They were assigned an intervention in the walking program for six months. One-legged stance test, Timed Up & Go test, Sit to Stand test (STS) and the Romberg ratio were used to assess their physical fitness. Walking speed, stride length and double support time with eyes closed were measured to assess their walking ability. These assessments were done before and after the walking intervention program.【Results】STS in the final assessmenwere significantly shortened. Moreover the walking speed and the stride length were significantly increased and the double support time was significantly reduced, in the walk with eyes closed compared to those six months ago. The significance of a correlation between the change of the Romberg ratio and the double support time was also found.【Conclusion】These results suggest that the 6-month walking program is associated with an improvement in the physical fitness and the postural stability during the walk with eyes closed for elderly persons.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to reveal factors related to the physical activity of the elderly who suffer from musculoskeletal diseases by analyzing their motor function, psychological function, and nutritional status. [Subjects] The study subjects were 14 community-dwelling elderly (3 male, 11 female) aged 65 or over who suffered from musculoskeletal diseases. [Methods]Physical activity was assessed using the life-space assessment (LSA). The following factors related to the LSA were examined: age, BMI, Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), Fall Efficacy Scale (FES), MotorFunctional Independence Measure (FIM-M), motor function measurement, continuous walking distance, and subjective health perception. [Results] The LSA revealed that the subjectsʼphysical activity was related to fear of falling, activities of daily living, motor function, and mobility. [Conclusion] The physical activity of the elderly who suffer from musculoskeletal diseases is low, and the improvement mainly on activities of daily living is important.

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