[Purpose] Quadriceps muscle setting (QS) is often performed to maintain or improve quadriceps femoris muscle strength. We investigated the effect of ankle joint angle on muscle activity during QS.[Participants] The subjects were 7 healthy men. [Method] QS was performed for 5 seconds with the ankle in three different positions: intermediate, 10º of dorsiflection(dorsiflexed), or 40º of plantar flexion (plantarflexed), and the activity of the vastus medialis muscle (VM), vastulus lateralis muscle (VL),semitendinosus muscle (SM), medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle (MG), and tibialis anterior muscle (TA) were measured by using surface electromyography. Differences between the ankle positions were investigated by using the Friedman test. [Results] The VL and TA exhibited significantly increased muscle activity in the dorsiflexed position (p<0.05). [Conclusions]Our results suggested that ankle position must be taken into account during QS, depending on the therapeutic objective.

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[Purpose] The objective of this research is to verify how changes of irradiation area of the ultrasound therapy(US) affect of normal adult. [Participants] Experiment is conducted on 16 normal adult males. [Method] ROM, tissue temperature and tissue stiffness before and after US treatments on triceps surae muscle with different conditions are compared. The conditions are (1) Treatment area 10 times, duty cycle 100% (2) Treatment area 2 times, duty cycle 100% and (3) Treatment area 2 times, duty cycle 20%. [Results] ROM and tissue stiffness did not have the significant defference in all conditions. A significant increase in tissue temperature is found in condition (2), when compared with all other conditions. [Conclusions] the possibility that the extensive US intervention was useful was suggested, because ROM and tissue stiffness did not have the difference by the treatment area.

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[Purpose] The objective of this study was to investigate the effect on dynamic balance function of standing with weight borne on the toes for three weeks. [Participants] The subjects were 38 healthy adult men who were allocated to an intervention group or a control group (each n = 19). [Method] The intervention group was given the motor task of standing with their weight borne on their toes, and this intervention was repeated three times a week for three weeks. Toe grip strength and dynamic balance were measured twice, on the first day and after three weeks. The results before and after the task were compared, and the rates of change in the two groups were compared. [Results] There was a significant difference in functional reach test (FRT) scores in the intervention group and in index of postural stability (IPS) scores in the control group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of IPS and FRT scores. [Conclusions] Our results suggested that standing with weight borne on the toes may be a balance task that helps improve dynamic balance function.

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[Purpose] Position of preliminary research to clarify the influence of standing posture holding motion at toe heel load position on foot morphology was adopted.[Subjects and Methods] The subject was one healthy adult female. The exercise task was a standing posture holding exercise at the foot to heel loading position, and five weekly interventions were carried out continuously for four weeks.[Results] Improvement was observed in the interior vertical arch height ratio, foot flexibility, maximum step size, Leg Heel Alignment, total trajectory length, unit area trajectory length, swaying center displacement (x coordinate) after intervention.[Conclusion] Standing posture hold motion at toe heel loading position increases inner longitudinal arch percentage and improves rear foot alignment. Furthermore, since the maximum step size was improved, it was suggested that it was an exercise for improving the dynamic attitude control function in the forward direction.

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[Purpose] In this time, we devised and developed a “Toe pushing force strengthening training device” as an exercise device for improving standing balance. In this paper, we aimed to explain the significance and usage of this device.[Significance of this device] This training instrument was devised with the aim of helping to improve the stance balance improvement of human beings. The involvement of human's standing balance is strongly related to muscular strength and cooperativeness of each lower limb muscle, and the involvement of toes is paying attention. Among the involvement of the toes, not only the “Toe grasping force” but also the possibility of the “Toe pressing force” which pushes the floor of the toe is drawing attention. In this issue, we focused on that point and devised “Toe pushing force strengthening training device” .[About usage] First of all, standing with both lower limbs on this device, putting both feet bottoms on the foot bottom shape on the device, putting the toes on the fingers of the separating plate on the device. Next, with the standing position, push the separator plate in the floor direction with both toes. By pressing the spring under the separating plate and pushing against the resistance, you can practice muscle strengthening of the flexor muscles of the toe muscles and output coordination.

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