Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of hyperoxic recovery on cardiopulmonary and muscle oxygenation following maximal dynamic exercise. Subjects: Eleven healthy male subjects performed cycle ergometer step exercise for 10 min at 50% predicted maximal oxygen consumption after 10 min of recovery breathing with either room air or a 100% oxygen gas mixture (random order) following maximal exercise. Pulmonary gas exchange was measured and was computed breath-bybreath among the subjects. Continuous measurements of stroke volume and cardiac output were performed using the Portapres device. Venous blood for measurement of lactate was collected before and after step exercise following maximal exercise. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure peripheral tissue saturation in the right vastus lateralis muscle. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that the interaction (recovery breathing × time) was statistically significant with regard to maximal oxygen consumption (P < 0.05) and tissue saturation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that muscle oxygenation during exercise at 50% predicted maximal oxygen consumption might be influenced by the hyperoxic recovery condition following maximal exercise.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of pain on physical functions, activities of daily living (ADL), and physical and mental symptoms before and after exercise therapy in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Ninety-two patients with cancer were divided into two groups according to the absence or presence of pain (painless group; n = 35, painful group; n = 57, respectively). Physical function, ADL, anxiety, depression, and fatigue were evaluated at the start of exercise therapy and at the time of discharge. The analysis revealed that walking speed, Functional Independence Measure, and anxiety significantly improved after exercise therapy in the painless group. In the painful group, knee extensor strength, walking speed, ADL, anxiety, and fatigue improved significantly, and the degree of pain tended to be lower after exercise therapy. These findings indicate that pain is not an inhibitor of exercise therapy, and it is speculated that exercise therapy can improve physical functions, ADL, and physical and mental symptoms in patients with cancer.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of slouching on scapular position. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 25 healthy adult men. We measured the ①thoracic spine angle, ②scapular upward rotation, posterior tilt, and external rotation angle, and ③scapular angle change at arm elevation angles with the arms at the sides(0°) or raised at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120° between an upright position and while slouching. [Results] In a slouched position, arm elevation was 0 to 60° with anterior tilt and internal rotation, and 60° to 90° with internal rotation. In addition, the change in external rotation was large between 30 and 60°, and the change in external rotation and posterior tilt was large between 60 and 90°. [Conclusion] This study suggested that the scapula, with anterior tilt and internal rotation in a slouched position, has a three-dimensional motion that moves from approximately 30° to 60° from the posterior tilt to the external rotation direction.

Changes in academic motivation, self-assessment, and perceived competence in the process of preparing for the national examination using group learning were examined based on the level of academic ability. The results indicated that controlled motivation decreased, and autonomous motivation increased in December, three months after starting the preparation for the national examination, regardless of the original academic grades. Selfassessment and perceived competence also increased after December, regardless of academic grades, with students with low academic grades showing an exceptionally rapid increase. After December, there was a significant positive correlation only between perceived competence and intrinsic motivation, such that perceived competence increased intrinsic motivation. These results suggest that the first three months of the course are crucial for passing the national examination. It is considered essential for students with low academic grades to participate with other students in the learning program for acquiring “explanatory knowledge” during the first three months.

This study evaluated the relationship between the employer and the employees in elderly care facilities, to understand how to nurture a compassionate attitude in the field of medical and welfare work. We asked four questions regarding compassion displayed by the employee with the elderly patients and corresponding four questions about compassion shown by the employer, to the employee. Using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, these two factors were measured and correlated. The results show that compassion from their boss relates the level of compassion shown by the employee to their patients. Moreover, the staff who are more considerate of the patients' needs feel compassion from their employer.

In this study, we investigated the changes in the shoulder range of motion, body composition, and quality of life of a patient who underwent breast cancer surgery, and who had received rehabilitation during hospitalization and of exercise guidance at home. The patient was a 40-year-old female with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy with lymph node dissection at our hospital. The range of motion of the patient's shoulder flexion and abduction was reduced one week and one month post-surgery, but had improved by two months following surgery. The patient's body fat mass and body fat percentage tended to increase until two-months after her discharge. Her upper-limb muscle mass on the operative side showed a decrease at one-month postoperatively compared with one week postoperatively. An improvement in upper-limb muscle mass on the operative side was observed at two months postoperatively, although it remained lower than the mass at one week postoperatively. In terms of the patient's quality of life, no items on the symptom scales had improved after two months. Therefore, in addition to monitoring upper-limb function, the rehabilitation of patients following breast cancer surgery requires the evaluation of body composition and quality of life, and interventions to improve these factors.

【Objective】This study aimed to develop a program of exercise and physical activity to help promote health and employment support【. Methods】The subjects were female workers with breast cancer. The program consists of a concept to introduce exercise and physical activity into the place of work (introduction concept) and a menu of exercise and physical activities (exercise menu). First, physical therapists made a draft proposal, after which we revised the program based on the opinions of managers and female workers.【Results】The introduction concept was developed in two forms, for managers and for female workers. The exercise menu included the following contents in a calendar form: an aerobics exercise; a resistance exercise; and a preventive exercise for musculoskeletal pain.【Conclusion】The present results of the program of exercise and physical activity suggest that it can contribute effectively to the promotion of health and employment support.