ABSTRACT Introduction: In recent years, small and lightweight three-dimensional (3D) scanners have been used to measure circumference, surface area, and volume of the body or objects; however, their measurement reliability remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the reliability of measuring the circumference, surface area, and volume of a body part or an object using the handheld 3D scanner. Methods: Regarding the intra-rater reliability, one examiner measured and calculated the circumference, surface area, and volume of the upper arm of three participants. Regarding the inter-rater reliability, three objects were scanned by three different examiners, and the circumference, surface area, and volume were calculated. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to evaluate the reliability of 3D scanner (Artec Eva scanner) in this study. Study 1 investigated the intra-rater reliability ICC (1, 1), whereas Study 2 investigated the inter-rater reliability ICC (2, 1). Results: The intra-rater reliability, surface area 0.98, and volume ICCs are ICC 0.98, 0.98, and 0.99, respectively, whereas the inter-rater reliability, surface area, and volume ICCs are all 1.00, showing high reliability. Conclusion: This study suggests that the 3D scanner is a clinically efficient device for measuring the circumference, surface area, and volume of a body part or an object.

ABSTRACT Objective: The use of social-networking services (SNSs) is increasing among young Japanese people. Previous studies showed that psychological stress via SNS has increased in Japanese undergraduate students, including physical therapy students. However, little is known about the impact of SNS usage on self-learning activity (self-LA) and physical activity (PA) in Japanese undergraduate physical therapy students. In this study, we aimed at clarifying the association between them using a single-university cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 113 second- to fourth-year undergraduate physical therapy students (aged 19–22 years) volunteered for this study. Using selfadministered questionnaires, the participants answered questions regarding SNS usage, such as the purpose of SNS usage (e.g., communicating with friends, selfpromotion, collecting information, building friendship), self-LA, and PA, including vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), moderate-intensity PA (MPA), walking, moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA), and sitting. Results: Data of 84 participants (65 men and 19 women) were analyzed. Stepwise multiple regression analysis after adjusting for gender showed that self-LA did not change by other variables, VPA decreased in the upper year, MPA was lower in the participants who had the purpose of “self-promotion” through SNS than in those who did not, walking and MVPA decreased in the upper year and were higher in the participants who had the purpose of “building friendship” through SNS than in those who did not. There was no association between sitting and SNS usage. Conclusion: We found that SNS usage had no impact on self-LA; however, it had both a negative and positive impact on PA among participants. Proper assessment and management of SNS usage may be important to increase PA among Japanese undergraduate physical therapy students.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hair mineral analysis is a method used to predict the development of hay fever and schizophrenia, and is becoming common in Japan. Meanwhile, the medical checkup rate for osteoporosis in Japan was reported to be as low as 5.0%, and it is difficult to educate young people about the risk of bone mineral density loss. To prevent osteoporosis, it is necessary to increase the peak bone mass until the early 20s. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between the concentration of minerals in hair and self-reported osteoporosis, for the primary prevention of osteoporosis. Methods: A questionnaire survey about lifestyle habits was conducted and the concentrations of five different minerals in the hair shaft were measured in 200 female participants. Results: The results indicated that self-reported osteoporosis is significantly associated with advanced age (p<0.05) and low concentration of phosphorus (P) in the hair (p<0.01). Additionally, the multivariate logistic analysis model, which examined age and phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in hair, showed statistical significance (p=0.014). The odds ratios for age, P, and Ca were 1.11, 0.00, and 0.77, respectively. Furthermore, the predictive ability of this model was moderate. Measurement of P and Ca concentrations in hair can be used to evaluate the risk of osteoporosis because these two minerals are components of hydroxyapatite. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that measuring the concentration of minerals in hair during regular haircuts would be a useful method to predict the risk of osteoporosis among young people. The measuring of hair P and Ca concentrations may contribute to primary prevention of osteoporosis in young female.

ABSTRACT Several previous studies have reported the balance cut-off value associated with activities of daily living independence in patients who suffered a stroke; however, the cut-off value may change over time post a stroke. If these cut-off values after the stroke are clarified according to the period, they will become more appropriate target values for rehabilitation. This retrospective observational study included 157 first-stroke patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated using an independent/dependent group of activities of daily living items serving as dependent variables and the Berg balance scale scores serving as independent variables. Measurements were made at 1-, 2-, and 3-month after the stroke. Cutoff values were calculated if the receiver operating characteristic curves were >0.9. The Berg Balance Scale cutoff value for classifying the independence of toileting was 43 points at the 1-month, 42 points at the 2-month, and 39 points at the 3-month after stroke. The cutoff values for dressing was 44 points at the 1-month, 41 points at the 2-month, and 41 points at the 3-month after stroke. The cutoff values for stair-climbing ability were 53 points at the 2-month and 49 points at the 3-month after stroke. Our results indicated the cut-off values of balance associated with activities of daily living independence at each time point at 1, 2, and 3 months after the onset of stroke were clarified, and these are expected to help set the target value for rehabilitation considering the time post the onset of stroke in convalescence rehabilitation wards