【Introduction】After a fracture of the distal radius, pain and dysfunction are present. Therefore, it can be said that it is necessary to improve the range of motion as soon as possible to prevent further pain or dysfunction.This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of this splint's treatment period and motor function in patients with distal radius fractures.

【Methods】In 11 cases and 12 hands diagnosed with distal radius fracture, a Dynamic Traction Splint by Artificial Muscle (DTSaM) was allowed to be worn for 6 weeks, and the range of motion of wrist flexion and dorsiflexion, forearm pronation and supination was measured every 2 weeks. The angle was evaluated. Furthermore, the function of the wrist joint was evaluated using The Mayo Modified Wrist‐scores (MMWS).

【Results】As a result of the evaluation, there was a significant improvement in the palmar flexion direction after 4 weeks compared to the first time and in the dorsiflexion direction after 2 weeks compared to the first time. In the supination direction, there was a significant improvement after 4 weeks compared to the first time and in the pronation direction after 2 weeks compared to the first time. there was a significant improvement after 2 weeks compared to the first time.

【Conclusion】Furthermore, in MMWS, the total average was 86.3±7.7 points, suggesting that wearing DTSaM may increase the momentum of the flexor carpi radialis and obtain a traction effect. Therefore, it was suggested that DTSaM might be an effective sprint for preventing the appearance of wrist contracture and improving the range of motion at an early stage.

【Introduction】Sensory problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as difficulty in recognizing dangerous sensory information and hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli that are not important to others, affect their daily lives. In order to facilitate their daily lives, objective sensory evaluation is important. In this study, we examined the characteristics of reactions to various sensory stimuli among young children and school‐aged children with ASD or suspected ASD.

【Methods】We included 91 children aged 4 to 13 years who were divided according to age into two groups of 44 young children and 47 school‐aged children. We then compared scores for each item in the Japanese version of the Sensory Profile by quadrant, by section, and by factor. The scores were ranked 1, 2, and 3, indicating average, high, and very high, respectively.

【Results】The results showed that parents of 32 (72.7%) young children and 40 (85.1%) school‐aged children answered “high" or “very high" in at least one of the four quadrants: “low registration", “sensation seeking", “sensation sensitivity", and “sensation avoidance". Significant differences were seen in “low registration" and “sensation avoiding" in scores by quadrant; “auditory" and “multi‐sensory" in scores by section; and “emotionally reactive", “inattention / distractibility" and “poor registration" in scores by factor (p<0.05). Scores were highest across all items for school‐aged children.

【Conclusion】The parents or guardians of school‐aged children might understand their child's sensory problems more acutely than the parents or guardians of young children. Furthermore, it would be helpful for the parents or guardians of young children with ASD to be informed by professionals about sensory biases that may occur within the home and school.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship between patients' destination and ability to perform activities of daily living in geriatric health service facility.

Methods: Participants were 635 patients who were admitted to and later discharged from a geriatric health service facility. Of these, 480 persons were selected for analysis after excluding 155 participants who met the exclusion criteria. Data at the time of admission (sex, age, date of admission, household composition, height, weight, causative disease and previous medical history, and hope of destination) and at the time of discharge (date of discharge, duration of hospitalization, required nursing care level, meal pattern, and ability to perform activities of daily living) were collected from medical and nursing care records.

Results: Compared with the institutional group (275 patients), the home group (205 patients) was significantly younger, had a shorter length of stay, had a higher percentage of patients who required nursing care level 1, had a lower percentage of patients who required nursing care levels 4 and 5, and had a higher percentage of patients whose destination need was their home. In addition, the home group had significantly lower rates of dementia as a causative disease and history, and a higher rate of eating rice‐based meals. Logistic regression analysis (forward stepwise), in which Barthel Index (BI) was entered as the independent variable and the destination was entered as the dependent variable, showed that two items of BI, “walking" and “defecation control," were significantly associated.

Conclusions: In BI, achieving a walking ability of 10 points (with observation or partial assistance) rather than 15 points (independent) is necessary for patients to return home. In the case of defecation control, it was found that aiming for independence in controlling defecation by oneself without incontinence may lead to the patient returning home.

【Objective】Preventing exacerbations is an important disease management goal for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for preventing COPD exacerbations, frequent outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation is difficult due to social backgrounds. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of infrequent outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation in preventing COPD exacerbations.

【Methods】This 12‐month retrospective study included patients with COPD who participated in outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (the pulmonary rehabilitation group) and those who received only outpatient visits (the no‐pulmonary rehabilitation group). The primary outcomes were the presence of COPD exacerbations, the number of COPD exacerbations, and the number of days to the first exacerbation. Data were collected from medical records. Then, statistical analysis was performed by comparing each item between the two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method and log‐rank test were used to compare COPD exacerbations and the number of days to the first COPD exacerbation.

【Results】There were no differences in the number of patients with COPD exacerbations and the primary outcome measures between the groups. However, the number of days to the first COPD exacerbation was significantly longer in the pulmonary rehabilitation group.

【Discussion】Exacerbations were considered to be influenced by the frequency, intensity of exercise, and rehabilitation program. There was no effect on reducing the number of COPD exacerbations or the number of COPD exacerbations. However, it could be that the program promoted active lifestyles and behavioral changes and effectively extended the time to COPD exacerbation.

【Introduction】Goniometer measurements for range of motion are commonly used to determine the presence of knee hyperextension; however, these measurements may differ depending on the participant's limb position and examiner's manipulation. In these manners, we devised an original measurement method using a smartphone that measures the knee joint extension angle independent of the measurement limb position and manipulation. The purpose of this study was to examine the inter‐rater reliability of a smartphone‐based measurement.

【Methods】The knee extension angles of 54 extremities in 27 women (mean age: 21.4 years) were measured by two physiotherapy students, once using a goniometer and once with a smartphone. The smartphone is already installed with free applications called level, inclinometer, and angle meter. The angles measured by each student were compared to calculate the intraclass correlation coefficient (2.1) for each method, and the presence of hyperextended knee was assessed to calculate the kappa coefficient.

【Results】The intraclass correlation coefficient (2.1) for the knee extension angle was 0.22 for the goniometer and 0.89 for the smartphone measures. The kappa coefficient for the diagnosis of hyperextended knee was -0.03 for the goniometer and 0.63 for the smartphone method.

【Conclusion】Measurements using smartphone was classified as “good" in the determination of the intraclass correlations. This suggests that smartphone‐based measurement more accurately reflects the knee extension angle. Moreover, the kappa coefficient for the diagnosis of hyperextended knee for the smartphone method was also classified as “possible," which suggests its potential for assessment.

Development of the Finch as an electrically driven hand prosthesis and investigation of its clinical application in recent years have led the authors to consider the possibility of its use by non‐disabled individuals at educational sites. Consequently, the authors sought to construct a modified model with electrically driven opposing fingers and investigate its potential for educational use. of this prototypical electrically driven hand prosthesis are its splint‐form forearm support body including the wrist joint immobilization orthosis for smooth opening and closing of the opposing fingers and its finger and muscle‐rise sensors. Particularly innovative aspects are its inclusion of the muscle‐rise sensor serving as a switch in the wrist immobilization orthosis and mounting of the muscle‐rise sensor on the extensor carpi radialis muscle. The wrist immobilization orthosis is an attached aluminum plate (hereinafter “metal plate") extending from the back of the hand along the postcubital major axis. When the test subject dorsiflexes their wrist the back of their hand pushes up the metal plate with the opisthenar.Thus, in the forearm postcubital region, the metal plate pushes down the muscle‐rise sensor with the wrist joint as the fulcrum, facilitating operation of the switch. The test results show that the test subject can readily open and close the finger devices unaccompanied by any need for unnatural body movement, and that use in combination with the wrist joint immobilization orthosis is effective even in those with insufficient muscle rise. Although further improvement may be necessary regarding the structure and weight, the study indicates that the electrically driven prosthetic hand model can clearly present the differences in perception and effects from those of a body‐driven prosthetic hand and that educational use will be possible. The purpose of this paper is to report the structure and function of the prototype electrically driven prosthetic hand model for educational use, present the results of utilization tests, and identify aspects that will require further development.

【Objective】

In recent years, the use of virtual reality technology has spread rapidly in the medical and welfare fields and has also found its way in rehabilitation. Nintendo Wii^Ⓡ is one of the most widely used virtual reality systems in the world owing to its ease of use, cost, and accessibility at home. However, to date, the reports of its use in patients with brain tumors are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Wii^Ⓡ‐based rehabilitation for patients with brain tumors.

【Methods】

A scoping review was conducted using PubMed (MEDLINE), the Cochrane Library, and Ichu‐shi Web databases as well as a hand search of the English and Japanese literature from 2006 to 2021. Prior to the literature search, keywords and synonyms related to brain tumors and Wii^Ⓡ were identified, and a search formula was developed to include them. Articles were selected based on a specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.

【Results】

Of the 155 identified studies, three were eligible for review. Subjects included pediatric and adult patients with brain tumors. Wii^Ⓡ‐based rehabilitation was shown to be effective for physical function, activities of daily living (ADL), motivation for physical activity, and distraction from the hospital environment for patients with brain tumors.

【Conclusion】

Wii^Ⓡ‐based rehabilitation was suggested to improve physical function, ADL, and mental status in patients with brain tumors. However, the number of the studies included━only three━was insufficient to demonstrate the efficacy of Wii^Ⓡ‐based rehabilitation in terms of the study design. We therefore hope that more rigorously designed intervention studies will validate its efficacy.