It is important to evaluate quantitatively physical activity and gait state for stroke patients before and after leaving hospital. In this study, using a wearable posture changes and gait analysis system, measurements of the activities of daily living for patients were carried out on 5 occasions: in hospital, after leaving hospital, and 1, 2 and 3 months after leaving hospital. As a result, detailed information has been measured, as the ratio of standing and walking, the frequency of posture change, the steps, the frequency of gait, the moving distance during stance phase of a paralyzed side, and the average walking speed. Moreover, the relevance of the evaluation index of this system and Life-Space Assessment, LSA was checked from the result of correlation analysis. And, about each measurement time, I revealed what physical activity of the patient will affect the range of activity. Therefore, this technique was useful to physical activity and gait state for stroke patients before and after leaving hospital.

View full abstract

The employment statistics on persons with disabilities published by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare includes the number of employed, an indicator of the employment situation, but not the employee turnover rate which indicates whether employees with disabilities maintain their employment. The authors thus attempt to estimate the employee turnover rate for persons with disabilities. The authors employ an original method using data on the annual number of employees with disabilities, its increase relative to the previous year, and the number of hirings. The result shows that, based on a comparison with persons with physical disabilities and those with intellectual disabilities, the employee turnover rate for persons with mental disabilities is significantly high. It is considered that the employee turnover rate is important data for understanding whether persons with mental disabilities maintain their employment.

View full abstract

To improve the community life of people with mental disorders, job support is an important task. However, measures and policies for people with mental disorders have yet to be implemented, and no sufficient support methods have been established for these patients. We performed a survey to clarify the needs and actual situations of people with mental disorders in Kashiwara City. The items of the survey included local exchange activities, motivation in life, and willingness to work. The survey was completed by 27 subjects. Most of the subjects were welfare-related workers accounting for 41%; none were regular workers. No local exchange activities were noted in 74% of the subjects, while 89% hoped to work. Although the number of subjects in this survey was insufficient to extrapolate the survey results beyond the present situations in Kashiwara City, Osaka Prefecture, there are many people with mental disorders who have a strong willingness to work. So, the trial of employing such people should be done, first of all. The job support for people with mental disorders will be needed in their daily life. It is important that they can feel fulfilled by working in the community and being able to become economically independent.

View full abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effect of a writing movement exercise using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) evaluation with a subjective evaluation method and compared the two evaluations. The subjects were ten healthy people (seven men, three women; average age, 31.8±9.5 years old). The subjects performed a writing movement exercise and evaluated writing accuracy in pre and post exercise stages. A significant improvement in writing accuracy between pre and post writing movement exercises was determined for the OCR method and subjective evaluation(p<0.05). However, subjective evaluation results showed that the ratio of subjects who evaluated the value that all the raters did equivalence of was low.

View full abstract

Introduction: We examined that relationship between the nutrition status and the activities of daily living in middle and old age patients requiring rehabilitation. Methods: The subjects consisted of 51 inpatients, with an average age of 74 years old. The nutrition status was evaluated based on the serum albumin (Alb) and total protein (TP) levels. We used the Barthel index (BI) to evaluate the activities of daily living (ADL), and we also examined the nutrition status in relation to the BI and feeding ability. Results: The Alb and the TP demonstrated a significant correlation the total BI score. In addition, we found a significant correlation between the Alb and the feeding ability. Conclusion: In addition to evaluating the physical function of patients, it is also important to examine the nutrition status of such patients in order to effectively carry out rehabilitation.

View full abstract

The knowledge of pain has progressed by “Decade of Pain Control and Research” in the past ten years. However, clinical application has not been carried out yet in Japan. The present study aimed to review the evaluation and rehabilitation to carry out clinical application.

View full abstract

The effects of diabetes mellitus include the long-term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs. Neuropathies are the most common complication of diabetes mellitus, and neuropathies severely decrease a patient's quality of life. Diabetic neuropathies can be classified as generalized polyneuropathies and mononeuropathies. Furthermore, diabetic polyneuropathy is sub-classified as sensory/motor neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy. Gastroparesis and hypoglycemia unawareness associated with autonomic neuropathy are also factors affecting the physical activity in diabetic patients. The purpose of diabetes rehabilitation is to maintain

View full abstract

It is important to evaluate the effect of intervention for practice of evidence-based rehabilitation. Selecting the most appropriate outcome measure helps clinicians make better clinical decision. We introduce 6 main factors (subject of measurement, purpose of measurement, type of measurement, measurement scale and psychometric properties, factor of the subject, spatial, temporal and physical factor) that should be considered when selecting the most appropriate outcome measure in clinical practice and provide the useful information such as standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change. Furthermore, we introduce the utilization of the Functional reach test, 10m maximum walking speed and stroke physical performance scale. They often become a target to assess physical performance in rehabilitation.

View full abstract