Previous studies have revealed that physical activity can affect brain function and cognitive decline. Additionally, we confirmed that brain activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during a cognitive task was correlated with cognitive function. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that brain activation also affects cognitive function, which increases due to stimulation from physical activity. The purpose of this study was to verify causal relationships between physical activity, PFC activation, and cognitive function using the statistical method of path analyses in a multi-model approach.Forty-six healthy volunteers (10 males, mean age: 76.1, standard deviation: 6.8) participated in this study. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Seirei Christopher University (approval No. 10067). We assessed physical activity via participants’self-reports, determined PFC activation during a dual task using near-infrared spectroscopy, and measured cognitive function with the Trail-Making Test Part B. To determine the causal relationship between physical activity, PFC activation, and cognitive function, path analyses were conducted using AMOS 16 structural equation modeling. The structural equation model was a good fit (root mean square error of approximation = 0.001). Several significant direct paths were identified: (1) from physical activity to PFC activation (b = 0.37), and (2) from PFC activation to cognitive function (b = 0.32). This study statistically revealed the causal relationships between physical activity, PFC activation, and cognitive function. Path analyses indicated that physical activity affected cognitive function via PFC activation.

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To determine what factors cause prolonged hospitalization at a convalescent rehabilitation ward, 54 stroke patients were divided into a below-average group and an above-average group based on the average duration of hospitalization, and age, sex, type of stroke, duration from onset of stroke to admission, discharge destination after hospital, structure of households, housing situation, FIM score for motor items on admission, and FIM score for cognitive items on admission were compared. Five factors, namely, old age, discharge to a location other than home, living alone, low FIM score for motor items on admission, and low FIM score for cognitive items on admission, were identified as significant factors that caused prolonged hospitalization. When multivariable logistic regression was performed using these five items as independent variables and the duration of hospitalization as the dependent variable, two factors, namely, living alone and low FIM score for motor items on admission, were significantly associated with prolonged hospitalization.

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Study on control cable system for functional upper-extremity prostheses has been offering since the last 50 years. There has been a great discussion about functional upper-extremity prostheses in Japan. However, expert of prosthesis and orthosis cast doubts in how it will be used in the field of medical and vocational rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status and problems of functional upper-extremity prostheses. CiNii, Medical Online, and Ichushi Web were searched for key words upper-limb prostheses and functional upper-extremity, publications on the subject on and after August 8, 2013. In total, 109 articles were reviewed and analyzed. It should be noted that numerous articles were found on functional in using pulley unit and comfort in using the adjustable axilla loop. However, we found that a dearth of information is available on design and lightweight of functional upper-extremity prostheses. In consequence, the rests from this review indicates that further study is necessary to functional upper-extremity prostheses.

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The number of patients with Parkinson’s disease tends to increase with population aging. Recently, the evidence of the efficacy of the rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease has been recognized. In this article, we focused on gait and balance disorder and described the interventions based on recent findings. In addition, we introduced our outpatient rehabilitation program to patients with Parkinson’s disease. It is important for therapists to confirm recent findings and to provide patients with optimum rehabilitation program.

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