Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the cut-off value of the weight-bearing rate (WBR) on the paretic lower limb that is needed for independent walking without a cane. Methods: The participants were 128 stroke patients. Age, sex, muscle strength of both the paretic and non-paretic lower limbs, Brunnstrom recovery stage of the lower limbs, deep sensation, and the WBR on both the paretic and non-paretic lower limbs were used as variables. The patients who could independently walk in the hospital without a cane were categorized as independent group, and those who walked with a cane, or observation or assistance by a staff member were dependent group. Results: The WBR on the paretic lower limb was most strongly related to independent walking without a cane, and a WBR value of 80.5% on the paretic lower limb gave a clear cut-off value (p<0.05). Conclusions: Although multiple factors affect independent walking without a cane in stroke patients, the WBR on the paretic lower limb is the most useful factor for predicting an independent walking without a cane.

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This study aimed to clarify the effects of sleep deprivation on heart rate during exercise. Eleven healthy males (21.5 ± 1.0 year, 174.4 ± 9.3 cm, 70.7 ± 10.9 kg) performed a 30-min load exercise using a bicycle ergometer at 60% maximal oxygen uptake. This study was carried out over two days: once after a night of normal sleep and once after a sleep-deprived night. The measurements were examined using a two-way ANOVA (time and sleep conditions). Oxygen uptake during middle intensity exercise was not significantly altered by sleep deprivation (p = 0.25), but heart rate was significantly lower (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the use of heart rate for predicting exercise intensity is more effective after a sleep-deprived night.

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In junior high school soccer players, pain was located often in the lower legs, especially the knee joint, groin area, ankle joint, and heel. Pain appeared to have started due to overuse in many cases, indicating that it is important to provide appropriate conditioning to prevent disability. During periods of growth, bones grow rapidly in the direction of the long axis, often making the muscles and tendons relatively short and thereby reducing their flexibility, which in turn impairs muscles, tendons, and the surrounding area. Therefore, stretching is an important conditioning strategy for rapidly growing sport players to maintain flexibility.

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Alzheimer disease is a very important neurodegenerative disorder, especially in Japan because we face an unprecedented aging society. Although name of Alzheimer disease itself is very famous, but its discoverer Alois Alzheimer who is a German neurologist is not well-known in Japan. In this paper, the author briefly described his biography about all through his life based on overseas literature.

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“Care pathway for neurocognitive disorder” (the system to provide the service in an appropriate way according to the stage of neurocognitive disorder) is the comprehensive support system for people with neurocognitive disorder that construct the procedures of the care to respect and enable them to maintain a well-being in a local community and make their own decision in any stage of the neurocognitive disorder, using various social resources.

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