ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between vibration perception and body sway by a gravicorder in patients with type 2 diabetes. 27 type 2 diabetic patients were measured static body sway parameters. The results of this study, significant negative correlations were observed between vibration perception and velocity of foot pressure with close eyes situation, however no correlations were observed with open eyes situation. This study suggests possibility that vibration perception relate velocity of foot pressure with close eyes situation.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status and the activities of daily living in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. In total, 25 patients (9 men, 16 women) were included in this study. The nutritional status (Alb，Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index) and the activities of daily living (Barthel index) were the variables studied. According to the GNRI, 13 patients had a high risk of the cancer, 11 patients had a moderate risk and 2 patients had a low risk. According to the Alb, 22 patients were less than 3.5g/dL. Alb and GNRI showed a significant correlation with toilet use, bathing, mobility, stair climbing and dressing.

ABSTRACT: It is generally said that academic motivation become highest in university students. However, recently university students have become more and more immature. Without “Remedial education” or “First year experience,” normal learning as university students cannot be actually achieved. Students at training schools for physical therapists have to do desk study, clinical practice, and preparation for national examination during three or four years. For them, learning motivation is considered most concrete situational motivation, dependent on the settings and situations. This study investigated academic motivation in students at a training school for physical therapists (three-year junior college) from the first year to graduation, from the perspective of six types of motivations in the “two-factor model of academic motivation,” suggested by Ichikawa (2013). The results indicated correlations between these academic motivations and academic grades. Furthermore, guidance policies for each school year were suggested.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine whether exercise therapy affected flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the brachial artery differently in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and those with lifestyle-related diseases other than diabetes. The diabetes and non-diabetes groups included eight participants in each group. Aerobic exercises were performed at least twice a week for 40 minutes per session. All parameters were measured at the beginning and after 6 months of exercise therapy. FMD in the diabetes group was significantly improved by exercise therapy. In contrast, there was no significant increase in FMD in the non-diabetes group. The diabetes group did not show any significant reductions in waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), or HbA1c level, while waist circumference and BMI in the non-diabetes group were significantly reduced after exercise therapy. Our results demonstrated that endothelial dysfunction in T2DM was improved by exercise therapy, independent of weight-loss or glycemic control.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of functional wear which compression clothing developed having supplementary lines of differing stretch ability (below, FW), specifically in terms of posture control at one leg landing in comparison with simple compression wear (below, CW). Subjects were 22 healthy male and female university students, motion task was the drop Jump landing from 30 cm height. As for the knee joint alignment on the frontal plane, FW was varus position although CW was valgus and neutral position at 40msec and 80msec after landing. As for knee joint moment on the frontal plane, FW showed the varus moment while CW showed the valgus moment at 40msec after landing. While at 80msec after landing, the valgus moment of FW was significantly smaller than that of CW. As a result, FW controlled knee joint valgus alignment and reduced the knee joint valgus moment that could be risk factor of ACL injury. It was thus suggested that FW could contribute to the prevention ACL injury and reoccurrence.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effects of electrical stimulation combined with therapeutic exercise on a seventy-year-old male patient with frozen shoulder. Outcome measures were range of motion and visual analogue scale. The patient was evaluated at the baseline period, the intervention period and the removal period. Our findings demonstrated that electrical stimulation in combination with therapeutic exercise treatment improves shoulder flexion range of motion, horizontal adduction, horizontal abduction, belt-tying movement, visual analogue scale of shoulder flexion, visual analogue scale of horizontal adduction, visual analogue scale of horizontal adduction and visual analogue scale of belt-tying movement. Therefore, it is suggested that electrical stimulation in combination with therapeutic exercise treatment improves shoulder range of motion and reduces shoulder pain in patients with frozen shoulder.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to investigate the autonomic nervous system activity and the psychological effects immediately after a single bout of exercise performed at different intensities. Indexes of autonomic nervous system function and psychological effects were measured through a frequency analysis of heart rate variability and the Japanese version of the short form of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Nineteen healthy adults participated in this study as subjects who were divided into two groups with different programs. Exercise was performed on a cycle ergometer at an intensity of 30% or 60% of the target heart rate calculated by using Karvonen's formula. We compared the index values before and immediately after the single bout of exercise. The results of the comparison between before and after the exercise indicated that parasympathetic nerve index significantly increased at 30% exercise intensity. The scores for tension-anxiety and depression in the POMS significantly decreased at 30% exercise intensity. These findings suggest that a single bout of low level intensity exercise may immediately contribute to the activation of parasympathetic nervous function and improvement in moods.

ABSTRACT: Pain is an essential component of the body's defense system. By painful information from the periphery, we can avoid or reduce tissue damage. Pain reduction is important to improve a person's quality of life. All health care professionals including therapists who treat pain need to learn anatomy and physiology of pain and basic mechanisms of pain medication. On the base of these knowledge, therapists should treat pain with evidence based techniques. In this paper, we review the anatomy and physiology of pain. We also discuss some of the basic mechanisms of pain medication and rehabilitation.

ABSTRACT: First described in Japan in the early 1990s, takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) has gained worldwide recognition. TTC is typically precipitated by a transient ballooning of the left ventricular apex after an emotional or physical trigger. A dramatic and characteristic hallmark of TTC is the complete reversibility of ventricular contraction abnormalities within days to weeks. Since the clinical presentation, electrocardiographic findings, and lab tests are often similar to those of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or acute myocarditis, differential diagnosis is needed to exclude other diseases. Although TTC has been recognized as a benign condition, it is now characterized by substantial morbidity and mortality, which equal those of AMI. In the acute phase, patients are prone to severe complications, such as cardiogenic shock, cardiac rupture and fatal arrhythmia. Therefore monitoring the clinical course is essential to prevent or treat acute complications. Health care professionals also need to consider that TTC onset in a healthcare setting can occur during outpatient medical evaluation or hospitalization for acute illness. This review article summarizes pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of TTC.

ABSTRACT: Aphasia refers to impairment in the language faculty, which is related to speech expression and comprehension, caused by damage to the language center in the cerebrum, and has a major effect on communication ability. Communication ability involves a variety of functions, besides language, such as pragmatic ability, compensatory transfer ability, and general cognitive function; speech- language-hearing therapy is administered in aphasia to improve communication ability by using such other abilities. This review article is a general outline of the characteristics of communication disability caused by aphasia, and of the speech-language-hearing therapy implemented in the recovery period related to communication ability. It also describes the causes of aphasia communication disability, manipulation required to the linguistic environment, and challenges for the future based on recent surveys of discharged patients, and on a study of chronological research in the area.

ABSTRACT: Following the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment® program, multiple treatment options became available to address dysphonia, secondary to Parkinson's disease (PD). One of the treatment methods, developed by Elandary and colleagues of the Parkinson Voice Project (a speech clinic solely specialized for PD) in the U.S., takes a unique, two-layer approach. The program starts with a series of one-on-one therapy sessions (SPEAK OUT!®) followed by a group therapy program designed to maintain speech improvements (LOUD Crowd®). With its catchphrase, “Speak with Intent,” the SPEAK OUT!®/LOUD Crowd® program's aim is to activate the pyramidal system that is relatively intact with PD. Two of the authors (YT and NT) recently participated in the SPEAK OUT!®/LOUD Crowd® workshop for clinicians to learn about this new treatment approach. The present report provides the overview of the program as well as a brief summary of other methods that address speech issues for individuals with PD.