The purpose of this study was to examine the inter- and intra-rater reliability of changing muscle shape of each fiber of gluteus medius with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and minimum detectable change (MDC) during the isometric hip abduction contraction of different movement directions using ultrasonography. The subjects of this study were healthy men (mean age : 27.2 years). The motor task was 30% maximum voluntary isometric hip abduction contraction of three different movement directions (1: vertically from the floor, 2: the forward direction 60° from the vertical plane of the floor, 3: backward direction 60° from the vertical plane of the floor). Muscle thickness and the distance of muscle-tendon junction of gluteus medius each fiber during task performance of each exercise were measure using ultrasonography. Then, the rate of change was calculated by an equation. By results, ICC of measurements estimates ranged from 0.721〜0.973. MDC_<95> of measurements were 5.8〜17.7%. Based on these results, we suggest that muscle shape of each fiber of gluteus medius are highly reliable at the isometric hip abduction contraction of different movement directions.

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The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationships between caregiving-related daily hassles and help-seeking behaviors in family caregivers of elderly, and to aim at obtaining the basic information about construction of social support system for family caregivers. Two-hundred twenty three family caregivers who use home care support office were surveyed. The questionnaire included the caregiver's characteristics, recipient's characteristics, caregiving-related daily hassles and help-seeking behaviors. We used the data of 112 family caregivers, and examined the causal relationship model in which weight of caregiving-daily hassles influences help-seeking behaviors, by using the structural equation modeling. The results were as follows, 1) "time constraint", caregiver's gender and stage of long-term care-need were significantly associated with "informal network except relatives", 2) "housework" was significantly associated with "formal network", 3) recipient's gender was significantly associated with "family members and relatives". The above results emphasize the need to construct the social support system for family caregivers in consideration of the relationships between caregiving-related daily hassles and preferences for seeking-help.

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This study investigated the effects of mirror therapy on lower-extremity, using motor imagery training, on ankle dorsiflextion and standing balance in patients with subacute stroke. Participants were total of 16 patients with stroke, all within 12 months post stroke. Participants were randomly divided into two groups (mirror group, mean age 62y and control group, mean age 58y). Mirror group was received mirror therapy program, consisting of nonparetic ankle dorsiflexion movements (100 times) without paretic lower-extremity movement, control group was received sham therapy in the same condition. The angles of dorsiflexion per second were measured by digital high-speed camera and motion analyzing system. Index of Postural Stability (IPS) was calculated with the COP monitor. The median rate of change of the angles of dorsiflexion per second (median 8.5% vs median -8.2%, p<0.05) showed significantly improvement in the mirror group compared with the control group. IPS (median 2.2% vs median -1.0%) showed a non-significant difference between the groups. Mirror therapy (without paretic lower-extremity movement) enhances paretic ankle dorsiflexion recovery in subacute stroke patients. This results would be benefit in developing a more sophisticated approach on paretic lower-extremity without excessive effort.

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In order to determine the association between participation in occupations for occupational therapy (OT) and stress in the disabled elderly, this study measured salivary amylase activity as an objective index of stress. Salivary amylase was measured with a Salivary Amylase Activity Monitor at the start of OT and after it ended. Of 14 participants in OT, 10 (71.5%) had a lower level of activity once OT ended than when OT started. Amylase activity significantly decreased in individuals taking a laxative and individuals participating in occupations besides knitting, so taking a laxative or participating in an occupation besides knitting may have been a factor for the decrease in the level of amylase activity. A faces scale was used to determine subject's perceived level of satisfaction in the OT room and in their private rooms. Subjects' scores on the faces scale were inversely correlated with a decrease in the level of amylase activity. Individuals who knitted tended not to have a lower stress level after OT ended than did individuals who participated in other occupations. However, most individuals who knitted described themselves as "very satisfactory" on the faces scale in the OT room. Thus, maintaining an appropriate level of concentration and alertness appeared to be linked to satisfaction (fulfilment) "doing difficult work" for individuals who knitted.

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The aim of this research is to assess the accuracy of the non-invasive measuring instrument, which is used for routine quality control of diagnostic X-ray equipment. We chose to measure the following parameters : X-ray tube voltage, half value layer (HVL), dose and irradiation time. Along with the precision of the mentioned instrument, we assessed X-ray tube voltage dependency based on various factors (X-ray tube current, irradiation time, SDD and added filtration). The instrument used to measure the X-ray tube voltage was the invasive X-ray tube voltage and current meter, and to measure the dose with ionization Chamber was used. The X-ray tube voltage error and the error in its dependence were within ±3%, this indicated high accuracy. The coefficient of determination R^2 was 0.99, indicating a good correlation. Based on the results, This non-invasive measuring instrument demonstrated high measurement accuracy, and therefore it is a reliable meter for routine quality control.

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