[Objective]Although the viscoelasticity of the dorsal trunk skin has also been shown to have a site-specific relationship with the spinal facet joints, the influence of its mechanical action on spinal motion is unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the changes in the viscoelasticity of the dorsal skin at the level of the mid thoracic vertebrae on sitting posture.[Methods]This study included 18 healthy adult males and was conducted in a randomized crossover trial to compare postural changes in the unstretch (UT) and stretch taping (ST) conditions in three postural positions: sitting at rest, maximum anterior pelvic tilt, and maximum posterior pelvic tilt. The taping application method was to selectively change the viscoelasticity of the skin around T7 by considering skin anisotropy.[Results]The results indicated significant shifts of the thoracolumbar junction and lumbar into extension and a significant anterior shift of the pelvic tilt in the sitting at rest under ST condition. The correlation analysis between the body parts in each position under ST condition indicated that taping skin manipulation causes postural changes.[Conclusion]These results are novel findings suggesting that stretch stimuli to the dorsal trunk skin can affect sitting posture.

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[Purpose] The trunk is extremely important for postural control because it has the largest body mass ratio. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between upper body center of mass (UCoM) control, including the trunk, and one-leg standing balance. [Methods] Ten healthy adult males were subjected to a left-right one-leg standing task. The center of mass total locus length (CoM-TLL), center of pressure total locus length (CoP-TLL), CoP-frequency (CoP-Freq), UCoM deviation (UCoM-Dev), trunk lateral flexion angle of the stance leg side, and hip abduction angle of the stance leg side were analyzed. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed on each parameter to examine the relationship. [Results] ​​Significant correlations were found between the CoM-TLL and UCoM-Dev (r = 0.53, p = 0.02), the CoM-TLL and lateral trunk flexion angle to the stance side (r = 0.47, p = 0.04), CoM-TLL and hip abduction angle (r = 0.45, p = 0.04), and CoP-Freq and trunk lateral flexion angle to the stance side (r = −0.64, p = 0.002) in the one-leg standing position.​ [Conclusion] In postural control, some postural parameters were associated with CoM and CoP sway. Postural parameters that contribute to CoM deviation were found to be related to the amount of body sway. Postural parameters that decrease CoM deviance were found to be related to decreases in the amount of body sway and body sway frequency. Therefore, these suggested that different upper body segmentation and mass control strategies were associated with CoM and CoP.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity, reliability, and number of measurements of a method for measuring the lateral arch height of the foot using a new device for measuring the lateral arch height of the foot using a laser beam. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 26 lower extremities of 13 healthy adults (8 males and 5 females). Bland-Altman analysis was performed, and the presence or absence of fixed error and proportional error was calculated and examined for the systematic error between the two measurements of each examiner. A factor analysis was performed to examine the measurement results of the lateral arch height of the foot.[Results] The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.91 within and between 0.76, indicating high reliability. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to calculate the lateral arch height of the foot. [Conclusion] It was suggested that reliability is guaranteed when the same examiner measures the lateral arch height of the foot once. However, there were problems in improving the productivity and stabilizing the quality of the self-made lateral arch height measuring device.

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[Objective] The purpose of this study was to quantify the visual information of physical therapy students observing demonstrations from different positions by using an eye movement measurement device, and to examine their understanding and learning of tasks from different positions. [Methods] The subjects were 24 first-year students from the class of 2021. They were divided into three groups according to their standing position to observe the learning task (ROM-t: Hip flex): a frontal group, a side group, and a monitor group. Subjects eye movements were measured using an eye movement measuring device during the viewing of the learning task video and compared among the three groups. The scores were compared between and within groups. [Results] The results of intergroup and intragroup comparisons of the knowledge confirmation test showed that the scores were significantly higher in the monitors' group. The results of between-group and within-group comparisons of the duration and frequency of gazing at the Area of Interest (AOI) in each session were significantly higher in the monitors' group. In each session, the side group showed significantly higher values for the AOI “ Teacher_Body ” . [Conclusion] It is suggested that the learning effect may be enhanced by presenting visual information in the area to be focused on, as well as by avoiding blind spots in the understanding of the observation position and the acquisition of the technique.

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