Objective: We investigated the association between public bath use and social capital (SC) in community-dwelling older adults, and the potential of public baths as community gathering places that contribute to preventive care.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on the usage frequency, purpose, SC, and health status of older adults who used public baths in Nishinari Ward, Osaka City. We compared health-related variables by frequency of use and analyzed the relationship between public bath use and SC.

Results: Our results showed that the group with a high frequency of public bath use had significantly greater trust in community and interaction with neighbors (p<0.05), and total SC score than the low-frequency group (p<0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed significant positive associations between the frequency of public bath use and trust in the community (odds ratio [OR] 4.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.57-15.83, p<0.01) or interactions with neighbors (OR 3.4, 95%CI 1.37-8.42, p<0.01), independently.

Conclusion: A frequent use of public baths could positively impact fostering SC. Public baths may play a role as community gatherings that contribute to preventive care.

Objective: To clarify the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) practice status and objective physical activity (PA) level of older people living in rural area with respect to sex and characteristics of those with reduced skeletal muscle mass.

Methods: The study enrolled 55 adults aged ≧65 years, and those with reduced skeletal muscle mass were selected based on the AWGS2019 criteria. The Modified Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) and an activity meter with a triaxial accelerometer were used for IADL and PA measurement, respectively and measurements were taken during non-snowy season. Comparisons were made between the two groups classified by sex and skeletal muscle mass.

Results: Women performed more indoor housework and more light-intensity PA(LPA) than men, especially high light-intensity PA (HLPA). Older adults who maintained skeletal muscle mass were characterized by higher FAI work and more frequent Long-bout moderate to vigorous PA (≧10 minutes) in men, and higher FAI outdoor housework and more frequent Shor-bout LPA (<10 minutes) in women.

Conclusions: Gender differences in lifestyle behaviors and PA need to be considered to support healthy living among the elderly.

Objective: We examined whether the extent of assistance required for the residents of the geriatric health services facility to use toilets was associated with knee extension strength (KES) and determined the cut-off value of KES needed to enable partial assistance during the use of toilet.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were divided into two groups depending on the extent of assistance needed for using the toilet, as measured by Barthel Index (the partial assistance group and the complete assistance group). We examined whether KES was associated with the extent of assistance provided and investigated the cut-off value of KES for which toilets could be used with partial assistance.

Results: In total, 117 participants (82 in the partial assistance group and 35 in the complete assistance group) were included. In the partial assistance group, KES was higher than in the complete assistance group. The cut-off value of KES for partial assistance required while using the toilet was 0.16 kgf/kg. Multivariable-adjusted logistic analysis showed that KES was significantly associated with the extent of assistance needed after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusion: KES was associated with the extent of assistance required for residents of the geriatric health services facility and the cut-off value of KES for partial assistance was 0.16 kgf/kg. Our results suggest that strengthening KES to the point of this cut-off value may reduce the level of assistance required while using the toilet.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of differences in outdoor walking ability in community-dwelling people requiring support or care.

Methods: 48 patients who were able to walk outdoors at level 3 or higher in the Functional Ambulation Classification of the Hospital at Sagunto and who used the hospital's day rehabilitation service were included in the analysis. They were divided into neighborhood walking and intra-regional walking groups, and the characteristics of the differences in outdoor walking ability were compared. The following items were used for evaluation: comfortable walking speed (m/s), Timed Up & Go test (TUG), social integration items of the Quality of Community Integration Questionnaire (QCIQ), and the Walk Score.

Results: The number of participants in the neighborhood walking group was 29, and the number of participants in the community walking group was 19. Significant differences were found between the two groups in comfortable walking speed, TUG, frequency of shopping, and money management, which are sub-items of the social integration items of the QCIQ.

Conclusions: Differences in outdoor walking ability were suggested by walking speed, TUG and activities outside the home.

Objective: In this preliminary study, we investigated the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in 99 outpatients who underwent lower extremity joint replacement surgery, to address the growing need for cost-effective healthcare solutions that facilitate maintenance and improvement of physical function, activity levels, and daily living capabilities post-discharge.

Methods: The telerehabilitation intervention was task-oriented, involving patients performing exercises selected by an assigned therapist for approximately 20 minutes five times a week to achieve specific goals. Propensity score matching was used to compare 19 patients who received telerehabilitation interventions with 19 control group patients.

Results: Significant improvements in endurance and exercise tolerance were uncovered within the intervention group, as evidenced by the outcomes of the 6-minute walk test. Moreover, remarkable improvement in psychological aspects was observed, with significant progress in pain self-efficacy and joint function, measured by the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, respectively.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential role of telerehabilitation in strengthening physical rehabilitation outcomes and its positive effects on psychological well-being, which underscores the usefulness of this intervention as a comprehensive postoperative care strategy for patients who undergo joint replacement surgery. Future large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are warranted to validate the aforementioned findings. This preliminary study provides a foundation for further development and clinical application of telerehabilitation.

Objective: With the promotion of inclusive education, we conducted a survey to investigate how often rehabilitation professionals, particularly physical therapists, visit public elementary and junior high schools in local communities as external specialists and the nature of their activities.

Method: We surveyed the boards of education in Osaka Prefecture regarding the implementation and content of programs involving physical therapists and other professionals regularly visiting local schools.

Results: The survey revealed that 29.3% of the areas implemented physical therapist visitation programs. Of those, 83.3% of the therapists worked as part-time staff. The primary target group for these visits was children with physical disabilities, and 33.3% of the municipalities included children with developmental disabilities. The activities conducted during these visits included medical interventions, life skills guidance, and providing instruction and consultation to teachers and caregivers during the students' independent activity time.

Discussion: The results suggested challenges related to budgetary constraints and a lack of recognition regarding the need for physical therapists to work directly under the boards of education. Additionally, the results highlighted the need to raise awareness about the role of physical therapists in supporting children with developmental disabilities.

Introduction: To examine the factors related to the activities of daily living (ADL) of participants admitted to community-based care units at the time of discharge.

Methods: This study included 86 participants (mean age 84±9 years, 43% male). ADL was assessed by the Barthel index (BI). Multiple regression analysis used BI at discharge as the dependent variable, and grip strength, knee extension muscle strength, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and the Hasegawa dementia rating scale-revised (HDS-R) as independent variables.

Results: The SPPB [standardized partial regression coefficient: 0.32, p=0.02] and HDS-R [0.36, p<0.01] were found to related BI at discharge.

Conclusion: SPPB and HDS-R at admission were found to related BI at discharge in patients admitted to community-based care units.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between frailty, sarcopenia, and site-specific body of muscle mass in elderly female patients.

Methods: The subject sample included 54 elderly female patients with musculoskeletal disorders who were discharged from a comprehensive community-based care wards and who were ≧65 years old. Using a kihon checklist to evaluate frailty, the patients were classified into the non-frail group with a total score of 7 points or less and the frail group with a total score of 8 points or more. In addition to muscle thickness in four parts of the body, as well as SARC-F as an assessment of sarcopenia, grip strength, and Barthel Index (BI) were measured. Statistical analysis was performed via multiple regression analysis using the stepwise method to elucidate factors associated with the total kihon checklist score, sarcopenia, and site-specific body of muscle mass.

Results: The frail group scored higher than the non-frail group on instrumental and social activities of daily living, physical function, oral function, housebound, cognitive function, and depressed mood. In addition, the total kihon checklist score was significantly associated with SARC-F scores and the muscle mass of the posterior lower legs.

Conclusion: It was suggested that the group of elderly female frail patients was associated with the possibility of sarcopenia and loss of the muscle mass of the posterior lower legs.