Effects of lifestyle on bone metabolism were investigated in 5 1 middle-aged and aged women. We measured lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) at the baseline and at the end of I -year period using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Then we collected additional information from questionnaires and investigated lifestyle. We also evaluated the incidence of 'low BMD' based on the diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis and slow bone losers based on the change of BMD. Many subjects had never drunk milk habitually and never exercised regularly. However, many have drunk milk habitually and exercised regularly. Many subjects have taken exercise of table tennis, tennis or swimming etc more than 2 hours a week and about 3 times a week They were highly aware of their diet and physical activity. Their BMD level was high compared with the standard BMD for healthy Japanese woman. They were a few ' Low BMD' and many slow bone losers. Based on these results, Even if they had never drunk milk habitually and exercised regularly, habitual milk intake and regular physical exercise will be able to prevent decline of BMD. High dietary and exercise awareness appear to be important for preventing osteoporosis.

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The aim of this research was to identify the key factors influencing human task performance. Moreover, the relationship between these factors was expressed as a mathematical model and the validity of the model was experimentally investigated. The factors influencing "efficiency" and "effectiveness" as human task performance categories stipulated by the ISO Guidelines were determined based on the results of earlier research. As a result, three factors, 'task difficulty," "adaptability," and "psychologrcal physiological effect" were selected from among an array of factors It was then considered whether the relationship among these factors could be mathematically expressed as an equilibrium relation in the form of a Speed Accuracy Trade-off, in reference to the concepts of the study by Navon, Gopher and so on. The resulting relation was proposed as a mathematical model, and the relevance of this model was verified through an experimental target-selection task on a pen-tablet system. As a consequent of the experiment, the equilibrium point of performance on the Speed Accuracy Trade-off grid showed movement. Regardless of changes in the experimental conditions, a constant relation of adaptability was confirmed. In other words, this result showed that performance might be evaluated and estimated mathematically even if there were changes to the given set of task conditions.

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The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of data-obtained by using a hand-held dynamo meter for large-scale (approx. 500 subjects) measurements of tongue generated by the elbow joint, and to preliminarily determine make-tests and break-tests charactaristic of the hand-held dynamo meter. The hand-held dynamo meter was compared with the Primus muscle strength testing system in terms of verification of the accuracy. The data acquisition repeatability of examiners was also investigated to assess the accuracy of the use of the sensor, and the validity of the adoption of the hand-held dynamo meter was investigated by them. We determined differences between make-tests and break-tests in 50 subjects . There was a significant difference in results between the make-tests and the break-tests (Make < Break). The break/make ratio was higher in extension (1.38 to 1.70) than in flexion (1.18 to 1.29). The tendency would be noticeable if the test subject was a female. Furthermore, we examined the degree of contribution of each muscle to the elbow joint complex during the make-tests and break-tests by electromyography. The results showed that increase in the activity of the biceps brachii muscle had influence on the relationship between the make-test and break-test results (Make < Break).

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the work posture and the work load in work to change adult diapers of nursing staffs done by the nursing elderly person health welfare facilities. Five healthy nursing staffs are participated to this study. The investigated work was the change of adult diapers work of three heavy elderly disabled. The work posture measured every ten seconds directly by the observation method by using the work posture classification code. The load of the body during the work was assessed by Heart Rate (HR). The result was as follows. As for the work posture changing adult diapers, 60% was fixed by the advanced forward bending of 30- 70 degrees in the spine. The appearance ratio of the work posture was the highest in the change of adult diapers work of the elderly disabled with the heaviest physical disability. The nursing staffs had HR more than 100bpm in 85% of their working times. In the nursing staffs, a negative significant correlation(r = -0.659,p < 0.05) was found between their working times and %HRreserve. %HRreserve was a high tendency in the nursing staffs with short working times.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the instruction of walking in water for the middle-aged using digital movies in computer (DMC) and paper-based illustrations and texts (PIT) on the recognition of exercise intensity. One hundred and one volunteers aged at 35 -64 years, including 50 males and 51 females, were instructed five different walking styles in water using both DMC (n=50) and PIT (n=51). According to two-way ANOVA, the score, which estimated as accuracy of the order of exercise intensity for each walking style, in the instruction of DMC was higher than that of PIT (p<0.05), and the experience of walking in water also affected the score (p < 0.05). Furthermore, DMC was more comprehensive in the movement of walking in water than PIT for the middle-aged. In conclusion, it is possible that DMC may assist to recognize exercise intensity of walking in water, and also that DMC could prove useful as an instructional material.

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