Abstract: 　This study investigates the impact of viewing clinical judgment physiotherapy videos on the perception of physiotherapy among new university students in the Department of Physical Therapy, focusing on whether prior personal experience with physiotherapy affects this perception. It highlights the challenge in shaping a standardized positive image of physical therapy due to varying experiences and perceptions among students. Specifically, the research aimed to discover if such videos could positively alter the image of physiotherapy among students, irrespective of their personal treatment history. A total of 142 students participated, undergoing pre-assessment surveys, viewing a clinical scenario video, and then taking post-viewing surveys to evaluate changes in their perceptions. The video depicted a physiotherapy session aimed at treating orthostatic hypotension using a tilting table, intending to provide a realistic insight into physiotherapeutic clinical judgment and procedures. Results showed a nuanced impact: while there was no significant overall change in positive perception, a detailed analysis revealed a decrease in positive perception among students with prior physiotherapy experience but an increase among those without. This suggests that prior experience with physiotherapy might anchor students' perceptions, potentially limiting the efficacy of video interventions in altering these views. The discussion section delves into the implications of these findings, noting the anxiety about physiotherapy's life-threatening actions among experienced students and the increased understanding and interest among inexperienced students. It argues for the necessity of broadening students' perceptions of physiotherapy beyond their initial experiences, stressing the legal and educational framework within which physiotherapy operates in Japan. The paper suggests that private universities face a delicate balance in providing legally compliant education that also motivates students and prepares them for diverse careers in physiotherapy. In conclusion, the study underscores the importance of introductory education in physiotherapy that accommodates students' varied backgrounds and perceptions, aiming to foster a uniformly positive and comprehensive understanding of the profession. It suggests that exposure to clinical situations through videos can influence students' motivation and perception, albeit differently based on their prior experiences with physiotherapy.

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This study investigates the relationship between living environment, specifically Walk Score, and vascular health among the elderly in Ogimi Village, Okinawa, Japan. Unlike previous studies linking Walk Score with physical activity and health which has low average income yet notable longevity, affect health differently. The study focuses on vascular health indicators: pulse wave velocity and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) among residents stratified by Walk Score, a measure of walkability. Using a cross-sectional design, the study analyzed twenty individuals aged eighty-five and older, part of a larger cohort study begun in 2016. It examined the distribution of vascular health outcomes within clusters formed based on Walk Score, utilizing cluster analysis to assess differences in health indicators among groups. The findings suggested that while Walk Score could influence health behaviors and outcomes, its impact on vascular health in this population was not significant. This discrepancy might be due to the unique social and environmental context of Ogimi Village, including its mountainous terrain and social capital, which could foster health literacy and behaviors not captured by Walk Score. The study concluded that while Walk Score provides a useful measure of walkability, its relationship with health outcomes, particularly vascular health, may vary based on local context. It highlights the importance of considering community-specific factors in assessing the impact of the living environment on health. Further research is needed to explore how social and environmental factors contribute to longevity and health in unique settings like Ogimi Village.

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Japan's universal health insurance system ensures that hospital stays are decided solely by medical necessity rather than financial constraints. However, the system imposes standardized lengths of stay, with hospitals facing reduced insurance payments for delays beyond these standards. This incentivizes careful management of non-medical factors extending hospital stays, such as those caused by accidents. One focus is the rehabilitation programs in Convalescent Rehabilitation Wards (CRWs), designed to address this issue. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the progression of grip strength over time and the frequency of incidents occurring post-discharge from bedridden states. The research, conducted from June 1 to August 30, 2023, in a 200-bed hospital ward found in suburban Japan, was a cross-sectional and observational study. Participants were adult patients admitted within one week of hospitalization, who consented to take part, excluding those with conditions making medical measurements challenging, significant visual or vestibular dysfunction, or scoring below 10 on the Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale. Recruitment involved obtaining approval from the hospital director and finding eligible patients through physical therapists at the hospital. The study analyzed data from 41 of 42 participants, including one exclusion due to ill health. The analysis adhered to the intent-to-treat principle, including all participants with missing data. Participants formed sixteen with general orthopedic diseases, twelve with spinal disorders, eight with cerebrovascular diseases, four with disuse syndrome, and one with other conditions, totaling twenty-eight women and thirteen men. Results showed significant differences in grip strength achievement times between genders, with women reaching largest grip strength faster than men on average. After excluding an outlier with a 16-second largest grip strength achievement time, the significant difference disappeared, showing that, on average, women reached largest grip strength quicker than men. The study concluded that using largest grip strength achievement time as a metric could significantly differentiate between the potential for incidents, suggesting its clinical utility. The cutoff point in time to reach maximum grip strength was 2.54 seconds for females and 4.23 seconds for males, which was significantly shorter for females. The AUC of the time to reach maximum grip strength exceeded 0.72 in discriminating incident accidents and was superior to the estimation of the frequency of grasping accidents based on grip strength information alone.

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