Background: Low-frequency electrical stimulation systems are being developed to convey interpersonal distance information to visually impaired individuals. However, the drive phenomenon, a reduction in signal resolution due to sweating under psychological stress, limits its practical use. Objective: This study aimed to verify whether electrode placement directly over the C7 spinous process (reverse dermatome method) is less susceptible to the effects of sweating and improves reaction time compared to conventional placement on the dorsal forearm under visual deprivation. Methods: Six healthy adults (mean age 58.3±4.7 years) were subjected to low-frequency electrical stimulation under two conditions—dorsal forearm and C7 spinous process—while visually deprived. Participants responded to stimulation triggered by a video simulating human approach, recorded via a 32-inch monitor. Each electrode condition was assessed five times. Signal recognition rate and skin potential were simultaneously recorded. Results: Electrode placement over the C7 spinous process significantly maintained higher recognition accuracy during 15 minutes of use compared to dorsal forearm placement (p<0.01). Signal recognition dropped by 38.7% on the forearm but only 12.3% at the C7 site. Reaction time was significantly shorter with C7 placement (0.87±0.12s vs. 1.35±0.23s, p<0.01). Conclusion: Placement over the C7 spinous process is less affected by sweating and mitigates the signal degradation caused by the drive phenomenon. These findings may enhance the practical application of electrical stimulation systems for guiding the visually impaired.

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Objective: This study aimed to develop a low-cost and practical person-position notification system to support social participation and safe mobility for visually impaired individuals and to verify its validity and reliability. Methods: Six healthy participants (three males and three females, aged 40s to 60s) were recruited. Participants were blindfolded and seated two meters away from a 32-inch monitor displaying videos of a person moving laterally or approaching the viewer. A computer vision system using a Raspberry Pi and camera module detected the person’s position and delivered tactile feedback via electrodes attached to the forearm through an electrical relay. Directional and distance recognition accuracy, total accuracy, reaction time, and subjective evaluation (5-point scale) were measured. A total of 45 randomized trials (9 position patterns: 3 directions × 3 distances, each repeated 5 times) were conducted. Results: The average accuracy for direction recognition was 91.7% (left: 91.7%, center: 93.3%, right: 90.0%), and for distance recognition, it was 85.0% (near: 88.3%, medium: 85.0%, far: 81.7%). Overall recognition accuracy was 85.6%. The average reaction time was 2.1 seconds, with the fastest responses for center direction and near distance. The highest subjective rating was for “clarity of stimulation” (4.2/5.0), while “comfort of stimulation” was rated lower (3.5/5.0). Conclusion: The developed system demonstrated high precision in transmitting direction and distance information and was confirmed to be effective as a support device for the visually impaired. While direction recognition showed high accuracy, distance recognition could benefit from further refinement. As a low-cost and high-performance technology, the system holds practical potential for clinical and daily use.

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Background Since its enactment in 1965, Japanese physical therapy legislation has been based on a framework of providing medical assistance under physician supervision, with insufficient legal foundation for preventive and public health activities in community settings. Purpose This study aims to identify the institutional challenges of the current physical therapy legislation and examine the necessity of institutional design to support public health activities by physical therapists in community settings. Methods The study analyzed legislative texts, published materials from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Japanese Physical Therapy Association, prior research, and newspaper reports using descriptive statistics for organization and analysis. Results Due to legislative deficiencies, community health activities independently conducted by physical therapists have legally unstable positioning, with limited expansion of professional domains and reflection in compensation systems. Health classes, disaster support, and occupational health activities that are being implemented as established practices receive little institutional support. Analysis of articles identified seventy-three cases of physical therapists working outside the legislative framework, with 68.5% of these not receiving continuous public funding. Conclusion Establishing institutional foundations is essential for physical therapists to participate in public health activities in community settings. Amendments to the current legislation are expected to clarify roles and enhance the sustainability of activities.

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Background: Since its enactment in 1965, the Japanese Physical Therapist Act has been based on the framework of medical assistance under the direction of a physician and lacks legal support for preventive and public health activities in the community. Purpose: This study identifies institutional issues in the current Physical Therapist Act and examines the need for an institutional design that supports the public health activities of physical therapists in the community. Methods: Analysis of the articles of the system, published materials of the MHLW and the Japan Physical Therapists Association, previous studies, content analysis of newspaper case studies, and a case study (10 interviews, n=156 questionnaires) on the actual activities in the field were conducted. The collected data were organized and analyzed using qualitative analysis methods (KJ method) and descriptive statistics. Results: Due to inadequacies in the legal system, voluntary community health activities conducted by physical therapists are legally precariously positioned, with limited expansion of job scope and reflection in the compensation system. Health classes, disaster relief, and industrial health activities, which are conducted as a matter of fait accompli, receive little institutional support. From the article analysis, seventy-three initiatives of physical therapists working outside the legal framework were identified, of which 68.5% did not receive continuous support from public funds. . Conclusion: It is essential to develop an institutional basis for the participation of physical therapists in public health activities in the community. Revision of the current law is expected to clarify their roles and make their activities sustainable.

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