Revisiting the Spinal Neural Network Function for Motor Control…Kazuhiko SEKI 564

Effect of Somatosensory Inputs on Spinal Reflex Excitability and Plasticity during Passive Walking…Tsuyoshi NAKAJIMA, Kimitaka NAKAZAWA 567

Neural Mechanisms for Spinal Stretch Reflex Plasticity…Kozo FUNASE 573

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Locomotive Syndrome Today and Its Relationship with other Lifestyle-related Diseases…Kozo NAKAMURA 579

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Gait Disturbance in Community-dwelling Elderly…Yuji NISHIWAKI 585

Economics of Locomotive Syndrome…Yasufumi HAYASHI, Mari ITO, Yoshiko SASAKI 591

Sarcopenia and Locomotive Syndrome in Community-dwelling Elderly Women…Hunkyung KIM 596

Locomotive Syndrome as an Obstruction to Metabolic Syndrome Countermeasures…Motohiko MIYACHI 600

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A Community based Rehabilitation Approach in Kanagawa Prefecture…Kenshaku TEI 604

Community based Rehabilitation : A Look at the Chiba Rehabilitation Center…Katsunori YOSHINAGA, Yasuyuki TANAKA, Reiko OHTA, Masayuki IIZUKA, Naoko Katoh, Masanori WADA, Eri AKAOGI, Masayuki SOMEYA, Michiyo EHARA, Tae Hyun LEE 609

Promoting Community based Rehabilitation : From the Position of a Prefectural Rehabilitation Support Center…Goro OHSAKA 613

Rethinking Community Rehabilitation Support Center Management : From the Standpoint of a Direct Service Provider in an Urban Setting…Fujiko HOTTA, Koji YANAGIHARA, Yasufumi HAYASHI 618

Message from the Countryside : A Comprehensive Regional Association is required to support People with Higher Brain Function Disorder…Shiho TOYOOKA 621

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Objective : To clarify the characteristics of memory impairment caused by ruptured aneurysm induced subarachnoid hemorrhage, we examined memory function using the auditory verbal learning test (AVLT). Methods : Subjects were 45 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by ruptured aneurysm in 14 anterior cerebral arteries (ACA), 12 middle cerebral arteries, 7 vertebrobasilar arteries (VA), and 12 internal cerebral arteries. We discussed the scores of short-term memory (STM), total immediate memory (TIM), verbal learning ability (VLA), retroactive interference effect (RI), recognition and learning curve in different portions of ruptured aneurysm. Additionally, we compared them with healthy subjects (HS). Results : The scores of VLA in ACA were lower than that in HS, and the scores of RI in VA were higher than that in HS. There were no difference in STM, TIM and recognition among groups. The learning curve in ACA and VA were flattening in later trials. Conclusion : Because patients after ruptured subarachnoid hemorrhage in ACA and VA have higher rate of memory impairment, we supposed detailed assessment for memory is important.

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Recently the unique functional characteristics of bi-articular muscles have been revealed by means of EMG kinesiological analysis and control engineering analysis. A two-joint limb link mechanism provided with one antagonistic pair of bi-articular muscles passing over two adjacent joints as well as two antagonistic pairs of mono-articular muscles at both end joints could control output forces exerted at the end point of the link mechanism in an arbitral direction with only a single input command signal informing the desired direction. The output force distribution of the limb link mechanism with three pairs of six muscles showed a hexagonal shape, whereas the link mechanism without the paired bi-articular muscles and only with the two pairs of mono-articular muscles showed a tetragonal shape. Configurational characteristics of the hexagonal output force distribution indicated that an individual functionally different effective muscular strength can be evaluated from the output force values of four designated points on the output force distribution line. Such a limb link mechanism could also dissolve contact tasks in order to maintain postural stability. Clinical applications utilizing the unique control properties of bi- articular muscles may shed light on future rehabilitation medicine therapies.

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