Objective：The movement of an elderly person involving stepping over a bathtub makes them prone to falls and requires caution. Gait analysis suggested that the risk of falling increases with time spent in supporting both legs. A similar relationship was expected for side-straddling motion. This study aims to analyze differences in the side-straddling movements between THA patients who did not fully recover their functional balance, mobility, or walking ability from the viewpoint of the ratio of time spent supporting both legs.

Methods：Eleven patients with hip osteoarthritis underwent initial unilateral THA via a posterior approach. Using a portable three-dimensional motion analyzer, we calculated the percentages of time spent supporting both legs while entering the bathtub, and exiting the bathtub with a handrail and examined the factors associated with percent of the time spent supporting both legs.

Results：The percentage of time spent supporting both legs when exiting the bathtub was significantly lesser when exiting using the nonoperative than the operated side. A negative correlation was found between the percentages of time spent supporting both legs. while exiting the bathtub, and the percentage of handrail load values.

Conclusion：The risk of falling may be reduced by using the nonoperative leg as the leading leg when exiting a bathtub. Use of handrails contributes to a reduction in fall risk.

Welwalk WW-1000^® (WW-1000^®) is a gait exercise-assisted robot. Suitable assistance was provided to the patients with hemiplegic legs in both stance and swing phases. In addition，this robot offers various forms of feedback to patients during exercise. We present the case of a patient with multiple sclerosis and left hemiplegia who underwent WW-1000^® gait exercise.

The 73-year-old patient required maximum assistance with metal ankle foot orthotics (AFO) and a quadruped cane prior to robot-based rehabilitation. The aims of gait exercise with the WW-1000^® were as follows；① maintain the verticality of the trunk during the entire gait cycle；②shifting the center of gravity during stance phase on the nonparalytic limb；③stabilizing the swing phase on the paralytic limb, and enhancing support during the stance phase on the paralytic limb. Each aim was modified depending on level of achievement. Assistance with the WW-1000^® activated the trunk and Nonparalytic limb (visual feedback was utilized in exercises). On day 9, the patient could walk using a plastic AFO and T-cane supervised by a therapist.

The multifunctional WW-1000^® is useful for subdividing gait goals, exercise and set stepwise aims consistent with the patient's abilities. Gait exercises using the WW-1000^® may efficiently improve gait and helps adapt to changes in conditions in the subacute phase.