Objective: To clarify the relationship between the presence of low back pain and workaholism and recovery experience among nursing, care, and rehabilitation staff. In addition, the purpose of this study was to provide basic data for proposing a new method of preventing low back pain in the workplace.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 80 nursing, care and rehabilitation staff. The survey items included basic information, work status, low back pain status, workaholism, and recovery experience, and the survey items were compared according to the presence or absence of low back pain.

Results: Compared to the non-low back pain group, the low back pain group had significantly higher total workaholism scores and sub-item working excessively scores, and significantly lower psychological detachment scores, a sub-item of recovery experience.

Conclusions: An association between workaholism and recovery experience and the presence or absence of current low back pain among nursing, care, and rehabilitation staff was shown. The need to examine the prevention of low back pain including these factors in the future was indicated.

Objective: This longitudinal observational study aimed to investigate the predictive accuracy of falls based on walking ability and fall-related self-efficacy in community-dwelling older people.

Methods: The participants were 280 people aged ≥65 years, who could perform their activities of daily living indepen dently. The maximum and comfortable walking speeds and Short Falls Efficacy Scale International (Short FES-I) scores were assessed in the baseline survey, and the walking reserve was estimated using the walking speed recorded at baseline. Furthermore, the number of comorbidities, number of prescribed medicines, instrumental activities of daily living, and history of falls were investigated as covariates. The occurrence of falls was investigated in a follow-up survey after 1 year. The factors associated with the incidence of falls were analyzed using decision tree analysis (Classification and Regression Trees algorithm).

Results: The results of the decision tree analysis revealed that along with history of falls, number of comorbidities, and age, both walking reserve and Short FES-I scores were significantly associated with the occurrence of falls. The discrimination accuracy for the occurrence of falls based on these associated factors showed 62.5% sensitivity and 92.0% specificity.

Conclusions: Assessment of both walking ability and fall-related self-efficacy was suggested to contribute to the accurate discrimination of the risk of falls.

Objective: The SARC-F is a five-question sarcopenia screening tool. The performance of the SARC-F may differ depend ing on the definition of sarcopenia. This study compared the performance detection of SARC-F for sarcopenia using four different criteria.

Methods: Measurement of physical function, body composition, and questionnaires, including the SARC-F, were per formed in 100 older adult users using a daycare facility. Sarcopenia was defined using the criteria of European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP), the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS), International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS), and Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). The performances of the SARC-F for each sarcopenia were compared using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, sensitivity, and specificity.

Results: The prevalence of each sarcopenia ranged from 15.0– 51.0%, depending on each definition method. The area under the curve ranged from 0.717– 0.792, with sensitivity and specificity ranging from 47.1–70.0% and 72.6–81.6%, respectively.

Conclusion: Although the performance of the SARC-F varies depending on the sarcopenia definition method, it performs consistently well in populations with low physical function, such as daycare and day rehabilitation users.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between dynamic balance in the sitting positions and dynamic balance in the standing positions and fall-associated factors among older adults living in the community.

Methods: Subjects were 50 healthy elderly individuals over 65 years of age. Subjects were divided into a non-fall group and a fall group according to whether they had fallen in the past year. Dynamic balance function was assessed by measuring the total trajectory length of the center of pressure (COP) in the standing and sitting positions, as well as the maximum movement width of the COP during maximum reach in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. In addition, other fall factors, such as maximum walking velocity, anteflexion in long-sitting position, and muscle strength (trunk flexion/extension, hip flexion/abduction, and knee extension), were measured. Correlation coefficients and factor analysis were used to examine the association between the assessment items of physical function.

Results: Regarding the relationship between the standing position and sitting position in terms of dynamic balance pa rameters, the coefficient of maximum medial/lateral COP displacement showed a higher correlation than that of maximum anterior/posterior COP displacement. Factor analysis indicated that dynamic balance in the standing and sitting positions was a factor independent of muscle strength.

Conclusions: Dynamic balance capability in the sitting position was related to standing balance, but independent of muscle strength. Dynamic balance capability in the sitting position was not directly related to the factors of falling. However, dynamic balance capability in the sitting position can also contribute to the improvement of posture and balance function as an exercise.

Objective: To prevent problems that can be expected when school reopen after the closure of junior high school due to countermeasures against COVID-19, and to understand the lives of students during the closure.

Method: We interviewed junior high school teacher about their concerns about the reopening of school, collected infor mation, prepared materials, and provided information via e-mail and mail. In addition, a questionnaire on living conditions during the school closure was prepared and proposed, and teachers administered the questionnaire after school resumed.

Result: Based on the information provided, the teachers conducted stretching and other exercises with the students in the morning and evening homerooms. In the questionnaire, about half of the students responded that they had exercised during the school holidays, mainly jumping rope and strength training. However, when the physical education teachers observed the students during exercise, they found not only motor problems such as muscle strength and flexibility, but also changes such as overconcentration and narrowing of vision, as well as abdominal pain and nausea.