Objective: This study aimed to clarify the effects of early morning Radio-Taiso exercises on the physical, mental, and social aspects of community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: We included 84 community-dwelling older people who performed early morning Radio-Taiso exercises (exercises group) and participated in both baseline and follow-up after 1 year. The control group consisted of 84 age-, sex-, and 5 meter(m) comfortable walking time-matched community-dwelling older people by propensity score matching who participated in another survey both baseline and follow-up after 1 year in the same city. We measured 5 m maximum and comfortable walking time, grip strength, WHO-5 mental health scale (WHO 5) and the shortened version of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS6).

Using repeated measurements of general linear models, we analyzed the 5 m maximum and comfortable walking time, TUG, grip strength, knee extension muscle strength, WHO5 score, and LSNS6 score as dependent variables. Measurement time (baseline and follow-up) and groups (early morning exercises group, control group) were analyzed as independent variables, and age, sex, and measurement values of each item at baseline were analyzed as adjustment variables.

Results: The interaction between the measurement time and group was confirmed in the 5 m comfortable walking time (p = 0.01), maximum walking time of 5 m (p < 0.01), TUG (p= 0.01),and LSNS6 score of related items about friends (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: This study revealed that participation in early morning exercise was effective in maintaining mobility and increasing social support in friendships.

Objective: This study examined the relationship between changes in exercise habits and self-efficacy before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among health care workers.

Methods: The study included 77 participants who took part in the 2019 and 2021 Annual Health Surveys. Self-efficacy was assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Exercise habits were defined as those who exercise at least several times a month. Respondents who reported no exercise habits in 2019 and exercise habits in 2021 were in the increased exercise habit group, respondents who reported exercise habits in both 2019 and 2021 or no exercise habits in both 2019 and 2021 were in the unchanged exercise habit group, and respondents who reported exercise habits in 2019 and no exercise habits in 2021 were in the decreased exercise habit group. Statistical analysis was a repeated-measures analysis of covariance for self-efficacy in 2019 and 2021 in each group. (covariates: age, gender, medical occupation).

Results: The increased exercise habit group had significantly higher self-efficacy in 2021 compared to 2019 (p=0.004, F=3.750). The unchanged exercise habit group (p<0.001, F=6.122) and the decreased exercise habit group (p=0.008, F=3.229) had significantly lower self-efficacy in 2021 compared to 2019.

Conclusions: Exercise habits changes during the COVID-19 pandemic might be related to self-efficacy as well.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of falls in acute-care hospitals over time and by department.

Methods: The subjects were hospitalized patients who fell between 2017 to 2021. We collected gender, sex, age, department, date of admission, date and time and place of fall, and purpose of action. The fall rate, injury rate, and number of days until the fall occurred were calculated. The time of occurrence was divided into three time periods: 6:00 to 14:00, 14:00 to 22:00, and 22:00 to 6:00.

Results: Men always accounted for the majority of falls throughout the 5-year period, 52.7% of which were excretory-related and 59.6% of which occurred at the bedside. Falls occurred more frequently between 22:00 and 6:00 than at any other time, and the time from admission to fall was longer in the palliative care and orthopedic departments than in other departments. The rate of falls and injury were less variable, with the palliative care department consistently having the highest rate over the 5-year period.

Conclusions: Gender, purpose of action, place of fall, and time of day supported previous studies, and it is considered necessary to continue to take measures paying attention to departments with high fall rates and the timing of falls in the future.

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by postural instability and freezing of gait. To date, the efficacy of exercise, oral medication and education related falls in patients with PD are well known. However, the effectiveness of multidisciplinary approach including oral medication and environmental adjustment in preventing falls in patients with PD remains unknown. This study aimed to clarify the effectiveness of multidisciplinary approach in preventing falls in a patient with PD.

Methods: A female patient in her early 70’s with PD with postural instability and freezing of gait underwent physical therapy including environmental adjustment.

Results: The total number of falls during the two-year follow-up was 164. Handrails were installed in the kitchen and living room in month Y+11. The number of falls increased over time: the patient fell 19 times in month Y+13. Although she had not been taking laxatives since her first visit, she resumed oral medication of laxatives in month Y+14. From Y+15 months onwards, she adapted to the moving environment, by which the number of falls decreased to less than 9 times, approximately half of that in month Y+13.

Conclusions: Regarding fall prevention in patients with PD at home, multidisciplinary approach according to the characteristics of the disease would be effective, in addition to appropriate oral medication.

Objective:This report aims to discuss the therapeutic and tertiary prevention effects of physical therapy through a case study of a patient who developed peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes in the non-amputated limb, even after undergoing lower leg amputation at an acute care hospital due to peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Case description and Methods: A 48-year-old male underwent right lower leg amputation due to arteriosclerosis obliterans and was transferred to a recovery phase rehabilitation hospital. Although there was no significant muscle weakness or limited joint range of motion initially, walking with a prosthetic limb was difficult. The goal was to achieve prosthetic walking at a jogging level, focusing on balance and walking exercises to adapt to the body’s asymmetry caused by amputation. Until the prosthetic limb was ready, weight-bearing exercises were performed on the residual limb (stump), and after completion, walking exercises were implemented.

Results: The patient had capable of walking and running with the prosthetic limb and ascending/descending stairs one step at a time.

Discussio: It was considered that the acquisition of high walking ability contributes to increased physical activity and avoidance of overuse of the non-amputee limb, and ultimately reducing of the risk of re-amputation.

Objective: The goal of this study is to identify the exercise intensity of walking in individuals with hemiplegia and quadriplegia who can walk outdoors independently. Furthermore, we aim to examine the accuracy of a commercial activity meter by comparing its results with those obtained from a respiratory metabolism measurement device.

Methods: The subjects of this study were individuals with hemiplegia and quadriplegia who could walk outdoors without assistance. We gauged their exercise intensity using a commercial activity meter and a respiratory metabolism measurement device.

Results: In the hemiplegic group, walking speed was 0.54 m/s, while the recorded exercise intensity was 3.8 METs according to the respiratory metabolism measurement device and 2.2 METs for the activity meter. Contrarily, the quadriplegic patients exhibited a walking speed of 0.66 m/s, with the exercise intensity being 3.0 METs as measured by the respiratory metabolism device and 2.3 METs as indicated by the activity meter. In both instances, the activity meter’s results were substantially lower than those provided by the respiratory metabolism device.

Conclusions: Both patients exhibited a walking speed lower than that of healthy individuals at a subjective comfortable pace. However, it was suggested that their exercise intensity might be at similar levels. Among individuals with disabilities, the exercise intensity of walking as indicated by the commercial activity meter may be lower than the results measured by the respiratory metabolism device possibly owing to their disability characteristics.