[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the problems associated with osteosarcopenia and its effect on physical performance, nutritional status, and support or care required by older community-dwelling adults. [Participants and Methods] This study investigated 141 older community-dwelling adults requiring support or care using an ambulatory rehabilitation service. The patients were divided into a control, osteopenia only, sarcopenia only, and osteosarcopenia group. We investigated the associations of each condition with the baseline information, grip strength, gait speed, Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form score, and support or care level required. [Results] The osteosarcopenia group consisted of 43.3% of the total study participants. Osteosarcopenia was more closely associated with body mass index, support or care level, grip strength, gait speed, skeletal muscle mass index, and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form score than osteopenia or sarcopenia alone. [Conclusion] Osteosarcopenia is highly prevalent in older community-dwelling adults requiring support or care, which may suggest a greater effect on physical performance, nutritional status, and support or care required than that exerted by osteopenia or sarcopenia alone.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the effects of aerobic exercise training frequency on arterial stiffness in postmenopausal females. [Participants and Methods] This study included 45 postmenopausal females randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: 1) low-frequency training group (aerobic exercise training twice per week); 2) high-frequency training group (aerobic exercise training four times per week); and 3) control group (no training). Each group was subjected to an 8-week intervention period. Both traditional and newer indexes were measured immediately before and after the 8-week intervention period. [Results] In the low-frequency training group, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and arterial velocity pulse index decreased post 8 weeks compared with those at baseline. In the high-frequency training group, carotid-femoral, brachial-ankle, and heart-brachial pulse wave velocities and arterial velocity pulse and arterial pressure-volume indexes decreased post 8 weeks compared to those at baseline. In the control group, no change in any indices post 8 weeks compared to those at baseline was observed. [Conclusion] Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was lower after aerobic training than before training in both the exercise groups. Thus, aerobic exercise training might have a beneficial effect on aortic stiffness, regardless of the training frequency in this population.

[Purpose] The effect of height-corrected skeletal muscle masses on insulin resistance has not been fully investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between height-corrected appendicular and regional skeletal muscle masses and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. [Participants and Methods] We included 136 male and 100 female patients with type 2 diabetes (average age, male 55.7 ± 12.3 years old, female 60.7 ± 11.3 years old, and average height, male 1.67 ± 0.06 m, female 1.54 ± 0.06 m) in this study. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to evaluate skeletal muscle mass. We calculated the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index by dividing the appendicular skeletal muscle mass by the square of the patient’s height. The upper limb muscle mass, lower limb muscle mass, and trunk muscle mass figures were also divided by the square of the patient’s height. We used the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance as a marker of insulin resistance. [Results] In multiple regression analysis, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was inversely associated with appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and lower limb muscle mass/height² in male patients with type 2 diabetes when adjusted for age and body mass index. Similarly, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was inversely associated with appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and lower limb muscle mass/height² in non-obese female patients with type 2 diabetes. [Conclusion] We have confirmed that there is an association between appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and lower limb muscle mass/height² with insulin resistance in male and female patients with type 2 diabetes, except in females with obesity.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the changes in blood pressure due to mild hyperbaric oxygen at 1.3 atmospheres absolute with approximately 30% oxygen. [Participants and Methods] Ten healthy adults participated in two trials: the control (1 atmosphere absolute with 20.9% oxygen) and the mild hyperbaric oxygen (1.3 atmospheres absolute with approximately 30% oxygen) trials. All participants were exposed to either the control or mild hyperbaric oxygen conditions in a chamber for 45 min on each experiment day. [Results] A lower heart rate and higher peripheral oxygen saturation were observed after exposure in the mild hyperbaric oxygen trial than those in the control trial. After exposure, the change in ratios from the premeasurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the mild hyperbaric oxygen trial was more than that in the control trial, despite no change in the absolute blood pressure values between the two groups during the exposure. [Conclusion] This is the first study to reveal that mild hyperbaric oxygen exposure might be a control method for chronic hypotension. In addition, these results suggest that people with hypertension might require some attention when using mild hyperbaric oxygen.

[Purpose] To analyze the immediate effects of stretching on respiratory and trunk functions using a stretch pole half-cut in healthy male participants. [Participants and Methods] Thirty healthy male participants with a mean age of 21.1 ± 0.8 years were recruited in this study. The participant had to lay on his back on the convex surface of the pole with the semicircle of the pole touching the surface of the platform mat. The convex of the pole was placed at the level from seventh to 10th thoracic vertebra for 4 min and was applied perpendicular (anatomically horizontal) to the body axis. Respiratory function and muscle strength using a spirometer with attached units, maximum-minimum chest wall expansion difference using a tape measure, and body alignment, such as angles obtained from the spinal mouse, were measured before and immediately after the intervention in random order. [Results] The total inclination angle was found to decrease significantly, while the thoracic kyphosis angle and maximum inspiratory pressure showed a significant increase. [Conclusion] This intervention was suggested to be easy for incorporating into day life and useful in situations where the subjects want to increase the maximum inspiratory pressure, such as in sports.

[Purpose] To clarify the inefficiency of wide-based walking from kinematic and exercise physiology perspectives. [Participants and Methods] Participants consisted of 20 healthy male university students who performed treadmill walking under conditions of normal walking and wide-based walking (20-cm stride width). The lateral center of gravity movement, gluteus medius muscle myoelectric activity, oxygen uptake, minute ventilation (tidal volume, respiratory rate), heart rate, blood pressure, and rating perceived exertion just before the end of constant load exercise (4.0 km/h) were compared between the two walking conditions. [Results] All the measured parameters except for tidal volume and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher during wide-based walking than during normal walking. However, when Δ is the difference between the two conditions, no correlation was found between Δlateral center of gravity movement, Δgluteus medius muscle myoelectric activity, Δcardiopulmonary parameters, and Δrating perceived exertion. [Conclusion] Although the precise mechanisms underlying the inefficiency of wide-based walking could not be clarified, cardiopulmonary indices such as oxygen uptake were significantly higher during wide-based walking than during normal walking. This suggests that improvement of wide-based gait is warranted from a kinematic perspective and an exercise physiology perspective.

[Purpose] The primary aim was to cross-culturally adapt the Satisfaction and Recovery Index (SRI) among Japanese people. The secondary aim was to preliminarily investigate the convergent validity of the SRI with the SF-12v2^® Health Survey among ambulatory patients with musculoskeletal disorders. [Participants and Methods] A provisional Japanese SRI was developed after forward and backward translations and confirmation from its original developer. This study included 30 outpatients diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders at an orthopedic clinic in Japan. All participants underwent the SF-12v2^® Health Survey and the provisional Japanese SRI. They were then asked to provide comments about the provisional Japanese SRI. Pearson’s r was calculated to examine the convergent validity between the SF-12v2^® Health Survey scores and the provisional Japanese SRI scores. [Results] The provisional Japanese SRI was accepted as the final version due to no serious concerns raised by the participants. Only the mental component scores of the SF-12v2^® Health Survey had a statistically significant correlation (r=0.45), indicating partial evidence of the convergent validity of the provisional Japanese SRI. [Conclusion] This study developed the Japanese SRI with preliminary validity evidence among ambulatory patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

[Purpose] Stroke patients are unable to move on their own and must be rehabilitated to allow the nervous system to trigger and restore its function. Traditional practice is to use electrode caps to extract brain wave features and combine them with assistive devices. However, there are problems that the electrode cap is not easy to wear, and the potential recognition is not good, and different extraction methods will affect the accuracy of the Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), which still has room for improvement. [Participants and Methods] The brainwave headphones used in this experiment do not must a conductive gel to get a good EEG for neural induction and drive the upper limb rehabilitation robot. Next, 8 stroke patients and 200 normal participants were invited for a 4-week rehabilitation training. The effectiveness of the training was determined using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Magnitude squared coherence (MSC) feature extraction methods, and five machine learning techniques that induced flicker frequencies. [Results] The results show that the optimal steady-state visual evoked flicker frequency is 6 Hz, and the identification rate of FFT is about 5.2% higher than that of the MSC method. Using an optimized model for different feature extraction methods can improve the recognition rate by 1.3%–9.1%. [Conclusion] The images based on Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) index improvement, and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) show that the sensory region of brain movement has become a concentrated activation phenomenon. Besides strengthening the feature extraction method also lets the elbow has an obvious recovery effect.

[Purpose] Reports suggest that static stretching, which improves body flexibility, could reduce arterial stiffness. Regular training using an exercise ball would increase flexibility in a different manner, compared to that from static stretching; however, it remains unclear whether such exercise can reduce arterial stiffness. This study aimed to clarify the effect of exercise ball training on arterial stiffness in sedentary middle-aged participants. [Participants and Methods] Fifteen healthy middle-aged males (age, 52 ± 12 years) were divided into a control group (n=7, CON) and an intervention group (n=8, INT). The CON group did not alter physical activity levels throughout the study period, while the INT group participated in supervised training sessions using an exercise ball for 20–30 min, 5 days/week, for a duration of 4 weeks. [Results] Exercise ball training significantly increased the sit-and-reach test score (CON, −3.8 ± 11.1% vs. INT, 33.8 ± 47.5%) and reduced cardio-ankle vascular index (CON, −0.8 ± 4.1% vs. INT, −5.7 ± 4.1%) and heart-ankle pulse wave velocity (CON, 1.6 ± 4.5% vs. INT, −4.2 ± 4.6%), as an index of arterial stiffness. [Conclusion] Four weeks of supervised training using an exercise ball as well as regular static stretching would increase body flexibility and reduce systemic arterial stiffness among sedentary middle-aged males.

[Purpose] This study examines the contribution of vision and tactile sensation on body sway during quiet stance. [Participants and Methods] Sixteen healthy participants maintained quiet stance. The mean distance between the neutral center of pressure (COP) and that at the peak deviated position, indicating how quickly humans initiate the swaying of the body back to the neutral position, was calculated (COPpeak). [Results] The displacement of the COP in both the anterior–posterior and medial–lateral axes was greater when vision was occluded. The anterior or posterior COPpeak was also greater when vision was occluded. The leftward COPpeak was greater when the tactile sensation of the sole was masked. Visual occlusion decreased the tactile perception threshold of the sole. There was no significant interaction between the effect of vision and that of tactile sensation on body sway during quiet stance. [Conclusion] Vision plays a role in returning the body to the neutral position, particularly in the anterior–posterior axis. Tactile sensation contributes particularly to recovery from the leftward body sway during quiet stance. Tactile sensitivity is enhanced by visual occlusion through inter-modal reweighting. However, inter-modal reweighting between vision and tactile sensation is not specifically for postural control during quiet stance.

[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of capacitive and resistive electric transfer therapy in patients with chronic low back pain. [Participants and Methods] The study included 24 patients with chronic low back pain (12 patients each in the intervention and sham groups). Pain intensity, superficial and deep lumbar multifidus stiffness and maximum forward trunk flexion and associated activation level of the iliocostalis (thoracic and lumbar component) and lumbar multifidus muscles were measured. [Results] Post-intervention pain intensity and muscle stiffness were significantly lower than pre-intervention measurements in the intervention group. However, no between-group difference was observed in the muscle activation level at the end-point of standing trunk flexion. [Conclusion] Our findings highlight a significant therapeutic benefit of capacitive and resistive electric transfer therapy in patients with chronic low back pain and muscle stiffness.

[Purpose] The independence level of activities of daily living during the recovery period should be predicted to plan a rehabilitation program. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the independence levels of individual motor-related Functional Independence Measure (FIM-motor) items and total FIM-motor score in patients after hip fracture. [Participants and Methods] This study retrospectively analyzed 40 patients who had stayed in a convalescent rehabilitation hospital after hip fracture. The FIM-motor score was assessed for each patient on admission, after 2 and 4 weeks of hospitalization, and at discharge. [Results] The median FIM-motor scores were 52.5 on admission and 83.0 at discharge. The results of ordinal logistic modeling were statistically significant for all 13 FIM-motor items. The independence levels for transfer to toilet and bed/chair/wheelchair were proportionally distributed across the entire range of total FIM-motor scores. However, a weak relationship was observed between the scores for bladder and bowel management and total FIM-motor scores. Although eating and grooming were relatively easy items, stair-climbing and locomotion were difficult. [Conclusion] The relationship between the independence level of individual FIM-motor items and the total FIM-motor score varied widely. This knowledge might be useful while scheduling rehabilitative treatments for patients after hip fracture.

[Purpose] An ankle disorder (foot drop) caused by common peroneal nerve palsy or cerebrovascular accident (stroke) interferes with patients’ ability to walk and hinders in activities of daily living. A new robotic ankle, the Hybrid Assistive Limb, has been developed for the treatment of foot drop caused by common peroneal nerve palsy or sequelae of stroke. The purpose in this study was to report and examine the efficacy and feasibility of a case who was treated with voluntary ankle dorsiflexion training with the ankle Hybrid Assistive Limb. [Participant and Method] A 60-year-old man with foot drop due to peroneal nerve palsy that occurred without a contributory cause was treated via ankle dorsiflexion training with the use of a new robotic ankle, the “Ankle Hybrid Assistive Limb”. [Results] Following total ankle rehabilitation training with the Ankle Hybrid Assistive Limb, improvements in ankle dorsiflexor strength, gait, and sensory function of the lower leg and foot were observed. [Conclusion] The newly developed ankle Hybrid Assistive Limb could be an effective training tool for foot drop caused by common peroneal nerve palsy.