[Purpose] The Y Balance test is a dynamic balance assessment tool widely used in sports. Although its reliability has been established in professional male athletes, its suitability for female high-school athletes remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the Y Balance test in this population. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-one female high school students underwent five Y Balance test measurements in each direction for both the right and left lower extremities. Intraclass correlation coefficients and one-way analysis of variance were used to assess intra-rater reliability. [Results] The intra-rater reliability for the five assessments ranged from 0.83 to 0.96, indicating high reliability. The first and second measurements were lower than the third and subsequent measurements, and the third to the fifth measurements, excluding that of the posterolateral right leg, showed no significant differences. [Conclusion] Altogether, the Y Balance test is a highly reliable, dynamic balance assessment tool for female high-school athletes. Furthermore, This study further indicates that high reliability is consistently achieved from the third to the fifth measurement, with the exception of the posterolateral direction on the right leg.

[Purpose] The safety and physiological effects of combined training with breathing resistance and sustained physical exertion in middle-aged and older adults remain unclear. This pilot study investigated the safety and physiological benefits of this training method in older adults. [Participants and Methods] Participants aged 55–75 without respiratory, circulatory, or metabolic diseases were randomly divided into two groups: a combined breathing and physical training group and a control group. All participants were assessed for respiratory function and metabolic parameters before and after a 6-week training period. [Results] Two participants with hypertension were excluded from the study, leaving 24 participants who were randomly assigned to the combined training group (14 participants) or the control group (10 participants). All participants completed the 6-week training, except for three who withdrew due to adverse health events. In the combined training group, maximal minute ventilation significantly increased post-intervention compared to pre-training levels. [Conclusion] Six weeks of combined breathing and physical training was safely conducted in middle-aged and older adults. The results suggest that this method is more effective than conventional training in improving respiratory function. Therefore, this approach could be a novel method for enhancing respiratory function in middle-aged and older adults.

[Purpose] Rehabilitation can improve physical function and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer. However, relevant studies on advanced lung cancers are limited. Differences in physical function and symptoms based on the treatment phase should be considered. This study investigated the relationship between physical function and quality of life during the treatment phase in patients with advanced lung cancer. [Participants and Methods] Patients with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer and postoperative recurrence who were hospitalized between May 2018 and October 2021 were selected. Data, including age, histological type of lung cancer, treatment details, functional independence measures, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, were collected from medical records. Patients were categorized into groups based on the treatment phase: the initial, subsequent, and best supportive care (BSC) groups comprised patients admitted for initial treatment, receiving second or subsequent treatments, and receiving best supportive care, respectively. The relationship between physical function and quality of life during each treatment phase was examined. [Results] Physical function in the subsequent group was associated with physical functioning, role functioning, cognitive functioning, social functioning, and fatigue. Meanwhile, the BSC group had fewer associated items than the other groups. [Conclusion] Rehabilitation during the ongoing treatment phase improves physical function and quality of life.

[Purpose] Although hallux function is fundamental in maintaining forward leaning standing posture, the insight into whether noncontact of the hallux with the ground alters the forward limit of stability (LoS) remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to determine the effects of the unilateral hallux noncontact on the forward LoS while standing. [Participants and Methods] This study included 17 healthy young and 17 community-dwelling older adults. The position of the center of pressure during the forward, forward-left, and forward-right LoS was measured using a force platform under two toe conditions: noncontact or contact of the right hallux with the ground. To ensure the noncontact condition, we positioned the right hallux on the second toe by taping. [Results] The forward and forward-right LoS were significantly displaced in the left and backward directions (p<0.032, η²>0.14), while the forward-left LoS was significantly displaced in the backward direction (p<0.001, η²=0.52). In the noncontact condition, the forward-right LoS exhibited a greater degree of the backward shift than the forward-left LoS (p<0.001, η²=0.42). [Conclusion] Noncontact of the unilateral hallux with the ground reduced the LoS in the forward and oblique-forward directions and induced LoS asymmetry.

[Purpose] This study aimed to identify factors that inhibit the social activities of adult daycare users. [Participants and Methods] Based on participation in social activities, we categorized adult daycare users into two groups; socially active and inactive. Using a questionnaire, the socially inactive group were surveyed for their reasons for non-participation in social activities. Factor analysis was conducted to determine the structure of the reasons for the lack of social activity in the socially inactive group. Factors inhibiting social activities were identified. [Results] A three-factor structure was derived for the reasons of the lack of social inactivity in the socially inactive group. The three factors were mobility-, hearing-, and psychology-related. [Conclusion] These three aspects of inhibitors should be recognized, and comprehensive interventions that address them simultaneously are necessary.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify regional disparities in the provision of home-visit rehabilitation services across all prefectures in Japan by performing a secondary analysis of government data. [Participants and Methods] The number of home-visit rehabilitation sessions per prefecture was determined to estimate regional disparities. Furthermore, the data for 2013 and 2021 were compared to investigate changes in home-visit rehabilitation provision. [Results] From 2013 to 2021, the increase in the number of home-visit rehabilitation sessions by prefecture was greater than that in the older population. However, prefectures that provided fewer home-visit rehabilitation sessions to older residents in 2013 also tended to provide fewer sessions in 2021. Therefore, regional disparities at the prefectural level did not decrease. In the Tohoku region, four out of six prefectures continued to have low provision levels of home-visit rehabilitation services. [Conclusion] The number of home-visit rehabilitation sessions provided was low in rural prefectures. Although the findings suggest an improvement in the provision of home-visit rehabilitation services from 2013 to 2021, the increased number of rehabilitation sessions did not reduce regional disparities among prefectures.

[Purpose] This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the quality of community coordination and belief conflicts that arise during interprofessional collaborations among rehabilitation professionals working in the long-term care insurance sector. [Participants and Methods] The participants were physical, occupational, and speech-language-hearing therapists from Gifu Prefecture, Japan. We examined the impact of medical care quality and welfare coordination on belief conflicts among daycare rehabilitation specialists. The Medical Care Welfare Community Collaboration Scale was distributed to participants via postal mail. [Results] We obtained 70 responses. Our results suggest that understanding the roles of other professionals, having a consultation network, and having concrete knowledge of local resources are associated with a lower likelihood of belief conflicts with colleagues, patients, and their families. [Conclusion] Rehabilitation specialists possessing comprehensive knowledge, experience, and specialization are predisposed to effective communication within and across professions and with patients and their families, thereby mitigating potential disputes. To enhance the quality of community engagement, fostering a deeper comprehension of the roles of various professionals and local resources and establishing collaborative relationships that facilitate consultation across professions is crucial.

[Purpose] The bench press can strengthen targeted muscles, such as the pectoralis major, deltoid, and triceps brachii. This study examined differences in muscle activities during the bench press at different angles in beginners to collect basic data and evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the bench press. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 15 male students with <1 year of training experience. The one repetition maximum (1RM) was measured at a bench angle of 0°, and electromyograms (EMG) were recorded at various angles at 50% of the weight at 1RM. [Results] In the middle and lower pectoralis major muscles, significant differences were observed according to the bench angles, as the outputs decreased with increasing angles. In the anterior deltoid, the output increased significantly with an increasing angle. The triceps brachii output showed significant increases on the medial and lateral sides only at a bench angle of 60° compared to the other angles. [Conclusion] Knowing the bench angle at the maximum output of each muscle contributes to efficient muscle strengthening using the bench press.

[Purpose] This study aimed to compare the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation on pain relief and knee function following total knee arthroplasty. [Participants and Methods] This was a prospective, single-center, three-group parallel study. Thirty-five patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty were divided into transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation, and control groups. Interventions began on postoperative day 3 and continued for two weeks. Pain intensity during walking, maximum walking speed, timed up-and-go test, and isometric knee extension strength were assessed preoperatively, and two and four weeks postoperatively. [Results] Two weeks postoperatively, pain during walking was lower in the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group than in other groups, and maximum walking speed was significantly faster in the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group than in the microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation group but not in the control group. Timed up-and-go and isometric knee extension strength improvements were observed gradually but were not significantly different between the groups. [Conclusion] Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation effectively relieved pain and improved walking speed early after total knee arthroplasty, whereas microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation did not show significant benefits compared to the control.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of measuring isometric ankle plantar flexion strength using a handheld dynamometer (HHD) with a belt and metal plate. [Participants and Methods] This study enrolled 35 young healthy participants (22 men and 13 women, mean age; 21.2 years). To evaluate reliability, two examiners measured ankle plantar flexor strength twice for all participants using an HHD. To evaluate validity, an examiner measured ankle plantar flexor strength twice in men using an isokinetic dynamometer (IKD). [Results] Intra-rater reliability was almost perfect for examiners A and B, whereas their interrater reliability was substantial. Pearson’s correlation coefficients for the HHD and IKD in men were not significantly correlated. [Conclusion] The intra- and interrater reliabilities of HHD measurements, as evaluated by the data for all participants, were high. However, the validity of HHD measurements evaluated by men was low if IKD-measured values were used as a reference.