Although it has been reported that the residual limb after lower limb amputation changes greatly in shape and volume from post-operation to around 12-18 months later, studies on detailed changes in soft tissue are scarce. Therefore, the change in muscle tissue of the residual transfemoral (TF) limb before and after prosthetic gait training was investigated from the viewpoint of the muscle cross-sectional area (MCA) of the residual limb. For 4 unilateral TF amputees, magnetic resonance images of the residual limb were acquired before and after prosthetic gait training, and the MCA under the ischial tuberosity was calculated. The results showed that the percentage of MCA as the total cross-sectional area was increased in all subjects. The percentage of the muscle cross-sectional area changed according to the motion direction around the hip joint. The flexor and abductor muscle group tended to atrophy, and the cross-sectional area of the adductor muscle group and the extensor muscle group tended to increase.

Few reports have been published on the use of an upper limb prosthesis for people with ulnar longitudinal deficiency; furthermore, benefits of using the upper limb prosthesis for activities of daily living (ADL) are not certain. We tried prescriptions, fits, fabrications and rehabilitation for the upper limb prosthesis and orthosis with a person with unilateral ulnar longitudinal deficiency who desired to use them for the first time at age 16. There was no limitation to his ADL while using his sound limb and compensation for gripping with the intact limb, although he had extremely limited range of motion of the elbow joint and a deficiency of digits. In the use of the prosthesis, it was necessary to identify the function of the prosthesis required for his ADL. Currently, he uses the passive prosthesis and he has well established his life, besides utilizing the prosthetic in his ADL, especially during bimanual hand movements and the performance of deskwork. This paper puts its focus on changes to his ADL and psychological aspects by using the upper limb prosthesis in daily life.

The aim of this study was to investigate the synergetic effect and the adaptation of Functional Electrical Stimulation Therapy (FES) and Trunk Solution (TS) for inpatients with stroke hemiplegia in a convalescent rehabilitation ward. Eleven inpatients with stroke hemiplegia able to use FES and TS in a convalescent rehabilitation participated in this study. ABA design interventions were conducted for 4 days each for a total of 12 days. Intervention using FES was conducted in both period A1 and A2, and that using FES and TS was conducted in period B. The speed, cadence, and joint angles when walking 10 m, Stroke Impairment Assessment Set (SIAS), ankle angle, and Functional Assessment for Control of Trunk (FACT) were measured in each patient on the last day of each period. Synergetic effect of FES and TS significantly improved gait speed. Decreased trunk function was found to be a characteristic of the synergetic effect of FES and TS. It was suggested that the combination of FES and TS contributed to an improvement of walking ability compared to FES alone for stroke hemiplegia patients with decreased trunk function during recovery.

Orthosis therapy is one of the main treatments for vertebral compression fractures. For the early stage of rehabilitation, preventing disuse syndrome is necessary. By fixing the trunk with a trunk orthosis, excessive rest can be prevented. However, preparing the trunk orthosis takes time, and that time may allow the occurrence of disuse syndrome for the patient. Therefore, we have prepared an adjustable trunk orthosis. The trunk orthosis is used till the patient’s own orthosis is completed. Next we examined the trunk orthosis for adaptation and its fixing force. It can be worn in healthy adults and in patients who have a compression fracture and deformed spine such as a round back. The orthosis has the same fixing force as other trunk orthoses.

A questionnaire survey was conducted on the usage status and information about myoelectric upper limb prostheses for 23 patients with upper limb amputations and hypoplasia. Sixty-nine percent of the subjects use myoelectric upper limb prostheses in daily life, and the main purpose of use was for work or school activities. Seventy-nine percent of users used it more than 5 days a week, but the average daily usage time was 11 hours for adults and 2 hours for children. Seventy-nine percent of the users answered that they were satisfied or almost satisfied with the myoelectric upper limb prostheses. These results indicates that the myoelectric upper limb prostheses are fully utilized in the lives of the users. Regarding the information acquisition route, they mainly obtained information from prosthetists, but there were a few who received information from the Internet. The problem was that many of the subjects recognized that it was important to exchange information between users, but there were few opportunities for interaction.