We conducted a scoping review to identify gaps between the current use of robotic therapy and prior research in Japan on patients with upper limb paralysis following stroke. Of the 148 articles initially identified, 24 articles involving 32 patients met the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that robotic therapy has not yet been successfully transitioned to support independent training, and a lack of consistency in the evaluation methods used to assess upper limb function during robotic therapy persists. The findings highlight the importance of reports aimed at facilitating the transition the use of robotic therapy from therapist-assisted training to independent training. In addition, the review suggests that understanding the characteristics of evaluation scales—and selecting them based on the intended purpose of the equipment—would support a more detailed gradation of robotic therapy. However, due to the small number of participants in this study, it is necessary to increase the number of reports and further examine their usefulness in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to investigate research trends in psychological approaches to fall prevention in Japan and to clarify the current status and issues regarding psychological factors. A scoping review was conducted of original articles published in Japan over the past 20 years, using “elderly,” “fear of falling,” “intervention,” and “fall self-efficacy” as search terms. Assessments involving fear of falling and self-efficacy were extracted and analyzed according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for approach classification, and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory for psychological aspects. Twenty-six articles met the inclusion criteria, and all psychological assessments focused on fear of falling. Most approaches were classified into “body functions and structures” or “activities and participation,” and their content was diverse. In terms of psychological aspects, mastery experiences, as described in self-efficacy theory, were most frequently reported. However, evaluations tended to be biased toward changes accompanying physical training, and analyses of psychosocial aspects were insufficient. Future interventions should take into account individual life contexts and social connections.

This study aimed to determine whether occupational therapy reduces malaise in patients undergoing chemotherapy for hematopoietic tumors. Thirty-three patients admitted to the hemato-oncology department for chemotherapy and experiencing fatigue participated in this study. The effect of occupational therapy on patient fatigue was assessed. Each participant's Barthel Index (BI), Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS), and EQ-5D-5L scores were compared before and after the occupational therapy intervention. A significant difference between the total BI and CFS scores before and after occupational therapy intervention was observed; however, no significant difference was noted in the EQ-5D-5L score. Occupational therapy could reduce malaise in patients with hematopoietic tumors who have undergone chemotherapy.

We report a case of a patient who required total assistance with daily activities after sustaining a bilateral brachial plexus injury and after achieving improved upper limb function was able to acquire new employment. The therapeutic treatment which enabled this combined a bottom-up approach using robotic therapy and a top-down approach based on occupation-based practice. Based on this case, we examined the interventions for bilateral brachial plexus injuries. A man in his 50s with bilateral brachial plexus injuries was transferred to our hospital for rehabilitation on the 26th day after admission to the emergency room with trunk disorientation, loss of consciousness, and weakness in both upper limbs. By providing bottom-up and top-down approaches from the early stages of intervention, we were able to confirm the progress of the case and collaborate with the patient on goals that led to early activities of daily living independence, acquisition of meaningful occupations, and new employment after discharge from the hospital. Therefore, this report suggests that robotic therapy and occupation-based practice may be useful for patients with bilateral brachial plexus injuries.