The first objective of the study was to see whether motor learning of lateral pelvic movement in hemiplegic patients could be obtained by means of exercise with use of a pelvic board. The second objective was to see how pelvic movement changed with the use of seven different pelvic boards allowing various angles of tilt.
For the first part of the study, the angle of lateral tilt was 11.6 degrees. Sixteen hemiplegic patients underwent training sessions for two weeks, and 24 untrained control patients were also examined. For the exercise and examination of pelvic movement, a pelvic board was placed on the box which the subjects can sit on with their knees and hips flexed in 90 degrees. The times of activc pelvic movement was counted for 30 seconds. This method and criteria was applied for the study.
As a result of the first part of the study, the times of active pelvic movement among the trained subjects were significantly greater than those among the control subjects.
In the second part of the study, the minimum tilting angle was five degrees, then the angle increased in 2.5 degree increments for successive boards up to 20 degrees. The subjects were 35 hemiplegic patients. The result for the second part of the study were as follows : 1) There was a clear trend that the times of active pelvic movement decreased as the angle of a pelvic board increased. 2) No statistically significant of difference in times of active pelvic movement between 2.5 degree increments was seen, however, significance was seen between 5 degree increments. 3) Correlation was seen between Brunnstrom stage and times of active anterior-posterior pelvic movement but not between Brunnstrom stage and times of active lateral pelvic movement. 4) Age was thought to be more closely related to times of active pelvic movement than Brunnstrom stage although correlation was seen between Brunnstrom stage and times of active anterior-posterior pelvic movement.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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Many reports about injury for knee and ankle joints have focused mainly on muscle strengthening exercises. However, when the lower extremity is stressed suddenly or stability is required on an uneven ground, the neuromuscular reflex system must be able to provide dynamic stability to the knee and ankle joints. Therefore to address this need, dynamic joint control exercises were developed. The role of dynamic joint control exercises are to facilitate a central tuning from proprioceptor to central nervous system. The some kind of mechanoreceptor found in the joint capsule and ligamentous structure act not only as mechanical stabilities, but may also initiate a reflex which protects the joint by muscular splinting in situations of abnormal stress. Thus, damage to the receptors in ligamentous and capsular injuries often results in a proprioceptive defect. Our dynamic joint control exercises provide more dynamic protection to the knee and ankle from injury and functional stabilization to the joints.

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Biofeedback system is providing to be of great use in quantitatively assessing the neuromuscular status of patients in the clinic. As a therapeutic tool, E. M. G. biofeedback has been demonstrated to be useful in the initiation of a controlled muscle response and in sustaining that response. Some of the advantages of E. M. G. biofeedback as a both evaluative and therapeutic tool. Biofeedback system provides the patient with information that is much more accurate, sensitive and immediate than a therapist alone can provide. The therapist also receives a quantitative means of assessing the effectiveness of treatment techniques. It must be stressed that biofeedback system is only an adjunct to treatment and not the sole answer in the treatment of neurological conditions.

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