The purpose of this study was to analyze time of motor components in the stereotyped voluntary movements of a handed upper extremity among three points between normal group and spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) group. Subjects of this study were twelve normal young, old adults and three cases of SCD (62-74 years old). These subjects were right handed. Methods ; The subject was ordered to move the index finger as soon and correct as possible from the horizontal contact plate to the upper contact plate at 15 degrees, next to the other upper adductive contact plate and then return the horizontal plate by regular electrical stimulation (ES) to the opposite forearm at 0.2Hz. Results as follows : 1) EMG activites in the stereotyped voluntary movement showed a sharp grouped discharge at the beginning of movement in normal group, but that in SCD group not. 2) The moving time of finger to the target was significantly different between old group and SCD group. 3) The percentage of RT (Reaction Time is a time of index finger to leave the horizontal plate from ES) to the total time was remarkably higher in the control group than in SCD group, but the percentage of UT (Upper Time is a time to move the finger from the horizontal plate to the upper upper contact plate) was higher in SCD group than in normal group. On the basis of results, it was suspected that disturbance of motor skill in SCD might be due to dysfunction of motor switching mechanism.

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We studied the clinical results regarding significance of atrophy muscles and their recovery with muscle power after surgery in severe osteoarthritis of hip operated on with cementless total hip system. We also postoperatively compared these results with muscle strength of patients treated with cementless endoprosthesis. Conclusions are as follows : 1. According to the hip assessment of the Japanese Orthopedic Association, significant relief of pain was observed. 2. In the cases of cementless total hip system the muscle strength was getting recovered until the 30 weeks after surgery, although it was temporarily lowered at the time of weight-bearing. 3. Postoperative recovery of muscle strength in the cases of cementless endoprosthesis was observed earlier than in the cases of total hip system.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Short-SHB on squatting and going up-down stairs movement. We analyzed these movement with Short-SHB, SHB and shoes, using the foot switch, the force-plate and the multi-point XY tragger. Five patients who were hemiparetic secondary to cerebrovascular accidents, all men, with a mean age of 47.2 years and five normal controls participated as subjects. The result of the study indicated below. 1) Subjects could squat down more completely with Short-SHB than with SHB. 2) In squatting movement, the length of the center of pressure (COP) transit with Short-SHB was shorter than with SOB. 3) In the same movement, the heel contact with the ground was got with Short-SHB, but not with SHB. So the stability with Short-SHB was better than with SHB. 4) In going up-down stairs movement, the motion of the ankle joint with Short-SHB was similar to that with shoes of normal controls and the period of the stance phase by asound side with Short-SHB was longer than with SHB. We suggested, therefore, that Short-SHB was more useful than SHB in squatting and going up-down stairs movement.

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Two purposes were included in this study. One was to examine the relation between the shoulder pain caused by Crutch Walking and the dysfunction of Sternoclavicular joint, and the other was to study the effects of its joint mobilization. The result was that shoulder pain was likely to be caused among those who used crutches for ten weeks on the average and was felt at the flexion of 130 degrees and at the abduction of 110 degrees. No influence was exerted on external-internal rotation of the shoulder. The shoulder pain was effectively reduced by orthopedic manual therapy of Sternoclavicular joint mobilization and the gained range of motion of shoulder flexion and abduction were 30 degrees on each movement. In the sectional roentgenography the space of Sternoclavicular joint became narrower on crutch standing. We might conclude that the weight bearing on crutches imposed the joint reaction force on Sternoclavicular joint and was likely to cause its joint dysfunction.

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In winter, many of stroke patients have complaints about their daily life because of cold and snow. We made a field survey to clarify the influence of cold and snow on their daily life. One hundred and fifteen stroke patients in Aomori district were reviewed and 39 patients were followed 3 years after. Over 60% of them had some complaint in winter, contrary to 18% in other seasons. In winter, they were troubled with deterioration of physical condition, pain and numbness, and were restricted in going out. In summer, they were suffered from heat and were difficult to attend hospital because their attendants were busy. They had many oppotunities to attend hospital and health center, visiting friends and taking a walk in other seasons. In winter, most of them also attended hospital and health center, but few of them visited friends and took a walk. This study revealed that cold and snow greatly infulenced the daily life of stroke patients. However, it was also obvious that cold and snow placed no barrier for stroke patients who had a definite purpose of going out such as health care for themselves, and maintenance or improvement of their physical conditions.

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