The purpose of this study was to clarify the recognition of physical therapy students for the clinical training programs. Using a mailed questionnaire method, the 3rd-year physical therapy students from 10 schools of allied health in Japan were surveyed. One hundred ten responses were obtained from 8 of the 10 schools. Results suggested that: 1. The students hoped that the clinical training programs were further carried out in an institution for children and a rehabilitation center. 2. The students recognized the significance of the clinical training programs in which they could have practice. 3. Reconstruction of education programs for physical therapy students should be encouraged with shortening of the duration of the clinical training programs. 4. Many of the students thought that one or two supervisors should instruct one student. 5. The students recognized that, to some extent, they should work as an assistant to supervisors. 6. Many of the students thought that the evaluation of them by supervisors was valid. However, a point of view for the evaluation might differ between the students and supervisors. 7. Supervisors' personality greatly influenced the students.

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It has constantly been observed that cerebral palsy or mental retardation develops among premature and high risk infants. In order to improve the security of the early assessment and habituation of handicapped children, we assessed 21 AFD and 18 SFD infants whose normal development was anticipated and 21 mature infants using Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (B-NBAS) during the neonatal period, and longitudinal study on development was performed during one postnatal year at 6, 12 months using the Bayley Scale. The results were as follows: 1) SFD infants, in 40, 44, 48 weeks, showed lower score and poor recovery curve on Orientation, Motor and State regulation clusters when compared with mature and AFD infants. 2) Their neonatal behavior had individualities of hypersensitivity to stimuli, less responsiveness, rapid state change, depressed reflexes and hypotonus. Their individuality was understood as stressed sign dependent on unadaptability to the environment. 3) Moreover, infollow-up using Bayley scale, SFD infants had a tendency to be retarded mentally and to have poor psychomotor development at six and twelve months postnatal when compared with mature and AFD infants. This result is related to neonatal behavioral development.

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The purpose of this study was to increase the external rotation range of motion of shoulder joint using hold-relax technique of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on dominant shoulder joint. One hundred and fifty four normal young subjects participated in this study. Three-second exercise was performed ten times. Two-second rest was taken between the exercises. The range of motion before testing showed 71.3±14,1 degrees, while that after it demonstrated 82.2±13.8 degrees. A significant difference was found (p 6lt; 0.01). Results obtained suggest that the hold-relax procedure seems to be effective for increasing the range of motion.

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The influencing factors on maximum gait speed in hemiplegic patients who were independent in gait and had already reached their functional plateau were investigated by its relation to lower limb muscle strength. We regarded them as achievement models of patients who are predicted to have good prognosis. The results were as follows: ① Maximum gait speed was influenced by age, grade and muscle strength of paretic limb under the condition of the sufficient strength of non-paretic limb is provided. ② Through the comparison of gait speed and paretic quadriceps femoris muscle strength with that of one year after, it was found that the strength changes in each paretic grade and it had an influence in their gait speed. ③ In addition, three regressions equations were obtained and the possibility of their clinical application was suggested.

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The respiratory muscle function of 22 patients undergoing lung resection was studied. Postoperative ability to expectorate was influenced by preoperative maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures (MEP) which was significantly affected in the patients with difficulty in expectoration. MIP and MEP did not show any remarkable changes after operation. But MIP and MEP decreased in the patients after the pneumonectomy and bilobectomy. The preoperative assessment of MIP and MEP is essential to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications.

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Mechanical intermittent traction was used to reduce pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Keeping the femur fixed, traction of about 30% of the patient's weight was carried out in the direction of the major axis of the leg. Patients were then divided into two groups according to effectiveness of traction on pain reduction. Significant pain reduction was observed in cases where the score of evaluated knee joint function was below 70; whereas in patients whose score was over 70, no pain reduction was experienced. This study demonstrates that intermittent mechanical traction has potential as a pain reduction therapy for patients suffering from knee joint osteoarthritis.

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“Service planning chart” was used in day care service (DAY) and home visiting care service (VISIT). This chart was consisted of four parts which were (1) Profile of the subject; brief grasp of the state of ADL, physical and mental condition, (2) objectives of the services; there were two points of view; one was medical, the other social, (3) definite plan of the services, and (4) professions to be participated.
Subjects were 71 people, lived in Ome city. Twenty nine had used DAY and their age was 63.6 years in average. Fourty two had used VISIT and their average age was 75.1 years old.
Consistent service could be supplied despite of participation of many staff members, because a common chart was used. It was filled or correction was added at staff meetings periodidally. It was also useful to train new staff member dy showing definite items or plans.
Four types of objectives were listed. (1) Re-establishment of daily life; to accept the disability and/or disabled family member. (2) To maintain present daily life; some help was needed to prevent decline of present level of daily life. (3) To improve daily life at home; to activate daily life by gaining certain role in family. (4) To enlarge the sphere of daily life to society; to activate daily life by gaining social role.
A proportion of subjects in each objective in DAY or VISIT was as follows. (1) Reestablishment of daily life: DAY 20% VISIT 7%. (2) To maintain present daily life: DAY 31% VISIT 48%. (3) To improve daily life at home: DAY 14%, VISIT 31%. (4) To enlarge sphere of daily life to society: DAY 38%, VISIT 5%.
Some characteristics of the plan which was offered to the subjects were as follows. Health management was needed more than 80% of subjects both in DAY or VISIT. To get social role, to adjust family relations, to improve the state of ADL were required in VISIT more than DAY.

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[in Japanese]

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the activities of lower limb muscles during squatting on one-legged standing (one-legged squatting) and maximal total leg extension effort on supine position. Eight healthy young volunteers (mean age, 21.3 ± 0.7 years) participated in this study. The Electromyogram (EMG) from the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius was recorded during holding knee flexion angle at 30 degrees and 60 degrees in squat movement, and during maximal effort in total leg extension at 30 degrees and 60 degrees of knee flexion angle. The percent integrated EMG (% IEMG) was calculated and analyzed for each muscle in each movement. The results obtained were as follows;
1) During one-legged squatting the % IEMG of the gastrocnemius was significantly greater than that of other muscles at 30 degrees of knee flexion angle, but not significantly greater at 60 degrees of knee flexion angle.
2) During maximal total leg extension effort the % IEMG showed significantly greater values in the rectus femoris and the vastus medialis than in the biceps femoris and the gastrocnemius.
3) At 30 degrees of knee flexion angle during maximal total leg extension effort the % IEMG showed significantly greater values in the vastus medialis than in the rectus femoris.

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The infantile type of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease (WH) usually follows respiratory failure and is often to be controled by mechanical ventilation. Acute and prophylactic effectiveness may be expected in the couduct of chest physiotherapy.
The present patient was a 3-month-old girl administered intensive chest physiotherapy after falling into respiratory failure due to extensive atelectasis and costal muscles weakness. The therapy made her relaxed from excessive respiratory exertion, and atelectasis and respiratory failure improved with avoidance of endotracheal intubation.
However, risk factors for respiratory failure, such as respiration pattern with seesaw motion and weak cough, which easily lead to fatigue and to accumulate secretion, continue to remain even with the daily administration of prophylactic chest physiotherapy. Although it is necessary to conduct chest physiotherapy for WH, the effects of chest physiotherapy clearly show it to have limitations.
Thechniques including manual breathing assistance may help the patient relax and eliminate sputum with less stress.

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