In this study, the effects of bend fixation of opposite side (hereinafter fixed side) knee joint in knee joint dilation motion test in chair sitting on the dilation peak torque value of tested side knee joint and activity of fixed side femoral biceps during the test were examined for 10 healthy adults.
Dilation peak torque value of (test side) knee joint and bend force of fixed side knee joint as well as muscular activity of femoral biceps were measured under four conditions of 0°, 45°, 90°, of fixed side knee joint angle and no fixation in chair sitting on KIN/COM. The test results revealed no difference in test side knee joint dilation peak torque value between three conditions of fixed side knee joint bend fixation angle and no fixation. Fixed side knee joint bending force showed a decreasing tendency with an increase in fixing angle. On the other hand, muscular activity of fixed side femoral biceps tended to increase with an increase in knee joint bend fixation angle, and no fixation showed the lowest value.
Muscular activity of femoral biceps and knee bending force were considered to be changed by bending fixation of fixed side knee joint. Though it was hypothesized that force acting on retroverted fixation of pelvis changed accordingly to affect knee joint dilation peak torque value of measuring limb (side). the results did not coincide with this hypothesis. While it was considered that more efficient fixation with less active femoral biceps could be obtained by smaller bending angle of fixed side knee joint, and involvement to retroverted fixation of pelvis could not be clarified.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in motor programming between right and left hemisphere, using the learning transfer in the practice of the sequential movement of fingers. The study was performed on 34 normal healthy right-handed students. The subjects were randomized to three groups (right-hand trained, left-hand trained and control). As a sequential movement, each subject was asked to press button switches using their fingers in the following order : index, ring, middle, and little finger. The right-hand trained group was asked to use only the right hand, and the left-hand trained group was asked to use only left hand in the training exercise for 30 minutes. The control group was not asked to perform the training exercise during this period. Before and after the training exercise, the time required to perform the requested practice (performance time) was determined in both hands for each subject, and the results in the three groups were compared. In the results of the performance time before the training exercise, there was no difference in the three groups. In the results of the performance time after the training exercise, the right hand group showed the effect from the training exercise on both right hand and left hand, but left hand group showed only the effect from the training exercise on left hand. These results suggest that the left hemisphere is related to the motor learning of both hands, while the right hemisphere is mainly related to the motor learning of the left hand, and that the left hemisphere may be superior in the programming of motor skills.

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In order to examine the effects of decrease in muscle strength of lower limbs on supportability of lower limbs and gait performance, the muscle strength was evaluated among 4 patients who had showed a selective decrease in muscle strength of regions around femoral and sacral nerves. Of a patient with a selective decrease in antigravity muscle strength of lower limbs, the supportability and gait performance was difficult to be speculated by the evaluation of single muscle such as MMT or the peak torque of knee extension. On the other hand, muscle strength of leg press was able to be evaluated even when the peak torque of knee extension could not be measured, and an improvement in muscle strength of leg press was found to mirror an improvement in other antigravity muscles and gait independence degrees. These results suggest that for patients who showed a selective decrease in muscle strength in regions around femoral and sacral nerves, the evaluation of muscle strength of leg press is useful, not that of single muscle strength.

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[in Japanese]

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The degree of physical disability of a person varies on an individual basis. If a person needs to use a wheelchair on a daily basis due to the impairment of both lower limbs. he will require an automobile that can take on a wheelchair in order to participate in social activities. Thus, information on vehicles for the physically disabled among domestic automobile manufacturers was obtained by using Internet, regarding the present situation and problems.
The vehicles for wheelchair users can be divided into two types: the Independent type in which the wheelchair user can drive by himself, and the Assisted type in which the caregiver drives for the disabled person. The reality is that currently the latter type is used overwhelmingly. Each automobile manufacturer boasts a wide variety, not only in the make of the vehicle but also in price.
It is commendable that the Independent type is available for the physically disabled to safely participate in social events and activities. Development of those vehicles from the viewpoint of the user―the physically disabled―will be necessary in the future.

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