Purpose: This study aimed to investigate behavioral problems in children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and in those with mental retardation (MR) using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
Methods: Fifteen children with PVL (mean age 55.2 ± 25.8 months) and 15 children with MR (mean age 53.3 ± 21.2 months) participated in this study. Fourteen age-matched children with typical development (TD) also participated as healthy controls. The participants were assessed by their mothers using the CBCL. In addition, a parenting questionnaire was completed by parents of children with PVL and MR.
Results: Children with PVL had significantly higher mean scores on internalizing problems than externalizing problems. This tendency was not observed in the other two groups, and was not associated with parenting attitude. Compared to TD children, children with MR had significantly higher scores on withdrawal, aggressive behavior and attention problems narrowband scales, and internalizing and externalizing broadband scales.
Conclusion: Children with PVL showed higher internalizing than externalizing problems in their daily life. Children with MR, when compared with TD children, showed higher scores on both internalizing and externalizing problems.

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Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical effects of chest wall compression on regional chest wall motion during quiet breathing in healthy male subjects.
Methods: Seven healthy male subjects were participated. Total and regional chest wall motion was measured by optoelectronic plethysmography in the supine position during quiet breathing with upper rib cage compression and lower rib cage compression. We also simultaneously studied pleural and abdominal pressures.
Results: Upper rib cage volume was increased during upper rib cage compression, and lower rib cage volume was increased during lower rib cage compression. Upper rib cage volume was, however, decreased during lower rib cage compression. Pleural and abdominal pressures were increased during chest wall compression as compared to during quiet breathing, particularly in the case of abdominal pressure during lower rib cage compression.
Conclusion: We concluded that chest wall compression increases regional chest wall volume of the compressed chest. However, lower rib cage compression decreases upper rib cage volume by increasing abdominal pressure.

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Purpose: This study was designed to compare the appearance time of the ventilator threshold (VT) point and the electromyographic threshold (EMGT) as manifested by a non-linear increase in the activity of the vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles during ramp cycling exercise in young and elderly males.
Methods: Ten healthy young male and ten community dwelling elderly male participated in this study. Subjects performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing with an expiratory gas analyzer and surface electromyography to evaluate muscle activities of the VL and RF during ramp exercise. The appearance time of the EMGT was calculated employing linear regression analysis.
Results: In the young group, there was no difference in the appearance time of the EMGT between VL and RF. These two EMGT appearance times were significantly later than the VT point. In the elderly group, the EMGT appearance time for VL was significantly earlier than the RF and VT point, and the increase in the slope of the regression line for VL was significantly decreased after EMGT. The slope after EMGT for RF was not significant as compared to that before EMGT.
Conclusion: In the young group, the appearance of EMGT was attributed to increased recruitment of fast twitch motor units that would presumably be triggered by the increase in anaerobic metabolism. In the elderly group, the increase in the slope of the regression line after EMGT for VL was blunted, possibly indicating delayed muscular fatigue in VL resulting from the activation of another muscle group, i.e. one other than the knee extensors.

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Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of two pectoralis minor stretching methods that have been considered to be effective.
Methods: The study design was cross-over design witch has two weeks wash out period. Subjects were 34 male high school baseball players. We measured pectoralis minor muscle length, scapular position and shoulder range of motion. Intervention were doorway stretch and retraction 30° stretch. Statistics analysis was repeated measure 2-way ANOVA, t-test and minimal detectable change.
Results: Either stretches improved pectoralis minor muscle length, scapular position and shoulder range of motion. When we compared amount of change, doorway stretch improved pectoralis minor muscle length and scapular position more than retraction 30° stretch. Minimal detectable change of pectoralis minor muscle length and scapular position were less than these amount of changes.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggests that either stretches improves pectoralis minor muscle length, scapular positon. Furthermore, doorway stretch may more effective stretch than retraction 30° stretch for pectoralis minor muscle length.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether bed rest duration in acute care hospitalization affects the efficacy of aerobic exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

Methods: We recruited 47 patients with cardiovascular disease to evaluate their performances in a cardiopulmonary exercise test. The patients were divided into two groups depending on bed rest duration (a long bed rest group and short bed rest group). Patient exercise capacity (peak oxygen uptake and % peak oxygen uptake) was compared before and after one month aerobic exercise, as well as with patient performance in the activities of daily living [Barthel Index (BI)] at the time of admissionto the hospital.

Results: There was no difference in BI between the two groups. A significant interaction between group and time in exercise capacity was observed, and improvement in exercise capacity was significantly greater in the long bed rest group. Simple main effect tests revealed that exercise capacity was significantly increased in both short and long bed rest groups. Although exercise capacity before aerobic exercise was significantly lower in the long bed rest group, this difference disappeared after aerobic exercise.

Conclusions: Although performance in the activities of daily living did not significantly differ between the groups, the recovery of exercise capacity in the long bed rest group at the time of admission was insufficient compared to short bed rest group. Our study suggests that intensive aerobic exercise in the inpatient rehabilitation hospital for long bed rest patients have more potential to improve their exercise capacity than short bed rest patients.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and safety of target heart rate (HR) using Karvonen’s formula and to predict HR max and resting HR + coefficient (HRrest + ) formula in patients undergoing hemodialysis after cardiovascular surgery. These formulae were applied to determine target HR that did not exceed the anaerobic target HReshold (AT) after cardiovascular surgery.

Methods: The study included 16 hemodialysis patients after cardiovascular surgery and 16 age matched controls. Patients who were taking β-blockers were excluded. Before hospital discharge, each patient performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test on an electric bicycle ergometer. HR at AT (HRAT) was calculated using the v-slope method. Interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) between HRAT and target HR, calculated using Karvonen’s and HRrest + formulae, varied with Karvonen’s coefficient (k) and, respectively. The coefficient of each formula was changed, and the rate of subjects who reached HRAT in 16 participants was counted. The safety of target HR (% over AT) was then defined.

Results: HRAT of the hemodialysis group (89.9 ± 12.3 bpm) was significantly less compared to that of the control group (108.2 ± 11 bpm, p < 0.05). Considering that k was 0.13, ICC and % over AT were 0.9 and 36.8%, respectively. Considering that for HRrest + was 11, ICC and % over AT were 0.92 and 15.8%, respectively.

Conclusion: In hemodialysis patients after cardiovascular surgery, target HR calculated using “HRrest + 11” is reliable and safe at exercise loads not exceeding AT.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of hip joint movement on elongation rate of the psoas major in three dimensions.

Method: A musculoskeletal model was created using parameters reported by a previous study. The elongation rate of the psoas major when hip joint angles were changed was examined by a mathematical model. The muscle fiber length of the psoas major with the body in anatomical position was defined as 100%.

Result: The elongation rate of the psoas major was found to be 106.5% for 20° extension, 20° abduction, and 30° internal rotation of the hip joint, which is high compared with the elongation rate of 104.8% for 20° extension of the hip joint.

Conclusion: The elongation rate of the psoas major in the extension, abduction, and internal rotation of the hip joint compared with that in only extension of the hip joint could be high.

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[in Japanese]

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