Purpose: To investigate the association between bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) derived-phase angle and physical activity level in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A total of 295 older adults (mean age, 72.5 years, men, n=98) participated in this study. Phase angle and muscle mass were examined using a multi-frequency BIA. A tri-axial accelerometer was used to obtain daily physical activity data for 2 weeks. The average number of steps and physical activity level (PAL) were measured. Grip strength and gait speed were also assessed as potential confounding factors. A linear regression model was used to determine whether physical activity was independently associated with phase angle after adjusting for confounding factors.

Results: In the multivariate linear regression model, PAL was significantly positively correlated with phase angle after adjusting for age, muscle mass, grip strength, and gait speed in both male (β = 0.21) and female subjects (β = 0.21), whereas the average number of steps was significantly positively correlated with phase angle only in female subjects (β = 0.15).

Conclusions: Older adults with higher PAL are more likely to have higher phase angle, indicating greater cellularity, cell membrane integrity, and function.

Purpose: To clarify the effect of fracture type and displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter on short-term physical function at 4 weeks after surgery in trochanteric fractures.

Methods: Ninety-five patients with trochanteric fractures were enrolled in the study. In order to assess the postoperative physical function, we evaluated pain at rest, pain with weight bearing, range of motion (hip flexion, hip extension, hip abduction, and knee flexion), muscle strength (unaffected/affected hip abductor strength and unaffected/affected knee extensor strength), and ambulatory ability 4 weeks postoperatively. We investigated the effect of fracture type and displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter on postoperative physical function, using analysis of covariance. The independent variables were fracture type (stable or unstable) and displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter; the dependent variable was the postoperative physical function; and the covariates were age, degree of independence for activities of daily living in the disabled elderly before injury, and degree of independence for activities of daily living in the elderly with dementia.

Results: Postoperative physical functions that correlated with the fracture type were pain with weight bearing, range of motion (hip flexion and knee flexion), affected hip abductor strength, affected/unaffected knee extensor strength, and ambulatory ability. Postoperative physical function that correlated with the displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter was the ambulatory ability.

Conclusion: The results suggest that short-term physical function at 4 weeks after surgery in unstable trochanteric fractures and displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter was poor, considering the effect of age, degree of independence for activities of daily living in the disabled elderly before injury, and degree of independence for activities of daily living in elderly with dementia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between knee valgus and posture during single-leg squat kinematically and kinetically.

Methods: The subjects were 20 healthy young women (40 limbs). By using a three-dimensional movement analysis device, we calculated the pelvic and leg joint angles, and leg joint moment during single-leg squat. In addition, we calculated the leg joint angle in the standing posture. We performed a correlation analysis between the knee valgus angle during single-leg squat and other parameters calculated in the standing posture and single-leg squat.

Results: The results showed that the larger the knee valgus angle, the larger the foot inversion angle in the static position. In addition, the larger the knee valgus angle, the larger the pelvic backward tilt angle and knee extension moment, and the smaller the hip extension moment.

Conclusion: The results suggested that in order to reduce knee valgus angle, it was important to reduce foot inversion angle in standing position, and approach to pelvic and hip in sagittal plane.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of H-reflex amplitude during isometric dorsiflexion of the ankle in patients with spastic cerebral palsy.

Methods: This trial was designed as a cross-sectional study. The subjects were 14 patients with spastic cerebral palsy (CPG) aged 12-30 years with gross motor levels I, II, and III, based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (Expanded & Revised version), and 14 healthy individuals (typical development: TDG) aged 18-20 years. Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE) was measured in the CPG. Maximum H-reflex of the soleus muscle was measured both at rest and during isometric dorsiflexion of the ankle in both groups.

Results: The amplitude of H-reflex showed a significant interaction between the groups both before and after dorsiflexion. The amplitude of the H-reflex improved only in the TDG. The H-reflex amplitude improved in eight CPG subjects and did not improve six CPG subjects. The H-reflex amplitude improved all TDG subjects.

Conclusions: CPG had a diminished ability to regulate H reflex during isometric dorsiflexion of the ankle compared to TDG. It was suggested that need to change stretch methods of gastrocnemius and soleus muscle by ability to regulate the amplitude of H-reflexes in patients with spastic cerebral palsy.