Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill exercise on spontaneously healed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a mouse model.

Methods: We used 32 C57BL/6 mice. The ACLs of all mice were ruptured, and abnormal anterior tibial translation was controlled. After 4 weeks, interventions to de-control anterior tibial translation (de-CATT) and to add treadmill exercise (Ex) were started. Combinations of these two types of interventions were divided into four groups: CA (Cage activity)/CATT group, CA/de-CATT group, Ex/CATT group, and Ex/de-CATT group. At 8 weeks after ACL injury, mice were euthanized and knee joints were harvested. We performed H&E staining and Picrosirius Red staining to evaluate the continuity and maturity of the ACL. The laxity of the knee joint was assessed by the anterior tibial drawer test. Additionally, the biomechanical properties were measured to evaluate the mechanical strength of the healed ACL.

Results: All mice in this study showed continuity of the ACL. In addition, there was a trend toward higher maturity of the healed ACL in the Ex. Groups and higher strength in the Ex/de-CATT group. However, no significant differences were observed.

Conclusion: This study suggests that rehabilitation with treadmill exercise for spontaneously healed ACLs does not inhibit the healing process and may promote healing and maturation of the ACL.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Hospital-acquired disability (HAD) in older patients who underwent cardiac surgery.

Methods: This study included 117 patients aged ≥65 (73.5±5.4) years who underwent cardiac surgery. The development of HAD was defined as a score of ≤5 on any one of the subitems of the Functional independence measure (FIM) at the time of hospital discharge compared to the preoperative level, and the association with SPPB was investigated.

Results: The incidence of HAD was 20.5%. Preoperative SPPB was an independent predictor of HAD, as were the number of days of walking independently postoperatively, with a cutoff value of 10 points. Furthermore, each SPPB domain was correlated with FIM subitems in the HAD group.

Conclusion: The preoperative SPPB in older patients who underwent cardiac surgery is a factor associated with the development of HAD, suggesting that it may be used as a tool to screen FIM subitems that are predicted to decline postoperatively.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to translate the Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Inventory (SCI-FAI) into Japanese and verify its reliability.

Methods: The Japanese version of the SCI-FAI was translated according to international guidelines. Study subjects included 34 patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries (mean age 61.8±10.4 years). Two evaluators conducted the SCI-FAI twice on video. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) (1, 1) and ICC (2, 1); Cronbach’s alpha coefficient; Weighted Kappa coefficient; and Bland-Altman analysis were used to confirm intra- and inter-rater reliability.

Results: The Japanese version of the SCI-FAI was prepared according to international standards. Intra-rater reliability ICC (1, 1) was 0.928～0.973, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.967～0.986, Weighted Kappa coefficient was 0.713～1.00, and Bland-Altman analysis showed a fixed error and proportional error in one rater. Inter-rater reliability ICC (2, 1) was 0.848, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.916, Weighted Kappa coefficient was 0.349～0.899, and Bland-Altman analysis showed no fixed or proportional errors.

Conclusions: The Japanese version of the SCI-FAI was confirmed to be a reliable assessment tool in the Japanese clinical setting.

Objectives: We investigated whether high-speed robot-assisted gait training using the assist function of Welwalk is more effective than treadmill training in improving the gait speed of patients who have experienced hemiparetic stroke.

Methods: The patient was a woman in her 50s with right hemiplegia due to thalamic hemorrhage. The study used an AB single-case design. Phase A consisted of treadmill training and phase B included Welwalk training, each for 8 days. The outcomes were comfortable and maximum gait speeds. In the analysis, the regression coefficients of both phases were compared, and the binomial test was used after the 2 Standard-deviation (SD) band analysis.

Results: The regression coefficients for both comfortable and maximum gait speeds were greater in phase B. The binomial test results showed significant improvement in both comfortable and maximum gait speeds in phase B (P<0.05). Treadmill speeds during training were higher in the phase B.

Conclusion: High-speed robot-assisted gait training using the assist function of Welwalk in patients who have experienced hemiparetic stroke may be effective in providing a high-speed training environment and improving gait speed.