We carried out postural changes on three brain damaged patients in early period after onset and investigated changes in blood pressure and pulse rate measured at one heart beat intervals. Active postural changes were made every 3 minutes in the following order: supine position at rest, sitting upright, standing, sitting upright, and supine position. The results were that blood pressure and pulse rate increased going through the order of supine, sitting, and standing positions. However, blood pressure in the sitting position after the standing position was almost the same. Immediately after moving from the supine to the sitting position, and from the sitting to the standing position, blood pressure dropped momentarily and then showed a sharp increase, while pulse rate showed a sharp increase after which it declined a little. These changes were the same as those shown in healthy persons, and suggest the need for risk control in standing and sitting exercises for brain damaged patients in the early period after onset.

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The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of isokinetic knee muscle strength in relation to age and gait in healthy women. Subjects were 18 young women (aged 22.0±1.6) and 47 elderly women (aged 70.6±5.1). The isokinetic knee extension and flexion were performed by both groups, at two testing speed of 60 and 180 deg/s by using a Cybex 770 system. The isokinetic testing measured the muscle strength characteristics, including the ratio of peak torque/body weight (%BW), angle of peak torque and acceleration time (AT). The maximal gait speed and 6 minutes distance (6MD) were measured for the elderly group. In the elderly group, %BW were significantly lower and AT were higher than the young group. In addition, %BW decreased while AT increased in the elderly group. Significant correlations were shown between with AT between age, maximal gait speed and 6MD. In multiple regression analysis with the maximal gait speed or 6MD as dependent variables and age, %BW and AT as independent variables, the maximal gait speed were strongly effected by AT and age, the 6MD was effected by age alone. In conclusion, it is important to consider AT for elderly subjects in isokinetic knee muscle testing.

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In accordance with a single case design we performed non-thermal ultrasound (u/s) therapy on a patient after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and the purpose of this study was to ascertain its effect on pain and range of motion (ROM). The subject received TKA for rheumatoid arthritis on Feb. 25th, 1997. The u/s therapy equipment had an effective radiating area of 4 cm², beam nonuniformity ratio of 3:1, output of 0.2 W/ cm², frequency of 1.0 MHz, and duty cycle rate of 20%. Two weeks after TKA we performed therapy in the order of placebo u/s therapy, u/s therapy, and placebo u/s therapy, and measured ROM with a goniometer, and pain by the visual analog scale. The flexion ROM showed an improvement in u/s therapy and a deteriorating trend in the second baseline period. A non-thermal effect of ultrasound therapy was shown, however, research giving consideration to irradiation times and frequency of repetition will be necessary.

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The purpose of this study was to measure the traction force of seven traction devices being used in four facilities and to investigate its reproducibility and characteristics. For reproducibility the measurements were made three times on the same day, and were repeated three times at intervals of 7 and 14 days after the first measurement, and measurements of the intra-day and inter-day repetition were performed. The characteristics of traction force were found to be linear, and a difference was also found between set up and measured values. The results were that the intra-day and inter-day reproducibility of traction force measured values was excellent, but there were traction devices which had differences between their set up values and their measured values, suggesting the necessity of periodic maintenance inspection for ensuring patients' safety.

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In order to find out what kind of physical changes there are in students during physical therapy clinical training, we measured body weight, body fat volume, body water volume and PWC150 as an index of physical strength immediately before and after clinical training, and analyzed the changes for relationships with clinical training results. The results were that no changes could be seen in body weight and PWC150 before and after clinical training; however, body fat volume was significantly increased and body water volume was significantly decreased. Furthermore, in addition to these physical changes, because a correlation was found between changes in body water volume and clinical training results, it is presumed that present clinical training, particularly in respect of results, not only changes students' body composition during clinical training, but likely also has some effect on their physical condition.

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With 10 healthy males (average age 23.9±4.8 years) as subjects, treadmill and indoor walking on level ground were compared from the standpoints of physiological response and rating of perceived exertion (RPE), as fundamental research into their practical applications for people having cardiorespiratory disorders. At each of the velocities of 4, 6 and 8 km/hr, the measured parameters were: heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO₂), oxygen uptake per unit body weight (VO₂/W), walking rate, stride length and RPE. VO₂ of indoor walking was estimated by a regression method using HR and VO₂ obtained in treadmill walking. The results were that, the load on the body was greater in treadmill walking than in indoor walking, as shown in the higher values of HR, VO₂ and RPE. Also, in both treadmill and indoor walking the body received a load greater than RPE. It is thought that the above results, obtained with healthy subjects, will be of use for future research in which persons with cardiorespiratory disorders are subjects.

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