Motor function of the aged is, on the whole, deteriorated with ages, and each factor of motor function exerts a different deteriorating degree. This report first deals with the general motor function and the characteristic changes with ages. It then presents detailed description of gait function, one of the most important movements and functions, especially a gait cycle and electromyographic change during walking.

View full abstract

Based on the literatures of fractures of the femoral neck, that are frequently occurred in the elderly, this report reviews its epidemiology, orthopedic treatment, and prognosis. The contents are: 1) the incidence by gender, age, and area, with reference to epidemiological reports, 2) classification of the fracture of the femoral neck, 3) orthopedic treatments that have been conducted so far, and 4) functional prognosis and vital prognosis of fracture of the femoral neck. The report also describes that it is important for physical therapists to recognize the background of the incidence, orthopedic treatments, and the recovery process after physical therapy, in order to prepare effective physical therapy program for the fracture of the femoral neck.

View full abstract

It is well established that dementia is the most common organic disorder of neurological and psychological function in the elderly. The present report, therefore, deals with the definition, classification, causative disease and recent problems of dementia. It then describes clinical symptoms of dementia due to cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease, the diagnosis and treatment, and the method for nursing and care. The report also introduces the clinical symptoms of ‘false dementia (depression)’ and ‘deliriant’, which are often confused with those of dementia. In order to achieve further understanding of dementia, the method for distinguishing dementia from those diseases is described along with the representative evaluation scales for dementia, depression, and deliriant.

View full abstract

In spite of much public interest, physical therapy for the elderly at home presents lots of problems to be solved, especially in its methodology. The present report describes the actual condition, methodology and future direction of physical therapy at home, and introduces effectiveness theory of functional exercise using reference materials.

View full abstract

A rapid transition of the Japanese society into the Aged Society with families of a small number of children has been requiring a drastic change in our social condition. It can easily be expected now and in the future that the elderly disabled would encounter various unexpected problems. We consider that the introduction of the Public Assistance Insurance is aimed at straggling those problems under the cooperation of the elderly and all persons involved, based clearly on the national self-consciousness. We, therefore, sent questionnaires to the employees of the facility of health care services for the elderly to examine the actual condition of the facility. According to the results obtained, we discussed the position of the facility in the present society, which may play a pivotal role in cares in institutes or at home, and reviewed the role of a physical therapist in the facility.

View full abstract

The falling situation among hospitalized elderly patients was analyzed by their ADL independence degree and gait ability. At the initiation of physical therapy, the patients who could get up by themselves tended to show high falling rate, and it seemed that falling may exert an influence on the length of physical therapy treatment. The patients who had experienced falling were characterized by a slow walking speed and gait instability with a variation in the required time for walking a specified distance. Future strategies are needed for reducing falling and injuries due to falling.

View full abstract

In cardiac rehabilitation for the patients with acute myocardial infarction, serious consequences of long-term immobility and effectiveness of exercise therapy have been pointed out, which is the reason why the importance of the early cardiac rehabilitation has been recognized. In clinical settings, however, there are many elderly patients who cannot afford to perform the conventional cardiac rehabilitation aimed at increasing exercise tolerance, because they have low ADL or various complications. Under the complete risk management of both cardiac complication and basic disease, individual rehabilitation is therefore needed to understand the characteristics of each patient and to set the appropriate rehabilitation goal of reacquisition of ADL.

View full abstract

1. The prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) increases with an increment in age, having its peak during the ages of 50 and 59.
2. The new diagnostic standard for DM was established in 1999; fasting blood glucose ≥= 126 mg/dl, 2 hours after 75-g glucose load test ≥= 200 mg/dl, or occasional blood glucose ≥=200 mg/dl. The same standard is applied to the elderly.
3. One of the serious problems in elderly DM patients is less clinical symptoms compared with other DM patients. The elderly DM patients can be divided into two groups according to the time of onset, which plays a key role in considering their appropriate treatment. Primary factors of exercise therapy for the elderly DM patients are intensity, volume and frequency of exercise. With these factors, the application of the Health Information Behavioral Theory is also required.
4. According to the results of the physical activity measurement method, newly developed to evaluate daily behavior, a daily activity of more than 2000 kcal

View full abstract

One of the important objectives in physical therapy application for central nervous system disorders is to upgrade the level of the patient's ADL. Thus is it necessary to know the residual ability rating of the patients. The purposes of this paper are to discuss the central nervous system disorders of the elderly, and their physical natures, and to introduce a simple assessment system for rating residual ability of hemiplegic patients.

View full abstract