Five-degree electric stimulations were randomly administered on bilateral sural nerve of 10 healthy female adults, and the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) elicited by tibial nerve stimulation were measured. Under the specific stimulations, there was a significant elongation of peak latent periods of N₁ (30 ms), P₂ (35 ms), N₂ (45 ms) and P₃ (57 ms) and a significant decrease in amplitude of N₂ and N₃. These were considered to result from an inhibition occurred in the cortex, induced through rural nerve.

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In order to examine the effect of breathing depth and respiratory minute rate on R-R interval variations during deep breath, standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV) of R-R interval and a difference between the maximum heart rate and the minimum heart rate (DHR) were measured. Compared with the static condition, CV was increased by 27.3% with the half breathing depth, and by 101.8% with the maximum breathing depth. DHR was not changed with the half breathing depth, and that was increased by 25.4% with the maximum breathing depth. There was a significant (p<0.001) difference in CV and SD of healthy subjects between 6 times/min of respiratory minute rate and the static condition, but not between 12 times/min of respiratory minute rate and the static condition. SD and CV of patients with SMON at 12 times/min of respiratory minute rate were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those at static condition.

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Sixteen healthy adults (10 males and 6 females, average age; 22.8 ± 4.0 years) performed a treadmill walking with axillary crutches and a pick up walker, and their oxygen consumption, transfer efficiency, walking rate, and anaerobic threshold (AT) were measured during each walking. The speeds of the walking with axillary crutches and a pick up walker were 50% and 70% of that of a comfortable treadmill walking. Oxygen consumption during the walking with axillary crutches or a pick up walker was higher than during a comfortable treadmill walking, exceeding AT value except during the walking with axillary crutches at the speed of 50% of a comfortable treadmill walking. Transfer efficiency of the walking with a pick up walker was lower than that with axillary crutches, and walking rate of the walking with a pick up walker was higher than that with axillary crutches. This suggests that walking rate plays a role in inducing higher oxygen consumption during a treadmill walking with a pick up walker, compared with the walking with axillary crutches. These results were considered applicable to the exercise prescription aiming at physical strengthening for persons with lower limb disabilities, and to risk management for the patients with cardiovascular disorders.

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The KR (knowledge of results) guidance hypothesis has proposed that too much KR during practice leads to poor performance when KR is withdrawn during retention test, although KR is necessary for learning. The present study investigated this effect using a partial-weight-bearing task. Participants (N=26) practiced 30 trials, supporting 80% of their body weight on their right lower limb. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a) Immediate KR group that was provided with KR after every trial (I-Group), b) 20% relative frequency KR group that randomly received KR on 6 of the 30 trials (F-Group). All participants performed retention tests without KR 5 minutes after the practice phase and 1 day later. Performance was analyzed with normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) and coefficient of variation (CV). NRMSE decreased with practice in two groups. However, there was no difference in NRMSE during no-KR retention between two groups. F-group exhibited less CV during practice and retention tests. The result of the equivalent NRMSE for two groups during retention did not support the guidance hypothesis of KR. However, the group difference of CV for practice and retention may suggest that the manipulation of KR affects participant's strategy.

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Among various temporomandibular joint disorders, we often encounter temporomandibular arthrosis at the clinical context, and few data exist on physical therapy for temporomandibular arthrosis in Japan. Primary purposes of physical therapy for temporomandibular arthrosis were to control pain, to regain normal mandibular joint movements, appropriate muscle strength and muscle length, and balance with antagonists, and to indicate desirable life habits, posture and way of relaxation. This review describes the outline, cause, clinical symptoms and signs of temporomandibular arthrosis, and explains the evaluation of the disease based on anatomy of mandibular joint and kinesiology.

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