Respiratory muscle strength is generally evaluated by the maximal respiratory pressure. The maximal respiratory pressure, which varies with various factors, is affected most largely by a change in lung capacity. Deterioration of respiratory muscles causes low alveolar ventilation, and results in hypoxemia along with hypercapnia. It is therefore important for the management of patients with respiratory diseases to observe deterioration of respiratory muscles. Respiratory muscles are deteriorated by several causes, and this article introduces obstructive ventilation disorders and restraint ventilation disorders as typical examples. The improvement in symptoms caused by deterioration of respiratory muscles is of importance for the patients, and the article also introduces the method of respiratory muscle training.

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In view of muscle strength in activities of daily living (ADL), muscles are physiologically reviewed by introducing disuse muscle atrophy due to long-term bedrest, and muscle atrophy of astronauts under the microgravity. In addition, active muscle quantity in ADL of healthy adults, elderly people, patients with orthopedic diseases and patients with cardiovascular disease is described. From the articles on muscle weakness and physical therapy, suggestions that should be considered as a clinical physical therapy method are also introduced.

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Therapeutic exercise literally means "to prescribe exercise as treatment" (exercise of therapy). Physical exercise is usually understood by its factors such as joint movement or muscle strengthening exercise. Rehabilitation should be based on "Solution as a System". In other words, rehabilitation has a goal of rebuilding patient's life by the establishment of a new reasonable shift and administration of therapeutic exercise. From this viewpoint, it is important for grasping muscle strengthening exercise to recognize the fact "A Subject is a System". It is also essential that motor learning should be conducted by taking the relation between muscle strength and performance of daily living into consideration. It will be of importance to consider which factor of motor learning should be selected and used for the utmost treatment outcome.

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Physical therapists induce subjects to train basic movements and activities of daily living, which is consequently related to muscle strengthening training. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is the method in which a physical therapist touches a subject directly and gives resistance. It cannot be denied that learning of PNF method takes a long time. This article reviews the basic and special techniques of PNF and the applications, especially for the increase in muscle contraction and improvement in muscle coordination.

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Motion analysis is a core of physical therapy, and is of paramount importance for sports injury. This is because most sports injuries result from inappropriate motions. Evaluation of muscle strength and muscle strengthening training are, though important, only parts of sports physical therapy. The injured joint should be considered as a part of whole body including monoarticular muscle, multiarticular muscle, antagonist and synergist. We should consider that total assessment and total training are required. In order to elucidate the cause of sports injury, "eyes" on sports movements are mandatory. We should not pay attention only to deterioration of muscle strength.

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Control of functional diseases of daily life and prevention of care need have recently been considered important. The present article examines the assessment method of muscle strength among the elderly, and reviews the resistance training. With regard to assessment of muscle strength, it is discussed that the muscle strength described by a body weight ratio is possibly used as an index of functional deterioration of nerves and muscles among the elderly. It is also described that the relationship between ADL ability and muscle strength may depend on the muscle strength level. With regard to resistance training, the results of our experiment on muscle strengthening are introduced, and its goal and importance of risk are also mentioned.

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Feet are the only body parts that touch the ground, support a body, and induce physical movements. The functions of the toes and feet should not be missed in the functional evaluation, and should carefully be observed not only for prevention of falls among the elderly but also for prevention of disability.

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In order to understand the function of skeletal muscle in a living body, basic knowledge on macro- and microstructure of skeletal muscles is required. It is also essential to know the function of each constituent of skeletal muscles in a living body. This article reviews the skeletal muscle structure, and then describes how architectural factors of skeletal muscle determine the muscle function and characteristics.

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Psychiatric Rehabilitation Physiotherapy is not yet established in Japan. Physiotherapy is essential to recover and maintain physical health. Also, physical health contributes to mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of physiotherapy for the persons with schizophrenia. Twelve persons with schizophrenia received physiotherapy 12 times once a week. We recognized significant changes in "Factor about Physical Ability" of Body Awareness Scale (BAS), "Negative Scale" of Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and "General Psychopathology Scale" of PANSS in Physiotherapy Intervention Group. The results suggest that physiotherapy for patients with schizophrenia may have an effect on both physical and mental health. We should try to introduce physiotherapy and to work together with other workers in the department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

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The purpose of this study was to elucidate the teacher's activities of the leadership that physical therapy and occupational therapy students desire, and its characteristics. Subjects of the survey were students of the physical therapy and occupational therapy departments at our school, and a total of 406 daily desirable activities were clarified in the primary survey. In the second survey, 406 daily activities were analyzed according to the importance, and examine the characteristics were examined. The daily activities were categorized into two items; those concerning the contents and methods of lessons and those concerning basic conduct and preparation of teachers. As regard to the former item, it was observed that students especially requested the teacher to make important points clear in the lessons and to use teaching media effectively. Students also indicated some important activities for successful lessons such as "to give interesting lessons" and "not to conduct one-way lessons". Daily desirable activities of teachers in the present study were similar to the contents of `Medical Education Manual' published by the Japanese Society of Medical Education, and were found helpful to the teachers to make further relationship with students.

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