We studied the way of training on land for speed skaters by analyzing the relationship between one-leg standing duration ability under unstable circumstances simulating skating and track performance. The analysis was performed for 31 speed skaters and for reference 10 people who used simulated skating boots developed for the purpose of measuring and training of posture control ability under unstable conditions which simulate speed skating movements. The results showed that the one-leg standing duration time of reinforced skaters was significantly longer than that of the non-reinforced skaters and the reference group. We suggest that simulation training of skate movement under unstable circumstances using the developed skating boots is useful for summer training when training on ice is impossible.

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The purpose of this study was to analyze the usefulness of the Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope (OUES) using upper limb ergometer. We measured the OUES for 10 healthy males using upper and lower limb ergometers. The results showed that the OUES of the upper limb is 84% of the lower limb's, and was significantly low (p<0.05). As for the relationship of peak VO₂, the correlation coefficients of the upper limb and lower limb ergometers were r= 0.90 and r= 0.92, respectively, revealing significant correlation (p<0.05). From the result that the correlation coefficient between OUES and peak VO₂ is higher than that between anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak VO₂, the usefulness of the specific activity scale by OUES obtained with an upper limb ergometer is suggested.

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We researched the relationship between 3 balance tests, and what physical factors influence the functional reach test. The participants were 30 community dwelling elderly women and 33 college students. We measured height, weight, Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), One Foot Standing (OFS), trunk bending, 10 m walking speed, grip strength, toe flexion strength and ADL. We found that the FRT was not correlated with TUGT, OFS or 10 m walking speed, and FRT was not correlated with center of gravity sway in students. However, TUGT, OFS and 10 m walking speed were significantly related to each other. FRT was significantly related to age and height in the elderly women, and with height, weight and grip strength in students. We think the FRT evaluates not only balance but also other physical characteristics, such as physical suppleness. In a future study, we will evaluate some of those factors.

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The purpose of this study was to examine what sole sensory or crural muscle proprioception contributes to standing postural control. The subject were 12 healthy young adult males. Each had their sole and crus cooled The integrated electromyographic values (iEMGs) of trunk and leg muscles and locus lengths of center of gravity (COGs) were compared among before cooling (control), 0-3 min after cooling and with a skin temperature more than 20°C higher under static standing with eyes closed and dynamic standing with eyes closed conditions. The iEMG ratios of trunk and proximal leg muscles after sole cooling increased significantly compared to the control. The locus lengths of COGs after sole cooling also extended significantly compared to the control. From the results, we concluded that diminuition of sole mechanoreceptor signals shifted from ankle strategy to hip strategy and diminuition of crural muscle proprioceptive signals, and extension of locus lengths of COGs also occurred. Consequently, we consider that the deterioration of standing postural control was elicited by decline of sole mechanoreceptor signals rather than that of crural muscle proprioceptive signals.

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In the present study, we investigated the effects of exercises instructions without surveillance, on life style, QOL, physical features and physical activities in hyperlipidemic patients. Subjects were selected at random from people who needed guidance for their hyperlipidemia. We studied 15 subjects in the intervention group and 10 subjects in a control group. Patients in the intervention group were instructed on nutrition and exercise once a month continuously for 5 months. Subjects with intervention had significantly improved "walking and exercise habits" and "total life style score." Regarding health-related QOL, there was a significant improvement in "physical functioning" and "bodily pain" in the intervention group. Subjects of the intervention group showed a more remarkable decrease in body weight, body fat ratio and visceral fat level than those in the control group. Physical activity in the intervention group were significantly elevated in the 3rd month, compared to the levels before instruction. These results indicate that practical instruction without surveillance were effective in exercise continuation, improvement in physical health grade, weight loss and elevation in the number of steps, but not in the improvement of total endurance.

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We aimed to develop a Functional Assessment for Control of Trunk (FACT), and determine its reliability in this study. FACT judges the trunk performance and consists of 10 items with a full score of 20. Five physical therapists arranged in pairs, separately performed FACT for 23 cerebrovascular accident patients. We studied the inter-rater reliability of total scores with intra-class correlation coefficient (2,1), and analyzed the adjustment rate per item with percentages and κ coefficients. We used Cronbach's α for internal consistency. High inter-rater reliability (ICC(2,1)=0.96) was found for the total score. The agreement rate for each item ranged from 87-100%, κ coefficients 0.62-1, showing sufficient reliability for clinical introduction; Cronbach's α was 0.81. FACT is able to assess trunk function through a points measure of performance, and its application in clinical settings and research as a treatment-oriented test method is anticipated.

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Here, we report on foot-gripping force meter developed by the authors and the measurement data from the apparatus. The apparatus uses a strain-gauge to measure the time taken for the foot-gripping force to rise from a minimum of 0.1 kg to the maximum. Data was obtained for 32 legs of 16 healthy adult men (mean age 22.3 ± 5.5 years). The average foot-gripping force was 17.4 ± 4.5 kg and the average time taken to reach the maximum was 0.66 ± 0.26 seconds. With regard to measurement reproduction, foot-gripping force had an ICC=0.953, and the time taken to reach the maximum was ICC=0.723, suggesting that they have adequate reproducibility for application in the clinical setting.

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The purpose of this study was to analyze predictors for the ability of transfer activity in stroke patients using factors of impairment and some constitutive activities of transfer. Fifty-eight stroke patients were classified into the two groups according to their transfer activity ability: an independent group and an assisted group. The predictors were analyzed by the stepwise method of discriminant analysis. The impairment factors and the constitutive activity factors were used separately in this analysis. In the impairment factors, the abdominal muscle was identified as the predictor and in the constitutive activity factors, standing up, turning around, and sitting up were identified. This result may indicate that the evaluation of trunk function is more useful as a predictor of transfer activity ability of stroke patients than paralysis of the lower extremity or cognitive function. Additionally, dynamic activity in the constitutive activity factors, for example standing up and turning around, were important predictors.

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The effect of muscle stress caused by isotonic exercise and isometric exercise on oxidative stress was examined. A hand-grip exercise was carried out with the right hand, using a hand-dynamometer. Thirty-one healthy volunteers with no past history of medication were recruited for this study. A free radical analytical system was used to measure oxidative stress (hydroperoxide consistency), and blood specimens were collected from a finger tip under two conditions: 1) at rest, and 2) immediately after completion of the test. No significant difference was seen in oxidative stress under these two conditions. However, blood pressure and heart rate showed significant increases for both isotonic exercise and isometric exercise, compared with the rest period (both p<.001). This indicates that there was no change in oxidative stress even with an increase in blood pressure and heart rate for both isotonic exercise and isometric exercise.

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The purpose of this study was to reveal the recovery process of pulmonary function from early influence of lung resection and change of exercise capacity before and after the resection, and relating factors of lung function recovery rate. The pulmonary function post-operation was significantly decreased in FEV1.0 up to 12 days, VC up to 8 days, suggesting the need of positive physical therapy development during this period. The recovery rate of FEV1.0 after the operation was related to age, BMI and starting days of sitting position and walking, and indicated the need to encourage patients to leave their beds at the earliest stage after the operation. There were no significant differences of exercise capacity before and after the operation, and we assume that the decline of exercise capacity was minimized because exercise therapy was performed actively from the earliest stage after the operation. From these results, we think that in the development of the physical therapy after lung resection it is important to encourage patients to leave their beds early and perform exercise therapy actively. It became clear that it is possible to raise the recovery rate of pulmonary functions and prevent complications after lung resection.

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In order to clarify asymmetry of functional activation in the sensorimotor cortex (SMC), we scanned 12 right-handed healthy subjects with functional MRI while they performed self-initiated sequential opposition movements of the thumb to each finger every 1 second with the right and left hands. Movement of the left hand resulted in greater activation of the SMC contralateral to the movements than that of the right hand (Mean BOLD signals: 11.68 with right hand, 16.82 with left hand. p<0.05). With respect to spatial distribution of activated SMC, finger movements activated contralateral SMC with the right hand, whereas bilateral SMC was activated with the left hand. These results support the hypothesis that unskillful movements, as with left hand in this study, require more neural participation than skillful movements.

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In this study, we performed 6-minute walking for 12 chronic stroke hemiplegia patients with ankle foot orthosis, and analyzed the influence of the gait velocity difference on walking ability and energy consumption. We measured the walking distance, gait velocity, oxygen consumption (VO₂) and heart rate (HR) on walking at optimal and the fastest speeds. As exercise energy efficiency, VO₂ per meter and Physiological Cost Index (PCI) were calculated. Walking distance, gait velocity, VO₂ and HR at the fastest speed showed significantly higher values than those at the optimal speed. Furthermore, VO₂ per meter was significantly lower value at the fastest speed, but there was no difference in PCI. From these results, walking energy consumption of stroke hemiplegia patients changes with gait velocity, therefore it is thought that walking instruction taking into consideration exercise energy efficiency is important.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the muscle force control of elbow flexor muscles in relation to gradual increase and decrease of weights. Seven healthy male subjects participated in the study. While the elbow of the subjects was flexed at 90 degrees, weights were applied to the palmar surface and the position was maintained in an isometric fashion. The muscle activities of the biceps brachii muscle and brachioradial muscle were recorded while the weight was increased or decreased gradually. The results of the experiment showed a strong correlation between the muscle activities of both muscles and the weight. Two changing patterns were observed during the experiment in the activities of both muscles: reciprocation and complementation. These results reveal that the muscle activities of both muscles correspond to changes in weight. Furthermore, they suggest that, even in a single joint movement, the contraction pattern among synergistic muscles has compensation and degrees of freedom.

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In this study we analyzed reports of accidents occurring during physical therapy, through factor analysis of the accidents. We also reviewed the practical approaches to risk management control on the occurrence of accidents and patients' altered physical condition. From the analysis of 50 cases, we attempted to make a improvement in the risk management system. The problems of the risk management system were divided into 4 topics, medical equipment maintenance, staff education, system construction and routine arrangements, and studied the potential problems. Physical therapists need to perform immediate procedures (basic life support) when a patient's physical condition alters and system procedures putting life-saving first need to be adopted.

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In this study, we performed the resistive component movement for orthopedics disease patients and analyzed the improvement of gait ability. The subjects were 7 older people (3 men and 4 women) who were explained the purpose of this intervention and consented to it. We excluded patients who had previous clinical history of central motor paralysis or dementia. Resistive component movement on both knee joints was performed by the same assessor 10 times in 2 sets, and the gait ability before and after the approach was studied. Step length, walking rate and walking speed were improved suggesting the effectiveness of resistive component movement for orthopedics disease patients.

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The present study examined the effect of exercise on motor abilities and activities of daily living of hemiparetic stroke patients. A motor performance test was measured once a year for 5 years after starting exercise in 20 hemiparetic stroke patients. They were allocated to either an adherence group (n=10) or a non-adherence group (n=10). The test consisted of measurement of grip strength, knee extension strength, walking at maximum speeds, activities of daily living (Barthel Index: BI). The results indicate that there was no decline in any score in the adherence group. However the scores in non-adherence group showed a significant decline (p<0.05). In conclusion hemiparetic stroke patients maintained their motor abilities by exercise adherence.

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This paper investigated the relationship of lifestyle, motor ability and functional capacity based on the data obtained from community dwelling elderly persons in Kasari, Amami Island, Japan. The number of elderly men and women participaing in the study was 116 (average age: 78.1 years). The number of measurement items was 22 for lifestyle, 13 for functional capacity and 3 for motor ability. The results of the analysis indicate that lifestyle, motor ability, functional capacity and health perception are significantly correlated with each other. These results suggest that improvement of lifestyle in old age is considerably effective for preventing declines in functional capacity and motor ability, and for promoting successful aging.

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By added vibration stimuli on the neck while standing, it is said that the sensory shift from cervical proprioceptive organ causes disorder of head position, changes the viewer-centered reference frame and induces posture change. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the shift of center of gravity occurs by the residual effect after intervention of neck vibration stimuli on healthy people through subjects' intro spection self reports, a three dimensional motor analysis set and a force plate. The subjects were given vibration stimuli on the rear neck in the sitting position to induce kinesthetic illusion of neck flexion, and the displacement of center of gravity was recorded duting standing movement. The forward shift of center of gravity occurred in the standing movement, and the forward shift existed for up to 6 minutes. We conclude that the continuing sensory shift induced by vibration stimuli from cervical proprioceptive organ influenced the center of gravity after the standing movement.

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This study investigated cardiovascular responses as risk factors for sudden death while bathing in the elderly. Forty-two males (mean age, 75.5 ± 7.6 years old) were involved in this study. Each subject took a full bath at 41-42°C for 5 min in the bathtub. Data on systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse, double product, pulse pressure and mean blood pressure were obtained. Two-way analysis of variance showed that there was an interaction between age and fluctuation of pulse (p<0.05). Changes in the other five items were not age-related. During bathing, pulse increased in subjects aged in their sixties and seventies, but in subjects over eighty, pulse was not increased. Although bathing in the tub requires the cardiovascular system to increase the pulse rate, subjects over eighty years old may be not able to achieve the appropriate physiological response. The absence of an increase in the pulse rate during bathing is a marked finding that may be a potential risk factor for sudden death while bathing.

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In this study, we examined the clinical significance of capability of one-leg standing duration with vision for 30 seconds for 21 community dwelling older men (mean age 70.7 ± 5.4 years). We measured one-leg standing duration time, upper and lower limb muscle strength and flexibility and surveyed fall history. Eleven people who were capable of 30-second one-leg standing with vision were compared with 10 people who were not. Foot-gripping force of the former group was significantly stronger, but in grip strength, foot joints dorsal flexion angle and flexibility we could not find any significant differences. Those who had fall history in this study were all in the latter group; there were none in the former group. The results suggest the possibility of fall prevention for those who are capable of one-leg standing with vision for 30 seconds among community dwelling older men.

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Movements of head and neck, and upper limbs in rolling over motion were analyzed in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Eleven patients with C6 spinal cord injury were studied, who were divided into a rolling over possible group and impossible group. Movements of the head and hand joints in upper limbs, which serve as a force source, were measured in rolling over motion with a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The results showed that all components of horizontal X, vertical Y and depth Z for parietal deviation, velocity and acceleration were significantly larger in the rolling over possible group. The three components of X, Y and Z were significantly larger in the possible group both for deviation and velocity in hand joint. For acceleration, X and Y components were significantly larger in the possible group. Taken together these experimental results show that the swing of the upper limb is used as a force source for rolling over and a strong swing was made toward the rolling over direction and shoulder joint bending direction in the possible group. Large acceleration was needed to move the upper limb rapidly, but a significant difference was found toward the rolling over direction and the vertical direction. Therefore, direction and speed were important factors in upper limb swing for rolling over.

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The purpose of this research was to investigate musician related injuries, treatments, and the therapeutic responses for musicians in Japan. Methodology: Anonymous questionnaire on aspects of musical habits were distributed to 138 musicians. Eighty-three of them were returned (60% response rate), and 81 were usable. Results: Sixty-nine (85%) people had some kind of body disorder, and forty (58%) people had received treatment. Among those 40 people, 83% of them, received treatment at a practitioner clinic. The most common method of treatment was quasi-medical practice, such as massage, manipulative, acupuncture and chiropractic. However, only 4% had recovered completely.

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Music therapy has rapidly progressed in recent years as a method of medical treatment in Japan. No less than 2,300 music therapists work in medical and welfare institutions. Music has tremendous effects on the improvement of conditions of people with mental illness and physical disorders. It can be used for children and elderly persons. Music therapists work in a medical team at hospitals as co-medicals in Norway, Canada and Australia. Demand for music therapy is still increasing in Japan. Therefore, physical therapists will most probably work with music therapists in the near future. In this paper, I report my findings on the practise of music therapy.

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