[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the reliability of the "finger touching test" for examining joint position sense of the upper limb. [Subjects] Thirty patients with hemiparesis following stroke participated in this study. [Methods] The test was taken with the subjects who sat with their eyes closed, and the affected limb was moved by the examiner. The patient was instructed to touch the tip of the affected index finger with that of the unaffected hand. We measured the distance between the tip of the unaffected index finger and that of the affected hand. The test was performed by two examiners (A, B). We investigated the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability with ICC (intraclass correlation coefficient). [Results] High intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilitis (ICC=0.91; ICC=0.90) were found. [Conclusion] This result suggests that the "finger touching test" is a reliable test for deep sense.

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[Purpose] We measured cerebral blood oxygen kinetics with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and examined the activity of the frontal lobe in subjects performing the trail making test (TMT). [Subjects] The subjects were 13 community-dwelling elderly persons: average age, 72.2 ± 5.8 years. [Methods] We measured changes in hemoglobin (HbO₂) oxygenation using NIRS while subjects performed TMT. [Results] A significant increase in HbO₂ was found immediately after the start of TMT, and elevation of HbO₂ was maintained until the end of TMT following a peak at 7 s after the start of TMT. [Conclusion] We clarified that performance of TMT by the elderly promotes the activity of the frontal lobe, suggesting the appropriateness of TMT attention and frontal lobe function assessment scales, and also that they are grounded on objective data.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between stroke patients' lower limb joints' range of motion (ROM) at the time of hospital discharge and post-stroke femoral neck fracture. [Subjects] The subjects were 41 femoral neck fracture patients at Sankuro Hospital: 28 cases with history of stroke; 13 cases with no history of stroke. [Methods] We investigated the length of hospital stay for fracture, side of fracture, ROM of lower limb joints at the times of hospital admittance and discharge, activities of daily living (ADL), and circumstances of the fracture. For 7 cases, we further researched ROM of lower limb joints at the time of hospital discharge for stroke, ADL, and the time from hospital discharge for stroke to fracture. [Results] There were a number of cases of right side hemiplegia patients who experienced fracture while going to the toilet in the middle of the night. A significant correlation was found between lower limb joints' ROM at the time of discharge for stroke and the time from discharge to fracture. [Conclusion] The results suggest the possibility of identifying patients at high risk of femoral neck fracture from ROM of lower limb joints at the time of hospital discharge for stroke.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the quantity of body burden during gait in the third trimester. [Subjects] Subjects were eight pregnant women in the third trimester and eight non-pregnant women; all were normally healthy and aged in their twenties and thirties. [Methods] A three-dimensional motion analysis system and a forceplate were used to determine gait speed, lower limbs and trunk angles, lower limbs and trunk joint moments, and floor reaction force. [Results] In pregnant women, the gait speed decreased, while the step width and the trunk extension angle increased. The hip joint flexion and abduction moment, the ankle joint plantar-flexion moment, and the trunk flexion moment increased with increase of the floor reaction force. [Conclusion] In the third trimester, the step width and the trunk extension angle increase due to body mass and center of gravity shift to a lower, anterior position. These results suggest that the burden on the abductor muscle, the ankle plantar-flexion muscles, the soft tissue of the anterior hip, and the rectus abdominis muscle increase.

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[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the memory recall ability of motor image at different ages using mental rotation. In addition, the relation between motor image and falls was also investigated in elderly people. [Subjects] The subjects were 333 healthy people aged between 20 and 86. [Methods] The reaction time of the mental rotation of the hand and foot was recorded. For elderly people, we conducted a follow-up investigation as to whether the subjects fell in the year following the measuring day. [Results] Almost all reaction times were extended with the aging, and fallers' reaction times were extended more than these of non-fallers. [Conclusion] Motor imaging tends to become difficult with the aging. In elderly people with a high fall risk, motor imaging was even more difficult.

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[Purpose] We examined the influence on postural sway while standing on level ground after standing on a sloping platform. [Subjects] The subjects were 24 people (8 young adults, 8 middle-aged people and 8 hemiplegia patients). [Methods] The subjects stood on a 10-degree sloping platform for one minute. The center of foot pressure and postural sway area were measured before and after the intervention. [Results] The forward shift of center of foot pressure on level ground after the intervention was confirmed as an immediate reaction. [Conclusion] In comparison of the measurements at 5, 10, and 15 minutes after the intervention, it was observed that the forward shift of center of foot pressure due to the righting reflex remained intact.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the influence on center of foot pressure immediately after standing on a sloping platform. [Subjects] The subjects were 10 healthy people. [Methods] We used 10- and 20-degree sloping platforms. The subjects stood on each sloping platform with the slope arranged in 4 directions (back, front, right and left side), and their center of foot pressure was measured immediately and at one minute after standing on the sloping platform. [Results] The center of foot pressure on level ground immediately after standing on the sloping platform was displaced upward of each slope, and one minute after standing on the sloping platform was displaced downward of each slope. [Conclusion] The amount of displacement seem to be connected with the angle of slope.

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[Purpose] The present experiment was conducted to examine the effects of task difficulty load-bearing upon perception of heaviness. [Subjects] Seven healthy males participated in the experiment. [Methods] All subjects were required to hold a weight 2 times and to estimate the perceived heaviness of the weight in the first and second trials. The weight was 5% of the subject's own body weight. A simple load-bearing task (normal task: NT) was implemented in one trial and a more difficult load-bearing task (precise task: PT) in the other trial. [Results] The muscle activities recorded from biceps brachii and brachioradialis during load-bearing were not significantly different between NT and PT, whereas 5 out of 7 subjects reported that the perceived weight was heavier in PT than in NT, eventhough the load was equal in both tasks. [Concusion] The result suggests the possibility that task difficulty affects perceptions of heaviness. The possible neural mechanisms underlying the findings obtained in this study are discussed in relation to neurophysiological and brain imaging data.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this research was to measure the functional reach (FR) value, as an index of standing balance ability, and to clarify its distribution among community dwelling elderly persons as well as its relationship with fall related factors, such as number of falls in the previous 1 year, history of fracture, and fear of falling. [Subjects] The subjects were 489 persons (226 males, 263 females) over the age of 65 living in K town, Gunma Prefecture, who gave their written consent at the time of their basic health check-up. [Methods] Using a reach measuring apparatus, we performed the FR test, and information regarding fall related factors was gathered by questionnaire. [Results] FR declined in both females and males with advancing age, and at 70 years of age, it had declined significantly in females, as compared to males. Regarding the relationship between FR and the number of falls, a significant decrease in FR was seen among females with 3 or more falls in the past 1 year in a comparison with those with no falls. However, no significant relationship was found between fracture history and fear of falling. [Conclusion] The correlation found between FR values and past number of falls suggests the possibility that FR can be used effectively in local public health programs aiming at fall prevention.

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[Purpose] We investigated the relationship between foot-gripping strength (FGS) and the thoracic spine kyphotic angle (TKA) in community-dwelling elderly women. [Subjects] The subjects were 37 community-dwelling women: average age, 74.7 ± 5.9 years. [Methods] We measured FGS and TKA together with one leg standing time, and investigated them using correlation and covariance analyses. [Results] Significant relationships were found between each of FGS, TKA and one leg standing time; as TKA increased, FGS decreased and one leg standing time shortened. Furthermore, when we compared low and high value groups of TKA, even after adjusting for age, the relationship with FGS and one leg standing time was still shown. [Conclusion] The results suggest that elderly women with large TKA have poor FGS and a lowered standing balance ability.

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[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the characterisitics of patients who were discharged from a convalescence rehabilitation ward. [Subjects] We classified them into two groups: the home discharge group and the institution discharge group. [Methods] We compared them on the basis of rehabilitation records. [Results] Logistic regression analysis identified two factors: type of movement at the discharge (OR: 0.22, 95%CI 0.07-0.71, p<0.01) and independence level of activities of daily living of elderly persons with dementia (OR: 0.35, 95%CI 0.16-0.75, p<0.01). [Conclusion] In a convalescence rehabilitation ward, we suggest that patients who are discharged from hospital to thei homes have a good locomotive function, and their dementia is not severe.

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[Purpose] At our school we have introduced intractable disease support classes, and we investigated the effect on "mood" of recreation and physical exercises performed by those participating in the classes. [Subjects] The subjects were 10 participants in the classes who were patients suffering from intractable neural diseases. [Methods] Before and after participation we investigated subjects' mood using the Profile of Mood States. [Results] After the intervention Vigor was significantly enhanced, whereas Tension-Anxiety, Fatigue, and Confusion were significantly reduced. [Conclusion] The intractable disease support classes effected a short-term improvement in participant's mood.

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[Purpose] We investigated the factors affecting the days till patients could walk continuously, about 50 m, after lobectomy. [Subjects] Subjects were 60 patients (66.9 ± 11.3 years, 42 males, 18 females) with primary lung cancer. [Methods] We investigated the lung function pre-operation, intervention of physical therapy at pre-operation, operative method, operated lobe, age, sex, and body mass index. We examined the relationship between these factors and the days till patients could walk continuously, about 50 m, after lobectomy. [Results] There were no relationships between the days the subjects could walk continuously, about 100 m, and factors we selected. Five patients took more than one week to be able to walk continuously, about 50 m, 3 were over 80 years old, 1 had air flow limitation (FEV1.0% < 40%) and 2 had low BMI (less than 21 kg/m²) before operation, and 1 had severe pain after the operation. [Conclusion] In patients with multiple risk factors for post-operative complications before operation, early ambulation immediately after the operation and improving exercise capacity before the operation were required as physical therapy treatments.

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[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the intra-rater and the inter-rater reliability of the tandem gait test. [Subjests and Methods]: Fifty-seven adult people (49 females and 8 males, 66.2 ± 8.3 years) were assessed twice by two assessors who had different clinical experience. The participants were instructed to walk heel to toe on a line of 50 mm width, red tape. We measured the three different values by tandem gait tests using the time of 5 m tandem gait and the number of mis-step(s). Intra- and inter -rather reliability were tested with the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. [Results and Conclusion] The tandem gait tests can guarantee high reliability under a specific measurement condition, such as two or more repetitive measurements, and depend on the clinical experience of the assessor.

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[Purpose] In this study, we examined if a relationship exists between clinical assessments of symptoms (pain and function) and external knee and hip adduction moment during stepping movement in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis (knee OA). [Subjects] Thirty patients with early medial knee OA and 18 age-matched asymptomatic controls walked while the kinematic and kinetic data were measured. [Methods] Biomechanical data were collected from two force plates (ANIMA) and a motion analysis system (Kissei Comtec). Pain and physical function were measured using the pain and physical function subscales of the WOMAC index. [Results] External knee adduction moment and external hip adduction moment did not differ significantly between the knee OA and control subjects. A significant difference in external knee adduction moment (%) was found between the two groups (p<0.05). Stepwise forward regression analysis revealed relatively high contributions of external knee adduction moment in the single leg stance phase to the pain subscale of the WOMAC index. [Conclusion] This suggests that a nonsurgical approach would be useful for reducing the external knee adduction moment.

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[Purpose] We studied the relationship between balance ability and lower extremity muscular strength in the elderly, and compared the data by gender, age, and the TMIG index of competence scores. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were 69 persons with an average age of 77.4 years. [Methods] Balance ability was assessed using center of gravity sway data for a static-standing posture and the Functional Reach Test (FRT) scores. Lower extremity muscular strength was assessed using measurements of knee extensor and ankle dorsiflexor strengths. For the age group analysis, subjects were divided into those above and below the median age(≤78 years and ≥79). For the activity level analysis, subjects were divided according to their TMIG index of competence score into those with scores of <11 and those with scores of ≥11. [Results] The study showed that lower extremity strength was negatively correlated with sway of center of gravity and positively correlated with FRT scores. Negative correlation between sway of the center of gravity and lower extremity strength was observed in women aged ≥79 whose TMIG index of competence score was <11. In contrast, lower extremity strength was positively correlated with FRT in women aged ≤78 whose TMIG index of competence score was ≥11. [Conclusion] In the elderly, there seem to be different characteristics that are dependent on physical ability in the relationship between balance ability and lower extremity muscular strength.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of rehabilitation on the autonomic nerve system between healthy children and children with cerebral palsy (CP). [Subjects] The study subjects were 12 children with CP who were outpatients and 9 healthy children. [Methods] Rehabilitation was carried out mainly in terms of antigravity posture activity. The autonomic nerve system was evaluated by accelerated plethysmography before and after the rehabilitation. In the healthy children, the evaluation was measured only at rest. [Results] All the patients showed no change between before and after the rehabilitation. The patients were divided into two groups: the low-grade motor disability (LGMD) group and the high grade motor disability (HGMD) group. The HGMD group showed no significant difference between before and after rehabilitation. The LGMd group showed a significant difference between before and after rehabilitation (p<0.05). The result for the LGMD group was not significantly different from that of the healthy children. [Conclusion] Rehabilitation mainly in terms of antigravity posture activity is considered to be associated with the autonomic nervous system in children with CP.

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[Purpose] It has been reported that the preferred gait speed on treadmills (PST) is much slower than the preferred gait speed on flat ground (PSF), although the gait speed on treadmills is perceived to be faster. In this study, we compared speeds and physical activities between gait on flat ground and gait on a treadmill. [Subjects] The subjects were 15 healthy persons aged 21-22 (mean: 21.1 ± 0.4). [Methods] PSF was determined from the measured time of 10 m gait. In each measurement, data were transmitted from small-sized, tri-axial accelerometers attached to the back of the subjects and connected to a PC via a dynamic strain measurement device and an AD converter. [Results] We measured the changes of gait speed and the physical activity of young healthy subjects on flat ground and a treadmill at their preferred gait speeds. The results suggest that the values of speed and activity at preferred gait speed may be higher in flat ground gait than in treadmill gait. [Conclusion] The results show that the amount of physical activity assessed using the accelerometer could be used clinically, if measured during gait on flat ground.

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[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the influence of slipped posture in bed-backrest on the activity of respiratory muscles and energy consumption. [Subjects] Twenty-one young healthy men (mean age 27 ± 4.4 years) were investigated in the present study. [Methods] Surface electromyograms were recorded for five respiratory muscles (sternocleidomastoideus muscle, trapezius muscle, back muscles, rectus abdominal muscle, and oblique abdominal muscle). The energy consumption was measured by calorimetry. We measured these values in three types of bed-backrest posture: posture 1, head-up 60° and knee flexes at 20°; posture 2, head-up 60°; and posture 3, slipped. [Results] The electromyographic activity (202.1%) of the rectus muscle during expiration was significantly higher in posture 3 than any of the other postures (98.2% in posture 1, and 100.0% in posture 2) (p<0.05). The energy consumption (123.2%) was significantly increased in posture 3 compared to posture 2 (100.9%) (p<0.05). [Conclusion] The slipped posture in bed-backrest enhances tonic activity in respiratory muscles and increases energy consumption by augmenting minute ventilation.

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[Purpose] To study the effects of chest or lumbar corset restrictions on pulmonary function. [Subjects] Six healthy men aged 28.2 ± 5.3 [SE] yrs participated in this study. [Methods] Pulmonary function tests were perfomed with subjects wearing a plastic chest or a lumbar corset which could regulate corset restriction pressure from 0 mmHg to 60 mmHg. [Results] The chest corset restriction decreased both vital capacity (VC) and expiratory reserve volume (ERV), but not residual volume (RV), when the restrictive pressure of the corset increased to over 40 mmHg. In contrast, the lumbar corset had no effect on VC, ERV or RV. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that the use of the chest corset may suppress respiration.

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[Purpose] In this study, we examined changes of electromyogram activity of hip muscles in simulating motion from double stance phase to single stance phase in walking. [Subjects] Nineteen healthy subjects with a mean age of 25.63 ± 1.86 years participated in this study. [Methods] The subjects were requested to adopt a load of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100% of body weight as on one leg a motor task. Electromyography (EMG) of M.Gluteus medius, M.Gluteus maximus, M.tensor fasciae latae, M.adductor was measured in the motor task. [Results] EMG of M.Gluteus medius and M.Gluteus maximus increased gradually with increasing load, and EMG of M.tensor fasciae latae of 100% load was higher than those of others. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the activities of M.Gluteus medius and M.Gluteus maximus are important in movement from double stance phase to single stance phase.

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[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the postoperative change in muscle strength and the exercise capacity of a patient who received a living-donor lobor lung transplant. We have treated the patient with successive physical therapy for about 8 months. [Subjects] The subject was a female with pulmonary emphysema of unknown origin. [Methods] We measured muscle strength in straight leg raising (SLR), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) and pulmonary function. [Results] Muscle strength in SLR reached the maximum value at 6-7 months after the lung transplantation, and 6MWD also reached the maximum at 6 months post-op. The postoperative change (12 months after surgery) in SLR strength, and 6MWD were correlated with pulmonary function. However, the value of SLR strength and 6MWD were decreased at 12 months after surgery. [Conclusion] These results suggest that successive physical therapy after lung transplantation facilitates the improvement of physical function and maintains it.

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In this study, we evaluated the physical strength of soccer players from the following 4 aspects: physical strength factors required for soccer players, measurement of the physical strength and evaluation, application of results, and training problems to be considered in the future. Results: Understanding the characteristics of soccer is important in the evaluation of the physical strength of soccer players. It was also confirmed that individual and group evaluation of physical strength is important to increase the efficiency of physical training. The quantitative evaluation of the relationship between physical strength factors, training, and sports performance will be a step toward making effective use of scores of physical strength for soccer players.

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