[Purpose] Prism adaptation has attracted attention as an effective therapeutic approach for unilateral spatial neglect, but few studies have investigated the generalization of effects on activities of daily living. [Subjects and Methods] Five patients with unilateral spatial neglect participated in this study. We examined whether wheel-chair navigation ability was improved by prism adaptation. [Results] The results showed that patients with subcortical lesions in the front parietal area showed good impovent in the navigation tasks after prism adaptation therapy whereas patients with cortical lesions in temporoparietal regions showed little change in their navigation abilities. [Conclusion] These results suggest that prism adaptation would improve the abilities of wheel-chair navigation in the cases in which function of left hemisphere is used greatly.

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[Purpose] We measured changes of indices of muscle architecture of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius in graded ankle plantar contraction, and examined the reliability of the measurement indices as well as the relationships of the changes of the respective muscle architecture indices with graded ankle plantar isometric contraction. [Subjects and Method] The subjects were 10 healthy males. We measured muscle thickness, pennation angle, superficial aponeurosis displacement, and deep aponeurosis displacement as indices of muscle architecture with ultrasonography analysis equipment. The exercise task was ankle plantar isometric contraction of 5, 10 and 15 kg, in the prone position with knee and ankle angles of 0 degrees. We performed the measurements again under the same conditions after an interval of about one week. [Results] By the test-retest method the intraclass correlation coefficients (1.1) were 0.77~0.91 for superficial aponeurosis displacement, and 0.89~0.94 for deep aponeurosis displacement, and the reliability was high. On the other hand, that of muscle thickness, 0.38~0.87, and pennation angle, 0.10~0.56, were low. Furthermore, deep aponeurosis displacement increased significantly (p<0.01) with increasing muscle strength, whereas the relationships of the other indices were not significant.

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[Purpose] In this study, we examined which regular exercise resulted in differences in body composition and physical function in community-dwelling elderly. [Subjects] Eighty-three people aged over 70 years (mean age, 75.9 ± 4.3 years) were investigated in this study. [Methods] We evaluated subjects' body composition, physical function, types of habitual exercise, exercise frequency, exercise duration, and their fall experiences in the last half year. We classified the participants into a sports group and a mild exercise group depending on the type of exercise. [Results] In the Timed "Up & Go" test, the sports group showed a significantly higher performance than the mild exercise group. The sports group experienced fewer falls than the mild exercise group. Furthermore, in the sports group, the exercise frequency was significantly correlated with the quantity of skeletal muscle (r = 0.41) and knee extension muscular strength (r = 0.42). [Conclusion] Community-dwelling elderly who take part in sports as regular exercise have higher walking performance and fewer fall experiences than the elderly people engaged in mild exercise. In addition, the frequency of playing sports was associated with knee extension muscular strength and quantity of skeletal muscle.

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[Purpose] In this study, we compared grading ability in walking speed between young and elderly. [Methods] Thirty normal young and thirty normal elderly subjects walked at 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of maximum walking speed on a 10 m walkway. We examined the graded value, the absolute error for each target value, the coefficient of variation (CV) of each output value and the difference between each output value. The repeatability of each graded value was evaluated with ICC. [Results] A significant difference of absolute error in 20% speed was observed between the elderly and young. The difference between 40% and 60% speed of the young was significantly higher than the elderly. There was no significant difference in CV between the two groups. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the grading ability of elderly was slightly lower than that of the young.

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[Purpose] Standing balance is evaluated by center of pressure. Many kinds of parameters of center of pressure make evaluation of standing balance difficult, so we examined the interrelation between parameters of center of pressure in 5 static upright postures, to simplify evaluation of standing balance. [Subjects] Subjects were 24 healthy adults. [Methods] We measured subjects' center of pressure motion for 10 seconds during 5 static upright postures (opened-feet, closed-eyes, closed-feet, Mann's posture, one-legged). [Results] Result of factor analysis, no single factor was found that was common to all the postures. [Conclusion] It might be possible to evaluate the standing balance by one of the parameters we measured in this study. We consider that it is necessary to examine parameters which express the standing balance.

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[Purpose] In this study, we examined physical contact with obstacles by children with and without developmental disorders (DD). [Subjests] Participants were nine children with DD and nine normal children. [Methods] All participants went through a course with seven pieces of playground equipment and six bars at different heights under three conditions: the first trial was with no instruction, the second trial was with an instruction to avoid collision, and the third trial was with an instruction to avoid collision and go through as fast as possible. [Results] The children with DD had more physical contact with the bars than normal children, indicating that attention deficit was not the cause of the increased contact in the children with DD. They also showed a significantly higher number of waist-contacts when compared to the normal children. This suggests that the children with DD had more contact when concurrent visual-feedback could not be used during avoidance movements. [Conclusion] It is possible that incorrect estimation based on body-characteristic information is the cause of the increased contact in the children with DD.

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[Purpose] In this study we looked at the effect of experimental use of e-learning using social networking services (SNS) in lessons at a physical therapy vocational school. [Methods] In an internal course of physical therapies for disabilities at the physical therapy vocational school, SNS lessons were undertaken by 40 second year students from October 2007, and we looked at the changes between before and after the lessons as measured by a general self-efficacy scale (GSES). Also, on completion of the lessons we undertook a survey and from the results of free responses describing the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing SNS in learning, we generalized and classified common responses. [Results] No significant difference was found in the GSES between before and after the SNS lessons. From the results of the survey performed on completion of the SNS lessons, the effects of SNS could be seen in some distinctive features based on the effect of e-learning. [Conclusion] The distinctive features were that, SNS lessons could be taken anywhere and at any time, it was easy to accept other students opinions in the community and to take tutorials, and the information remained on the web, an environment where it could be reviewed repeatedly. Utilizing these features, we need to move ahead with more effective and more developmental e-learning.

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[Purpose] We examined the factors affecting term examination results. [Subjects] The subjects were 254 physical therapy students attending our college. [Methods] Through the results of a survey, we examined students' will to learn and five set items, dividing them into high, average and low groups, and compared the relationships with term exam results. Then, for significant differences among will to learn we performed factor analysis and examined the factors. [Results] The students grouped `high' under `mental health' and `adaptability to college' had significantly higher term exam results. Furthermore, for those grouped `low' under the same two items, from a psychological perspective `communication problems' was found as a contributing factor. [Conclusion] As teachers, it is desirable that we promote measures of human relations through getting students to communicate with their fellows and surroundings.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of passive joint motion on maintaining or increasing muscle strength, as well as examining a practical method. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 39 healthy male students who were divided in to a control group, a passive joint motion group, and a passive joint motion with visual alerts group. Muscle output of the three groups was measured using a Biodex System 3 muscle function assessment dynamometer. [Results] Compared to the control group the maximum torque values of both knee extension and flexion were significantly lowered in the passive joint motion group. In the visual alerts group, only the maximum torque value of knee extension showed a significant decrease, and compared to the passive joint motion group the knee flexion maximum torque showed a significantly higher value. [Conclusion] Passive joint motion accompanied by visual alerts was partially involved with muscle output, suggesting that it could possibly be used to maintain or increase muscle strength.

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[Purpose] Limited ankle dorsiflexion is one of many functional impairments seen due to diseases of the central nervous system and orthopedic diseases. Therefore, various methods are used for measuring ankle dorsiflexion. In this study, we investigated the normative values in each method and compared the measurement values between methods. [Subjects and Methods] Forty-two healthy young male subjects were measured using four kinds of ankle dorsiflexion methods. We classified measurement values and performed correlation analysis among the methods. [Results] Normal distribution was confirmed all of the measuring methods, indicating utility in ankle doriflexion as normative data of healthy young males. Significant correlations were observed among all measuring methods (r=0.65 to 0.86, p<0.01). [Conclusion] These results suggest that a method appropriate to each clinical site should be used.

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[Purpose] The object of this study was to clarify the reliability and accuracy of observational ability in gait analysis. [Subjects] The subjects were 24 second year and 26 fourth year physical therapy training school students, and 20 physical therapists. [Methods] Changes in gait of healthy persons due to differences in cadence and gaits imitating disabilities were observed on video, and we asked the subjects to identify the three phases of the gait cycle through angular movements of the joints. We also asked them to guess the causes of the gaits imitating disabilities. [Results] Observation of the hip extension angle in the terminal stance was the easiest, and observation of the knee flexion angle in the initializing phase was difficult, a tendency that was apparent across all 3 groups of subjects. The physical therapists focused on the disabilities and accurately listed their causes. [Conclusion] It is clear that the effect of experience is not the ability to observe and discriminate between joint movements, rather it is the ability to recognize them and judge them as deviated movements, and identify the causes of them.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of treadmill training with body weight support (BWSTT) by patients with orthopedic diseases. [Subjects] Twenty patients with gait dysfunction due to orthopedic diseases participated in this study. [Methods] Stride length and 10 m gait velocity were examined as quantitative outcome measures for gait function. The degree of difficulty, tiredness and pain during walking were estimated on a numerical rating scale. All evaluated scores after BWSTT were compared with those before BWSTT. [Results] The results showed significant improvements in 10 m gait velocity and the stride length after BWSTT. The degree of difficulty, tiredness and pain during walking, after BWSTT were significantly reduced compared with those before BWSTT. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that BWSTT has immediate effects for patients with orthopedic diseases.

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[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the effects of xenon-ray irradiation of the near lumbar sympathetic ganglion on the autonomic nerve function, pain and motor function. [Subjects] Fifteen healthy adults (HA) and fifteen patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) were allocated to the intervention group (10 HAs and 10 LBPs) and the control group (5 HAs and 5 LBPs). [Methods] The intervention group was irradiated with 10-minute xenon-ray irradiation of the near bilateral lumbar sympathetic ganglions. [Results] In the subjects of the intervention group, not only significant decreases in sympathetic activity and pain, but also the significant increases in finger-floor distance and straight leg rising angle were observed after the xenon-ray irradiation. [Conclusion] These results suggest that xenon-ray irradiation of the near lumbar sympathetic ganglion decreases sympathetic activity and improves motor function in HAs as well as LBPs.

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[Purpose] In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of reaching movements in patients after stroke using time series analysis of tri-axial accelerometer signals. [Subjects] Subjects were 19 hemiparetic patients (8 males, 11 females). [Methods] A tri-axial accelerometer was used to measure limb acceleration in three-axes (vertical, anterior-posterior and medial-lateral). Acceleration signals were recorded in reaching movements during 200 seconds on both paretic and non-paretic side wrists (sampling rate: 200 Hz). Motor recovery tests were conducted. Time-series data were analyzed by linear and nonlinear analyses. [Results] In the linear analysis, values of RMS in paretic movements were significantly larger than those in non-paretic movements while values of auto correlation (AC) on the paretic side were significantly lower than those on the non-paretic side. In non-linear analysis, the structure dimension on the paretic side was lower than that on the non-paretic side. These acceleration parameters were correlated with motor recovery tests. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the reaching movements of stroke patients on the paretic side are less smooth and "freezing" occurs, compared to movements on the non-paretic side.

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[Purpose] In this study we investigated the immediate effect of diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC) on the finger-floor distance (FFD) in forward flexion of healthy subjects. [Subjects] The subjects were 40 healthy persons (20 males, 20 females) with an average age of 20.7 years. [Methods] On the first day, at intervals of 30 seconds we measured the FFD 3 times. Then, leaving 3 days between measurements in consideration of their effects on each other we measured the FFD again, 4 days (day 5) and 8 days (day 9) later. In order to examine the intervention effect of DNIC, on day 5 only, we performed DNIC intervention twice by applying pressure on the back of the hands to the muscles between the bones until pain was felt. [Results] Between days 1 and 9, there were no significant differences in the first to the third FFD measurements. However, on day 5, the values for males and females together were -8.3 ± 7.0 cm, 0.1 ± 6.1 cm, and -0.4 ± 6.0 cm for the first to the third measurements, respectively, which were significantly different. [Conclusion] An improvement of FFD in forward flexion was found with DNIC intervention, and it was confirmed that the effect lasted throughout the intervention and immediately afterwards.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of unloading on partially denervated soleus muscles. [Subjects] Twenty-three twelve-week-old female Wistar rats were used. [Methods] We developed a rat model for partial denervation of the soleus muscle by resecting the fifth lumbar vertebral nerve on the right side. To avoid regeneration of the resected nerve, the central side of the fifth lumbar vertebral nerve was ligated. After 2 or 6 weeks of hindlimb suspension, we measured soleus muscle mass and cross-sectional area of the tibial nerve fibers and soleus muscle fibers. [Results] Soleus muscle mass and cross-sectional area of the soleus muscle fibers showed the same declining tendency as on the unaffected side at 2 weeks and on both sides at 6 weeks were significantly smaller. The distribution of cross-sectional area of the soleus muscle fibers showed bimodal peaks at 2 weeks, and one smaller peak at 6 weeks. [Conclusion] These results suggest that unloaded atrophy depends on innervation of muscle fiber.

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[Purpose] We performed measurements of lower limb circumferences, muscle strength and thickness, and in a general analysis of these three parameters, we looked for factors associated with the circumference. [Subjects] The subjects were 20 healthy adults. [Methods] For lower limb muscle strength we adopted the strength of the quadriceps femoris, and using ultrasound we measured the thicknes of the vastus medialis and the central part of the quadriceps femoris. We also measured the circumference of the central part of the thigh and 10 cm above the knee-cap. [Results] We found a correlation between the strength of the quadriceps femoris and the circumference of the thigh, but there was no significant correlation with the circumference 10 cm above the knee. Regarding correlations with muscle thickness, very strong correlations were shown between the vastus medialis thickness and the circumference 10 cm above the knee, and the thigh muscle thickness and the circumference of the central part of the thigh. [Conclusion] It is difficult to say that measurement values of the circumference simply reflect the muscles strength, however, from the correlation of the thickness with the circumference, at the central part of the thigh compared to the distal part, there are few influences other than the muscle thickness, suggesting that the circumference does easily reflect the muscle strength.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify characteristics of wheelchair driving movements with one leg of hemiplegic patients. [Subjects] Four hemiplegic patients participated in this study. [Methods] Subjects wheelchair driving movements with one leg were measured by a 3D motion analysis system VICON. [Results] It was shown that the pelvis and the trunk were inclined backward and inclined and rotated to the non-driving side during the driving period. The patients whose functional abilities were low showed a lower driving speed and excessive movement deviations. [Conclusion] The subjests' movements caused inadequate seating positions during driving.

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[Porpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) and the degree of anterior slippage measured by radiographic findings. [Subjests] Patients were 36 females with 4th lumbar degenerative anterolisthesis. [Methods] We measured neurological symptom limited walking capacity (WC) reflected in NIC by radiographic findings. We examined three points: sagittal anterior deviation in 4th lumbar to 5th in upright, trunk extension, and flexion positions. As physical findings, we used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate subjective symptom intensity after standing upright for 30 seconds. [Results] None of the 3 radiographic findings were correlated to WC in multiple regression analysis. Only VAS was correlated to WC (r²=0.268, p<0.01). [Conclusion] These results suggest that radiographic findings expressing anterior slippage do not explain NIC dynamic symptoms or signs.

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[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the degree of instability in the 4th lumbar and neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC). [Subjects] Patients were 28 females (65.9 ± 7.9 years) with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with instability in the 4th lumbar. [Methods] Instability was measured by radiographic findings in the sagittal plane in three positions: upright, trunk extension, and flexion positions. The difference between maximum anterior deviation of the 4th lumbar to 5th and the minimum in the three positions was defined as instability. We also measured neurological symptoms that limited walking capacity (WC) to evaluate NIC, the finger-floor distance (FFD), and modified functional reach (FR). Furthermore, we used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate subjective symptom intensity after standing upright for 30 seconds. [Results] The degree of instability was not correlated to WC. Furthermore, FFD, FR and VAS were not also correlated to instability. However, FR (r = 34, p<.01) and VAS (r = -.58, p<.001) were correlated to WC. [Conclusion] These results suggest that radiographic findings expressing lumbar pathology alone cannot explain NIC symptoms or signs.

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[Purpose] In this study, gait patterns of patients with hemiplegia were investigated from the aspect of the time ratio of each phase of a gait cycle. [Subjects] Eighteen patients who had been hospitalized to a convalescent ward were included in this study. [Methods] We videotaped patients' leg movements during walking, and determined the beginning of the stance and the swing phases. We normalized the beginning of each phase to patients' stride time. The gait patterns of each patient were assessed every 3 weeks from the time when they could walk until their discharge from the hospital. All gait patterns were classified with the corresponding Brunnstrom stages. [Results] There were significant differences in the ratio of the stance and the swing phases of a gait cycle between Brunnstrom stages II and III, and between stages IV and V. A longitudinal study is required for further investigation into the details.

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[Purpose] We investigated the relationship between body composition and physical function of elderly women. [Subjects] The subjects were 26 community-dwelling elderly women with an average age of 68.2 ± 5.4 years. [Methods] We measured body composition (skeletal muscle and fat volumes) and physical function (grip strength, quadriceps femoris strength, toe grip strength, circumference, one-leg standing time, walking speed) and investigated their relationships by determining Pearson's correlation coefficents. [Results] Correlations were found between skeletal muscle volume and upper and lower limb strengths. However, no significant correlation was found between skeletal muscle and one-leg standing time or walking speed. [Conclusions] The skeletal muscle volume, obtained from measurement of body composition, showed it was a possible reflection of the muscle strength of elderly women; however, we assume that since walking and balance function involve factors other than muscle strength, they showed no association with it.

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[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the relationship between balance and muscle power in postural control. [Subjests] Subjects were 21 healthy individuals. [Methods] First, static balance was assessed using a Romberg balance test (standing with eyes opened and eyes closed) combined with a GRAVICORDER^® (Anima, Japan). Then, we assessed active balance with the EQUITEST SYSTEM^® (NEUROCOM, Clackamas, USA). Subjects' muscle strength was determined by knee extensor strength and knee extensor time to peak torque using a Biodex^® (Biodex, USA), and by ankle plantar flexion and ankle dorsiflexion strength using a m-Tas^® (MT-1; Anima, Japan). Statistical analyses were performed Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient. [Results] A significant relationship between muscle strength and active balance were observed. Individuals who have high muscle strength and short times to peak torque possess a high capacity of balance and of learning improved postural control. [Conclusion] Static balance may not be a predictor of falls due to low levels of body sway secondary to generally poor ROM seen in elderly individuals.

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