[Purpose] To examine the relationships between the knee flexion angle during the swing period and knee muscle activity during the pre-swing period after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). [Participants and Methods] A total of 24 knees treated with TKA were examined. The knee angle during gait was measured using gait images video-recorded from the sidelines. Electromyography was performed involving the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and biceps femoris of the operated leg. The gait assessment was conducted at 4 weeks after surgery. The relationships among the angles of the knee at toe off/when maximally flexed and relative/co-activation index values of each muscle during each phase of gait were analyzed. [Results] The maximum knee flexion angle during the swing period was moderately correlated with the relative muscle activity index value of the rectus femoris and co-activation index value of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris during the pre-swing period. [Conclusion] The overactivity of the rectus femoris and excessive co-activation of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris during the pre-swing period may lead to stiff-knee gait.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the intervention effect of a fall prevention program developed by us for persons using a home visit rehabilitation service. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 14 persons who could walk independently indoors who were receiving home visit rehabilitation. A fall prevention program was conducted once a week for 4 weeks for the subjects. The Short Form Berg Balance Scale (SFBBS) and Functional Reach test (FR) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Each evaluation was compared in two periods. [Results] SFBBS and FR were significantly better after the intervention than before the intervention. [Conclusion] The results suggest that our fall prevention program may help to improve balance ability.

[Purpose] The physical and mental symptoms complained of by students showing a tendency toward neurosis were examined. [Participants and Methods] A collective survey was conducted in February 2015, involving 88 first-year students belonging to the Department of Physical Therapy of a 4-year university and using the Cornell Medical Index. [Results] On comparing healthy students and those showing a tendency toward neurosis, there were differences between them in subscales other than past diseases and habits, as the latter showed significantly higher values. [Conclusion] As mental symptoms in students showing a tendency toward neurosis, they were characterized by being temperamental, such as getting angry and taking offence on the slightest provocation, while frequently becoming depressed. As for their physical symptoms, they complained of various conditions, such as reduced vision, feeling suffocated, headaches, and fatigue. Students with a complaint of these conditions may have a tendency toward neurosis, and need special consideration.

[Purpose] To confirm the reproducibility of results of the Step Length Test, which had been devised to identify motor errors, and to clarify the influence of visual information on lower limb movements in cerebral palsy using this test. [Participants and Methods] The test was conducted for 11 adults with cerebral palsy (8 males and 3 females aged 44.2 ± 12.2) and 19 healthy adults (10 males and 9 females aged 20.5 ± 1.0). Errors were measured, dividing actual, 1.2-fold, and 0.8-fold distances into 2 categories: with and without visual information. The reproducibility of test results was examined by calculating the intra-class correlation coefficient, standard error, and minimal detectable change. [Results] The intra-class correlation coefficient representing the reproducibility was as high as ≥0.7. There were significant differences in motor errors between the cerebral palsy and healthy groups. [Conclusion] Compared with healthy adults, those with cerebral palsy may have impaired body images related to forward leg swing movements.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to demonstrate the timing of the decline of gait in patients with type 2 diabetes. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 141 patients with type 2 diabetes, and they were divided into 10-year age groups from the 30s to the 70s. Gait velocity, step length, cadence and gait variability were assessed using the comfortable-pace 10-m walk test. [Results] Analysis with the Tukey test showed that the step lengths of the 60s and 70s groups were significantly lower than those of the other groups. Gait speed and gait variability of 70s group were significantly worse than those of the other groups. ANCOVA found no significant differences within each group. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the gait parameters of type 2 diabetes patients may begin to decline from the age of 60s.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of physical functions of adolescent baseball players with throwing pain using a simplified functional test. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-seven male junior high school students enrolled in the baseball club of a junior high school participated in this study. The participants were divided into two groups depending on whether or not they had throwing pain. The components of the simplified functional test were: the Shoulder Mobility Test, Finger Floor Distance, Heel Buttock Distance (HBD), Hip Internal Rotation Test, Deep Squat, Single Leg Standing, Forward Bend, Forward Bench, and Side Bench. [Results] In the throwing pain group, significantly more subjects were judged positive for HBD, the Hip Internal Rotation Test, and Forward Bend compared with the no pain group. [Conclusion] The results suggest that those with throwing pain had lower flexibility of the quadriceps femoris, hip internal rotation range of motion, and dynamic balance ability.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the effects of cooling down exercise (CD) after steady load exercise on the autonomic nervous system by assessing heart rate variability (HRV). [Participants and Methods] A cardiopulmonary exercise test was conducted to determine the anaerobic threshold (AT) of 10 healthy adult males. Several days later, they performed steady load exercise for 20 minutes at their AT levels, followed by CD performed at 50% (AT₅₀) or 75% (AT₇₅) intensity of AT, or sitting quietly for 10 minutes. High-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) components of HRV were analyzed. [Results] Before the end of CD, HF values were significantly decreased at AT₇₅, and LF/HF values were significantly increased compared to those before exercise. On the other hand, significant changes were not observed in HF and LF/HF values in sitting quietly or AT₅₀. [Conclusion] Compared to AT₇₅, AT₅₀ was considered more suitable for recovery of autonomic nervous system function.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of inhibition function, by comparing the brain source localization and brain functional connectivity of healthy subjects using EEG analysis. [Participants and Methods] Twenty healthy male students were recruited. The inhibition tasks were three visual stimulus oddball tasks. EEG results were compared employing analyses of ERP components using the LORETA method. [Results] Significantly high neural activity was observed in the left precuneus and left orbitofrontal cortex. Significantly strong neuro-functional connectivity was found in the three frontal regions of the left frontal pole, left premotor cortex and left inferior parietal lobe. [Conclusion] It was confirmed that the ERP component reflects cognitive function. The results also suggest that cognitive function is related to neural activity in the left precuneus and the left orbitofrontal cortex, and that it is performed based on judgment and predictive activities not only in the frontal lobe but also in the parietal lobe.

[Purpose] This study investigated the association between the severity of cerebral palsy in infants and the attainment of early motor milestones. [Participants and Methods] Seventeen very-low birth weight infants with cerebral palsy were included in this study. Perinatal factors, attainment of motor milestones, and gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) scores were investigated. The infants were divided into 2 groups, GMFCS I–II and GMFCS III–V, and the survey items were compared between the groups. [Results] The GMFCS I–II group included a greater number of infants who could roll at the corrected age of 9 months than the GMFCS III–V group. [Conclusion] These results suggest that evaluation of the attainment of early motor milestones may help the early prediction of the severity of cerebral palsy in infants.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to explore early predictors of pneumonia complications in patients with acute stroke requiring basic mobility assistance. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 111 patients with acute stroke. We retrospectively collected data from medical records to analyze their baseline and medical characteristics at admission, and the incidence of pneumonia complication during hospitalization. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent variables with a significance level of <0.2 related to the presence of pneumonia complication, and cutoff values were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. [Results] In logistic regression analysis, the NIHSS at admission, a history of orthopedic disease, and the presence of dementia were identified as predictors of pneumonia complications. The cutoff value of pneumonia complications for NIHSS was 12.5 points at admission. [Conclusion] Concomitant diseases, such as orthopedic diseases and dementia, are important factors in addition to the severity of stroke and may predict pneumonia complications in patients requiring assistance with basic mobility immediately after admission.

[Purpose] The cognitive functions of elderly community residents belonging to different age groups were compared based on their MMSE and MoCA-J scores. [Participants and Methods] The cognitive assessment of 48 elderly females living in communities was conducted using the MMSE and MoCA-J. The residents were classified into 4 age groups (75-79, 80-84, 85-89, and 90 or over) to compare their total MMSE and MoCA-J and subscale scores. [Results] Older residents showed lower scores for “calculation” as MMSE and MoCA-J subscales and “trail making” as an MoCA-J subscale. [Conclusion] When assessing the elderly’s cognitive functions, detailed analysis for each age group may become feasible by using the MMSE and MoCA-J and comparing subscale scores among different age groups.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was a relation between sleep habit and academic years in a physical therapist training school. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were first- to fourth-year physical therapy students. The students were surveyed using the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-J). [Results] Comparisons of PSQI-J subscales revealed differences between first- and second-year and third- and fourth-year students, with the items of “sleeping time”, “sleep efficiency”, “difficulty with sleeping” deteriorating. [Conclusion] The results suggest that guidance on sleeping habits is required as students progress through college.

[Purpose] Closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises are thought to be an effective rehabilitation approach for patients who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, in actual clinical settings, the muscle strength is frequently measured using open kinetic chain (OKC) movements. Considering such a situation, we developed and evaluated a method to measure the muscle strength when executing CKC movements. [Participants and Methods] The reliability of the developed method to measure the muscle strength when executing isokinetic CKC movements was examined, involving healthy adults. Subsequently, the relationship between the peak torque (PT) of lower limb extension during CKC movements and that of knee extension during OKC movements was analyzed. [Results] The values representing the reliability of the measurement method were favorable. The PT during CKC movements was significantly larger, approximately double that during OKC movements, and the 2 torques were strongly correlated. [Conclusion] Using isokinetic CKC movements, it may be feasible to safely measure the lower limb muscle strength after ACL reconstruction.

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to clarify the associations between Core Body Temperature (CBT) at rest and Skeletal Muscle Mass (SMM) and Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) activity. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 16 healthy young males (age 19–28 years old). The values of oral temperature and skeletal muscle index were defined as the CBT and SMM, respectively. SNS activity was evaluated by heart rate variability power spectral analysis, and Very Low Frequency (VLF) power and VLF/Total power were defined as SNS activity. [Results] CBT at rest was associated with SMM, but was not associated with SNS activity. [Conclusion] This study clarified associations between CBT at rest and SMM in healthy young males.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of physical therapists’ ways of communicating to motivate patients using the randomized investigated framework. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 102 inpatients (31 men, 71 females, aged 75 ± 12.3). We investigated and compared the effects of positive phrases with those of negative phrases, by survey, in five situations: using the toilet, walking, experience of pain, physical therapy in general, and discharge. [Results] The results suggest that positive phrases used in the four situations other than walking were effective at increasing patients’ motivation. [Conclusion] Physical therapists who encouraged patients with positive phrases effectively increased their motivation.

[Purpose] To clarify effects of stance-width on gait initiation process in healthy adults, focusing on the center of gravity, floor reaction force, kinematics, and joint torque. [Participants and Methods] Six healthy adult males started to walk at their normal gait speeds after standing with 3 different stance widths (0, 15, and 30 cm). The center of gravity, center of plantar pressure, hip angle, and torque were measured using a 3-dimensional motion analysis device and floor reaction force meter. [Results] The first step width and lateral shifts in the center of plantar pressure and center of gravity were larger, and the hip adduction angle and abduction torque of the stance leg were smaller with a stance-width on gait initiation. [Conclusion] The stance width may influence the stance leg and the first swing leg in the process of gait initiation.

[Purpose] One of the causes of obesity in young children is a decrease in physical activity (PA). In young children, PA is also associated with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases as well as health-related indicators such as obesity and physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between PA and body composition in young children. [Participants and Methods] PA, Fat Mass Index (FMI), and Free Fat Mass Index (FFMI) of children aged 5 to 6 years were measured. An InBody520 (Biospace, Co., Ltd.) was used to measure FMI and FFMI, while PA was measured for 7 days with an Active Style Pro (Omron Healthcare Inc.) worn at the waist. The intensity of PA was divided into two levels: 1.5 to 3.0 Metabolic Equivalents (METs) as Low PA, and over 3.0 METs as Moderate-to-Vigorous PA (MVPA). [Results] Significant negative correlations were found between MVPA and FFMI, step count and FFMI, MVPA and the Kaup index, and step count and the Kaup index. MVPA showed significantly lower values on holidays than on weekdays. [Conclusion] The results of this study indicate that the Kaup index and FFMI are low in young children with high PA, suggesting that PA, FFMI, and the Kaup index are interrelated. The results also show that MVPA significantly decreased on holidays compared to weekdays.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to analyze risk management for the safe rehabilitation of patients taking prescription medicines who are being treated by physical, occupational, and speech therapists. [Participants and Methods] In 2016 and 2017, we investigated prescription drugs taken by patients undergoing either physical, occupational or speech therapy across four hospitals, along with fundamental information from patient medical records and medication notebooks. [Results] In 2016, 406 patients were taking a total of 2809 medications across 51 drug categories. The average patient was taking 6.92 prescription drugs. The questionnaire reply rate for 2016 was 48.9%. In 2017, there were 55 drug categories, and 2908 total medications for 334 patients, with an average of 8.70 drugs taken by each patient. The questionnaire reply rate was 49.7%. [Conclusion] We found that over 26% of the drugs out of the 5707 medications can cause falls, and that others can affect vital signs. Therapists should be made aware of these effects before, during and after therapy. Our findings suggest that risk management for prescription drugs during rehabilitation should be considered by therapists.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effect of training of simultaneous multisensory processing on the walking abilities of a patient after total hip arthroplasty for primary hip osteoarthritis. [Participant and Methods] A woman in her forties was diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis and received total hip arthroplasty. Walking disabilities (decrease in walking speed, increase in the number of steps, and increase in foot angle during loading response) were confirmed by the 10-m walk test. The patient also showed a deficit in simultaneous multisensory processing (position sense of hip and foot pressure sense). We reasoned that the walking disabilities were due to the deficit in simultaneous multisensory processing. In order to improve the walking disabilities, we conducted simultaneous processing training for position sense of the hip and foot pressure sense, and muscle strengthening training for 40 minutes, twice to three times a week, for a month. [Results] After the training, improvements in walking abilities (decreases in foot angle during loading response from 10 to 3°, time from 19 to 13 s, and steps from 20 to 17 in the 10-m walk test) and simultaneous multisensory processing were observed. [Conclusion] The results suggest that training of simultaneous multisensory processing is useful for improving the walking ability of patients after total hip arthroplasty.