[Purpose] This study investigated how accurately an accelerometer could estimate the kinematic changes in three axes during the sit-to-stand motion. [Participants and Methods] Seventeen healthy young adult males participated in this study. An accelerometer and an infrared marker attached to the lower backs of the individuals simultaneously measured sit-to-stand. Vertical and longitudinal acceleration data modified for the tilt of the accelerometer were compared with acceleration data estimated by a three-dimensional motion capture system. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and cross-correlation coefficient (CC) were used to examine the accelerometer measurements’ reliability and similarity, respectively. [Results] The ICC was 0.33 in the lateral, 0.49 in the vertical, and 0.58 in the longitudinal directions. CC indicated similarity of waveforms and the corrected CC was significantly higher in the vertical and longitudinal directions. [Conclusion] An accelerometer is useful for objective evaluation of the sit-to-stand motion in the vertical and longitudinal directions.

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[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting prolonged neck and shoulder pain (NSP) in female adolescents. [Participants and Methods] Forty young female subjects (prolonged NSP group, n=20; asymptomatic control group, n=20; average age 21 years old) were recruited for this study. Measurements of muscle endurance and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the neck flexors and extensors were made. Cervical function was assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). [Results] There were significant differences in the cervical muscle endurance and NDI scores of the two groups. However, there was no significant differences in the MVC of cervical muscles between the two groups. [Conclusion] The results of this study indicate that cervical muscle endurance may be a good predictor of the presence of prolonged NSP. They also indicate that prolonged NSP is not only a symptom of the neck/shoulder region, but may also affect neck function.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify whether walking exercise using a Honda Walking Assist Device contributes to improvement of walking function of day service users. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were day service users. After 3 months, the walking speed, stride, and walking rate of the Implementation group (walking exercise using the Walking Assist Device, n=14) were compared with those of the Non-Implementation group (normal walking exercise, n=14). [Results] In the Implementation group, the walking speed significantly improved. Stride significantly improved in both groups, but the improvement in the Implementation group showed higher values. [Conclusion] Walking exercise using the Walking Assist Device was shown to be effective at improving walking speed and stride, suggesting that it is a meaningful intervention for elderly people using day services.

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[Purpose] To clarify the status of injury prevention among citizen runners and their needs to be fulfilled by physical therapists (PTs) using a questionnaire. [Participants and Methods] A questionnaire survey was conducted, involving 84 citizen runners. [Results] 1) There were many needs related to warm-up before and after exercise/training, cool-down care, training to improve performance or prevent injury, and confirmation of running movements. 2) There were both needs related to habitual and those related to non-habitual activities. 3) Generational differences in habitual activities areas of interest were also revealed. [Conclusion] There are many needs that can be fulfilled by PTs in sports. The results of this survey may be useful for PTs specializing in sports to improve their qualities.

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[Purpose] The influence of stepping movements on dynamic balance in heathy males was examined using the hip flexion auxiliary model “Muscle Suit”. [Participants and Methods] Nine healthy males, who had not suffered from orthopedic, neurological, ear, nose, throat, head, or neck disorders over the past 3 months, received the step test to measure their dislocation distance and rotation angle. Furthermore, the distance the center of gravity (CoG) of their body moved was measured using a 3-dimensional motion analysis device and ground reaction force meter. [Results] The dislocation distance and rotation angle in the step test and the CoG movement distance decreased after using “Muscle Suit”. [Conclusion] Training stepping movements using “Muscle Suit” may enhance the effects of motor learning, and reduce lateral differences in lower limb muscle tension that influences dynamic balance.

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[Purpose] To classify sources of exercise self-efficacy for day service users to clarify their characteristics based on assessment scales. [Participants and Methods] A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire and physical function tests was conducted, involving 100 day service users. [Results] The users were classified into 5 clusters, and 2 of them showed higher values than means for all sources (completely sufficient type). Compared with the completely insufficient type, the completely sufficient type showed significantly higher scores related to exercise self-efficacy and social support. [Conclusion] The results support the theoretical model for the continuation of exercise, suggesting the importance of providing support focusing on support systems to promote such continuation.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to consider the difference in the motivation to learn between students of different school years in a department of physical therapy. [Participants and Methods] Eighty-one first year students and 74 second year students attending the daytime course of the Department of Physical Therapy, Vocational Technical School A, which has a 3-year learning system were the subjects. They were requested to answer an on-line questionnaire, consisting of 14 items, regarding their motivation to learn. [Results] In the questionnaire results, responses of “because classes are fun,” and “because I enjoy gaining new knowledge,” to questions 6 and 7, respectively, were significantly fewer among second year students. [Conclusion] Increasing self-motivation among second year students at the Department of Physical Therapy, Vocational Technical School A is considered necessary.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to verify whether the immediate pain relief effect of motor-level Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) changes with the combination of frequency and pulse width. [Participants and Methods] Sixteen healthy volunteers participated in seven experimental sessions (six motor-level TENS sessions with different combinations of frequency and pulse width and a control session) across seven days. TENS was performed on electrically-induced artificial pain. The pain relief effects immediately after TENS and control were compared using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and oxyhemoglobin concentration in the prefrontal cortex (Fp-HbO₂). [Results] NRS and Fp-HbO₂ findings showed that the pain relief effects of all the TENS sessions were significantly better than that of the control session, even though there were no significant differences in NRS and Fp-HbO₂ among the TENS sessions. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the immediate pain relief effect of motor-level TENS is not impacted by the combination of frequency and pulse width.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this literature review was to clarify the relationship between sleep and sedentary behavior in home-bound elderly disabled. [Participants and Methods] The participants were elderly disabled people aged 65 and over who could walk at home. Sleep duration, sleep onset latency, nocturnal awakening, and sleep efficiency were evaluated using a non-wearable actigraphy device. Sedentary behavior was measured using a triaxial accelerometer. Sleep evaluation and sedentary behavior were measured for 7 consecutive days. In addition, Body Mass Index was extracted from medical records, and physical function and depression were measured. [Results] Only nocturnal awakening after sleep onset was significantly associated with sedentary behavior. [Conclusion] The results suggest that when a long time is spent in sedentary behavior, nocturnal awakening is prolonged.

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[Purpose] This study investigated the differences in brain gamma-band oscillations between non-dominant and dominant hands during volitional finger movements. [Participants and Methods] This study enrolled nine healthy participants, who performed volitional finger movements with the dominant (right) or non-dominant (left) hands for 20 s. Electroencephalograms were recorded from 20 scalp electrodes using the International 10–20 system, and the waveforms were subjected to fast Fourier transform to determine the amplitude at each electrode. The topographic distributions between low (30–90 Hz) and high (90–120 Hz) gamma-band oscillations were then plotted. [Results] During non-dominant hand movements, high gamma-band oscillation expanded to the bilateral prefrontal and ipsilateral sensorimotor areas. In contrast, the low gamma-band oscillation expanded to the bilateral sensorimotor areas. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that low and high gamma-band oscillations indicate activity in the bilateral sensorimotor areas during non-dominant hand movement.

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[Purpose] Physical activity (PA) decline has been reported as a risk factor for the onset of depressive symptoms. This study examined the association between type and intensity of PA and depressive symptoms after 2 years. [Participants and Methods] Participants were community-dwelling older women aged 65 and older (117 people) living in X City, Aichi Prefecture. A triaxial accelerometer was used to measure PA type and intensity, and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms. [Results] Structural equation modeling using multiple regression showed that only “2015 Non-locomotive light PA” had a significant effect on “2017 GDS-15.” [Conclusion] The result of this study suggests that Non-locomotive light PA may affect depressive symptoms after 2 years in community-dwelling older women.

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[Purpose] To clarify the relationships between community-dwelling elderly people’s respiratory and physical functions. [Participants and Methods] Measurements were performed in 60 community-dwelling elderly people. Respiratory function was measured using a micro-spirometer to calculate the %forced vital capacity (%FVC), rate of %forced expiratory volume in 1 second (%FEV1), %FEV1, and %maximal expiratory flow (%MEF). Physical functions were assessed based on the duration of standing on one leg, Timed Up and Go test (TUG) score, functional reach (FR), maximum step length, hand grip strength, and flexibility, and their relationships with the respiratory function were analyzed. [Results] On analyzing the relationships between the respiratory and physical functions, %FVC was significantly, positively correlated with the hand grip strength and maximum step length. The fall group’s %FVC, rate of %FEV1, and hand grip strength were significantly lower than those of the non-fall group. [Conclusion] The results revealed declined in the respiratory function of elderly people with a history of falls, indicating the necessity of preventive interventions for them.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the concurrent validity of the Ten-Step Test and the stepping ability for fall prevention using the tether-release method in the community-dwelling elderly. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 40 healthy elderly people who could walk independently. Stepping ability was measured as the maximum body leaning weight ratio (% Body Weight) that can avoid a fall with one step movement after towing is released. The Ten-Step Test measures the time required to alternately raise and lower the lower limbs 10 times onto a 10 cm stand. [Results] The Ten-Step Test showed a significant negative correlation with the maximum body leaning weight ratio (r=–0.561). [Conclusion] The stepping ability for avoiding falls and the TenStep Test showed moderate concurrent validity.

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[Purpose] To identify factors associated with pre-frailty in community-dwelling people based on their lifestyles, work status, and motor and cognitive functions. [Participants and Methods] A total of 201 male and female community-dwelling people aged 60 or older (mean: 73.1 ± 6.5), excluding those meeting the diagnostic criteria of frailty, were assessed. Pre-frailty was screened for through measurement and using a questionnaire, and the participants were divided into 2 groups, pre-frail and healthy, based on their results for comparison. The measurement and questionnaire examined their living conditions, lifestyles, work status, and motor and cognitive functions. [Results] The rate of working was significantly higher in the pre-frail group. Even when adjusting for the age and sex, working was a factor independently associated with pre-frailty (odds ratio: 2.3). [Conclusion] Working may be associated with pre-frailty.

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[Purpose] To examine the manner and timing of changes in gait variables attributable to aging. [Participants and Methods] We studied 53 people, 65 years or older, who participated in at least three of six measurement sessions conducted over eight years. The measurements were gait speed over 5 m at maximum and preferred velocities, as well as stride length and step width during gait over 10 m. [Results] Each gait variable changed with aging. Maximum and preferred gait speeds decreased, stride length shortened, and step width and the coefficient of variation of stride length increased. Stride length decreased at an earlier age than the slowing of preferred velocity. Increases in step width and the coefficient of variation of stride length happened later than changes in the other gait variables. [Conclusion] Geriatric changes in gait variables follow an interpretable sequence leading to inferences about how people adjust the way they walk as they become older.

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[Purpose] To compare the effectiveness of 3 tasks: range-of-motion exercise, mental rotation task, and cognitive motor task, to improve knee joint position sense (JPS) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction through a quasi-randomized nonblinded controlled trial. [Participants and Methods] Patients admitted to the study hospital for ACL reconstruction within the period between May 2015 and July 2018, excluding those with second ACL tear, contralateral ACL reconstruction, or patellar dislocation, were assigned to one of the 3 task groups, and their knee JPS before and 3-4 weeks after surgery was compared. Each task was added to the rehabilitation protocols used in the study hospital. The duration of each task was 15 minutes/day. [Results] A marked improvement in knee JPS after surgery was observed only in the cognitive motor task group. [Conclusion] The cognitive motor task may improve knee JPS in 3 to 4 weeks after ACL reconstruction.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mental exercise (mental practice: MP) on new motor skill effects and their maintenance. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 36 healthy university students with no orthopedic disease. They were randomly divided into four groups: those who performed MP and those who did not. The experimental period was an active period in which physical exercise was performed and a rest period in which no physical exercise was performed. [Results] The post-test score was significantly higher in the group that performed physical exercise and MP than in the group that performed only MP (p<0.05), but no significant difference was found between the tests in any of the experimental groups. [Conclusion] Performing physical exercise and MP improves performance, and that performance can be maintained during rest periods.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to consider whether educational goals were achieved at the Department of Physical Therapy of a vocational school, and to consider the effect of the introduction of iPad use in the classroom. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-six students in the first year of an evening course at the Department of Physical Therapy of Vocational School A were the subjects. Use of iPads was introduced in the class, and the students were asked to answer on paper 9 items of an original questionnaire based on Bloom’s Taxonomy on the last day of class. [Results] From the results of the class questionnaire, some questions in the emotional region were significantly larger than those in the cognitive region. In addition, the educational goals of the class were achieved. [Conclusion] The significance of the introduction of iPad use for research study, the taking and sharing of videos, and for group work, etc., in order to promote educational effect in the emotional region of the students, was indicated.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of Ego-Resiliency (ER) on Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and factors promoting it among community-dwelling elderly. [Participants and Methods] Three-hundred and fifty-seven community-dwelling elderly who participated in community activities were divided into high-score ER and low-score ER groups. Collected data were basic attributes, Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) and societal supports. [Results] The significant factors identified as being associated with the ER score were shopping, going out, walking, hobby, reading, jobs, support from family members, and support from friends. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed using these 8 items, and the factors associated with high-ER scores were: hobby, jobs, support from family, and support from friends. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the higher the ER, a personal skill for coping with stress, the higher the level of interpersonal skill building through working on hobbies and other experiences related to growth.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this case report was to examine the short-term effects of home-visit rehabilitation for a community-dwelling older adult with severe dementia on the physical performance, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and burden of caregiver. [Participant and Methods] A woman in her 80s with Alzheimer disease and left trans-tibial amputation was discharged to home after hospitalization and prosthesis prescription, and started home-visit rehabilitation. At the start of home-visit rehabilitation, she had difficulties with physical performance, severe cognitive impairment, BPSD, and the family burden of caregiver was severe. [Results] After four months of home-visit rehabilitation, there was no change in cognitive function, but physical performance, mainly standing-up, standing, and transfers, BPSD, and burden of caregiver improved. [Conclusion] The short-term home-visit rehabilitation and advice given to family caregiver would have contributed to the improved physical performance, BPSD, and family care burden of the community-dwelling older adult with severe dementia and multiple handicaps.

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