[Purpose] The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of three seat shapes - a standard seat with a 5° backward tilt, a seat with a 15° forward tilt, and a half-sloped seat shape (HS) with a forward-tilted front and the same angle as the standard seat at the back - on the sitting posture and trunk and lower limb muscle activities during quiet sitting and upper limb movements. [Participants and Methods] Twelve healthy adults were included in the study. We compared the number of movements during upper limb exercises (moving a water bottle back and forth and side to side with the dominant hand) during quiet sitting in the three seat shapes (standard, forward tilt, and HS), as well as the changes in the angle of the hip joint and the distance between the outside of the thigh bone and the edge of the seat. We also compared the muscle activities of the anterior deltoid, upper trapezius, external oblique, erector spinae, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and peroneus longus muscles as measured by surface electromyography. [Results] The HS seat resulted in less extension of the distance between the outside of the thigh bone and the edge of the seat than the standard seat, and less muscle activity in the right rectus femoris, left vastus lateralis, and right peroneus longus muscles than the forward tilt seat. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the HS seat can contribute to maintaining a posture suitable for activities.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the motions related to the trunk and pelvis during the buttocks release phase of the standing up motion. [Participants and Methods] Fifteen healthy male subjects were asked to stand up and the changes in joint angles were measured using image analysis software. [Results] Anterior pelvic tilt, knee joint extension, and anterior tilt of the lower leg increased in the early and late phases of buttocks release. In addition, anterior trunk tilt and thoracolumbar transitional flexion increased in the early phase, and posterior trunk tilt and hip extension increased in the late phase. The movement patterns were divided into 16 patterns. [Conclusion] The results suggest that thoracolumbar transitional flexion plays a significant role in anterior trunk tilt during the early phase of buttocks release, and hip extension plays a significant role in posterior trunk tilt during the late phase. Furthermore, the results also suggest that knee joint extension with ankle dorsiflexion is largely responsible for anterior pelvic tilt.

[Purpose] To clarify the relationship between daily life function before admission to a rehabilitation ward and walking independence at discharge. [Participants and Methods] Thirty older patients with musculoskeletal diseases who were ambulatory independent before hospitalization but were not ambulatory independent at the time of admission to the rehabilitation ward were included. The dependent variable was whether the patients could walk independently at the time of discharge from the hospital, and the independent variables were life functions (physical domain, nutrition domain, eating domain, houseboundness domain, memory domain, and multi-domain) which were assessed using the Kihon Checklist. [Results] There were 21 patients (70.0%) who were ambulatory independent at discharge. Patients with physical domain decline, housebound and impaired multi-domain prior to hospitalization were less likely to be independent in walking after discharge than those without physical domain decline, housebound and impaired multi-domain. [Conclusion] We suggest that good pre-hospital life function is associated with ambulatory independence.

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of a plantar hardness discrimination task on brain activity and postural sway. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-six healthy adults participated in this study. The intervention group performed a plantar hardness discrimination task, and the control group performed an ankle plantar flexion task for 10 days. We measured postural sway with eyes open and eyes closed while standing on one leg, and used oxygenated hemoglobin concentration as an indicator of brain activity during a hardness discrimination task conducted before and after the 10-day intervention tasks. [Results] There were no significant differences in either brain activity or postural sway before and after the 10-day intervention tasks in both groups. In the intervention group, there was a positive correlation between the change in brain activity in the frontal association cortex and premotor cortex and the change in the postural sway with eyes open. [Conclusion] These results suggest that there is a relationship between postural sway and brain activity during the hardness discrimination task.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the course of pain catastrophizing and its influence on the walking ability of patients with perioperative hip fractures. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-nine patients with hip fractures participated in this study. The course of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and the correlation between PCS and pain were examined. Furthermore, the associations of PCS with walking ability one week after surgery and acquisition of pre-injury walking ability were examined. [Results] PCS decreased after surgery and was strongly associated with pain on motion. Pain on motion and PCS magnification were associated with walking ability one week after surgery. Pain at rest and PCS magnification were associated with acquisition of pre-injury ability. [Conclusion] Pain had an influence on early walking ability, while pain catastrophizing had no strong substantial influence. In the perioperative period, the need for pain interventions for early walking acquisition was indicated.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of missing information in case reports related to physical therapy in Japan. [Participants and Methods] Case reports published in Japanese academic journals in 2019, which were identified using four electronic databases including Ichushi-Web, were included in this study. Information missing from the case reports was assessed using the CAse REport guidelines. [Results] A total of 253 case reports were identified and they had a compliance rate of 100% for patient personal information items. However, the compliance rate was less than 50% for 12 items in the abstract and main text. [Conclusion] The findings of this study suggest that there may be instances of misleading expression in Japanese case reports related to physical therapy.

[Purpose] We conducted an educational program of inter-professional education in healthcare (IPE) in collaboration with several schools and verified its educational effects. [Participants and Methods] Second-year students of the Physical Therapy in the Department of Rehabilitation, Heisei College of Health Sciences, who took IPE in the academic years 2017–2019, were included in this study. Three items, “confidence in performing one’s own job,” “confidence in interacting with patients,” and “confidence in interacting with staff of other occupations,” were assessed using the college’s original visual scale, and social skills were assessed using Kikuchi’s Scale of Social Skills (KiSS-18). The results of before and after the IPE were compared. [Results] The visual scales of “confidence in performing work in one’s occupation” and “confidence in interacting with staff in other occupations” significantly improved after the implementation of IPE, and the effect sizes were more than moderate. Both the significance and effect sizes of the visual scale of “confidence in dealing with patients” and KiSS-18 varied from year to year. [Conclusion] The IPE program promoted an understanding of students in other professions, and helped students develop an identity as physical therapy students. However, it had no significant direct impact on social skills.

[Purpose] To examine the effects of speed differences in treadmill walking exercise on Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. [Participants and Methods] The maximum walking speed, stride length, gait rate, and lateral, vertical, and anterior-posterior RMS during walking were compared among 23 patients with PD. [Results] Walking speed, stride length, walking rate, and vertical and anterior-posterior root mean square (RMS) significantly improved after maximal and comfortable treadmill walking compared to before. Lateral RMS significantly improved after comfortable treadmill walking compared to before. There were no significant differences in the rates of change of the items between before and after maximal and comfortable treadmill walking. [Conclusion] There was no difference in the immediate effect of the speed of treadmill walking exercise on the walking ability of PD patients; both speeds improved walking ability.

[Purpose] This study examined the relationship between families’ self-efficacy for assistance and home discharge. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were patients admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward and their family members living together. Families’ self-efficacy for assistance and health-related quality of life, and patients’ Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at admission and discharge were assessed. The subjects were assigned to the home group (n=32) and the facility group (n=7) according to their discharge destination, and factors related to home discharge were examined. [Results] Comparison of the two groups revealed significant differences in families’ self-efficacy for assistance, patients’ age and FIM. The results of a correlation analysis indicate that self-efficacy for assistance at discharge was an indicator that was not correlated with other relevant factors. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that families’ self-efficacy for assistance may be associated with home discharge.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate efficient methods for strengthening lower body muscles that affect pitching motion. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) using a bicycle ergometer was conducted under a normal pressure, low-oxygen environment to examine its effects. [Participants and Methods] Nine high school baseball pitchers participated in the study. HIIT was conducted twice a week for 8 weeks using a bicycle ergometer under a low-oxygen environment (oxygen concentration of 16.4%). [Results] The results showed a significant increase in the maximum power, maximum power-to-body weight ratio, average power, maximum rotation speed, and load at maximum power, as well as a reduction in the time to reach maximum power. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that a normal pressure, low-oxygen environment may be a more effective training environment.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify whether there is a difference between operative and non-operative side toe grip strength of patients with femoral neck fractures, and to examine the reliability and the minimum detectable change (MDC) in toe grip strength measurements. [Participants and Methods] Twenty patients with femoral neck fractures had their toe grip strength measured, and the results were analyzed. [Results] There was no significant difference between the operative and non-operative side toe grip strength. Bland Altman analysis revealed no systematic error. The MDC was 2.1 kg on the operative side and 1.3 kg on the non-operative side. [Conclusion] If the change in toe grip strength of patients after femoral neck fracture surgery is less than 2.1 kg on the operative side and 1.3 kg on the non-operative side, it may be due to a measurement error.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the short- and long-term effects of observing video images on a tablet in chronic stroke patients. [Participants and Methods] Seven chronic stroke patients participated in this study. The patients looked at a tablet placed above their affected limb and were asked to observe inverted movement images of their own intact limb. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention, and on days 7 and 14 after the end of the intervention. [Results] After the intervention, some patients showed an increase in the active range of motion of wrist dorsiflexion, reduction in the time required to complete peg test, and increase or maintenance of Motor Activity Log scores. A significant positive correlation was found between subjective illusion strength and peg change. [Conclusion] The results suggest that observing video images on a tablet may have short- and long-term effects on the upper extremity function of chronic stroke patients.