[Purpose] We observed the signs and symptoms of somatic dysfunction in non-specific low back pain and the activity of the autonomic nervous system to understand their trends. [Participants and Methods] Four patients with non-specific low back pain were evaluated for physical therapy, and Keele STarT Back screening. The results were compared with those of four healthy subjects. [Results] Autonomic nerve activities after spinal manipulation showed two trends: sympathetic nerve activity increased in 2 healthy subjects and parasympathetic nerve activity increased in 2 healthy subjects. Pain symptoms decreased in three low risk patients but increased in one high-risk patient. [Conclusion] The results suggest that non-specific low back pain cases with strong biopsychosocial factors may exhibit different symptoms and signs of somatic dysfunction than those without.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the motor imagery of rheumatoid arthritis patients with different disease activities and to confirm its relevance for activities of daily living (ADL) ability. [Participants and Methods] After measuring motor imagery tasks and ADL ability of 60 rheumatoid arthritis patients, we compared the results by disease activity and investigated items related to ADL ability. [Results] Differences were observed in motor imagery tasks and ADL ability by disease activity. In addition, it was observed that motor imagery task and disease activity were associated with ADL ability. [Conclusion] Motor imagery may be impaired by the disease activity status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to disease activity, it is also necessary to consider the motor image of the ADL of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

[Purpose] We measured prefrontal cortex activity during the Stroop test in middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients and middle- and old-aged healthy subjects using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and examined and compared the results. [Participants and Methods] The Stroop test was performed in two groups of 10 middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients (experimental group) and 29 middle- and old-aged healthy subjects (control group), and prefrontal cortex activity was measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Oxy-Hb values and Δoxy-Hb values representing task-induced deactivation were compared in two groups and three prefrontal regions, i.e., the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the frontal pole. [Results] During the Stroop test, oxy-Hb values in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were significantly higher in the middle- and old-aged healthy subjects than in middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients. The Δoxy-Hb value in the frontal pole of the middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients tended to be higher than those in the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. [Conclusion] During the Stroop test, middle- and old-aged fibromyalgia patients did not show prefrontal cortex activity similar to that of middle- and old-aged healthy subjects; furthermore they also exhibited reduced inhibitory function of the default mode network.

[Purpose] To determine differences in physical function and body composition components and their relationships among regular and non-regular high school male soccer players. [Participants and Methods] Physical function and body composition components of grip strength, toe grip strength, finger floor distance, heel buttock distance, rebound jump, counter movement jump, straight leg raising, T-test, and yo-yo test were measured and compared among 26 male high school soccer players. [Results] In a comparison of the regular and non-regular groups, the phase angle was significantly higher in the regular group, and there was a significant positive correlation between the phase angle and grip strength and the yo-yo test. [Conclusion] There is a correlation between the phase angle and the results of the yo-yo test in high school male soccer players, and the phase angle could be an important and simple indicator for understanding the endurance of athletes.

[Purpose] The educational effects of an on campus alternative training program conducted for first-year students in FY2022 which replaced clinical early exposure training, due to the spread of COVID-19 infection, were verified and compared with the results of FY2021, previously reported in our first report. [Participants and Methods] The study targeted first-year students in a physical therapy department in the 2022 academic year. Alternative training consisted of guidance from external instructors and school teachers. A new communication training using the world cafe method, which was not conducted in the 2021 study, was introduced, and learning achievement was investigated by questionnaire and compared with the results of the 2021 study. [Results] The simple 7-point Likert Scale showed that all items received positive responses. In the tally of frequently used words, “communication” was selected more often in 2022. [Conclusion] The alternative training that introduced a communication exercise was effective to some extent.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the biomechanical properties of the capsule in a normal rat knee joint. [Participants and Methods] Femur-capsule-tibia composite specimens prepared from the hindlimbs of five 8-week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to tensile testing. [Results] The waveforms of the length-tension curves showed steep and repeated declines in some individual rats (three out of five samples) while in others (two out of five samples) they were not repeated. [Conclusion] It was found that some capsules in the rat knee fossa had a mixture of cruciate ligament-like fibers while others did not.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the intra- and inter-rater reliability of an iPhone measurement application. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 10 male university students, 20 arms, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for those who did and did not use an iPhone for measurement. The range of motion of external and internal rotation of the shoulder joint was measured in the supine position with the shoulder joint in 90 degrees of external rotation, the elbow joint in 90 degrees of external rotation, and the forearm in the middle position. [Results] The intra-rater reliability of shoulder joint external rotation and internal rotation range of motion measurement was ICC (1,1) and (1,2) = 0.9 or higher. The inter-rater reliability of shoulder joint external rotation and internal rotation range of motion measurement was ICC (2,1) and (2,2) = 0.8 or higher. [Conclusion] The iPhone-based shoulder rotation range-of-motion measurement was found to be highly reliable.

[Purpose] To clarify the effect of shortening the Focal Knee Joint Cooling (FKJC) time on knee extension torque under three conditions: no cooling, 15-min FKJC, and 30-min FKJC. [Participants and Methods] Knee extension torque was measured over time in 18 healthy adult male subjects after three cooling conditions : no cooling, 15-min FKJC, and 30-min FKJC. [Results] Isometric knee extension torque was greater in the cooling groups than in the no cooling group. Twenty minutes after the measurement, the cooling groups showed a significant difference compared to the no cooling group. [Conclusion] Isometric knee extension torque showed an immediate cooling effect even when FKJC time was reduced from 30 to 15 min. Therefore, 15-min FKJC followed by 20 min of physiotherapy aimed at increasing knee extension may help prevent falls.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical characteristics and physical functions such as upper and lower limb muscle strength, balance, and walking ability, as well as nutritional components, using the body composition of persons with physical disabilities residing in facilities. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 78 residents of a facility for the physically disabled in City A who had a physical disability certificate. [Results] The non-muscle mass sarcopenia group numbered 22 (28.0%) and the muscle mass sarcopenia group numbered 56 (72.0%). Multiple regression analysis with the limb Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI) as the dependent variable identified amount of protein and Timed up and go test (TUG) as related items. [Conclusion] This study found protein and TUG were related to SMI of physically disabled persons. This suggests that it is necessary to examine the relationship between motor function and low nutrition not only in the background of the elderly but also in middle-aged people.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the relationship between life space and the lower limb skeletal muscle morphology and physical function of day-care users with sarcopenia. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 60 female day-care users. Measurements of physical function, muscle thickness of the lower limbs, and muscle echo intensity, and a Life Space Assessment (LSA) were made. The correlations between LSA and each variable in each group were examined. [Results] The variables that showed significant correlations with LSA in the sarcopenia group were grip strength, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), thickness of the thigh muscle, and echo intensity of the lower leg muscles. TUG was found to have the greatest impact on LSA. [Conclusion] To understand the life spaces of the subjects of this study, it is suggested that evaluating skeletal muscle morphology with a focus on walking performance ability is important.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compile current knowledge regarding canine physiotherapy methods in Japan. [Participants and Methods] Case reports published in Japanese academic journals between 1900 and 2022, which were identified using three electronic databases including Ichushi-Web, were the basis of this study. [Results] A total of 10 case reports were identified. Most of them were dogs with orthopedic or neurological conditions. Cases of intervention using electrophysical agents, manual therapy, and exercise therapy were reported. [Conclusion] Since scientific reports of physical therapy for dogs are few in Japan, further development in the field of animal physical therapy is expected in the future.

[Purpose] This study extracted items of events that could be incidents and accidents from Redcord^Ⓡ international course graduates and international instructors in Japan. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 19 research collaborators who had completed Neurac2, which can be learned in Japan on the Redcord^Ⓡ international course, and international instructors, and the research method used was the Delphi method. [Results] There were 26 events that were deemed necessary by more than 80% of the 19 subjects. The categories were “subject falls,” 11 events, “occurrence of physical symptoms,” 11 events, and “falling objects,” 4 items. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the events that could become incidents and accidents in the field were based on “structural factors” and “technical factors”, and that “technical factors” such as years of experience using Redcord^Ⓡ and the maturity of the technology were more common.