[Purpose] The importance of going out has been reported from the perspective of long-term care prevention, but environmental factors can sometimes hinder going out. Therefore, this study examined the effects of residential altitude on the frequency of going out and physical function. [Participants and Methods] A physical function assessment (grip strength, one-leg standing time, Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Five Times Sit to Stand Test) and questionnaire (residential altitude, frequency of going out, purpose of going out, way of going out) were conducted for eighty-four elderly people in a senior citizens’ salon. [Results] Multivariate analysis showed that age influenced TUG performance. However, residential altitude did not influence the frequency of going out or physical function. [Conclusion] Age has been reported to influence walking ability, and this study yielded similar results. It has also been reported that the frequency of going out tends to decrease with aging. Therefore, to maintain physical function, it is important to encourage active participation in going out.

[Purpose] To examine longitudinal changes in mobility from 3 to 6 months postoperatively in elderly women who underwent total knee arthroplasty, focusing on knee extension strength. [Participants and Methods] We divided elderly women after total knee arthroplasty into knee extension strength improvement and decline groups, and compared within-group changes using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. [Results] In both groups, the JOA score at 3 months postoperatively was maintained through 6 months postoperatively. On the other hand, the total score and the pain and stair-climbing ability subscores recovered earlier in the improvement group than in the decline group. The pain and walking ability subscores improved only in the improvement group. [Conclusion] Mobility improved earlier in the improvement group, supporting the importance of individualized physical therapy aimed at improving mobility in the early postoperative period.

[Purpose] To clarify the effects of discontinuing corset use in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. [Participants and Methods] We evaluated pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale: NRS), anxiety (Pain Catastrophizing Scale Japanese version: PCS), and lumbar multifidus muscle cross-sectional length in 58 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain who were wearing a corset, dividing them into 2 groups: 31 who discontinued corset use (discontinuation group) and the rest who continued it (continuation group). [Results] At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the two groups; however, after 12 months, NRS and PCS were significantly lower in the discontinuation group. In the continuation group, lumbar multifidus muscle cross-sectional length significantly decreased, particularly among those with a wearing history of less than 1 year. [Conclusion] Discontinuing corset use may be expected to reduce pain and prevent worsening in chronic non-specific low back pain.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the conceptual structure and definition of clinical reasoning in physical therapy within a contemporary context, based on recent findings, including Japanese literature, accumulated since the concept analysis by Huhn et al. [Participants and Methods] A concept analysis was conducted using Walker and Avant’s method. Literature on clinical reasoning in physical therapy published since 2018 was reviewed to identify key elements of the concept, which were then systematically extracted and organized. [Results] From the 20 selected articles, the analysis identified three categories of antecedents, seven categories of attributes, and four categories of consequences related to clinical reasoning in physical therapy, thereby clarifying its conceptual structure and definition. [Conclusion] The components and definitions identified in this study may serve as a foundation for designing and evaluating educational physical therapy programs.

[Purpose] To clarify the actual state of respiratory sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults. [Participants and Methods] We measured the skeletal muscle mass index, grip strength, the five-time chair stand test, respiratory muscle strength, lung function, the Timed Up and Go test, and cognitive function of 187 community-dwelling older adults. [Results] Among the 180 subjects analyzed, 31 (17%) had respiratory sarcopenia (probable), 10 (6%) had respiratory sarcopenia (possible), and 8 (4%) had muscle weakness due to respiratory dysfunction. Subjects with respiratory sarcopenia (probable) showed significantly lower lung function and physical function compared to those without respiratory muscle weakness. [Conclusion] Among community-dwelling older adults with reduced respiratory muscle strength, respiratory sarcopenia (probable) was the most prevalent (17%), indicating a higher susceptibility to declines in lung function and physical function.

[Purpose] To investigate the effect of changing chair height on the initiation of the sit-to-walk task. [Participants and Methods] Thirteen healthy young males participated in this study of sit-to-walk from three different chair heights. Using a digital video camera and a triaxial accelerometer, we measured step length and walking speed during chair stand-up and subsequent maximum walking speed, and compared them among the three chair heights. We measured the coefficient of variation for step length and speed, and compared the number of steps required to achieve stable walking, trunk forward lean angle, and center of gravity transfer speed. [Results] The low chair resulted in a shorter first step and slower speed. There was no significant difference in the number of steps required to achieve stable walking. The lower the chair, the greater the trunk forward tilt angle and the faster the upward center of gravity shift speed. [Conclusion] In the sitting-to-walking transition from a low chair, the first step’s stride was short, and the speed of initiating foot placement from the unstable posture was slow.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the participation status of women researchers in academic publications within the field of physical therapy in Japan. [Participants and Methods] A total of 1,296 original articles published in Japanese-language physical therapy journals in 2011, 2012, 2021, and 2022 were analyzed, and the gender of each author was identified using publicly available information. [Results] Women accounted for 17.1% of all authors, 16.0% of first authors, and 11.1% of senior authors, a persistently low level with no significant change over the decade. Articles with both first and senior authors being men comprised 75.5%, whereas those with both authors being women accounted for only 2.6%. Regression analysis revealed that articles with women as first and/or senior authors were significantly associated with a higher proportion of women contributors. [Conclusion] Participation of women in senior authorship positions was associated with a greater overall proportion of women within research teams, suggesting that women’s involvement in leadership roles may contribute to promoting gender diversity in the field of physical therapy.

[Purpose] We conducted walking practice (forward-load gait) using the Safety Suspension System POPO weight-bearing walking lift for one patient following total hip arthroplasty (THA), and evaluated its effect on the hip extension angle during walking. [Participant and Methods] An 80-year-old woman who had right THA performed forward-load walking of 60 meters per day for 5 days. [Results] The patient's maximum right hip extension angle during T-cane walking increased from –11.8° ± 1.4° to –2.2° ± 0.5° after the intervention, her walking speed improved from 0.37 m/s to 0.55 m/s, and her average stride length increased from 33.3 cm to 38.5 cm. [Conclusion] Forward-load walking may increase the hip extension angle during gait and improve the walking ability of patients after THA.