The disorder level in standing posture of the aged was evaluated by the disappearance period of electric discharge in musculus gastrocnemius(Silent Period). Subjects were nine aged people and ten healthy young people . They were ordered to stand in the upright position on both flat floor and forwardly sloped plate by 20 degrees with a vibrators fastened on both tendon achilles. Vibration at the frequency of 70 Herz was appliedfor one minutes, and tibial nerve was stimulated with the supramaximal electrical stimulation at 0.2 Herz of frequency.
1) Under the resting condition, silent period of the aged was 24.0ms on flat floor and 10.8ms on sloped plate longer than those of young people.
2) Both aged and young people showed longer silent period during receiving vibration than under the resting condition.
Prolongation of silent period which implies lowered excitability of α motorneurons at the cornua anterius of spinal cord at the upright position suggested that the upper central nervous systems might control greatly outside stimulation on proprioceptors.

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The object of this study was to clarify the influence of restriction on knee joint extension on physiological response during walking. Subjects consisted of eight healthy adult males with the average age was 26.1. They put on a knee brace that produces experimental flexion contracture in knee angle of 0 to 40 degrees, and were ordered to walk at their optimum walking speed on the horizontal treadmill. Measured items were oxygen intake, heart rate and cadence. In every measured items, a significant positive correlation was observed between knee angle and measured value. Oxygen intake at the knee angle 40 degrees was higher by approximately 31% than that at 0 degree. However, oxygen intake and heart rate at the knee angle 20 degrees indicated no significant difference from those at 0 degree, having no influence on difference in physiological response. In the next step, the influence of physiological exhaustion of a subject should be considered for clinical application.

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Reliability and reproducibility on the measured value of thickness of subcutaneous fat by the Skin Hold Caliper method were investigated in this study. Ten examiners measured six points of the body of a subject four times each. The results obtained were :1) The measured values showed a dispersion caused by the difference in measuring point or method. 2) It was observed that protocol statement indicating a correct measuring method or point led a dispersion of the measuring value to become smaller among examiners. 3) As proved in other measuring methods of thickness of subcutaneous fat, the Skin Hold Caliper method is supposed to require education and skill of a examiner.

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This study is with a view to obtaining fundamental information necessary for the evaluation of tolerance for the upper exercise by examining vital influences of the machine speed and cranking direction in terms of heart rate (HR) and oxygen intake (V0₂), using upper body isokinetic exerciser. Subject were 3 healthy normal males averaging 22.0 years. Using Cybex upper body exerciser (UBE), experiments were made on possible influences 2 work load conditions upon vital reactions of HR and V0₂ at a constant physical work load. Twice repetition was made of each experiment. The experimental procedure was all randomized. The present syudy confirmed slight influence of the cranking direction and large vital influences of the machine speed in order of 90, 60, 30 rpm. The observed correlation of HR and V0₂ seems to make it possible to use HR which is more simply determinable, as a physiological index instead of measuring V0₂.

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With the object of elucidating the influence of difference in functioning muscle mass on physiological response, oxygen intake, heart rate and blood pressure during isometric movement of quadriceps muscle of thigh were investigated in four healthy subjects (adult male). Subjects were ordered to sit on a chair with the knee angle 90 degrees, and four different loading methods were used: 1)right ankle weighted with 10-kg weight, 2)left ankle weighted with 10-kg weight, 3)both ankles tied together with cuff belt and weighted with 10-kg weight, and 4)both ankles each weighted with 5-kg weight (10 kg in total). Loading time was 2 minutes, and results were measured by the Latin Square method using subjects, experimental order, and loading methods as its factors. Heart rate during isometric movement caused by loading method 1)showed lowest, and that caused by loading method 3)showed highest, being significantly affected by the difference in loading methods. It was suggested that the higher physiological response was generated by the more muscle mass that functions.

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The aim of this study is to clarify the influence of different starting postures of bridge motion on action potential of musculus gluteus maximus (GM) and hamstrings (Ham) and on loading pressure of the sole. Eight healthy subjects are ordered to assume three different starting postures; lying on their back 1) with the knee drawn up to make an angle of 50 degrees, 2) with the knee drawn up to make an angle of 70 degrees, and 3) with the sole placed on a tier lower floor to make an knee angle of 50 degrees. Every three postures was further divided into two different positions, with the upper limbs raised and attached to the side of body. In starting posture 1) with the upper limbs attached to the side of body, the action potential of GM and Ham showed an increase with the knee angle of 50 and 70 degrees, respectively, and an increase of the electric discharge of Latissimus dorsi musculus was observed with the both knee angles. In starting posture 1) with the upper limbs raised, the action potential of Erector spinae musculus, GM and Ham increased, being not influenced by the knee angle. In case of the starting posture 2), high action potential was observed in GM and Ham. Loading pressure of the sole was approximately 12 % of body weight both in starting postures 1) and 2).

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Many noninvasive and nonrestrictive spirometers that have already been introduced are very expensive. We developed and evaluated a new measurement apparatus for respiratorypatterns which could be easily made from inexpensive materials, given a basic knowledge of electronic equipment. The apparatus uses a strain gauge as a sensor, which is attachedto a band of natural rubber. The respiratory pattern of a healthy child wasmeasured by the apparatus and the respiratory curve was easily recorded. Our evaluation revealed that our new measurement apparatus for respiratory patterns compares quite well with commercially available spirometers. Lyilding measurements of high sensitivity.

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This report introduces the study and training process of physical therapy and rehabilitation mainly for cerebral palsy performed in the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, where the author had a training experience for six months. Distinctiveness of physical therapy and rehabilitaion service in the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific are as follows: 1) The number of beds is 100, with a large number of staffs of 250. 2) Completeness of service for out-patients, such as full service aiming at returning to work performed at IWC and various programs for keeping body function against chronic diseases. Diversified rehabilitation programs are highly expected in Japan in which the project for training of body function has just started on the basis of the Health Law for the Aged. 3) Short period of hospital treatment, for example for only six weeks in case of cerebral palsy. 4) Long training time per day, average 5 hours in general patients. 5) Training conducted by physical therapists put an emphasis on acquirement of body function at the disability level. In contrast with this, physical therapy in Japan seems to place importance on that at the impariment level. 6) Popularization of practical programs such as home visits and family orientation. 7) Great sympathetic atttitude with rehabilitation was observed in the public.

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