Twenty healthy female subjects performed 50 stepping tests with or without the dominant leg loaded by a 1-kg weight band and footprint deviation was investigated according to the angle and distance of deviation, and the angle of rotation. With respect to reproducibility, a significantly high correlation was observed in the distance of deviation between the initial and 3rd stepping, with a correlation efficient of 0.68. No reproducibility was, however, indicated in the angles of deviation and rotation. Elder subjects showed significantly larger angles of deviation (p<0.01) and rotation (p<0.001) compared with young subjects. There was, however, no difference in the distance of deviation between them. In loaded stepping, elder subjects exhibited smaller angles of deviation and rotation and longer distance of deviation, compared with unloaded stampings. The increase in the distance of deviation in elder subjects may stem from functional deterioration of vestibular sensory area.

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The purpose of this investigation was to examine how leg length inequality induces morphological changes in pelvis and lumbar vertebra, and load difference between right and left legs in an upright posture. Twenty healthy subjects (11 men and 9 women) stood with the both legs 30 cm apart putting on different weight-meters, and leg length inequality of 3, 6, 9, 15, 21, 30 and 55 mm was artificially made. Load difference between right and left legs was measured, and the angle of torsion was also measured in pelvis and spine of 4 subjects. In the case of leg length inequality of 10 - 20 mm, subjects were found to maintain the vertical equilibrium by alternating torsion (rotation) and lateroversion of pelvis and spine, and tended to transfer a center of gravity to the side of a long leg. In the case of leg length inequality of over 30 mm, they could not keep an upright posture due to a loss of equilibrium sense. These indicate that those who with a leg length inequality try to keep an upright posture by alternating torsion and lateroversion of pelvis and spine, thereby possibly inducing poor postures. It was also suggested that a right leg may play a more dominant role in keeping the equilibrium, compared with a left leg.

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This study examined the facilitative effects of PNF method on the muscular activity of knee extension. Eighteen healthy male subjects (36 legs) performed the maximum knee extension 3 times at the angular velocity of 300°/sec, and the peak torque was compared before and after 10 repetitions of regular patterns of the PNF method. After the method, a significant increase in both the peak torque and work load was observed in the subjects, but no such an increase was found in controls. This suggests that the repetition of the PNF method may exert an effective role in effectors such as muscles and joints, potentially activating α and γ motor neurons.

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Among 11 healthy male college students, we investigated respiro-circulatory responses during arm and leg ergometry of the maximum voluntary exercise for similar period using the same bicycle ergometer. Performed ergometry time (Time) and rate of percieved exertion (RPE) were both similar between arm and leg ergometry. The percentage of upper exercise to lower exercises was 65% in oxygen uptake (VO₂/W), 90% in heart rate (HR) and 38% in work rate. Arms ergometry showed a significantly smaller effect on respiro-circulatory responses (p<0.01), compared with leg ergometry.
The percentage of AT to VO₂max was 53% in leg ergometry, and 44% in arm ergometry. These results suggest that arm and leg ergometry may induce different resoiro-circulatory responses. Further studies are needed to elucidate factors causing such a difference.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of chair height on sit-to-stand motion of eleven healthy subjects. Trajectories of body segments and joint range of motion were measured by a motion analysis system using chairs of five different heights. With a decrease in chair height, the foot position at the initiation of the motion transferred backward, and a the forward displacement of head and knee was increased with decreasing chair height. The maximum ranges of motion of the trunk and lower limb were significantly increased with decreasing chair height. These results serve to prepare the treatment for movement disorders and to prescribe appropriate assistive devices.

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From the viewpoint of stasiology, we investigated the relationship between cerebral changes with aging and body sway in an upright posture. Of 82 subjects aged over 60 years, all without a history of apparent neurological dysfunction, the cerebral computed tomographic (CT) scans and body sway were recorded. There was a significant correlation between atrophic brain white-matter changes and body sway in an upright posture. Cerebral changes correlated more closely with body sway with the eyes open than with the eyes closed. It was also found that subjects showing periventricular lucency (PVL) exhibited greater body sway, compared with those showing no PVL.

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Previous studies have revealed that the peak-to-peak value of H reflex of lower limb soleus is increased by the (J method). Few studies are, however, available describing the mechanism of the method. In order to examine how the J method affects the reflex mechanism of spinal cord, we measured latent period of H reflex. During the J method, the peak-to-peak value was higher, and the latent period was significantly (p<0.05) longer by 0.3 msec than those at rest. This suggests that H reflex may be innervated by an interneuron induced by the J method.

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It is the purpose of this study to demonstrate the effects of chest physical therapy for patients with chronic lung disease. concerning which there is at present no general agreement. On 58 patients with chronic lung disease, chest physical therapy was intensively performed (30-60 min/day, 6 days/week) until the patients reached the goal. Their dyspnea level (Hugh-Jones Classification), lung function, arterial blood gases, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, 6 min walking distance (6MD) and ADL were compared between before and after the physical therapy. A significant improvement was observed in all indices except in some of lung function and arterial blood gases (FEV_1.0, FEV_1.0%, PaCO₂). Compared among patients with different ventilatory disorders, those with obstructive disease exhibited an improvement in PaO₂ and AaDO₂, and those with restrained one showed an improvement in %MVV and PaCO₂. A patient with grade V of Hung-Jones Classification indicated a significantly low improvement rate in dyspnea. It was concluded by the present results that a long-term intensive chest physical therapy of well-controlled clinical program is effective for patients with chronic lung disease, showing that the therapy results in improvements not only in dyspnea, exercise endurance, and ADL, but also in lung function and arterial blood gases. It was also suggested that the effects of therapy may differ according to levels of ventilatory disorder of patients.

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In the present study, latent period and amplitude of sympathetic skin response (SSR) were examined in twelve healthy young females under the condition of various stress on autonomic nervous system. The latent period was almost unchanged throughout the experimental period. The amplitude was decreased by 13% after the administration of ischemic stress, and recovered by 52% after the finish of administration. The amplitude during the administration of cold-water stress was increased by 34%, and decreased by 72% 6 min after the administration. The amplitude immediately after the passive tilt was increased by 38% and decreased by 36% 3 min after the rising. These results indicate that the latent period and amplitude of SSR were influenced by the stress which increasing activity of sympathetic nerve, suggesting a possible relation with indices of autonomic nervous function.

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It should primarily be recognized that infantile motor development involves a variety of processes that change continually in the rest of their lives. Differing according to individuals and genetic factors, the development process is highly influenced by the interrelation between “Growth and Learning” in various living environments. It is important for clinical intervention of patients with cerebral palsy to know that appropriate stimuli on sensorimotor function play an essential role in inducing normal motor development. Those stimuli should therefore be confirmed in a honest and careful way. We should try every means possible to prevent abnormal motor development of the patients, to heighten their residual function, and to widen the living spheres. Those would help the patients to obtain independent lives and to foster sociality.

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