The aim of present study was to clarify the effects of Support level Nordic Walking（SNW） on lower extremity load reduction under uphill and load carriage conditions. Nine healthy and skilled Nordic walker, participated in this study as a subject. Walking （W） and SNW were conducted on a treadmill at 70 m/min under four trials, ①level walking with no load（BW）, ②20％ BW load in level walking, ③15％ grade walking with no load, and ④20％ BW load in 15％ grade walking. Stride length was controlled as same as level walking in all trials. The pole ground reaction force during SNW in trials ③ and ④ were significantly higher than those in trials ① and ②. Heart rate（HR）and the electromyography（EMG） of the triceps brachii during SNW in trials ③ and ④ were higher than those during walking. In contrast, EMG of the trunk and lower extremity muscles was reduced. From these results, it was concluded that SNW reduces the recruitment of muscle fibers in the trunk and lower extremities by distributing energy consumption to the upper extremities.

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　　This study aimed to examine gender differences, age-related changes, and associations with other walking tests in gait parameters assessed using a simple method. The subjects were 444 individuals aged 65 years or older （102 men, 342 women） who participated in physical fitness tests. They walked 10 meters and were assessed for speed, cadence, and stride length in a 6-meter segment. Other tests included the 10MWT, TUG, and SSTw. Gender differences were observed in all variables except for usual walking speed and brisk walking cadence. Significant correlations with age were observed for all variables except for men's cadence （both usual and brisk walking） and usual walking step length. Gait parameters were related to the performance of walking-related tests, with particularly high correlations with walking speed. Multiple regression analysis excluding walking speed revealed that step length had the greatest effect on each walking test,with cadence exerting a similar effect, followed by age. Multiple regression analysis using walking speed as the dependent variable showed similar correlations with step length and cadence for both usual and brisk walking. These findings suggest that in order to prevent falls and maintain endurance in older people, it is important to incorporate the habit of walking faster, that is, to walk with an awareness of stride length and pace, into daily life.

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　　This study addresses the philosophical question, "What is human dignity?", by focusing on the importance for humans to contemplate the "consciousness of walking"（Aruku/Ho）. We examined this importance by classifying it into the following three categories: 　　1. The acquisition of creativity（e.g., intelligence（reason）, art） resulting from the emergence of upright bipedal locomotion ． 　　2. The assertion of the essence of the human way of life through walking as expressed by philosophers and writers throughout history. 　　3. The potential for world peace that can be realized through humanity's acquisition of bipedal upright locomotion. 　　The results suggested that the "consciousness of walking" is a concept that encompasses human behavioral patterns, aesthetics, and ultimately, ethical attitudes, and is the bedrock upon which "culture and civilization" have been accumulated. 　　In other words, for humanity to reconsider the "consciousness of walking" is to reconfirm the philosophical question, "What is human dignity?". It is believed that this ultimately holds the potential to become the theoretical foundation supporting "coexistence, co-prosperity,culture, and civilization"as a common ideology for humankind.

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Objective: This study aimed to examine sex-specific immediate effects of localized plantar stimulation delivered through socks （pad thickness 1–3 mm） on spatiotemporal gait parameters and sagittal-plane ankle-related foot angles during level walking at a self-selected comfortable speed. Methods: Twenty-six healthy adults （15 men, 11 women; age 21.4 ± 0.9 years） participated in a within-subject, randomized-condition study. Participants performed 5-m straight level walking at a comfortable speed while wearing a wearable gait analysis system（Physilog6S ®,Gait Up, Switzerland; 128 Hz） secured on the dorsum of both feet. Four conditions were tested: socks only（ baseline）, socks + 1-mm pad,socks + 2-mm pad, and socks + 3-mm pad. Pads（PORON; Shore A 50） were standardized and attached externally at three sites: proximal to the fourth metatarsal head, under the medial cuneiform, and proximal to the fifth metatarsal head. Condition order was randomized. After 5-min familiarization, three trials were recorded and averaged. Outcomes were gait speed, stride length, strike angle（ foot-to-floor angle at heel strike）, and lift-off angle（foot-to-floor angle at toe-off）; analyses used left-foot values. Within each sex, all pairwise comparisons were performed using paired t-tests with Holm correction; baseline sex differences were assessed using Welch’s t-tests（ p < 0.05）. Results: No significant differences were found between conditions in gait speed or stride length in either sex. For men, neither strike angle（socks: 17.1 ± 2.6°, 1 mm: 17.3 ± 2.6°, 2 mm: 16.8 ± 3.2°, 3 mm: 17.0 ± 2.9°） nor lift-off angle（ socks: −63.3 ± 7.6°, 1 mm: −62.6 ±7.4°, 2 mm: −64.1 ± 7.1°, 3 mm: −64.5 ± 6.4°） differed significantly across conditions. For women, strike angle differed only between the 1-mm and 2-mm conditions（ p = 0.042, Cohen’s dz = 1.02）, with a larger angle in the 2-mm condition（ socks: 17.0 ± 3.3°, 1 mm: 16.2 ± 2.1°,2 mm: 17.4 ± 2.6°, 3 mm: 16.3 ± 3.7°）. Lift-off angle did not differ across conditions in women（ socks: −67.3 ± 4.4°, 1 mm: −66.8 ± 3.7°,2 mm: −67.0 ± 5.3°, 3 mm: −65.1 ± 3.3°）. No significant sex differences were observed for any outcome in the baseline condition. Conclusions: Localized plantar stimulation through socks using 1–3 mm pads produced no immediate changes in gait speed or stride length during comfortable-speed level walking in healthy young adults. A condition-specific effect was observed only for women’s strike angle between the 1-mm and 2-mm pads, indicating that the overall impact of this intervention was limited and outcome-specific. Further studies incorporating plantar-pressure assessment and three-dimensional kinematics with larger sample sizes are warranted to clarify sex-dependent gait adaptations to subtle plantar stimulation.

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　　This study investigated the physiological responses to seated arm swing and step-up exercises with portable tube walking device（PTW）in healthy adults. Fourteen participants performed both exercises with and without PTW, and measurements included electromyographic activity of upper limb muscles, oxygen consumption, heart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion（RPE）for the upper limbs. The use of PTW significantly increased triceps brachii activity in both exercise modes, with additional increases observed in the deltoid during the step-up exercise. In the seated condition, PTW increased energy expenditure by +0.2 to +0.3 METs and heart rate by approximately 3.0 bpm,and regression analysis predicted a +0.4 METs increase at 120 bpm. In the step-up condition, PTW use resulted in a +0.6 METs increase,reaching 8.5 METs, which corresponds to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. Upper-limb RPE values were also significantly higher under PTW conditions. These results suggest that PTW effectively enhances upper limb muscle activity and cardiorespiratory responses during simple non-ambulatory exercises, offering a practical and safe modality for exercise prescriptions targeting older adults or individuals with mobility limitations.

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　　This study aimed to clarify differences in gait-related functional indicators among independent, support-required, and care-required older adults, and to examine the practical utility of these indicators for assessing physical function. A total of 191 participants （64independent, 71 support-required, and 56 care-required） were evaluated. Walking function was analyzed using the NEC Walking Posture Measurement System, and ground reaction force during sit-to-stand motion was measured with the ZaRitz BM-220 analyzer. The parameters included walking speed, step length, trunk vertical displacement, foot lift angle, rate of force development normalized to body weight（RFD/W）, and peak force per body weight （F/W）.Significant differences were observed among the three groups in most gait and ground reaction force indices. The independent group demonstrated the highest functional performance, followed by the support-required and carerequired groups. Notably, RFD/W effectively reflected rapid force generation capacity and differentiated care levels even among older adults requiring partial assistance. Since the care-required group encompassed individuals with care levels 1 to 3, indicating heterogeneous walking ability, intra-group variability should be considered when interpreting these results.These findings suggest that combining quantitative gait analysis and ground reaction force assessment provides a sensitive and objective approach for evaluating motor function, predicting fall risk,and developing personalized rehabilitation and care strategies for older adults.

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　　The purpose of this study was to clarify differences in postural sway and plantar pressure distribution during quiet standing between healthy older adults and older adults with hallux valgus. Twenty-nine healthy older adults and 15 older adults with hallux valgus participated in this study. Postural sway was assessed using a force platform by measuring the ellipse area, medial–lateral maximum range, and anterior–posterior maximum range derived from the trajectory of the center of pressure during quiet standing. Plantar pressure was measured using a pressure measurement system. The sole was divided into seven regions, and the plantar pressure in each region was calculated as a percentage of the total plantar pressure. Compared with healthy older adults, older adults with hallux valgus exhibited significantly greater ellipse area and medial–lateral maximum range during quiet standing, as well as significantly higher plantar pressure in the medial forefoot region. This study demonstrated that older adults with hallux valgus exhibit greater postural instability during quiet standing and have plantar pressure distributions that differ from those of healthy older adults. These findings highlight the importance of interventions targeting standing balance in older adults with hallux valgus.

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　　Plantar sensation is essential for maintaining a stable gait, and a decline in plantar sensation destabilizes gait. In contrast, insoles and footpads may alter gait control by providing mechanical stimulation to the plantar surface. This study aimed to clarify the effect of footpad stimulation on stance phase and plantar pressure distribution in healthy adults, with particular focus on these two gait parameters. Twenty-six healthy adults (13 men and 13 women) participated in the study. The walking conditions consisted of three settings: socks only, and footpads of 1mm, and 3mm thickness. The footpads were placed at all three plantar locations: the medial side, the lateral side, and the metatarsal region. Participants were instructed to walk a distance of 7meters at their self-selected comfortable walking speed. Gait parameters were assessed using a plantar pressure measurement system, which automatically calculated the plantar pressure distribution and stance-phase characteristics. The plantar pressure distribution was divided into 10 regions, and the stance phase was classified into four sub-phases. The results showed a prolonged mid-stance duration, a shortened forefoot-loading time, increased midfoot pressure, and decreased pressure under the second metatarsal head. Footpad stimulation was found to influence plantar pressure distribution and the temporal characteristics of the stance phase.

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　　Ultra-trail running （UTR） involves prolonged running and walking over mountainous terrain with elevation gain and unstable surfaces.These demands impose repetitive eccentric loading on the knee extensors and challenge the ability to maintain weight-bearing force. This three-year longitudinal case report investigated changes in Weight-Bearing Index（WBI） and knee flexor strength in a middle-aged male trail runner who repeatedly participated in UTR and ultramarathon（UM） events between 2023 and 2025. Muscle strength was measured before each race, within 48 hours post-race, and during early recovery. Across races, WBI showed a greater post-race decline than knee flexor strength（ maximum -58.3% vs. -22.7%）, indicating selective fatigue of the knee extensors. Severe weather and muddy trails in UTR events amplified weight-bearing demands and exacerbated WBI reduction. Running speeds at lactate threshold （LT） and OBLA remained within a relatively narrow range over the three years （VLT 6.0–8.5 km/h, VOBLA 8.5–10.5 km/h）, with a transient reduction before the 2025 UM and partial recovery before the 2025 UTR, suggesting that submaximal metabolic endurance was preserved despite a decrease in maximal oxygen uptake. These findings indicate that elevation-focused training and technique modifications that mitigate excessive extensor loading may be important for the safe completion of UTR events.

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　本報告は、心原性脳梗塞により重度の片麻痺を呈した59歳男性１名を対象とし、在宅期における歩行訓練の長期経過を観察した症例報告である。退院時には自立歩行は困難とされていたが、訪問リハビリテーション（理学療法士）と家族の支援のもと、自宅内において約14ｍの往復歩行訓練を約800日間継続した。特に転倒予防に重きを置き安全性に配慮し視線保持や歩容確認、装具調整を行った結果、歩行時間は約110秒から約45秒へ短縮し（改善率約60％）、慢性期においても歩行能力の改善が認められた。在宅環境下での継続的歩行訓練の有用性が示唆された。

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