The purpose of this study was to investigate the properties of the flexible pressure sensor under laboratory conditions simulating the internal environment of the total surface bearing (TSB) socket to determine optimal conditions for measuring normal stresses on the stump. The equipment used in the study was the Pressure Distribution Sensor System for Sockets. In a climatic chamber maintained at 37d`C and 70% humidity the sensor sheet was mounted on a measuring apparatus loaded with three 10 kg weights, and output from the sensor was records after loading was adopted as the measured output. Output was greater when weight was decreased than when weight was increased because of hysteresis (paired t-test, p<0.05). The sensor had temperature sensitivity but differences in output were not statistically significant (paired t-test, 0.10>p>0.05). There were no significant differences in output among five sensor sheets or among five sections of four sensor sheets (two-way ANOVA, p>0.05), but repeated loading on the same section of the sensor sheet increased output (two-way ANOVA, p<0.05). Reproducibility and sensitivity distribution of the sensor are considered satisfatory under laboratory conditions, but measurements of rapid and repetitive movements may not be accurate and comparing subtle changes in output from a single sensor is not suitable. The reliability of the sensor in a clinical setting for measuring normal stresses on the stump with the TSB socket should be examined.
[Purpose] To verify the immediate effects of exercise therapy on cancer-related fatigue
(CRF) in cancer patients. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen cancer patients who performed
exercise therapy targeting a rating of 4 (somewhat strong) on the Borg category-ratio
scale (CR-10) were enrolled. CRF was evaluated using the Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS). CFS
was evaluated in clinical practice immediately before and after exercise therapy on the
1st or 2nd day of physiotherapy for CRF management. CFS scores before and after exercise
were compared to determine how CRF changed due to exercise therapy. [Results] CFS
physical, CFS affective, CFS cognitive, and CFS total all decreased following exercise
therapy, and the changes in CFS physical and CFS total were statistically significant. The
effect sizes for CFS physical and CFS total were “medium”, and for CFS affective and CFS
cognitive “small.” [Conclusion] These findings suggest that exercise therapy targeting a
rating of 4 (somewhat strong) on the CR-10 can immediately reduce CRF in cancer
patients.
To reveal the influence of chronic moderate smoking on physical fitness and local muscle oxygenation profile, we compared the oxygen uptake (VO2), CO2 output, respiratory rate, minute ventilation and blood lactate accumulation between six moderate smokers and ten non-smokers during incremental exercise. In order to know the difference of the peripheral oxygen supply to the muscles between the two groups, oxygenation profiles based on the changes of oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) in the right vastus lateralis muscles were observed using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The intensity of incremental exercise using a bicycle ergometer was from 10 W to 80% of the maximum heart rate (80% HR(max)) of each subject. There were no significant differences between the two groups in VO2 and work rate at the level of 2 mmol/ l lactate or 80%HR(max) (P < 0.05). However, as to the local muscle oxygenation profile during exercise, 5 out of the 6 smokers showed a decrease of O2Hb throughout the incremental exercise, but 8 out of the 10 non-smokers showed a gradual increase of O2Hb throughout the exercise. In conclusion, our results suggest that chronic moderate smoking might cause a change of local muscle oxygenation profile during incremental exercise, even if the smokers have shown no decrease in physical fitness.
The walking assist robot was developed to improve gait disturbance in patients with severe disabilities. The robot had a trunk supporter, power generator and operating arms which held patient's lower extremities and simulated walking, a control unit, biofeedback system, and a treadmill. We applied the robot-aided gait training to three patients with severe gait disturbance induced by stroke, axonal Guillan-Barré syndrome or spinal cord injury, and the walking assist robot turned out to be effective in improving the gait disturbance.
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