[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the difference in gait parameters of
at-home walking and the 10-meter walking test results of individuals with hemiparesis.
[Subjects] A total of 14 hemiparetic stroke recovery patients participated in this study.
Inclusion criteria were: living at home, the ability to walk independently, and
demonstrated low extremity on recovery stages III–V on the Brunnstrom Approach. The
average age of the subjects was 66 years. [Methods] We used video surveillance and the
inked footprint technique to record usual walking speed and maximum speed patterns both in
subjects’ homes and during the 10-meter walking test. From these methods, walking speed,
stride length, and step rate were calculated. [Results] While both usual and maximum
walking speeds of the 10-meter walking test correlated with stride length and step rate,
at-home walking speeds only significantly correlated with stride length. [Conclusion]
Walking patterns of the 10-meter walking test are quantifiably distinct from those
demonstrated in patients’ homes, and this difference is mainly characterized by stride
length. In order to enhance in-home walking ability, exercises that improve length of
stride rather than step rate should be recommended.
[Purpose] Medial longitudinal arch (MLA) height is associated with various injuries and
diseases and gender differences, if any. This study aimed to examine factors affecting the
MLA height associated with gender differences in healthy subjects with no orthopedic
disorders. [Subjects and Methods] This study included 36 healthy adults (19 males, 17
females; mean age, 21.8 ± 3.6 years; body mass index, 21.1 ± 2.0 kg/m2). Their
height, body weight, foot length, muscle strength of the tibialis posterior muscle (TPM),
toe-gripping strength, hallux valgus angle, inversion microdactylia angle, angle of
leg–heel alignment, femoro-tibial angle, and navicular height were measured. Correlation
between the ratio of arch height and other measurement parameters was examined. [Results]
In females, the ratio of arch height was significantly positively correlated with muscle
strength of the TPM and toe-gripping strength and negatively correlated with the hallux
valgus angle and the leg-heel alignment, whereas in males, only a positive correlation
between the ratio of arch height and muscle strength of the TPM was observed. [Conclusion]
These results reveal that etiological mechanisms determining MLA height are different
between males and females. Overall, the present results indicate that further studies
identifying causes of MLA height variation must include gender-based analysis.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to elucidate the cathepsin-D involvement in
signaling pathways for the survival and apoptosis of myofibers in rats with
hindlimb-unloading in a low-temperature environment. [Subjects and Methods] Wistar rats
were divided into two groups: a control group and a group that underwent hindlimb
unloading in a low-temperature environment to induce muscle apoptosis. Cathepsin-D
localization in the soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles, along with the
expression of cathepsin-D in apoptotic myofibers, was examined. Expression of the active
and inactive forms of cathepsin-D was also analyzed. [Results] Cathepsin-D was mainly
expressed in type I myofibers and was observed to have punctate patterns in the control
group. In the hindlimb unloading in a low-temperature environment group, the type I
myofiber composition ratio decreased, and caspase-3 activation and TUNEL-positive
apoptotic myofibers were observed. In caspase-3-activated myofibers, cathepsin-D
overexpression and leakage of it into the cytoplasm were observed. In the hindlimb
unloading in a low-temperature environment group, the amount of inactive cathepsin-D
decreased, whereas that of the active form increased. [Conclusion] Cathepsin-D was deduced
to be indicative of a myofiber-type classification and a factor related to myofiber type
maintenance. In addition, cathepsin-D leakage into the cytoplasm was appeared to be
involved in caspase-3 activation in the hindlimb unloading in a low-temperature
environment group.
[Purpose] This study examined whether limited mental practice improves the motor
performance of poststroke individuals with hemiparesis. [Subjects] Twenty-three
participants with poststroke hemiparesis (40–82 years of age) participated in this study.
[Methods] The subjects were divided into four groups with respect to a dart-throwing task:
the no-practice, physical practice only, mental practice only, and mental and physical
practice groups. The groups were compared in terms of gains in motor performance, mental
imagery vividness, and level of concentration during mental practice. [Results] No
statistically significant difference was found for gains in motor performance among
groups, and there was no correlation between imagery vividness and motor performance
gains. However, a correlation was found between gains in motor performance and mental
concentration during mental practice. [Conclusion] The results suggested that limited
mental practice for individuals with poststroke hemiparesis may not improve motor
performance. However, a higher degree of concentration during mental practice may improve
motor performance.
[Purpose] Antagonistic stretching is an important therapeutic program in rehabilitation.
However, if pain occurs during stretching, other methods should be considered. This study
aimed to investigate whether antagonistic muscle contraction exercises alone had an effect
in expanding the joint range of motion. [Participants and Methods] Participants included
50 healthy males and females (aged 21.0 ± 3.1 years) who were each randomly assigned to
one of four groups that performed either active, resistance, phasic, or isometric
exercises or a control group that performed no exercise. Each exercise group performed
five sets of 30-second ankle dorsiflexion exercises. Active and passive ranges of motion
of ankle dorsiflexion were measured using a goniometer, with the participants in the knee
extension and flexion positions. [Results] Ankle joint range of motion was increased in
the knee extension position in the isometric exercise group. There were no other
differences observed in any of the groups. [Conclusion] Our results indicated that
isometric exercises had an immediate effect on increasing ankle joint range of motion.
This is presumably attributed to the effects of Golgi tendon organ inhibition (Ib
inhibition) or stretch tolerance of the gastrocnemius muscle.
The present study examined whether low-temperature (LT) could reduce experimentally-induced atrophy of the skeletal muscle in non-hibernating mammals, as judged by muscle wet-weight, cross-sectional area of muscle fibers, ratio of muscle fiber types, and number of apoptotic myofibers in the soleus muscle of rat. Hindlimb unloading (HU) was carried out for either one or two weeks (1W or 2W, respectively) at room temperature (HU-1W and HU-2W groups) or LT (10C, HULT-1W and HULT-2W groups). Other animals were allowed to move freely at either room temperature (CON-1W and CON-2W groups) or LT (LT-1W and LT-2W groups). Total caloric intake was increased in LT rats compared with the CON, HULT and HU rats. Body weight, muscle wet-weight and cross-sectional area were significantly decreased in HU and HULT rats compared with CON and/or LT rats. Type-I fiber composition in HULT-2W was not significantly reduced compared with those of CON-2W and LT-2W, but that of HU-2W was significantly reduced compared with the other groups. A small number of caspase-3-activated myofibers appeared in HULT-2W and HU-2W, but not in CON-2W and LT-2W. Thus, our results indicate that LT retards the change in the ratio of type-I and type-II fibers, but does not prevent decreases in muscle size and mass, or apoptosis of myofibers.
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