[Purpose] The trunk muscles frequently become weak after stroke, thus impacting overall activities of daily living. However, activities of daily living items closely related with trunk strength remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the influence of trunk muscle weakness on activities of daily living items. [Subjects] The subjects were 24 stroke patients who fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: first stroke and the absence of severe paralysis, marked cognitive function deterioration, unilateral spatial neglect or apathy. [Methods] According to abdominal strength, the 24 patients were divided into a nonweakness group and a weakness group. For the assessment, we used the stroke impairment assessment set, the Berg balance scale, a simple test for evaluating hand function, grip strength, and functional independence measure scale scores and the results were compared between the groups. [Results] The Berg balance scale score and scores for dressing, toilet use, transfer to bed, and walk items of the functional independence measure were significantly lower in the weakness group than in the nonweakness group. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that weakness of the abdominal muscles adversely impacts the balance of patients with mild stroke as well as their ability to dress, use a toilet, transfer, and walk. Trunk training, including abdominal muscle exercises, can effectively improve the performance of these activities of daily living items.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the independent impact of the affected upper and lower limb, trunk, and unaffected side motor functions on activities of daily living in stroke patients using partial correlation analysis. [Subjects and Methods] This retrospective study included 77 stroke patients. Motor functions were assessed using the Stroke Impairment Assessment Set, and the activities of daily living performance was assessed using the Barthel index or Functional Independence Measure. Further, simple and partial correlation analyses were conducted between each motor function and activities of daily living parameter. [Results] Simple correlation analysis identified significant positive correlations for each pair. In contrast, partial correlation analysis only identified significant positive correlations between the affected lower limb or unaffected side functions and the Barthel index or Functional Independence Measure. This discrepancy between the two tests was explained by the significant interaction between the affected upper and lower limb functions and between the trunk and unaffected side functions. [Conclusion] The present study identified the affected lower limb and unaffected side motor functions as the major determinants of activities of daily living performance in stroke patients. These findings suggest that rehabilitation programs can be improved by targeting these areas.

This study was aimed at determining the cutoff values of activities of daily living (ADL) and the combination of related factors associated with high caregiver burden that induces depression among caregivers. The study participants included 50 pairs of home-based rehabilitation users and their primary caregivers. They were classified into two groups: high-burden and low-burden groups according to the short version of the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview score of ≥13 or ≤12, respectively. The cutoff values of ADL and the combination of related factors associated with high caregiver burden were examined using the receiver operating characteristic curve and decision tree analyses. The cutoff value associated with high caregiver burden was 5 points for the controlling bladder item of the Barthel index (BI) (sensitivity: 90%, specificity: 70%). Regarding the decision tree, the controlling bladder item of BI (≤5 or 10 points) was selected as the first layer and the recipient’s age (≤78 or ≥79 years) as the second layer. High caregiver burden was identified in 85.7% of the caregivers in whom the score of controlling bladder of BI was ≤5 points and the patient was aged ≤78 years. A score of ≤5 points for the controlling bladder item of BI along with young recipient age was associated with high caregiver burden that induces depression among caregivers. This approach is useful to identify caregivers with high caregiver burden who are at risk for depression.

The relationship between quality of life and life-space mobility in community-dwelling older adults has recently been reported. The present study aimed to elucidate this relationship in home-based rehabilitation users with limited life-space mobility and loss of independence in activities of daily living. [Participants and Methods] The study population comprised 33 home-based rehabilitation users. The participants were expected to have a wide range of the level of independence in activities of daily living; therefore, they were categorized into three groups according to the Barthel Index score: independent (95-100 points), moderately disabled (90-65 points), and severely disabled (60-0 points) groups. We examined the relationships among the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale, Life-Space Assessment, and Barthel Index scores and age. [Results] We detected a strong positive correlation between the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale and Life-Space Assessment scores in the independent group; however, no significant correlations were observed in the moderately and severely disabled groups. [Conclusion] Our findings suggest a relationship between subjective well-being and life-space mobility in home-based rehabilitation users who are mostly independent in activities of daily living. However, owing to the small sample size and characteristics of the scales used in this study, further studies are warranted to verify these results.