Journal of Physical Therapy Science

[Purpose] Amputee soccer is a game for individuals with amputations. Players use lofstrand crutches to move around the field and kick the ball. Scoring quick goals during a match requires players to have maximum running skills. Notably, a few parameters affect the running speed in players; however, no study has reported the biomechanical analysis of running in amputee soccer. Thus study aimed to analyze the biomechanics of single-leg running using lofstrand crutches in 12 healthy adult males (6 with prior amputee soccer experience and 6 without such experience)...

[Purpose] This study aimed to elucidate the dynamics of the kinematic chain of shank rotation accompanying calcaneal pronation/supination during weight-bearing changes associated with ankle positions during plantar/dorsiflexion and whether this biomechanical phenomenon is affected by age. [Participants and Methods] The study included 54 participants (108 legs, 25 young and 29 old participants). A 3-dimensional motion analysis system measured the calcaneal pronation/supination and the shank rotation angles during pronation/supination of the foot when upright...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the strength and endurance of the orbicularis oris muscle in healthy Korean (young vs. elderly adults). [Participants and Methods] A total of 60 participants (30 young adults and 30 elderly adults) were recruited. The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument was used to measure orbicularis oris muscle maximal strength and endurance. [Results] Elderly adults showed significantly lower orbicularis oris muscle strength and endurance than younger adults. [Conclusion] This study confirmed a significant age-related decrease in orbicularis oris muscle strength and endurance...

[Purpose] This study involved performing longitudinal measurements of muscle mass in elderly patients with mild disequilibrium using a body composition meter. The rate of change and characteristics were determined according to the level of care needed. [Participants and Methods] Bioelectrical impedance was used to measure body composition in 20 elderly females in Care Needs Category 1 (n=10) and 2 (n=8); body composition was measured every 3 months for 1 year. [Results] Compared to Category 1, the muscle mass at each body site was lower in Category 2 and the muscle mass of the whole body and thighs in Category 2 decreased throughout the year...

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the effects and to verify the efficacy of various breathing exercises performed while sitting on a small foam roller on the contraction of pelvic floor muscles in males. [Participants and Methods] This study, involving 10 healthy males (age 19.9 ± 1.6 years), had a crossover design and involved two conditions: sitting at rest for 10 min (CON condition) and sitting on a small foam roller placed on a chair while performing seven breathing exercises (EXE condition). Movement of the posterior side of the bladder was examined in both conditions using ultrasonic imaging...

[Purpose] This study compared lower garment-lifting postural control characteristics during toilet-related activities between healthy participants and a post-stroke patient, and studied changes in the stroke patient's characteristics during rehabilitation. [Participants and Methods] Six healthy individuals and one stroke participant with right hemiparesis were asked to lift a pair of pants with the left arm while on the toilet. During the process, we measured the mean percentage of body weight (%BW) on each leg and the foot center of pressure (COP) using portable force plates...

[Purpose] This case study describes the reacquisition of knee joint function in a patient with Down syndrome after surgery for patellar dislocation using external focus training. [Participant and Methods] The patient was a female aged 24 years with Down syndrome and a low Intelligence Quotient, who suffered from right patellar dislocation. The range of motion in the right knee while walking was 2 to 23 degrees at 3 weeks after surgery. A compensatory gait while walking was confirmed, with her right leg fixed in extension...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of manual spinal traction therapy on the pain and Oswestry disability index of patients with chronic back pain. [Participants and Methods] In this study, 30 patients with chronic back pain were evenly divided into an experimental group 1, who received manual traction therapy, and an experimental group 2, who received intermittent traction therapy. Both groups received therapy three times a week for eight weeks. A visual analogue scale was used to measure participants' back pain, and the Oswestry disability index was used to check the functional impediment they experienced as a result...

[Purpose] The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) is a comprehensive assessment tool, although it is not confined for use in stroke patients. This study aimed to determine the structural validity of the BESTest in self-ambulatory patients with stroke using both factor and Rasch analyses. [Participants and Methods] This retrospective study included 140 self-ambulatory patients with stroke. The structural validity of the BESTest was analyzed according to principal component, exploratory factor, Rasch, confirmatory factor, and correlation analyses...

[Purpose] The effect of physiotherapy on stooped posture in Parkinson's disease patients remains to be clarified. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether comprehensive physiotherapy-based rehabilitation can improve stooped posture in Parkinson's disease patients. [Participants and Methods] The participants were Parkinson's disease patients with stooped posture. Outpatients were assigned to the control group and inpatients to the postural rehabilitation group. The outcomes measured were trunk bending angle, lumbar lordosis, and thoracic kyphosis...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of low-intensity eccentric hamstring exercise on peak torque angle, range of motion, and passive stiffness. [Participants and Methods] Fourteen healthy young adults exercised as follows: 1) Under low-intensity eccentric hamstring exercise condition, participants performed a stiff-leg deadlift using a 20-kg barbell, 2) Under control condition with participants seated. The peak torque angle during eccentric knee flexion, hip flexion and knee extension range of motion, passive torque, and passive stiffness were measured before and after two conditions in the dominant leg...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the educational needs on the job competence for physical therapist assistant in the students of Quang Tri medical college in Vietnam. [Participants and Methods] Participants consisted of 17 individuals in the educational program for physical therapist assistant in Quang Tri medical college. The importance recognition ranking and current levels were measured by self-assessment for job competence of physical therapist assistant using a questionnaire. The educational needs were calculated by importance recognition ranking and current level by a self-assessment of job competence...

[Purpose] The purpose was to determine the correlation between the skeletal muscle mass index and parameters of respiratory function and muscle strength in young healthy adults as predictors of sarcopenia in association with aging and respiratory diseases. [Participants and Methods] Participants were 41 males and 37 females with a mean age of 19.5 ± 1.5 years. The following were measured: body composition (skeletal muscle mass index), respiratory function (vital capacity, inspiratory reserve volume, expiratory reserve volume, inspiratory capacity, forced vital capacity, one-second forced expiratory volume, peak expiratory flow rate), and respiratory muscle strength (maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure)...

[Purpose] Persons with age-related hyperkyphosis often have concomitant sagittal plane imbalance of the spine. This study investigated the reliability of sagittal vertical axis (SVA) measurement of sagittal balance, association between thoracic Cobb angle of kyphosis and SVA measure of sagittal balance, and compared the degree of SVA in males and females with age-related hyperkyphosis. [Participants and Methods] Measurements of SVA and Cobb angle of kyphosis were obtained from baseline radiographs of 112 community-dwelling males and females, mean age 70...

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of integrated volitional control functional electrical stimulation and tilt sensor functional electrical stimulation training affected brain activation during the subacute phase following a stroke. [Participant and Methods] The patient was a 60-year-old male with right hemiparesis, secondary to stroke in the left thalamus. Conventional intervention was performed for 60 minutes per day during the first two weeks of treatment (the control condition)...

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of training using virtual reality games on stroke patients' functional recovery. [Paticipants and Methods] Twenty-four hemiplegia patients whose disease duration was longer than six months participated in this study. The participants were divided at random into a control group (n=12), which received traditional rehabilitation therapy, and an experimental group (n=12), which received both traditional rehabilitation therapy and training using virtual reality games. The program lasted for a total of 12 weeks...

[Purpose] Sarcopenia may be associated with malnutrition in patients with vertebral compression fractures which may affect a patient's functional prognosis. This study investigated the association between sarcopenia, malnutrition, and activities of daily living at the time of hospital discharge in patients with vertebral compression fractures. [Participants and Methods] The study included 36 patients who were hospitalized with vertebral compression fractures. Sarcopenia was assessed by measuring grip strength and calf circumference...

[Purpose] Muscle quantity (e.g., cross-sectional area) and quality (e.g., muscle adipose tissue), which are muscle strength determinants, can be assessed using ultrasonography. The study aimed to investigate the changes in the quantity and quality of the peroneus longus and evaluate evertor strength in legs with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Furthermore, the associations among cross-sectional area, echogenicity, evertor strength, and frequency of ankle sprain were examined. [Participants and Methods] Nine males with CAI in unilateral legs were the voluntary participants in this study...

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the effect of core stabilization exercise (CSE) on joint position sense, pain intensity, and functional disability in patients with subacute non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). [Participants and Methods] Thirty-eight participants with subacute nonspecific low back pain of 6-12 weeks duration, aged 18-60 years, were included in this study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: a core stabilization exercise group (n=19) or a control group (n=19). Outcomes measures included lumbar joint repositioning error (LJRE), numeric pain rating scale (11-NRS), and the Roland-Morris disability questionnaires (RMDQ)...

[Purpose] The present study aimed to investigate the association between body awareness with postural control and independence in performing activities of daily living in patients with hemispheric stroke. Eighty-one patients who were diagnosed with stroke participated in this study. [Participants and Methods] The participants were divided into three groups according to their risk for falls. Furthermore, these participants were classified into four groups according to their degree of independence in performing activities of daily living...