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Background: After abdominal surgery, patients may strongly complain of pain during exercise, especially during the motion of rising from the supine to a sitting position. The effect of exhalation on wound pain relief during the rising motion was examined. Methods: Seventy-seven patients who had undergone open renal biopsy and 11 patients who had undergone inguinal hernia repair surgery were made to rise, and subsequently, after a break, were instructed to perform the rising motion while exhaling. The wound pain associated with the rising motion before and after the instruction to exhale was compared and examined. Results: In patients who had undergone open renal biopsy or hernia repair, wound pain during the rising motion was significantly reduced when the rising motion was performed with exhalation, compared to the pain when they did not exhale while rising. Conclusion: This study suggests that abdominal surgery wound pain is relieved when the rising motion from a supine to a sitting position is performed while exhaling. Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered at ISRCTN registry with study ID ISRCTN95502262.

Purpose We hypothesized that skin blood flow (SBF) of fingers are modulated during concentrated finger perception and that the changes in SBF reflect fluctuations in finger volume (FV). The aim of this study, therefore, was examine the relationship between the changes in SBF and FV during Braille reading. Methods We measured SBF of the finger, cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), FV, and arterial blood pressure during Braille reading performed under blind conditions in thirty healthy subjects. The subjects were instructed to read a flat plate with raised letters (Braille reading) for 15 seconds using their forefinger, and to touch a blank plate as a control for the Braille discrimination procedure. Results Arterial blood pressure slightly increased during Braille reading but remained unchanged during the touching of the blank plate. SBF, CVC, and FV were reduced during Braille reading (decreased by −26%, −29%, and −0.3 mL/100 mL respectively). Furthermore, a significant relationship was observed between the changes in SBF and FV (r=.613) during Braille reading. Conclusion These results suggested that SBF of fingers is modulated during concentrated finger perception, and that the variability of blood flow reflects the response in FV.

We hypothesized that age-related changes in sensory function might be reflected by a modulation of the blood flow response associated with tactile sensation. The aim of the present study was to clarify how the blood flow response of the fingers during concentrated finger perception is affected by aging. We measured the tactile-pressure threshold of the distal palmar pad of the index finger and skin blood flow in the finger (SBF) during Braille reading performed under blind conditions in young (n = 27) and older (n = 37) subjects. As a result, the tactile-pressure threshold was higher in older subjects (2.99 ± 0.37 log10 0.1 mg) than in young subjects (2.76 ± 0.24 log10 0.1 mg) (p &lt, 0.01). On the other hand, the SBF response was markedly smaller in older subjects (−4.9 ± 7.0%) than in young subjects (−25.8 ± 15.4%) (p &lt, 0.01). Moreover, the peak response arrival times to Braille reading in older and young subjects were 12.5 ± 3.1 s and 8.8 ± 3.6 s, respectively (p &lt, 0.01). A decline in tactile sensitivity occurs with aging. Blood flow responses associated with tactile sensation are also affected by aging, as represented by a decrease in blood flow and a delay in the reaction time.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate whether toe grip strength and muscle activities are affected by the ankle angle in the horizontal plane in the sitting upright and standing positions. [Subjects] The subjects were 16 healthy young women. [Methods] We measured toe grip strength and the maximum voluntary contraction activities of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, anterior tibialis, and medial head of the gastrocnemius. In addition, we calculated the percent integrated electromyography during foot gripping in 3 different ankle joint positions between the long axis of the foot and the line of progression on the horizontal plane, namely 10° of internal rotation, 0°, and 10° of external rotation. [Results] Two-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences. A significant main effect was observed in the measurement conditions for the percent integrated electromyography of the rectus femoris muscle and long head of the biceps femoris. However, two-way analysis of variance did not reveal any significant difference, and a significant main effect was not observed in toe grip strength. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that exerted toe grip strength is only slightly affected by the ankle angle in the horizontal plane in the sitting upright and standing positions. Therefore, the current measurement positions were shown to be optimal for measurement.

[Purpose] This study examined the relationship between toe grip strength and its associated factors by focusing on factors that were suggested to have a relationship with toe grip strength in previous studies, aiming to clarify the factors influencing the toe grip strength of healthy women. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve healthy young women were selected for this study. Their toe grip strength, angular changes in their ankle joint during toe grip, maximum voluntary contraction activities of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and tibialis anterior muscles, and the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscles were measured using electromyography. Their toe curl ability, foot-arch height ratio, and weight were also measured. [Results] Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the predictors of toe grip strength in the resulting model were foot-arch height ratio and the percentage of integrated electromyography (%IEMG) of the tibialis anterior muscle, as the dependent variables. This reveals that women whose tibialis anterior muscle %IEMG values and foot-arch height ratio are high have greater %IEMG values have greater toe grip strength. [Conclusion] These findings suggest a significant relationship between foot-arch height ratio and toe grip strength, with a reciprocal interaction. These findings further indicate that the risk of falls by the elderly could be decreased if toe grip strength were enhanced, by increasing the height of a low foot-arch with the help of an inserted insole.

[Purposes] To investigate angular changes in the ankle joint and leg muscle activities during toe-gripping, and to examine the relationship between these changes and toe-gripping strength. [Subjects] Eleven healthy young women were selected. [Methods] We measured the toe-gripping strength, angular changes in the ankle joint, and leg muscle activities of all patients during toe-gripping. [Results] The mean change in the ankle angle in dorsiflexion from a neutral position was 3°, and a positive correlation was observed between this angle and toe-gripping strength (r = 0.61). Thus, toe-gripping strength increased with the angle of dorsiflexion. Regarding the leg muscle activities, activities of the tibialis anterior muscle and medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle demonstrated positive correlations with toe-gripping strength (r = 0.75 and r = 0.72, respectively). [Conclusion] These findings suggest that the ankle dorsiflexes in order to exert great toe-gripping strength, and the crural muscles contract simultaneously because of ankle fixation., Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(6), pp.1957-1960; 2015

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of guidance in home exercise on physical function and the amount of activity in home care patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). [Subjects and Methods] A 2-month home exercise intervention consisting of self-administered exercise by patients (self-exercise) and home visit exercise therapy guided by a physical therapist (home visit exercise) was conducted in 10 home care patients with PD to compare changes in physical function, activities of daily living, and postural status between before and after the intervention. [Results] A decreased number of chief complaints and alleviation of fear of falling were observed after the intervention. In terms of physical function, a significant increase in flexibility and muscle strength were observed, although no significant changes were found in activities of daily living, gait, and balance. Although there was no significant change in the total amount of daily physical activity, the analysis of daily posture changes revealed a significant reduction in the percentage of time spent lying down and a significant increase in the percentage of time spent sitting after the intervention. [Conclusion] Guidance in home exercise in home care patients with PD can be effective in making self-exercise a habit, improving range of motion and muscle strength, and reducing the time spent in a supine position.

[Purpose] The present study aimed to quantitatively evaluate and characterize the physical activities of people with ParkinsonAfs disease (PD) receiving nursing care at home, as well as to clarify the factors that affect the amount of physical activity and the ability of people with PD to perform activities. [Subjects] Nine PD patients participated in this study. [Methods] The physical activities of subjects were measured over a 24-h period using an accelerometer and an activity meter simultaneously. [Results] The average total impulse value of PD patients was approximately equal to that of elderly people, and was lower than that of young adults reported in other studies. Over the 24-h study period, PD patients spent 43.6% of the time in a sitting position. Patients with milder PD were more physically active, had higher activities of daily living, had better balance ability in a standing position, were able to stand for longer periods, and showed more frequent posture changes; however, their frequency of falls tended to increase. [Conclusion] To increase physical activities and prevent falls among home-bound PD patients, it is important to practice standing balance and walking exercises.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a dual-task on movements of stepping over an obstacle by elderly people who had a fall experience in the past year. [Subjects] Subjects were 7 people who had a history of falls and 22 people who had no history of falls in the past year. [Methods] Subjects were divided into fallers group while subjects performed and non-fallers group by based on interview results. We measured toe clearance the single and dual tasks. The single task was a solitary motor task. The dual task consisted of a motor task and a concurrent cognitive task. The motor task was stepping over an obstacle during comfortable gait, and the cognitive task was the serial subtraction of seven from 100. [Results] Two-way ANOVA showed that toe-obstacle distance had a significant interaction effect. [Conclusion] These results suggest that fallers and non-fallers may have different strategies for stepping over an obstacle.

〔目的〕在宅などの狭い環境下での歩行評価法の条件を検討するための予備的研究として，健常成人における歩き始めから歩幅と歩行速度が一定となるまでの距離を確認することである．〔対象〕健常成人男性10名．〔方法〕10 mの歩行路を最大歩行速度で歩いた時の平均歩幅および速度，さらに，歩き始めから7歩目までの歩幅と歩行速度をビデオ画像により計測し，歩幅と歩行速度が一定となるまでに必要な距離を統計学的に分析した．〔結果〕1～7歩目間で歩幅は3歩目以降に，歩行速度は4歩目以降にそれぞれ一定となることがわかった．〔結語〕健常成人の速歩では，4歩目までの平均歩幅が3.27 mであったことから，歩幅や歩行速度が一定となるまでの助走距離の目安を3.5mとすることが妥当と思われる．

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to investigate the limb position at which the maximum toe-grip strength could be exerted as well as measurement reproducibility. [Subjects] Twenty healthy young women were selected. [Methods] We measured toe-grip strength under three conditions: 90° hip and knee flexion while sitting, 90° hip flexion and knee extension while sitting, and a standing position. [Results] We found that toe-grip strength was significantly lower in the 90° hip flexion and knee extension sitting position than in the 90° hip and knee flexion sitting position and standing position. Moreover, the 90° hip and knee flexion sitting position produced the best intraclass correlation coefficient (r = 0.813). [Conclusion] The results suggest that 90° hip and knee flexion while sitting is the most suitable limb position for measuring toe-grip strength, as this position allows maximum strength to be exerted and allows measurements to be repeated.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to compare toe grip strength and muscle activity during toe grip strength exertion according to the presence/absence of an ankle immobilization belt and to examine the relationship between the differences in muscle activity and toe grip strength. [Subjects] The Subjects were 13 healthy young women. [Methods] We measured toe grip strength and muscle activity during toe grip strength exertion in the presence and absence of an ankle immobilization belt using electromyography. Activity in the following leg muscles was recorded: rectus femoris, biceps femoris, medial head of the gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. We then calculated the percent integrated electromyography during toe gripping. [Results] Toe grip strength and percent integrated electromyography of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly higher with ankle belt immobilization compared with without ankle belt immobilization. In addition, in the presence of ankle belt immobilization, the percent integrated electromyography of the tibialis anterior muscle and medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle demonstrated a positive correlation with toe grip strength (r = 0.75 and r = 0.65, respectively). [Conclusion] These findings suggest that greater toe grip strength could be exerted in the presence of ankle belt immobilization. The measured values reflect the percent integrated electromyography of the crural muscles. Therefore, it was shown that toe grip strength should be measured in the presence of an immobilization belt., Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(10), pp.3081-3084; 2015

[Purpose] In the present study, we investigated femoral muscle activity during toe-gripping, and the role of the femoral muscles in toe-gripping strength. [Subjects] Fourteen healthy young women were selected. [Methods] We measured the maximum voluntary contraction of the rectus femoris and long head of the biceps femoris muscles. We then calculated the percent integrated EMG (%IEMG) during the toe-gripping action. [Results] We found that the %IEMG of the biceps femoris was significantly higher than that of the rectus femoris. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was found between the %IEMG of the rectus femoris and that of the biceps femoris. [Conclusion] These results suggest that femoral muscles co-contract during the toe-gripping action, and thus possibly contribute to knee joint stability.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the activities of the muscles around the ankle joint during foot gripping. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were 17 healthy females. [Methods] We measured the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) activities of the soleus muscle, the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, and the tibialis anterior muscle, and calculated %IEMG during foot gripping in 3 different ankle joint positions: 10° of plantar flexion, 0°, and 10° of dorsiflexion. [Results] The maximal force of foot gripping achived by the crural muscles in any ankle position was 30–50% IMEG of the MVC. Repeated analysis of variance showed that the %IEMG was significantly lower in 10°of dorsiflexion than in the other 2 positions for all muscles. [Conclusion] These results suggested that the crural muscles help the ankle joint by co-contracting during foot gripping.