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Background: Falls are a major health problem. The relationship between dynamic balance related to falls and respiratory muscle strength related to sarcopenia and frailty is poorly understood., Research Question: How do dynamic balance measures, such as maximal single step length test (MSL) and maximal double step length test (MDST), and respiratory muscle strength measures, such as maximal inspiratory (PImax) and maximal expiratory (PEmax), related to the requirement for long-term care or support in older people who live in the community?, Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 39 older people (17 men, 22 women) aged ≥ 65 years community-dwelling who were certified as requiring long-term care or support under the Japanese system. The participants' PImax, PEmax, MSL, and MDST results were recorded. The measurement data were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis., Results: MDST showed a positive correlation with PImax (r = 0.430, p = 0.006) but no correlation with PEmax. MSL showed no correlation with PImax or PEmax. A positive correlation was found between MDST and MSL (r = 0.851, p < 0.001), and multiple regression analysis with MDST as the dependent variable and PImax and MST as independent variables showed significant differences for MSL (p < 0.001) and PImax (p = 0.027)., Significance: In older people requiring long-term care or support, MDST had a greater association with inspiratory muscle strength compared with MSL. These results suggest the importance of inspiratory muscle strength training and MDST assessment in the prevention of falls in older people requiring long-term care or support., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Focusing on the relationship between frail older people and gait speed is vital to minimize the need for long-term care or increased support. The relationship between gait speed, respiratory muscle strength, and dynamic balance, is not well understood in older people requiring long-term care or support. Therefore, this study aimed to provide new insights into the relationship between gait speed, respiratory muscle strength, and dynamic balance in community-dwelling older people who required long-term care or support and used a daycare center., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 49 community-dwelling older people (21 men, 28 women) aged ≥65 years who were certified as requiring long-term care or support under the Japanese system. The participants' maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax), maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax), walking speed (maximal and normal walking speed), and maximal double-step length test (MDST) results were recorded. The measurement data were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis., Results: Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed correlations between PImax and the following: maximal walking speed ( r  = 0.606, p  < 0.001), normal walking speed ( r  = 0.487, p  < 0.001), and MDST ( r  = 0.435, p  = 0.002). Correlations were also observed between PEmax and the following: maximal walking speed ( r  = 0.522, p  < 0.001), normal walking speed ( r  = 0.467, p  < 0.001), and MDST ( r  = 0.314, p  = 0.028). Moreover, a correlation was found between MDST and both maximal walking speed and ( r  = 0.684, p  < 0.001) and normal walking speed ( r  = 0.649, p  < 0.001). The effect size was 0.379. Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with maximal walking speed as the dependent variable showed that maximal walking speed was significantly associated with MDST ( p  < 0.001) and PEmax ( p  = 0.036), with an effect size of 0.272. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.593 ( p  < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with normal walking speed as the dependent variable showed that normal walking speed was significantly associated with MDST ( p  < 0.001) and PEmax ( p  = 0.021), with an effect size of 0.272. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.497 ( p  < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with MDST as the dependent variable showed that MDST was significantly associated with PImax ( p  < 0.025), with an effect size of 0.243. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.148 ( p  = 0.017)., Conclusions: Respiratory muscle strength and dynamic balance were related to walking speed in older people requiring long-term care or support., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2023 Jiroumaru et al.)

Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (CRET) therapy can improve flexibility and increase muscle activity and may be useful as a warm-up technique. This study examined the effects of short-time CRET on jump performance. Thirty healthy men (age range, 20-40 years) were randomly divided into passive ( n  = 15) and active ( n  = 15) warm-up groups. The participants and statisticians were blinded to the participant allocation. The passive warm-up group underwent 4 min of CRET therapy on their posterior lower legs. The active warm-up group performed stretching and jogging for 4 min. Calf muscle temperature and rebound jump (RJ) index were measured before and after the intervention. The mean (± standard deviation) muscle temperature increased by 2.0 ± 0.5°C and 1.4 ± 0.6°C in the passive and active warm-up groups, respectively ( p  < 0.05). RJ index increased significantly in both groups ( p  < 0.05). Therefore, passive warm-up using CRET may help avoid energy loss while increasing the muscle temperature in a short time when compared with traditional active warm-up techniques.

[Purpose] We compared differences in the association between respiratory muscle strength and static and dynamic balance in sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups, for fall risk assessment. [Participants and Methods] The study included 37 participants aged ≥65 years, who were certified to receive long-term care. Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, hand grip strength, Timed Up and Go Test scores, and one-leg standing task scores were recorded. Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. [Results] Only the expiratory muscle and hand grip strength were correlated in the sarcopenia group. Expiratory and inspiratory muscle strength was correlated with both one-leg standing task scores and hand grip strength, and inspiratory muscle strength was correlated with the Timed Up and Go Test scores in the non-sarcopenia group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that expiratory muscle strength was an explanatory variable for the one-leg standing task and inspiratory muscle strength for the Timed Up and Go Test in the non-sarcopenia group. [Conclusion] Combined evaluation of expiratory muscle strength and the Timed Up and Go Test scores may be useful to assess the fall risk., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (2023©by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.)

[Purpose] We aimed to determine the relationship between gait speed and diaphragm thickness in community-residing patients with hemiplegia caused by cerebrovascular accidents. [Participants and Methods] We recruited 11 elderly participants (six male and five female, mean age 71.1 ± 13.6 years) from an outpatient rehabilitation unit. The inclusion criteria were as follows: patients with hemiplegia caused by cerebrovascular accidents, those able to walk without assistance, and those able to understand our instructions. We measured the diaphragm thickness on both the paretic and non-paretic sides in each participant during maximum exhalation and inhalation during three laboured breaths by ultrasonography with a 7.5-MHz linear scanner. The liner scanner was placed on the eighth or ninth rib between the anterior and middle axillary lines. And their gait speed was measured during a 10 m walk. [Results] There was a strong positive correlation between gait speed and the ratio of diaphragm thickness between the paretic and the non-paretic sides during maximal inspiration. The other measured parameters did not show significant correlation with gait speed. [Conclusion] The symmetrical thickness of the diaphragm is a key factor in increasing gait speed in patients with hemiplegia. These findings may contribute to the development of trunk muscle strength-training programs that improve trunk function and gait speed in patients with hemiplegia., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021©by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.)

Sucroferric oxyhydroxide (P-TOL ® chewable tablets, 250 and 500 mg) is a phosphate binder for oral use; it is composed of polynuclear iron (III)-oxyhydroxide, sucrose, and starches, and is currently indicated for alleviating hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis. The results of non-clinical pharmacological studies have suggested that P-TOL consistently decreases serum phosphorus levels in the aqueous environment at pH levels similar to those in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby suppressing the progression of secondary hyperparathyroidism, aberrant calcification, and abnormal bone metabolism associated with hyperphosphatemia. Since the diameter of the P-TOL tablet exceeds 15 mm, it is manufactured with a doughnut-shape to minimize choking hazards. From the results of pharmaceutical studies, it was indicated that the P-TOL tablets promptly disintegrated in the gastrointestinal tract and excessive iron uptake from this product is unlikely to occur. In clinical studies, P-TOL (one tablet/dose, t.i.d.) decreased serum phosphorus levels during treatment Week 1 and allowed stable, long-term control of serum phosphorus levels. Furthermore, P-TOL was expected to reduce the tablet burden on patients and to improve medication adherence. The most common adverse reaction was diarrhea. However, in most cases, the symptoms were mild and oral administration of P-TOL could be continued. Although iron-related parameters tended to increase, iron uptake from this product was low, and the risk of iron overload was considered to be low. These findings confirm the efficacy and safety of P-TOL in CKD patients with hyperphosphatemia. Therefore, sucroferric oxyhydroxide therapy is a potentially useful treatment option for hyperphosphatemia.