Effect of using a spine mat on sagittal spinal alignment in children / 体力科学

Recently, poor posture (hyperkyphosis) has become a problem among children. This study investigated the effectiveness of an intervention (a spine mat) by measuring spinal alignment before and after the intervention in elementary school students. The study included 83 elementary school students. For the intervention, each participant was placed in a supine position on a bed and a spine mat was inserted ensuring that it adhered to the thoracic spine. The primary outcome variables included the thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), upper thoracic angle, lower thoracic angle, lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), and sacral anteversion angle (SAA) measured in the standing and sitting positions using Spinal Mouse® before and after the intervention. Based on this evaluation, we assigned the participants to two groups: hyperkyphosis (n=25) and non-hyperkyphosis (n=58). Significant differences were observed between the pre-test and post-test TKA in the hyperkyphosis group in the standing position (pre-test: 45.3±4.5° and post-test: 40.8±9.0°, P<0.05). In the non-hyperkyphosis group, significant differences were observed between the pre-test and post-test LLA and SAA in the standing position. However, no significant difference was observed between the pre-test and post-test spinal alignment in the sitting position in both groups. The results of this study indicated that using a spine mat in elementary school children resulted in decreased TKA in the standing position only in the hyperkyphosis group, which exhibited a TKA of 40° or more after the intervention.

Effect of pursed lip breathing on respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength while using a spine mat / 体力科学

It has been reported that using of the spine mat increases chest expansion, inspiratory capacity (IC) and maximum inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax). However, no changes were observed in other respiratory functions and the respiratory muscle strength. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of pursed-lip breathing lying on the spine mat to the respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength. Forty-two adult male participants were assigned to two groups; an intervention group (IG group) of 21 participants who performed pursed-lip breathing on top of a spine mat and a control group (CG group) of 21 participants who performed pursed-lip breathing only. The intervention period was 5 days, and the respiratory features evaluated were chest expansion, respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, and spinal alignment. A significant increase between the Pretest and the Posttest in chest expansion at the circumference of the axilla level, of the xiphoid process level and of the 10th rib level was observed only in IG group. For the respiratory function and the respiratory muscle strength, intervention group showed significant increases in percentage of vital capacity (%VC), tidal volume (TV), PImax, and maximum expiratory mouth pressure (PEmax). In the control group, only the TV indicated a significant increase. Regarding changes before and after the intervention, the intervention group showed significantly higher PImax and PEmax than the control group. No significant difference in spinal alignment was observed between the two groups. These results showed that pursed-lip breathing lying on the spine mat would increase the PImax, PEmax and the chest expansion.

Research of training method using repeated rolling movement for Boccia players with severe cerebral palsy / 体力科学

Boccia is a targeted sport that has been devised in Europe for people with severe cerebral palsy (CP) or similar severe limbs dysfunction. In the target sport, it is important that the parasympathetic nerve becomes dominant during the competition, and it is said that the parasympathetic nerve activity tends to become dominant by training to raise the heart rate. The training protocol incorporates a rolling movement, which is an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) that can be performed even with severe CP. The purpose of this study is to verify whether interval rolling movement (IR), which repeats rolling movement at the maximum speed, is effective as training for increasing heart rate associated with effort exercise for people with severe CP. One workout consisted of 1minute rolling movement and 30seconds of rest, and three times of this workout were as 1set of IR. Subjects performed 3sets of IR with a 5minutes rest and performed this training for 6months. Six severe CP boccia players were divided into two groups, 1/week group and 1/month group, depending on the frequency of intervention. As a result, the post-exercise heart rate and the number of turns per minute increased significantly in the weekly group, and no significant change was observed in the monthly group. For severe CP boccia players, it was suggested that conducting IR at least once a week is an effective method of training aimed at increasing heart rate associated with effort exercise.