Relationship between Lower Limb Pain Intensity and Dynamic Lumbopelvic-Hip Alignment in Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Methods@#Thirty patients with LSS scheduled for spine surgery participated in this study. Lower limb pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the patients were divided into two groups based on the mean scores (patients with scores above and below the mean were classified as the high-VAS and low-VAS groups, respectively). The kinematics of the spine, pelvis, and hip joints during gait were then measured using a 3D motion analysis system. Student paired t -tests were used to compare the angles of the spine, pelvis, and hip during gait between the two groups. @*Results@#Compared to those in the low-VAS group, the spine was significantly extended and bent toward the more painful lower limb side, and the pelvis was significantly anteriorly tilted among individuals in the high-VAS group. @*Conclusions@#Patients with LSS experiencing severe pain in their lower limb tend to keep the spine in a more extended position, bend laterally toward the painful side, and have an anteriorly tilted pelvic posture. The dynamic spinal and pelvic alignment was closely related to the intensity of the lower limb pain.

An Evaluation of Training Programs for Elderly Simulated Patients in Preclinical Education / 医学教育

1)Training elderly simulated patients (SPs) will enhance elderly persons' contribution to education. Such training will also help universities contribute to the community and help elderly persons be more productive in their activities.<br>2)Training programs for elderly SPs and follow–up seminars focusing on the display of symptoms requested by participants were held. The aim of this program was to train SPs to participate in the preclinical educational activities of the university. The participants evaluated the program to be satisfactory.

Student Evaluations for Preclinical Practice with Simulated Patients in the Departments of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy / 医学教育

1) This study involved an educational evaluation of preclinical practice with simulated patients (SPs) by students in the departments of nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. The scores were highly correlated with the usefulness of SPs, the conviction and the realism of the performances of SPs, and feedback from SPs. Students required SPs to accurately mimic symptoms and to give them critical feedback. Follow-up sessions are required regarding performance as SPs. <br>2) Preclinical practice with SPs helped students grasp the reality of practice, enhance preparations, and help them recognize their role as professionals based on feedbacks from SPs.