ABSTRACT
Objective@#To examine the relationship between the time constant of oxygen uptake kinetics during the onset of exercise (τVO2) estimated from a single exercise bout and that obtained from three averaged exercise bouts in individuals with stroke. @*Methods@#Twenty participants with stroke performed three bouts of a constant-load pedaling exercise at approximately 80% of the workload corresponding to the ventilatory threshold to estimate τVO2. The VO2 data from the first trial of three bouts were used to estimate τVO2 for a single bout. Additionally, data collected from three bouts were ensemble-averaged to obtain τVO2 for three averaged bouts as the criterion. @*Results@#There was a very high correlation between τVO2 for a single bout (34.8±14.0 seconds) and τVO2 for three averaged bouts (38.5±13.4 seconds) (r=0.926, p<0.001). However, τVO2 for a single bout was smaller than that for three averaged bouts (p=0.006). @*Conclusion@#τVO2 for a single bout could reflect the relative difference in τVO2 for three averaged bouts among individuals with stroke. However, it should be noted that τVO2 for a single bout may be underestimated compared to τVO2 for three averaged bouts.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To examine the relationship between the time constant of oxygen uptake kinetics during the onset of exercise (τVO2) estimated from a single exercise bout and that obtained from three averaged exercise bouts in individuals with stroke. @*Methods@#Twenty participants with stroke performed three bouts of a constant-load pedaling exercise at approximately 80% of the workload corresponding to the ventilatory threshold to estimate τVO2. The VO2 data from the first trial of three bouts were used to estimate τVO2 for a single bout. Additionally, data collected from three bouts were ensemble-averaged to obtain τVO2 for three averaged bouts as the criterion. @*Results@#There was a very high correlation between τVO2 for a single bout (34.8±14.0 seconds) and τVO2 for three averaged bouts (38.5±13.4 seconds) (r=0.926, p<0.001). However, τVO2 for a single bout was smaller than that for three averaged bouts (p=0.006). @*Conclusion@#τVO2 for a single bout could reflect the relative difference in τVO2 for three averaged bouts among individuals with stroke. However, it should be noted that τVO2 for a single bout may be underestimated compared to τVO2 for three averaged bouts.
ABSTRACT
Objective : The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) is a new balance assessment set based on systems theory. The purpose was to examine the validity of the Japanese version of the BESTest (J-BESTest) that we translated. Methods : The J-BESTest was produced using a translation and back translation method referenced from a guideline proposed by Guillemin et al. We tested 20 patients with balance dysfunction due to various diseases and 5 healthy persons with the J-BESTest, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale). We assessed the concurrent validity of the J-BESTest by comparing it with the other measures using Spearman's correlation method. Furthermore, we compared the ability of the J-BESTest to discriminate balance dysfunction with that of the BBS using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Results : The J-BESTest was highly correlated with BBS (<i>r</i>=0.84, <i>p</i><0.01), FES-I (<i>r</i>=-0.61, <i>p</i><0.01) and ABC Scale (<i>r</i>=0.63, <i>p</i><0.01). The distribution of the BBS score was more skewed compared with the J-BESTest and had a ceiling effect (6 participants had perfect scores with BBS versus none with the J-BESTest). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the J-BESTest was significantly larger than that of BBS (BBS 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.56-0.94 versus J-BESTest 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.84.1.0, <i>p</i><0.05). Conclusion : The J-BESTest was suggested as a clinically useful tool, with good concurrent validity and better sensitivity and specificity than BBS, to identify people with mild balance dysfunction.
ABSTRACT
Objective : The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) is an assessment tool for dynamic balance dysfunction developed by simplifying the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest). The purpose of our study was to examine the validity of the Japanese version of the Mini-BESTest (J-Mini-BESTest) we translated. Methods : The J-Mini-BESTest was produced using a translation and back translation method referring to a guideline proposed by Guillemin et al. We tested 20 patients with balance dysfunction due to various diseases and 7 healthy persons with the J-Mini-BESTest, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale). We assessed the concurrent validity of the J-Mini-BESTest by comparing it with the other measures using the Spearman's correlation method. Results : The average assessment time when using the J-Mini-BESTest was 20.0 minutes. The J-Mini-BESTest was correlated with the BBS (<i>r</i>=0.82, <i>p</i><0.01), FES-I (<i>r</i>=-0.72, <i>p</i><0.01) and ABC Scale (<i>r</i>=0.80, <i>p</i><0.01). The distribution of the BBS scores was more skewed compared to the J-Mini-BESTest (BBS skewness=-1.30 vs. J-Mini-BESTest skewness=-0.47) and the BBS also had a ceiling effect (9 participants had a perfect score in the BBS versus none in the J-Mini-BESTest). Conclusion : The J-Mini-BESTest was suggested as a clinically useful tool for detecting subtle dynamic balance deficits with good concurrent validity.
ABSTRACT
Purpose : This study aims to measure the peak cough flow (PCF) in patients with subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) and study its relation with muscle strength, functional ability and vocal cord function. Methods : We performed a cross-sectional study in 7 patients with SMON (2 men and 5 women, mean age (SD) 81.6 (7.2) years) and in 7 age- and gender-matched patients with orthopedic problems as a control group. Their PCF, ability to walk, the Barthel Index, grip strength and maximum phonation time were assessed. Results : Mean PCF was 218.6± 66.2 L/min (110-300) for the SMON group and 267.1±76.3 L/min (170-360) for the control group (ns). The PCF was correlated with the maximum phonation time (<i>r</i> = 0.91 ; <i>p</i><0.01), but not with grip strength, the Barthel Index or the ability to walk scale. Conclusion : The PCF in patients with SMON tended to be lower compared to the control group. Therefore, evaluating PCF is suggested to be necessary to assess the risk of pneumonia.
ABSTRACT
In this study, we investigated whether subjects with a Lower Maximum Step Length (MSL) Percentage (LMP) display unstable locomotion while negotiating an obstacle. Data were collected using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The toe-obstacle clearance of the leading limb was monitored in 10 young adults while stepping over three height obstacles from 30%, 40% and 50% of MSL. The vertical clearance at the time of the obstacle crossing decreased systematically with more complicated experimental set up. In particular, subjects with LMP showed smaller clearances than subjects with a Higher Maximum step length Percentage (HMP). Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the toe-obstacle clearance and MSL. The mean of variance value of toe-obstacle clearance of the leading limb differed between the subjects with LMP and those with HMP. Our findings help to explain the relation of MSL and gait adaption ability to negotiate obstacles safely during obstacles crossing.
ABSTRACT
It has been pointed out that a biased perception of the subjective visual vertical (SVV) in stroke patients might be related to balance deficits and impaired activities of daily living (ADL). The relationship between SVV and static balance in stroke patients, however, still remains unclear. Thus we examined the relationship between SVV and standing balance in 29 hemiparetic patients with a first-ever supratentorial stroke. We measured the rotation angle formed by a subjective vertical and the gravitational vertical (rotation to the non-paretic side was set as positive) 8 times, and employed the mean value as the SVV value. We also calculated the absolute rotation angle for each time and employed the mean value as the absolute SVV value. Then we evaluated postural balance using four stabilometer parameters : length of center of pressure per time (LNG/T), envelopment area (ENV), root mean square (RMS) and weight-bearing asymmetry (WBA) during standing. The relationship between the SVV values or the absolute SVV values and the four stabilometer parameters were analyzed using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The mean values for SVV and absolute SVV of all participants were -0.3±2.3° and 2.0±1.5°, respectively. The absolute SVV value and each of the four parameters were positively correlated with statistical significance (LNG/T ; <i>r</i>=0.44, ENV ; <i>r</i>=0.41, RMS ; <i>r</i>=0.46, WBA ; <i>r</i>=0.40), while there was no statistically significant correlation between the SVV value and each of them. These results suggest that the SVV bias size is possibly related to standing balance in stroke patients.