Analysis of Lateral Straddling Motion of the Bathtub by the Differences in the First Leg of Patients after THA / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

Objective：The movement of an elderly person involving stepping over a bathtub makes them prone to falls and requires caution. Gait analysis suggested that the risk of falling increases with time spent in supporting both legs. A similar relationship was expected for side-straddling motion. This study aims to analyze differences in the side-straddling movements between THA patients who did not fully recover their functional balance, mobility, or walking ability from the viewpoint of the ratio of time spent supporting both legs.Methods：Eleven patients with hip osteoarthritis underwent initial unilateral THA via a posterior approach. Using a portable three-dimensional motion analyzer, we calculated the percentages of time spent supporting both legs while entering the bathtub, and exiting the bathtub with a handrail and examined the factors associated with percent of the time spent supporting both legs.Results：The percentage of time spent supporting both legs when exiting the bathtub was significantly lesser when exiting using the nonoperative than the operated side. A negative correlation was found between the percentages of time spent supporting both legs. while exiting the bathtub, and the percentage of handrail load values.Conclusion：The risk of falling may be reduced by using the nonoperative leg as the leading leg when exiting a bathtub. Use of handrails contributes to a reduction in fall risk.

Effects of different obstacle height and movement pattern on supported leg sway during lateral stepping over in healthy young adults: Analysis using a small triaxial accelerometer / 体力科学

<p>The purpose of this study was to determine sway characteristics of a supported leg during a lateral stepping over obstacle task with different obstacle height and movement patterns, using a small triaxial accelerometer. We examined 20 healthy young adults to assess their trochanter malleolar distance traveled during a lateral stepping over obstacle task with obstacle heights of 30%, 50%, and 70%. The lateral stepping over tasks revealed flexion and extension patterns. We directed the subjects to grasp a forward handrail, perform the lateral step, and subsequently step over to the side. We calculated synthetic acceleration (SA) from acceleration data measured using two small triaxial accelerometers and two web cameras. We calculated supporting leg sway; RMS phases of X-, Y-, and Z-axes; and SA data. The subjects showed increased RMS of Y-axis and SA according to the obstacle height for the flexion pattern; however, they did not show change in RMS of Y-axis and SA according to the obstacle height for the extension pattern. During lateral stepping over, the RMS of Y-axis and SA for the flexion pattern were higher than for the extension pattern. The findings for the flexion pattern suggest that the center of gravity shifts higher according to increased obstacle height; consequently, the supporting leg becomes unstable. The findings for the extension pattern suggest that the “screw-home” rotation effect of the supporting leg during movement can support lateral stepping over better than the flexion pattern.</p>

Biological Effects of Cloth Containing Specific Ore Powder in Patients with Pollen Allergy / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The custom-homebuilding company, Cosmic Garden Co. Ltd., located in Okayama City, Japan was established in 1997 and uses specific natural ore powder (SNOP) in wall materials and surveys customers in order to improve allergic symptoms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To investigate the biological effects of SNOP, patients with a pollen allergy were recruited to stay in a room surrounded by cloth containing SNOP (CCSNOP), and their symptoms and various biological parameters were compared with those of individuals staying in a room surrounded by control non-woven cloth (NWC). Each stay lasted 60 min. Before and immediately after the stay, a questionnaire regarding allergic symptoms, as well as POMS (Profile of Mood Status) and blood sampling, was performed. Post-stay minus pre-stay values were calculated and compared between CCSNOP and NWC groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results indicated that some symptoms, such as nasal obstruction and lacrimation, improved, and POMS evaluation showed that patients were calmer following a stay in CCSNOP. Relative eosinophils, non-specific Ig E, epidermal growth factor, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α increased following a stay in CCSNOP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This ore powder improved allergic symptoms, and long-term monitoring involving 1 to 2 months may be necessary to fully explore the biological and physical effects of SNOP on allergic patients.</p>