Rehabilitation Support in the Kesen-NumaEarthquake and Tsunami Disaster Area / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

ABSTRACT

A Major earthquake and giant tsunami occurred on 3.11, which broadly affected the eastern Japan area along the Pacific Ocean. A large elderly population was confined to their place of refuge and faced a high risk of disuse syndrome due to immobility. Elderly survivors aged 65 and over who were markedly found in an inactive state due to immobilization were regarded as the “risk group” for inactive lifestyles, possibly leading to disuse syndromes. Intervention by means of rehabilitation assistance was required in approximately one third of these inactive survivors (“high risk group”), a rate which was significantly higher in the elderly over 65 years than in younger survivors. Establishment of a rehabilitation assistance system for use in the event of a mass disaster is one of the critical lessons learned following 3.11, which will contribute to serve as a prophylaxis against disuse syndromes arising from inactivate locomotive function. Legal reform of relief actions in mass disasters is highly required to also include physical therapists as official members.