Relationship between Wearing a Lead Apron and Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Questionnaire Survey of Japanese Radiological Technologists.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a self-reported questionnaire survey of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among Japanese radiological technologists (RTs) and to report on the relationship between wearing a lead apron and WMSDs. Between February and April of 2021, RTs in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, were surveyed by mail and through a website. Information on individual characteristics, physical factors at work, and the presence of WMSDs were collected. All participants were also asked whether they frequently wore lead aprons. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between wearing a lead apron and WMSDs. The model was adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and working hours. Of the 123 participants, 67 (54.5%) had WMSDs. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that WMSDs were significantly associated with wearing a lead apron. Compared to the "Never wear" group, the odds ratios for the "Always/Frequently wear" and "Sometimes/Rarely wear" groups were 7.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.28-48.46; p=0.026) and 7.80 (95% CI=1.43-42.44; p=0.017), respectively. Our analysis suggests that wearing a lead apron is associated with WMSDs, and thus design modifications in lead aprons may improve the occupational health management of RTs.

Immediate effects of exercise intervention on cancer-related fatigue.

[Purpose] To verify the immediate effects of exercise therapy on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in cancer patients. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen cancer patients who performed exercise therapy targeting a rating of 4 (somewhat strong) on the Borg category-ratio scale (CR-10) were enrolled. CRF was evaluated using the Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS). CFS was evaluated in clinical practice immediately before and after exercise therapy on the 1st or 2nd day of physiotherapy for CRF management. CFS scores before and after exercise were compared to determine how CRF changed due to exercise therapy. [Results] CFS physical, CFS affective, CFS cognitive, and CFS total all decreased following exercise therapy, and the changes in CFS physical and CFS total were statistically significant. The effect sizes for CFS physical and CFS total were "medium", and for CFS affective and CFS cognitive "small." [Conclusion] These findings suggest that exercise therapy targeting a rating of 4 (somewhat strong) on the CR-10 can immediately reduce CRF in cancer patients.

Development and reliability of a hand-held dynamometer device to measure the ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength.

BACKGROUND: Ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength is a crucial component of gait. OBJECTIVE: We describe the development of a simple, hand-held dynamometer to measure the ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength in the sitting position. In addition, we examine its intra- and inter-rater reliability. METHODS: Measurements of the peak ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength were obtained by two examiners for 30 ankles of 15 healthy adults at two time points, with a one-day interval between measurements, to determine the inter- and intra-rater reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated, and an intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.90 was considered as excellent reliability. A Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess systemic bias. The minimal detectable change in muscle strength was calculated with a confidence level of 95% (MDC95). RESULTS: The reliability of the device was excellent for both intra- (intraclass correlation coefficients [1,3] = 0.94) and inter-rater (intraclass correlation coefficients [2,3] = 0.96) comparisons. No fixed or proportional bias was observed between the two examiners. The MDC95 was 0.77 N/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate the excellent reliability and responsiveness of our device. By obtaining the measurements of dorsiflexor strength while sitting, compensatory motions are suppressed, yielding a more consistent measurement that can be reliably used to detect subtle changes in the ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength.

[Effect of an increase in numbers of physical therapists on dynamic situation of inpatients in an acute hospital].

To determine the effects of an increase of four physical therapists in an acute hospital, we compared the number and outcomes of inpatients for whom rehabilitation doctors newly prescribed physical therapy between two periods (from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009 and from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010). The number of new inpatients and the total number of inpatients who underwent physical therapy significantly increased by 317 and 4,536, respectively (Wilcoxon test, P < 0.05), and the total number of inpatients who performed training in their own room in a ward also significantly increased by 3,341 (Wilcoxon test, P < 0.05). The mean length of hospital stay of the inpatients who were transferred to other hospitals decreased by 5.9 days after the increase in the staff(t-test, P < 0.05). These changes suggest that the increase in the physical therapists contributed to the increases of the new inpatients and total number of inpatients who underwent rehabilitation, and possibly to the decrease in the length of hospital stay for the transferred inpatients by effectively providing a sufficient amount of physical therapy.

Effects of educational intervention on joint angles of the trunk and lower extremity and on muscle activities during patient-handling tasks.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of educational intervention on joint angles of the trunk and lower extremity and on muscle activities during patient-handling task. METHODS: Thirty-two subjects (17 males and 15 females) volunteered for the study. They were classified into three groups: intervention group 1, comprised of first grade physical therapist students; control group, which included first grade occupational therapist students; intervention group 2, which comprised third grade physical therapist students. The educational intervention during the experimental period consisted of: (1) 12 regular classes and short-term clinical practice for the students of intervention group 1; (2) long-term clinical practice, relating to patient-handling task, for the students of intervention group 2. The following experiments were repeated before and after the educational intervention. Each subject was asked to transfer a male (55 kg) from one chair to a second chair (left to right) and then back again to the original chair (right to left). The flexion angles of the trunk, hip and knee joints were quantified by means of the dynamic three-dimensional biomechanical analysis. Muscle activities (% maximum voluntary contraction, %MVC) of biceps brachii, trapezius, rectus femoris and erector spinae muscles were measured using surface electromyography (EMG). The effects of group, gender, measurement time and side on joint angles of trunk and lower extremity, %MVC of four muscle activities and transfer time were assessed. RESULTS: Although the EMG analysis could not clearly demonstrate any reduction of physical load to the low back, the flexion angles of the hip and knee joints of student subjects during the patient-handling task became larger and that of the trunk became smaller in the group given the educational intervention. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study suggests that the posture of the study subjects changed to the squat lifting method, which is preferable for reducing the physical load to the lower back, as a result of the educational intervention.