The effects of respiratory muscle strengthening exercise using a sling on the amount of respiration.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to present aerobic exercise that can be performed together with respiratory muscle strength training and examine whether the vital capacity of individuals can be enhanced when respiratory muscle strength training is conducted together with aerobic exercise. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 10 male students and 8 female students. The sling exercise method was used to conduct three types of training to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder joints. A maximal respiratory quotient measurement device was used to measure the vital capacity of the subjects five times. [Results] There was a significant difference in each respiratory training time point compared with before the performance of respiratory training. [Conclusion] This study presented respiratory muscle strength training using a sling as a training method for respiratory training.

Effects of Low-frequency Current Sacral Dermatome Stimulation on Idiopathic Slow Transit Constipation.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine whether low-frequency current therapy can be used to reduce the symptoms of idiopathic slow transit constipation (ISTC). [Subjects] Fifteen patients (ten male and five female) with idiopathic slow transit constipation were enrolled in the present study. [Results] Bowel movements per day, bowel movements per week, and constipation assessment scale scores significantly improved after low-frequency current simulation of S2-S3. [Conclusion] Our results show that stimulation with low-frequency current of the sacral dermatomes may offer therapeutic benefits for a subject of patients with ISTC.

Comparison of Two-point Discrimination Perception in Stroke Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to compare two-point discrimination (TPD) perception in stroke patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and without diabetes mellitus (non-DM). [Subjects] The subjects were 53 poststroke hemiparetic patients (21 stroke patients with DM; 32 stroke patients without DM). [Methods] TPD was measured on the tips of the first through fifth fingers on both the affected and unaffected sides. [Result] Comparison of TPD between fingers on the unaffected side and affected side fingers showed significantly poorer responses in all five fingers on the affected side. TPD was also significantly poorer in the DM group compared with the non-DM group in all five fingers on the affected side, but no differences were observed for the unaffected side. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that TPD was significantly poorer in the fingers on the affected side vs. the unaffected side in poststroke hemiparetic patients. DM caused a significantly poorer TPD in the fingers on the affected side in poststroke patients but had no significant effect on the fingers on the unaffected side.