Physical inactivity, depressive symptoms, and progression to sarcopenia in older adults: a 4-year longitudinal study.

Objectives: To examine the combined association of physical inactivity and depressive symptoms with the progression to sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults.

Design: A 4-year follow-up longitudinal study.

Setting: Community-dwelling older adults living in Japan, who were not sarcopenic at baseline.

Relationship between self-rated health, physical frailty, and incidence of disability among Japanese community-dwelling older adults: A longitudinal prospective cohort study.

Objective: Poor self-rated health (SRH) and physical frailty are both significant predictors of disability in older adults, but their joint association on health outcomes remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between SRH, physical frailty, and incidence of disability among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study included 2838 older adults aged 65 years or older (mean age, 73.

Kinematic coordination in the rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot differs depending on subgroups based on foot stiffness and kinetic parameters during walking.

This study aimed to classify subgroups of healthy young adults based on foot stiffness and related kinetic parameters during gait, as well as to analyze intra-foot sagittal kinematics within each subgroup. Data were collected from 25 males and 24 females using a 3D motion capture system, which measured the rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot segments. Cluster analysis identified three subgroups based on the following variables: the truss coefficient, windlass coefficient, forward component of ground reaction force (F-GRF), and ankle plantar flexion power.

Examination of Gait Characteristics Related to Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Study Focusing on Plantar Pressure.

Background: Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by a decrease in skeletal muscle mass and strength with age, which results in a lower gait speed. Decreased gait speed in older individuals with sarcopenia can lead to adverse events such as falls and mortality. It is a major health issue; several studies have investigated gait speed in sarcopenia.

Associations between Japanese calligraphy practice and sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional Study.

Background: Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, are common among the elderly population and have been associated with negative health outcomes. Japanese calligraphy is a traditional art practice previously associated with various health benefits, such as stress reduction and improved cognitive function; however, its association with sleep quality has not been fully explored.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 21,207 subjects with basic attributes, health status, depressive symptoms, artistic practices, and sleep habits.

Neural Drive and Motor Unit Characteristics of the Serratus Anterior in Individuals With Scapular Dyskinesis.

Objective: Scapular dyskinesis is one of the causes of shoulder disorders and involves muscle weakness in the serratus anterior. This study investigated whether motor unit (MU) recruitment and firing property, which are important for muscle exertion, have altered in serratus anterior of the individuals with scapular dyskinesis.

Methods: Asymptomatic adults with (SD) and without (control) scapular dyskinesis were analyzed.

Evaluation of the relationship between truss/windlass mechanisms and foot stiffness while walking.

Background: The truss/windlass coefficients ware reported as a surrogate parameter for foot stiffness while walking. However, the construct validity and reliability of whether the truss/windlass coefficients reflect foot stiffness have not been sufficiently validated. This study validated the truss/windlass coefficient reflects the construct validity and reliability of foot stiffness.

Impacts of Negative and Positive Life Events on Development of Social Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of negative and positive life events on the development of social frailty.

Design: Population-based longitudinal study.

Setting And Participants: This study was set in the Japanese community cohort and included 2174 adults aged ≥65 years without social frailty at baseline.

Sex differences in pelvis, thigh, and shank coordination during walking.

Differences in lower limb kinematics between males and females during functional activities may be attributed to sex differences in the incidence of patellofemoral pain, which is more common in females. To better comprehend the knee joint motion, it is necessary to understand both inter-segmental coordination patterns and angular amplitude. This exploratory study aimed to assess sex differences in pelvis-thigh and thigh-shank coordination patterns in the frontal and horizontal planes during walking.

Relationship Among 3 Different Core Stability Tests in Healthy Young Adults: Validity and Gender Differences.

Context: Core stability is important for preventing injury and improving performance. Although various tests for evaluating core stability have been reported to date, information on their relationship and the effect of gender differences is limited. This study aimed to (1) identify correlations among the 3 core stability tests and to examine the validity of each test and (2) identify gender differences in the test relationship and determine whether gender influenced test selection.