Immediate effects of verbal instructions with internal focus of attention and external focus of attention on forward reach movement while standing.

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the immediate effects of verbal instructions with an internal and external focus of attention on forward reach movement while standing. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-seven healthy young males performed reach movement in three conditions: control, internal focus of attention, and external focus of attention. The measurements recorded were the movement distance of the third metacarpal bone (reach distance), the distance of the center of pressure, and the movement angles between the acromion and malleolus lateralis and between the acromion and trochanter major.

Physical activity according to sit-to-stand, standing, and stand-to-sit abilities in subacute stroke with walking difficulty: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study investigated the characteristics of physical activity according to sit-to-stand, standing, and stand-to-sit abilities in subacute stroke with walking difficulty.

Methods: In this study, 29 participants with subacute stroke and walking difficulty were enrolled and classified into two groups: participants who successfully completed three items (i.e.

An Overview of Social Participation in Older Adults: Concepts and Assessments.

In older adults, social participation is an important component of rehabilitation and health promotion. Several studies have attempted to describe the definition and concepts of social participation, and there were many outcomes to measure social participation. This overview provides information about representative social participation and related concepts that have been defined in the literature.

Single question about total lying time for assessing physical inactivity in community-dwelling older adults: a study of reliability and discriminant validity from sleeping time.

[Purpose] To investigate reliability and discriminant validity of a single question about total lying time for assessing physical inactivity in community-dwelling older people. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 54 healthy older individuals (mean age, 72.5 years), who were asked to recall retrospectively their mean total lying and sleep times per day in the previous week (7 days).

Unsupervised low-intensity home exercises as an effective intervention for improving physical activity and physical capacity in the community-dwelling elderly.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of unsupervised low-intensity home exercises in improving physical activity and physical capacity for daily activities among the community-dwelling elderly. [Participants and Methods] We included 24 female older participants and divided them into two groups: 14 in the resistance training group and 10 in the fast walking group. The resistance training group performed shoulder joint flexion and abduction exercises using a resistance tube twice daily (in the morning and afternoon).

Daytime physical activity at admission is associated with improvement of gait independence 1 month later in people with subacute stroke: a longitudinal study.

: Little is known about the benefits of daytime physical activity on gait ability in subacute stroke.: We investigated association between daytime physical activity at hospital admission and improvement of gait independence 1 month later in subacute stroke.: Thirty-four participants with subacute stroke who could not walk independently were assessed.

Characteristics of intensity-based physical activity according to gait ability in people hospitalized with subacute stroke: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Gait ability may be related to the level of intensity-based physical activity in people who have experienced a stroke; however, this relationship has not been explored in previous studies. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of intensity-based physical activity according to gait ability and to explore the factors related to different intensity physical activity.

Method: Eighty hospitalized participants with subacute stroke were assigned to three groups based on their gait ability: group 1 (n = 28) could walk independently with a maximal gait speed (MGS) of more than 0.

Early effects of a knee-ankle-foot orthosis on static standing balance in people with subacute stroke.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early effects of a knee-ankle-foot orthosis on static standing balance in people with subacute stroke. [Participants and Methods] Timed static standing balance in four standing conditions (feet apart with eyes open, feet apart with eyes closed, feet together with eyes open, and tandem stance with eyes open) was assessed in 29 inpatients (mean age: 67.3 ± 13.

Differences in activities of daily living between people with subacute stroke who received knee-ankle-foot and ankle-foot orthoses at admission.

[Purpose] This study aimed to identify the preferential factor of activities of daily living disabilities for selecting between knee-ankle-foot orthosis and ankle-foot orthosis prescription in the early stage after admission. [Participants and Methods] This study included 442 inpatients who had a subacute stroke and received either knee-ankle-foot orthosis or ankle-foot orthosis after admission (mean age, 69 years). The functional independence measure was investigated within 1 week after admission.

The known-groups validity of intensity-based physical activity measurement using an accelerometer in people with subacute stroke.

[Purpose] This study aimed to assess the known-groups validity of the estimated metabolic equivalents during physical activities using accelerometer, Active Style Pro HJA 350-IT, in people with subacute stroke. [Subjects and Methods] Ten participants with subacute stroke and ten healthy people performed six activities (lying, sitting, standing, sitting with reaching task, standing with reaching task, and walking) and metabolic equivalents were estimated using the accelerometer during each activity. These estimated metabolic equivalents were compared with reported metabolic equivalents through compendiums or previous studies.

Challenges of Transarticular Screw Fixation in Young Children: Report of Surgical Treatment of a 5-Year-Old Patient's Unstable Os-Odontoideum.

Surgical procedures for atlantoaxial (C1-C2) fusion in young children are relatively uncommon. The purpose of this study was to report on a surgical treatment for a case of atlantoaxial instability caused by os-odontoideum in association with quadriparesis and respiratory paralysis in a 5-year-old girl. We present the patient's history, physical examination, and radiographic findings, describe the surgical treatment and a five year follow-up, and provide a literature review.

Optimal cervical screw insertion angle determined by means of computed tomography scans pre- and postoperatively.

Background Context: Cervical pedicle screw (CPS) insertion is technically demanding and carries a risk of serious neurovascular complications when screws perforate. To avoid such serious risks, we currently perform CPS insertion using a computed tomography (CT)-guided navigation system. However, there remains a low probability of screw perforation during CPS insertion that is affected by factors such as CPS insertion angle and anatomical pedicle transverse angle (PTA).

Comparison of Clinical and Radiological Results of Posterolateral Fusion and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in the Treatment of L4 Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: Multicenter analysis of two groups of patients surgically treated for degenerative L4 unstable spondylolisthesis.

Purpose: To compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of posterolateral fusion (PLF) and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for degenerative L4 unstable spondylolisthesis.

Overview Of Literature: Surgery for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis is widely performed.

Obtaining Information from Family Caregivers Is Important to Detect Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and Caregiver Burden in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: The objectives of this study are to clarify the differences between the difficulties in daily life experienced by patients with both mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and chronic disease and those experienced by healthy elderly individuals.

Methods: We assessed (a) cognitive function; (b) gait ability; (c) behavioral and psychological symptoms (observed at home); (d) activities of daily living (observed at home); (e) family caregiver burden, and (f) intention to continue family caregiving of 255 cognitively normal and 103 MCI subjects attending adult day care services covered by long-term care insurance, and compared the two groups.

Results: Subjects with MCI display more behavioral and psychological symptoms than cognitively normal subjects, posing a heavy caregiver burden (p < 0.

Mini Open Foraminotomy for Cervical Radiculopathy: A Comparison of Large Tubular and TrimLine Retractors.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Purpose: A comparison of mini open foraminotomy (MOF) for cervical radiculopathy using either large tubular (LT) or TrimLine (TL) retractors.

Overview Of Literature: Posterior foraminotomy relieves compression of the cervical nerve root in radiculopathy patients.

Comparison of Spinous Process-Splitting Laminectomy versus Conventional Laminectomy for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Study Design: Seventy-five patients who had been treated for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) were reviewed retrospectively.

Purpose: Invasion into the paravertebral muscle can cause major problems after laminectomy for LSS. To address these problems, we performed spinous process-splitting laminectomy.

Mid-term results of computer-assisted cervical pedicle screw fixation.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate mid-term results of cervical pedicle screw (CPS) fixation for cervical instability.

Overview Of Literature: CPS fixation has widely used in the treatment of cervical spinal instability from various causes; however, there are few reports on mid-term surgical results of CPS fixation.

Serum pentosidine levels after 3 years of bisphosphonate treatment in post-menopausal osteoporotic women.

The present study measured changes in plasma pentosidine and bone turnover markers in elderly patients with osteoporosis treated using bisphosphonate. The relationship between pentosidine and bone turnover markers and bone mineral density (BMD) was investigated. This study consisted of post-menopausal osteoporotic women who could be treated using bisphosphonate for 3 years were included in the present analysis.

Screw perforation features in 129 consecutive patients performed computer-guided cervical pedicle screw insertion.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study of the data retrospectively collected by chart review.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify screw perforation features in 129 consecutive patients treated with computer-assisted cervical pedicle screw (CPS) insertion and to determine important considerations for computer-assisted CPS insertion. CPS fixation has been criticized for the potential risk of serious injury to neurovascular structures.

[Clinical usefulness of indoor life-space assessment in community-dwelling older adults certified as needing support or care].

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to evaluate indoor life-space mobility and assess its validity in community-dwelling older adults certified as needing support or care.

Methods: The participants included 37 community-dwelling older adults undergoing home-visit rehabilitation (mean age: 78.5±7.

Mid-term results of computer-assisted cervical reconstruction for rheumatoid cervical spines.

Study Design: A retrospective single-center study. We routinely have used C1-C2 transarticular and cervical pedicle screw fixations to reconstruct highly destructed unstable rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cervical lesions. However, there is little data on mid-term results of surgical reconstruction for rheumatoid cervical disorders, particularly, cervical pedicle screw fixation.

A Case of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis Caused by Campylobacter fetus for Which Early Diagnosis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging Was Difficult.

The purpose of this case report was to report a rare case of pyogenic spondylodiscitis caused by Campylobacter fetus. A 37-year-old male presented with fever and low back pain. By lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), no abnormal finding was observed at the first presentation.