Kinematic head and trunk strategies used by hemiplegic stroke patients crossing over obstacles of different heights.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare kinematic data regarding the head, trunk, and pelvis strategies used by individuals with hemiplegia when crossing over obstacles of different heights. [Subjects and Methods] Nine adults with hemiplegia from stroke (7 males and 2 females) participated in this study. A motion analysis system with six infrared cameras was used to measure the kinematic data of the head, trunk, and pelvis while the subjects crossed over obstacles of different heights.

Effects of wearing ankle weight on knee joint repositioning sense in the elderly.

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of different ankle weights on knee joint repositioning sense in elderly individuals. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-one subjects were divided for assessment as follows: young (20-30 years, n=10) and elderly (60-70 years, n=11). Knee joint repositioning error was measured by asking the subjects to reposition the target angle of their knee joints while wearing different ankle weights (0%, 0.

Effects of forward head posture on forced vital capacity and respiratory muscles activity.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of forward head posture on forced vital capacity and deep breathing. [Subjects] Twenty-six subjects, divided into the two groups (normal and forward head posture groups), participated in this study. [Methods] Forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second were measured using respiratory function instrumentation that met the American Thoracic Society's recommendation for diagnostic spirometry.

Effects of foot position of the nonparetic side during sit-to-stand training on postural balance in patients with stroke.

[Purpose] We aimed to investigate postural balance after sit-to-stand (STS) training with different nonparetic foot positions in stroke patients. [Subjects] Thirty-six subjects who experienced a stroke (21 males, 15 females) participated and were divided into the symmetric foot position (SYMM), asymmetric foot position (ASYM), and step foot (STEP) groups. [Methods] Each group performed repetitive sit-to-stand training 5 times a week for 6 weeks.

Comparisons of changes in the two-point discrimination test following muscle fatigue in healthy adults.

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the effects of muscle fatigue on skin sensation by looking at changes in two-point discrimination (2PD) after inducing muscle fatigue. [Subjects] Thirty-four young and healthy adults with no pathological symptoms (17 males; 17 females) participated in this study. [Methods] Continuous isometric contraction was applied to the upper and lower extremities with an intensity of 50% of the maximal muscle strength to trigger muscle fatigue, and then the 2PD test was conducted on the 3 cm medial area of the elbow and 5 cm area of the knee bone.

The mechanical effect of kinesiology tape on rounded shoulder posture in seated male workers: a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study.

Study Design: Single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study.

Objectives: To examine the changes in pectoralis minor length (PML), the supine measurement of rounded shoulder posture (RSP), and the total scapular distance (TSD) in seated male workers with RSP, after rounded-shoulder-taping (RST) using kinesiology tape with (experimental taping) and without stretch (placebo taping).

Background: RSP, a postural impairment, is a known cause of upper quarter pain.

Effect of muscle vibration on spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with Parkinson's disease.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of muscle vibration in the lower extremities in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) during walking. [Subjects] Nine patients with PD participated in this study and were tested with and without vibration (vibration at 60 Hz). [Methods] Eight oscillators of vibration were attached to the muscle bellies (tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, and rectus femoris) on both sides of the lower extremities with adhesive tape in this study.

Effect of posterior pelvic tilt taping in women with sacroiliac joint pain during active straight leg raising who habitually wore high-heeled shoes: a preliminary study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether a 1-day application of posterior pelvic tilt taping (PPTT) using a kinesiology tape would decrease anterior pelvic tilt and active straight leg raising test scores in women with sacroiliac joint who habitually wore high-heeled shoes.

Methods: Sixteen women (mean age, 23.63 ± 3.

Effect of muscle vibration on postural balance of Parkinson's diseases patients in bipedal quiet standing.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of muscle vibration applied to the lower extremities on static postural balance of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). [Subjects] Seven subjects with Parkinson's disease participated in this study. [Methods] The oscillators of vibration were attached to the muscle bellies of the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, and rectus femoris on both sides of the lower extremities with adhesive tape.

Comparison of plantar pressure between flat and normal feet when crossing an obstacle at different heights.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the plantar foot pressure and the center of pressure (COP) pathway of normal and flat feet while crossing an obstacle at different heights.

Methods: Nineteen subjects (10 normal feet, 9 flat feet) participated in this study. The plantar foot surface was divided into the following seven regions for pressure measurement: two toe regions, three forefoot regions, one midfoot region, and one heel region.

The Effect of Motor Learning of Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT) Through Action Observation on Mu Rhythm and Improvement of Behavior Abilities.

Background: The aim of this study was investigate whether an action observation would have an effect on the action that requires task understanding in humans.

Methods: Participants who met the criteria for this study (n = 36). To evaluate the performance, reaction time and performance accuracy, the stimulus scheduling software was employed.

Risk factors affecting Tests of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) in pre-term infants at post-conceptional age of 40 weeks.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to correlate clinical factors with the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) in pre-term infants at a post-conceptional age of 40 weeks.

Methods: The study enrolled 80 pre-term infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Data on birth weight, multiple birth, sex, delivery type, Apgar scores at 1 minute and 5 minutes, neonatal seizures and Intraventricular Haemorrhage (IVH) as assessed by echoencephalography were retrospectively analysed through a review of relevant medical records.

Non-destructive determination of TiO2 concentration in cream formulation using Raman spectroscopy.

The concentration of TiO(2) in a cream formulation has been non-destructively measured using Raman spectroscopy without further sample pretreatments. The distribution of TiO(2) particles in a highly viscous cream may not be homogeneous on a microscopic scale and local aggregation of the particles is possible; therefore, acquisition of Raman spectra capable of representing the whole sample identity rather than the localized chemical information was critically necessary to ensure reliable quantitative analysis. A wide area illumination (WAI) scheme, applying 6-mm diameter laser illumination area (total coverage: 28.

Feasibility of a wide area illumination scheme for reliable Raman measurement of petroleum products.

A newly developed Raman collection scheme, a wide area illumination (WAI) scheme, was employed to demonstrate its utility for the analysis of petroleum products. For this purpose, the compositional analysis of simulated naphtha samples was attempted. The WAI scheme utilized a laser beam that illuminated a sample in a circular fashion with a diameter of 6 mm and a focal length of 250 mm.

Score-moment combined linear discrimination analysis (SMC-LDA) as an improved discrimination method.

A new discrimination method called the score-moment combined linear discrimination analysis (SMC-LDA) has been developed and its performance has been evaluated using three practical spectroscopic datasets. The key concept of SMC-LDA was to use not only the score from principal component analysis (PCA), but also the moment of the spectrum, as inputs for LDA to improve discrimination. Along with conventional score, moment is used in spectroscopic fields as an effective alternative for spectral feature representation.