Evaluation of hand functions and distal radioulnar joint instability in elite wheelchair basketball athletes: a cross-sectional pilot study.

Background: Wrist injury affects wheelchair basketball players' performance; however, the relationship between distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability and hand functions is unclear. This cross-sectional pilot study investigated DRUJ instability in elite female wheelchair basketball athletes using force-monitor ultrasonography.

Methods: Nine elite female wheelchair basketball athletes (18 wrists) were included in the study.

Influences of remote exercise training for community-dwelling older adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Purpose] The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused sudden lifestyle changes. This study aimed to determine the limitations in activity and the influences of remote exercise training on community-dwelling older adults during a state of emergency in Japan. [Participants and Methods] In May 2020, during the COVID-19 state of emergency, we carried out a mail survey of community-dwelling older adults who had previously participated in a disability prevention program in Ami town, Ibaraki, Japan.

Mediating role of instrumental activities of daily living ability on cognitive function of older adults living alone: A 4-year longitudinal study from the Kasama study.

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of living alone on the cognitive function of older people and the mediating effect of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) ability.The data for a final sample of 3276 participants aged 65 years and above who did not require long-term care at the baseline were used from a 4-year prospective cohort study conducted in Kasama City, Japan. Demographic data including age, sex, and depression at baseline were used as covariates.

Skeletal Muscle Mass and Higher-Level Functional Capacity in Female Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Purpose: In this study, our purpose was to examine the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and higher-level functional capacity in female community-dwelling older adults. Participant(s) and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we targeted 55 female community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and above participating in long-term care prevention classes in Ibaraki Prefecture between 2018 and 2020. We excluded individuals with cognitive impairment and those judged as having sarcopenia.

A Novel Exercise for Enhancing Visuospatial Ability in Older Adults with Frailty: Development, Feasibility, and Effectiveness.

We aimed to develop a novel exercise to improve visuospatial ability and evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness in older adults with frailty. A non-randomized preliminary trial was conducted between June 2014 and March 2015. We recruited 35 adults with frailty (24 women), aged 66-92 years.

Factors associated with overweight status, obesity, and sedentary behavior in elementary and junior high school students.

Background: Sedentary behavior increases the risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease in adults, but these relationships are uncertain in elementary and junior high school students. We investigated whether sedentary behavior is related to overweight status and obesity in high-risk children with lifestyle diseases.

Method: A cross-sectional study was performed in 115 children and primary caregivers who attended a lecture for preventing child lifestyle diseases in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan.

Investigation of the Female Athlete Triad in Japanese Elite Wheelchair Basketball Players.

Para-sports have become increasingly competitive, necessitating greater physical activity; secondary disorder prevention is therefore crucial. Among secondary disorders, the female athlete triad (FAT) is defined as low energy availability (EA), menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density (BMD); although studied in able-bodied athletes, reports on female para-athletes are scarce. We retrospectively investigated the FAT in wheelchair basketball players in the Japanese national team.

A Short-Duration Combined Exercise and Education Program to Improve Physical Function and Social Engagement in Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults.

Exercise is a key intervention for improving older adults' physical function and life expectancy. Here, we investigated a short-term intervention program designed to improve the physical functioning of elderly adults in a community-dwelling setting. We examined the effect of a 5-week combined exercise and education program on the physical function, social engagement, mobility performance, and fear of falling in 42 subjects older than 65 years.

Influence of Functional Classification on Skill Tests in Elite Female Wheelchair Basketball Athletes.

Wheelchair basketball players are classified into four functional classes according to the player's "volume of action", characterized by trunk movement and stability. As this classification is based on a kinematic point of view, test items might be differentially affected by the functional classification level. We aimed to clarify field-based skill test items closely related to the functional classification level.

Comparison of sleep status among three Japanese national wheelchair basketball teams.

[Purpose] Sufficient sleep is required for maximal performance and good mood. Japan has three national wheelchair basketball teams: Top male, Top female, and Under-23 (U23) male teams. Using these team members as model, this study investigated the difference of sleep status of wheelchair basketball players by age and gender.

Correlation between sleep and psychological mood states in female wheelchair basketball players on a Japanese national team.

[Purpose] Although some studies suggest the importance of getting adequate sleep for enhancing mood, there is not yet sufficient evidence on the relationship between sleep and mood states in athletes, especially for athletes with physical disability. The purpose of this study is to reveal relationships between sleep and psychological mood states in female wheelchair basketball players. [Subjects and Methods] Seventeen female wheelchair basketball players (30.

A survey of deep tissue injury in elite female wheelchair basketball players.

Objective: To investigate deep tissue injuries (DTIs) in elite female wheelchair basketball players and identify factors associated with their occurrence.

Methods: Study participants were 22 female wheelchair basketball players on the Japanese national team. The sacral and bilateral ischial regions of each participant were examined using ultrasonography to detect DTIs.

Daily Life Physical Activity Modulates the Effects of an Exercise Program on Lower-Extremity Physical Function in Japanese Older Adults.

Background And Purpose: Decreasing daily life physical activity (PA) outside an exercise program might hinder the benefit of that program on lower-extremity physical function (LEPF) in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate how daily life PA modulates the effects of an exercise program on LEPF.

Methods: The participants were 46 community-dwelling older adults (mean age, 70.

Correlates of shoulder pain in wheelchair basketball players from the Japanese national team: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To reveal correlates of shoulder pain in wheelchair basketball players from the Japanese national team.

Methods: Study participants were 19 males (29.7 ± 5.

Pedometers Affect Changes in Lower-Extremity Physical Function During a Square-Stepping Exercise Program in Older Japanese Adults.

Background And Purpose: Pedometers are often used as motivational tools to increase physical activity. Hence, providing a pedometer during an exercise intervention may enhance the benefit of exercise on lower-extremity physical function (LEPF) by maintaining or increasing daily physical activity. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect on LEPF between an exercise intervention with and without the use of a pedometer.

[Effects of Square-Stepping Exercise inducing activation of the brain's cognitive function in community-dwelling older Japanese females--Focus on the baseline cognitive function level and age].

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the degree of improvement in cognitive function achieved with an exercise intervention in community-dwelling older Japanese women is affected by the participant's baseline cognitive function and age.

Methods: Eighty-eight women (mean age: 70.5±4.

[Determinants of changes in physical fitness after a square-stepping exercise program in community-dwelling older Japanese females].

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate determinants of changes in physical fitness after a fall-prevention exercise program in older females.

Methods: The study subjects included 83 community-dwelling females 65 years of age or older (mean age: 70.4±4.

Right half-field eye patching may not be an effective approach for chronic hemispatial neglect--a two-case investigation.

Right half-field eye-patched glasses intervention was performed in two chronic stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect. Eye movement on the neglect side, the center of gravity as an index of the internal midline bias, neglect sign tests, and the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured before and after intervention. The improvement of eye movement was not shown clearly after intervention.

[Evaluation of the association between cognitive impairment and the vitamin D levels among community-dwelling Japanese pre-frail elderly individuals].

Aim: Cognitive impairment is the second leading cause of long-term care, and the number of cognitively impaired elderly individuals is increasing. Cognitive impairment has been reported to be associated with a low vitamin D level. However, many elderly individuals are deficient in vitamin D due to undernutrition and a house-bound status.

[Association of the physical activity of community-dwelling older adults with transportation modes, depression and social networks].

Aim: The purpose of this study was to cross-sectionally examine the relationships among leisure, household and occupational physical activity with the frequency of going out by various transportation modes, depression and social networks in older adults.

Methods: We randomly selected a total of 2,100 community-dwelling adults aged 65 to 85 years of age from the Basic Resident Register. Of these, 340 people were the subjects of this study.

[Determinant factors encouraging work motivation: a study of care staff working in health services facilities for elderly people].

Purpose: Work motivation among care workers influences the quality of care for facility residents. The purpose of this study was to identify related factors in care staff.

Method: Sixty hundred and seven care staff working at 25 health services facilities for elderly people participated in this study.