Factors related to daily step counts of stroke patients during hospitalization in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

Objectives: Clarifying the factors related to decreased physical activity in post-stroke patients is essential for effective disease management. This study aimed to examine the factors influencing the amount of daily steps taken by post-stroke patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward during activities other than rehabilitation (non-rehabilitation steps).

Materials And Methods: Eighty-nine post-stroke patients (60.

Longitudinal changes in life-space mobility and the factors influencing it among chronic community-dwelling post-stroke patients.

Purpose: To identify longitudinal changes in life-space mobility and the factors influencing it among chronic, stable post-stroke patients.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study included Japanese post-stroke patients who received day-care rehabilitation services and could undergo three life-space mobility assessments (at baseline, 12, and 24 months) for over 2 years, using the Life-Space Assessment (LSA) tool. Physical function, cognitive function, and activities of daily living were assessed by self-selected comfortable gait speed, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Functional Independence Measure Motor subscale (FIM motor) scores, respectively, in addition to age, sex, time from onset, stroke type, and comorbidities.

The effects of skin cold stimulation on quadriceps muscle activity during walking in older adults.

Given that walking speed declines with ageing and decreasing walking speed restricts activities of daily living (ADL), it is important for the old to maintain walking speed in order to prevent affecting ADL. Although skin cold stimulation (SCS) facilitates instantaneous muscle activity, which occurs during walking, the effects of SCS on muscle activity during walking remain unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of SCS during walking in older adults.

Decreased rate of leg extensor force development in independently ambulant patients with acute stroke with mild paresis.

We aimed to examine the rate of force development (RFD) of knee extensors on both sides in independently ambulant patients with acute stroke with mild paresis compared with that in age-matched healthy adults. A total 31 patients with acute stroke history (patient group: 67 ± 12 years) and 54 age-matched healthy, community-dwelling adults (control group: 67 ± 8 years) were included. Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and RFD were assessed <1 month post-stroke during isometric knee extension (sitting position; 90° knee flexion) using a hand-held dynamometer.

Increase in rate of force development with skin cooling during isometric knee extension.

Rate of force development (RFD) plays an important role when performing rapid and forceful movements. Cold-induced afferent input with transient skin cooling (SC) can modulate neural drive. However, the relationship between RFD and SC is unknown.