Frequency analyses of posturography using logarithmic translation.

Power-spectral analysis of the centre of pressure (CoP) frequencies of posturography provides exponentially approximated distributions, whereas logarithmic translation enables linear approximation. Frequency analyses were adopted for posturography of healthy subjects and patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) using logarithmic translation to determine its clinical usefulness for managing the elderly and patients with disequilibrium. We included 172 healthy subjects and 47 SCD patients.

Characteristics of the life habits of obese students at one of Japan's National Colleges of Technology.

Aim This study clarified the characteristics of life habits of obese Japanese male students at the National Colleges of Technology, Japan. Materials and methods Healthy students aged 15-19 years answered a questionnaire containing 21 items on the following five categories of life habits: general exercise, meals, sleeping, leisure activity and illness or injury history. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the criteria of body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (%BF): non-obese (%BF < 20%, n = 420), overweight obese (%BF ≥ 20% and BMI ≥ 25, n = 99), and hidden obese (%BF ≥ 20% and BMI < 25, n = 60).

Differences in leg muscle activity and body sway between elderly adults able and unable to maintain one-leg stance for 1 min: the effect of hand support.

Background: One-leg stance (OLS) training is often used to prevent falls in the elderly. The burden imposed on the supporting lower limb during OLS may differ depending on whether hand support is used, particularly in patients with decreased lower-limb strength.

Aims: Here we examined the effect of hand support on leg muscle activity and body sway during OLS in elderly subjects able to maintain OLS for 1 min unaided [able group (AG), n = 13] and those who were unable to do so [unable group (UG), n = 11].

ADJUSTMENT ERRORS IN ASCENDING AND DESCENDING PHASES OF TARGET LEVEL IN CONTROLLED FORCE EXERTION.

Hand grip force adjustment errors to ascending and descending phases of a sinusoidal target force in a controlled force exertion (CFE) test were measured and the laterality of responses evaluated. 75 men (M age = 19.6 yr.

Effect of shoes with rounded soft soles in the anterior-posterior direction on the center of pressure during static standing.

Shoes with curved rocker bottom soles may induce an unstable standing posture. This study was aimed to mainly examine the effect of such shoes on the center of pressure (COP) during static standing. Ten healthy young male adults had their COP measured during static standing with four types of shoe conditions (Stretch Walker(®): SW (shoes with curved rocker bottom soles), Masai Barefoot Technology®: MBT (similar to SW in form and material), more conventionally soled shoes with a typical toe-spring: MCS, and bare feet: BF) for 60s.

Age-related and obstacle height-related differences in movements while stepping over obstacles.

Background: This study aims to examine age-related and obstacle height-related differences in movements while stepping over obstacles.

Methods: The participants included 16 elderly and nine young women. Obstacles that were either 5 or 20 cm high were positioned at the center of a 4-m walking path.

The effect of aging on the center-of-pressure power spectrum in foam posturography.

To assess age-related frequency-domain characteristics of the sway of center of pressure (COP) in foam posturography, two-legged stance tasks were performed by 163 controls in 4 conditions: eyes open with and without foam rubber, and eyes closed with and without foam rubber. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of power spectral density of the COP were calculated across low frequency (≥0.02 Hz and <0.

Body sway and muscle activity during one-leg stance with help using a hand.

The authors examined the effects of the direction (front or lateral) and method (light touch [LT] or support [LS]) of hand help on body sway and muscle activity during 1-leg stance (OLS). Fifteen subjects performed OLS with hand help under 4 conditions (front LT, front LS, lateral LT, lateral LS) after conducting normal OLS. Center of pressure (COP) path length and electromyography (EMG) were recorded.

Power spectral analysis of postural sway during foam posturography in patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

Objective: To assess the frequency-domain characteristics of postural instability caused by peripheral vestibular dysfunction by performing a power spectral analysis of the center of pressure (COP) sway during foam posturography.

Methods: Data were obtained from 78 patients and 163 controls. Two-legged stance tasks were performed in 4 conditions: eyes open with and without foam rubber, and eyes closed with and without foam rubber.

Relationship Between Jump Rope Double Unders and Sprint Performance in Elementary Schoolchildren.

According to dynamic analyses of muscle contraction, jump rope is a typical stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) movement. It has been reported that the relationship with SSC is higher in double unders than in single unders (basic jumps); however, the relationship between jump rope and sprint performances has not been extensively studied. To clarify this relationship in elementary schoolchildren, we compared the sprint speed and SSC ability of children who were grouped according to gender and ability.

Relations among dynamic balance tests and a coordination test using center of pressure to pursue a randomly moving target.

The CFP (center of foot pressure) Tracking Test, in which participants pursue a randomly moving target using CFP, is performed in standing position similar to the dynamic balance board and bass dynamic balance tests. The relations among the results of these three tests were examined in 30 young, healthy participants. No significant sex differences were observed between tests.

Changes in the physical functions of pre-frail elderly women after participation in a 1-year preventative exercise program.

Aim: The present study clarifies the effects of participation in a preventative health classroom program (exercise program) for 1 year on the physical functions of pre-frail elderly individuals in comparison with healthy elderly individuals.

Methods: Participants in the study included 28 elderly pre-frail female participants and 28 elderly healthy female participants. Participants engaged in the exercise program for 1 year.

Effects of mild and severe knee joint pain on various activities of daily living in the female elderly.

This study aimed to examine the differences in the ability to perform various activities of daily living (ADLs) among groups with various knee problems. The participants consisted of 328 elderly females (age 60-94; mean age 76.1 years; standard deviation 6.

Postural stability during one-leg stance on an unstable moving platform and its relationship with each leg.

This study examined the laterality of the supporting leg in postural stability during a one-leg stance test on an unstable moving platform and its practice effect. 30 male university students were evaluated using the omnidirection stability index (OSI) during a one-leg stance test on an unstable moving platform (three trials). The leg used when kicking a ball was defined as the manipulation leg (ML) and the supporting leg was defined as the non-manipulation leg (NML).

Possibility of stretch-shortening cycle movement training using a jump rope.

Although jumping rope has been said to be a typical stretch-shortening cycle movement (SSC) from the dynamic analysis of muscle contraction, there are few research reports that focus on this point. Recently, the function of SSC of the legs with respect to the jumping movement has been evaluated using the rebound jump index (RJ-index). This study aimed to examine the possibility of using rope jumping in SSC training by comparing the RJ-index of the rebound jump (standard value) and the 2 different methods of rope jumping.

Examination of factors affecting gait properties in healthy older adults: focusing on knee extension strength, visual acuity, and knee joint pain.

Background And Purpose: Gait properties change with age because of a decrease in lower limb strength and visual acuity or knee joint disorders. Gait changes commonly result from these combined factors. This study aimed to examine the effects of knee extension strength, visual acuity, and knee joint pain on gait properties of for 181 healthy female older adults (age: 76.

The prevalence of falling and status of physical function among elderly individuals with locomotive and visual/hearing disorders.

In a super-aged society, the need for prevention of locomotor dysfunction is growing, and evidence for feasible preventive measures is thus required. This study aimed to examine the relationship between these disorders and the prevalence rates for falling and physical function status. Participants included 1182 community-dwelling elderly Japanese individuals aged 60 and older.

Age-related, interindividual, and right/left differences in anterior-posterior foot pressure ratio in preschool children.

Background: This study aimed to examine age-related, interindividual, and right/left differences in anterior-posterior foot pressure ratio in 764 preschool children (364 boys and 400 girls) aged 3.5-6.5 years.

Age differences between the controlled force exertion measured by a computer-generated sinusoidal and a bar chart display.

It is important to develop an accurate method of measuring controlled force exertion. This study examined the age differences between the controlled force exertion measured by a sinusoidal waveform and a bar chart display. The participants comprised 175 right-handed male adults aged 20-86 years.

Differences in muscle power between the dominant and nondominant upper limbs of baseball players.

We examined the differences in muscle power between the dominant and nondominant upper limbs of 33 healthy, right-handed, university baseball players (mean age, 20.4 ± 1.1 years) with an average baseball experience >11 years.

Reliability and fall experience discrimination of Cross Step Moving on Four Spots Test in the elderly.

Objectives: To examine the reliability and fall experience discrimination of the Cross Step Moving on Four Spots Test (CSFT) and the relationship between CSFT and fall-related physical function.

Design: The reliability of the CSFT was examined in a test-retest format with the same tester. Fall history, fall risk, fear of falling, activities of daily living (ADL), and various physical parameters were measured for all participants.

Relationship between the obstacle height cognition and step movement in the elderly.

Background: This study examines the effect of obstacle height cognition (OHC) on single-leg forward step (SFS) and Obstacle-SFS.

Methods: In the SFS test, participants stepped 25 cm forward with one leg and returned it to its original position five times as quickly as possible. The Obstacle-SFS added an obstacle to the above condition in the SFS test.

Sex and age-level differences of walking time in preschool children on an obstacle frame.

Background: Stepping over an obstacle is a kind of compound movement that makes walking more difficult, especially for preschool children. This study examines sex and age-level differences in walking time in preschool children on an obstacle frame.

Methods: The participants included 324 healthy preschool children: four-year-old boys (51) and girls (51), five-year-old boys (50) and girls (60), and six-year-old boys (62) and girls (50).