Associations between wheelchair user's shoulder pain index and tendinitis in the long head of the biceps tendon among female wheelchair basketball players from the Japanese national team.

Background: Among injuries in wheelchair athletes, shoulder injury is the most common. An easy and valid assessment tool is required to monitor the shoulder status in wheelchair athletes anytime. The present study aimed to investigate the association of wheelchair user's shoulder pain index (WUSPI) with physical examinations for tendinitis in the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) and range of motion (ROM) of shoulder movements among female wheelchair basketball players from the Japanese national team.

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.

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.

Contributions to the team score by male wheelchair basketball players with different physical capacities at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

[Purpose] The contributions of male wheelchair basketball players with different capability classifications to the team score at the Rio 2016 Paralympics were evaluated. The roles required for team members belonging to each such classification were determined. [Participants and Methods] Statistics obtained from the official box scores of all 42 games included at the Rio 2016 Paralympics were used in this study.

Difference in contributions to the team's score in female wheelchair basketball at the 2016 Rio Paralympics by physical capability classification.

[Purpose] This study clarified differences in players' contributions to the team's score in female wheelchair basketball at the 2016 Rio Paralympics by physical capacity classification, and examined the roles required in the team. [Subjects and Methods] This study used stats (record of play contents) for players who played for more than 20 minutes from the official box scores of all 31 games at the 2016 Paralympics. Players were divided into three groups by physical capacity classification: low, middle, and high.

Use of Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) for a postoperative patient with cerebral palsy: a case report.

Background: The Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) is an exoskeleton wearable robot suit that assists in voluntary control of knee and hip joint motion. There have been several studies on HAL intervention effects in stroke, spinal cord injury, and cerebral palsy. However, no study has investigated HAL intervention for patients with cerebral palsy after surgery.

Spiral sockets for various types of stumps in transhumeral amputees: a case series.

Background: Fitting a stump prosthesis is difficult in transhumeral amputees because of the stump's conical form. Shoulder harnesses for suspension can cause neck and shoulder pain. We developed a novel spiral socket transhumeral prosthesis to overcome these difficulties.

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.

Investigation of amputees with prosthetic limbs at our hospital.

This study was performed to elucidate the characteristics of amputees in our hospital. We also evaluated whether the causes and characteristics of the amputations influenced the patients' prosthetic walking ability. We retrospectively examined 47 amputees in our hospital from December 1996 to April 2016 with respect to the causes and levels of amputation.

Factors affecting ambulatory ability in patients aged 90 years and older following proximal femoral fractures.

To investigate the details of patients' status on admission and at discharge at our hospital, to compare the ambulatory group and non-ambulatory group at discharge, and to assess the factors associated with ambulatory ability at discharge in patients aged ≥ 90 years with proximal femoral fractures (PFFs). Twenty patients admitted to our hospital for rehabilitation after surgery for a PFF were evaluated retrospectively. The rate of regaining ambulatory ability, presence of dementia, body mass index, serum albumin level, hemoglobin level, lymphocyte count, and functional independence measure (FIM) were assessed on admission and at discharge.

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.

Target range of motion for rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty.

Postoperative knee range of motion (ROM) is among the most important factors influencing patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to clarify the time course of improvement in knee ROM up to 12 months after TKA, including intraoperative knee ROM after implantation, and to clarify a target ROM for rehabilitation after TKA. In total, 39 knee joints in 26 patients with osteoarthritis who underwent TKA (retaining the posterior cruciate ligament) were evaluated.

Hip prosthesis in sitting posture for bilateral transfemoral amputee after burn injury: a case report.

Background: To overcome the challenges of rehabilitation of bilateral transfemoral amputees, we developed a novel "hip prosthesis in the sitting posture." Case Description and Methods: A 64-year-old male bilateral transfemoral amputee was transferred for rehabilitation 4 months following a burn injury. His wounds remained unhealed for 20 months; thus, he was unable to participate in standing training with the standard prosthetic sockets.

Influence of Knee Immobilization on Chondrocyte Apoptosis and Histological Features of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Insertion and Articular Cartilage in Rabbits.

This study examined the influence of immobilization on chondrocyte apoptosis and histological features of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insertion and knee articular cartilage in rabbits. Forty-eight male Japanese white rabbits were assigned to an immobilization ( = 24) or sham ( = 24) group. Rabbits in the immobilization group underwent complete unilateral surgical knee immobilization and rabbits in the sham group underwent a sham surgery.

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.

Relationships between the center of pressure and the movements of the ankle and knee joints during the stance phase in patients with severe medial knee osteoarthritis.

Background: The knee joint movement during the stance phase is affected by altered ankle movement and the center of pressure (COP). However the relationships between changes in the center of pressure (COP) and the altered kinematics and kinetics of the ankle and knee joints in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between changes in the COP and the altered kinematic and kinetic variables in ankle and knee joints during the stance phase in patients with medial knee OA.

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.

Influence of mechanical unloading on histological changes of the patellar tendon insertion in rabbits.

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of mechanical unloading on histological changes of the patellar tendon (PT) insertion in rabbits.

Materials And Methods: The PT was completely released from stress by drawing the patella toward the tibial tubercle with a stainless steel wire installed between the patella and tibial tubercle (mechanical unloading group, n=28). The animals of the sham group underwent the same surgical procedure; however, the wire was not tightened (n=28).

Kinematic analysis of knee varus and rotation movements at the initial stance phase with severe osteoarthritis of the knee.

Background: The purposes of this study were to understand the kinematics changes in the frontal and horizontal planes with severe medial knee OA at the stance phase and to examine the relationship between varus and rotational movements.

Methods: The OA group comprised 18 knees in 12 subjects (five men, seven women) with a Kellgren-Lawrence grade of three or four in at least one knee. From the results of gait analysis, we calculated Spearman rank-correlation coefficients for the following items: varus angle at initial contact (IC); varus angle at loading response (LR); amount of varus thrust from IC to LR; rotational angle at IC; rotational angle at LR and amount of rotational angle change from IC to LR.

Influence of gradual elongation to the patella tendon insertion in rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to examine the histological changes at the patella tendon (PT) insertion site under gradual elongation in rabbits. Gradual elongation of the PT was performed using external fixation for 4 weeks, with a lengthening speed of 0.5 mm/day (elongation group; n = 24).

Interrater Reproducibility of Knee Movement Analyses during the Stance Phase: Use of Anatomical Landmark Calibration with a Rigid Marker Set.

Objective. Measurements of knee joint movement in gait analysis may result in large errors caused by misplacement of reflective markers by the testers. To properly understand the measurement results, it is important to guarantee the reliability of the measurement method used for the purpose.

Two different protocols for knee joint motion analyses in the stance phase of gait: correlation of the rigid marker set and the point cluster technique.

Objective. There are no reports comparing the protocols provided by rigid marker set (RMS) and point cluster technique (PCT), which are similar in terms of estimating anatomical landmarks based on markers attached to a segment. The purpose of this study was to clarify the correlation of the two different protocols, which are protocols for knee motion in gait, and identify whether measurement errors arose at particular periods during the stance phase.

Effect of tea catechins on mitochondrial DNA 4977-bp deletions in human leucocytes.

The catechins in green tea have antioxidative and antimutagenic effects. We examined the effect of green tea enriched with catechins on the presence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with a common 4977-bp deletion mutation (mtDNA4977) in human leucocytes. Ten healthy females [aged 20.

Dynamic changes of deleted mitochondrial DNA in human leucocytes after endurance exercise.

We examined the time course of the appearance and disappearance of deleted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in human leucocytes after endurance exercise. Five untrained healthy females [aged 20.2 (0.