[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the presence or absence of locomotive syndrome as determined by two-step and stand-up tests, which measure physical ability as well as the characteristics of physical function and body composition among community-dwelling older females. [Participants and Methods] The study included 36 community-dwelling older females (aged 75.3 ± 6.0 years), who were classified into two groups: those with and without locomotive syndrome following the locomotive syndrome criteria. Their physical function and body composition were evaluated and compared. [Results] No significant differences in body composition were observed between participants with and without locomotive syndrome, as defined by the locomotive syndrome criteria. However, significant differences were noted in grip strength on the left side and open-eyed one-legged standing, 5-m comfortable walking speed and the timed up-and-go test on both the right and left sides. [Conclusion] The results indicate that physical function is a valuable criterion for evaluating the older populations. However, components of body composition that reflect physical condition and function require validation.

[Purpose] This study aimed to verify the reproducibility and minimal detectable change of sustained maximal inspiratory pressure measured using the test of incremental respiratory endurance, establishing it as an index of respiratory muscle function. [Participants and Methods] Thirty healthy young adults (mean age: 24.8 ± 2.7 years) participated. Sustained maximal inspiratory pressure was measured two or three times using the test of incremental respiratory endurance. Its relative and absolute reliabilities were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman analysis. The minimal detectable change and percentage of minimal detectable change were also calculated. [Results] The intraclass correlation coefficients for sustained maximal inspiratory pressure were 0.937 and 0.969, respectively, indicating high reliability across both re-measurement criteria. Bland–Altman analysis showed no systematic bias. Minimal detectable change values were 124.7 and 88.4 pressure time units, with corresponding percentage of minimal detectable change values of 23.8% and 16.9%, respectively. [Conclusion] Sustained maximal inspiratory pressure demonstrated high reliability and no systematic bias, suggesting its potential as a valid measure of respiratory muscle endurance. Using this measure as a reference for repeated measurements may enhance accuracy. Future research should assess its applicability in older adults and clinical populations.

[Purpose] Vibratory stimulation is used to restore motor function in patients with residual motor impairments. However, to date, no studies have examined its effects on both the stimulated and antagonist muscles at different intervention time points. We thus examined the effects of short- and long-term vibratory stimulation on maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) and electromyography (EMG) of the quadriceps and antagonist muscles. [Participants and Methods] A crossover design was employed with 18 healthy male participants who performed maximal knee extensions and flexions under three separate conditions: control, short-term vibration stimulation (15 s), and long-term vibration stimulation (5 min). The rectus femoris was stimulated at a vibration frequency of 108 Hz. MVIC was evaluated in the quadriceps and antagonist muscles, and EMG was recorded during MVIC assessment. EMG analysis included the integrated electromyogram (IEMG) and median frequency (MF). [Results] Knee extension MVIC did not differ significantly between control and short-term vibration groups. However, it was significantly increased in the long-term vibration group relative to the control group. No differences in IEMG and MF were observed. [Conclusion] In this study, an increase in knee extension MVIC was observed after 5 min of rectus femoris stimulation.

[Purpose] To investigate the feasibility of a new rhythm-learning task using internal cues in healthy individuals and patients with Parkinson’s disease. [Participants and Methods] This study included 27 healthy individuals and six patients with Parkinson’s disease. All participants first learned rhythms through either stepping or tapping tasks. Subsequently, they attempted to reproduce the learned rhythms while walking. The relative rhythm reproducibility error was calculated by comparing the target rhythm with the rhythm generated during walking. Experiment 1 examined the effects of task type and rhythm condition in healthy individuals, whereas Experiment 2 focused on the effects of stepping-based rhythm-learning task in patients with Parkinson’s disease. [Results] In healthy participants, rhythm reproducibility errors differed significantly depending on task type and rhythm condition. Stepping produced more accurate walking rhythms than tapping. Patients with Parkinson’s disease who had lower scores on the Frontal Assessment Battery and longer completion times on the Trail Making Test Part B tended to show reduced rhythm reproducibility. [Conclusions] This rhythm-learning task using internal cues could be applied to individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The findings suggest a possible association between the ability to learn rhythmic patterns internally and frontal lobe cognitive function.

[Purpose] We report here a new method for measuring unilateral thoracic expansion using stretchable strain sensors. In this study, we assessed the test-retest reliability of this method and compared left and right thoracic expansions in healthy males. [Participants and Methods] Thirty healthy males (mean age, 30.1 ± 7.4 years) participated in this study. Two strain sensors were placed on the lateral walls of the thorax at xiphoid process level. Participants were asked to take three deep breaths, and the change in sensor length from the position at maximal expiration to that at maximal inspiration was recorded. These measurements were simultaneously performed on left and right sides. Unilateral thoracic expansions were calculated to assess differences between the maximal expiratory and inspiratory positions for each deep breath. The test-retest reliability of the unilateral thoracic expansion was then examined. [Results] Test reliability was excellent for both first and second datasets. Retest reliability was also excellent. The minimum detectable change (MDC) in the retest was 3.31 mm. [Conclusion] This newly developed method for measuring thoracic expansion is sufficiently reliable. No differences in thoracic expansion were observed between left and right sides in healthy males.

[Purpose] To investigate differences in knee and hip muscle strength between successful and unsuccessful single leg sit to stand tests from a 20-cm-high box (SLST 20) in healthy young adults. [Participants and Methods] Sixty-six lower limbs from 33 healthy adults (20 males, 13 females; mean age 25.4 ± 3.4 years) were classified into successful and unsuccessful groups. Isokinetic strength of the knee (flexion/extension at 60°/s) and hip (flexion/extension/abduction/adduction at 30°/s) was measured. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using sex as a covariate. Stratified analyses were also performed. [Results] The successful group had significantly greater strength in knee flexion/extension, hip flexion, and hip adduction. ANCOVA revealed that knee flexion and extension were significantly associated with SLST 20 performance, whereas hip strength was not, after adjusting for sex. Among females, hip adduction strength was significantly greater in the successful group, with no significant difference observed in males. [Conclusion] Knee strength is crucial for SLST 20 performance, and hip adduction strength may be important, particularly in females. Therefore, sex-specific assessments and training strategies should be considered in clinical practice.

[Purpose] Flatfoot is a risk factor for running-related injuries. Although short foot exercise (SFE) is commonly used in the treatment of flatfoot and mainly induces the intrinsic foot muscles, it has little effect on foot kinematics. The intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles are required for maintaining the foot arch; thus, we have developed the arch raise exercise (ARE). [Participants and Methods] Ten feet of 10 participants with flatfoot and 10 feet of 10 healthy participants were included. Muscle activity was measured during ARE, SFE, and heel raise (HR). The muscle activity levels of the abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, abductor digiti minimis, flexor digitorum longus, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, and the lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius were measured. [Results] In the flatfoot group, ARE generated greater intrinsic and extrinsic muscle activity compared to those generated by the SFE; however, these effects were not significant. In the flatfoot group, the activities of the abductor hallucis and peroneus brevis were greater during the ARE than during HR. [Conclusions] ARE and SFE can generate comparable activity of the intrinsic foot muscles. Compared with SFE, ARE can generate greater activity in the extrinsic muscles.

[Purpose] We aimed to evaluate deltoid and trapezius muscle activity during shoulder flexion postoperatively in participants who had undergone reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) and identify factors contributing to active flexion range of motion (ROM). [Participants and Methods] We included 18 participants who had undergone rTSA and were followed for at least one year postoperatively. Surface electromyography recorded muscle activity of the deltoid and trapezius at 30° of shoulder flexion, approximately 8 months after surgery. Muscle activity was normalized as % reference voluntary contraction (%RVC). Based on active flexion ROM, participants were categorized into a good group (≥120°) and a poor group (<120°). [Results] The good group included 14 participants (3 males, 11 females, mean age 75.4 ± 5.7 years), and the poor group included 4 participants (1 male, 3 females, mean age 74.5 ± 11.4 years). The good group showed greater anterior deltoid activity, while the poor group exhibited higher activity in the posterior deltoid and lower trapezius. [Conclusion] We identified anterior deltoid activity as a positive factor for achieving good shoulder flexion ROM after rTSA. In contrast, increased activity in the posterior deltoid and lower trapezius may reflect compensatory strategies that inhibit optimal flexion.

Dry needling and acupuncture are non-pharmacological therapies for managing musculoskeletal pain. Although they noticeably differ in their application and proposed rationale, the common ground between the two therapies is the invasive soft-tissue needling. Over the past 30 years, researchers have developed and used various forms of sham/placebo needling devices in randomized controlled clinical trials for assessing a causation-based relationship between needling into myofascial trigger points (dry needling) or acupoints (acupuncture) and purported therapeutic outcomes. However, no clear guidelines exist for choosing a sham needling device for research purposes. Based on the English literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, J-STAGE, and Taiwan Electronic Periodicals, the present illustrative review identified five forms of sham dry-needling/acupuncture needle devices that had been validated and/or used in clinical trials. As of today, however, there is a lack of standardization in sham needling devices, making it difficult to compare results across different studies.

The authors would like to apologize for the mistake in first paragraph, 5th sentence in PARTICIIPANTS AND METHODS and Table 2.

Incorrect:

Page 669, line 5: “APAr=100*PL/PM”

Page 669, line 5: the unit is 100*s/mG

Page 670, Table 2: APAr (100*s/mG)

Correct:

Page 669, line 5: “APAr=PM/(100*PL)”

Page 669, line 5: the unit is mG/(100*s)

Page 670, Table 2: APAr (mG/(100*s))