Kunihiko Anami

Relationship Between Muscle Strength Asymmetry and Body Sway in Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle strength asymmetry and body sway while walking. We studied 63 older adult women. Strong side and weak side of knee extension strength, toe grip strength, hand grip strength, and body sway while walking were measured. The relationship between muscle strength asymmetry for each muscle and body sway while walking was evaluated using Pearsons correlation coefficient. Regarding the muscles recognized to have significant correlation with body sway, the asymmetry cutoff value causing an increased sway was calculated. Toe grip strength asymmetry was significantly correlated with body sway. Toe grip strength asymmetry causing an increased body sway had a cutoff value of 23.5%. Our findings suggest toe grip strength asymmetry may be a target for improving gait stability.

The factors involved the depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarity that depression and state trait anxiety inventory (STAI), physical function, and activity of daily living in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). [Subjects] The subjects were 21 COPD patients (men n=19, female n=2). [Method] The main measurement was a Selfrating Depression Scale (SDS). The correlation between SDS and each measurement items were calculated. We examined the SDS by the multiple regression analysis with stepwise to the dependent variable as SDS, to the independent variable items that showed a significant correlation. [Result] Items that influence the SDS were chair stand up-30 second test and STAI trait anxiety (R=0.65, p<0.01). [Conclusion] The Depression has been suggested to influence the decline of anxiety and lower limb function in patients with COPD. Therefore, this study suggested the possibility that team approach to prevent the depression.