Tadamitsu Matsuda

Relation of selective voluntary motor control of the lower extremity and extensor strength of the knee joint in children with spastic diplegia.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate differences in selective voluntary motor control of the lower extremities by objective assessment and determine the relationship between selective voluntary motor control and knee extensor strength in children with spastic diplegia. [Subjects and Methods] Forty individuals who had spastic cerebral palsy, with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels ranging from I to III, were assessed using the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity and by testing the maximum knee extensor strength. The unaffected side was defined as the lower limb with the higher score, and the affected side was defined as the lower limb with the lower score. [Results] The Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity score on the affected side had a lower average than that on the unaffected side. The scores showed a significant inverse correlation with the maximum knee extensor strength. [Conclusion] There was bilateral difference in the selective voluntary motor control of the lower extremities in children with spastic diplegia, and the selective voluntary motor control of the lower extremity was related to maximum knee extensor strength.

Kinematics of judo breakfall for osoto-gari: Considerations for head injury prevention

ABSTRACT Previous studies suggest that increasing the skill level of judokas will decrease the number of head injuries sustained during judo. However, the kinematics are poorly understood, making it difficult to establish an effective breakfall teaching programme. Therefore, we studied the kinematic parameters of breakfall for osoto-gari to identify the risk of judo-related head injuries by comparing experienced and novice judokas. This information will provide insight into developing a better prevention plan for judo-related head injuries. A total of 10 experienced and 12 novice judokas volunteered to participate in this study. The kinematic data of the breakfall motion for osoto-gari were collected using a three-dimensional motion analysis technique (200 Hz). We observed a significantly higher peak neck extension momentum in the novice group than in the experienced group. This suggests that neck extension momentum during breakfall is associated with the risk of head injuries during judo. In addition, the novice judokas demonstrated a significantly greater flexed pattern in the trunk and hip movement than the experienced judokas (P < 0.05). The results suggest that the trunk and lower extremity motion are important kinematic parameters that determine the skill level in performing the breakfall for osoto-gari.

Motion analysis of wheelchair propulsion movements in hemiplegic patients: effect of a wheelchair cushion on suppressing posterior pelvic tilt

[Purpose] This study sought to ascertain whether, in hemiplegic patients, the effect of a wheelchair cushion to suppress pelvic posterior tilt when initiating wheelchair propulsion would continue in subsequent propulsions. [Subjects] Eighteen hemiplegic patients who were able to propel a wheelchair in a seated position participated in this study. [Methods] An adjustable wheelchair was fitted with a cushion that had an anchoring function, and a thigh pad on the propulsion side was removed. Propulsion movements from the seated position without moving through three propulsion cycles were measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system, and electromyography was used to determine the angle of pelvic posterior tilt, muscle activity of the biceps femoris long head, and propulsion speed. [Results] Pelvic posterior tilt could be suppressed through the three propulsion cycles, which served to increase propulsion speed. Muscle activity of the biceps femoris long head was highest when initiating propulsion and decreased thereafter. [Conclusion] The effect of the wheelchair cushion on suppressing pelvic posterior tilt continued through three propulsion cycles.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the selective control assessment of the lower extremity tool among patients with spastic cerebral palsy

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to translate the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE) tool from English to Japanese and to assess the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the SCALE (SCALE-J) tool in Japanese patients with spastic cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] The SCALE tool was translated into Japanese in accordance with the published guidelines. In total, 55 patients with spastic cerebral palsy were enrolled in the present study. Reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), intrarater reliability, inter-rater reliability, and convergent validity by comparing Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) scores were examined. [Results] The Cronbach’s α value of the SCALE-J tool was 0.97–0.98, whereas that of the intrarater and inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.93 to 0.96. The Spearman correlation coefficient revealed a good relationship between the SCALE tool and the GMFCS. [Conclusion] The SCALE-J tool was found to be reliable and valid; therefore, the SCALE tool may be useful for evaluation in clinical practice.

Computational system rehabilitation for patients with aphasia

This paper discusses a method of computational system rehabilitation for patients with aphasia. First, we discuss how to use smart devices for home aphasia rehabilitation based on the language ability approach. The system uses Tablet PC for rehabilitation device by its multi-modal communication interface. The system consists of use registration phase, photo registration phase, rehabilitation phase and evaluation phase. In the rehabilitation phase, this paper proposed exercise on recall from visual information to text information and that on recall from text information to visual information. Finally, we show preliminary experimental results of the proposed system, and discuss the future direction of computational system rehabilitation.

Maximal respiratory pressure in healthy Japanese children

[Purpose] Normal values for respiratory muscle pressures during development in Japanese children have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate respiratory muscle pressures in Japanese children aged 3–12 years. [Subjects and Methods] We measured respiratory muscle pressure values using a manovacuometer without a nose clip, with subjects in a sitting position. Data were collected for ages 3–6 (Group I: 68 subjects), 7–9 (Group II: 86 subjects), and 10–12 (Group III: 64 subjects) years. [Results] The values for respiratory muscle pressures in children were significantly higher with age in both sexes, and were higher in boys than in girls. Correlation coefficients were significant at values of 0.279 to 0.471 for each gender relationship between maximal respiratory pressure and age, height, and weight, respectively. [Conclusion] In this study, we showed pediatric respiratory muscle pressure reference value for each age. In the present study, values for respiratory muscle pressures were lower than Brazilian studies. This suggests that differences in respiratory muscle pressures vary with ethnicity.

Biomechanics of judo backward breakfall for different throwing techniques in novice judokas

Abstract It is generally accepted that proper learning of the breakfall technique during early judo training is essential for attenuating the risk of judo-related head injury. Therefore, it is critical to understand the kinematics and head injury risks of breakfall motion to design a more safe and effective judo teaching paradigm that results in reduction of injury risk. We aimed to investigate the biomechanics of judo backward breakfalls by comparing osoto-gari and ouchi-gari in novice judokas. Twelve male novice judokas (age: 21.3 years, SD = 0.6 years; height: 1.74 m, SD = 0.04 m; body weight: 71.3, SD = 6.4 kg; body mass index: 23.5, SD = 2.3) volunteered to participate in this study. The kinematic data of the breakfall motion for both osoto-gari and ouchi-gari were collected using a three-dimensional motion analysis technique (200 Hz). We observed significant differences between the movement patterns for the two techniques, especially in the lower extremity movements. In addition, a significantly greater peak extension momentum (osoto-gari: 1.29, SD = 0.23 kg m2 s−1; ouchi-gari: 0.84, SD = 0.29 kg m2 s−1) and lower head position along the vertical axis (osoto-gari: 0.18, SD = 0.05 m; ouchi-gari: 0.31, SD = 0.08 m) with a large effect size were found in the breakfall for osoto-gari. Our results suggest that a different paradigm is needed for effectively teaching each breakfall technique that will enable us to substantially lower the risk of judo-related head injuries in novice judokas.

Factors Contributing to Satisfaction with Changes in Physical Function after Orthopedic Surgery for Musculoskeletal Dysfunction in Patients with Cerebral Palsy.

Background The recognition of required treatments for cerebral palsy (CP) patients, including orthopedic surgery, differs according to region. This study was performed to identify factors associated with satisfactory changes in physical function after orthopedic surgery. Methods 358 patients were selected for the questionnaire survey. The following information was collected: gender, primary disease, age of initial surgery, total procedural count, operated sites, satisfaction of postoperative rehabilitation frequency, ideal amount of postoperative rehabilitation sessions per week, frequency of voluntary home training per week, satisfaction of the timing of surgery and the current satisfaction with the changes in physical function after the orthopedic surgery. We classified the patients into the satisfied and dissatisfied group according to satisfactory changes in physical function after the surgery. We performed unpaired t-tests and chi-square tests to determine the variables that differed significantly between the groups. Variables with a p value of <0.2 were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results The logistic model was revised and summed up to two potential predictors of postsurgical satisfaction with physical function: satisfaction with the frequency of postoperative rehabilitation sessions and the orthopedic surgery of the hip (distinction hit ratio, 75.4%). Conclusions This study demonstrated that the frequency of postoperative rehabilitation and history of hip surgery seemed to be related to the satisfaction with the changes in physical function after orthopedic surgery.