Taizo Shiomi

Factors associated with the functional status of community-dwelling elderly.

Purpose: This research sought to answer the following question: To what extent is the functional status of elderly people explained by gender, age, geographical residence, level of cognitive function, and depression? Method: Two hundred randomly selected community‐dwelling elderly people aged 65 to 80 years old completed the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Physical Performance Test (PPT). Results: Correlation analysis and simple linear regression models showed that age, MMSE, GDS, and geographical residence were significantly associated with the functional level, whereas gender was not. In the multiple regression model, MMSE and geographical residence together explained 40% of the variance in functional status; age and GDS did not add to the explanation. Conclusion: Since cognitive function had the strongest association with functional performance to an extent greater than the other variables, adding a treatment regimen that stimulates cognitive function might further enhance functional level or prevent decline of functional status compared with an exercise intervention alone.

Risk Management for the Neurological Disorder

理学療法を有効かつ安全に実施するためには，リスクを回避することが重要となる。リスク管理とは，単に運動療法の中止基準を知っておけばよいのではなく，予想されるあらゆるリスクを想定して，これを回避しながら慎重に介入を進めることを意味する。そのためには，日頃から患者の全身状態についてくまなくチェックするよう心がけ，不慮の事故を未然に防ぐよう心がけなければならない。本稿では，種々の神経疾患の急性期において理学療法介入を進める上で，可及的にリスクを軽減するために知っておくべきポイントについて解説した。

Exercise Physiology Research Society from the results of a questionaire

Having the purpose of determining the future activities of Exercise Physiology Research Society, we conducted a elementary subjects for physical therapy. Subjects consisted of 120 members of our society and 80 nonmember physical therapists. Ther esults obtained indicated insufficiency for education of Exercise Physiology ats chool, and that the researches have hardly been performed among the subjects ins pite of their will.