Yuya Ueda

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the simplified nutritional appetite questionnaire in community-dwelling older adults

To translate the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) into Japanese, and assess its reliability and validity in Japanese community‐dwelling older adults.

Association between gait abnormality and malnutrition in a community-dwelling elderly population

Malnutrition is common in older adults, and contributes to the risk of falls and functional impairment. Gait performance also contributes to falls and functional impairment; however, the association between malnutrition and gait performance remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between malnutrition risk and gait performance.

Association between the Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index and Executive Function in Community-Dwelling Elderly People.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association between arterial stiffness (AS) measured with the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and executive function in community-dwelling elderly people. METHODS Subjects were 140 community-dwelling elderly people who participated in the study at Kobe, Japan during the period of August-September 2014, of which 126 (mean age±SD: 73.2±6.1, female: 67.5%) met the inclusion criteria and completed the study. Age, sex, body mass index, global cognition, existence of chronic disease, medication, smoking history, and years of education were assessed. The degree of AS was assessed using CAVI. Executive function was assessed using the Category Word Fluency Test (CWFT), Letter Word Fluency Test (LWFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). We used a correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to investigate whether higher CAVI was independently associated with lower executive function. RESULTS In the univariate analysis, higher mean CAVI correlated with lower CWFT (rho=－0.21, p=0.020), LWFT (rho=－0.32, p＜0.001), and DSST (rho=－0.31, p＜0.001). In the multivariate analysis, higher mean CAVI was associated with lower LWFT (β=－0.21, p=0.046) after adjusting for confounding factors, although there was no association with CWFT (β=－0.05, p=0.61) and DSST (β=－0.06, p=0.51). CONCLUSIONS We found that high CAVI was associated with lower LWFT. These results suggest that arterial stiffness is associated with lower performance in phonemic fluency.

Association between metabolic syndrome and disability due to low back pain among care workers

OBJECTIVES To elucidate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and disability due to low back pain (LBP) among care workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cross-sectional study enrolled 656 care workers having experienced LBP in the year prior to the year of this study. The Roland-Morris Disability questionnaire (RDQ) and self-reported questionnaires regarding LBP, fear of movement, depressive symptom, psychosocial factors, intensity of pain, and duration of pain were administered, and a medical examination was performed. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the international definition agreed in 2009. Out of the 656 care workers, we included 316 care workers (response rate: 48.2%) who had fully completed the questionnaires as the study sample (males: 13.6%, median age = 51 years old, range: 35-74 years old). To examine the association between MetS and the level of disability due to LBP, we used the Poisson regression analysis and estimated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR). RESULTS Out of the 316 care workers, 52 (16.5%) were diagnosed as having MetS. Metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with the RDQ score (adjusted PR: 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-2.11) after adjusting for covariates, such as age, sex, fear of movement, job demands, social support, intensity of pain, and duration of pain. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that MetS was independently associated with disability due to LBP among care workers. A multidisciplinary intervention taking MetS into consideration may be an effective way to reduce disability due to LBP in people with both LBP and MetS. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(2):165-172.

Relationship between the intention–behavior gap and self-efficacy for physical activity during childhood

This study investigated the relationship of a gap between the intent to be physically active and actual participation in physical activity (‘intention–behavior gap’) and self-efficacy for physical activity during childhood. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect information from 946 children from the fourth and sixth grades in Japan on self-efficacy, intention, and physical activity. Children with an intention–behavior gap (high intent–low activity or low intent–high activity) had higher self-efficacy scores than those with low intent and low activity (27.66 or 27.65 vs. 21.69; p < .001). They had lower self-efficacy scores than those with high intent and high activity (27.66 or 27.65 vs. 30.56; p < .001). Children with an intention–behavior gap had lower self-efficacy for physical activity than those who intended to be and were physically active. Such children may benefit from education interventions that focus on improving self-efficacy.

Association between chronic musculoskeletal pain and executive function in community‐dwelling older adults

We examined the association of chronic musculoskeletal pain with executive function in community‐dwelling older adults.

Cycling Wheelchair Provides Enjoyable Pedaling Exercises with Increased Physiological Indexes

The cycling wheelchair (CWC) can be used as a pedaling exercise machine. However, physiological indexes in the CWC at various pedaling rates and the difference between the CWC and the existing pedaling machines such as the portable ergometer (ERG) are unclear. The aim of this study was to measure physiological indexes in the CWC at various pedaling rates and compare the CWC to the ERG, focusing on psychological stress. The present non-randomized crossover study included ten healthy men (22.3 ± 1.2 years) who performed pedaling exercise with the CWC and the ERG. Both experiments were composed of three pedaling exercise sessions (40, 60, and 80 rpm). Physiological indexes, consisting of oxygen consumption, heart rate, perceived breathlessness and leg fatigue, and salivary amylase activity (SAA), an index of psychological stress, were measured. The metabolic equivalent (METs) and the rate of change in SAA from rest to immediately after each pedaling session (ΔSAA) were calculated. In the CWC, all physiological indexes significantly increased with pedaling rates. The METs were 2.2 ± 0.3, 2.7 ± 0.4, and 3.5 ± 0.4 at 40, 60, and 80 rpm, respectively. In comparison between the CWC and the ERG, ΔSAA was lower in the CWC than in the ERG at 60 and 80 rpm. Our results indicate that the CWC pedaling can provide low or moderate intensity exercises with adjusting pedaling rates and is less stressful than the ERG. Thus, the CWC is a useful pedaling machine to promote regular and enjoyable exercises.