Biomedical subjects

Shuichi Kakurai

Publications and source records attributed to Shuichi Kakurai.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Relationship with dynamic balance function during standing and walking.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between dynamic balance functions in young adults and elderly adults while standing and walking. DESIGN: In standing balance tests, the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) of six combinations of three visual and two support-surface conditions was used to measure standing balance, and the Motor Coordination Test (MCT) was used to provoke automatic postural reactions through a series of sudden translations of support surface. The gait test measured maximum anterior acceleration (MAA) and maximum posterior acceleration (MPA) of the trunk during perturbed walking using a bilaterally separated treadmill, and calculated latency until MAA and latency until MPA. RESULTS: The elderly adults showed more significant functional decline than young adults in SOT1, SOT4, SOT6, medium intensity MCT, large intensity MCT, and MPA. In the correlation analysis of the outcome from the standing examinations, close correlations among SOT4, SOT5, and SOT6 conditions were observed in both groups of young adults and elderly adults. In the MCT, there was very close correlation between varied translation intensity in two groups. On the other hand, the only weak correlation between SOT and MCT findings was between SOT4 and large intensity MCT in elderly adults (r = -0.471, P = 0.049). In the gait test, although correlation was not significant in young adults, the significant correlations between MAA and latency until MAA (r = 0.705, P = 0.001) and latency until MAA and latency until MPA (r = 0.497, P = 0.036) were recognized in elderly adults. In the balance function findings of the standing examinations and the gait examinations, there was significant correlation between medium intensity MCT and latency until MAA (r = -0.552, P = 0.018) in young adults, and SOT6 and latency until MPA (r = -0.473, P = 0.047) in elderly adults. However, no relationship was observed in most of other factors. CONCLUSIONS: Most falls experienced by elderly people are caused by tripping or slipping during walking. The fact that walking balance function did not correlate with standing balance function indicates that multifaceted evaluation is important to comprehend dynamic balance function while standing and walking.

Acceleration↗

PubMed2003

Specific effects of balance and gait exercises on physical function among the frail elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the specific effects of balance and gait exercises among frail elderly individuals. DESIGN: A randomized three-group parallel controlled study. SETTING: Geriatric health services facility in Japan. SUBJECTS: Thirty-four frail elderly subjects attending the care facility were randomized into a control group, an exercise group with emphasis on balance or an exercise group with emphasis on gait re-education. INTERVENTIONS: The two exercise groups received balance or gait exercise for 40 minutes, 2-3 times weekly, for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: One Leg Standing Test, Functional Reach Test, Manual Perturbation Test, Functional Balance Scale, Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment, Timed 'Up and Go' Test and Stair Climbing/Descending Test. These assessments were performed before and after 12-week intervention. RESULTS: Comparison of the performance before and after intervention demonstrated significant improvement in One Leg Standing Test, Functional Reach Test and Functional Balance Scale in the balance exercise group, and Functional Balance Scale, Timed 'Up and Go' Test and Stair Descending Test showed improvement in the gait exercise group. All test items showed no significant differences in the control groups. Among the three groups, the balance exercise group showed more significant improvement in Functional Balance Scale, and the gait exercise group showed more significant improvement in Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment than the control group. The balance exercise group showed greater improvement in performance in Functional Reach Test than the gait exercise group. CONCLUSIONS: Balance exercises led to improvements in static balance function, and gait exercises resulted in improvements to dynamic balance and gait functions in the very frail elderly.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

[Relationship between lifestyle activities and physical functions in elderly persons utilizing care facilities].

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between outdoor-activity areas and physical functions such as muscle strength, postural balance, gait function, and to identify the physical functions related to accomplishment of outdoor activity in elderly persons utilizing outpatient rehabilitation facilities. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship among physical, social and intellectual activities and physical functions. The subjects were 265 elderly persons (average age: 80.3 +/- 7.0). They were classified into the indoor-activity group, neighborhood outdoor-activity group and long-distance outdoor-activity group, and functional differences among the three groups were examined. The Barthel index, one-leg standing time, timed up-and-go test and performance-oriented mobility assessment were significantly different among the three groups. These results suggested that physical functions have a close relationship with extension of the activity area. Based on 95% confidence intervals, elderly subjects with more than 95 points on the Barthel index seemed able to do neighborhood outdoor activities. Those who can finish timed up-and-go test in less than 18 seconds, and obtain 26 points in performance-oriented mobility assessment may be able to do long-distance outdoor-activities using a bus. Furthermore, it was found that physical function was largely affected by physical activity such as exercise habituation and house keeping. In conclusion the difference of the activity area as well as extended activities of ADL influenced the physical function, which was critical to prevent functional decline in elderly persons.

Activities of Daily Living↗