Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the exercise program for Osteoarthritis of the knee (knee OA) which American Geriatrics Society Panel on Exercise and Osteoarthritis (AGS) recommends on physical function in Japanese independent elderly with knee joint pain.Methods: Subjects of this study were 36 (7 males : aged 74.7±5.1 years, 29 females : aged 72.3±4.6 years) community-dwelling independent elderly with knee joint pain who voluntary participated in our exercise program. The program consisted of massage around knee, flexibility exercises in knee and ankle joints, and leg muscle development exercises. They performed these exercises twelve times for a month at regular intervals. Physical function were evaluated by the muscle strength during knee extension and flexion, the range of motion of knee joint and the center of pressure during upright standing. There were three times measurements at one month before starting of the program (the 1 st), immediately before beginning of the program (the 2 nd), and just after ending of the program (the 3 rd). Difference between change in measurement values during the observation period (subtract the 1 st from the 2 nd ; Δ1) and that during intervention period (subtract the 2 nd from the 3 rd ; Δ2) were analyzed by Students't-test.Results and Conclusion: There was significant difference between Δ1 (0.01±0.05 kg/wt) and Δ2 (0.04±0.05 kg/wt) on maximal muscle strength during knee extension. This result suggested that the exercise program recommended by AGS was improved the leg muscle strength in Japanese elderly with knee joint pain. However the effects of the exercise intervention were not clarified on the other physical function. As for the reasons it seems to affect the initial level of joint pain and physical function in the subjects. Therefore, reexamination of this point with a greater number of samples which the worse level of knee joint pain is needed in the future.

Purpose : To investigate the cooling effect on muscles prior to continuous isometric muscle contraction. Furthermore, tissue compliance, pressure pain threshold, deep tissue temperature, and tissue circulation volume were measured to investigate the cooling effect on a physical reaction. Method : The biceps brachii muscle was contracted isometrically and continuously at the 90(-) degree in flexion position with 40% of maximum contraction. The task was ceased when subjects could not keep over 70 degrees of elbow flexion. An injection type cooling stimulator was used on the biceps brachii muscle as a cooling modality. Results : The continuous contraction time in the cooled group increased significantly compared with the control group. In addition, tissue compliance and pressure pain threshold showed significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion : This study suggested that the isometric continuous contraction time in cooled muscles can be extended to 40% of MVC. The inhibition of muscle metabolism, an increase in the pressure pain threshold, and tissue compliance may affect muscle endurance.