Regular physical activity has been regarded as a possible means to minimize the adverse physiological changes associated with aging, as well as to contribute to mental health and well-being in later life. To encourage increased participation in exercise among elderly people, and to emphasize the value of exercise in geriatric health care, this article provides an overview of the effects of primary care based physical activity on healthy aging. It is clear from the number of recently published papers on this topic that daily participation in 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity should be recommended for elderly people. The results of physical activity interventions focusing on balance and resistance training in both home- and group-based exercises suggest that it is possible to improve physical functions and to prevent falls and disabilities in daily living. Multiple-element interventions (e. g., advice, as well as strategies to increase self-efficacy and motivation, and to eliminate barriers to participation), tailored to individual activity preferences, are likely to be more successful than more prescriptive single-focus interventions. A home-based physical therapy program can successfully enhance the independence of the frail elderly in community dwellings.

Intracranial germ cell tumor is more common in Asian countries, including Japan, than in Western countries. The disease is characterized by juvenile onset with a mean age at diagnosis of 18 years. Most patients with intracranial germ cell tumors in the basal ganglia manifest paralytic symptoms, but few of these patients have been reported to have long-term progression of motor paralysis and rehabilitation interventions.A young male patient was diagnosed as having right basal ganglia germinoma and left hemiplegia at the age of 10 years. He received intervention and long-term follow-up for upper limb function. He underwent hybrid assistive neuromuscular dynamic stimulation therapy at the age of 14 years and modified constraint-induced movement therapy (modified CI therapy) at the age of 20 years. With such a gradual neurorehabilitation intervention, the Fugl-Meyer assessment score for the upper limb improved from 41 to 58 points, and the frequency of use of the paralyzed hand also improved. We hope that this report will provide guidance when considering treatment options for similar diseases in the future.

Intracranial germ cell tumor is more common in Asian countries, including Japan, than in Western countries. The disease is characterized by juvenile onset with a mean age at diagnosis of 18 years. Most patients with intracranial germ cell tumors in the basal ganglia manifest paralytic symptoms, but few of these patients have been reported to have long-term progression of motor paralysis and rehabilitation interventions.A young male patient was diagnosed as having right basal ganglia germinoma and left hemiplegia at the age of 10 years. He received intervention and long-term follow-up for upper limb function. He underwent hybrid assistive neuromuscular dynamic stimulation therapy at the age of 14 years and modified constraint-induced movement therapy (modified CI therapy) at the age of 20 years. With such a gradual neurorehabilitation intervention, the Fugl-Meyer assessment score for the upper limb improved from 41 to 58 points, and the frequency of use of the paralyzed hand also improved. We hope that this report will provide guidance when considering treatment options for similar diseases in the future.