This study aimed to examine the effects of different voluntary forces of dynamic stretching (DS) on the maximal dorsiflexion angle of the ankle joint, passive torque, and subjective fatigue. Eleven healthy male participants were included in this study. Ankle angle and passive torque were measured before and after DS, which involved four sets of ankle plantarflexion-dorsiflexion performed for 30 s while sitting on an isokinetic machine with the knees fully extended. Although ankle plantarflexion was passively performed via an isokinetic machine, participants were instructed to perform the active ankle dorsiflexion under either of the following two conditions: with maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) (DSmax) or with submaximal voluntary contraction (DSsub). In DSsub, 80% MVC was set as the target voluntary force. Subjective fatigue during DS was measured using the visual analogue scale. In DSsub, participants actually demonstrated 87.0 ± 5.8% MVC. The maximal ankle dorsiflexion angle significantly increased after DS in both conditions. Subjective fatigue was significantly greater after two, three, and four sets of DSmax than after the corresponding repetitions of DSsub. Although passive torque at the maximal dorsiflexion angle tended to increase after stretching, no significant changes were observed in the passive torque from before to after DS. These results compared MVC with approximately 87% MVC, indicating that the voluntary force of DS did not influence the increment of the maximal dorsiflexion angle after DS. Our study findings also suggested that 80–90% MVC is recommended during DS to increase the maximal dorsiflexion angle without excessive subjective fatigue.

The extensive use of food additives has increased the phosphorous content of the modern diet, while calcium intake has remained similar to past levels according to the national standards of nutrient intake. Although exercise increase bone mineral content, the intake of phosphorus may change the exercise effect. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of jump exercise on bone and phosphate-calcium metabolism in rats consuming high levels of dietary phosphorous. Forty-two male Wistar rats aged 8 weeks were fed either a high-phosphorus diet with a 2.0 P/Ca ratio or a normal diet with a 1.0 P/Ca ratio. Rats from each dietary group were then further assigned to undergo 8 weeks of jump exercise or to be sedentary controls. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the bone mineral content (P<0.001), strength (P<0.001), transverse thickness (P<0.001), and longitudinal thickness (P<0.001) of the tibial diaphysis were increased by jump exercise in both dietary groups. The concentrations of serum inorganic phosphorus (P<0.001), FGF23 (P<0.001), and 1-25 (OH) vitamin D (P<0.001) were increased by a high phosphorus diet, and the concentrations of serum total calcium (P<0.05) and 1-25 (OH) vitamin D (P<0.05) were increased by jump exercise in both groups. In conclusion, exercise is important to increase bone mass and bone strength in a high phosphorus intake state.

A 40-year-old female visited our hospital because of malaise. She had no history of early loss of primary teeth nor family history of skeletal dysplasia. Laboratory examination showed low serum alkaline phosphatase levels of 18 U/L. In addition, hypozincemia was also observed, but alkaline phosphatase level did not increase after zinc replacement. Mediators, including calcium and phosphorus metabolism, were within normal range. X-ray examination showed no evidence of osteomalacia, but mineral bone density was slightly decreased compared with the young adult mean. Urine phosphoethanolamine level was increased, and we then suspected hypophosphatasia. Genetic tests detected ALPL gene heterozygous missense mutation (c.529G>A p.Ala177Thr and c.670A>G p.Lys224Glu) and adult-onset hypophosphatasia was finally diagnosed. It is important to evaluate alkaline phosphatase levels in the screening of patients with non-specific symptoms.