[Objective] The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of press tack needles (PTNs) on subjective assessment of symptoms such as heaviness, stiffness and lassitude in the lower limbs during walking, or in everyday life. Sham PTNs are used for the purpose of comparison.
[Methods] The subject is a male in his seventies who has a daily routine of walking 10,000 steps; experiences heaviness, stiffness and lassitude in his lower limbs; and has spinal or internal disease. Intervention: PTNs or sham PTNs are randomly chosen and worn on the subject's body for two days. The subject fills out a questionnaire regarding subjective assessment of symptom relief in his lower limbs during the following three time periods; in advance of the use of PTN, in the evening during the use of PTN, and the following evening. PTNs are applied to a total of 10 sites around both sides of his lower limbs depending on symptomatic or tender areas. Assessment: A questionnaire, in which a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is introduced, is filled out three times per trial, that is, thirty records from ten trials are finally kept. Differences can be seen in the result answered the following evening. The results regarding the use of PTNs and the results regarding the use of sham PTN are analyzed respectively by randomization test (R test).
[Result] Significant difference was shown in the heaviness of the lower limbs for both the PTN and sham in the evening of the next day (P < 0.05). Significant difference was shown in the stiffness of the lower limbs for both the PTN and sham in the evening of the next day (P < 0.05).
[Conclusion] A PTN is attached for two days when there is a feeling in the lower limbs of heaviness and stiffness, even with spinal disease, liver disease or varicose veins in the lower extremities. It is suggested that PTNs are effective in decrease of symptoms.

Research highlights the importance of maintaining pre-diagnosis physical activity levels for breast cancer survivors post-treatment. However, many survivors have difficulty engaging in physical activity due to cancer-related fatigue. The aim of this study was to explore how participation in a 12-week yoga intervention impacted fatigue and physical activity. 20 individuals with breast cancer diagnosis participated in a 12-week yoga intervention. The yoga intervention included modified hatha yoga postures and consisted of 10 min. of warm-up, 45 min. of yoga postures, 10 min. of breath work, and 10 min. of supine resting pose (savasana), for a total of 75 min. Assessments were administered at 3 time points: pre (T1), post (T2) yoga intervention and at a 12-week follow-up (T3). Measures included self-reported fatigue (Cancer Fatigue Scale) and physical activity (accelerometer step counts). One-way ANOVA were used to examine how fatigue scores and steps counts were changed over the course of the intervention. Total fatigue score (FS) and daily step (DS) counts at each time point were T1 (FS=21.6±8.9, DS=7709±2036), T2 (FS=14.0±8.3, DS=8429±2722), and T3 (FS=16.8±6.9, DS=8406±3389). Significant improvements in physical fatigue T1 (p<0.05, η² = 0.14) and cognitive fatigue (p<0.01, η² = 0.11) were seen at T1-T2. No significant changes were seen in psychological fatigue. 12 participants (65%) had high fatigue levels at T1, which decreased to 5 participants (27.8%) at T2. 12 participants (66.7%) increased daily steps at T2 and 8 participants (44.4%) continued to increase at T3. There were negative correlations between fatigue scores and step counts at all time points (r=-0.45~-0.55). Participation in a 12-week yoga program was associated with improved cancer-related fatigue.

Gas exchange kinetics during constant-load exercise were measured to investigate the possibility that excess CO₂ output during exercise might not be dependent on hyperventilation. Five healthy males performed twelve minutes of cycle exercise, including two minutes of 0 W pedaling, at 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80% of their maximal work rate (WRmax) determined on the basis of preliminary ramp exercise of 30 W/min. Minute ventilation, O₂ uptake, and CO₂ output were measured breath-by-breath. Excess CO₂ output and CO₂ stores were calculated, assuming that the respiratory quotient (RQ) in tissue is constant during constant-load exercise and that the respiratory exchange ratio at the mouth level is equal to the RQ during the steady-state phase. Excess CO₂ output was observed at levels of WR greater than 40% WRmax after initial CO₂ storage, where VC_O2/V_E decreased gradually as though in parallel with the kinetics of CO₂ storage. VO₂/V_E, however, appeared to be constant after the initial peak. These data suggest that V_E is closely correlated with V_O2 rather than V_CO2 during constant-load exercise, indicating that excess CO₂ output to compensate lactate production is independent of hyperventilation.

A study was conducted to ascertain the relationship between oxygen uptake (Vo₂) and vertical velocity using a pedal-stepping stair simulator. Ten healthy volunteers performed fbur kinds of graded exercise using a stair simulator (SS), whose pitches were set at 80, 100, and 120 beat⋅min^-1, and also an electrically braked bicycle ergometer (BE) . Work rate on the SS was detemined on the basis of the vertical pedal velocity, in accord with the climbingvelocity for stairs. The incremental rate was set at 0.34 W⋅kg^-1 every 3 min. Heart rate and Vo₂ were measured during the final minute of every stage. Both heart rate and Vo₂ during SS were significantly lower than those on BE at the same level of work intensity. Regression equations between Vo₂ (ml⋅kg^-1⋅min^-1) and velocity (v: m⋅s^-1) were as follows;
pitch 80: Vo₂=1.00×v+0.06
pitch 100: Vo₂=0.88×v+1.58
pitch 120: Vo₂=0.84×v+2.13
These equations give a lower value of Vo₂ than the previous equation based on stair-climbingvelocity reported by the American College of Sports Medicine. Although the individual relationship between Vo₂ and heart rate was closely linear, there was a significant effect ofexercise mode and stepping pitch. These results indicate that the work intensity of pedalstepping exercise with a stair simulator is overestimated if it is calculated based on theprevious equation for stair-climbing.

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of exercise intensity on the recovery of autonomic nervous activity after exercise. Ten subjects performed four kinds of 10-min cycle exercise with target heart rates of 100, 120, 140, and 160 beats/min (THR 100, THR 120, THR 140 and THR 160, respectively) following 5 min of exercise to increase the heart rate to the target level. The beat-by-beat variability of the R-R interval was recorded throughout the experiment including the 5-min pre-exercise control period and the 30-min recovery period. Spectral analysis (fast Fourier transform) was applied to every 5-min R-R interval data set before, during ( 5-10 min) and after exercise at the target heart rate. The low- (0.05-0, 15 Hz : P₁) and high- (0, 15-1.0 Hz : P_h) frequency areas were calculated to evaluate sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) nervous activities as P₁/P_hand P_h, respectively. During exercise, SNS of THR 160 was significantly higher, and PNS of THR 140 and THR 160 was significantly lower than the respective pre-exercise values (p<0.05) . Althouglt all indicators recovered to, or overshot the pre-exercise values at 20-30 min after THR 100 and THR 120, heart rate and SNS were still higher and PNS was still lower than the pre-exercise value after THR 160. These results suggest that the recovery of cardiac autonomic nervous activity is slower after high-intensity exercise than after low-intensity exercise, and that the recovery of autonomic nervous activity after acute exercise does not always corrrespond linearly on the exercise intensity.

The purpose of this study was to compare the thigh muscle oxygenation state of competitive road cyclists and non-cyclists during varied pedaling frequency cycling. Six male college road cyclists (CY group) and five male students (NC group) performed four sets of cycling bouts, consisting of 2 minutes of warm up (60 rpm, 50 watts) followed by 5 minutes of pedaling (150 watts) using an electro-magnetic braked cycle ergometer at 40, 60, 90, and 120 rpm. Oxygenated hemoglobin and/or myoglobin (Oxy-Hb/Mb) and deoxygenated Hb/Mb (Deoxy-Hb/Mb) concentrations in the vastus lateralis were measured by near infrared spatially resolved spectroscopy. The Oxy-Hb/Mb level was significantly higher in the CY group than the NC group. But there was no significant intraction effect of the group and pedaling rate on the Oxy-Hb/Mb level. These results suggest that the changes in muscle oxygenation state according to pedaling cadence do not differ between cyclists and non-cyclists. And though the whole body work efficiency decreased according to increasing pedaling cadence, Oxy-Hb/Mb and Deoxy-Hb/Mb levels in the vastus lateralis remained unchanged up to 90 rpm. However, at 120 rpm, the Oxy-Hb/Mb level decreased remarkably and the Deoxy-Hb/Mb level increased. These results suggest that deoxygenation in the vastus lateralis at 120 rpm was higher than that for lower frequencies. And, conversely, oxygen uptake in the vastus lateralis might have increased steeply at 120 rpm. It may be that the maximum pedaling cadence that would not reduce work efficiency in the vastus lateralis is around 90 rpm.

Objective : The present study examined the effects of the self-management print media intervention on improving quality of life.Methods : The study was designed as an intervention study. We conducted questionnaire research on women (JKOM, Japanese style CSQ) over 40 years old who had knee pain. After program relevance determination, self-management print media intervention and an exercise intervention were implemented. The participants were 63 women (self-management print media intervention), and 80 women (exercise intervention). We examined valiances of pain intensity and activity limitation and pain coping strategies on each intervention using Wilcoxon signed-ranks test.Results : Pain intensity and activity limitation improved in both interventions. On the other hand, pain coping strategies differed. In the self-management print media intervention, the scores of diverting attention, praying or hoping, increasing activity level and increasing pain behavior significantly decreased. For the exercise intervention, a significant decrease was seen in coping, self-statements, catastrophizing, increasing activity level, and increasing pain behavior.Conclusion : The results indicated that the self-management print media intervention had greater effect than the exercise intervention for women with knee pain. As one health assistance measure, this self-management print media intervention should become widely used.

The purpose of this study was to explore patterns of lifestyle walking behavior among Japanese adults aged 30-49 and to identify their sociodemographic characteristics.A sample of 5,009 was collected from registrants of a social research company. The study was a cross-sectional survey using the Internet. Measured variables were walking behavior in five domains (commuting, working, shopping, exercising and other movement) and sociodemographic characteristics. Hierarchical cluster analysis was utilized to identify walking patterns.Four walking behavior clusters were identified: cluster 1 (N=1,089) walking while commuting, working and shopping; cluster 2 (N=381) walking while commuting; cluster 3 (N=1,257) walking for exercise; cluster 4 (N=1,161) walking while shopping. Cluster 1 had the highest proportion of walkers who met physical activity recommendations. Also it had a high proportion of women who were unmarried, employed, without children, or finished university or graduate school. Cluster 2 showed a high proportion of men who were married, with children, with high household income, or finished university or graduate school, and women who were married, employed, without children, with high household income, or finished university or graduate school. Cluster 3 had a high proportion of women aged 40-49. Cluster 4 showed a low proportion of men with high household income and a high proportion of women who were married, unemployed, or with children.This study indicated that walking behavior patterns in both genders was different depending on marital status, number of children, educational level and household income. In addition, the employment status of women had apparent effects on these patterns.

A study was conducted to investigate the determinants of exercise intensity using a rowing ergometer from the viewpoint of effects on oxygen uptake. Eight healthy males performed incremental exercises for three minutes at each intensity on a rowing ergometer and a bicycle ergometer, which were controlled to exert a constant preset power. Rowing pitches were set at 17, 20 and 25 strokes/min. Mechanical power for the rowing ergometer, heart rate, and oxygen uptake were measured during the final minute of each respective stage at the set load. The mechanical power which was actually exerted on the rowing ergometer increased with the rowing pitch, even though it was controlled at a constant level for each respective set load. Oxygen uptake increased with rowing pitch as well as the set load. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the rowing pitch had a greater effect on oxygen uptake than the set load. Gross efficiency varied widely with the set load, from 3.6% to 18.7%, which was a lower range than that for a bicycle ergometer. The relationship between individual heart rate and oxygen uptake for rowing exercise was similar to that for cycling exercise, indicating that heart rate is preferable for the precise prescription of exercise intensity on a rowing ergometer if the HR-VO₂ relationship is previously determined.