Objective：The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and predictive validity of the Judgement checklist for beneficial falls (hereafter called“Judgement checklist”) in stroke patients.Methods：Five raters evaluated the Judgement checklist for 20 fallers with stroke, and two raters reevaluated the same patients. Fleiss' Kappa and Cohen's Kappa for examination of inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were calculated. For predictive validity, beneficial fallers were identified from among 123 fallers with stroke, using the Judgement checklist. We compared the incidence rate of recurrent falls and motor Functional Independence Measure (FIM) in beneficial fallers and other fallers.Results：Fleiss' Kappa for Judgement was 0.838, and Cohen's Kappa was 1.000. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability for the Judgement checklist was high. The rate of recurrent falls in beneficial fallers was significantly lower than that in other fallers. The motor FIM in beneficial fallers was significantly higher than that in other fallers, and beneficial fallers tended to have above average ability to recover.Conclusion：The reliability and predictive validity of the Judgement checklist were shown to be high. The Judgment checklist was effective in evaluating the quality of falls and was useful for patient instruction after a fall.

Objective：The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and predictive validity of the Judgement checklist for beneficial falls (hereafter called “Judgement checklist”) in stroke patients.Methods：Five raters evaluated the Judgement checklist for 20 fallers with stroke, and two raters reevaluated the same patients. Fleiss' Kappa and Cohen's Kappa for examination of inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were calculated. For predictive validity, beneficial fallers were identified from among 123 fallers with stroke, using the Judgement checklist. We compared the incidence rate of recurrent falls and motor Functional Independence Measure (FIM) in beneficial fallers and other fallers.Results：Fleiss' Kappa for Judgement was 0.838, and Cohen's Kappa was 1.000. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability for the Judgement checklist was high. The rate of recurrent falls in beneficial fallers was significantly lower than that in other fallers. The motor FIM in beneficial fallers was significantly higher than that in other fallers, and beneficial fallers tended to have above average ability to recover.Conclusion：The reliability and predictive validity of the Judgement checklist were shown to be high. The Judgment checklist was effective in evaluating the quality of falls and was useful for patient instruction after a fall.

Background/Aims: Esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) contribute to the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, the causes of EMDs and their impact on gastroesophageal reflux disease-associated symptoms remain unknown. This study aims to elucidate clinical features associated with various types of EMDs in patients with heartburn symptoms. Methods: Of the 511 patients who underwent high-resolution manometry, 394 who were evaluated for heartburn symptoms were examined. Patients subjected to high-resolution manometry were classified into 4 groups: outflow obstruction group, hypermotility group, hypomotility group, and normal motility group. Symptoms were evaluated using 3 questionnaires. Patient characteristics and symptoms for each EMD type were compared with those of the normal motility group. Results: Of the 394 patients, 193 (48.9%) were diagnosed with EMDs, including 71 with outflow obstruction, 15 with hypermotility, and 107 with hypomotility. The mean dysphagia score was significantly higher in each of the 3 EMD groups compared with those with normal motility. The mean acid reflux and dyspepsia scores were significantly lower in the outflow obstruction group (P < 0.05). The mean body mass index and median Brinkman index were significantly higher in the hypermotility group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.018, respectively), whereas the mean diarrhea and constipation scores were significantly lower in the hypomotility group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of our study indicate that different EMDs have distinct characteristics. Cigarette smoking and high body mass index were associated with esophageal hypermotility. Assessment of the dysphagia symptom scores may help identify patients with EMDs.

Background/Aims: Esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) contribute to the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, the causes of EMDs and their impact on gastroesophageal reflux disease-associated symptoms remain unknown. This study aims to elucidate clinical features associated with various types of EMDs in patients with heartburn symptoms. Methods: Of the 511 patients who underwent high-resolution manometry, 394 who were evaluated for heartburn symptoms were examined. Patients subjected to high-resolution manometry were classified into 4 groups: outflow obstruction group, hypermotility group, hypomotility group, and normal motility group. Symptoms were evaluated using 3 questionnaires. Patient characteristics and symptoms for each EMD type were compared with those of the normal motility group. Results: Of the 394 patients, 193 (48.9%) were diagnosed with EMDs, including 71 with outflow obstruction, 15 with hypermotility, and 107 with hypomotility. The mean dysphagia score was significantly higher in each of the 3 EMD groups compared with those with normal motility. The mean acid reflux and dyspepsia scores were significantly lower in the outflow obstruction group (P < 0.05). The mean body mass index and median Brinkman index were significantly higher in the hypermotility group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.018, respectively), whereas the mean diarrhea and constipation scores were significantly lower in the hypomotility group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of our study indicate that different EMDs have distinct characteristics. Cigarette smoking and high body mass index were associated with esophageal hypermotility. Assessment of the dysphagia symptom scores may help identify patients with EMDs.