3.An Electromyographic Study of the Lower-limb Muscle Activities during Water Walking
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2010;73(3):159-166
In order to know the lower-limb muscle activities in water walking, we measured the lower-limb muscle activities in forward, backward, and lateral walking on land and in water for 5 healthy females and studied to compare their muscle activities.
1. Free walking in water was greatly influenced by buoyancy than by viscosity resistance of water, and the activities of most muscles measured in all walking patterns were equivalent to those of free walking on land or decreased.
2. Because labored walking in water obtains muscle propulsion compared to free walking on land, the amount of activity of all muscles except the middle gluteal muscle and the gastrocnemial muscle in forward walking and that of the adducent muscle group of the hip joint and the long head of biceps femoris muscle in backward walking and lateral walking significantly increased compared to those of free walking on land. A detailed analysis of the study indicated the possibility of selective muscle training such as labored backward walking in water for the long head of biceps femoris muscle and labored lateral walking in water for the adducent muscle group of the hip joint.
4.Effect of Raspberry Ketone Bathing on the Skin Blood Flow and Endocrine System
Masaharu MAEDA ; Masato SAITO ; Takeshi IKEMOTO
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2004;67(4):215-224
To investigate the scientific grounds for the effect of raspberry ketone bathing that is claimed to increase energy consumption by stimulating metabolism, a bathing experiment was conducted in 10 normal healthy adults.
As a result, no appreciable difference was detected among tap water, CO2-enriched water and raspberry water in respect to blood pressure, pulse rate and depth thermometer readings, which suggested that bathing in warm raspberry water was safe, producing no marked load on the cardiovascular system. Changes in the skin surface temperature indicated slow elevation of body temperature, from which bathing in warm raspberry water was considered to produce no marked load on the body even if bathing lasted relatively long as compared with bathing in warm tap water or CO2-enriched warm water. From the skin tissue blood flow data, it seemed likely that the increase in blood flow caused by bathing in warm raspberry water was produced, not by vasodilatation as in CO2-enriched warm water bathing, but by such mechanisms as acceleration of metabolism. Data on insulin suggested that bathing in warm raspberry water affected the carbohydrate metabolism as compared with that in warm tap water or CO2-enriched warm water. Since there was no difference among warm water groups in changes in the adrenocortical hormone “cortisol”, raspberry ketone bathing was considered not to have specific activity. Data on NK cell activity showed that bathing in warm raspberry water produced no appreciable effect on the immune system. It was suggested that measurement of β-endorphin should be performed after adjustment of psychological environments.
The results of expiration air analysis also indicated that, while bathing in CO2-enriched warm water was related to changes in the cardiovascular system, bathing in warm raspberry ketone water produced no appreciable load on the cardiovascular system but consumed energy through acceleration of metabolic activities.
5.Effects of the Bath Salt with Salt Lake Mineral on Human Body
Masaharu MAEDA ; Masato SAITO ; Mari HAGIHARA
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2007;70(2):103-106
The Salt Lake mineral was dissolved in the warm water to develop bath salt that contained the Salt Lake mineral with the element of seawater, and we made comparative study of the effects with the tap warm water for five healthy adults.
As a result, the warm water with the Salt Lake mineral increased in the changes of the surface skin temperature in the forehead, the deep thermometer in front of chest and the tissue blood flow of thigh skin compared to the tap warm water.
Therefore, the warm water with the Salt Lake mineral was suspected that the thermo effects was good compared to the tap warm water.
It seemed that it was possible to use it safely as bath salt, for it did not change the blood pressure, the heart rate, the oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide exhaust. Also, the abnormality of the skin was not additionally recognized.
6.The Effects of High Concentration Artificial CO2 Warm Water Bathing for Arteriosclerotic Obstruction (ASO)
Masaharu MAEDA ; Hisae HAYASHI ; Masaki YOKOYA
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2003;66(3):156-164
The ulcer of the foot induced by arteriosclerotic obstruction (ASO) is poor prognosis that often comes to amputation. In the meantime, the CO2 warm water is reported with that it has the powerful vasodilator action. In this research, it was made that the effects for the foot ulcer using the high concentration CO2 warm water bathing was examined to be a purpose.
The subjects are the 49 cases (average 66-years, male: female=20: 29) degree of Fontaine II-IV. We prepared high concentrated CO2 warm water in approx. 1, 000ppm at 38— technically utilizing an artificial gas-permeable dialysis membrane (MRE-SPA, Mitsubishi Rayon Engineering Co., Ltd.). Using the partial bathing with this CO2 warm water, the progress was observed on the improvement of foot ulcer in the bathing of 10min. as the period, and of 1-2time/day. In addition, the peripheral tissue bloodflow and the transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure in dorsum pedis during the warm water bathing were observed.
The obvious improvement on each case of ulcer was confirmed within several months. The peripheral tissue blood flow (before bathing 1.1±0.5ml/min/100g) was increased after 1min and it rose to 4.4±1.8 after 10min from the beginning to bathing (p<0.01). Afterwards, it immediately returned to the previous value after the end. In the meantime, though the transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure was 40.7±18.3mmHg prior to the bathing, it increases after 10min with 50.7±18.2mmHg (p<0.05), and it was maintained at 50.3±20.8mmHg in 20min after bathing (p<0.01). And, in each Fontaine groups it significantly increase with the peripheral tissue bloodflow and the transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure.
As a conclusion, the partial bathing of the foot with high concentration CO2 warm water is effective as the therapy for the foot ulcer caused by ASO. The mechanism indicated that the rise of transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure and peripheral tissue bloodflow was concerned without relating to the seriousness of ASO.