The aim of this study was to evaluate the transition of the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) and the iliotibial band (ITB) hardness after repetitive hip abduction exercise (RE) and the effect of vibration stimulation immediately after RE. Nine healthy man performed the RE (20 reps×5 sets) and the TFL and the ITB hardness were measured before and after RE. Participants were performed RE by 2 conditions(i.e. with and without vibration stimulation after RE). The results showed that with no vibration condition, hardness of the TFL significantly increased immediately, 15 min, 30 min, and 24 hours and the ITB significantly increased immediately, and 24 hours after RE compared with before RE, respectively. With vibration condition, vibration after RE, both of the TFL and the ITB hardness significantly increased only immediately after compared with before RE. On the other hand, TFL and ITB hardness significantly decreased 15 min, 30 min, and 24 hours compared with immediately after RE. In addition, with vibration condition, TFL and ITB hardness significantly decreased 15 min, 30 min, 24 hours compared with no vibration condition, respectively. This study indicated that the ITB hardness might be increased with excessive activity of TFL, and the vibration stimulation immediately after exercise is effective for decreasing the hardness.

Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread worldwide. In Japan, From April 16 to May 25, 2020, a state of emergency was declared and people were “strongly requested to refrain from going out unnecessarily and thoroughly reduce contact with others.” As a result, the number of steps of all generations was expected to be lower than usual due to the novel coronavirus disease pandemic. This study investigated the weather walking steps decrease in the collegiate student due to COVID-19. A total of 221 collegiate students used their smartphones to enter the average number of steps taken every month from January to May. The number of steps taken by all students was 4,988±2,345 steps in January, 5182±2,516 steps in February, 5,118±2,291 steps in March, 3,281±1,689 steps in April, and 2,834±1,676 steps in May. A comparison between sex groups showed that the number of steps in April and May was significantly different (p<0.05), which means that the steps of women group was lower than that of men. These results suggest that the number of steps taken by students decreased with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease.

INTRODUCTIONAn observational study was carried out to estimate the strength of the relationships among balance, mobility and falls in hemiplegic stroke inpatients. The objective was to examine factors that may aid in the prediction of the likelihood of falls in stroke patients.

METHODSA total of 53 stroke patients (30 male, 23 female) aged 67.0 ± 11.1 years were interviewed regarding their fall history. Physical performance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale. Variables that differed between fallers and non-fallers were identified, and a discriminant function analysis was carried out to determine the combination of variables that effectively predicted fall status.

RESULTSOf the 53 stroke patients, 19 were fallers. Compared with the non-fallers, the fallers scored low on the FIM, and differed with respect to age, time from stroke onset, length of hospital stay, Brunnstrom recovery stage and admission BBS score. Discriminant analysis for predicting falls in stroke patients showed that admission BBS score was significantly related to the likelihood of falls. Moreover, discriminant analysis showed that the use of a significant BBS score to classify fallers and non-fallers had an accuracy of 81.1%. The discriminating criterion between the two groups was a score of 31 points on the BBS.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study suggest that BBS score is a strong predictor of falls in stroke patients. As balance is closely related to the risk of falls in hospitalised stroke patients, BBS might be useful in the prediction of falls.

Accidental Falls ; prevention & control ; Aged ; Discriminant Analysis ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postural Balance ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Stroke ; complications ; Stroke Rehabilitation