The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the waving move-ments of upper extremities in gymnastics.
First, a photograph of the waving movements of a trained female was taken with 16 mm cinecamera. The following results energed from the motion analysis
1. The elbow joint moved within a range of about 10 degrees in the horizontal direction, and within a range of 60 to 70 degrees in the vertical direcion.
Therefore, the width of movement was remarkably extensive in the vertical direction. Accordingly, four trained and four untrained females who were to discuss the above characteristics, the movements were recorded using an electrogoniogram for the elbow joint, and an electromyogram for the m. deltoideus, m. triceps brachii and m. biceps brachii, respectively.
The electrogoniogram readings were analysed as follows
Calculations were made of the time of extension (T_E) and flexion (T_F), and the angle of extension (θ_E) and flexion (θ_F) of the elbow joint
2. There did not appear to be a significant relationship between θE and θF in either group.
3. In the trained group, T_E was longer than T_F. However, with the untrained group, T_E and T_F were much the same. T_E/θ_E and T_F/θ_F of the elbow joint were calculated, indicating the time taken for movement through one degree.
4. It was recognized as significant difference that the trained group moved the elbow joint more slowly than the untrained group.
From the present studied, the properties of the muscular contraction which was activated by the waving movement, were considered to be different for the two groups.
Reaction time of the m. tricepts brachii of all subjects was measured in the various conditions. Reaction time of muscular contraction (CR) was rapidly extended the forearm to horizontal level, and muscular relaxation with (PR) and without (AR) contralateral muscular contraction (m. biceps brachii) was the opposite movement to CR.
5. Comparison between CR and AR : In the trained group, AR was faster than CR, but in the untrained group, the opposite was the case. However, no significant difference was recognized
6. Comparison between CR and PR, AR and PR : For most members of the trained group, PR was significantly faster than CR and AR, but this was not so with the untrained subjects.
Therefore, the differences for each person were considered to be dependent on inhibition in the nervous system. The characteristics may be connected with the activity of the inhibitory system

In the present report, significances of voluntary muscular relaxations were studied. Pattern of relaxation in elbow flexor muscles was examined in two conditions, with and without relaxation of contralateral muscles (Active Relaxation : AR, Passive Relaxation : PR, respectively) .
EMG patterns of biceps were obtained in various experimental conditions to investigate characteristics of each muscular relaxations. Arm flexor strength was exerted with saw-tooth and square forms produced by Low Frequency Generator, and in other case the strength was voluntarily exerted as fast as possible.
Muscular relaxation time was determined by the difference between begining of tension decrease and vanishing point of biceps spike discharge.
The results were ;
1) PR was faster than AR, but both relaxation times were prolonged following the increment of initial tension. There were no significant differences in the times between left and right arms, and between supine and prone positions of the forearm. Relaxation time in the square form muscular exertion was the fastest in AR.
2) Quickness of the biceps relaxation in PR was significantly correlated with the velocity of extensor muscular contraction. (r=0.41)
3) However, a transient excess tension development over the initial tension was observed at the initiation of relaxation in both conditions (less than 1 kg and 100 msec in most cases) . Both the excess tension produced and its duration were greater when the initial tension was higher. The rate of rise (g/msec) in PR was higher than AR.
These results suggested that each muscular relaxation in this study was conducted by different inhibitory systems. The inhibitory system in Active Relaxation might be localized in higher level of the central nervous system than that of Passive Relaxation

In this study, the rats were subjected to a partial denervation of the soleus muscle at the age of three weeks. After this, histochemical investigations were carried out to establish what kind of changes had occurred in the differentiation of the muscle fiber type as a result of this partial drop in muscle activity.
The partial denervation was performed on the sinistral rat's soleus muscle, roughly 20% of the nerve bundles. After this, the dextral soleus muscle was used as the contralateral control muscle and excised after two, four and eight weeks, respectively. Frozen sections of muscle were stained with HE and myosin ATPase. The cross sectioned specimen were used for determining the muscle fiber count and type II fiber count.
The results thus obtained show that, compared with the contralateral control muscle, the partially denervated muscle have an approximately 5% reduced muscle fiber count two and four weeks after the partial denervation, and the type II fiber count, too, decreased to approximately 2/3 and 1/5, respectively. However, at eight weeks post-operatively, the muscle fiber count for the partially denervated muscle become almost the same as that for the contralateral control muscle, while the type II fiber count has, at this stage, recovered to approximately half its contralateral control muscle.
From these observations, it had been concluded that the reduction in muscle activity due to its partial denervation continues to act as a causal factor in the fiber type transformation untill four weeks after the partial denervation. The muscles evaluted eight weeks postoperatively showed an increase in type II fiber over the count determined four weeks after the partial denervation, and the muscle fiber count had also developed at eight weeks to value identical to that of the contralateral control muscles. Therefore, it has been concluded that the fiber type transformation in the muscle eight weeks after partial denervation is attributable to the reinnervation of the denervated muscle fibers due to the remaining intact motoneurons and to the resulting changes in motor unit size.

Changes in the numbers of muscle fibers and proliferating cells detected by immunohistochemistry were studied in correlation with various growth parameters including changes in body weight, lower hindlimb length, muscle length, muscle weight and age in Wistar-strain rats at various developmental stages. The total fiber number in plantaris (PLA) muscles increased gradually between 2 weeks and 10 weeks of age (about 300g body weight), and then remained constant between 10, 000 and 11, 000 these after. In contrast, proliferating cells labeled by bromodeoxyuridine decreased gradually during the same period, and were hardly evident after 10 weeks. In the growth curves for the body weight, lower hindlimb length, muscle weight, and the length of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle, turning points were observed at 10 weeks (300 g body weight), respectively, suggesting that the turning point between growth in length and growth in width occurred at this point. Furthermore, the growth curves for the body weight and PLA muscle weight were correlated between 2 and 20 weeks, including the turning point. Therefore it is suggested that the development of muscle weight from 2 to 10 weeks depends mainly on the increment of fiber number (hyperplasia), whereas development after 10 weeks depends on the increment of individual fiber diameter (hypertrophy), in relation to the tendency for an increase in fiber number and a decrease in proliferating cells. These results indicate that maturation of skeletal muscle in male Wistar rats occurs at 10 weeks of age and a body weight of 300g. Accordingly, these facts should be considered when investigating muscle hypertrophy or hyperplasia.

We studied the effects of 8 weeks of endurance training on the metabolism in rats. Different treadmill speeds, which corresponded to 2 mM and 4 mM blood lactate concentrations, were used to vary the intensity of the endurance training. After 8 weeks of training, blood lactate concentrations had decreased whereas β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity had increased. Citrate synthase activity in the m.extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and m.tibialis anterior (TA) of rats trained at the 4 mM level was higher than in rats trained at the 2 mM level and in control rats. In addition, muscle glycogen content in the hindlimb was higher and muscle TG content in the m.soleus (SOL) was lower in trained rats. These results suggest that training at 4 mM level significantly increases muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity, and fatty acids are utilized as an energy source regardless of exercise intensity at least in the 2 to 4 mM intensity range. We concludes that an intensity of 4 mM is a useful level with which to elucidate the various adaptations to endurance training.

At early stage of rats after birth, each innervation muscle fiber is supplied by two or more motor axones which converge on to a single end-plate and become one single axon in future. And undifferentiated cells frequently observed in the interspace among muscle fibers. About 70% of number of total muscle fibers in soleus developed in 21st day after birth.
Effect of denervation on the process of muscle development is studied in this paper. Left saiatic nerve of the rats was cut at 1st, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after birth. After 2 and 4 weeks, soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscle of both legs were dissected. Right side muscles used as control. Each muscle was cut transversely at the muscle belly and quickly frozen. Frozen sections, about 10 pm thick, were stained with hematoxylin eosin and other histochemical agents. Many optical micrographs of 50 or 100 magnifications were obtained from one cross-sectioned specimen. Number of muscle fibers were calculated on combined micrographs.
The results were as follows : (1) At 2 and 4 weeks after denervation, percentage loss of muscle weight was always higher than the loss of muscle cross-sectional area. At 2 and 4 weeks after denervation, the muscle weights were reduced to 45-80% and 70-90% of the control. And denervation muscle weights highly reduced in order that of let, 7th, , 14th and 21st eray rate after birth (2) At 2 and 4 weeks after denervation, number of soleus muscle fibers were reduced to 20-50% and 50-70% of the control. (3) At 2 weeks after denervation the reduction of number of muscle fibers of 1st day old rats was smaller than that of 7 days old rats.
First and second results suggest that muscle development is certainly influenced by neurotrophic foctors. But from third result it is possible to think that muscle development at 1st day old rats is influenced by inheritfactors of the muscle.

Five long-distance runners and five non-athletes were examined on lipoprotein metabolism at rest, during, and after pedaling exercise (60% of the maximal oxygen uptake) . At rest, the concentrations of the cholesterol (Cho.), triglyceride (TG), and phospholipid (PL) of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were kept at low level in the longdistance group compared with the non-athletes. The difference is significant (p<0.01) . On the other hand, the levels of the Cho, and PL of high density lipoprotein (HDL) were maintained high (p<0.05) . The concentrations of the TG of VLDL are in negative correlation with those of the Cho. (p<0.01) and PL (p<0.001) of HDL at rest. A positive correlation between Cho. and PL of HDL was also noted (p<0.001) . The TG of the VLDL decreased gradually with pedaling exercise in the long-distance group, reaching about 12 percent below the resting value just after exercise. However, no apparent change was noted in the non-athletes.
The results obtained indicate that the long-distance runners, compared with nonathletes, tends to use lipids in order to produce energy for exercise. There is little possibility of transferring from the Cho. and PL of VLDL to the lipoprotein during exercise for the results of no change in concentrations of the Cho. and PL of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL. We concluded that the Cho, and PL of VLDL could gradually transfer to HDL by a heap of the endurance exercise for long period.

Fifty-two trained athletes (15 short-distance runners, 20 long-distance runners, and 17 jumpers) and 5 controls were examined for leg length discrepancy, pelvic obliquity, scoliosis, leg strength discrepancy, and leg injury. Forty-seven subjects (90%) in the trained group and 4 subjects (80%) in the control group had leg length discrepancies. Differences of the femur lengths and tibia lengths, not of the joint space or soft tissue, were main factors of leg length discrepancies. There were no significant differences in leg length discrepancy and in pelvic obliquity between the trained and control groups. The trained group had twice as many leg length discrepancies and pelvic obliquities as the control group in average. A positive correlation between leg length discrepancy and pelvic obliquity was noted (p<0.001) . Among the jumpers, those who had suffered from hamstring muscle strain showed significantly more discrepancies in the right and left knee flexion strengths than the jumpers who had never experienced such muscle strain (p<0.41) . The rate of knee flexion strength against extension strength was significantly lower in the jumpers who had experienced knee joint injuries (p<0.01) .
The results indicate that leg length discrepancy affects on the pelvic obliquity and scoliosis. Differences of the femur lengths and tibia lengths were main factors of length discrepancy. It is possible that an inequality of load on the right and left legs may cause leg length discrepancy.

This study was designed to investigate the change of postural control while repeatedly imposing the horizontal floor vibration in upright stance. A vibration table mounted with a force platform was vibrated sinusoidaly in anteroposterior direction under the condition of 2.5 cm amplitude and 0.5 Hz frequency. Ten female subjects, aged from 18 to 21 years, were equally divided into O-group and C-group. The subjects maintained the standing posture on the vibration table, for one minute with open and closed eyes in both groups in the first trial, for two minutes with open eyes in O-group and with closed eyes in C-group in the 2 nd to 11 th trials, and for one minute with closed eyes in O-group and open eyes in C-group in the 12th trial. The fluctuation of the center of foot pressure (CFP) in anteroposterior direction and EMGs of m. tibialis anterior and m. gastrocnemius were analyzed. The controllability of standing posture was evaluated by the mean speed of the CFP fluctuation. The muscle activity was examined with EMGs. The results were summarized as follows :
1) In a great number of subjects, the controllability of standing posture rapidly improved till the 3rd trial in each eye condition, while after the 3 rd trial changes of controllability were relatively small. Accordingly, it was suggested that by investigating the change of controllability for 5 trials, we could sufficiently detected an individual difference of the learning ability of postural control.
2) At the beginning of the practice, the controllability with open eyes was greatly superior to that with closed eyes. Although the difference of controllability between open and closed eyes decreased with advance of practice, in the 11 th trial that difference was obviously observed.
3) In a great number of subjects, the phase lag of the CFP fluctuation to the floor vibration increased till the 3rd trial according to improving controllability. In some subjects, the change of controllability was relatively small, the change of phase lag was small and also, correlations between the postural controllability and the phase lag weren't significant.
4) M. gastrocnemius was active when the CFP fluctuated forward and m. tibialis anterior when the CFP fluctuated backward greatly. In each eye condition, the magnitude of muscle activity decreased with practice and m. tibialis anterior was inactive in a great number of subjects in the last stage of the practice.
5) The controllability with open eyes didn't show a significant change after practice with closed eyes. By contrast, the controllability with closed eyes improved greatly after practice with open eyes and was approximately equal to that in the last stage of practice with closed eyes.

A study was conducted to examine the efficacy of indicators of anaerobic work capacity or estimations of anaerobic energy expenditure by measuring Δ blood lactate and O₂ debt after short-term maximal exercise. Eight male subjects performed cycle ergometer pedaling against 5.5-7.0 kp resistance with maximal effort for 45 s. After pedaling, venous blood samples were drawn serially at 1 min intervals from 1 to 10 min, for measurement of peak blood lactate. Anaerobic energy expenditure was determined in terms of both alactacid and lactacid energy expenditure, on the basis of Δ blood lactate (L-method) and O2 uptake kinetics (D-method) during recovery.
The following results were obtained:
1) The correlation coefficient between lactate and performance was higher (about 0.3-0.5) when lactate was expressed as the estimated value of lactate production rather than Δ blood lactate. A significant relationship (r=0.740, p<0.05) was found between lactate production and peak power.
2) When O₂ uptake after recovery for 60 min did not recover to the baseline of O₂ uptake at rest, O₂ debt was calculated using a baseline of O₂ uptake just before the end of recovery. This O₂ debt was significantly correlated with work at any time of recovery.
3) There was a significant relationship between lactate production and lactic O₂ debt, which was significantly correlated with work.
4) When lactacid energy was calculated using a formula of 1.7×Δ blood lactate and 0.3 kcal/g lactate, there was no significant difference between anaerobic energy expenditure calculated by the L- and D-methods for up to 30 min during recovery.
It was concluded that a) the estimated value of lactate production and O₂ debt calculated using a baseline of O₂ uptake just before the end of recovery could be employed as an indicator of anaerobic work capacity, and b) Δ La multiplied by a coefficient of 1.7 and 0.3 kcal/g lactate was more appropriate for estimating anaerobic expenditure in short-term maximal cycle ergometer pedaling.