Background: Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are associated with reduced gait ability and functional impairment in older adults. Factors related to walking aid use at discharge remain unclear. This study examined associations between walking aid use and physical function at discharge. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 143 patients with VCFs discharged from Kurume Rehabilitation Hospital. Participants were classified into independent ambulation and walking aid groups, the latter subdivided into cane and walker users. Pain, cognitive function, handgrip strength, 30-second chair stand test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were assessed at discharge. Logistic regression identified factors associated with walking aid use, and exploratory analysis compared cane and walker users. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the BBS cutoff. Results: BBS at discharge was significantly associated with walking aid use (odds ratio [OR]=0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77–0.93; p<0.001). In exploratory analysis, pain (OR=1.43; 95% CI 1.03–1.96; p=0.029) and SMI (OR=0.40; 95% CI 0.20–0.79; p=0.010) were associated with cane versus walker use. The optimal BBS cutoff was 48.5 (area under the curve [AUC]=0.83). Conclusion BBS was associated with the distinction between independent ambulation and walking aid use, while pain and SMI were associated with differences among walking aid users. These findings may inform clinical decision-making for walking aid selection at discharge.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behaviors have recently become an important public health issue. We aimed to investigate the relationship between screen time and nutrient intake in children and adolescents. METHODS: The present study was conducted in 2013. Data were collected from children and adolescents aged between 6 and 15 years old in Shika town. Questionnaires were distributed to 1459 subjects, 1414 of whom participated in the study (96.9%). Sedentary behaviors were assessed based on participants' screen behaviors (television (TV) viewing, personal computer (PC) use, and mobile phone (MP) use). The main outcomes were the intake of nutrients from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine the significance of differences in nutrient intake estimates. Multivariate linear regression analyses, adjusting for age, BMI, and physical activity, were used to provide parameter estimates (β) and 95% CI for the relationship between screen time and nutrient intake. RESULTS: In boys, longer TV viewing times correlated or tended to correlate with a lower intake of protein, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin K, vitamin B-2, and total dietary fiber. In girls, longer TV viewing times correlated with a lower intake of protein, sodium, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B-2. Longer TV viewing times correlated with a higher intake of n-6 fatty acids in girls. PC use was related or tended to be related to a lower intake of potassium, iron, vitamin K, and folic acid in boys, but not in girls. A relationship was observed between MP use and a lower intake of vitamin K in boys, and MP use and a higher intake of vitamin D in girls. CONCLUSIONS The present results revealed that longer TV viewing times are associated with less protein, minerals, vitamins, and total dietary fiber intake in children and adolescents. It was also revealed that boys with PC use have less minerals and vitamins. These results support the need to design intervention programs that focus on decreasing TV viewing time in both sexes and PC use in boys while encouraging adherence to dietary guidelines among children and adolescents.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Energy Intake ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Japan ; Male ; Screen Time ; Sedentary Behavior ; Sex Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors

On 34 students (member of athletic clubs : 19 students, control : 15 students) aged 18-22 years in a women's college, skinf old thickness at the following ten sites on the right side of the body were measured four times in a year. (1) Temple, (2) Chin, (3) Anterior axillary, (4) Triceps, (5) Subscapular, (6) Chest at the level of the tenth rib, (7) Abdomen at the side of the umbilicus, (8) Waist just above the illiac crest, (9) Thigh and (10) Calf.
Skinf old thickness at many sites decreased significantly from January to October. In the control group and for senior students in the athletic group, this decrease of skinfold thickness recovered almost completely untill the next January. For first-year students in the athletic group, the skinfold thickness in the next January was higher than that of October but was still lower than that of previous January.
The above results suggest that skinfold is thicker in winter than in summer and skinfold thickness may be decreased by the activities in the athletic clubs.