Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

We assessed the association of employee lifestyles (e.g., smoking, exercise, drinking, and sleep habits) with mental health-related absenteeism and turnover rates utilizing data from the annual Health and Productivity Management survey by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This analysis included data from 1,748 companies, encompassing 4,199,021 employees. The average proportions of mental health-related absenteeism and employee turnover rates were 1.1±1.0% and 5.0±5.0%, respectively. In multivariable regression models that incorporated all lifestyle factors and confounders, a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who slept well was associated with reductions in their turnover rate (mean, -0.020%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.038 to -0.002) and in mental health-related absenteeism (mean, -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.009 to 0.001). A similar increase in the proportion of employees engaging in regular physical activity corresponded with a 0.005% decrease in the prevalence of mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.010 to -0.001). A 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who smoked was associated with a 0.013% reduction in mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.017 to -0.008). Nonetheless, the current study’s observational and cross-sectional design restricted the ability to establish causality between employee lifestyle factors and mental health issues.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

We assessed the association of employee lifestyles (e.g., smoking, exercise, drinking, and sleep habits) with mental health-related absenteeism and turnover rates utilizing data from the annual Health and Productivity Management survey by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This analysis included data from 1,748 companies, encompassing 4,199,021 employees. The average proportions of mental health-related absenteeism and employee turnover rates were 1.1±1.0% and 5.0±5.0%, respectively. In multivariable regression models that incorporated all lifestyle factors and confounders, a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who slept well was associated with reductions in their turnover rate (mean, -0.020%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.038 to -0.002) and in mental health-related absenteeism (mean, -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.009 to 0.001). A similar increase in the proportion of employees engaging in regular physical activity corresponded with a 0.005% decrease in the prevalence of mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.010 to -0.001). A 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who smoked was associated with a 0.013% reduction in mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.017 to -0.008). Nonetheless, the current study’s observational and cross-sectional design restricted the ability to establish causality between employee lifestyle factors and mental health issues.

We assessed the association of employee lifestyles (e.g., smoking, exercise, drinking, and sleep habits) with mental health-related absenteeism and turnover rates utilizing data from the annual Health and Productivity Management survey by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This analysis included data from 1,748 companies, encompassing 4,199,021 employees. The average proportions of mental health-related absenteeism and employee turnover rates were 1.1±1.0% and 5.0±5.0%, respectively. In multivariable regression models that incorporated all lifestyle factors and confounders, a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who slept well was associated with reductions in their turnover rate (mean, -0.020%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.038 to -0.002) and in mental health-related absenteeism (mean, -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.009 to 0.001). A similar increase in the proportion of employees engaging in regular physical activity corresponded with a 0.005% decrease in the prevalence of mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.010 to -0.001). A 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who smoked was associated with a 0.013% reduction in mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.017 to -0.008). Nonetheless, the current study’s observational and cross-sectional design restricted the ability to establish causality between employee lifestyle factors and mental health issues.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

We assessed the association of employee lifestyles (e.g., smoking, exercise, drinking, and sleep habits) with mental health-related absenteeism and turnover rates utilizing data from the annual Health and Productivity Management survey by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This analysis included data from 1,748 companies, encompassing 4,199,021 employees. The average proportions of mental health-related absenteeism and employee turnover rates were 1.1±1.0% and 5.0±5.0%, respectively. In multivariable regression models that incorporated all lifestyle factors and confounders, a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who slept well was associated with reductions in their turnover rate (mean, -0.020%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.038 to -0.002) and in mental health-related absenteeism (mean, -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.009 to 0.001). A similar increase in the proportion of employees engaging in regular physical activity corresponded with a 0.005% decrease in the prevalence of mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.010 to -0.001). A 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who smoked was associated with a 0.013% reduction in mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.017 to -0.008). Nonetheless, the current study’s observational and cross-sectional design restricted the ability to establish causality between employee lifestyle factors and mental health issues.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

Abdominal draw-in is a functional transversus abdominal muscle exercise to acquire the contraction. However, it is difficult for even healthy subjects to selectively contract the deep transversus abdominal and internal oblique muscles without over-contraction of the superficial rectus abdominis and the external oblique muscles. This study examined whether the transversus abdominal muscle is selectively contracted by our taping method. The subjects were 20 healthy males. Using ultrasound, we compared the thickness of external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominal muscle among no taping, kinesio taping and abdominal muscle activation taping in the standing position. The thickness of transversus abdominal muscle significantly increased in the activation taping more than the other methods. This study showed that abdominal musculature activation taping made it possible to contract the transversus abdominal muscle selectively.