Abstract Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand therapy for elderly people with dementia and the change in effectiveness depending on sex differences between the patients and operators. Methods: The Abe’s behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia score (ABS), index of resistance to care, and inner balance scanner scores were evaluated. Results: The mean ABS was 18.4 (before therapy), 16.0 (operator of the same sex), and 17.1 (operator of the opposite sex). The mean index scores for resistance to care were 15.3 (before therapy), 15.2 (operator of the same sex), and 13.2 (operator of the opposite sex). When the operator and patient were of the same sex, the mean value of comparison of total power (TP) decreased from 28,060.4 (before therapy) to 5974.3 (after therapy), and the mean low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio decreased from 1.7 (before therapy) to 1.2 (after therapy). When the operator was of the opposite sex of that of the patient, the mean TP value decreased from 25,760.4 (before therapy) to 7669.5 (after therapy), and the mean LF/HF ratio increased from 1.2 (before therapy)to 1.5 (after therapy). Conclusions: Hand therapy was the most effective when the patient and operator were of the same sex.

Abstract Background: The interaction between self-care and caregiving ability in home discharged stroke patients is unclear. Purpose: This study investigates the interaction between caregiving ability and individual self-care activities for post-stroke patients upon home discharge based on their motor-Functional Independence Measure (m-FIM) score. Methods: A total of 2626 stroke patients registered in the Japanese Rehabilitation Database were retrospectively analyzed. Extracted data were divided into three groups based on the m-FIM score at discharge and classified into two groups based on their discharge destination (home discharge, non-home discharge). After the data were modified as mean-centered values, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis evaluated the change in variance amount (ΔR2) using discharge destination as the dependent variable. Model 1 used two independent variables (Rankin Scale and cognitive FIM score), model 2 used two independent variables (caregiving ability and individual self-care), which were added to model 1, and model 3 used an interaction term value, which was added to model 2. Furthermore, a simple slope analysis was performed for these interaction effects. Results: The ΔR2 exhibited six and five self-care items in the moderate and mild groups, respectively. The interaction was significant on simple slope analysis in the moderate group for six self-care items (except dressing upper body, toileting, and bowel management) and in the mild group for three self-care items, including dressing upper body, bladder management, and climbing stairs). Conclusion: This study suggests the need for intervention, especially bladder management and single-foot standing ability during step climbing, in stroke patients discharged to home. In addition, caregiving ability is one of the factors that should be considered in mild group.

Abstract Purpose: To compare and examine motor and cognitive functions in people who require support, and in healthy elders. Method: The variables of age, BMI, educational background, blood pressure, grip strength, knee extension, gait speed, MMSE, and subjective health feeling for 36 rehabilitation users and 22 healthy elders were assessed. We compared and examined motor and cognitive functions in rehabilitation users who need support and healthy elders. Results: The percentage of MMSE scores with 27 points or higher and that of subjective health feeling with 3 points or higher were significantly higher in healthy elders than in rehabilitation users. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in rehabilitation users than in healthy elders. Gait speed and MMSE scores were significantly higher in healthy elders than rehabilitation users. Conclusion: Gait speed could be used for physical fitness in elders. Gait speed was the best physical fitness measurement for elders. Gait speed of rehabilitation users was strongly related to MMSE scores. Gait speed could be a determinant of MMSE scores.

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of bicycle and arm ergometer exercises on physical and psychosocial functions in patients who underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Methods: A total of 39 cases (35 males, 4 females) were included in the study, with 23 participants aged between 52 and 65 using bicycle ergometers and a group of 16 people who performed arm ergometers opposite. After the demographic data were recorded, physical functions of all individuals participating in the study were evaluated with a 6-minute walk test, bioimpedance analysis, HDL, LDL, Triglyceride and Total cholesterol values, and psychosocial functions were evaluated with the Beck depression scale, modified borg scale and SF 36 questionnaires before and after the training. All participants were given bicycle or arm ergometer exercises for 6 weeks, 5 sessions per week, for a total of 30 sessions. Result: When the results were examined, it was observed that there was a statistically significant increase in walking distance of the people in the bicycle ergometer group compared to the arm ergometer group (p < 0.05). In addition, it was revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in the general health parameter, which is one of the sub-parameters of SF 36, in the arm ergometer group compared to the bicycle ergometer group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: When we look at the results of this study, it is important in terms of revealing that bicycle and arm ergometer exercises similarly improve the physical and psychosocial functions of patients who have undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. However, it has been shown that cycling exercises are much more advantageous in improving functional capacity. Summary Statement: What is already known about this topic? 1) Walking and arm exercises are good for heart diseases. What this paper adds? 2) Demonstrated that cycling and arm ergometer exercises have curative aspects for patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. The implications of this paper: 3) As a result, it has been revealed that cycling and arm ergometry techniques are good indicators in patients who have undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Abstract [Purpose] This study aimed to evaluation of the Tokyo cognitive assessment (Toca) for predicting cognitive impairment in rehabilitation users. [Method] The variables of age, BMI, educational background, Toca for 36 rehabilitation users and 22 healthy elder were assessed. We compared cognitive functions in rehabilitation users who need support and healthy elders. [Results] Of the Toca 1 to 11 trials, there was a significant difference other than 9, 10 rials. The Toca scores with 8 points higher were significantly higher in healthy elders than in rehabilitation users. The area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC) for predicting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by the Toca was 0.874. Using a cut-off point of 19/20, the Toca demonstrated a sensitivity of 83.9% and a sensitivity of 85.0% in diagnosing MCI. [Conclusion] The Toca is a brief cognitive screening tool with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting MCI as currently conceptualized in rehabilitation users.