Purpose: To clarify the progress of respiratory and physical function and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with severe COVID-19 disease 6 months and 1 year after onset.

Methods: The subjects were patients with severe COVID-19 disease, who were discharged from the intensive care unit through the convalescent rehabilitation ward. Their basic attributes, respiratory and physical function, and ADL 6 months and 1 year after onset were investigated.

Results: Thirteen patients showed improvement in vital capacity, volume in 1 second, Medical Research Council Scoring (MRC score), grip strength, knee extension muscle strength, 6-minute walking distance, and The Nagasaki university Respiratory ADL Questionnaire (NRADL) from 6 months after onset to 1 year after onset. After 1 year, 3 patients required home oxygen therapy, and 5 patients answered in the interview that their ADL had recovered to pre-symptomatic ADL.

Conclusion: Respiratory and physical function and ADL may improve in patients with severe COVID-19 disease from 6 months to 1 year after onset, but it is possible that ADL may not return to pre-symptomatic levels even 1 year later.

Objective: To determine the association between spinal kyphosis deformity and trunk muscle mass in patients with vertebral compression fracture (VCF).

Methods: 118 female patients with VCF were included in the study. The change in sagittal vertical axis (SVA) from admission to discharge (admission-discharge) was assessed for spinal kyphosis deformity. Skeletal muscle mass was evaluated by assessing the amount of change in skeletal muscle index and trunk muscle index at the time of admission and discharge using a body composition analyzer. For activities of daily living, functional independence measure (FIM) gains were evaluated from admission to discharge. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the factors affecting spinal kyphosis deformity, with SVA change as the objective variable and changes in skeletal muscle index, trunk muscle index, and FIM gain as the explanatory variables.

Results: Trunk muscle index change and FIM gain were extracted as factors associated with SVA change.

Conclusions: Spinal kyphosis deformity in female VCF patients was associated with the amount of change in trunk muscle mass and FIM gain.

Objectives: To investigate the reliability and validity of the two-step test as an assessment of walking ability in the early postoperative period after knee arthroplasty and to determine a “cut-off” value to discriminate gait independence.

Methods: A total of 106 patients who underwent primary unilateral knee arthroplasty were included. The degree of walking independence and physical function (pain and range of motion of the knee joint) were assessed one week after surgery. In addition, walking ability (walking speed, etc.) assessments including the two-step test were performed. Reliability was assessed by obtaining the intraclass correlation coefficient from the two-step test scores on the operative side and the nonoperative sides and by examining the systematic error using Bland-Altman plots. The validity of the results was examined based on the correlation between the two-step test scores, walking ability, and physical function. The cut-off value of the two-step test score to discriminate gait independence was determined from the ROC curve.

Results: Reliability was good, and no systematic error was observed. The Two-step test scores were more strongly correlated with walking ability than with physical function, and a cut-off value for gait independence was determined.

Conclusions: The two-step test is a reliable and valid assessment method for evaluating gait ability that has a “cut-off” value for determining gait independence even in early postoperative patients after knee replacement surgery.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of slant-board standing training (SST) on the ability of older adults to step over low obstacles and to explore its potential use in community activities.

Methods: Ten healthy older adults were included. We compared the effect of one minute of SST with regular standing on flat ground training. Participants performed a step-over-obstacle task before and after each training condition. During the task, we measured heel-obstacle distance (HD), step length, and clearance, and calculated the standard deviation (SD) of clearance to assess variability. We also evaluated the center of pressure (COP) displacement in the forward-backward and left-right directions.

Results: After SST, HD, step length, and clearance increased, while SD decreased. COP shifted forward.

Conclusions: SST increased HD, step length, and clearance, suggesting that it could be used in community settings as a tool for fall prevention.

Objective: Neck pain has a significant health and cost impact. The use of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) for neck pain relief has not been fully investigated. This scoping review aims to comprehensively investigate the effects and stimulation parameters of rESWT for neck pain.

Method: A literature search was carried out using PubMed, Embase, PEDro, and the Cochrane Library for publications up to August 2024. Studies using rESWT for neck pain were included, regardless of study design. Two independent authors screened the studies and extracted data.

Result: A total of 16 reports were included. Stimulation intensity ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 bar, 0.1 to 0.38 mJ/mm², 60 mJ/m² and 3 J/m². Frequencies varied from 5 to 16 Hz, with a total of 200 to 2,000 shocks, and 1 to 8 treatment sessions reported. All reports showed improvements in neck pain.

Conclusion: Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy appears to be an effective method for alleviating neck pain. However, the parameters remain unclear due to variations across studies. Further investigation into parameter settings is needed for better management of neck pain.