Naragakuen University

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) significantly impairs quality of life and increases mortality among older adults, making its effective management essential for healthy aging. This quasi-randomized trial compared Pain Neuroscience Education emphasizing physical activity (PNE-PA) with traditional biomechanical treatments (BM) in older women with CLBP over 12 weeks. Community-dwelling women aged 65–90 years with CLBP were assigned to either group based on recruitment timing, using a double-blinded design. PNE-PA aimed to reduce pain-related fear by educating patients about pain neuroscience and encouraging physical activity. Outcomes included physical function, pain intensity, self-reported disability and psychological factors. Analyses used intention-to-treat and bootstrap resampling methods. Between-group differences were assessed using mean differences, 95% confidence intervals (CI), and Cohen’s d. The PNE-PA group (n = 24) showed significantly greater improvements than the BM group (n = 18) in Chair Stand Test (95% CI: 1.53 to 7.76, d = 0.88), step count (95% CI: 475.97 to 2550.42, d = 0.87), pain catastrophizing (95% CI: -10.64 to -1.95, d = -0.87), and fear-avoidance beliefs (95% CI: -7.40 to -0.14, d = -0.65). These findings suggest that Pain Neuroscience Education emphasizing physical activity was associated with better physical and psychological outcomes among older women with chronic low back pain.

Background and aim Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience coordination disorders, but the effects of different training conditions on motor learning in these children remain unclear. This study examined how constant versus variable practice impacts motor performance and learning in children with ASD and motor impairments. Methods Thirty-four children attending child development and daycare centers participated. Assessments included fine motor skills (Purdue Pegboard), gross motor skills (target-target task), visuospatial working memory (Corsi block tapping task), and the developmental disability questionnaire (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). The primary outcome was the change in target-task performance before, during, and after practice, analyzed using repeated measures two-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. Results No significant differences were observed for practice conditions or time effects alone, but significant interactions were found (F = 6.641, p = 0.015). Variable practice resulted in reduced pre- to post-test scores (p = 0.047), while constant practice showed stronger correlations between practice improvements and overall performance changes (p = 0.004, r = 0.666). Prosocial behavior was positively associated with performance improvements in the constant practice group (p = 0.018, r = 0.564). No significant correlations were found in the variable practice group. Conclusions Constant practice yielded greater motor learning improvements than variable practice. Additionally, prosocial behavior positively influenced motor learning in structured settings, highlighting the potential benefits of integrating motor and social skill interventions for children with ASD.

The correlational study bridged the gap in determining school heads’ emotional intelligence, leadership competencies, and school performance level in the Schools Division of Zambales. The study used a survey questionnaire as a research tool and applied a descriptive research design to gain a better understanding of the research objectives. The study findings revealed that school heads always demonstrate emotional intelligence competencies. The school heads were assessed by teachers and school heads themselves as outstanding competent leaders. The schools were assessed as level 3 in their performance. There were significant differences in the emotional intelligence competencies of school heads in terms of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social management as to monthly income. There was a very high positive correlation between the emotional intelligence competencies and leadership competencies of school heads. There was a low positive correlation between school heads' performance level and emotional intelligence competencies.

Hand use recovery after a distal radius fracture (DRF) depends on whether the injured hand is dominant or not, which can affect laterality and influence functional outcomes. This study aimed to investigate how the injured side impacts changes in laterality and its relationship to functional outcome, aiming to contribute to the development of future hand therapy strategies. Patients with DRF were prospectively recruited. Triaxial accelerometers were wrist-mounted to collect data at 1, 4, 8, and 12weeks postoperatively and examine the laterality index (LI), total hand use time, and total vector magnitude. Correlations between LI and functional outcomes were assessed at each time point. 42 patients participated in this study. Among them, 19 and 23 had injured dominant (DI) and injured non-dominant (non-DI) hands, respectively. The LI showed a faster restoration of symmetry in the DI group than in the non-DI group at 8 and 12weeks postoperatively. Moderate correlations between LI and functional outcomes were observed in wrist joints and grip strength in the DI and non-DI groups, respectively, at all time points. The change in LI in the DI group was considered recovery, as it was identical to the symmetry observed in healthy adults. Additionally, the non-DI group was considered to have adapted to a pattern of predominant use of the dominant hand. The correlation between LI and some functional outcomes appeared to depend on hand use patterns, specifically whether the injured hand was dominant or not. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring interventions.

Wheelchair cushions are recommended to be used with wheelchair and can protect the buttocks from pain and injury by relieving interface pressure for wheelchair users. However, further investigations are required for proper use in response to the development of new types of wheelchair cushions. The objective of this study was to evaluate physical characteristics of wheelchair cushions by comparing pressure redistributing effects of four types of cushions. The participants were 16 healthy adults who consented to participate in this study. A pressure mapping system (CONFORMat, Nitta Corp.) was used for the measurements. Pressure at ischium was measured immediately after the stabilization of the sitting posture and 10 minutes after. The pressure at ischium significantly decreased with any wheelchair cushions (P < 0.01). A significant negative correlation between body mass index and pressure at ischium was observed without a wheelchair cushion (r = - 0.70), however, the correlation disappeared upon use of a wheelchair cushion. The pressure at ischium increased over time with cushions of urethane, air, and urethane-air hybrid while that with the 3D thermoplastic elastomer cushion did not, and the change in the pressure was statistically less than that in other cushions (P < 0.01). Use of wheelchair cushions was effective in redistribution of the pressure at ischium, and the overtime change in the pressure depends on the type of used cushions.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of navigation-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the primary motor cortex in patients with neuropathic pain in the upper limb. This randomized, blinded, sham-controlled, parallel trial included a rTMS protocol (10-Hz, 2000 pulses/session) consisting of five daily sessions, followed by one session per week for the next seven weeks. Pain intensity, as well as pain-related disability, quality of life, and psychological status, were assessed. For the primary outcome, pain intensity was measured daily using a numerical rating scale as a pain diary. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to the active rTMS or sham-stimulation groups. In the primary outcome, the decrease (least square [LS] mean ± standard error) in the weekly average of a pain diary at week 9 compared to the baseline was 0.84 ± 0.31 in the active rTMS group and 0.58 ± 0.29 in the sham group (LS mean difference, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, − 0.60 to 1.13). There was no significant effect on the interaction between the treatment group and time point. Pain-related disability score improved, but other assessments showed no differences. No serious adverse events were observed. This study did not show significant pain relief; however, active rTMS tended to provide better results than sham. rTMS has the potential to improve pain-related disability in addition to pain relief.Clinical Trial Registration number: jRCTs052190110 (20/02/2020).

[Purpose] This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the Life-Space Assessment measure, which conceptualizes physical activity in terms of life-space, and indicators of empowerment, and physical function, in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [Participants and Methods] This was a cross-sectional study. The participants were 25 stable outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (22 males, mean age 75.6 ± 6.1 years). Measurements included the Life-Space Assessment; the Empowerment Scale for the Elderly; respiratory function; grip strength; weight-adjusted knee extension strength; and a six-minute walk test. Pearson's correlation coefficient and a multivariate analysis were used to examine the relationship between the Life-Space Assessment and each indicator, with the significance level set at 5%. [Results] The Life-Space Assessment score (83.4 ± 23.7 points) correlated with the percentage forced vital capacity and the six-minute walk distance. However, the Life-Space Assessment demonstrated no association with the Empowerment Scale for the Elderly (38.3 ± 7.0 points). [Conclusion]The results of this study suggest that physical function correlates with scores on the Life-Space Assessment in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This secondary analysis study aimed to detect individual variables that influence the efficacy of monophasic pulsed microcurrent on pressure injury healing. Eleven patients with pressure injuries showing delayed healing underwent a microcurrent stimulation period and a placebo period. We analyzed the correlation between the individual variables and the following three outcomes using monophasic pulsed microcurrent: the wound reduction rate in the electrical stimulation period, the reduction rate in the placebo period, and the difference between these two reduction rates. Furthermore, the patients were divided into two groups, one with a wound reduction rate of more than 10% and the other with less than 10%, and the relationship between each variable was compared. As a result, the wound reduction rate in the electrical stimulation period and the difference in the reduction rate between the two periods showed significant positive correlations with patients' body mass index. In addition, a significant difference was observed in the body mass index between subjects with a reduction rate of 10% or higher and those with a reduction rate of less than 10%. This study found a correlation between the effect of monophasic pulsed microcurrent for pressure injury healing and the level of patients' body mass index.