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As older people become frail, they tend to fall more easily. Moreover, women have a higher rate of falls than men. However, effective strategies to avoid elderly women falling are lacking. The Timed Up and Go test is a well-known indicator of falling tendency. This study clarifies the motor elements related to the Timed Up and Go test according to the degree of weakness in older outpatients to specify exercise intervention to improve weakness and prevent falls. Participants were 145 female outpatients who visited the Locomo-Frail outpatient clinic, classified into three groups (robust, prefrail, and frail, according to the definition of the Japanese Cardiovascular Health Study. Vertical ground reaction force parameters were measured for all participants when they stood up from a chair, walking speed, and the Timed Up and Go test. Results showed that walking speed is related to the Timed Up and Go test in the robust group; balance ability is related to the Timed Up and Go test in the prefrail group; and instantaneous force is related to the Timed Up and Go test in the frail group. These results suggest that weakness can be improved by performing exercise interventions of balance and instantaneous force elements in the prefrail and frail groups, respectively.

Supplementary Material 1

Patellofemoral cartilage degeneration is a potential complication of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. Hypomobility of the patella in the coronal plane is often observed after ACLR. Few studies, however, have examined the relationship between cartilage degeneration in the patellofemoral joint and mobility after ACLR. The present study investigated 1) the coronal mobility of the patella after ACLR, 2) the relationship between patellar mobility and cartilage degeneration of the patellofemoral joint, and 3) the relationship between patellar mobility and knee joint function after ACLR. Forty patients who underwent medial hamstring-based ACLR participated in the study. Lateral and medial patellar displacements were assessed with a modified patellofemoral arthrometer, and the absolute values of the displacements were normalized to patient height. The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) cartilage injury classification of the patellar and femoral (trochlear) surfaces, and the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale were used to evaluate knee function. Lateral and medial patellar displacements were reduced compared with the non-operated knee at the second-look arthroscopy and bone staple extraction operation (second operation; 24.4 ± 7.9 months after ACLR, P

A knee brace for medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) is required to restrict knee adduction moment (KAM), but must not restrict knee flexion during swing phase. There is no report of a knee brace with both functions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the custom-made hinged knee brace for patients with knee OA compared to the hinged knee brace generally used, and to assess the KAM and knee flexion angle during swing phase. Fifteen patients (average age: 71.6 ± 7.8 years old) with medial knee OA participated. Gait analysis was performed using a 3-D motion analysis system to measure two conditions: hinged knee brace (KB), and a custom-made hinged knee brace with knee-flexion supportequipped rubber tubes at the posterior of the lateral and medial side poles (KBF). The peak KAM with KBF was significantly smaller than those with the KB (P=0.004, the difference between these conditions of KAM: 0.06 Nm/kg). The peak knee flexion angles during swing phase with KBF were also significantly larger than those with the KB (P=0.004, the difference between these conditions of knee flexion angle: 1.5 degrees). The custom-made brace with one type of tube actuator in the present study could decrease KAM and make for a small increase of knee flexion angle as opposed to the hinged knee brace.

A knee brace for medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) is required to restrict knee adduction moment (KAM), but must not restrict knee flexion during swing phase. There is no report of a knee brace with both functions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the custom-made hinged knee brace for patients with knee OA compared to the hinged knee brace generally used, and to assess the KAM and knee flexion angle during swing phase. Fifteen patients (average age: 71.6 ± 7.8 years old) with medial knee OA participated. Gait analysis was performed using a 3-D motion analysis system to measure two conditions: hinged knee brace (KB), and a custom-made hinged knee brace with knee-flexion support- equipped rubber tubes at the posterior of the lateral and medial side poles (KBF). The peak KAM with KBF was significantly smaller than those with the KB (P=0.004, the difference between these conditions of KAM: 0.06 Nm/kg). The peak knee flexion angles during swing phase with KBF were also significantly larger than those with the KB (P=0.004, the difference between these conditions of knee flexion angle: 1.5 degrees). The custom-made brace with one type of tube actuator in the present study could decrease KAM and make for a small increase of knee flexion angle as opposed to the hinged knee brace.