Effects of remote classes on the physical health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to determine how the study environment during remote classes affected the physical health of university students during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. [Participants and Methods] A total of 3,359 students currently enrolled at our university participated anonymously. The survey was conducted using Google Forms, with items including "gender", "study environment during remote classes", "presence or absence of symptom", "symptoms that existed before starting remote classes", and "changes in symptoms after starting remote classes". [Results] The overall valid response rate was 49%, with a total of 688 males and 983 females providing responses. In the grouping by gender, the number of students with symptoms was significantly higher in females than in males. Similarly, the number of students with existing symptoms that were exacerbated was significantly higher in females than in males. With regards to study environment, a significantly higher proportion of students who sat on the floor during remote classes complained about exacerbated existing symptoms than those who sat on chairs. [Conclusion] The results demonstrate that remote classes during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to a higher prevalence of new physical symptoms and exacerbation of existing symptoms in females than in males, and when students sat on floors rather than on chairs.

Classification and comparison of the physical characteristics and functions of various age groups of community-dwelling elderly individuals participating in the Kayoi-no-ba program.

[Purpose] To classify and compare the physical characteristics and functions of community-dwelling elderly individuals of various age groups participating in the Kayoi-no-ba program. [Participants and Methods] A total of 176 community-dwelling elderly individuals living in six cities and towns in the Niigata Prefecture who participated in the Kayoi-no-ba program between 2018 and 2020 were recruited in this study. Physical characteristics, such as strength, balance, and mobility, were assessed. [Results] Among elderly females and males who participated in the Kayoi-no-ba program, those >80 years of age showed shorter height, lighter weight, and lower body muscle mass than the other age groups. Strength, balance, and mobility functions, including grip strength, sit-to-stand test, single-leg-stand test, and timed up-and-go test, were significantly decreased, especially in patients aged >80 years. [Conclusion] Among community-dwelling elderly individuals participating in the Kayoi-no-ba program, physical characteristics and functions were affected by aging, with significant decline particularly in those aged >80 years old. These findings suggest that early intervention is necessary to maintain muscle mass, strength, balance, and mobility in the elderly.

The Intramuscular Circulation Is Affected by Neck and Shoulder Pain.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of neck and shoulder pain (NSP) and the position of the head and neck on the intramuscular circulation of the cervical muscles such as the trapezius and levator scapulae muscles in young females. Ten NSP subjects (mean age: 20.9 ± 0.5 years) and ten non-NSP subjects (mean age: 20.6 ± 0.7 years) were recruited to this study. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to non-invasively measure total haemoglobin (Total-Hb), oxygenated haemoglobin (Oxy-Hb), and deoxygenated haemoglobin (Deoxy-Hb) of the trapezius and levator scapulae muscles. The measurements of Total-Hb, Oxy-Hb, and Deoxy-Hb were taken in the neutral position, immediately after the maximally flexed (extended) position, and after 30 s in the maximally flexed (extended) position. In flexion, no significant main effect or interaction was observed with Total-Hb and Oxy-Hb. A significant interaction was observed with Deoxy-Hb (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the changes over time in the NSP group (p = 0.91). However, in the non-NSP group, a significant increase was noted at the neutral position to immediately after the maximally flexed position (p < 0.01) and at the end of maintaining the maximally flexed position (p < 0.01). In extension, no significant main effect or interaction was observed with Total-Hb and Oxy-Hb. A significant interaction was observed with Deoxy-Hb (p < 0.01). In the NSP group, no significant difference was observed in the changes over time (p = 0.91). In the non-NSP group, however, a significant decrease was observed from the neutral position to immediately after the maximally extended position (p < 0.01). The results of this study indicate that maintaining either maximal cervical flexion or extension may affect venous blood flow on non-NSP group. However, no effect on NSP group was observed due to existing diminished intramuscular circulation.

Intramuscular Circulation of the Lumbar Multifidus in Different Trunk Positions on Standing.

A deficiency in lumbar muscle blood circulation is considered to be a major risk factor for non-specific low back pain. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in relative circulation over time in the lumbar multifidus in different positions on sitting.Twelve healthy subjects (7 males, 5 females, average age: 20.9 years) without low back pain for the past 12 months were recruited. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to non-invasively measure total haemoglobin (Total-Hb) and oxygenated haemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) in the lumbar multifidus at the L5-S1 segment. Subjects were asked to move into either 60-degree trunk-flexed or 20-degree trunk-extended position from the starting (standing in neutral) position in 3 s, timed by a metronome, and to maintain these positions for 30 s. The measurements of Total-Hb and Oxy-Hb were compared at -3 (neutral position), 0, 10, 20, and 30 s in each flexed and extended position on sitting.In flexion, Total-Hb and Oxy-Hb of the lumbar multifidus were significantly decreased from a neutral (-3 s) to flexed (0 s) position (Total-Hb: p = 0.002, Oxy-Hb: p = 0.004); however, there were no significant differences in the flexed position. In extension, Total-Hb and Oxy-Hb of the lumbar multifidus were significantly increased from 0 to 10 s (Total-Hb: p < 0.001, Oxy-Hb: p < 0.001); however, there were no significant differences from the neutral (-3 s) to extended (0 s) position, or from 10 to 30 s.The results of this study indicate that the intramuscular circulation of the lumbar multifidus decreases immediately once the trunk starts moving into a flexed position on sitting. On the other hand, the intramuscular circulation of the lumbar multifidus increases for up to 10 s once the trunk starts moving into an extended position.

Cervicothoracic spinal alignment and neck flexor muscle endurance in young and older adult females with and without neck and shoulder pain (Katakori in Japanese).

[Purpose] The characteristics of neck and shoulder pain (NSP) in different age populations have not been sufficiently examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare and verify the cervicothoracic spinal alignment and neck flexor muscle endurance of young and older adult females with and without NSP. [Participants and Methods] We assessed 72 female participants (39 young participants, 33 elderly participants, 43 NSP, 29 non-NSP) aged 18-82 years who were recruited for this study. Cervicothoracic spinal alignment measurements were obtained with forward head alignment (FHA) along with the upper thoracic angle. The neck flexor endurance test was performed. [Results] There were no significant age-by-group interactions for any of the assessment variables. However, the upper thoracic angle and neck flexor muscle endurance showed significant effects in the groups. Age also had significant effects on FHA and upper thoracic angle. [Conclusion] These results suggested that the neck flexor muscle endurance was more appropriate as an evaluation tool for older adult females with NSP. It was also suggested that the cervical flexor muscle endurance and upper thoracic angle were more appropriate as evaluation tools for young adult females with NSP.

Effects of Nordic walking on pelvis motion and muscle activities around the hip joints of adults with hip osteoarthritis.

[Purpose] Increased compensatory pelvic movement is remarkable in limping patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA). However, a method of improving limping has not been established. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of two types of Nordic walking by analyzing the pelvic movement and muscle activities of adults with hip OA. [Subjects and Methods] Ten patients with OA of the hip performed Japanese-style Nordic walking (JS NW), European-style Nordic walking (ES NW), and Ordinary walking (OW), and the muscle activities around the hip joint and pelvic movements were analyzed. [Results] The pelvic rotation angle was significantly larger in ES NW than in JS NW. In the stance phase, hip abductor muscle activity was significantly decreased in JS NW compared to both OW and ES NW. In the swing phase, rectus abdominis muscle activity was significantly increased in both JS NW and ES NW compared to OW and lumbar erector spinae activity was significantly lower in JS NW than in OW. [Conclusion] JS NW style may reduce the compensatory pelvic rotation in patients with hip OA. JS NW might be better for joint protection and prevention of secondary disorders of the hip in OA patients.