Many older adults experience a decline in shoulder function due to aging. This decline leads to limitations in daily activities and a lower quality of life. The incorporation of physical therapy interventions through elastic band exercises has demonstrated improved overall physical faculties among older adults. However, there is limited literature regarding the effect of these interventions on shoulder function in older adults. This scoping review summarized the current literature regarding elastic band exercises targeting shoulder function in older adults. A systematic literature search was performed using the Scopus and PubMed databases. An additional manual search was conducted using the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database). Articles were included if they were published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2017–2021. After assessing eligibility, five randomized controlled trials articles were included in the analysis. We discovered that two types of elastic interventions were applied to older adults: namely, the TheraBand and tube bands. We observed heterogeneity in participant characteristics among the studies (healthy older adults, older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and older adults with sarcopenic obesity). The duration of the exercise intervention ranged from 3 to 36 sessions. Only one study measured shoulder function as the primary outcome. Our findings suggest that elastic band exercises have been applied to older adults in various conditions and tended to be effective; however, evidence on this topic is insufficient.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected international exchange programs due to travel restrictions. There are few reports of online international exchange programs in medical area and no report of interactive activities among students together for several months. To the best of our knowledge, we needed to seek the feasible approach to conduct online exchange program. We experienced online collaboration works to promote internationalization in occupational therapy (OT) undergraduate education. The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility and usability of an interactive online international exchange program, and discuss its challenges and advantages. The three-month program was newly developed, and aimed at cultivating an international perspective, understanding OT, and learning basic research skills. Students’ interests and the development of their motivation were considered in the program consisting of synchronous and asynchronous lectures, a collaboration research project, group work, and report assignments. Through the program, students were satisfied with the program contents and had the precious experience to develop international relationships. The online exchange program provided students with the opportunity to experience and learn OT education internationally at an economical cost, and to achieve program goal during the regular semester. In this program, students not only acquired knowledge in their professional field, but also cultivated their international communication skills in English from small group activities and social activities. Considering various communication methods was an important aspect in the virtual environment leading to a successful program. In medical education, an online program can be an effective and practical measure for international exchange.

An elongation band (EB) is used to improve the physical strength of older adults. However, the evidence of its effect on the upper limb is a deficiency. This study investigated the effectiveness of EB exercises on upper limb function in the elderly. Participants were divided into two groups: EB (n=16) and control (n=14). The EB group performed exercises in a sitting position using an EB while the control group performed active stretching exercises without bands. The exercise regimen consisted of four shoulder joint movements. Each group performed the exercise for 20 min per day, 5 days per week over a period of 2 months. Measurements included upper limb muscle strength, shoulder joint range of motion, and grip strength. Measurements were performed at baseline, and 1 and 2 months after the intervention. Analysis of covariance was used to compare differences between the groups. The EB group demonstrated significant increases in muscle strength (upper trapezius, deltoid, middle trapezius muscle), shoulder joint range of motion (right shoulder flexion, internal rotation, external rotation, left shoulder joint extension), and grip strength. In conclusion, EB exercises increased upper limb muscle strength, shoulder joint range of motion, and grip strength in older adults.

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Purpose South Korea, Japan, and Thailand have a high proportion of older adults. The growing age could lead to the risk of dementia and to date, the prevalence of dementia in these countries is continuing to rise. To support dementia care, assistive technology (AT) is growing interest and has become one of the fundamental pillars of healthcare. Technology could improve quality of life among people with dementia and caregivers. AT are demonstrated the advantage when used for rehabilitation and psychosocial interventions. However, healthcare policies related to AT in each country are different. For this reason, this study aims to summarize and compare the assistive technology available for older adults with dementia in each country. Method A systematic literature search was performed using the Scopus, PubMed and additional search was done through domestic databases, for instance, J-Stage, KCI, and TCI databases. Search terms include ("assistive technology" OR "assistive device") AND ("dementia" OR "Alzheimer") AND ("care" OR "rehabilitation"). The inclusion criteria were article published in a peer-reviewed journal within 20 years, described as a research article, and discussed on the high-tech assistive technology being used in each country's context, the assistive technology is mainly for dementia care and not medical device. After assessing eligibility, then 10 studies were included in this review. The analysis was done based on Arksey and O'malley's framework. Results and discussion The search identified 203 articles, 10 of which were reviewed and met the inclusion criteria. Among the 10 articles included in this study, 6 were from Japan, 3 were from South Korea, and 1 was from Thailand. Subjects were people with mild dementia to severe dementia. Types of AT were social robots; for example,