[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of assisted aquatic movement and horseback riding therapies on emotion and brain activation in patients with cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-two right-handed patients with cerebral palsy (18 male, 14 female) whose ages ranged from 8 to 48 years participated in this experiment. Their cerebral palsy levels ranged from 1 to 3. The participants were assigned to one of three groups according to the experimental conditions: an assisted aquatic movement therapy group, a horseback riding therapy group, or a control group. Electroencephalograms, the Feeling Scale and the Felt Arousal Scale were examined as dependent variables. [Results] Analysis of self-reported data demonstrated a significant positive improvement in the emotions of participants in the assisted aquatic movement therapy group in comparison with the control group. With regard to the electroencephalogram analysis, the results of this study showed increased alpha power in the assisted aquatic movement therapy group compared with the horseback riding and control groups. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that professionals can consider assisted aquatic movement therapy as an effective therapeutic intervention for the improvement of mental health and brain activation.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effect on local fat deposition and body weight of wearing a near-infrared light belt around the abdomen. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-eight obese female subjects participated in this experiment. For measurement of body composition, an impedance-style body fat analyzer was used. The experimental group performed treadmill walking 3 times per week for 12 weeks while wearing an activated near-infrared belt around the abdomen. The near-infrared belt was composed of light-emitting diodes having wavelengths of 630 nm, 830 nm, 880 nm, and 956 nm.[Results] The analysis of abdominal circumference indicated that the abdominal circumference of the experimental group was reduced in post-test measurements compared to pre-test. [Conclusion] This investigation showed significant reductions in abdominal circumference, abdominal fat percentage, fat mass, and body-mass index for the experimental compared to the control group, suggesting that changes in body composition can be enhanced when near-infrared radiation is applied to the abdomen during walking.