[Purpose] We aimed to clarify whether demonstration and simulated experience help the ability of care-receivers to get transferred, such as from the bed to the commode. [Participants and Methods] Participants included 28 nurses and 17 caregivers (34 females and 11 males). We developed a total floor reaction force measurement device to quantify the total loading level of care-receivers and caregivers and force shoes to quantify the loading level of the caregivers. Using these instruments, we constructed a system to measure the load on the lower limbs of the care-receivers during partial assistance. We divided the participants into the control, demonstration, and simulated experience method groups. We examined the differences in the load on the lower limbs before and after the intervention. [Results] The loads on the lower limbs of care-receivers when their buttocks were lifted from the chair were 11.7 ± 69.6, 61.8 ± 79.4, and 101.0 ± 104.0 N in the control, demonstration, and simulated experience groups. [Conclusion] These data suggest that the simulated experience method could help make use of the ability of the care-receiver to get transferred. Even care workers for the sanatorium-type sickbeds could learn to utilize the physical ability of the care-receivers using simulated experience.

Our results suggest that chlorella ingestion has the potential to relieve oxidative stress and enhance tolerance for fatigue under resting conditions.

[Purpose] To further the understanding of dysfunctions to which a simulated experience method could be applied, we clarified whether a simulated experience method can promote caregivers to utilize the abilities of care recipients with pseudo-hemiplegia or pseudo-limited range of motion (ROM) in multiple joints. [Participants and Methods] We studied transfer assistance in 60 nursing assistants from nursing home settings: 30 were assigned to the pseudo-hemiplegia (26 females, 4 males) and limited ROM in multiple joints (27 females, 3 males) groups. One healthy person was fitted with orthotic braces to mimic hemiplegia or limited ROM in multiple joints, each making it difficult to stand-up. Participants were randomized to either a simulated experience group (involving interventional help from a physical therapist between the first and second measurements) or a control group. The load difference on the lower limbs of the care recipient between two rounds of transfer assistance was examined. [Results] The difference between the second and first measurements was −5.9 ± 74.5 N for the control group and 107.9 ± 123.6 N for the simulated experience method in the pseudo-hemiplegia study, and −14.7 ± 64.7 N and 149.1 ± 132.4 N, respectively, for the pseudo-limited ROM-in-multiple-joints study. [Conclusion] The simulated experience method promoted transfer assistance of a care recipient with pseudo-hemiplegia or pseudo-limited ROM in multiple joints. These results suggest that hemiplegia and limited ROM in multiple joints are added as dysfunctions that can be applied to a simulated experience method in transfer assistance.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of blowgun training on respiratory function and compare it with expiratory muscle training. [Subjects] The subjects were 19 healthy adults. [Method] The subjects were divided at random into a blowgun training (BT) group, 10 subjects, and an expiratory muscle training (ET) group, 9 subjects. The BT group performed blowgun training, and the ET group performed expiratory resistance load training utilizing the PEP threshold method. We measured vital capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the FEV1 ratio, maximum expiratory flow (PEF), maximum expiratory pressure (PEmax), and maximum inspiratory pressure, and made within and between group comparisons. [Results] In the BT group, the values of PEF and PE max increased significantly, but no other differences in respiratory function were found. In the ET group, although the values of PEF and PEmax increased, the increases were found not to be significant. No other differences in respiratory function were found. In the inter-group comparison, no significant differences were found either. [Conclusion] The results suggest that blowgun training increases PEF and PEmax and has an effect on respiratory function which is similar to that of expiratory muscle training.

No abstract