[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to show somatotype and physical characteristic differences between elite boxing athletes and non-athletes. [Methods] The somatotypes of 23 elite boxing athletes and 23 nonathletes were measured with the Heath-Carter method. The subjects were divided into four weight divisions as follows: lightweight, light middleweight, middleweight, and heavyweight class. [Results] The endomorphic component values of the boxing athletes were lower than those of the nonathletes. However, the mesomorphic component values of the boxing athletes were higher than those of the nonathletes. There was no significant difference in the ectomorphic component between the two groups. The higher weight divisions tended to have higher values of height, weight, and BMI than the lower weight divisions. The higher weight divisions also tended to have higher values for the endomorphic and mesomorphic components and a lower value for the ectomorphic component than the lower weight divisions. The group of nonathletes consisted of eight endomorphs, four mesomorphs, six ectomorphs, and five central types. Among the boxing athletes, there were 16 mesomorphic, four ectomorphic, and two central types and one endomorphic type. Subdividing the athletes into 13 somatotypes resulted in five balanced mesomorphs, five endomorphic mesomorphs, five mesomorph-ectomorphs, three mesomorph-endomorphs, two mesomorphic ectomorphs, two central types, and one ectomorphic mesomorph type. [Conclusion] The data from this study provides in part physical characteristics of elite boxing athletes that can be used to establish a reference for systemic study of sports physiotherapy.

Abstract.[Purpose] An understanding of smooth muscle contraction is important in the study of specialized physical therapy. In this paper, we summarize the contraction mechanisms of smooth muscle and suggest their applications in physical therapy. [Method] This review focuses on the signaling pathways that control smooth muscle contraction and its mechanisms. We include results reported by our laboratory in a wider literature review. [Results] Our results and the literature show that various mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction exist. [Conclusions] In this review article, we carefully discuss the signal transduction in smooth muscle contraction based on our studies and with reference to physical therapy.

[Purpose] Atrophy is a common phenomenon caused by prolonged muscle disuse associated with bed-rest, aging, and immobilization. However, changes in the expression of atrophy-related myoglobin are still poorly understood. In the present study, we examined whether or not myoglobin expression is altered in the gastrocnemius muscles of rats after seven days of cast immobilization. [Methods] We conducted a protein expression and high-resolution differential proteomic analysis using, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and western blotting. [Results] The density and expression of myoglobin increased significantly more in atrophic gastrocnemius muscle strips than they did in the control group. [Conclusion] The results suggest that cast immobilization-induced atrophy may be related to changes in the expression of myoglobin in rat gastrocnemius muscles.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of stroke patients in a sitting position on balance and activities of daily living. [Methods] FES was applied to stroke patients (six male, three female) while in a sitting and supine position. FES was applied six times for 30 minutes each for a total of six weeks. [Results] The timed up and go (TUG) values at weeks 2, 4, and 6 after FES treatment in a sitting position were noticeably decreased in a time-dependent manner, compared with controls. In the sitting, the functional reach test (FRT) values were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner. The same values in the supine position weakly showed a similar pattern to those in the sitting position. Furthermore, the functional independent measurement (FIM) values in the sitting position were markedly increased in a time-dependent manner. In the sitting position, the intensity of FES was markedly decreased in a time-dependent manner. The same values in the supine position weakly showed a similar pattern to those in the sitting position. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the conditions of stroke patients in both the sitting and supine positions after FES treatment were improved and that FES had a greater effect in the sitting position.

[Purpose] Rheobase and chronaxie are used to confirm muscle degeneration. For stroke patients, however, the uses of rheobase and chronaxie in determining paretic side muscle degeneration is not yet fully understood. Thus, in this study, we examined the electrical properties of the quadriceps muscles of stroke patients’ paretic side and compared them with their respective values on the non-paretic side. [Method] The subjects were six stroke patients (three females, three males). The pad of an electrical stimulator was applied to the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis regions to measure rheobase and chronaxie until the contractive muscle response to electrical stimulation became visible. [Result] Rheobase was significantly increased on the paretic side compared to that of the non-paretic side of hemiplegic stroke patients. Furthermore, chronaxie was significantly increased on the paretic side compared to the non-paretic side of hemiplegic stroke patients. [Conclusion] These results suggest that stroke affects the sensitivity of skeletal muscle contraction. Therefore, this data may contribute to our understanding of the muscle status of stroke patients.