[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to elucidate which motor functions are most or more important for dressing performance before and after rehabilitation. [Subjects] Seventy-nine first episode stroke patients in a hospital convalescent rehabilitation ward. [Methods] The relationships between motor function of the affected upper and lower limbs, unaffected side function, trunk function, balance, cognitive function, and independence level in dressing were examined at admission and discharge using partial correlation analysis. [Results] Independence level of dressing correlated with motor function of the affected upper limb and balance at admission, but correlated only with balance at discharge. [Conclusion] Balance function was strongly associated with level of dressing independence. The effect of gross motor function of the affected upper and lower limbs on the level of independence in dressing may thus be smaller than originally expected. Enhanced balance ability can be important for learning single-handed actions of self-dressing during rehabilitation.

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Maleic anhydride was grafted onto poly(propylene) (PP)-type thermoplastic elastomer PER by reactive processing with a screw extruder and a maleated PER (MPER) was prepared. With the intent of ionic crosslinking, metal compounds such as aluminum stearate (AlSt), magnesium stearate (MgSt), calcium stearate (CaSt), zinc stearate (ZnSt), potassium stearate (KSt), sodium stearate (NaSt), magnesium hydroxide (MH), zinc oxide (ZnO), and zinc sulfide (ZnS) were added to the MPER and meltmixed with the screw extruder, and crosslinked compounds were obtained. The degree of crosslinking estimated from the gel fraction was in the order AlSt, MgSt, CaSt, ZnSt Ͼ NaSt, KSt Ͼ MH Ͼ ZnO, ZnS Ͼ MPER. The rheological properties, such as capillary flow properties and dynamic viscoelasticities, of the compounds were measured and their melt processabilities were evaluated. The viscosity increased with increasing the content of the metal compounds and the increase was higher at the lower shear rate. The increasing effect of the viscosity at low shear rates was AlSt Ͼ MgSt Ͼ ZnSt Ͼ NaSt Ͼ KSt Ͼ MH Ͼ ZnO Ͼ ZnS Ͼ MPER. Namely, the viscosity increasing effect of the metal salt of stearic acid is the higher for the larger ionic charge and the viscosity increasing effects of other compounds are lower than those of the metal salts of stearic acid. Accordingly, by changing the kind and content of the metal compounds, the viscosity can be freely controlled. Considering also other rheological characteristics, these ionically crosslinked compounds are assumed to show ideal flow processabilities except for the extrudate appearance. To improve the appearance, it is necessary to dilute the compound with unmodified PER, PP, or fillers.

The calculated cut-off values indicated the amount of balance necessary for the independence of transfer and stair-climbing, with and without supervision, in stroke patients. Berg Balance Scale has a good discriminatory ability and cut-off values are clinically useful to determine the appropriate independence levels of transfer and stair-climbing in hospital wards. Implications for rehabilitation The Berg Balance Scale's (BBS) strong association with transfer and stair-climbing independence and performance indicates that establishing cut-off values is vitally important for the established use of the BBS clinically. The cut-off values calculated herein accurately demonstrate the level of balance necessary for transfer and stair-climbing independence, with and without supervision, in stroke patients. These criteria should be employed clinically for determining the level of independence for transfer and stair-climbing as well as for setting balance training goals aimed at improving transfer and stair-climbing.

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