Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this research was to study the test-retest reliability of isometric knee extension muscle strength measurement using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD) with a belt, with healthy elderly people living in the community as subjects.[Subjects] The subjects were healthy elderly people living in the community, with an average age of 70.5 years, and measurements were made of the leg on the side that was used to kick a ball.[Method] The subjects sat on a mat table, and isometric knee extension muscle strength measurements using a HHD with a belt were conducted twice, at an interval of 30 seconds, with a knee flexion angle of 90 degrees. The measurement values were classified according to the gender of the subjects, and by age group 65-69 years, 70-74 years, and 75 years and above, and studied. Testretest reliability was studied using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and checks of the differentials.[Results] The ICC(1,1) between the first and second measurements ranged from 0.85 to 0.92. Apart from the group of men aged 75 years and above, the second measurement values were higher than those of the first.[Conclusion] Test-retest reliability of isometric knee extension muscle strength measurement using a HHD with a belt was high in healthy elderly persons. However, measuring only once, or measuring twice and taking the average was considered inappropriate, since there is the possibility that the values in such cases would be lower than the actual muscle strength.

Abstract. This study was carried out for the purpose of quantifying resistance demonstrated by TheraBand ® exercise bands in knee joint extension. The subjects were 35 healthy adults (19 male, 16 female), and their average age was 21.0 ± 2.3 years old. The exercise bands had 6 colors. From the lower leg nutation position in sitting on the edge of a bed, knee joints were extended to 30° and 45°, and the value of the muscle strength used in retaining those angles with the different colored exercise bands was measured with a dynamometer. In this study, the resistance demonstrated in knee extension with the exercise bands was quantified using a dynamometer, and the resistance quantity of the six colored exercise bands used in this study was clarified, enabling the construction of an index for their selection.

This study was performed to determine the current situation and future prospects regarding the information, techniques, and educational methods of Interprofessional Education (IPE) that are needed throughout the world. The authors contacted a number of schools with physical therapy faculties that have introduced IPE into their curricula as well as credits designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). The IPE-related credits under the present curriculum were reviewed. In Japan, only 5 of 36 physical therapy faculties have adopted IPE into their curricula. In Japan, ninety-three credits are designated by MEXT in schools that train physical therapists. The Designated Regulation of Education of Japanese Physical Therapists was revised in 1989, and IPE-related clauses were added. This takes into account the social needs of physical therapists and recognizes the need for interprofessional knowledge. Furthermore, other clauses were added to train competent therapists: clauses regarding increased human understanding, sympathy for patients, understanding and cooperation in human relationships, understanding of patients' families, and understanding of support education methods. These are all part of the "joint education for training physical therapists," which is a small part of the curriculum.

[Purpose] We assessed the TK-03C soft tissue stiffness meter (STSM) (Tokushukeisoku Corporation, Japan) for inter/intra-rater reliability. This device measures load and displacement simultaneously.[Subjects] Ten students from the Physical Therapy Department were the subjects.[Methods] The 10 subjects measured the surface stiffness of three elastomer samples with known mechanical properties: a polyurethane test piece and two sorbos test pieces. They each took 7 consecutive readings using the STMS at the same site on each test piece. We calculated the displacement for a load of 10 N.[Result] The overall rating reliability for all sites was high: site1, coefficient of variation (CV) (range)=5.3 (2.6-10.0); site2, CV=3.9 (2.3-6.1); site3, CV=5.0 (2.2-9.2). The intra-rater reliability of the 10 subjects was high showing an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) (1•1) ≥0.97. The inter-rater reliability was also high; ICC(2•1)=0.96. In addition, the hardness of the three test pieces were significantly different (p<0.01).[Conclusion] It seems that this STSM is a reliable and useful device for objective quantitative evaluation of soft tissue stiffness.