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The purpose of this study was to clarify the prevalence of sarcopenia and the association between disease severity and motor function in patients with lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) with intermittent claudication. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-eight patients with LEAD participated in this study. Parameters such as the skeletal muscle mass index, grip strength, gait velocity, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and knee extension strength were quantified. Sarcopenia was evaluated in accordance with the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. The participants were divided into Fontaine stage IIa and IIb groups to examine variations in disease severity. [Results] The prevalence of sarcopenia in LEAD patients was found to be 40%. Grip strength, gait velocity, knee extension strength, and 6MWD were significantly lower in group IIb than in group IIa.[Conclusion] The prevalence of comorbid sarcopenia among patients with LEAD was found to be quite substantial, with a correlation observed between the severity of the disease and motor function.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of missing information in case reports related to physical therapy in Japan. [Participants and Methods] Case reports published in Japanese academic journals in 2019, which were identified using four electronic databases including Ichushi-Web, were included in this study. Information missing from the case reports was assessed using the CAse REport guidelines. [Results] A total of 253 case reports were identified and they had a compliance rate of 100% for patient personal information items. However, the compliance rate was less than 50% for 12 items in the abstract and main text. [Conclusion] The findings of this study suggest that there may be instances of misleading expression in Japanese case reports related to physical therapy.

[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of elastic tape in increasing the dorsiflexion angle and plantar flexor strength in healthy individuals. [Participants and Methods] This randomized controlled trial included 24 healthy university students who were categorized into the following groups (12 participants in each group): the intervention group (elastic tape was applied to the dominant foot) and the control group (no intervention was performed). We performed intergroup comparison of the pre- and post-intervention dorsiflexion angles and plantar flexor strength. Additionally, we performed subgroup analyses based on a straight-leg raise angle of 70°. [Results] We observed no significant intergroup differences in the dorsiflexion angle or plantar flexor strength. However, the post-intervention dorsiflexion angle was significantly greater than the pre-intervention angle in the subgroup with a straight-leg raise angle of <70° among participants in the elastic tape group. [Conclusion] Elastic tape application may effectively increase the dorsiflexion angle in individuals without hamstring extensibility.