This study was undertaken to develop the scapulometer, a measuring tool for scapular winging, and to determine the reliability of scapulometer. Thirty subjects with scapular winging greater than 2 cm participated in this study. Two examiners measured scapular winging using the scapulometer. Standardized measurement position of each subject was as follows: neutral position of shoulder and wrist, flexion of elbow, and cuff weight of 5% and 10% of body weight (BW) to neutral wrist. The interrater and intrarater reliability were calculated with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and standard error of measurement (SEM) at 5% BW and 10% BW. The level of scapular winging was tested between 5% BW and 10% BW with a paired t-test. The interrater reliability was shown to be high at 5% BW (ICC(2,k)=.955, 95% CI=.900~.979, SEM=.07) and at 10% BW (ICC(2,k)=.968, 95% CI=.930~.985, SEM=.06). The intrarater reliability was shown to be high at 5% BW (ICC(2,k)=.921, 95% CI=.842~.961, SEM=.09) and at 10% BW (ICC(2,k)=.906, 95% CI=.813~.954, SEM=.10). The level of scapular winging was significantly different between 5% BW and 10% BW. Conclusively, it is demonstrated that the scapulometer is an objective and qualitative measurement tool for scapular winging.

Studies of attentional focus effects, have shown that the performer's attentional focus plays an important role in the performance and learning of motor tasks. We examined the influence of attentional focus on the performance of dual tasks (a postural task and a suprapostural task) and used electromyography (EMG) to examine whether the differences between external and internal focus were also manifest at the neuromuscular level. The subjects (n=40) stood on a balance board (postural task) and held a bar horizontally (suprapostural task). All of the subjects performed under different attentional focus conditions: external (balancer on balance board) or internal (feet) focus on the postural task, and external (balancer on bar) or internal (hand) focus on the suprapostural task. The mean displacement velocity of the bar and the percent reference voluntary contraction (%RVC) of the biceps brachii were reduced when the subjects adopted an external focus on the suprapostural task (p<.05). In addition, the mean displacement velocity of the balance board and %RVC of the tibialis anterior were reduced when the subjects adopted an external focus on the postural task (p<.05). When the subjects adopted an external focus on the suprapostural task, the mean displacement velocity of the balance board and %RVC of the tibialis anterior were also reduced (p<.05). When the subjects' attentional focus was on the postural task, there were no differences in the mean displacement and %RVC of the biceps brachii between attentional focuses. The performance of each task was enhanced when subjects focused on the respective task. The suprapostural task goals had a stronger influence on postural control than vice versa. These results reflect the propensity of the motor system to optimize control processes based on the environmental outcome, or movement effect, that the performer wants to achieve.

This study was purposed to provide basic information on the correct application of a wheelchair's backrest angle by investigating the change in cardiopulmonary function according to backrest angle during propulsion. This study examined the effects of the wheelchair's backrest angle on the cardiopulmonary function by varying the angle to 0°, 10° and 20° and with a propulsion velocity of 60 m/min. The experimental parameters were respiration rate, oxygen consumption rate and oxygen consumption rate/kg which were measured by a portable wireless oxygen consumption meter (COSMED, K4b²). The results of the study were as follows: 1) There were no statistically significant differences in respiration rates due to changes in the wheelchair backrest angle (p>.05). 2) There were statistically significant differences in oxygen consumption rates due to changes in the wheelchair backrest angle (p<.05). 3) There were also statistically significant differences in the oxygen consumption rate/kg due to changes in the wheelchair backrest angle (p<.05). In conclusion, changes in the backrest angle of wheelchairs during propulsion influences oxygen consumption rates and heart rates, while respiration rates are not affected. Therefore, a training program for good seating and posture needs to be provided, and the wheelchair seating system should be equipped with the unadjustable-angle wheelchair to reduce the functional load on the cardiopulmonary system.

The purposes of this study were to test that complex motor training enhance motor function significantly, to test change in cerebellum, and to test the synaptic plasticity into the immunohistochemistry response of synaptophysin. Using an animal model of fetal alcohol syndrome - which equates peak blood alcohol concentrations across developmental period - the effects of alcohol on body weight during periods were examined. The effect of complex motor training on motor function and synaptic plasticity of rat exposed alcohol on postnatal days 4 through 10 were studied. Newborn rats were assigned to one of two groups: (1) normal group (NG), via artificial rearing to milk formula and (2) alcohol groups (AG), via 4.5 g/kg/day of ethanol in a milk solution. After completion of the treatments, the pups were fostered back to lactating dams, where they were raised in standard cages (two-and three animals per cage) until they were postnatal 48 days. Rats from alcohol group of postnatal treatment then spent 10 days in one of two groups: Alcohol-experimental group was had got complex motor training (learning traverse a set of 6 elevated obstacles) for 4 weeks. The alcohol-control group was not trained. Before consider replacing with "the experiment/study", (avoid using "got" in writing) the rats were examined during four behavioral tests and their body weights were measured, then their coronal sections were processed in rabbit polyclonal antibody synaptophysin. The synaptophysin expression in the cerebellar cortex was investigated using a light microscope. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The alcohol groups contained significantly higher alcohol concentrations than the normal group. 2. The alcohol groups had significantly lower body weights than the normal group. 3. In alcohol groups performed significantly lower than the normal group on the motor behavioral test. 4. In alcohol-control group showed significantly decreased immunohistochemistric response of the synaptophysin in the cerebellar cortex compared to the nomal group. These results suggest that improved motor function induced by complex motor training after postnatal exposure is associated with dynamically altered expression of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex and that is related with synaptic plasticity. Also, these data can potentially serve as a model for therapeutic intervention.

Pressure ulcers are serious complications of tissue damage that can develop in patients with diminished pain sensation and diminished mobility. Pressure ulcers can result in irreversible tissue damage caused by ischemia resulting from external loading. There are many intrinsic and extrinsic contributors to the problem, including interface tissue pressure, shear, temperature, moisture, hygiene, nutrition, tissue tolerance, sensory and motor dysfunction, disease and infection, posture, and body support systems. The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between buttock interface pressure and seating position, wheelchair propulsion speed. Seated-interface pressure was measured using the Force Sensing Array pressure mapping system. Twenty subjects propelled wheelchair handrim on a motor-driven treadmill at different velocities (40, 60, 80 m/min) and seating position used recline (, , ) with a wheelchair simulator. Interface pressure consists of average (mean of the pressure sensor values) and maximum pressure (highest individual sensor value). The results of this study were as follows; No significant correlation in maximum/average pressure was found between a static position and a 40 m/min wheelchair propulsion (p>.05). However, a significant increase in maximum/average pressure were identified between conditions of a static position and 60 m/min, and 80 m/min wheelchair propulsion (p<.05). No significant correlation in maximum pressure were found between a recline (neutral position) and a , , or recline of the wheelchair back (p>.05). No significant difference in average pressure was found between conditions of a recline and both a and recline of wheelchair back. However, a significant reduction in average pressure was identified between conditions of a and recline of wheelchair back (p<.05). This study has shown some interesting results that reclining the seat by reduced average interface pressure, including the reduction or prevention in edema. And interface pressure was greater during dynamic wheelchair propulsion compared with static seating. Therefore, the optimal seating position and seating system ought to provide postural control and pressure relief. We need an education on optimal seating position and a suitable propulsion speeds for wheelchair users.