13 research outputs found

    Comparison of Accuracy Among Pedometers from Five Japanese Manufacturers

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    The reliability of commercially available pedometers is not known in detail. Therefore, the present study examines the accuracy and reliability of the FS500 (Acos), HJ301 (Omron), EX700 (Yamax), FB727 (Tanita) and TW600 (Citizen) pedometers to count steps and measure energy expenditure at various walking speeds. Twenty individuals (age, 32.5 ± 15.3 years; body mass index, 22.0 ± 1.6 kg/m2) walked at three speeds for 6 min. Step-counts and energy expenditure determined by each pedometer were compared with actual values. All five pedometers accurately measured steps at all speeds, but tended to underestimate expended calories to within 50% of the actual amount of energy expenditure. The correlation coefficients (R) between actual energy expenditure and pedometer values were between 0.74 and 0.87. Thus, feedback about energy expenditure is somewhat inaccurate. In contrast, step counts are very accurate, and thus pedometers are useful tools with which to indicate daily exercise levels.ArticleThe Open Sports Sciences Journal .6:56-61(2013)journal articl

    Comparison of cortical activation during subtraction in mental calculation and with a calculator

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    Several studies have shown that various types of cognitive processing exist and exert different effects on brain activity. However, when a subject performs the same task, whether the task involves processing or not, such as in mental calculation or with a calculator, the different influences on the brain remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the influence of cortical activation when performing mental calculation and using a calculator have different effects on the brain. Fifteen healthy, right-handed participants (mean age, 26.3 ± 8.5 years; 12 men, 27.7 ± 9.0 years; 3 women, 20.6 ± 1.1 years) were recruited as subjects. We measured oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels while subjects performed subtraction tasks by mental calculation or using a calculator (3 min each). Measurements were made at the frontal lobe and temporal lobe. In both lobes, oxy-Hb level was significantly increased during mental calculation. Locations showing significantly increased oxy-Hb in mental calculation were the prefrontal cortex in the frontal lobe and supramarginal gyrus in the temporal lobe. These results suggest that the brain responds differently to tasks in mental calculation and using a calculator. We hypothesized that using the electronic calculator needs fewer neural networks than performing mental calculation. In recent years, thanks to the development of machines, many tasks have been automated, making our lives easier and more convenient. Our results may provide one example that the developments of modern technology influence brain function.ArticleBiochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry.4(3):185(2015)journal articl

    Difference between two Japanese health promotion programes on measures of health and wellness

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    We implemented and compared two 10-month health education programs in Minowa town and Matsumoto city, Nagano prefecture, Japan. The Matsumoto city cohort underwent a program of monthly classroom activities (CA group), whereas the Minowa town cohort were not only subjected to classroom activities but also performed 90-min strength and weight training once a week and were termed the classroom/training (CT) group. We measured anthropometric, blood pressure, physical fitness, blood chemistry, and brain function variables. All participants were provided pedometers and were encouraged to walk. Monthly seminars included education regarding yoga, exercise, blood pressure, nutrition, and other health-related topics. In total, 92 healthy participants were included in the CA group [age, 66.5 ± 5.4 years (mean ± standard error of mean); 30 males and 62 females] and 46 healthy participants were included in the CT group (mean age 62.7 ± 4.7 years; 22 males and 24 females). We observed significant differences between the average number of steps walked in the CA (7241.7 ± 113.6) and CT (8686.7 ± 167.2) groups. Both the groups both showed significant improvements in anthropometric, blood pressure, physical fitness, blood chemistry, and brain function tests; however, the CT group showed markedly greater improvement after the health education program than before participation. In conclusion, the CT program had added benefits over the CA program because of the higher average amount of walking (approximately 1,400 steps) and the inclusion of a weekly weight-training activity.ArticleINNOVATIVE JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCE.5(4):170-181(2015)journal articl

    Effect of a two-year health program on brain function, physical fitness and blood chemistry

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    Background: Protocols for carrying out health programs for aged adults have not been clearly presented. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the effects from the first year to the second year of the Matsumoto health promotion program and to make use of the results in future health promotion for elderly people.Method: The city of Matsumoto offered local residents a two-year health program which includethe use of a pedometer, anthropometry, blood pressure, go/no-go brain function, a physical fitness test and a blood chemistry test. Eighty-six elderly people age 65.9 ± 5.9 years participated in the program. All the participants were given pedometers and a target of 7,000 to 8,000 steps per day was set based on the weight-bearing index. During the first year, the participants did their walking exercise and attended a series of monthly seminars. Then the second year, the participants continued their walking exercise, attended series of monthly seminars and began a 2 hour weight training once a week.Result: The result from the pedometer in the first year showed that the average daily walking step was 6552.9 ± 474.2. The second year, the average daily walking steps was 7170.4 ± 547.9. The results from first year to second year showed significant improvement; the number of incorrect response in the go/no-go tasks (before: 5.3 times ± 0.4, after: 2.9 times ± 0.2, pConclusion: These results from the two-year program suggests that the increase in walking and the 2 hour weight training may reflect the influence of wearing a pedometer, and improved anthropometry, blood pressure, brain function, physical fitness and blood chemistry. However, the girth of the abdomen, handgrip strength and blood chemistry did not show significant improvement. Thus we must think about enlightenment program that wouldinclude muscular strength training and nutrition.ArticleJournal of Community Medicine & Health Education.5(3):349(2015)journal articl

    Comparison of Accuracy Among Pedometers from Five Japanese Manufacturers

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    The reliability of commercially available pedometers is not known in detail. Therefore, the present study examines the accuracy and reliability of the FS500 (Acos), HJ301 (Omron), EX700 (Yamax), FB727 (Tanita) and TW600 (Citizen) pedometers to count steps and measure energy expenditure at various walking speeds. Twenty individuals (age, 32.5 ± 15.3 years; body mass index, 22.0 ± 1.6 kg/m2) walked at three speeds for 6 min. Step-counts and energy expenditure determined by each pedometer were compared with actual values. All five pedometers accurately measured steps at all speeds, but tended to underestimate expended calories to within 50% of the actual amount of energy expenditure. The correlation coefficients (R) between actual energy expenditure and pedometer values were between 0.74 and 0.87. Thus, feedback about energy expenditure is somewhat inaccurate. In contrast, step counts are very accurate, and thus pedometers are useful tools with which to indicate daily exercise levels.ArticleThe Open Sports Sciences Journal .6:56-61(2013)journal articl

    Effects of triple-treatment trunk stretching on physical fitness and curvature of the spine

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    Background: Research on the effectiveness of treatment for low back disorders has been made, however yet no established method has been found. Therefore, we devised a triple-treatment trunk stretching program comprising the following three trunk stretching exercises: stretching using an unstable flex chair; stretching using a stretching bench; and stretching using a stretch pad. Our three-treatment trunk stretching program is based on the principles of static muscular stabilization of the spine and uses well-known physiological strength-training principles. In this study, we investigated the effects of triple-treatment trunk stretching on physical fitness levels and curvature of the spine measured by X-ray photographs. Methods: Thirteen healthy male subjects (mean age, 26.3 ± 4.0 years; height, 173.5 ± 4.9 cm; weight, 64.9 ± 5.7 kg; BMI 21.6 ± 1.7) were enrolled in this study. In consideration of safety and simplicity, we applied the physical fitness test introduced by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan for 65- to 79-year-olds. Results: Triple-treatment trunk stretching led to significant improvements in sit-and-reach flexibility, 10-m obstacle course walking time, standing forward flexion, thoracolumbar extension and horizontal flexion. Significant improvements were also observed in the neutral angle of the curvature of the lower thoracic spine and the neutral angle of the curvature of the lower lumbar spine. Conclusions: Significant improvements were evident in the neutral angles of both the curvature of the lower thoracic spine and the curvature of the lower lumbar spine after triple-treatment trunk stretching. This suggests that triple-treatment trunk stretching can help improve the curvature of the spine and physical fitness
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