Professor Michio Hongo
I am a doctor of orthopedic surgery. I am researching exercise therapy for spinal deformities in the elderly. I also conduct research using ultrasound for musculoskeletal diseases. In addition, I am engaged in clinical research on the pathology and treatment of scoliosis.

Professor Naoyuki Takeuchi
I conduct clinical and basic research related to neurorehabilitation for motor paresis after stroke, treatment of neurological disordersri, induction of brain plasticity using non-invasive brain stimulation, and the teaching-learning process. I am also working on a social brain approach to multidisciplinary cooperation in rehabilitation medicine, using my background as a medical specialist and instructor of the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Professor Masahiro Satake
I am a physical therapist, and my main research topics are respiratory rehabilitation and orthotic treatment. In respiratory rehabilitation, I use exhalation gas analyzers to study respiration and reactions in metabolism during exercise. In orthotic treatment, I continue clinical research on orthoses for medical treatment in patients of acute stroke.

Professor Masahiko Wakasa
I conduct longitudinal studies on changes in various physical motor functions associated with aging. I see the keyword “self-help” as very important in our super-aging society. We need to promote prevention of illness by developing effective exercise therapy programs for the elderly. Furthermore, I train students to develop prevention exercise programs that can be conducted voluntarily by the community’s elderly residents.

Associate Professor Makoto Sasaki
Normally, our muscles, bones, and joints provide information to us through our multiple modalities of senses to maintain or shift postures, and our respiratory system tells us when to breathe. We perform our activities of daily life as well as perform at higher levels, such as in sports, using these functions. My research involves physiotherapeutic assessments and the effects of intervention in cases where there are disorders in these functions or abilities.

Associate Professor Sachiko Uemura
I conduct research on the mental and motor functions of the elderly after taking sleep-inducing drugs. I believe that this research will help lower the number of problems such as falls caused by the side effects of sleep-inducing drugs and will help encourage the appropriate use of sleep-inducing drugs. I also investigate the evidence for onsen　(hot spring) physiological indices such as sleep or muscular fatigue to research their effects. Finally, I also conduct research on issues related to mental fatigue and interpersonal communication skills in human health care workers.

Lecturer Akira Saito
I use ultrasound imaging to conduct research on the functions of muscles around the knee joints in cases of knee osteoarthritis. I also conduct research on rigidity of the muscles around the elbow joint using ultrasound equipment for the purpose of helping to prevent “baseball elbow” during growth spurts in children. I apply the results of my research for physiotherapy intervention.

Assistant Professor Minoru Kimoto
The goal of my research is to devise effective home exercises for disabled children living in rural areas. In rural areas, as compared to cities, there are few rehabilitation facilities available for disabled children. Therefore, home exercises play a very important role in these cases. Currently, I am conducting research on designing effective home exercise programs and checking compliance to these programs with the goal of improving fatigue after walking for children with cerebral palsy.

Assistant Professor Yoshino Terui
I conduct research on gait of stroke patients and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients using tri-axial accelerometers. Stroke patients and COPD patients have a high probability of falling. The gait of Stroke patients and COPD patients should be evaluated accurately to prevent falling. A tri-axial accelerometer is easy to use because it is lightweight and presents no obstructions to gait. I have confirmed the utility of new evaluations using acceleration. I also investigated physical activity of stroke patients during hospitalization using some tri-axial accelerometers.