Background/Objectives: In patients with schizophrenia, gait disturbances (e.g., reduced walking speed and stride length) are linked to neural dysfunction and extrapyramidal symptoms. To inform gait rehabilitation strategies, this study examines the relationships of walking speed with extrapyramidal symptoms, stride length, antipsychotic dosage, ankle joint range of motion, and body composition in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with chronic schizophrenia were included. All variables were described based on their measurement levels using non-parametric methods. Spearman’s rho was calculated to assess correlations. For multiple linear regression analyses, backward stepwise elimination was used to determine variables associated with walking speed. Statistical significance was set to p < 0.05. Results: Walking speed was positively correlated with stride length, chlorpromazine-equivalent dose, ankle plantar flexion, body mass index, bone mineral content, trunk muscle mass, and skeletal muscle mass index. In contrast, it was negatively correlated with drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms scale (DIEPSS) scores for gait, bradykinesia, tremor, overall severity, and age. The multiple linear regression indicated that DIEPSS 2 bradykinesia level and ankle plantar flexion angle, adjusted for a 26% variance, best explained the walking speed. Conclusions: A lower bradykinesia severity and a higher ankle plantar flexion are associated with higher walking speeds. Thus, it is critical to assess stride length, bradykinesia, angle/limitation/torque of ankle plantar flexion, trunk and upper and lower limb muscle masses, and walking speed in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Specific strategies for gait rehabilitation should focus on stride training, plantar flexion strengthening exercises, and balance training.

Introduction The need for rehabilitation interventions for persons living with dementia is increasing. Improvements in the activities of daily living (ADLs) are often required in this process. On the other hand, reduced learning ability among these people complicates decision-making regarding interventions, so research is needed to support this. Structured skills training is commonly used to teach ADLs to persons living with dementia, and studies have reported it to be useful. However, a synthesis of the evidence on this topic is lacking. Therefore, this scoping review aims to systematically integrate the results of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on skills training for persons living with dementia, identify gaps in existing knowledge and suggest future research and practice. Methods and analysis This scoping review was planned based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. We comprehensively searched target articles using five electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) on 20 March 2024 and are currently screening their titles and abstracts. Eligible studies are RCTs published in English peer-reviewed journals that evaluated the results of skills training for ADLs in participants diagnosed with dementia. We are excluding studies that included mild cognitive impairment, used an intervention that is non-specific to ADLs and lacks teaching strategies, applied group settings, or addressed only smooth movement or stability. The search process and extracted data will be presented using structured figures and tables. By integrating and interpreting the findings, we will identify the gaps in the existing knowledge. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required for this study because the data will be collected from existing research articles. This scoping review will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number UMIN000054539.

Spouse-supported disability prevention activities (DPAs) may be associated with better health. Therefore, older adults who live with a spouse tend to have better health than those who live alone. However, it remains unclear how spouse-supported DPAs are associated with health conditions and engagement in these activities among older adults. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with spouse-supported DPAs among older adults. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hiroshima Prefecture between February and March 2023. We mailed surveys to 1800 participants 65 years of age or older and collected data regarding age, sex, chronic medical conditions, household living arrangements, self-perceived need for care, and the Kihon Checklist (KCL). The physical and daily function, nutrition, and oral health and swallowing ability domains of DPAs were investigated. A total of 277 participants (108 in the living alone group and 169 in the living with spouse only group) were analyzed. KCL scores for socialization and mood in the living alone group were poorer than those in the living with spouse only group. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that instrumental activities of daily living, mood, male sex, self-perceived need for care, and the physical and daily function domain of DPAs were significantly associated with spouse-supported DPAs. Spouse-supported DPAs were positively associated with health conditions and engagement in DPAs. Public health services should be tailored to support spousal involvement in disability prevention.