title: Physical performance deterioration of temporary housing residents after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
abstract: Disaster has a negative impact on health conditions, especially on those of temporary housing residents. Health status has a close relationship with physical activity and performance. However, few reports have assessed physical performance among residents living in temporary housing. In this study, we compared physical capabilities between the elderly who evacuated to temporary housing and those who stayed in their own homes after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Subjects were recruited from those over 65 years of age who participated in the medical check-ups for temporary housing residents (TH group) or check-ups for residents of downtown areas (control group) in Soma City, Fukushima, in 2012. The subjects underwent grip strength, one-leg standing (OLS), and timed up and go tests (TUG). In total, 1890 participants were recruited. The TH group showed significantly stronger grip strength than that of the control group. On the other hand, the TH group showed weaker standing stability, according to decreased OLS and increased TUG scores. We revealed that standing stability was impaired among elderly temporary housing residents 1.5 years after the disaster. Disaster responders should take into account the health risks associated with living in temporary housing.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Takeaki
authors: T
authors: Ishii
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan.
authors: Sae
authors: S
authors: Ochi
authors: Department of Radiation Protection, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan; Division of Social Communication System for Advanced Clinical Research, the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Masaharu
authors: M
authors: Tsubokura
authors: Department of Radiation Protection, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan.
authors: Shigeaki
authors: S
authors: Kato
authors: Division of Rehabilitation, Fukuoka Houeikai Hospital, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Tetsuda
authors: Division of Rehabilitation, Fukuoka Houeikai Hospital, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Junpei
authors: J
authors: Kato
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan.
authors: Yoshitaka
authors: Y
authors: Nishikawa
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan.
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Morita
authors: Division of Social Communication System for Advanced Clinical Research, the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Kami
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yukihide
authors: Y
authors: Iwamoto
authors: City Office of Soma, Soma, Fukushima, Japan.
authors: Hidekiyo
authors: H
authors: Tachiya
keywords: Disaster; Great East Japan Earthquake; Physical performance; Screening; Temporary housing