• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.149-163
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• 2000

The purposes of this study were to investigate the pathway which stroke patients take in seeking medical care and to identify factors which influence that pathway. This study was conducted by a survey. The subjects were 130 adults, who were diagnosed with a stroke between January and April of 2000. Data was collected by means of a interview, questionnaires, and an Activity Index. The result of this study are summarized as follows: 1. The mean age of subject was 61.58 years. Forty-nine percent were men and fifty percent were women. The majority of the subjects were married. For educational level, thirty-three percent finished elementary school, and twenty-three percent, high school. Most of the subjects reported 'middle' economic status. Ninety-two percent lived with their spouse and children. The diagnosis for seventy-two percent was ischemic stroke and for twenty-two percent, hemorrhagic stroke. 2 The most frequent early sign of stroke was hemiplegia(43.3%), loss of consciousness (36.7%), dysarthria(33.3%). The type of hospital first used was a herb hospital(40.8%), or a western hospital(59.2%). The factors in their choice were ; distance from the hospital to the place that the stroke occurred(47.5%), desire for a herb hospital(15.8%), and an invitation(12.9%). The ischemic stroke patients preferred herb hospitals, but hemorrhagic stroke patients preferred a western hospitals. 3. The pattern of stroke patients seeking medical care was that forty-three percent of stroke patients pass through step 1, forty-six percent, through step 2, and 8.5% through step 3. The more steps, the higher the use of herb hospitals. 4. The factors influencing the pathway of stroke patients seeking medical care were diagnosis, and level of consciousness. Ischemic stroke patients used herb hospitals, more frequently hemorrhagic stroke patients, who used western hospitals. The alert patient preferred a herb hospital, but stupor patients preferred a western hospital. 5. The Activity Index was not related to the pathway which stroke patients used in seeking medical care.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.8-15
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• 2009

Grip strength is an objective indicator for evaluating the functional movement of upper extremities. Therapists have been using it for a long time as an excellent barometer for evaluating the therapy process, therapeutic effects and prognosis of patients with injuries in upper extremities. This study investigated the effects of extensor pattern position and elastic taping of non-dominant hand on the grip strength of dominant hand among general adults. The subjects of this study were 23 males and 7 females from physical therapy departments of 3 Universities located in Busan who agreed to participate in the experiment and the resultant data were analyzed using SPSS version 12.0. The results of the study were as follows. First, there was a significant difference between the grip strength of dominant hand when the non-dominant hand was at the neutral position and that when the non-dominant hand was at the extensor pattern position and both hands were at the maximum strength simultaneously (Bonferroni-corrected p<.001). Second, there was a significant difference between the grip strength of dominant hand when the non-dominant hand was at the neutral position and that when the elastic taping of non-dominant hand was applied (Bonferroni-corrected p<.001). Third, there was no significant difference between the grip strength of dominant hand when the non-dominant hand was at the extensor pattern position and both hands were at the maximum strength simultaneously and that when the elastic taping of non-dominant hand was applied. The irradiation effects through the extensor pattern position of non-dominant hand and application of the elastic taping to non-dominant hand showed significant results in improving the maximum grip strength of dominant hand. This finding could be suggested as the probability for the indirect treatment of the upper extremities of hemiplegia and orthopedic patients due to the long-term fixing of upper extremities.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of muscle fatigue by neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES). Using Biodex System 3PRO(Biodex Medical Systems Inc, USA), experiment was conducted as to the normal group(I) composed of fifteen adults and the patient group(II) composed of fifteen patients with spastic hemiplegia. As to each group, maximal tolerated intensity(MTI) and maximal tolerated isometric contraction(MTIC) in electric currents yielded by low rate(20 pps) and high rate(100 pps) neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the aspects of decrease and restoration of the isometric contraction were examined, and their strength decrement index(SDI) and strength recovery index(SRI) were also calculated. 1. As for MTI in NMES, the MTI of the group II was higher than that of the group I in both low rate and high rate NMES. In comparison within group, MTI of group II was significantly higher in high rate NMES rather than in low rate NMES(p<0.05). 2. In comparison of MTIC between groups, the group I showed higher in both low rate and high rate NMES. In comparison within group, MTIC of group II was significantly higher in high rate NMES rather than in low rate NMES(p<0.01). 3. As for SDI, both groups showed highest SDI in high rate NMES, but no significant differences could be observed. 4. As for SRI, both groups showed significantly low SRI in low rate NMES(p<0.01, p<0.05), and comparison between groups showed no significant differences could be observed. These result lead us to the conclusion that muscle fatigue was influenced by frequency, high rate NMES was lower at SDI and higher at SRI on compare to low rate NMES, therefor, a further studies concerning electrical stimulation should consider differences each frequency in response to treatment.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.475-481
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• 2019

A splint is one of assisting devices for the disabled with hemiplegia or contracture and is manually made by an experienced expert. Heated thermoplastic materials are continuously fitted to the affected part. This traditional method has a possible risk of low-temperature burn, quality variance of the splint due to the proficiency of maker. etc. While various approaches has been made using 3D printing technology in order to redeem those disadvantages, they still carry high cost issues with 3D scanners or accuracy issues with manual measurement. This research begins with symmetrical characteristics of human body and focuses on the preliminary study for the possibility of splint manufacturing with 3D printing technology based on geometric characteristics of unaffected arm. 3D right and left forearm models of healthy male adults were created by photogrammetry software and a series of digital images in order to measure the circumference and cross-sectional area of the forearm models at every 20mm from the elbow. The circumference and cross-sectional area showed tolerable levels of differences between both sides within subjects; The circumference and cross-sectional area showed very strong correlations between both sides within subjects. From these findings, the possibility of splint manufacturing with 3D printing technology could be confirmed based on the geometric characteristics of unaffected side.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.7-20
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• 2020

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effect of simultaneous application of peripheral nerve sensory stimulation and task-oriented training on the improvement of upper extremity motor function after stroke. Methods : This study included 29 patients with hemiplegia. The 14 subjects were in the peripheral nerve sensory stimulation and task-oriented training group for 4 weeks (30 min/d, 5 d/wk), while the 15 control group subjects underwent only task-oriented training for the same duration. The outcome measures were the percentage of voluntary baseline muscle contractions of the wrist and shoulder and Box and Block Test, grip and pinch strength, and Action Research Arm Test. Results : After 4 weeks, muscle activity of extensor carpi radialis, flexor carpi radialis and grip strength and Action Research Arm Test were significantly higher in the experimental group. Conclusion : Simultaneous application of the peripheral nerve sensory stimulation and task-oriented training was found to be superior to task-oriented training for improving upper extremity motor function of adults with stroke.