• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2020

Objective: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a major sequela after surgery or radiotherarpy for breast cancer. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is designed to reduce lymph swelling by facilitating lymphatic drainage. This study attempted to determine the histologic changes in the skin and subcutaneous layer, and the immediate effect of MLD in decreasing lymphedema using ultrasound imaging, which is the method used most commonly to eliminate BCRL. Design: A single-group experimental study. Methods: Five subjects who were diagnosed with hemiparetic upper extremity lymphedema more than six months after breast cancer surgery participated in the study. MLD was performed for 60 minutes in the order of the thorax, breast, axilla, and upper arm of the affected side. In order to determine the effect of MLD, ultrasound imaging and limb volume were assessed. Two measurement tools were used for asessing lymphedema thickness among the pretest, posttest, and 30-minute follow-up period. Results: Significant diferences in ultrasound imaging and upper limb volume were found between the affected side and non-affected side (p<0.05). On the affected side, although ultrasound imaging showed a significant decrease after MLD (p<0.05), there were no significant difference in upper limb volume when compared to the baseline. Conclusions: In this study, a significant decrease in lymphedema by MLD was demonstrated by ultrasound imaging, which is considered to be more useful in assessing histological changes than limb volume measurements. Further research on the protocol for eliminating lymphedema will be needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.35-41
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• 2019

Background: Obstacle training affects lower limb muscle activity, balance, reducing the risk of falls, and making gait more stable. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of aquatic and ground obstacle training on balance and muscle activity in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: The study subjects included 30 patients with stroke, who were divided into aquatic ($n_1=15$) and ground ($n_2=15$) groups. Groups underwent obstacle training three times per week, 30 min per session, for six weeks that went as follows: walking over sites with the paralyzed leg, stepping onto and down from a box step, and walking over obstacles with the non-paralyzed leg. Results: The experimental results were obtained by comparing muscle activity. Activity of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius were significantly increased in the aquatic group (p<.05). Activity of the biceps femoris and tibialis anterior were significantly increased in the ground group (p<.05); however, the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius were not significantly different. In the comparison of maximal distance regarding the limits of stability, it was significantly increased on the non-affected side, affected side, and anterior and posterior distance in the aquatic group (p<.05). It was significantly increased in the non-affected side and anterior and posterior distance the ground group (p<.05); however, maximal distance on the affected side distance was not significantly different. Conclusion: Gait training with aquatic and ground obstacles is effective for improving balance and gait ability of patients with stroke. However, it was more effective for the aquatic group than for the ground group.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate lower extremity muscle activation to the variable weight shift on the affected side of patients with hemiplegia. Methods: Eighteen patients with chronic hemiplegia volunteered to participate in this study. All participants performed three types of weight shift (sideways, forward, and backward) in limits of stability on the affected side. Muscle activation in a paralyzed leg was measured with electromyography on the gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris; furthermore, the attached area was recommended by SENIAM projects. Each weight shift was performed three times, and then the mean value of the three measurements was analyzed. The data were analyzed by measuring the symmetrically standing position with the reference voluntary contraction (RVC) and was standardized with the percentage of RVC method. Results: No significant difference in lower extremity muscle activation occurred according to the three types of variable weight shift. However, significant differences in lower extremity muscle activation did occur with each weight shift position. In addition, activation increased at the rectus femoris and decreased at the gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae. Conclusion: Hip abductor muscle strength training and variable weight shifts on the affected side must increase to improve patients'balance and limits of stability.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of neuropathic pain by peripheral nerve injury on mass and Type I and II fiber cross-sectional areas on hindlimb muscles of the neuropathic pain model rat. Method: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (body weight 200-220 g) were assigned to one of two groups: a neuropathic pain group (n=7) that had a ligation of the left L5 spinal nerve, a control group (n=5), a naive rat without any procedures. Withdrawal threshold, activity, body weight and food intake were measured daily. At 8 days after neuropathic pain, all rats were anesthetized and the soleus and plantaris muscles were dissected from the both hindlimbs. Body weight, food intake, muscle weight and Type I and II fiber cross-sectional area of the dissected muscles were determined. Result: The neuropathic pain group showed a significant decreases (p<.05) as compared with the control rats, in diet intake, body weight, muscle weight and Type II fiber cross-sectional area of the left (affected side) soleus and plantaris muscles, and the right (unaffected side) muscle weight of plantaris and Type II fiber cross-sectional area of the soleus muscle. Conclusion: The hindlimb muscle atrophy occurs in both affected and unaffected side due to neuropathic pain by the peripheral nerve injury. The hindlimb muscle atrophy of the affected side is more pronounced than that of the unaffected side.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2014

Purpose: To investigate the effect of action observation training on the muscle onset time and symmetrical use of rectus femoris(RF) and gastrocnemius medialis(GCM) during sit-to-stand (STS). Methods: Sixteen patients with stroke entered a single-blind trial and were randomly assigned to the experimental(Action) or control(Landscape) groups. Those in the Action observation group watched video clips showing specific movement and strategies to STS, wheas those in the control group watched video clips of static pictures showing differnet landscapes. All patients was measured the EMG data in the STS on the affected side and unaffected side. The EMG data were collected from RF and GCM while performing the STS task. The EMG onset time and onset time ratio for the RF and GCM were calculated by dividing the EMG onset time of RF and GCM action on the affected side by these on the unaffected side. Results: Onset time of affected side RF, GCM was significantly faster action observation training group than control group(p<.05). But interventions before and after the symmetry did not show a significant increase. Conclusion: There findings suggest that action observation training has a positive effect on the muscle onset time shortened during STS tasks.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2022

Background: This study analyzed the reliability of smart guides for gait analysis in patients with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The participants of the study were 30 patients with stroke who could walk more than 10 m and had an MMSE-K test score of ≥24. Prior to the experiment, the subjects or their guardians entered their demographic characteristics including gender, age, height, weight into the prepared computer. The experiment was conducted in a quiet, comfortable, and independent location, and the patient was reminded of the equipment description, precautions, and safety rules for walking. A smart insole was inserted into the shoes of the patients and the shoes were put on before the patients walked three times on the 5-m gait analysis system mat installed in the laboratory. Results: The reliability of the equipment was compared with that of the gait analysis system, and the results of this study are as follows: among the gait analysis items, velocity had an ICC=0.982, the cadence had an ICC=0.905, the swing phase on the side of the gait cycle had an ICC=0.893, the swing phase on the side of the gait had an ICC=0.839, that on the non-affected side had an ICC=0.939, single support on the affected side had an ICC=0.812, and support on the non-affected side had an ICC=0.767. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate no statistical difference between the smart insole and the gait analysis system. Therefore, it is believed that real-time gait analysis through smart insole measurement could help patients in rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of trunk position sense through visual cue deprivation balance training in subacute stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: experimental(n=10) and control(n=10). Both groups performed balance training on sitting for 30minute after measurements. Trunk position sense test was assessed using the David back concept to determine trunk repositioning error for four movement(flexion, extension, affected side lateral flexion, non-affected side lateral flexion). Measurements on each test were assessed prior to the balance training and then immediately following the balance training. RESULTS: In comparison of the difference of the trunk position sense between groups, the experimental group decreased significantly in trunk repositioning error of flexion, extension and affected side lateral flexion than control group(p<.05). CONCLUSION: The trunk position sense of the experimental group showed more improvement after the balance training program compared to the control group, Therefore, these results suggest that visual cue deprivation training is considered an effective exercise method for individuals with subacute stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.448-454
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the change of lateral shift of Center of Pressure (CoP) according to the gait improvement in post-stroke hemiplegic patients and to investigate relationship between the change of motor grade and lateral shift of CoP. Methods: We measured the lateral shift of CoP and motor grade of eight post-stroke hemiplegic patients at the beginning of dependent gait and independent gait. Results: We found that CoP tended to be shifted to the non-affected side when patients started to walk independently. Furthermore, there was no relationship between the change of motor grade and lateral shift of CoP. Conclusions: This result may suggest it is more important to control the non-affected side than the affected side, at least until the beginning independent gait.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.148-159
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• 2012

Objectives: This study investigated the correlation among Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS), Timed "Up and Go" Test (TUG) and gait (velocity, cadence, step-length, stride-length and single-limb support). Methods: The 70 subjects were assessed on trunk control measured with the use of the PASS, dynamic balance (TUG) and gait function (by GAITRite). The data were analyzed using Pearson product correlation. Results: The PASS total scores were significantly correlated with PASS-M, PASS-C, and PASS-T (r =.80 ~ .88 p<.01). All items of the PASS were significantly correlated with TUG (r = -.63 ~ -.81 p<.01), velocity (r = .44~.58 p<.01), cadence (r =.38 ~.51. p<.01), affected side step length (r = .44 ~.56 p<.01) and affected side stride length (r = .45 ~.59 p<.01). But affected side single-limb support was lowly correlated with PASS-M, PASS-C, PASS-T and PASS-total (r = .25~.36 p<.05). Conclusions: Measures of trunk control were significantly related with values of dynamic balance and gait. Based on these results, trunk control is an essential core component of balance and gait. Trunk control training programs after stroke should be developed and emphasized.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2010

In chronic ambulatory hemiplegic patients, structural changes might be developed at both ankles possibly due to unequal and repetitive weight bearing on tendons and ligaments. We examined ankles by sonography to find out structural changes of tendons and ligaments of both ankles in ambulatory hemiplegic patients. Nineteen ambulatory hemiplegic patients over 1 year were included as study subjects. All subjects had no previous trauma or disease history in their ankle joints and they were able to walk independently or with supervision but had spastic ankles with equinovarus tendency. We examined both ankle joints by sonography to see joint effusion and measure width, thickness, and area of tendons of the tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, and Achilles, and also ligaments of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular. We compared sonographic features of the hemi-side ankle with the sound-side ankle. There were no significant differences between hemi-side and sound-side ankles in almost all measured parameters of tendons and ligaments. However, the width of the hemi-side tibialis posterior tendon ($7.24{\pm}1.52$ mm) was narrower than the sound-side tendon ($8.61{\pm}1.37$ mm). With the amount of active joint motion and weight bearing possibly preventing ligament and tendon atrophy even though marked weakness, spasticity occurred during the chronic hemiplegic phase.