• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.136-141
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• 2021

Purpose: Dementia is a disease in which cognitive function declines, leading to deterioration of body functions and activities of daily living. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of dual-task training, including cognitive tasks, on cognitive and body function and β-amyloid levels in Alzheimer's dementia patients. Methods: 34 inpatients diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia at a nursing hospital located in South Korea. The patients were randomly divided into a dual-task group (n=16) and a single-task group (n=18). Each group was trained for 30 minutes three times a week for eight weeks. The MMSE-K was used to measure the patients' cognitive function. To assess the patients' static balance ability, their LOS was measured using BioRescue. while dynamic balance was measured using the BBS. The 10MWT were conducted to evaluate the patients' walking ability. Blood analysis was performed to measure levels of β-amyloid. Results: Both groups exhibited statistically significant improvements in gait function after the training (p<0.05). The dual-task group exhibited statistically significant differences in cognitive function, static and dynamic balance function, and β-amyloid levels after training (p<0.05). A significant difference was observed between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dual-task training were found to be effective in improving cognitive and bodily functioning and reducing β-amyloid levels in Alzheimer's dementia patients. Thus, this may be suggested as an effective exercise method for the treatment and early prevention of Alzheimer's dementia.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.913-922
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• 2014

This paper describes design of a robotic above-knee prosthetic leg which is powered by electrical motors. As a special feature, the robotic prosthetic leg has enough D.O.F.s. For mimicking the human leg, the robotic prosthetic leg is composed of five joints. Three of them are called 'active joint' which is driven by electrical motors. They are placed at the knee-pitch-axis, the ankle-pitch-axis, and the an! kle-roll-axis. Every 'active joint' has enough torque capacity to overcome ground reaction forces for walking and is backlashless for accurate motion generation and high-performance balance control. Other two joints are called 'passive joint' which is activating by torsion spring. They are placed at the toe part and designed by Crank-rocker mechanism using kinematic design approach. In order to verify working performance of the robotic prosthetic leg, we designed a gait trajectory through motion capture technique and experimentally applied it to the robot.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the association between one-leg standing ability and postural control for chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty individuals who had a first diagnosis of stroke with hemiparesis before six months and over had participated in this study. To analyze the relationship between one-leg standing ability and postural control in the participants, six clinical measurement tools were used for assessment, including the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), 5 times sit-to-stand (5TSTS) and one-leg standing (OLS). Results: After analyzation, the OLS scores in the more-affected side showed significant positive correlations with BBS scores (r=0.469, p<0.01), DGI scores (r=0.459, p<0.01).and FMA scores (r=0.425, p<0.01). The OLS scores in the more-affected side showed significant negative correlations with TUG score (r=-0.351, p<0.05). The OLS score in the less-affected side showed significant positive correlations with BBS scores (r=0.485, p<0.01), DGI scores (r=0.488, p<0.01) and FMA score (r=0.352, p<0.05). The OLS scores in the less-affected side showed significant negative correlation with TUG scores (r=-0.392, p<0.05) and 5TSTS (r= -0.430, p<0.01). The OLS scores in the more-affected side showed significant positive correlations with the OLS scores in less-affected side (r=0.712, p<0.01). Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that the OLS time may be moderately correlated with static and dynamic postural stabilities and motor recovery following stroke. This study also suggests that the OLS test is as a simple clinical tool for predicting postural control performance for individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2011

The functional loot orthoses, when wearing shoes, are in the direct contact with bottom of foots to improve and recover the correctness of abnormal lower limb musculoskeletal imbalance and the primary role of foot and also, it can act to keep the balance and weight of body and support the weakened region, so that it is very helpful to keep body balance for the standing position. In this paper, it was researched that foot orthoses which is accommodable for the function of impact absorption including the gait stability affect on the balanced performances of body in according to the formation and the material of foot part. Taking into account the balanced performances by using the sway velocity, the estimation and comparison of the effects on the balanced performances by each formation and material for foot orthoses was evaluated into significant values(p<0.006) in only the eye-opening posture with Firm state, In this posture, the static process performed by each foot formation reveals in order of normal foot(p<0.010), flat foot(p<0.000) and hollow foot(p<0.003) and then, on the base of each formation of foot part, the result that analyze the effects of the materials of foot orthoses on the balance performance appeared showing that soft materials is more effective on the normal foot and, on the other hand, rigid materials is more effective in balancing on flat foot and hollow foot.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between anticipatory postural adjustment (APA), single task, dual tasks and physical performances. The trunk muscles of APA consist of bilateral erector spinae (ES) and bilateral internal oblique (IO) adnominal muscles, during rapid stepping with the affected or unaffected leg in a sitting posture. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: In patients with chronic stroke, electrodes of surface electromyography (EMG) were attached on the bilateral erector spinae (ES), bilateral internal oblique adnominal (IO), and bilateral rectus femoris (RF) muscles. RF acts as the prime mover. The stroke patients performed hip flexion until $20^{\circ}$ as fast as possible at each leg in a sitting posture according to a visual cue. The visual cue unexpectedly appeared on monitor in front of the stroke patient. The single task was the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The dual tasks were the TUGconitive, which increased cognitive capacity, and the TUGmanual task, which had an external focus. Results: All EMG data showed earlier onset latency before the prime mover. In affected leg raising, the onset time of unaffected ES muscle of the stroke patients was correlated with the single and dual tasks (p<0.05). In unaffected leg raising, the onset time of the affected IO muscle was related to all the tasks (p<0.05). Gait speed showed a relationship with the unaffected ES muscle only. Conclusions: The trunk muscles of the bilateral ES and bilateral IO play an important role in APA. The single and dual tasks using TUG test were correlated with the APA s of ES and IO muscles. Dual task by the TUG test is a good measuring tool for reflecting the real life in patients with chronic stroke.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.34-43
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• 2020

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to assess changes in blood glucose level, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in elderly women aged over 65 years with hypertension and either normal glycemic control, impaired fasting glucose tolerance, or diabetes mellitus. We also wished to investigate the relationship between stages of diabetes and physical fitness. [Methods] A total of 24 elderly women with hypertension were assigned to a control group (CON; n=7), impaired fasting glucose group (IFG; n=9), and diabetes mellitus group (DM; n=8). In each group, blood glucose level, brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV), and blood pressure were measured at baseline as well as 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT. Physical fitness factors such as hand grip strength, balance test, 4 m gait speed test, chair stand test, short physical performance battery, and 6-minute walking test were subsequently assessed. [Results] In all three groups, blood glucose levels were significantly increased at 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT. In the DM group, blood glucose levels were significantly higher before and after a 75 g OGTT than in the CON group. In the CON group, PWV was significantly increased at 60 minutes after a 75 g OGTT; however, there were no changes in other groups after glucose ingestion. In the CON group, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased at 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT compared to baseline. However, there was no change in blood pressure after ingestion in the DM group. The IFG group had greater grip strength than the CON group; however, there were no differences in other variables between the groups. [Conclusion] After a 75 g OGTT, elderly women with hypertension and diabetes maintain higher blood glucose levels compared to those with hypertension alone. Unlike elderly women with hypertension alone, those with hypertension and diabetes did not show changes in arterial stiffness and blood pressure after a 75 g OGTT. Therefore, elderly women with hypertension and diabetes may not be able to control their blood vessels following a 75 g OGTT due to impaired vascular endothelial function. Moreover, there was no association between diabetes stage and physical fitness in elderly women with hypertension.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.37-47
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• 2022

Purpose : We aimed to investigate the effects of nutritional foods on sarcopenia prevention and physical function among the elderly living in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing customized nutrition. Methods : This study was conducted in the rural community of SCC. Participants (n=24, over age 65) were randomly assigned into a Protein group (n=12) and a Vitamin group (n=12). The protein group was given 23 g/d of protein (whey, soybean, BCAA) for 8 weeks and the Vitamin group 23 g/d of vitamin (B, C, D, E and mixed minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc) for 8 weeks. All participants had their body composition such as height, weight, skeletal muscle mass, body mass index, and body fat percentage, measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and physical function assessed using grip strength and the short physical performance battery (SPPB). Results : At the end of the intervention, there was a significant increase in skeletal muscle mass (p<.01) in the Protein group (p=.002, 4.92 %) compared to the baseline: it increased by 2.33 %. The Vitamin group had a significant increase in body fat percentage after the intervention (p=.001, 15.35 %) compared to the baseline: body fat percentage decreased by 4.49 %. There were no significant differences in left and right Grip strength/Weight, SPPB, 4-m gait speed, chair stand test, and sense of balance in both groups. Conclusion : The findings from this study suggest that 8 weeks of protein intake have a significant effect on skeletal muscle mass and body fat percentage. Protein intake helped promoting the health of the elderly in rural community during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will assist creating a foundation for providing customized nutrition for the elderly in rural community in the future.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.525-534
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• 2019

Objectives: Reduced glucose utilization in the main parts of the brain involved in memory is a major cause of Alzheimer's disease, in which ketone bodies are used as the only and effective alternative energy source of glucose. This study examined the effects of a low-carbohydrate and high-fat (LCHF) diet supplemented with a ketogenic nutrition drink on cognitive function and physical activity in the elderly at high risk for dementia. Methods: The participants of this study were 28 healthy elderly aged 60-91 years showing a high risk factor of dementia or whose Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) score was less than 24 points. Over 3 weeks, the case group was given an LCHF diet with nutrition drinks consisting of a ketone/non-ketone ratio of 1.73:1, whereas the control group consumed well-balanced nutrition drinks while maintaining a normal diet. After 3 weeks, K-MMSE, body composition, urine ketone bodies, and physical ability were all evaluated. Results: Urine ketone bodies of all case group subjects were positive, and K-MMSE score was significantly elevated in the case group only (p=0.021). Weight and BMI were elevated in the control group only (p<0.05). Grip strength was elevated in all subjects (p<0.01), and measurements of gait speed and one leg balance were improved only in the case group (p<0.05). Conclusions: We suggest that adherence to the LCHF diet supplemented with a ketogenic drink could possibly influence cognitive and physical function in the elderly with a high risk factor for dementia. Further, we confirmed the applicability of this dietary intervention in the elderly based on its lack of any side effects or changes in nutritional status.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.519-531
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined exercise program on short physical performance battery, bone mineral density and parathyroid hormone levels in elderly women. This study subjects were 22 elderly female volunteers, aged 65-75 years and they divided into the combined exercise group(n=11) and the "no exercise" control group(n=11). The combined exercise included the line dance program performed twice per week for 60 minutes and the resistance exercise program performed once per week during 12 weeks. Exercise intensity was progressively increased from RPE "fairly light" to "slightly hard" (from 11 to 14). The findings of this study were as follows; Short physical performance battery(Balance test, gait speed, and rising from a chair five times) and bone mineral density (lumbar spine L2~L4 bone densities, and the T-score) were significantly increased after 12 weeks in the exercise group compared to the baseline. The PTH level was significantly decreased in the exercise group compared to the baseline. In conclusion, regular and continuous physical activity was effective for improving short physical performance and had a positive effect on bone mineral density and parathyroid hormone. With aging, women have decreased muscle strength and bone density and therefore, it is strongly recommended that women need to carry out continuous physical activity to prevent disease and ensure a healthy retirement.