• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.173-182
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of underwater and ground-based diagonal pattern exercises on the balance confidence and respiratory functions of chronic stroke patients. Methods: Thirty chronic stroke patients were assigned randomly to an experimental (n = 15) or control (n = 15) group. The experimental group performed an underwater diagonal pattern exercise. The control group performed a ground-based diagonal pattern exercise. Training was conducted once a day for 30 minutes, five days per week for six weeks. Balance confidence was measured using the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale-Korea version. Respiratory function was measured using a spirometer. Results: In a comparison within groups, the experimental and control groups showed significant differences in balance confidence after the experiment (p < 0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed a more significant difference in balance confidence than the control group (p < 0.05). In a comparison within groups, the experimental group showed a significant difference in respiratory functions after the experiment (p < 0.05). In a comparison between the two groups, the experimental group showed a more significant difference in respiratory functions than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, underwater diagonal pattern exercises effectively improved the balance confidence and respiratory functions of chronic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the immediate effect of hip hinge exercise stretching on hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle, proprioception, and dynamic balance in individual with tightness of the hamstring. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 35 healthy young adults (27 males, 8 females) volunteered for this study and randomly divided into three groups (Hip hinge exercise stretching group, passive stretching group, and PNF stretching group). The hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle, knee joint proprioception, dynamic balance was conducted for 3 times. In order to evaluate the hamstring flexibility, the active knee extension test was performed. Forward bending test was performed to examine pelvic tilting angle.The proprioception was tested by the joint position sense test and dynamic balance was evaluated by Y balance test. Results: The hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle and dynamic balance were significantly improved between three groups before and after intervention (p<0.05). Dynamic balance was significantly difference between the three groups in the posterolateral direction (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study result showed that hip hinge exercise stretching was the most effective method for increasing hamstring flexibility, pelvic tilting angle and dynamic balance. In addition, it is necessary to study whether hamstring stretching is effective in low back pain patient with hamstrings tightness.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.243-251
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of aquatic and land dual-task training on balance, gait, and depression in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 24 patients diagnosed with chronic stroke were the subjects. They were assigned to either the experimental group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12). The experimental group performed aquatic dual-task training, while the control group performed land dual-task training. The aquatic and land dual-task training sessions were conducted once a day for 30 min, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Balance was measured using the Berg balance scale. Gait was measured using the Timed Up and Go Test. The Beck's Depression Inventory was used to measure depression. Results: Both the experimental and control groups showed significant differences in balance, gait, and depression after the intervention (p < 0.05) in the within-group comparisons. It was found that the experimental group showed more significant differences in balance, gait, and depression than the control group (p < 0.05) when the two groups were compared. Conclusion: It can be concluded that aquatic dual-task training effectively improved the balance ability, gait ability, and chronic stroke patients' depression based on these results.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.209-218
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between the characteristics of nurses' work schedules, health outcomes, and work-life balance. Methods: This was a secondary data analysis that included 422 nurses in Korean hospitals. Descriptive analysis, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to identify the associated factors. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis showed that work-life balance was lower when atypical work was performed (β=-.14, p=.010). Nurses who did not work overtime showed a higher level of work-life balance than those who worked overtime infrequently (β=-.11, p=.002) or frequently (β=-.28, p<.001). The work-life balance level increased when nurses had better subjective health status (β=.16, p<.001) or higher sleep quality (β=.29, p<.001). It was verified that the work-life balance level was higher for single-person households than for households with two (β=-.18, p=.003), three to four (β=-.16, p=.022), or five or more (β=-.21, p<.001) persons. Conclusion: This study suggests that government and hospital organizations should provide high-quality care and consideration to nurses who do atypical or overtime work as well as their subjective health status and sleep quality. Further research should focus on the development of a policy that improves the work-life balance of nurses, especially for those who work during atypical hours.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of ankle elastic and non-elastic taping on postural balance and gait ability in subject with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty-seven subjects with stroke participated in this study. The subjects performed to stand quietly for 30s on the balance platform and walking test with three different ankle taping conditions. The sway length, sway area and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement was measured to assess the postural balance and the timed up and go test, 10m walking test, 6 minutes walking test was measured to assess the gait ability. Repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare the postural balance parameters and gait ability according to three different ankle taping conditions. Results: Postural balance with non-elastic ankle taping was significantly improved compared to no ankle taping and elastic ankle taping condition(p<0.05). On the other hand, gait ability with elastic ankle taping was significantly increased compared to no ankle taping and non-elastic ankle taping condition(p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that an elastic ankle taping could effect to improve the gait ability, whereas a non-elastic ankle taping could effect to improve the postural balance in subject with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.312-316
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a kettlebell complex program according to the support surface on the lower extremity muscle activity and balance of baseball players. Methods: The participants were divided into two groups; unstable support surface group 1 (11 people) performed the kettlebell complex program on an unstable support surface, and stable support surface group 2 (10 people) performed the kettlebell complex program on a stable support surface. Muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography. Dynamic balance was measured with a balance-measuring equipment. A paired t-test was used to compare groups before and after the experiment. An independent t-test was performed to determine the difference in the degree of change between the two groups before and after the experiment. Results: The intragroup comparison between stable support surface group 1 and 2 showed significant differences in muscle activity and sense of balance. In the comparison between the groups, the difference in muscle activity in unstable support surface group1 was significant in the biceps femoris and rectus femoris muscles, and significant differences were also found in the sense of balance. Conclusion: These results suggest that a kettlebell exercise on an unstable support surface is more effective in improving muscle activity and sense of balance than a kettlebell exercise on a stable support surface.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of kinesio taping of tibialis anterior combined with cognitive dual-task training on balance and gait ability in post-stroke patients. METHODS: This study was a single-blinded, randomized control design. Thirty post-stroke patients were allocated randomly to two groups: 1) kinesio taping of tibialis anterior combined with cognitive dual-task training (KTCDT group, n = 15) and cognitive dual-task training (Control group, n = 15). Both groups were given training for 30 minutes, five days a week for four weeks. The Berg balance test and timed up-and-go test were used to measure the balance ability. GaitRite was used to analyze the gait ability. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements in balance and gait ability. The KTCDT group showed significantly greater improvement in balance ability after four weeks than the control group (p < .05). In addition, the KTCDT group showed significantly greater improvement in gait ability after four weeks compared to the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Kinesio taping of the tibialis anterior combined with cognitive dual-task training effectively improves the balance and gait abilities in post-stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.250-260
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of balance training using fully immersive VR devices on the balance and walking abilities of stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: This study involved 54 stroke patients divided into three groups: VRT(VR and traditional physical therapy), VR(VR only), and TPT(traditional physical therapy only). Interventions were administered twice daily for 30 minutes over eight weeks. Outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, 10-meter walk test, gait analysis, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale. Results: The VRT and VR groups showed significant effects on spatiotemporal variables and confidence compared to the TPT group (p<0.05). Specifically, the VR group demonstrated superior effects in TUG, 10MWT, velocity, stride length, single-leg support, and ABC compared to the other two groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: Fully immersive VR balance training had a positive impact on balance, walking, and confidence in chronic stroke patients. Traditional physical therapy alone showed limited effectiveness, highlighting the potential of VR-based interventions in stroke rehabilitation. These findings underscore the importance of integrating VR technology into clinical practice to enhance outcomes for stroke survivors.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.920-928
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• 2024

This study evaluates the balance between cellular removal and extracellular matrix (ECM) preservation in cardiac tissue engineering by comparing chemical and physical decellularization methods. Cardiac tissues were treated with chemical agents (sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100) and physical methods (freeze-thawing and ultrasound). These methods were assessed based on residual cellular content, DNA quantification, ECM structural integrity, and preservation of key ECM components like collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG). The results revealed that while chemical methods, particularly SDS, achieved more complete cell removal, they significantly compromised ECM integrity. In contrast, physical methods, such as freeze-thawing, preserved ECM structure more effectively, despite moderate cellular removal. The findings underscore the importance of tailoring decellularization techniques to specific cardiac tissue engineering needs, with chemical methods excelling in cell removal and physical methods offering superior ECM preservation. Future research should aim to optimize these methods to achieve a better balance between decellularization efficiency and ECM integrity.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the effects of training using a trunk control robot (TCR) system combined with conventional therapy (CT) on balance and gait abilities in persons with chronic stroke. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirty-five subjects with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to either the TCR group (n=17) or the trunk extension-training (TET) group (n=18). Both groups performed CT for 30 minutes, after which the TCR group performed TCR training and the TET group performed trunk extension training for 20 minutes. Both groups performed the therapeutic interventions 3 days per week for 6 weeks. Balance ability was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test. Gait ability was measured using the 10 m Walk Test (10MWT) and the NeuroCom Smart Balance Master. Results: TCR group showed significant improvements in static balance (weight bearing) and dynamic balance (weight shifting speed, weight shifting direction, BBS, and TUG), 10MWT, gait speed, and step width (p<0.05); step length was not significant. The TET group showed a significant partial improvement of dynamic balance (weight shifting speed, weight shifting direction, BBS, and 10MWT (p<0.05), but the improvements in static balance, TUG, gait speed, and step width and step length was not significant. Additionally, significant differences in static balance, dynamic balance (weight shifting speed, weight shifting direction, BBS, and TUG), 10MWT, gait speed, and step width were detected between groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: TCR training combined with CT is effective in improving static and dynamic balance, as well as gait abilities in persons with chronic stroke.