• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the effects of task exercise on an unstable surface on the involuntary arm and leg movement and balance in stroke patients. METHODS: 20 stroke patients were clinically sampled and randomly assigned to two groups of 10 patients each. Experimental group I received task exercise intervention on an unstable surface and experimental group II received task exercise intervention. The interventions were carried out 3 times a week for 4 weeks (30 minutes per session). The global synkinesis (GS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) of the patients were evaluated as pre-tests prior to intervention, and then the post-tests were re-measured in the same manner as the pre-tests after a 4-week intervention period. RESULTS: In the experimental group I, there were statistically significant differences in the changes in the arm and leg GS (p < .01) and in the BBS (p < .05). On the other hand, in the experimental group II, there were statistically significant differences in the changes only in the arm GS (p < .01) and in the BBS (p < .05). Also, in the comparison of the changes between the two groups, there was a statistically significant difference in the changes in the leg GS only (p < .05). CONCLUSION: In the experimental group I, the arm and leg GS were statistically significantly reduced, but the balance ability was statistically significantly improved. The reason was that in the experimental group I, similar movements of the paralyzed arm were promoted due to the double-task exercise on the unstable surface, and sensory feedback and posture strategies were well utilized in the legs, which was found to be effective in reducing the GS and improving the balance ability. Therefore, based on these results, the double-task exercise on an unstable surface should be fully utilized for the rapid rehabilitation of stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.155-162
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• 2023

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to develop a virtual reality-based vestibular rehabilitation system to enhance balance perception, target rehabilitation specialists, and evaluate its usability. A key goal was establishing a system refinement strategy based on the collected data. METHODS: We conducted a study involving ten adults aged 10 to 29 in Gwangju Metropolitan City to evaluate the usability of a virtual reality-based vestibular rehabilitation system to enhance balance perception. After introducing the product and explaining its use to the participants, balance assessments and training were conducted using computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) (also called the test of balance [TOB]). Subsequently, participants were given a questionnaire to evaluate subjective stability, operability, and satisfaction. Frequency analysis was utilized to determine the frequency of the variable values of the measurement items in the survey for descriptive statistics. RESULTS: We found that the average usability score was 2.587. When broken down by category, stability received an average rating of 2.725, operability scored an average of 2.783, and satisfaction averaged 2.454. These findings suggest that most participants experienced positive sentiments and considerable satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The study successfully developed a virtual reality-based vestibular rehabilitation system, which was an improvement over the previous model and addressed its shortcomings. The results show that users with vestibular impairments are satisfied and more engaged with this system, indicating that additional studies are warranted.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2023

Purpose: Compared to cities, rural areas are in a medical blind spot and face difficulties in accessing medical services due to inconvenient transportation facilities, lack of medical facilities, and the heavy burden of medical expenses. This study was carried out to identify the problems relating to the musculoskeletal system of the elderly in rural and fishing villages, which are medically vulnerable areas, and sought to present a regionally differentiated healthcare model. Methods: The study was conducted in 80 elderly people in two rural villages and two fishing villages after seeking inputs regarding medically vulnerable groups in the Gyeongnam Province. Postural balance and muscle flexibility were assessed and postural evaluation was conducted to identify musculoskeletal problems and gait stability. Strength and range of motion for each body segment were assessed for evaluating functional motion. Results: The elderly in both rural areas showed forward head posture characteristics. The strength level of the elderly in both rural areas was higher than the average, but their flexibility and balance ability were lower than the average. Conclusion: The musculoskeletal problems of the elderly in rural and fishing villages in this study did not show regional characteristics according to the area of residence. However, overall flexibility and balance ability appeared to be reduced. Therefore, a new management model connecting the region and the university is necessary in preparation for the coming era of community care.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.317-320
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed: to confirm the balance ability of patients with spinal cord injury in the sitting state through a functional reach test using an elastic aid; and to propose a balance improvement plan. Methods: The study evaluated seven patients with spinal cord injury who could maintain a sitting posture through minimum assistance. A functional reach test was performed before and after wearing an elastic aid while sitting on a chair, and the effects before and after use of the elastic aid were compared and analyzed through a motion analyzer. Results: In the functional reach test, the forward movement distance of the hand was 97.45 mm before wearing the elastic aid, but significantly increased to 131 mm after wearing the aid (p<0.05). Corresponding forward movement distances for the shoulder were 81.26 mm and 113 mm (p<0.05 for the increase). There was no statistically significant change in lateral functional arm extension. Conclusion: It was confirmed, through a functional reach test, that trunk stability in patients with spinal cord injury increased with use of an elastic aid. In future, more efficient rehabilitation treatment programs will be possible if trunk stability in patients with spinal cord injury is improved by using elastic aids, and if various exercise treatments are also included in the rehabilitation programs.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.573-587
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was conducted in order to analyze the effects of the manual intervention and self-corrective exercise models of general coordinative manipulation(GCM) on the balance restoration of spine & extremities joints with distortions and mal-alignment areas. The subjects were the members who visited GCM Musculoskeletal Prevent Exercise Center from March 1 2012 to December 31 2013 because of spine & extremities joints distortion and mal-alignments, poor posture, and body type correction. All subjects were diagnosed with the four types of the GBT diagnosis. And according to the standards of the mobility vs stability types of the upper & lower body, they were classified into Group 1(40 persons) and Group 2(24 persons). For every other day for three times a week, GCM intervention models were applied to all subjects for four weeks, adding up to 12 times in total. Then the balance restoration effects were re-evaluated with the same methods. The results are as follows. 1) Balance restoration effects of VASdp(Visual analysis scale pain & discomfort) and ER(Equilibrium reaction: ER) came out higher in GCM body type(GBT) II III IV of Group 1. 2) In case of balance restoration effects in Moire and postural evaluation areas, Group 1 was higher and cervical and scapular girdle were higher in Group 2. The balance restoration of the four GBT types was significant in all regions(p<.05), and the scapular girdle came out as high in the order of GBTII IV I. 3) In case of thoracic-lumbar scoliosis and head rotation facial asymmetric cervical scoliosis ribcage forward, the balance restoration effects of the upper body postural evaluation areas came out the highest in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. The balance restoration effects of the four GBT types were significant in all regions(p<.05), and came out the highest in lumbar scoliosis GBTIII I, ribcage forward and thoracic scoliosis GBTII IV. 4) The balance restoration effects of the lower body postural evaluation areas came out higher in Group 1 and Group 2 for pelvis girdle deviation patella high umbilicus tilt and hallux valgus foot longitudinal arch: FLA patella direction, respectively. The balance restoration effects of the four GBT types were significant in all regions(p<.05), and came out the highest in pelvis girdle deviation GBTIII I and patella high-direction GBTIV II I. 5) The balance restoration effects between the same GBT came out significant (p<.05) in all evaluation areas and items. The conclusions of this study was the manual intervention and self-corrective exercise models of the GCM about the mal-alignment of the spine & extremities joints across the whole body indicated high balance restoration effects(p<.05) in spine & extremities joints in all evaluation areas.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.141-151
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of long-term taxi driving posture on the balance of musculoskelectal system. Methods : The author practiced Moire topography by using IBS-2000 for 30 male taxi drivers and general people. Then we measured difference of contour lines, difference of shoulder joint height, interval between vertical baseline of pelvis and vertical baseline of neck, ratio of thoracic curve and lumbar curve, difference of width between right and left through Moire topography. After we statistically analyzed difference of Moire topography's data between long-term employed male taxi drivers and general people. Results : 1. Taxi drivers, difference of contour lines in scapular, lumbar, gluteal region was bigger than general people and significant difference(p<0.05) was observed between subject group. 2. Taxi drivers, diference of shoulder joint height was more large than general people and significant difference(p<0.01) was observed between subject group. 3. Taxi drivers, diference of interval between vertical baseline of pelvis and vertical baseline of neck was more large than general people and significant difference((p<0.05) was observed between subject group. 4. Taxi drivers, ratio of thoracic curve was more large than general people and ratio of lumbar curve was more less than general people and significant difference(p<0.05) was observed between subject group. Conclusions : According to above results long-term taxi driving posture might cause musculoskelectal system unbalance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.177-184
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• 1997

1. The human body is the unification related to the powerful fascial network, I think. 2. Myofascial not only prevent and support the human body structure curdling but also keep the physical balance by dispersing traumatization properly. 3. Myofascial restriction will be developed into muscle deficiency and cause pains without releasing the muscle tension and the spasm. 4. Myofascial restriction affect and change the physical posture by losing the muscle elasticity and flexibility and by losing muscle supporting ability from gravitation. 5. The partial myofascial restriction affect the muscle and the adjoining joint supporting gravitation and cause the unbalance of the entire body.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.136-142
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• 2015

In the paper, a design method of knee and pelvis joint in the biped robot is proposed for shock absorption and gravity compensation. Similarly to the human's body, the knee joints of the biped robot support most body weight and get a shock from the landing motion of the foot on the floor. The torque of joint motor is also increased sharply to keep the balance of the robot. Knee and pelvis joints with the spring are designed to compensate the gravity force and reduce the contact shock of the robot. To verify the efficiency of the proposed design method, we develope a biped robot with the joint mechanism using springs. At first, we experiment with the developed robot on the static motions such as the bent-knee posture both without load and with load on the flat ground, and the balance posture on the incline plane. The current of knee joint is measured to analyze the impact force and energy consumption of the joint motors. Also, we observe the motor current of knee and pelvis joints for the walking motion of the biped robot. The current responses of joint motors show that the proposed method has an effect on shock reduction and gravity compensation, and improve the energy efficiency of walking motions for the biped robot.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.493-501
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• 2016

Objective: This study analyzes the effect of angle conditions of rehabilitation equipment used for supporting hemiplegic patients on their rehabilitation training for standing action. The study was performed by adjusting the rear angle of seat inclination through a motion analysis. Background: Owing to a loss of muscle rigidity and degradation of muscle control ability, hemiplegic stroke patients suffer from asymmetrical posture, abnormal body balance, and degraded balance abilities due to poor weight-shifting capacity. The ability to shift and maintain one's weight is extremely essential for mobility, which plays an important role in our daily life. Thus, to improve patients' ability to maintain weight evenly and move normally, they need to undergo orthostatic and ambulatory training. Method: Using a motion analysis system, knee movements on both hemiplegic side and non-hemiplegic side were measured and analyzed in five angles ($0^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $50^{\circ}$, $70^{\circ}$) while supported by the sit-to-stand rehabilitation equipment. Results: The knee movements on both sides increased as the angle increased in angle support interval to support a hemiplegic patient's standing up position. In standing up interval, a hemiplegic patient's knee movement deviations on both sides decreased, and the movement differences between hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic legs also decreased as the angle increased. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the rehabilitation effectiveness increases as the angle increases, leading to a balanced standing posture through the decrease of movement difference between hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic sides and an improved standing up ability through the increase of knee movement on both sides. However, angles higher than $50^{\circ}$ didn't provide a significant effect. Therefore, a support angle under $50^{\circ}$ was proposed in this study. Application: The results of this study are expected to be applicable to the design of sit-to-stand support equipment to improve the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process of hemiplegic patients.

• 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.