• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of action observational physical training (AOPT) on manual dexterity and corticomotor facilitation in stroke patients. Ten hemiparetic patients participated in this study. Each subject was asked to participate the three conditions; base condition (Base), physical training (PT), AOPT. Participants were asked to observe the action in the video that a therapist moved the blocks during the AOPT conditions. Corticomotor facilitation was determined in three conditions by monitoring changes in the amplitude of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited in hand muscles by transcranial magnetic stimulation. MEP responses were measured from the first dorsal interosseous after participants attended to three conditions. For the manual dexterity, Box and Block test (BBT) was used. The results of present study were summarized as follows: MEPs amplitude significantly tended to be larger than PT and Base condition. The scores of BBT in the AOPT condition were also significantly larger than other conditions. In conclusion, this finding of present study indicates that physical training for observation of an action is beneficial for enhancing a dexterity of paretic arm in stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an immersive, virtual reality-based exercise program on range of motion and dexterity in the upper extremities of stroke patients. Methods: Fifteen patients with hemiparesis after stroke participated in this study. The participants participated in Rapael Semart GloveTM, an immersive, virtual reality-based exercise program, performed for 30 minutes-, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The Rapael Smart GloveTM program and a Box and Block Test (BBT) were used to measure range of motion and to assess dexterity, respectively, pre-and post-intervention. Results: Range of motion in pronation and supination of the forearm and flexion, extension, and ulnar deviation of the wrist improved after the intervention. Dexterity measured by BBT also improved. However, range of motion in flexion and extension of the fingers and radial deviation of the wrist did not improve. Conclusion: This study presents the effects of an immersive, virtual reality-based exercise program on hand function. In the future, a study comparing an immersive, virtual reality- based exercise program to other upper-extremity interventions for stroke patients should be conducted. A study about the effects of an immersive virtual reality program on activities of daily living is also needed.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1734-1738
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• 2019

Background: Stroke patients usually have arm weakness, which affects trunks and arms. Objective: To investigate the effects of paretic side and non-paretic side arm training on trunk control and upper limb functions. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (single blind). Methods: Twenty patients with stroke in hospital were enrolled in the study. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to paretic side arm training group (PATG, n = 10) or non-paretic side arm training group (NATG, n = 10). Trunk impairment scale (TIS) was used for trunk control, and box and block test (BBT) was used for upper limb function. Training was conducted for 4 weeks. Results: PATG showed significant difference in TIS (static balance, dynamic balance, coordination, total score) and BBT. NATG showed significant differences in static balance, and dynamic balance and total score except for coordination and BBT. PATG also showed a more significant difference in BBT and coordination and total score than NATG. Conclusions: The arm training performed on the paretic side are more effective than those performed on the non-paretic side in improving both upper limb function and trunk control in stroke patients.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2016

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effects of home-based action observation training on upper extremity in brain tumor patient. Methods : Among the single case study design, this experiment used ABA' design. The evaluations were carried out 4 times during pre baseline period(A) and post baseline period(A') respectively. At the intervention period(B), a total of 25 times of action observation training and 10 times of evaluation were administered. Results : Study results indicate that 9-hole peg test, Box and Block Test, Manual Function Test were increased when compared to action observation intervention(B) to pre intervention baseline(A). Conclusion : Based on these results, home-based action observation training may be an effective upper extremity intervention strategy for tumor-induced hemiparetic patient.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2015

This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness on upper motor extremity function between proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation which has been frequently used in clinical practice, and action observation training in terms of improving upper motor extremity function. A study with a single-subject design (A-B-C-A') was conducted with a patient who was diagnosed with left hemiplegia. A repeated-measure analysis was conducted to assess results of the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Box and Block Test (BBT), and grip and pinch strength test performed daily in the study for 4 weeks. The results of the analysis indicated that the WMFT score, BBT score, grip strength, and pinch strength were improved from 29.60 to 39 (24.10%), from 1.67 to 4.93 each (EA) (66.22%), from 2.06 to 2.66 libras (lbs) (22.61%), and from 1.57 to 1.93 lbs (18.94%), respectively, from the baseline period to treatment period B. The values were improved from 29.60 to 42.20 (29.86%), from 1.67 to 7 EA (76.21%), from 2.06 to 3.47 lbs (40.57%), and from 1.57 to 1.67 lbs (6.12%), respectively, from the baseline period to treatment period C. From treatment period B to treatment period C, the WMFT score, BBT score, and grip strength were improved from 39 to 42.20 (7.58%), from 4.93 to 7 EA (29.56%), and from 2.66 to 3.47 lbs (23.20%), respectively, but pinch strength was decreased from 1.93 to 1.67 lbs (15.83%). In conclusion, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and action observation training both have positive effects on upper extremity motor function. However, we suggest that the posttreatment effect of action observation training was better than that of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of modified constraint-induced movement therapy(mCIMT) on upper function and activities of daily living in people with subacute stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen participants, with subacute stroke that were randomly assigned to either the experimental group(n=9) or the control group(n=9). For subjects from the experimental group modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy was performed. exercise program, the patient trained in affected side upper extremity with restricted non-affected side for 1 hour and using in activity daily living for 4 hours for five times per week, during 4 weeks. For subjects from the control group, conventional upper extremity training was performed. Outcomes such as the box and block test(BBT), Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment(FMA), and modified Barthel index(MBI) were measured before and after training. Between-group and within-group comparisons were analyzed by using Independent t-test and Paired t-test respectively. RESULTS: These finding suggest that experimental group was significant increase in BBT, FMA, MBI(p<.05). In comparison of two group, experimental group was high upper function and activity daily living than control group. CONCLUSION: This study showed experimental group can be used to improve upper function and activity daily living than control group. Thus it indicates that mCIMT will be more improved through the continued upper extremity exercise program.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2013

Objective: Clinical measures that quantify upper extremity function are needed for the accurate evaluation of patients and to plan an intervention strategy. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-Motor Exam and upper extremity performance as a quantifying clinical tool of upper extremity function in persons with Parkinson's disease. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty-two idiopathic Parkinson's Disease persons participated in this study. To investigate the relationship between the UPDRS-motor exam, Box and Block test (BBT), and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) by two physical therapists. The examination took up to 1 hour, and the participants were invited to rest between each clinical measure in order to minimize the effects of fatigue. Clinical measures were assessed while the subjects were in the "on" phase of their medication cycle, generally 1-3 hour after taking their anti-Parkinson's medications. Results: In more affected side, the UPDRS-motor exam was significantly negative correlated with the BBT (p<0.05) but it was not significantly correlated with the ARAT. In less affected side, only positively correlation was significantly shown between BBT and ARAT (p<0.05). On the other hand, between BBT and ARAT were not significantly correlated with the UPDRS-motor exam. Conclusions: The UPDRS-motor exam is effective tool which was significantly correlated with manual dexterity in more affected upper extremity. But The UPDRS-motor exam is not effective tool in less affected upper extremity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.485-492
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the pain, range of motion (ROM), upper extremity task performance, and functional levels of patients after rotator cuff repair according to the timing of a closed chain exercise thereby presenting basic data for an effective rehabilitation program. METHODS: The intervention was applied three times per week, one hour per day, for four weeks to 40 participants, 78 of whom had undergone rotator cuff repair. The participants were divided into four groups and assigned to usual general physical therapy and an open chain exercise. Group I consisted of the open chain exercise only. The closed chain exercise was applied to group II after the 4 times, group III after the 7 times, group IV after the 10 times. Measurement were used ROM, visual analogue scale (VAS), box and block test (BBT), and shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). A one-way analysis of variance was conducted to test differences. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the internal/external rotation between group I and group II. The VAS significantly differed between group II and group I, group III, and group IV. The BBT results of group II and group I were significantly different compared to those of group IV. The SPADI significantly differed between group II and group I and between group II and group IV. CONCLUSION: The closed chain exercise was effective for patients following rotator cuff repair from the second week after active exercise was prescribed, verifying its applicability in rehabilitation programs.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.128-136
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• 2003

In today's design trend of vehicle structure, crush zone is fiequently reinforced by adding a box-shaped sub-frame in order to avoid an excessive deformation against a high-speed offset barrier such as EU Directive 96/97 EC, IIHS offset test. That kind of vehicle structure design results in a relatively monotonic crash pulse for airbag ECU(Electronic Control Unit) located at non-crush zone. As for an angular crash event, the measured crash signal using a single-axis accelerometer in a longitudinal direction is usually weaker than that of frontal barrier crash. Therefore, it is not so easy task to achieve a satisfactory crash discrimination performance for offset and angular crash events. In this paper, we introduce a new crash discrimination algorithm using an electronic X-Y 2-axis accelerometer in order to improve crash discrimination performance especially for those crash events. The proposed method uses a crash signal in lateral direction(Y-axis) as well as in longitudinal direction(X-axis). A crash severity measure obtained from Y-axis acceleration is used to improve the discrimination between fire and no-fire events. The result obtained by the proposed measure is logically ORed with an existing algorithm block using X-axis crash signal. Simulation and pulse injection test have been conducted to verify the performance of proposed algorithm by using real crash data of a 2,000cc passenger vehicle.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR)-based core stabilization exercise on upper extremity function, postural control, and depression among persons with stroke with hemiplegia. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study was conducted with the inclusion of 24 participants and were randomly assigned to either the VR-based trunk stability exercise group (n=12) or control group (n=12). The VR-based trunk stability exercise group performed core stabilization exercises in a VR environment for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the control group conducted general core stabilization exercises for 30 minutes. The participants trained 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The manual functional test (MFT), Box and Block Test (BBT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were used to assess all participants before and after the intervention. Results: The VR-based core stabilization exercise group had a significant improvement in upper extremity function (MFT, BBT) and postural control (BBS) compared with the control group (p<0.05). The VR-based core stabilization exercise showed a significant difference after intervention in the TIS and GDS scores (p<0.05), but they did not significantly differ between the two groups. Conclusions: The result showed that VR-based core stabilization exercise can be effective in improving upper extremity function and postural control among patients with stroke more than the sole application of general physical therapy.