• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the adverse effects of sensorimotor function at the shoulder joint according to long-term cane usage in stroke patients without apraxic behavior, in terms of the presence of shoulder joint pain, accuracy of tracking task, proprioceptive joint position sense, and nine-hole pegboard. Methods: Nineteen stroke patients with long-term cane usage (cane usage group) and nineteen stroke patients without cane usage (non-cane usage group) were recruited. All subjects were tested in pain presence, a tracking task for visuomotor function, joint reposition, and nine-hole pegboard in the shoulder joint regarding the non-affected side. Results: In the accuracy index for tracking task and the nine-hole pegboard test, significant differences were observed between the cane usage group and the non-cane usage group. However, although a higher emergence of shoulder pain and a lower accuracy for joint reposition sense were detected in the cane usage group in comparison to the non-cane usage group, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that long-term cane usage could induce to decrease in delicate movement and coordination in the non-affected upper arm in stroke patients. In addition, they could experience high frequency of shoulder pain and poor joint reposition sense. Therefore, careful evaluation and observation will be required concerning stroke patients with long-term cane usage.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.7-12
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• 2011

Purpose: The cane is one of the most popular assistive devices for stroke patients. Clinical complaints of sensorimotor functions on the ipsilateral upper limb were appealed in stroke patients who had used a cane for a long period. Therefore, we investigated whether cane usage for a long-term period affected sensoriomotor dysfunctions on the non-affected upper limb, in terms of pain presence, shoulder joint sense, a nine-hole pegboard test, and a tracking task. Methods: We recruited 12 stroke patients, who were divided into the cane-using (CU) group or the non-cane using (NCU) group, according to cane usage experience. We evaluated joint position sense for the integrity of proprioceptive reposition sense in the shoulder joint, used a nine-hole pegboard test for upper limb dexterity evaluation, and a tracking task for visuomotor coordination. Results: Four patients in the CU group had complained of shoulder pain none did in the NCU group. In addition, the CU group showed more reposition errors on the shoulder joint than the NCU group did. In addition, the CU group had more difficulty in proprioceptive sense perception and in performance of the nine-hole pegboard teat and tracking task, compared with the NCU group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that cane usage for a long period in stroke patients could give rise to trigger joint pain and decrease proprioceptive sense. In addition, complex motor performance in the ipsilateral upper limb could deteriorate. In stroke patients who had used acane for long period, careful observation and proper intervention will be necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2013

Purpose: To investigate whether the long-term use of a cane induces pain in the unaffected lower limb of stroke patients. Methods: A total of 107 stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis were recruited in this study and classified into two groups; a cane-use group (n=49) and non-cane-use group (n=58). The existence of pain in the unaffected lower limb was assessed on a visual analog scale in the hip, knee, and ankle joint, and the University of Alabama pain behaviors scale (UAB pain behavior scale) used to measure the intensity of pain. In addition, the Motricity Index (MI) was tested in the upper and lower extremities. Results: The proportion of pain in each joint of the lower limb was significantly higher in the cane-use group, compared to the non-cane-use group (p<0.05). In addition, significant differences were observed on the UAB pain behavior scale between the two groups. The lower MI score was significantly lower in the cane-use group, compared with the control group. However, no difference was observed in MI scores of the upper limb between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings reveal that long-term cane usage can induce pain in the unaffected lower limb of stroke patients. We suggest careful consideration when prescribing a cane, depending on functional ability in hemiparetic patients, and recommend continuous evaluation for pain in the affected lower limb.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of force of ipsilateral versus contralateral cane usage on knee moments in healthy young adults. Methods: A convenience sample of 10 subjects volunteered for this study. Subjects walked over a force plate under three different conditions; unaided and ipsilateral cane and contralateral cane. Analysis of data on moment of the knee joint and ground reaction force was performed using the OrthoTrak program. Results: Flexion moment of the knee was decreased with the contralateral cane, but increased with the ipsilateral cane compared with normal gait. Extension moment of the knee was decreased with the contralateral cane compared with normal gait(p<0.05) and it was showed a greater decrease with the contralateral cane than with the ipsilateral cane gait(p=0.00). Valgus moment of the knee joint was increased with the ipsilateral cane but decreased with the contralateral cane. Vertical ground peak force was decreased with the ipsilateral cane compared with normal gait (p<0.05). Conclusion: The following conclusions were drawn from our data. Contralateral cane gait is more efficacious for persons with weakness of knee extensors, however, for a patient with varus deformity, the cane should be used in the ipsilateral hand.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.227-232
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• 2002

Electronic Travel Aids (ETA) developed for the blind such as sonicguide, mowat sensor and bionic C-5 laser cane have many problems like technical deficiency and high cost. Moreover, these systems have need for more training to perceive obstacle around. Therefore, In this study, we studied the blind's obstacle perception characteristics by human auditory sense, and development of ultrasonic ETA which have more simple usage, low cost and immediate usableness than present ETAs.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.89-97
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study was to access quality of life and evaluate pre and post surgery management for persons with lower limb amputations. Method: This study was designed as a telephone survey. The subjects were patients who underwent their lower limb amputation between January 1994, and February 2005 at Asan Medical Center in seoul. sixty one of 203 subjects had granted consent and were studied. Results: The major cause of below knee amputations was vascular disease. Traumatic injuries were more common among subjects with above knee amputations. 93.4% of subjects were in use of prosthesis and 70.1 days were required to fit the prosthesis. 68.4% of subjects were able to ambulate with single point cane or without assistive devices. 80.3% of subjects complained phantom pain. Most subjects expressed the unsatisfactory result regarding the functional usage of prosthesis and education from hospital. Conclusion: Pre and post surgery rehabilitation program will benefit to promote better functional status and quality of life for persons with lower limb amputations.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.370-377
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• 2015

This study attempted to examine the impact of musculoskeletal pain on pedestrian crossing using a sample that consisted of 282 aged people. The research method involved an examination of the musculoskeletal pain of the elderly using a musculoskeletal questionnaire. The subjects were also told to walk across four- and six-lane pedestrian crossings while their gait velocity, step count, and step time were measured. The research results for pain by body regions indicated that waist pain had the highest complaint rate(33.3%). When there was musculoskeletal pain in the waist and leg/foot, gait velocity also decreased and step count and step time increased. However, usage of a cane turned out to have a positive impact on pedestrian crossing. Nevertheless, no significant relationship between waist and leg/foot pain and pedestrian crossing characteristics was found. We expect there will be continuous further studies on the subject of diverse physical problems of the aged and pedestrian crossing.