• 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 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.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.571-578
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• 2022

Objective: Cognitive-motor trainings had a positive impact on cognitive function and dual-task trainings led to improvements of global cognitive function. The brain activity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is another indicator that can infer cognitive function. This study aims to confirm the usability of the interactive system cognitive-motor training program and the changes in the prefrontal cortex through training. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: In this study, two cognitive tasks were randomly applied to 20 adults as cognitive-motor training using an interactive system, and the same task was performed using the original method. During all tasks, the brain activity of the prefrontal cortex was measured by the change in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) in real-time using Functional Near-Infrastructure. After performing the tasks, the usability of the developed interactive system was evaluated by a usability questionnaire which consists of five items, and each item consists of a 7-point Likert scale that responds from 1 point to 7 points. Results: The HbO levels were increased during cognitive task performance than at the resting phase. And evaluating the usefulness of the interactive system, a questionnaire result showed that it would be useful for cognitive-motor programs. Conclusions: The cognitive-motor training using the interactive system increased the activity of the prefrontal cortex, and the developed wearable sensor-based interactive system confirmed its usefulness.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.321-326
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• 2019

Background: Performing cognitive tasks and muscular fatigue have been shown to increase muscle activity of the lower extremity during quiet standing. A common intervention to reduce muscular fatigue is to provide a softer shoe-surface interface. However, little is known regarding how muscle activity is affected by softer shoe-surface interfaces during static standing. The purpose of this study was to assess lower extremity muscular activity during erect standing on three different standing surfaces, before and after an acute workload and during cognitive tasks. Methods: Surface electromyography was collected on ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors, and knee flexors and extensors of fifteen male participants. Dependent electromyography variables of mean, peak, root mean square, and cocontraction index were calculated and analyzed with a $2{\times}2{\times}3$ within-subject repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Pre-workload muscle activity did not differ between surfaces and cognitive task conditions. However, greater muscle activity during post-workload balance assessment was found, specifically during the cognitive task. Cognitive task errors did not differ between surface and workload. Conclusions: The cognitive task after workload increased lower extremity muscular activity compared to quite standing, irrespective of the surface condition, suggesting an increased demand was placed on the postural control system as the result of both fatigue and cognitive task.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.433-449
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• 2002

노인에 있어 낙상 (falls)의 결과는 신체 기능상의 상실을 가져 올 뿐 아니 라 종종 사망에 이르게 하는 원인이 되기도 하여 중대한 건강상의 문제로 다루어지고 있다. 정상적인 노화과정은 감각(sensory)과 운동 (motor)계의 감퇴 그리고 주의력의 쇠퇴와 연관되어 있는데, 노인들은 이러한 감각(sensory)과 운동(motor)계 (system)의 손상으로 여러 가지 자세(posture)와 보행 (walking)등을 수행하는데 어려움을 겪는다. 또한 노화와 관련된 변화들은 자세를 조절 (postural control) 하는데 있어서 주의력 (attention capacity)을 감소시킨다. 이러한 조건 하에서 노인들은 이중과업 (dual task)을 수행하는데 젊은 사랑들보다도 더 많은 어려움을 느끼며 이는 곧바로 낙상 (falls)의 가능성을 증가시키는 중요한 원인이 되고 있다. 이러한 점들을 고려할 때 낙상(falls)을 방지하기 위한 훈련 프로그램 (training program)은 단순한 신체운동(physical exercise) 보다는 자세조절 (postural control)시의 인지시스템 (cognitive system)이 포함된 중추 통합 기전(central integrative mechanisms)을 최적화 (optimize) 시킬 수 있는 방향으로 구성되어야 한다.