• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2022

Background: The efficacy of telemedicine among cancer survivors is uncertain. The Smart After-Care Program (SAP), which is an interactive, smartphone-based remote health monitoring system, was developed to help patients manage their health after leaving the hospital. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of our remote health care program for lung cancer patients. Methods: We enrolled 50 patients with lung cancer. Self-monitoring devices were supplied to all patients, who were instructed to enter their daily vital signs and subjective symptoms to the Smart After-Care app. The app also provided information about rehabilitation exercises and a healthy diet for lung cancer patients. All patients received health counseling via telephone once a week and visited an outpatient clinic during weeks 6 and 12 to assess satisfaction with the SAP and changes in quality of life and physical performance. Results: Overall satisfaction with the SAP was very high (very good, 61.9%; good, 26.2%). In the multivariate analysis to identify factors affecting satisfaction, the distance between the patient's residence and the hospital was the only significant independent factor (p=0.013). Quality of life improved along all functional scales (p<0.05). Muscle strength significantly improved in the lower limbs (p=0.012). Two-minute walk distance also significantly improved (p=0.028). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the SAP was acceptable for and supportive of patients with reduced pulmonary function after lung cancer treatment. The SAP was found to be particularly useful for patients living far from the hospital.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.9-21
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an eight weeks twenty meters walk on the cardiorespiratory fitness and strength of the shoulder extensor, hip extensor, and dorsiflexor of stroke survivor outpatients in two tertiary hospitals in Osogbo, Nigeria. METHODS: A purposive sampling technique was used to select 21 registered right or left outpatient hemiplegic stroke survivors in a pre- and post-test experimental research design. The research questions were presented using the descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The differences between the mean of the cardio-respiratory indices and the muscle strength were tested by repeated measures analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: No significant differences in heart rate were observed at week 0 compared to week 4. A significant decrease was recorded in the parameter at week 8, compared to week 4. Moreover, there were significant decreases in blood pressure and respiratory rate in week 0, compared to week 4, and in the respiratory rate, compared to week 8. In contrast, significant elevations in VO2 max were observed in week 0, compared to week 4, and in the week 4, compared to week 8. Furthermore, significant elevations in muscular strength were documented when comparisons were made at weeks 0, 4, and 8. CONCLUSION: Eight weeks of twenty meters walk aerobic exercise improve the cardio-respiratory fitness and muscular strength of stroke survivor outpatients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.45-52
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the center of pressure (COP) and ground reaction force (GRF) characteristics during each task-oriented sit-to-stand in stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty stroke subjects were included in this study. The task consisted of sit-to-stand (SS), sit-to-stand for reaching (SR), and sit-to-stand for walking (SW). The response time, COP, and GRF were measured during each task. The COP and GRF data were obtained using a two-force plate. The force plates were placed on a chair (below the buttock) and floor (below the feet). RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between SS (1.48 ± .48 s) and SR (2.09 ± 0.82 s) and between SS and SW (2.27 ± .72 s) in the preparatory phase time during each sit-to-stand exercise (p = .002) and showed significant differences between SS (13.90 ± 6.44 cm) and SW (34.62 ± 39.38 cm) and between SR (16.14 ± 8.04 cm) and SW in the mediolateral COP range during each sit-to-stand exercise (p = .013). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that more complex task-oriented sit-to-stand exercise requires a high-level motor programming process than a simple sit-to-stand task. Therefore, a variety of tasks-oriented sit-to-stand exercises will be useful training to achieve better ADL ability for stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2022

Background: The presence of the lumbopelvic-hip neuromuscular chain is essential for dynamic spinal stabilization; its therapeutic effects on dynamic movements of the distal extremity segment and underpinning motor mechanism remain unknown and warrant further study on participants with low back pain (LBP). Objects: We aim to compare the effects of the broken chain exercise (BCE) and connected chain exercise (CCE) on electromyography (EMG) amplitude and onset time in participants with and without LBP. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial. A convenience sample of 40 nonathletic participants (mean age: 24.78 ± 1.70) with and without LBP participated in this study. All participants underwent CCE for 30 minutes, 30-minute daily. We measured EMG amplitude and onset times on bilateral erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) during the prone hip extension (PHE) test before and after the BCE and CCE. We used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to analyze the amplitude and onset time difference between exercises (BCE and CCE) and Pearson's correlations to determine any synergistic relationship among the HAM, GM, bilateral TrA/IO, and ES muscles. The statistical analyses were used at p < 0.05. Results: MANOVA showed that CCE was more decreased on EMG amplitude in HAM and bilateral ES, while increased GM and contralateral TrA/IO than BCE (p < 0.05). MANOVA EMG onset time data analyses revealed that the main effect of the conditions was significant for all HAM, GM, and bilateral ES muscles, whereas the main effect for the group was significant only for GM and contralateral ES in healthy and LBP groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was computed to assess the relationship between BCE and CCE on dependent variables. In most of the muscles, there was a strong, positive correlation between the two variables, and there was a significant relationship (p < 0.001). Conclusion: CCE produced more effective and coordinated core stabilization and motor control mechanism in the lumbopelvic-hip muscles in participants with and without LBP during PHE than BCE.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of additional isometric contraction of trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles during abdominal crunch exercise on abdominal muscle thickness and to identify the most effective intervention for core muscle activation. Methods : This study was conducted on 22 healthy male adults. Subjects performed three types of crunch exercises (abdominal crunches accompanied by internal and external isometric rotation of the hip, horizontal shoulder adduction and abduction, and rotation of the trunk). The thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) were evaluated using ultrasonography. The collected data used one-way repeated ANOVA statistics. Wilcoxon signed-rank test of nonparametric statistics was used for post-test analysis. Results : The IO thickness was significantly lower than general abdominal crunch when shoulder adduction was added (p<.05). The crunch with shoulder abduction, hip external rotation, and ipsilateral trunk rotation was significantly higher than the abdominal crunch (p<.05). The EO thickness was significantly greater in the crunch with hip external rotation than in the abdominal crunch (p<.05). Conclusion : The level of contraction in abdominal muscles appears to vary when isometric contractions of the trunk, shoulder, and hip muscles are added to the abdominal crunch exercise. Therefore, the use of isometric contractions of other joints to selectively induce contraction of the abdominal muscles may be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of assistance tools such as gym balls, wedges, and straps on lower extremity muscle activity and the increase in the range of motion made possible by the use of these tools. The subjects were divided into two groups: a group capable of deep-squatting (PS) and the second finding it impossible or having difficulty in performing such squats (IS). Methods: Twenty-three subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activation of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles during deep squats, normal squats (NS), gym ball squats (GS), wedge squats (WS), and strap squats (SS). A motion analysis system was used to measure the range of motion of the knee joint during each of these exercises. Results: There was a significant difference in the RF muscle activity between the possible squat (PS) and the impossible squat (IS) groups in the GS, and there were significant differences in the RF and TA muscle activity between the groups in the WS. Both the PS group and the IS group showed a significant difference in the TA muscle activity depending on the tool used. There were also significant differences in the range of motion of the knee joints between the intervention methods using NS and those using the tools. Conclusion: In both groups, the muscle activity of the TA muscles was lower when GS, WS, and SS were performed compared to NS. In addition, compared to NS, the range of motion of the knee joint increased when the three tools were used. This study shows that the activity of the RF, VM, and TA muscles decreased and the range of motion of the knee joint increased during deep squats for both the PS and IS groups when tools were used.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.159-166
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• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles according to abdominal muscle exercise methods such as plank exercise, side plank exercise, and crunch exercise. Methods : This study was conducted with 37 college students. All subjects participating in this study were randomly assigned to the plank exercise group, the side plank exercise group, and the crunch exercise group. The exercise corresponding to each group was performed for a total of 8 weeks. The muscle activity of the abdominal muscles was measured before the experiment, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks, and the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were measured. Results : As a result of comparison according to the period in the change in muscle activity of the abdominal muscles after exercise, the amount of change in muscle activity in all three muscles showed a significant difference. As a result of the post-hoc analysis, the muscle activity value of the internal oblique muscle after 4 weeks in the plank exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. In the side plank exercise, the muscle activity values of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles before and after 4 weeks showed significant differences from those after 8 weeks. And in the crunch exercise, the muscle activity value of the rectus abdominis muscle before exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. Conclusion : Plank exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, side plank exercise increases the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles, and crunch exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis. Therefore, it is thought that the stability of the trunk can be improved more efficiently if all three exercises are performed.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.484-496
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was implementing the high-school 'Food Safety and Health' curriculum using the workbook, and to evaluate the educational impact on, and satisfaction of student who participated in class. A total of 109 lessons were undertaken in home economics classes by referring to the 'Food Safety and Health' workbook for 1,154 students attending seven high schools located in seven cities and provinces across the Korea. In order to examine the effects of classes by referring to workbooks, pre- and post-evaluations were conducted by devising a questionnaire about dietary behavior associated with food safety, creative problem-solving abilities, community capacities, and social cooperation capacities. The results of the analysis of the collected data from 674 students who participated in the pre- and post-evaluations are as follows. First, according to the results of the paired t-test conducted to examine the effects of using the workbook in classes on dietary behavior, significant positive changes were observed in the dietary behavior related to food safety, creative problem-solving skills, community consciousness, and social cooperation capabilities. Second, as a result of the students' evaluation of classes by referring to the 'Food Safety and Health' workbook, both satisfaction and interest in the class using the workbook were high, and the difficulty level was deemed to be appropriate. Additionally, it was found that the students actively participated in learning activities. The reason for this appears to be that the aforementioned workbook consisted of various student activities such as experiments, practical exercises, and group activities aimed at strengthening the link between life and education, thus enabling increased student participation.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.489-503
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• 2019

This study aimed to analyze the preference of subfertile women for forest therapy programs depending on their emotional characteristics, and to provide basic data for the development of forest therapy programs in order to promote the mental health of subfertile women. Among the surveyed emotional characteristics of subfertile women, the level of emotions including pressure to become pregnant, impatience and frustration were high, while that of emotions including anxiety and fear; depression, hopelessness, helplessness, loneliness and sadness tended to be medium. The level of emotions including shame and guilt tended to be low. The top six forest therapy programs preferred by subfertile women include a deep breath of air /phytoncide, forest bathing/wind bathing/sun bathing, self-esteem recovery program, eating organic foods, low body bathing/foot bathing/hot spring bathing, and breathing/breathing exercises. Subfertile women highly pressured to become pregnant showed significant differences in the preference of the self-esteem recovery program, Domar 's relaxation therapy, NLP therapy, and sleeping in the woods, while women with anxiety and fear showed significant differences in the preference of walking barefoot in forests, mountain walking in silence, listening to water sounds/ hand and foot soak, self-esteem recovery program, NLP therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, aroma therapy, integrated art therapy in forests, forest bathing/wind bathing/sunbathing, a deep breath of air/phytoncide, and observing stars. Women with depression, hopelessness, helplessness, loneliness, and sadness showed significant differences in eating organic foods, self-esteem recovery program, counseling/coaching, and cognitive behavior therapy. The significance of this study was to analyze the preference of subfertile women, as subjects, for forest therapy program. The results of this study are expected to be used as basis data for developing forest therapy programs for subfertile women.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.342-347
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the comparison of upper arm, trunk and core muscle activities according to different performance in high Plank exercise using weightless exercise equipment. Six males(age, 23.00±0.73 years; height, 172.95±2.05 cm; body mass, 66.83±2.75 kg; and BMI, 22.33±0.72 kg/m²) completed this study as the subjects. Four type's high Plank exercises using weightless exercise equipment were performed(high plank, HP; high plank with air walker, HPAW; high plank with surf board, HPSB; high plank with waist trainer, HPWT). For the EMG analysis, we measured the body muscle activities of right side on the deltoid(DT), triceps brachii(TB), latissimus dorsi(LD), and external oblique(EO). This research's results were as follows. DT, TB, LD, & EO muscle activities were greatest during HPSB(p=.000). Therefore, these results are expected to serve as basic data for high Plank exercise using weightless exercise equipment performance applications in effective exercise programs.