• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.145-150
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• 2023

Purpose: This study examined the effects of ankle control training using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), leg muscle activation, and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty-one stroke patients diagnosed with cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage were selected for the study. The experimental group underwent ankle control training using NMES, while the control group applied NMES to the paretic tibialis anterior muscle for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for four weeks. The muscle activity changes were measured using surface electromyography, and balance parameters were evaluated using a functional reach test (FRT). Results: The intra-group comparison of the concentric muscle activity revealed improvements in the experimental group, including paretic tibialis anterior (TA) muscle (p<0.05), medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) (p<0.01), and lateral gastrocnemius muscle (LG) (p<0.05), as well as MG (p<0.05), LG (p<0.05), soleus muscle (p<0.05) of the non-paretic side, and soleus muscle symmetry index (p<0.05). The intra-group comparison of the eccentric muscle activity showed improvements in the experimental group, including MG (p<0.01) and LG (p<0.01) of the paretic side, as well as MG (p<0.01), LG (p<0.01) of the non-paretic side, and LG symmetry index (p<0.01). The intra-group comparison of the functional reach test revealed significant differences in the test results in the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ankle control training using NMES had a positive effect on the changes in muscle activation and improved balance in patients with stroke.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.268-286
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• 2018

The eutrophication and algal blooms by harmful cyanobacteria (CyanoHAs) and freshwater redtide (FRT) that severely experiencing in typical regulated weir system of the Nakdong River are one of the most rapidly expanding water quality problems in Korea and worldwide. To compare with the factors of rainfall, hydrology, and dominant algae, this study explored spatiotemporal variability of the major water environmental factors by weekly intervals in eight weir pools of the Nakdong River from January 2013 to July 2017. There was a distinct difference in rainfall distribution between upstream and downstream regions. Outflow discharge using small-scale hydropower generation, overflow and fish-ways accounted for 37.4%, 60.1% and 2.5%, respectively. Excluding the flood season, the outflow was mainly due to the hydropower release through year-round. These have been associated with the drawdown of water level, water exchange rate, and the significant impact on change of dominant algae. The mean concentration (maximum value) of chlorophyll-a was $17.6mg\;m^{-3}$ ($98.2mg\;m^{-3}$) in the SAJ~GAJ and $29.6mg\;m^{-3}$ ($193.6mg\;m^{-3}$) in the DAS~HAA weir pools reaches, respectively. It has increased significantly in the downstream part where the influence of treated wastewater effluents (TWEs) is high. Indeed, very high values (>50 or $>100mg\;m^{-3}$) of chlorophyll-a concentration were observed at low flow rates and water levels. Algal assemblages that caused the blooms of CyanoHAs and FRT were the cyanobacteria Microcystis and the diatom Stephanodiscus populations, respectively. In conclusion, appropriate hydrological management practices in terms of each weir pool may need to be developed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2015

Purpose : This study examines the effect of vibration exercise grafting PNF patterns for 6 weeks on upper body stability and equilibrium for seniors having fifteen or over of MMSE-K. Method : A total of 10 senior citizens participated in this study. Each participant performed PNF patterned exercises using vibration sports equipment for 30 minutes, once static a week, for six weeks. We measured trunk stability and balance degree before and after the six-week exercise program. Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) was used to measure trunk stability, while Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) was used to measure balance degree. The collected data was processed using paired t-test to confirm the difference between pre-program conditions and post-program conditions. Results: The results of our study show that post-program trunk stability measurements increased when compared to pre-program data; however, this increase was not statistically significant. pre and post-measurements for satatic balance and dynamic balance were statistically unchanged. Conclusion: Due to limitations in the number of participants, the procedural design of this experiment, and the limited amount of time participants actually controlled, this study failed to produce statistically significant results. However, further study should be conducted using a systematically implemented exercise program to show support for exercising with flexi-bar as an effective program for the elderly.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1904-1919
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• 2015

This study was conducted to verify the effect of the fall prevention exercise program (FPEP). From 1st June to 14th July in 2014, 52 subjects above the age of 65 in 2 health clinics of A town, J city were randomly assigned to two groups(exercise 31, control 21). While exercise group performed FPEP twice a week for 6 weeks, control group received education only. The results showed significant difference between the two groups in the TUG of physical function(P=.032). There were no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the fear of falls, falls efficacy of mental functions. The result of ultrasound measurement of lower extremity muscles showed statistically significant differences between groups in the 7 items(RF CSA Contraction RF DIS Resting, TA Thickness Contraction, TA P-angle Contraction, GCM Thickness Resting, GCM Thickness Contraction, GCM P-angle Contraction)(p<.05). In conclusion, the FPEP is very effective in the prevention of falls.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2021

The study attempted to systematically and comprehensively analyze individual studies in which proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) was performed with chronic stroke patients. Selection criteria included type of participants (stroke patients), intervention (PNF), comparison (intervention group or non-intervention group), outcomes (effect on dynamic balance), and study design (randomized controlled trial). We searched seven literature databases, and selected 17 papers that met our selection criteria. For meta-analysis, effect size of each individual study was extracted using the R project for Statistical computing version 4.0.3. Rob 2.0 tool, developed by the Cochrane group, was used to evaluate the quality of each individual study. The overall effect size PNF with dynamic balance was 0.59 (95% CI=0.41-1.77), which was significantly different than the median effect size (p<0.05). The sub-group for dynamic balance was analyzed, for effect sizes of BBS (0.50), TUG (0.78), and FRT (0.51). Thus, PNF intervention has a positive impact on improve of dynamic balance by chronic stroke patients.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1261-1275
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• 2009

Age related decrease of muscle strength, balance, and gait abilities bring about physical inactivity in the elderly. Virtual reality (VR) training has been used successfully to rehabilitate functional balance and mobility in elderly subjects. This study was aimed at determining the effect of VR-based exercise programs by using a video game on the muscle strength, balance, and gait abilities in the elderly. 48 old people were randomly divided into two groups; VR-group (men: 11, women: 14, age: 68.42yrs) and control group (men: 10, women: 13, age: 67.58yrs). VR-group performed an exercise program twice a week for 8 weeks and control group had no intervention. The VR-based exercise program was composed of warm up(10 mins), VR-program(40 mins), and cool down(10mins). It was performed by playstation eyetoy play that provided visual and auditory feedback as well as movements of the upper and lower extremities. Muscle strengths of the knee and ankle were measured using manual muscle tester. Static balance was estimated using computerized posturography. Dynamic balance was measured by Timed up and go test (TUG), Functional reach test (FRT). 10m walk test and 6-min walk test were used to assess gait abilities. After the completion of the VR-exercise program, muscle strength, balance, and gait abilities were improved significantly (p<0.05). In conclusion, the VR-based exercise program showed improvement on the muscle strength, balance, and gait ability in the elderly. This exercise program is both effective and interesting for this age group.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.230-235
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• 2015

The experiment was conducted to elucidate the growth characteristics of sorghum in the different planting methods: direct sowing and transplanting (20 days after sowing, DAS). Weed weight was taken from three randomly chosen-2 plots 60 DAS (DAT). One time (20, 30 days after transplanting, DAT) and two times (10/20, 10/30, 20/30, 20/40 DAS) application of weeder machine (FRT 80E) were conducted for direct sowing and transplanting, respectively. In transplanting, the weed control efficacy of weeder machine at 90 DAT was about 67% (DAT 20), 57% (DAT 30) at one time and 87% at two times. The most effective application number was two times (20/40 DAT) followed by one time (20 DAT). However, when reviewing yield and economy, the frequency and times of using weeder machine were preferably one time and 20 DAT. Results with mechanical weed control have been particularly good in transplanted row crops such as sorghum. In direct sowing, the weed control efficacy of weeder machine 60 DAS was about 87% (10/20 DAS), 88% (10/30 DAS) and 82% (20/30 DAS) at two times, respectively. When reviewing yield and economy, the times and frequency of weeder machine were preferably two times, 10 and 30 DAS.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

Purpose: Study on the effect of the use of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation(PNF) method by use of the direction and charge regulation which is the advantage of the Thera-band therapy on the walks and balances in old people and comparison with the result after applying the general PNF technique. Method: The study has been performed on 30 females over 65 years old. The study has been done by dividing the object group in 3 patterns, which are number 1, the comparison group of 10, two ones that are applied the PNF technique using Thera-band and third, the ones that are applied only the PNF technique. For the PNF and the Thera-band using PNF, we have divided the group into Combination of Isotonic technique and the Rhythmical stabilization technique according to the patient's acquaintance pattern and applied them to the patient's body. Evaluation was the balancing ability which was calculated by using the BIODEX Balance system / FRT and for the evaluation of walking ability, we have used the speed of walking for 10M / TUG. Result: In the comparison group of 10, the balancing ability and the walking ability did not change much before and after the experiment, which made it possible to compare the group with the other two easily(p>0.05). For the other two groups, we have recognized the enhancement both in the balancing ability and the walking ability, but they did not know much difference between themselves(p<0.05). Conclusion: Though there were not a big difference in the sense of improvement between the Thera-band using PNF and the PNF technique only, we could infer that these two therapy has enhanced much in the walking and balancing ability for people over 65 and through these result we can foresee that not only using the method shown in this study but also by using many advantages of Thera-band, we could diminish the tiredness of healer, enhance the efficiency of exercise in them and also by forming self training program for older people we could help them build the prevention program from falls.