• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to analyze the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern on muscular strength and flexibility in an aquatic environment. Methods: Ten members of the experimental group and 10 members of the control group were randomly selected from 20 college students who are in their 20s. Bilateral symmetry pattern among proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity patterns was applied in an aquatic environment in the experimental group three times per week for a period of six weeks, and a set consisted of 10 times, which was repeated 10 times. On the other hand, subjects in the control group did not receive any treatment while maintaining daily life. Muscular strength was measured using a dynamometer and electromyogram system for maximum voluntary isometric contraction of hip flexor, hip extensor, knee flexor, and knee extensor. Cervical flexibility was measured using cervical range of motion instrument for cervical flexion, rotation, and lateral flexion. Lumbar flexibility was measured using back range of motion instrument II for lumbar flexion. Results: For the experimental group, significance was observed for hip flexor, extensor, knee flexor, extensor, cervical flexion, rotation, lateral flexion, and lumbar flexion. For the control group, no significance was observed for any other variables except for cervical flexion. As a result of observation of difference between the two groups, relatively high significance was observed in the experimental group, compared with the control group. Conclusion: In conclusion, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern had a positive effect on muscular strength and flexibility in an aquatic environment.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 1994

This study was performed to determine the inter-rater reliability of manual tests of elbow, knee flexor, and ankle dorsiflexor muscle spasticity graded on the Modified Ashworth Scale. Two raters each independently graded the spasticity of 32 patients with intracranial lesions after moving the paretic limb passively through the available range of motion. The patients were asked to simultaneously squeeze therapeutic putty with their non-paretic hand for reinforcement. The ratings were compared by the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank test and by the Kendall's coefficient of rank(tau) correlation. There was singificant correlation between two raters for spasticity at the elbow, knee flexor, and ankle dorsiflexor. The correlations of the two raters ranged from .6746 to .9308. The highest correlation was for the elbow with reinforcement and the lowest was for the knee without reinforcement. Poorer correlation was evident in the knee joint. The positive results of this study encourage the continued use of manual tests of muscle spasticity, using the Modified Ashworth Scale.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.2664-2671
• /
• 2012

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical characteristics and walking ability in the elderly population. Subjects were 77 elderly (38 men and 39 women) who are capable of walking independently with and without walking aids. Correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze the relationship between physical characteristics (age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, muscle mass, waist/hip ratio, heart rate, vital capacity, flexibility, maximum oxygen consumption, one-leg standing time, and strength of knee flexor and extensor) and walking velocity of subjects. Age, height, vital capacity, one-leg standing time, and strength of knee flexor and extensor showed significant correlations with walking velocity of subjects (p<.05). Further, the strength of knee flexor explained 27% of the variance, and up to 32% of the walking velocity could be explained when the strength of knee extensor were added to the model. The findings suggest that walking velocity of elderly depends on the strength of lower limb's strength and a variety of physical characteristics.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.58-72
• /
• 2005

The purposes of this study were to determine the effects of rehabilitation programs on functional performance of the lower extremities and whether additional therapeutic exercise with routine rehabilitative therapy improves functional performance more than just routine rehabilitative therapy by it self for inpatients who have suffered a stroke with below moderate severity within 3 to 6 months after the onset of the stroke. Fifty-eight subjects were divided into two groups. Group I was given routine rehabilitative therapy and group II was given additional therapeutic exercise along with the routine rehabilitative therapy. Each group received 6 weeks of rehabilitation. The timed get-up and go test (TUG), the Fugl-Meyer score (FMS), functional independence measure (FIM), functional reach (FR), gait velocity (GV), and the strength of knee extensor and flexor were selected to measure effect of rehabilitation programs. The main results were measured and analysed at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks after the start of the rehabilitation programs. The results revealed that all of functional performance of the lower extremities in 3 weeks after the start of the rehabilitation programs were significantly improved compared with before the rehabilitation programs in both groups. In 6 weeks, TUG, FIM, FR, GV, and the strength of knee extensor in group I, TUG, FMS, FIM, FR, GV, and the strength of knee extensor and flexor in group II were significantly improved compared with the results after 3 weeks. At 3 weeks after rehabilitation programs, group II made significantly greater gains in TUG, FR, GV, and the strength of the knee flexor compared to the group I. At 6 weeks, group II made significantly greater gains in TUG, FR, GV, and the strength of the knee extensor and flexor compared to the group I. In conclusion, rehabilitation programs for stroke patients within 3 to 6 months after stroke onset significantly contributed to improve functional performance of the lower extremities. It is desirable for improvement of functional performance of the lower extremities to perform additional exercise with routine rehabilitative therapy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.32-37
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of clinical characteristics of chronic stroke patients on physiological cost index (PCI) during walking. Fourteen stroke patients participated in this study. To investigate the clinical characteristics, Fugl-Meyer score (FMS), gait velocity (GV), muscle strength of the knee extensor, modified Ashworth scale (MAS) of ankle plantar flexor, devices, and gait patterns during walking were measured and analyzed. The results were as follows: Firstly, use of devices and high MAS of the ankle plantar flexor significantly increased PCI. Secondly, PCI was significantly correlated with the FMS and MAS of the ankle plantar flexor. In conclusion, inhibition of spasticity of the ankle plantar flexor is considered to reduce PCI during walking for chronic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.167-173
• /
• 2013

Purpose: To obtain the isokinetic normative data of isokinetic laboratory of department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the normal subjects for those twenties of Korea. Methods: A total of 228 volunteers participated in this study and isokinetic evaluation of knee extensors and flexors at speed $60^{\circ}/sec$ BIODEX System 3 Isokinetic Dynamometer was performed in 128 males and 100 females. Results: In the normal subjects for those twenties, Normative data were presented. Absolute muscle strength of knee-extensors and knee-flexors, Relative muscle strength, bilateral muscle strength deficit, and flexor/extensor strength ratio were presented. Conclusion: Those results expect that it will be available for patients with 20's knee diseases to apply as the basic materials for the muscle function improvement of knee extensors and flexors.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.7-16
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigerate the changes of isokinetic muscular function in elderly people who have been to take from osteoarthritis in both knee joints after 36 weeks' rehabilitative therapy programs. In this study the subjects were 20 women residing in S-Tower(n=10) and H-welfare Town(n=10) respectively. The rehabilitative group(equal to experimental group) had taken part in exercise program 5 days per week. And then was performed by warm up, workout(involving aerobic exercise and weight training), cool down, physical therapy(cryotherapy, TENS, ultrasound). Also its programs were classified in conditioning phase($0{\sim}12$ weeks), improvement phase($13{\sim}24$ weeks), and maintenance phase($25{\sim}36$ weeks) respectively. The results of inspections were as followed: In the isokinetic muscular function, there were significant differences in right leg's flexor and extensor in $60^{\circ}$/sec. And there were significant differences in right leg's flexor and left leg's extensor in $180^{\circ}$/sec. At last, there were significant differences in right leg's flexor and left leg's extensor in $240^{\circ}$/sec. In other words, the rehabilitative programs for 36 weeks could increase the muscular function in elderly with OA. In conclusion, the rehabilitative programs of this paper has shown the positive results, which involved in the muscular function variables in elderly people with OA in both knee.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.304-310
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the change in the kinematics and kinetics of the knee joint depending on high-heeled shoes during sit-to-stand (SitTS) task. Methods: Nineteen healthy females participated in this study. The subjects performed the SitTS task wearing high-heeled shoes and barefoot. The experiment was repeated three times for each task with foot conditions. The kinematics and kinetics of the knee joint were measured and analyzed using a 3D motion analysis system. Results: The result of this study showed kinematic and kinetics differences in knee joints during the SitTS task based on high-heeled shoes. Significant differences in knee flexion angle were observed during SitTS. The knee extensor force showed statistically significant differences during SitTS tasks. At the initial of SitTS, the knee flexor and extensor moment showed significant differences. The knee extensor moment showed statistically significant differences at the terminal of SitTS. At the maximum of SitTS, the knee extensor moment showed statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Therefore, wearing high-heeled shoes during SitTS movements in daily life is considered to influence knee joint kinematics and kinetics due to the HH, suggesting the possibility of increased risk of patellofemoral pain, and knee osteoarthritis caused by changes in loading of the knee joint.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Tai-Chi exercise (TCE) and resistance exercise (RE) when used as part of a community-based exercise program on improvement of physical function in elderly women with knee arthritis. Methods: Forty-seven women with knee arthritis participated in this study. They were assigned to one of two groups: the TCE group (n=22) or the RE group (n=25). Tai-Chi exercise and resistance exercise sessions were held for 1 hour per session, twice per week, for 8 consecutive weeks. At pre-treatment and post-treatment, subjects were tested using the following measurements: one-legged stand test (sec), a functional reach test (cm), a test of the strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles, determination of the pathway of center of foot pressure and vertical ground reaction force for stance phase at pre and post treatment time points. An independent t-test and a ${\chi}^2$ were used to determine the significance of differences between group means using SPSS 12.0. Results: After 8 weeks of participation in the exercise programs, there were significant improvements for both groups in joint pain, difficulty of performing activity, muscle strength of knee extensor and flexor. Also, vertical ground reaction force increased at the loading response phase for both groups. The RE group was significantly different from TC group on the eyes-closed one-legged stand test (sec). Conclusion: Tai-Chi exercise and resistance exercise programs improve physical functioning and reduce pain and locomotion difficulties.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-4
• /
• 2015

Background: This study was conducted in order to see if muscle strength is different according to fall experience in female elders by comparing their muscle strength of waist and knee, which is one of factors inducing fall. Method: For this study, 22 female elders aged over 65 sampled from senior centers in D City were surveyed on their fall experiences using a questionnaire asking clinical history. Then, 8 elders with fall experience (FE) and another 8 without (NFE) were selected and participated in the research. Isokinetic muscle strength was measured with isokinetic equipment BIODEX SYSTEM 3 PRO, and the peak torque was obtained from the highest of 9 measurements at angular velocity $60^{\circ}/sec$ according to the method recommended in the manual. Measured items were waist flexion and extension, and knee flexion and extension. Results: The FE group showed higher extensor and flexor muscle strength of the waist, but the difference was not significant (p<.05). In addition, no difference was observed in extensor muscle strength of the knee (p<.05). In flexor muscle strength, however, the FE group was significantly higher than the NFE group (p<.05). Conclusion: The application of regular exercise programs for improving muscle strength, endurance, etc. to those with fall experience will be effective in preventing falls among them.