• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.202-209
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined whether various lower extremity exercises using a Swiss ball in the standing position could improve balance, muscle strength, gait, and fall efficacy in stroke patients. Methods: Twenty-one stroke patients were randomly divided into three groups, each with seven participants. For four weeks, experimental group 1 performed various lower extremity exercises using a Swiss ball, while experimental group 2 executed the same exercises without a Swiss ball, and the control group underwent general physical therapy. The subjects' knee extensor muscle strength, balance, gait, and fall efficacy were evaluated before and after the intervention using portable muscle strength measurement, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), G-walk, and the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale (K-FES). Results: Knee extensor strength increased significantly in all three groups after the intervention; in particular, a significant increase was seen in experimental groups 1 and 2 compared to the control group. Moreover, all three groups had significantly better BBS scores and higher cadence after the intervention; notably, experimental group 1 had better scores and increased cadence than the control group. Additionally, gait speed was significantly increased in the experimental group 1 than in the control group. The step length of the non-affected leg was also significantly higher in the same group. The K-FES score improved significantly in all three groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that lower extremity exercises with or without a Swiss ball could be effective interventions to improve muscle strength, balance, gait, and fall efficacy in stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2023

Background: Osteoarthritis is a common condition with an increasing prevalence and is a common cause of disability. Osteoarthritic pain decreases the quality of life, and simple gait training is used to alleviate it. Knee osteoarthritis limits joint motion in the sagittal and lateral directions. Although many recent studies have activated orthotic research to increase knee joint stabilization, no study has used patellar tendon straps to treat knee osteoarthritis. Objects: This study aimed to determine the effects of patellar tendon straps on kinematic, mechanical, and electromyographic activation in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis were selected. After creating the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), leg length difference, Q-angle, and thumb side flexion angle of the foot were measured. Kinematic, kinetic, and muscle activation data during walking before and after wearing the orthosis were viewed. Results: After wearing the patellar tendon straps, hip adduction from the terminal stance phase, knee flexion from the terminal swing phase, and ankle plantar flexion angle increased during the pre-swing and initial swing phases. The cadence of spatiotemporal parameters and velocity increased, and step time, stride time, and foot force duration decreased. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the increase in plantar flexion after strap wearing is inferred by an increase due to neurological mechanisms, and adduction at the hip joint is inferred by an increase in adduction due to increased velocity. The increase in cadence and velocity and the decrease in gait speed and foot pressure duration may be due to joint stabilization. It can be inferred that joint stabilization is increased by wearing knee straps. Thus, wearing a patellar tendon strap during gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis influences kinematic changes in the sagittal plane of the joint.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.977-987
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual information on the dynamic balance on Y-balance Test(YBT). The subjects of the study were 18 male and female adults in their 20s and 30s (age: 23.17±1.72 years, height: 172.46±9.84 cm, weight: 73.39±11.44 kg, leg length: 88.89±5.69 cm) who participated in the study. To measure dynamic balance between binocular and monocular use, absolute reach distance, composite score, and COP variables were measured on left and right feet through YBT and results were derived. As a result of the study, monocular block(left and right eye block) showed higher absolute reach and composite scores than binocular use in posterolateral, posteromedial, and composite scores during YBT. As a result of COP, there was no difference in anterior and posteromedial reach. When reaching posterolateral, AP COP velocity of left foot in monocular block appeared slower than that in binocular vision, and in COP velocity, COP velocity of left foot in monocular block appeared slower than binocular vision.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2024

Purpose: Foot alignment affects the overall balance and alignment of the body. This study examined the relationship between the foot parameters and scoliosis in children and adolescents through simple radiographs. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty-one outpatients under 15 years old from 2013 to 2022 were evaluated. Patients with an abnormal leg length discrepancy or pelvic tilt were screened. The patients included were divided into four groups. Each group was tested to determine if they had scoliosis. The foot anterior-posterior/lateral X-rays were selected for the foot parameters, and the EOS system was used for the spline and pelvis parameters. Results: A t-test of all groups showed no statistically significant difference as the p-value exceeded 0.05. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparing the Cobb's angle and foot parameters did not show a significant correlation. On the other hand, female and older patients had a higher Cobb's angle. Conclusion: No direct relationship was noted between scoliosis and the foot parameters that could be measured radiographically among children and adolescents. In addition, no correction between the Cobb's angle and foot parameters was found.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.606-615
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing weight load on the dynamic balance on Y-balance Test(YBT). 18 male and female adults in their 20-30s (age: 23.17±1.72 years, height: 172.46±9.84 cm, weight: 73.39±11.44 kg, leg length: 88.89±5.69 cm) participated in the experiment. To measure the dynamic balance, the YBT was used to measure the reach distance, composite score, and COP variables to derive the results. As a result of the study, dynamic balance was improved in weight load in posteromedial and posterolateral reach and overall score during YBT. As a result of COP, anteroposterior amplitude, left and right COP velocity, and COP area during anterior reach improved dynamic balance in weight load in the right foot, but there was no difference during the posteromedial reach, ML amplitude in the left foot, AP COP velocity in left foot, ML COP velocity and COP velocity in both foot, and COP area in both foot improved dynamic balance when weight load during posterolateral reach.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.244-253
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• 2019

Purpose: Total hip arthroplasty was performed using a direct anterior approach (DAA) on an ordinary operation table and a short femoral stem. The clinical radiographic results were evaluated by a comparison with those performed using the modified hardinge (anterolateral approach, ALA) method. Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to November 2015, 102 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty using DAA (DAA group) and the same number of patients using ALA (ALA group), both performed by a single surgeon, were compared and analyzed retrospectively. The operation time and amounts of bleeding were compared, and the improvement in post-operative pain, ambulatory capacity and functional recovery of the hip joint were checked. The location of insertion of the acetabular cup and femoral stem were evaluated radiologically, and the complications that occurred in the two groups were investigated. Results: The amount of bleeding was significantly smaller in the DAA group (p=0.018). Up to 3 weeks postoperatively, recovery of hip muscle strength was significantly higher in the DAA group (flexion/extension strength p=0.023, abduction strength p=0.031). The Harris hip score was significantly better in the DAA group for up to 3 months (p<0.001) and the Koval score showed significantly better results in the DAA group up to 6 weeks (p≤0.001). The visual analogue scale score improvement was significantly higher in the DAA group by day 7 (p=0.035). The inclination angle (p<0.001) and anteversion angle (p<0.001) of the acetabular cup were located in the safe zone of the DAA group more than in the ALA group, and there was no statistically significant difference in the position of the femur stem and leg length difference. During surgery, two cases of greater trochanter fracture occurred in the DAA group (p=0.155). Conclusion: The DAA performed in the ordinary operation table using a short femoral stem showed post-operative early functional recovery. Because a simple to use fluoroscope was used during surgery with an anatomical position familiar to the surgeon, it is considered to be useful for the insertion of implants into the desired position and for an approach that is useful for the prevention of leg length differences.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2017

This study was executed to know the effect of the habitat size on huanren brown frog (Rana huanrensis) larvae's growth. We've conducted the study on Mt. Surak in Sanggye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul. Our study site was discriminated the huanren brown frog larvae's habitat into the three different areas, such as small area (S1, $3.91m^2$), middle area (S2, $4.42m^2$), and large area (S3, $38.37m^2$) in the same water channel. We measured two times per a week the 15 huanren brown frog larvae's body length, and developmental stages (foreleg, hind leg, tail length) including the environmental factors (humidity, air temperature and water temperature) of the study site from March 30 to June 28 in 2016. The only hatching rate was measured for the three egg sacs at the S2 study site. We found that the average hatching rate was $76.84{\pm}18.23(%)$ at S2. Generally, because of less precipitation during our study periods, all habitat areas for our study site were gradually decreased. The middle area, S2, was not reduced, the small area, S1, was reduced more than a fourth, and the largest area, S3, was drastically reduced more than half from initial area. There was no statistically difference among the three study sites for the three environmental factors (average humidity, average air temperature, and average water temperature) by F-test, but there were significant difference among the three site for the larvae's body length (F-test p< 0.05). Therefore, the larger of habitat areas, the larger of the larvae length as well as the faster of the larvae's developmental stages. When we measured the body lengths of immature huanren brown frogs, the immature frog of S1 was smallest, the immature frog of S3 was middle lenght, and the immature frog of S2 was largest. There were statistically different among the three study sites for the immature huanren brown frogs (F-test, p< 0.05). Because the S2 study site was relatively stable without rarely changing the study area, it meant that huanren brown frog was sensitive to habitat areas. Based on the results of this study, if we study on the effect of the altitude on the growth rate of huanren brown frog, it must be helpful in understanding the habitat environment of the population of huanren brown frog.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2013

The purposes of this study were to develop a new orthosis controlling ankle and knee joint motion during the gait cycle and to identify the effects of the newly designed orthosis on gait kinematics and tempospatial parameters, including coordination of the extremities in stroke patients. Fifteen individuals who had sustained a stroke, onset was 16 months, participated in this study. Before application of the measurement equipment the subjects were accustomed to walking on the ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) or stance control knee with knee flexion assisted-oil damper ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO) for 5 minutes. Fifteen patients were investigated for 45 days with a 3-day interval between sessions. Measurements were walking in fifteen stroke with hemiparesis on the 3D motion analysis system. Comparison of AFO and SCKAFO are gait pattern. The difference between the AFO and SCKAFO conditions was significant in the gait velocity, step length of the right affected side, stance time of both legs, step-length asymmetry ratio, single-support-time asymmetry ratio, ${\phi}$-thigh angle and ${\phi}$-shank angle in the mid swing (p<.001). Using a SCKAFO in stroke patients has shown similar to normal walking speeds can be attained for walking efficiency and is therefore desirable. In this study, the support time of the affected leg with the SCKAFO was longer than with the AFO and the asymmetry ratio of single support time decreased by more than with the AFO. This indicates that the SCKAFO was effective for improving gait symmetry, single-support-time symmetry. This may be due to the decrease of gait asymmetry. Thus, the newly designed SCKAFO may be useful for promoting gait performance by improving the coordination of the extremity and decreasing gait asymmetry in chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.1017-1024
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• 2005

This study was investigated the effect of the length of stunning time on pH, water holding capacity(WHC), cooking loss(CL), meat color and incidence rate of blood spot in broiler carcass. One-hundred and forty broiler chickens were slaughtered by three different length of stunning times(5 sec., 8 sec., 11 sec.) with the same electrical frequency(255Hz) and 50 voltage in a commercial abattoir. The WBS values and cooking loss of breast muscle were increased with increasing the stunning time, while WHC of breast muscle were decreased. Lightness(L* value) and yellowness(b* value) scores of leg muscle and skin stunned with 50V, 255Hz, 8 sec, 11 sec. were higher than those of broilers stunned with 50V, 255Hz, 5sec(P<0.05). But, there was no significant difference in color on breast and wing muscle. In subjective evaluation, frequence of the first grade had a trend of being increased by extending the stunning time. There was only a few cases of PSE chicken with 0.02%, while blood spot was observed at the highest rate for the 5 sec. treatment. TBARS indicated that a longer length of stunning resulted in a higher rate of fat oxidation. This experiment demonstrated that the length of stunning time has a significant effect on meat quality and its stability during chiller storage.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.415-422
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• 2020

This study investigates the relationship between muscular strengths and gait characteristics of the elderly. Totally, 107 subjects, aged 65 to 85 years, participated in this study. Researchers measured muscle strengths (grip force, toe grip force, gluteus medius, and gluteus maximus forces) and walking characteristics (walking speed, cadence, step length, single leg support, and double legs support). Dynamometers and inertial measurement unit-based shoe systems were used for measuring muscular strength and gait characteristics, respectively. No significant difference was observed in strengths and walking characteristics between the young elders (YE, 65-74 years) and the old elders (OE, 75-85 years). For each age, muscular strength significantly correlated with some gait parameters. Forces of gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles showed better significant correlations between some gait parameters for all age groups, as compared to grip force and toe grip force. Regression coefficients between walking speed and grip force did not vary with age. We conclude that muscular strengths in OE better explained the gait characteristics than in YE subjects. Even though grip strength is an easily measured variable for senior fitness test, forces of gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles are more meaningful for understanding the walking characteristics of elderly people.