• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.162-170
• /
• 2015

This paper describes the development of a hand module of NREX (National Rehabilitation Center Robotic Exoskeleton) designed to assist individuals with sustained neurological impairments such as stroke and spinal cord injuries. To construct a simple and lightweight hand module, the robotic hand adopts a mechanism driven by a motor and moved by two four-bar linkages. The motor facilitates the flexion-extension movements of the thumb and the other four fingers simultaneously. Thus, an individual using the robotic hand module can effectively grip and release objects related to daily life activities. The robotic hand module has been designed to cover the range of motion with respect to its link distance. This hand module can be used in therapeutic rehabilitation as well as for daily life assistance. In addition, this hand module can either be mounted on an NREX or used as a standalone module.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.85-96
• /
• 2018

Objectives This study was performed to compare the electrical methods of motor points mapping using surface EMG and electric probe (Pointer Excel II). Methods 32 healthy adults (male 16, female 16) were selected. and classified into two groups; surface EMG group, electric probe (Pointer Excel II) group. In surface EMG group, motor points were searched by recoding the compound muscle potentials. In electric probe (Pointer Excel II) group, motor points were searched by scanning the skin with Pointer Excel II at low level stimulation. The locations of the motor points were expressed as X and Y values in relation to the reference line. The horizontal reference line was set as elbow crease and the vertical reference line was set as the line connecting coracoid process to the center of the horizontal reference line. The data was analyzed by 'Independent T-test' and 'equivalence test'. Results 1. The motor points of short head and long head of biceps brachii muscle were located at about 2/3 length of the vertical reference line from coracoid process and about 1/5~1/4 length of the half of the horizontal reference line from the vertical reference line in both group. 2. The motor points of the short head were located more distally and close to the vertical reference line (p<0.001). 3. In surface EMG group, the motor points of the long head were located more laterally in the female than male. And the motor points of the long head were located more distally in the left side than right side (p<0.05). In electric probe (Pointer Excel II) group, similar tendency was observed but there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). 4. As a result of the equivalence test between surface EMG group and electric probe (Pointer Excel II) group, the confidence intervals of the difference were within the equivalence limit. Therefore, the locations of the motor points searched by two ways are equa l (p>0.05, equivalence interval=3%). Conclusions The results indicate that electric probe (Pointer Excel II) can be used to search the motor points instead of surface EMG. This might improve the clinical efficiency when using the motor points to treat muscle dysfunction.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.123-132
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The discovery of mirror neuron system may positively affect functional recovery; therefore, rehabilitation is needed that is practical for use in clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of action observation training on upper motor function in people who had suffered strokes. Methods: Three elderly patients with stroke, aged to years, were recruited from a stroke rehabilitation center. A nonconcurrent, multiple baseline subject approach was taken, with an A-B-A treatment single-subject experimental design, and the experiment was conducted for 3 weeks. The action observation training was repeated 5 times in 5 days during the intervention period. The arm function, including WMFT, BBT, and grip and pinch strength, was evaluated in each subject 5 times during the baseline period, the intervention period, and the baseline regression period. Results: The results of the evaluation for each subject were presented as mean values and video graphs. The WMFT scores of 2 subjects were improved during the intervention period in comparison with the baseline period, and this improvement was maintained even during the regression baseline period. The BBT and the grip and pinch strength were not improved. Conclusion: Based on these results, we suggest that the action observation training for 5 sessions was effective in improving upper limb function of stroke patients but was not effective in improving hand dexterity or grip and pinch strength.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 1993

Physical therapy for patients with Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Spinal cord injury. Osteoporosis, CVA and Cerebral Palsy often includes the evaluating and teaching of rolling movements. Motor abilities such as rolling from a supine to a prone position, moving to sitting. getting up on all fours and ultimately standing up from a supine position. represents progression toward physical independence. Rolling is important functional abilities for need to dressing, decubit prevent. bed mobility, neck control, crawling, creeping, sitting, standing and walking. The purposes of this study were to describe motor development concept and rolling task patterns and to approach the therapeutic exercises.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2011

Purpose: We studied the changes in motor response time and stop signal response time following visuomotor skill learning of a stop signal task in young healthy subjects. This study also was designed to determine what an effective practice is for different stop signals in the stop signal task (SST). Methods: Forty-five right-handed normal volunteers without a history of neurological dysfunction were recruited. They all gave written informed consent. In all subjects, motor reaction time (RT) and stop signal reaction time (SSRT) were measured for the stop signal task. Tasks were classified into three categories: predictable-stop signal task (P-SST) practice group random-stop signal task (R-SST) practice group control group. Results: Motor reaction time in the P-SST was significantly reduced when comparing pre- and post-tests (p<0.05). Stop signal reaction times in the P-SST and the R-SST were significantly reduced following motor skill learning (p<0.05). Also, the reaction time of the R-SST was shorter than that of the P-SST. Conclusion: These findings indicate that practice of an SST improves motor performance and stop function for some stop signals in the SST. P-SST practice was effective in the stop function of regular movement because of faster of the motor prediction and preparation but the R-SST was effective in the stop function of movements because of faster motor selection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2020

PURPOSE: This study investigates the therapeutic effect of a prototype of a hand rehabilitation device based on magnetic forces. METHODS: Using an electromagnet and permanent magnets, we developed an end effector type device that induces various movements of the finger in accordance with the magnetic field direction. A total of 26 subacute stroke patients were enrolled and assigned to two groups in this randomized controlled trial. The intervention group received 30 minutes hand rehabilitation therapy per day for 4 weeks, using the device developed by us. Conventional physical therapies were conducted equally twice a day, 30 minutes per session, during the same period in both groups. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, rate of the Wolf Motor Function Test as a primary outcome measure showed significant improvement in the intervention group as compared to control group(p = .036). Scores of the Manual Function Test and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of upper limb were also significantly increased in the intervention group as compared to control group(p = .038 and p = .042, respectively). Moreover, the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index tended to improve after subjecting to physical therapy in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the novel hand rehabilitation device developed using a magnetic force, improves the hand motor functions and activities of daily life in subacute stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.53-65
• /
• 1998

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the modes of therapeutic intervention. The emphasis is on the neurophysiological perpective arising out of neurological principles and developmental concepts. The obtained results are as follows. 1. The important hypostheses predicted that the group intervened by neurodevelopmental approach would improve motor function better than the group done by traditional approach and it was proved that neurodevelopmental approach was more effective in gross motor region(P<.01) 2. In the comparison of type of involovement, neurodevelopmental intervention group in spastic type showed improvements in the region of gross motor.(P<.001) 3. In the comparision of degree of disorder, neurodevelopmental intervention group showed improvement of motor function in all the gross motor region in the mild, moderate and severe case.(P<.001) 4. In the comparison of ages of intervention beginning, the group of child between 25-36, 49-60 and 61-72 months(P<.001) intervened by neurodevelopmental approach showed improvements of motor function. 5. In the comparison of intervention duration, neurodevelopmental intervention group showed improvements of motor function in gross motor region according to intervention durstion(P<.001)

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.139-148
• /
• 2003

Objectives : Polyneuropathies are diseases of multiple peripheral nerves. They are usually characterized by symmetrical, bilateral distal motor and sensory impairment with a graded increase in severity distally. It is generally regarded that the natural courses are poor, so we wanted to study the effects of Oriental medical treatment on a patient with polyneuropathy. Methods : We treated by conservative Oriental medical treatment a woman of 68 years who was diagnosed as a polyneuropathy and was hospitalized at Seoul Oriental Hospital, Kyungwon University, from 12th Mar. to 31st May, 2003. Changes of functional disability were checked by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS), muscle atrophy was checked by measuring circumference of the thighs, calves, arms, and sensory impairment was checked by a sensory test. Results : 1. Functional disability caused by motor impairment was reduced after the Oriental medical treatment 2. Muscle atrophy was reduced after the Oriental medical treatment 3. Sensory impairment was reduced after the Oriental medical treatment Conclusion : We treated a patient who was diagnosed with polyneuropathy for over 80 days and recorded good effects of Oriental medical treatment on polyneuropathy.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2010

Objectives : Cool Pharmacopuncture for static blood is a famous pharmacopuncture treatment that treated disease caused by static blood. Hyolhae(Sp10) is also a famous point of acupuncture that treated that. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Cool Pharmacopuncture for static blood into Hyolhae(Sp10) on BAX and BCL-2 expression in the experimental traumatic brain injury(TBI) rats. Methods : Male rats were divided into 3 groups. I was no treatment after TBI. II was treatment with needle-prick acupuncture after TBI. III was treatment with Cool Pharmacopuncture for static blood into Hyolhae(Sp10) after TBI. The author carried out neurological motor behavioral test, histological assessment test. Neurological motor behavior tests consist of rotarod test, beam-walking test and postural reflex test. In the histological assessment test, BAX and BCL-2 expression, hematoxylin & eosin staining were experimented. Results : In neurological motor behavior tests, motor and cognitive function recovery was significantly increased in the II, III as compared with I (p<0.05). Especially III was significantly increased as compared with II (p<0.05). BAX expression was significantly decresed in order of the III, II, I after 7 and 14 days later. BCL-2 expression was investigated in the III, II as compared with I. Especially Most incresed expression was experimented in the III. Conclusions : According to the above results, Cool Pharmacopuncture for static blood can inhibit apoptosis of cells after TBI in rats by contol of BAX and BCL expression.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2022

Objective: Post stroke motor recovery is facilitated by the brain reorganization or the neuroplastic changes. The therapeutic approach mentioned in the current case is one of the approaches for enhancing motor recovery by stimulating the damaged neural networks directing the motor behaviour of a person. The aim of the present study was to establish the changes in the balance and gait pattern of an individual through multi target stimulation of areas of cerebral cortex by utilising multichannel trans cranial direct current stimulation (M-tDCS) in a sub-acute stroke survivor. Design: A Case Report Methods: The present patient was the participant of the trial (CTRI/2021/02/031044).The patient was intervened with M-tDCS (anodes over left primary motor cortex that is C3 point and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex i.e., F3 point and cathodes over supraorbital areas, Intensity - 1.2mA) for the duration of 20 minutes along with turbo med extern - an AFO to facilitate ankle dorsi flexion and conventional physiotherapy rehabilitation. The Fugl-Meyer assessment lower extremity (FMA-LE), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) and the Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SSQOL) measures were used for outcome assessment. Baseline assessment was done on day 0 followed by assessment on 10 and 20 post intervention. Results: Improvement was seen in all the tools i.e. (FMA -LE), BBS, SSQOL and WGS over the time period of 20 days. Conclusions: M-tDCS resulted in improvement in gait parameters, balance and motor functions of lower extremity of the patient.