• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.81-88
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at investigating the types of gender roles and the relationship between gender roles and job satisfaction among neurological physical therapists. METHODS: The study subjects were 169 (male 74, female 95) neurological physical therapists working at general hospitals or rehabilitation centers in the Daejeon Metropolitan City area, South Korea. To identify job satisfaction scores, the subjects completed a questionnaire, and a vernier caliper was used by a trained examiner to measure the lengths of the subjects' index and ring fingers (i.e., digitus secundus manus and digitus annularis, respectively) to examine gender roles. The index to ring finger length ratio (i.e., 2D:4D ratio) was calculated using a personal computer. An independent t-test was performed to compare the finger length ratio and job satisfaction of male group with that of the female group and a correlation analysis was performed to examine job satisfaction by gender roles. RESULTS: Finger length ratio is lower in males than in females. However, there was no significant difference statistically (p>.05). Regarding job satisfaction by gender, males were more satisfied with their jobs than females (p<.05). However, there were no significant correlations between job satisfaction and gender roles (p>.05). CONCLUSION: It cannot be concluded that bias against gender roles is a contributing factor for neurological physical therapists being satisfied with their job, and thus bias against gender roles among neurological physical therapists should be removed.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.359-370
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• 2022

Purpose: Physical therapists are required to properly choose the most appropriate treatment for each patient within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF model). The aims of this study were to determine whether neurological physical therapists in clinical settings in South Korea know about the ICF model and to investigate the current trends of outcome measures (OMs) used by them. Methods: Two hundred and one physical therapists who worked with patients with neurological disorders participated in this study. The survey was conducted via e-mail and asked about commonly used OMs and the considerations for selecting OMs. Results: All physical therapists involved in this study responded completely, and 45.8% of participants learned about the ICF model, while 37.3% understood the detailed information related to the ICF model. The rest of the participants did not know or just heard about the ICF model. The most frequently used tools at the body function/structure level were the Range of Motion (98%), Manual Muscle Test (97%), Berg Balance Scale (83.1%), and Modified Ashworth Scale (70.6%) when allowing repetition. At the activity level, the 10-meter walk test (71.1%), 6-minute walk test (54.2%), and Functional Ambulatory Category (43.3%) were used, while the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (23.9%) was used at the participation level. There was a positive relationship between the number of tools used and years of work, as well as the level of understanding of the ICF model. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to learn the ICF model in a clinical setting. In addition, the medical system needs to be modified to encourage physical therapists in South Korea to use proper OMs within the ICF model.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.82-91
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• 1996

Normal balance is defined as state in which the body is equlilibrium. It is complex motor control task, requring integration of sensory information, neural processing, and biomechanical factors. There are major two factors contribute to balance control, the neurological and the musculoskeletal. The neurological factor provides the sensory processing and motor output mechanisms that are the neurophysiological basis for response. The musculoskeletal factor provides the mechanical structure for response. When all components of two factors are operating effectively, the postural response should be appropriate and effective for good balance control. Therfore, balance can be influenced by above all factors. In addition, balance can be also influenced by muscle tone, hearing, physiological factors, and environmental factors. Physical therapists must understand factors of balance control so that we can accurately assess balance. Therefore, physical therapists have to develop useful balance measurement tools to evaluate balance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.370-376
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• 2012

Purpose: This study examined whether there are differences in cognitive styles between orthopedic and neurological physical therapists, and whether these differences change with clinical experience in clinical reasoning. Methods: A survey study was conducted on 88 orthopedic and neurologic physical therapists working in South Korea. The survey items used by May and Dennis (1991) were translated, and only those items related to data-gathering and information-processing were used. Results: The cognitive style was similar in the orthopedic and neurologic physical therapists, but the clinical experience affected the cognitive styles of clinical reasoning. Physical therapists with more than 60 months clinical experience responded most positively to the preceptive and systematic styles in clinical reasoning. Conclusion: These results suggest that physical therapy education should provide physical therapy students with a clinical reasoning process related specifically to a particular clinical field.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.145-156
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• 2019

Purpose: This study suggests clinical reasoning strategies for therapists with little experience in clinical reasoning for the evaluation and treatment of patients with neurological disorders. Methods: The suggested method was the mnemonic PT STRESS whose initials represent the body structure and functions that can affect the activity limits and the items that can cause problems at the functional level in patients with neurological disorders. Results: PT STRESS stands for pain (P), ability of the trunk (T), sensation (S), tone (T), range of motion (R), emotion and endurance (E), muscular strength (strength), and stability (S). It tests and measures problems in the body structure and functions. Conclusion: This study suggests easy clinical reasoning strategies that can be used by therapists who have insufficient experience in the evaluation or treatment of patients with neurological disorders. However, more factors need to be considered in the future with regard to clinical reasoning of the diverse problems of patients with neurological disorders.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 1998

Conversion disorder is defined as a specific and enduring sensorimotor dysfunction that contradicts known neurological or musculoskeletal pathology or physical findings. The patient with conversion symptoms unconsciously adopts these symptoms to convert their psychological stress to a physical phenomenon. Conversion disorder often involves the mimicry of organic symptoms similar to those experienced by a relative or an acquaintance. Because conversion symptoms are produced by psychological stress, specific treatment strategy and reinforcement program are needed for treatment. Treatment comprises avoiding unnecessary medical tests and removing symptoms by using graded exercises given by physical therapists. Clinical therapists must maintain a continuous and detailed follow-up to completely recover from conversion symptoms. The goal of treatment is to emphasize health rather than disease, to resolve physical symptoms, and to prevent recurrence. This study looks into the case reports of 4 patients diagnosed with conversion disorder.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2012

Importance of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) has been increasing in the hospital industry such as health care industry and financial industry. This study investigated in order to identify the factors like general, occupational and ergonomically characteristics of the subjects related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of physical therapists (PTs). Ergonomic tools of rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) were used for evaluation workload of the tasks. Prevalence of MSDs were 13 PTs (26.0%) for neck, 31 PTs (62.0%) for shoulder, 9 PTs (18.0%) for arm/elbow, 27 PTs (54.0%) for hand/wrist, 28 PTs (56.0%) for back, 14 PTs (28.0%) for leg/foot. The analysis of the rate of the pain intensity showed that 53.5% subjects experience moderate pain and 14.0% subjects experience severe pain. Factors which were general characteristics, for example, height, ergonomically characteristics such as 'Posture Score A' were related musculoskeletal subjective symptoms in logistic analysis (p<.05). Among physical therapists, action level of RULA were action level 2 (6.0%), action level 3 (52.0%), action level 4 (42.0%). Physical therapists were estimated one of the highest risk factor in this study. This study suggested that the need of preventive education and program for PTs (physical therapists). Comprehensive and systematic management plans should be established to include both ergonomic and sociopsychological aspects.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.301-311
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• 1994

Most patients treated by physical therapists have suffered some neurological trauma resulting from disease or injury. The traditional teaching used to be that damage of central neurons is irreversible. However, it has been necessary to cast aside this traditional view because of accumulating evidence that the brain is endowed with remarkable plasticity. This paper reviews the literature relating to neuroplasticity within the brain and draws implications pertinent to physical therapy practice.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.41-48
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this survey was to investigate the effect on job satisfaction and organizational commitment according to the job types of Pusan area physical therapists figuring out structural causality between job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Method : This survey was conducted through structured questionnaire for the physical therapists working in Pusan area, and data from 217 therapists were utilized in the final analysis. Data collection was deployment questionnaire using Google Docs (online survey), The SPSS 21.0 program was used according to for research purposes independent t-test was used for individual and job characteristics, was used according to job types and job satisfaction and organizational commitment are logistic regression analysis, correlation analysis and chi-square test. Result : The results of this study were as follows. 1. Overall job satisfaction according to the job types was appeared musculoskeletal physical therapist more 4 times. 2. Job types according to the organizational commitment did not make direct effect. Conclusion : Number of musculoskeletal physical therapist than neurological physical therapist was fewer and there were many per day treatment of patients, but overall job satisfaction was appeared that is higher. This is thought that job types affects more than working environment.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.223-236
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• 2019

Purpose: This research was to develop a module for problem-based learning(PBL) and to enhance the problem-solving abilities of physical therapy students in a neurological physical therapy course and to evaluate the effects of the module using quantitative and qualitative data. Methods: The PBL module was applied to 55 third-year physical therapy students who participated in a neurological physical therapy course at S university in Seoul. Anonymous self-report questionnaires and reflection journals were collected, and the data were analyzed. Results: The results of the analysis showed that the academic achievements of the students who participated in the first PBL class improved compared to the academic achievements of the students who had participated in the same class in the previous semester. Second, the students who participated in the PBL class evaluated the PBL as a very effective learning method for developing clinical practical ability. Third, the students of the PBL class showed increased cooperation and communication abilities between team members. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that, if PBL class case studies and various types of teaching and learning methods appropriate for theoretical and practical fields are continuously studied, then it is expected that teaching models will be developed that can develop flexibility and creativity among preliminary physical therapists in a rapidly changing medical environment.