• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.33-43
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• 2008

Objectives : Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) is a herb decoction prescribed frequently for stroke patients. The present study investigated neuroprotective effects of Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) against the ischemic damage of the rat brain. Neuronal cell death under the cerebral ischemia is distinguished with the delayed cell death through apoptosis. Consequently, the effects of Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) was evaluated with Bax and Bcl-2 expressions as apoptosis related factors in the brain tissues. Methods : The ischemic damage was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) method in Sprague-Dawley rats. Water extract of Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) was treated for 5 days after the MCAO. Neurological scores and infarct size with TTC were measured. Bax and Bcl-2 expressions in the brain tissues were observed with immunohistochemistry. Results : Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) treatment improved neurological score significantly at 5 days after the MCAO. Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) treatment decreased infarct size by the MCAO, but it was not significant statistically. Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) treatment attenuated Bax positive neurons significantly in the cerebral penumbra and the caudate putamen. Bcl-2 positive neurons were increased, but not significant. Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) treatment increased Bcl-2/Bax expression ratios significantly in the cerebral penumbra and the caudate putamen. Conclusions : These results suggest that Sunghyangjungki-san(Xingxiangzhengqi-san) has a neuroprotective effect on the stroke with modulation of apoptosis related factors.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 2023

This case study reports the clinical effect of Korean medicine treatment on vascular disease of spinal cord. A 58-year-old female patient was diagnosed as vascular disease of spinal cord and treated with combined Korean medicine treatment such as acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, herbal medication, and physical therapy for 16 days. The patient was assessed for International Standard for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Numeral Rating Scale (NRS). After treatment, total scores of ISNCSCI, BBS, and NRS were numerically improved. Also symptoms of neurogenic bladder were improved. This study suggests that Korean medicine treatment could be effective treatment for vascular disease of spinal cord.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.151-159
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• 2024

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate correlation between patient satisfaction and rehabilitation motivation in a physical therapy environment. Methods : This study conducted a survey on musculoskeletal and neurological patients receiving rehabilitation treatment at a hospital. The subjects of the study were patients who were currently receiving rehabilitation treatment, either hospitalized or outpatient. 234 people were collected. A questionnaire was consisted of a total of 55 questions, including 27 questions about motivation for rehabilitation, 14 questions about physical therapy service environment, and 14 questions about patient satisfaction and intention to revisit. The detailed items in rehabilitation motivation consisted of 8 questions about task-oriented motivation, 7 questions about change-oriented motivation, 4 questions about obligatory motivation, 4 questions about external motivation, and 4 questions about intrinsic motivation, and in the physical therapy service environment, 4 questions about facility service and therapist service. , 6 questions, 4 questions about services used, 3 questions about friendliness, 4 questions about professionalism, 3 questions about treatment satisfaction, and 2 questions each about repeat visit and recommendation. Results : Facility service (r=.21) was highly correlated for task-oriented motivation, therapist service (r=.22) for change-oriented motivation, therapist service (r=.31) for mandatory motivation, therapist service (r=.19) for external motivation, and facility service (r=.56) for internal motivation. Revisit for task-oriented motivation (r=.47) is kind to change-oriented motives (r=-.13) was highly correlated with kindness (r=.19) for mandatory motives, recommendation (r=.14) for external motives, and expertise (r=.52) for internal motives. There was a high correlation between professionalism (r=.61) for facility services and kindness (r=.53) for therapist services, and revisit (r=.40) for service use. Conclusion : According to the results of this study, it was found that there was a correlation between patient satisfaction and rehabilitation motivation in a physical therapy environment.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.767-773
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• 2018

Three male patients diagnosed with surfer's myelopathy (19-30 years) were admitted to our hospital. All three patients were novice surfers showing a typical clinical course of rapid progression of paraplegia following the onset of back pain. Typical history and magnetic resonance imaging features indicated the diagnosis of surfer's myelopathy. Two patients received high-dose steroid therapy and the other was treated with induced hypertension. One patient treated with induced hypertension showed almost full recovery; however, two patients who received high-dose steroid therapy remained completely paraplegic and required catheterization for bladder and bowel dysfunction despite months of rehabilitation. Our case series demonstrates the potentially devastating neurological outcome of surfer's myelopathy; however, early recovery in the initial 24-72 hours of presentation can occur in some patients, which is in accordance with previous reports. Ischemic insult to the spinal cord is thought to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of surfer's myelopathy. Treatment recommendations include hydration, induced hypertension, early spinal angiography with intra-arterial intervention, intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, and high-dose steroid therapy; however, there is no standardized treatment option available. Early recovery appears to be important for long-term neurological outcome. Induced hypertension for initial treatment can be helpful for improving spinal cord perfusion; therefore, it is important for early and long-term neurological recovery. Education and awareness are essential for preventing surfer's myelopathy and avoiding further deterioration of neurological function.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2007

Stroke is a disease which results in impairment of body functions and affects everyday life. The ability of cerebral neurons to become reorganized and restore function after damage is called plasticity. Motor impairment typically appears contralateral to the affected cerebral hemisphere in patients with cerebral lesions. The authors report a case of a patient with hemiplegia ipsilateral to affected cerebral hemisphere, along with its conjectured mechanism.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2022

Purpose : The goal of this study is to examine the effect of robot assisted gait training (RAGT) on the kinematic factors (temporospatial gait parameters, gait cycle ratio, and gait line length) of gait in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects of this study were 24 stroke patients selected by inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups: robot assisted gait training (n=11) and general neurological physical therapy group (n=11). In the robot-assisted gait training group, robot-assisted gait training was mediated for 30 minutes a day in addition to general neurological physical therapy. The general neurological physical therapy group was mediated by general neurological physical therapy for 30 minutes a day in addition to general neurological physical therapy. The number of interventions was 5 times a week for 5 weeks. In order to compare the kinematic factors of walking between the two groups, gait analysis was performed before and after 5 weeks of training using the Zebris gait analysis system. Results : As a result of the gait analysis of the two groups, there were significant differences in temporospatial gait variables (step length, stride length, step width, step time, stride time), gait cycle ratio (swing phase, stance phase) and gait line length. However, there was no significant difference in the cadence (temporospatial gait parameters) in the robot assisted gait training group compared to general neurological physical therapy group. Conclusion : It is considered to be a useful treatment for stroke patients to promote the recovery of gait function in stroke patients. Based on the results of this study, continuous robot assisted gait training treatment is considered to have a positive effect on gait ability, the goal of stroke rehabilitation. In the future, additional studies should be conducted on many subjects of stroke patients, the kinematic factors of the legs according to the severity of stroke and treatment period, and the effect of gait training.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.85-99
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• 2003

Muscle tone is the force with which a muscle resists being lengthened. Muscle tone is often tested clinically by passively extending and flexing a relaxed patient's limbs and feeling the resistance offered by the muscle. Both nonneural and neural mechanism contribute to muscle tone. Muscle tone is the mechanisms that contribute to the generation of tone in individual muscles when a person is in a relaxed state. This background level of activity changes in a certain antigravity posture muscle when we stand upright, thus counteracting the force of gravity. This increased level of activity in antigravity muscles is known as postural tone. The evidence from experiments showing that lesions of the dorsal(sensory) roots of the spinal cord reduced muscle(postural) tone is influenced by inputs from the somatosensory system. Patients with neurological damage have several state of muscle(postural) tone, which display from flaccidity to rigidity. This review article deal with muscle tone and somatosensory system acting on this. The understanding about this contribute to a better therapeutic approach for the rehabilitation of patients to have an abnormal muscle(postural) tone due to neurological damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Central post-stroke pain (CPSP), a chronic pain condition of stroke patients, can impair activities of daily living and worsen the quality of life (QOL), thereby negatively influencing the rehabilitation process. However, CPSP remains an underestimated complication of stroke. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and types of new-onset chronic pain and to identify the relation between pain and QOL in stroke patients. METHODS: All patients hospitalized because of a diagnosis of stroke were included. Questionnaire was used. Pain intensity was measured using Numerical rating scale (NRS), and pain characteristics were assessed using DN4. QOL was measured using SF-36. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the characteristics and pain data, and chi-square test was used to compare QOL categorical data between the nociceptive and neurological pain groups. RESULTS: CPSP development was reported by 34% of the post-stroke pain patients. Perceived QOL was low in both groups, especially with respect to the physical functioning, bodily pain, physical-role functioning, emotional-role functioning, and mental health domains. However, no significant difference was observed in QOL between the nociceptive and neurological pain groups (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that CPSP is a common and disabling complication that is difficult to treat, often decreases QOL, and may negatively affect rehabilitation treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2018

Atypical facial pain is persistent facial pain in the absence of clinical neurological deficit. We experienced two patient who are diagnosed atypical facial pain with Classification of International Headache Society. They were treated by acupuncture at their cervical and facial region. After treatment, their Pain intensity numerical rating scale(PI-NRS) is decreased and EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire(EQ-5D) score is increased. Treatment of acupuncture at cervical and facial region could be effective for easing the clinical symptoms of atypical facial pain. Further studies are needed to find effective treatment for atypical facial pain.