• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2016

Background: Rasch analysis estimates the probability that a respondent will endorse an item and select a particular rating for that item. It has the advantage of placing both the items and the person along a single ration scale and calibrates person ability and item difficulty onto an interval scale by logits. In addition, Rasch analysis is a useful tool for exploring the validity of questionnaires that have been developed using traditional methods. Therefore, it has been recommended as a method for developing and evaluating functional outcome measures. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the item fit, item difficulty, and rating scale of the Korean version of the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale (KFAB) using Rasch analysis. Methods: Total 97 subjects (39 males and 58 females) with dwelling elderly adults were participated, but 3 people were excluded for misfit persons. Rasch analysis was then done by means of the Winsteps program to determine the item fit, item difficulty, rating scale, and reliability of the KFAB. Results: In this study, the 'standing with feet together and eyes closed', 'two-footed jump', 'walk with head turns', and 'stand on foam, eyes closed' items shown misfit statistics. The most difficult item was 'stand on one leg', whereas the easiest item was 'turn in full circle'. The rating scale was acceptable with all criteria. Both item and person separation indices and reliability showed acceptable values. This would indicated that each domain covers a useful range of item difficulty that is appropriate for measuring a person with a wide range of functional ability. Conclusion: The KFAB has been proven reliable, valid and an appropriate tool with which to evaluate the balance of the elderly people.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1036-1041
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• 1999

Background: To know the clinical aspects of varicose vein and the effectiveness of operative treatment, the patients who had been operated during the five and a half years were reviewed. Material and Method: From September 1993 to February 1999, 227 patients with varicose vein were operated upon. These patients were reviewed with history taking, physical examination, laboratory tests, operation and follow up visits at an out patient department. Result: The ages of the patients were from 20 to 69 years, mean 40.2 years. varicose veins. Occupations of the patients include housewives, store or factory owners, cooks, waiter or waitresses in a restaurant, salary men(women), teachers, hair stylists, professional athletes, in sequence, most of them require standing all day long. The 126 women had experienced child birth, among them 116 patients delivered more than 2 babies. All patients had protruding leg veins as the symptom. Most of them(61%) had pain. Other additional symptoms were heaviness, heatness, tingling, cramp, fatigue, etc. 68.3% of the patients had the symptoms for more than 10 years. Anatomical location of varicose vein was in long saphenous vein in 157 patients, in small saphenous vein in 27, and in other regions(combined or perforating vein) in 43 patients. There was no operative mortality. There were 2 patients who underwent reoperation due to recurrence during this study period. In one patient, it recurred in the distal perforating vein in small saphenous vein. The other patient had recurrence at the saphenofemoral junction in groin. The patients are doing well after the reoperation, but a long term observation is needed. Conclusion: Clinical aspects of varicose vein were reviewed. For the patients with varicose vein who had saphenofemoral regurgitation, operative treatment seemed to bea safe and effective modality of treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.173-188
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• 2003

The two groups each consisting of 28 people who had an adult hemiplegia due to a brain injury received two different methods of exercises to reduce the angle to which the affected lower limb rotates externally. The comparisons between the two groups were made for the changes of the angle in external rotations measured between pre and post test. The static balance index values taken during pre and post tests were also compared. In addition, the correlations of the angle to which the affected lower limb rotates externally with static balance index values were analyzed. The result were as follows: 1. A statistical analysis indicated that in group one having taken simple R.O.M exercises, the angle to which the affected lower limb rotates externally and the static balance index values were both significantly different between pre and post test (P<.01). 2. A statistical analysis indicated that in group two having taken a pattern movement, both the angle to which the affected lower limb rotates externally and static balance index values were significantly different between pre and post test (P<.01). 3. A significant difference between simple R.O.M exercises group and pattern movement exercises groupwas shown only for the angle to which affected limb rotates externally not for static balance index values (P<.01), 4. Pearson correlation coefficient for the angle to which the affected limb rotates externally with static balance index values was found to be significant only in pattern movement exercises group (P < .05).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the relationship between the severity of radiographic features and pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Seventy-eight subjects (14 men, 64 women) with KOA, between the ages of 41 and 83 years (mean age, 61.29 years), were included. All the subjects diagnosed with KOA were scored for severity of radiographic KOA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) grade, visual analogue scale (VAS), knee joint range of motion (ROM), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), maximum muscle power (MMP), and sit-to-stand (STS) and one-leg standing (OLS) tests. Associations among the K/L grade, diagnosis, pain, and function were examined by correlation analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the K/L grade, and the VAS, STS test time, and WOMAC scores (p>.05). There were no significant differences between the K/L grade, bilateral ROM, MMP, and left OLS test time (p>.05). However, there was a significant difference between the K/L grade and right OLS test time (p<.05). The K/L grade was negatively correlated with the left OLS test time(r=-.24, p<.05) and with the right OLS test time (r=-.307, p<.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that radiographic KOA was not associated with pain, knee MMP, ROM, and STS test time, but had a weak negative correlation with OLS test time.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.36-44
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• 2013

This study aimed to investigate the influence of shoe heel height and muscle fatigue on static and dynamic balance in young women. Thirty women who were used to wearing high heels volunteered to participate in this study. The shoe heel heights were 0 cm and 7 cm. And ankle plantar flexor fatigue was experimentally induced. Static and dynamic balance were measured using the one leg standing test (OLST) and the star excursion balance test (SEBT) in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions, respectively. Values in the OLST (shoe heel height 0 cm, $28.83{\pm}3.24$ sec to $26.12{\pm}6.13$ sec; and 7 cm, $24.75{\pm}7.09$ sec to $16.86{\pm}9.32$ sec) and the SEBT in anterior (shoe heel height 0 cm, $71.02{\pm}4.57%$ to $69.50{\pm}3.66%$; and 7 cm, $64.17{\pm}3.53%$ to $59.61{\pm}4.06%$) and posteromedial (shoe heel height 0 cm, $92.01{\pm}5.61%$ to $90.38{\pm}7.10%$; and 7 cm, $83.09{\pm}7.29%$ to $76.83{\pm}9.28%$) directions were significantly reduced when fatigue-inducing exercise was performed (p<.05). Furthermore, within these parameters, there were significant interaction effects between shoe heel height and fatigue condition (p<.05). These findings suggest that shoe heel height and muscle fatigue contribute to some changes in static and dynamic balance in young women, probably leading to negative effects on physical function during a variety of activities of daily living.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to compare the balance and gait between fallers and non-fallers in elderly. A brief questionnaire was used to obtain the fall history. Twenty-seven women subjects were evaluated in this study. Eleven subjects and a mean age of 84.5 years (SD=4.6) were designated as the faller group. Sixteen subjects and a mean age of 80.3 years (SD=5.3) were designated as the non-faller group. The fall-related factors (mental status, balance, range of motion and muscle strength of lower extremity, sensation of foot, and cadence, walking velocity, stride length) were compared between faller group and non-faller group and measured. The results showed that faller group had significantly less range of motion of the hip flexion and knee extension, and strength of the knee extensor and ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor than non-faller group. The scores of the Functional reach test and One leg standing were significantly less in faller group than in non-faller group. Faller group showed less walking velocity and stride length compared to non-faller group. However, there was no significant difference in cadence during comfortable waking and fast walking between two groups. There were no significant differences in pressure, position sensory between two groups. These results suggest that exercise for improving the flexibility, muscle strength of the lower extremity and balance may be useful strategies to prevent fall in elderly. Further studies are needed to identify which specific factors are related to fall in the elderly population.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.716-723
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in blood velocity(mm/sec) when compression and/or heat were applied to the knee joint for the elderly who has both normal and painful legs with osteoarthritis(OA). Experimental compression knee band was prepared from the 3D knee data of the average women in 60's. 3D replica of knee was reduced by 7, 10, and 13% from the nude pattern in course direction. Clothing pressure was measured at the front and back of each healthy and painful knee of elderly women for one minute while standing and sitting on the chair. Blood velocity was measured at 13 cm upper from the mid-patella for 15 minutes. Results are as follows: first, compression or heating treatment itself did not change blood velocity of both legs; second, combination treatment with heating and compression was effective to increase blood velocity. In details, for healthy legs, combination treatments with compression by 10% reduced pattern(about 1.3kPa) and heating($43^{\circ}C$) induced the maximal blood velocity, however, for knees with OA, 7% reduced pattern(about 1.0kPa) with simultaneous heating($43^{\circ}C$) was more effective than other cases. These results indicated that pain and spasticity of knee joint with OA could be reduced by applying heat and compression therapy, where the compression level of painful knee should be slightly lower than of healthy leg.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2013

Background: This study was conducted to provide preventive measure for the musculoskeletal disorders in automobile parts manufacturing workers. Method: The author surveyed to the musculoskeletal symptoms prevalence and its related factors from 10th to 17th April 2011 with structured self administered questionnaires. 223 out of 225 collected questionnaires were used for final analysis, excluding 2 questionnaires with no valid response. Based on the diagnostic criteria of NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational and Health), an investigation was made into the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms as well as into the factors related to individual items. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms according to the criteria of NIOSH was the highest in the shoulder (52.9%), followed by the neck (39.%), the hand/wrist (35%), the waist (29.6%), the arm/elbow (24.7%), and the leg/food (23.8%). One-way analysis showed that among general characteristics, age was the musculoskeletal risk factor with the greatest effect. Whereas among work-related characteristics, significant risk factor didn't find. Yet it was shown that among ergonomic work postures, high degree of musculoskeletal risk was shown by the posture involving frequent and repetitive movement of the arm and the hand/wrist and also by the posture involving standing for a long time. Multiple regression analysis showed that musculoskeletal risk was 1.795 times higher in those age 50 and over than in those under age 50; 1.67 times higher in the high risk stress group than in the low risk stress group; and 1.131 higher in the group involving the repetitive use of the hand/arm than in the other groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The prevalence and stress score of automobile parts manufacturing workers were higher than other occupation workers. Among general characteristics, drinking and smoking were shown to be related to stress score; while age was shown to have significant effect on musculoskeletal risk.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

Purpose: This study examines the effects of elastic band of resistance exercise for balance control of the elderly. Methods: Thirty of eighty participants in experiment subjects who demonstrated balance-impairment through the use of primary screening tests including the one leg standing test (OLST), functional reach test (FRT) and timed up and go (TUG) were selected as subjects. Fifteen subjects that underwent muscle-strengthening exercise using an elastic band were selected as the exercise group and fifteen subjects were selected as a control group. Subjects undertook a home-based exercise program three times per week for 9 weeks. Muscle strength, functional assessment and a balance test were quantitatively measured before and after the exercise regimen. Results: After muscle strengthening exercises, changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) showed a significant increase in all of the lower extremity muscles of the exercise group subjects. There were statistically significant differences between the exercise and control groups for changes in the OLST, FRT and TUG, which are functional assessments of balance ability, and changes of the unit path length and circumference area, measurement items of quantitative analysis. In addition, from examining correlations between MVIC, balance ability, it was found that an increase of muscle strength in the hip joint group of muscles among the lower extremity muscles had greater improvement in correlation with balance ability in this elderly population. Conclusion: Resistance exercise using elastic bands had significant effects on muscle strengthening in elderly subjects, with a resultant increase of lower extremity muscle strength with significant improvement of balance ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of Nordic walking on depression and the physical function of elderly patients with a high risk of depression. METHODS: This study was a blinded randomized allocation study; 32 elderly were assigned to a Nordic walking group (n = 17), consisting of 60 min Nordic walking (including warming up 5 min, warming down 5 min, and Nordic walking 50 min) two days per week for 12 weeks and general leisure group (n = 15), consisting of 60 min leisure program community center. The pre and post 12-week program, depression test, muscle strength (including grip test, and 30sec sit to stand), and balance (including Functional Reach test, and One Leg Standing test) were measured. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare within the group, and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare between the groups. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, only the Nordic walking group showed significant improvement in depression, muscle strength, and balance (p < .05). In the general leisure group, however, the left grip strength and Functional Reach Test (FRT) showed a significant decrease. The Nordic walking program was better than the general leisure group, and a significant difference was observed in depression, muscle strength, and balance between the two groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Nordic walking was effective for the elderly with a high risk of depression. Therefore, Nordic walking may be an option for preventing elderly mental disorders and functional improvement.