• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2009

Background: To investigate the differences of locomotor dynamics between Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with tremor dominant symptom and patients with postural instability dominant symptom. Methods: 66 subjects with PD were classified into two subgroups, tremor-dominant group and postural instability and gait disorder group by Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS). The spatial, temporal and electrodynamic gait parameters were recorded automatically using computerized 3-D motion analysis system with electrogoniometer. Results: There was no significant difference in cadence, pelvic tilt range, hip flexion range, knee flexion range and ankle dorsiflexion range. Postural instability and gait disorder group showed decreased gait velocity, short stride length, decreased range of motion in pelvic obliquity, pelvic rotation and ankle plantar flexion. Conclusions: There was meaningful difference in locomotor dynamics between Parkinson's disease(PD) patients with tremor dominant symptom and patients with postural instability dominant symptom.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.11-17
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• 2008

Falls associated with tripping over an obstacle can be dangerous, yet little is known about the strategies used for stepping over obstacles by Parkinson's patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate stepping over gait characteristics according to obstacle height in Parkinson's patients. The gait of 7 Parkinson's patients was examined during a 5.0 m approach to, and while stepping over, obstacles of 0, 2.5, 5.2, and 15.2 cm. Only five Parkinson's patients were able to clear all obstacles successfully; as such, only their data were analyzed. A one-way ANOVA for repeated measures was employed for selected kinematic variables to analyze the differences of the height of four obstacles. The results showed significant differences between obstacle height and: approaching speed (AS), foot clearance from the obstacle(FC), and step width (SW). The results showed no significant differences between obstacle height and: crossing speed (CS), toe distance (TD), and heel distance (HD). This strategy tends to reduce the risk of toe contact with the obstacle. Parkinson's patients were stepping over the obstacle slowly, stably and inefficiently.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.351-356
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the gait characteristics in Parkinson's disease patients. Specifically, the total stance time and the ratio of each stance phase (heel strike, mid-stance, propulsion) are analyzed from the foot-pressure measurement system which requires low cost and small space compared to the conventional gait analysis system. The gait characteristics were analyzed in 23 Parkinson's disease patients (before and after L-dopa medication), 34 elderly (sixties) normal subjects and 21 young (twenties) normal subjects. Bradykinesia global score (self-developed score of slowness of body movement) of patients before medication was determined to see the relationship between the score and the gait characteristics. The total stance time was greater in the erde. of patients, elderly, youngs (p<0.05). The phase ratio of heel strike and propulsion was smaller and that of mid-stance was greater in the order of patients, elderly, youngs (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the above gait characteristics of patients before and after medication. There was a tendency, though statistically non-significant, that the total stance time is longer and the propulsion phase ratio is shorter in patients with greater Bradikinesia global scale, and this tendency was relieved after medication.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2016

Purpose: Music therapy is a non-pharmacological treatment of the behavioral and psychological symptoms. This study was conducted to contribute to the rehabilitation of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease in the areas of functionality, emotionality and sociability. Methods: The study included 35 participants, aged between 52 and 77 years, who were diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and reported suffering from depression, chronic illness anticipated stigma, and worrying about quality of life. The patients were recruited from the department of outpatient neurology at School of Medicine, D University in B Metropolitan City. Group music therapy was performed for nine weeks. The results were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results: In terms of stigma, there were significant differences between two groups and time (p<.05). Analysis of the interaction between time and service method revealed significant differences (p<.05). Between time, and the interaction between time and service method revealed significant differences in terms of quality of life (p<.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that group music therapy will be effective on the psychosocial well-being of patients with Parkinson's disease living in assisted and independent living communities.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.182-201
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• 2017

Objectives Gait disorders are incapacitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease(PD). Here, we report improvements of patients diagnosed with PD treated by Sasang Constitutional Medicine, focused on gait and balance analysis. Methods The patients diagnosed with PD were treated on the basis of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, and their stance and gait status were analyzed by zebris Medical GmbH. To evaluate other general symptoms related with PD, GAS scale, NRS scale, H&Y scale and UPDRS were used. Results Stride length, velocity, stance phase, lateral symmetry were improved in all 6 patients. Other symptoms related to Parkinson's disease were reduced, along with the improvements in GAS scale, NRS scale, H&Y scale and UPDRS score. Conclusion This case study showed Sasang Constitutional Medicine is effective in various symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Especially in regard to the stance and gait status, the improvements were assessed accurately with Gait analysis.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.80-82
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• 2005

Background: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is closely related to Lewy body pathology. Pathological changes in medullar oblongata and pontine tegmentum have been reported in patients with subclinical motor symptom. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is mediated by vestibular nuclei in lower brainstem and reflects the function of lower brainstem. The purpose of our study is to estimate the lower brainstem function in IPD patients. Methods: Ten patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease underwent VEMP test. The patients were divided into Hohn-Yahr (H-Y) stage I (unilateral motor involvement) group and H-Y stage II or more severe (bilateral motor involvement) group. VEMP results were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Among patients, 6 patients showed abnormal VEMP (unilateral abnormality 2, bilateral abnormalities 4). Between H-Y stage I group and H-Y II,III group, there was no statistical difference in the results of VEMP. Conclusions: We concluded that the lower brainstem dysfunction reflected in VEMP could occur in IPD regardless of the progression of the disease.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.21-28
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• 2007

Purpose: The aims of this study was to evaluate the effects of shoulder lateral rotation and trunk extension exercises on standing posture improvement exercises using turning round in the patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: For twenty-one patients with Parkinson's disease, shoulder lateral rotation and trunk extension exercises were performed for a total of three sets, ten times a set, three days a week for twelve weeks. To measure turning round, ink foot-print method was used. The number of steps and time were measured every week for before and after study (twelve weeks). Results: The results are as follows: Changes in steps and time on each week during twelve weeks showed significant differences, compared with before test(p<0.05). Conclusion: Standing posture improvement exercises can help perform turning round in the patients with Parkinson's disease.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2007

Objective : To report cases of patients with Parkinson's syndrome. Design : Case-series Patients and methods : 35 of patients with Parkinson's syndrome who visited Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases of Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center were treated by acupuncture and herbal medicine from May until December 2007. 35 patients were participated in this study. 21 patients were dropped out during the trial, and we evaluated symptom progress of 14 patients by using several questionnaires such as Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS), modified Hoehn & Yahr stage (H&Y stage) and Schwab & England ADL scale(S&E ADL scale). Results : The whole group consists of 14 male patients and 21 female patients. Mean±SD age range is 64.5±8.4. There were no significant differences of the demographic and clinical characteristics between the case group and drop-out group. The mean±SD medical treatment period of the Case group were 8.4±6.3weeks, the mean±SD of the total score in first medical treatment UPDRS section 1~3 were 29.6±11.0, the mean±SD of the final score were 27.1±12.6, all of which showed significant improvement(p=0.007). There were no significant changes on the H&Y stage and S&E ADL scale. Conclusion : Patients with Parkinson's syndrome who visited Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic diseases of Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center had a tendency of showing improvement in clinical symptoms.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the roles and function of family in mediating the relationship between depression and quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Most studies have found that depression is particularly common in patients with PD and further associated with poor quality of life. Family function, as a mediator, is based on a strength orientation perspective that emphasizes not only their responsibilities and risks but also recuperative powers and growth potential. Methods: Overall 157 adults with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were enrolled in this study via outpatient clinic and completed a set of assessment to measure depression using BDI, family APGAR questionnaire, and patients' quality of life using PDQ-8. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the mediating role of family APGAR score in the relationship between BDI and PDQ-8. Results: Patients' depression, gait disturbance, duration of illness, and family function were statistically significant on quality of life. These factors accounted for 60% of the variance in quality of life. Family function has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between depression and quality of life. Conclusion: Findings from the study suggest that although PD patients' depression impacts their quality of life, by having strong family function, the extent to which depression impacts the quality of life can be favorably mitigated. Additionally, these outcomes have important implications for future model development regarding PD patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.17-30
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was to analyse the reasons for the early termination of our clinical trials that were to know the influences of Tai-chi on non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Methods : We stopped the primary study of Tai-chi to observe the changes of non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. So we carried out the survey to our participants of clinical trials. We conducted the survey about the patient's characteristics of usual exercise, experience of Tai-chi, appropriate time allocation, difficulties of proceeding the program and patient's opinion for the improvement of education. And the 4 questions about the contributiveness of Tai-chi for the Parkinson's disease, usability of supplied references, difficulties and time allocation of education were using the questionaries form of 5-point scale(Likert scale). Results : The results of survey showed that the benefits of Tai-chi program for the improvement of symptoms was $3.15{\pm}0.89$ and difficulty of lecture was $3.76{\pm}1.09$. 41% of participants answered that the motions of the Tai-chi is difficult to follow and 17% of participants felt the imbalance during the motion of Tai-chi. Conclusions : Participants replied that the Tai-chi is hard for the patients of Parkinson's disease and the time for the education was too short to keep doing exercise. Thus we have plan to educate the patients of Parkinson's disease with Tai-chi program consists of easier motion by developing ourselves or searching previous studies.