• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic and kinetic changes that may occur in the pelvic and spine regions during cross-legged sitting postures. Experiments were performed on sixteen healthy subjects. Data were collected while the subject sat in 4 different sitting postures for 5 seconds: uncrossed sitting with both feet on the floor (Posture A), sitting while placing his right knee on the left knee (Posture B), sitting by placing right ankle on left knee (Posture C), and sitting by placing right ankle over the left ankle (Posture D). The order of the sitting posture was random. The sagittal plane angles (pelvic tilt, lumbar A-P curve, thoracic A-P curve) and the frontal plane angles (pelvic obliquity, lumber lateral curves, thoracic lateral curves) were obtained using VICON system with 6 cameras and analyzed with Nexus software. The pressure on each buttock was measured using Tekscan. Repeated one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the angle and pressure across the four postures. The Bonferroni's post hoc test was used to determine the differences between upright trunk sitting and cross-legged postures. In sagittal plane, cross-legged sitting postures showed significantly greater kyphotic curves in lumbar and thoracic spine when compared uncrossed sitting posture. Also, pelvic posterior tilting was greater in cross-legged postures. In frontal plane, only height of the right pelvic was significantly higher in Posture B than in Posture A. Finally, in Posture B, the pressure on the right buttock area was greater than Posture A and, in Posture C, the pressure on the left buttock area was greater than Posture A. However, all dependent variables in both planes did not demonstrate any significant difference among the three cross-legged postures (p>.05). The findings suggest that asymmetric changes in the pelvic and spine region secondary to the prolonged cross-legged sitting postures may cause lower back pain and deformities in the spine structures.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.93-100
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to measure abdominal muscle thickness when Pelvic Floor contraction (PFC) and Abdominal Drawing-In Maneuver (ADIM) were separately applied and combined exercise was applied and to compare the effects of the exercise. After the pre-investigation, the subjects were given a explanation of the purpose and the method of the research and then an experiment was conducted targeting a total of 30 subjects, who voluntarily agreed with this. Thicknesses of internal oblique (IO), transverse abdominis (TrA) and external oblique (EO) were measured during a break and then three types of exercise. All the measured values of the experiment were processed using Repeated measure ANOVA, and Bonferroni method was applied. As a result, the three types of exercise showed significant differences in thicknesses of IO, TrA and EO. In conclusion, the subjects had the thickest muscles and muscular activity increased during PFC+ADIM, compared to PFC and ADIM.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.51-60
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• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) on an unstable support surface on maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), and abdominal muscle thickness as a method for effective PFME. Methods : This study was performed on 22 subjects. They were matched and divided into two groups based on body mass index; the experimental group (EG) performed PFME on a foam roller (n= 11), the control group (CG) performed PFME on a stable support surface (n= 11). Kegel exercise was performed with 10 seconds of contraction, 10 seconds of relaxation, and 4 sets of 10 reps per set. Both of group executed the exercise 3 times a week for 2 weeks. MIP and MEP was measured using a spirometer. Abdominal muscle thickness was measured using ultrasound. The paired t-test was used to compare difference on each group and the comparison between groups was analyzed using the independent t-test. A significance level of α= .05 was used to verify statistical significance. Results : The EG showed a significant increase in the MEP (p<.05). The CG showed a significant increase in the MEP (p<.05). There was no significant difference in the two groups (p>.05). The EG showed a significant increase in the external oblique, internal oblique and transverse abdominis (p<.05). The CG showed a significant increase in the internal oblique (p<.05). There was no significant difference in the two groups (p>.05). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, additional research should be conducted to correct the limitations of this study to confirm that PFME performed on a foam roller has a positive effect on respiratory muscle strength and abdominal muscle thickness.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2003

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of EMG biofeedback and pelvic floor electrical stimulation in the stress urinary incontinence patients by Kontinence HMT2000. Materials and Methods: A group of 14 patients with stress urinary incontinence were treated with combined biofeedback and intravaginal electrical stimulation during 12 sessions from 2 weeks to 6 weeks. Results: At immediate post treatment, subjective cure rate was 28% and improvement rate was 57% and failure rate was 15%. Thus the overall success rate for this treatment was 85%. The result of 3 months after treatment showed cure rate 14% and improvement rate was 43%. Intravaginal pressure increased by an average of 11.9 cmH2O. Increased vaginal pressure was found in 93% of the patients and more than 50% increment of intravaginal pressure was 71%. Conclusions: Combined biofeedback and pelvic floor electrical stimulation by use of Kontinence HMT2000 is effective for the patients who have good compliance, relative low degree stress urinary incontinence. In order to attain good results, a well structured program that teaches specific muscle exercise and the patients should be followed by regular interval reinforcement treatment.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.406-417
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of Telephone-enforced Preoperative Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise (TP-PFME) for prostate cancer patients on Urinary Incontinence (UI), Urinary Function (UF) related satisfaction, depression, and Quality of Life (QoL). Methods: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design was used with 85 participants. The two experimental groups (EG) began the PFME protocol two weeks prior to surgery. The subjects in the EG I received telephone calls to reinforce the PFME protocol. The comparison group began the PFME protocol after their surgery. Data were analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 21.0 using descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, One-way ANOVA, Fisher's exact test, and Repeated measures ANOVA. Results: EG I showed higher performance of PFME at one (p=.001) and three months (p=.015) after surgery than the comparison group. Comparison group showed significantly more severe UI at one (p=.002) and three months (p=.006) after surgery and reported lower UF related satisfaction than EG I at one month after surgery (p=.015). Participants in both experimental groups reported higher QoL scores (p=.001) at three months following surgery than those in the comparison group. There were no significant differences in depression among the three groups. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that preoperative TP-PFME was effective in decreasing the perceived severity of UI as well as increasing UF related satisfaction and QoL.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of abdominal muscle contraction thickness using real-time ultrasound imaging while applying an abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) and pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFC) to low back pain patients and healthy subjects. Methods: The subjects were 21 young adults; a group of 10 low back pain patients and a control group of 11 healthy subjects. Measurements were made with the subjects on a pillow in a supine position, with the knee joints flexed at 60 degrees. While the two groups conducted ADIM and PFC, their transverse abdominal muscle (TrA), internal abdominal oblique muscle (IO), and external abdominal oblique muscle (EO) thicknesses were measured using an ultrasound imaging system. Result: The TrA muscle contraction thickness ratio during PFC and ADIM was significantly lower in the low back pain group than in the healthy group (p<0.05). The EO muscle contraction thickness ratio during ADIM was also significantly lower in the low back pain group than in the healthy group. The healthy group's muscle contraction thickness ratio was significantly lower during PFC than during ADIM in the TrA, IO, and EO (p<0.05). The low back pain group's muscle contraction thickness ratio was lower during PFC than during ADIM in the TrA, IO, and EO, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that oral direction during ADIM induced an appropriate contraction of the TrA. Therefore, the procedure reported here may be applied during rehabilitation for appropriate contraction of the TrA.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2021

Background: To determine the benefit of pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) with visual biofeedback on promoting patient recovery from incontinence, we investigated variables associated with the early restoration of continence for patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Methods: Of the 83 patients enrolled, 41 consecutive patients completed PFME (the exercise group), and the other 42 consecutive patients just before the PFME program commenced (the control group). The primary outcome was whether PFME engagement was associated with zero pad continence restoration within 3 months of surgery. Results: Continence restoration percentages (defined as zero pads used per day) at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery were 49.4%, 77.1%, and 94.0%, respectively. The exercise group achieved significantly higher recovery rates at 1 month (p=0.037), 3 months (p<0.001), and 6 months (p=023). Cox regression analysis demonstrated that a lower Gleason score (<8; hazard ratio [HR], 2.167), lower prostate specific antigen (<20 ng/dL; HR, 2.909), and engagement in PFME (HR, 3.731) were independent predictors of early recovery from postprostatectomy incontinence. Stratification by age showed that those younger than 65 years did not benefit significantly from exercise (log-rank test, p=0.08), but that their elderly counterparts, aged 65-70 years (p=0.007) and >70 years old (p=0.002) benefited significantly. Conclusion: This study suggests that postoperative engagement in PFME with biofeedback speeds up the recovery of continence in elderly patients (≥65 years old) that undergo RARP.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.515-524
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• 2017

Purpose: The study was undertaken to see whether the culturally sensitive education for perinatal care using a face to face approach improves understanding of spouse's culture, knowledge of pregnancy and parenting skills, and self-efficacy among Korean husbands and Vietnamese wives. Methods: This study has a pre- and post-test study design conducted in a total of 13 couples who live in Seoul and agreed to participate. The education program consisted of lecture and hands on practice. The self-administered questionnaires and the checklist developed based on the educational purpose were used to assess the education effects. Results: The knowledge scores on Korean/Vietnamese culture, pregnancy and parenting skills as well as the performance scores on hand washing, pelvic strengthening, feedings and newborn bathing techniques were significantly improved in both husbands and wives after education, but pelvic floor exercises were improved only in wives. Conclusion: Overall, the individual education for culturally sensitive perinatal care was effective in our study participants.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1-22
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. Methods: For relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we searched the following databases from their inception to September 1, 2020: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), and National Digital Science Library (NDSL). The key search terms were 'stress urinary incontinence' and 'moxibustion'. Data extraction and assessment of risk of bias were conducted by two authors independently. Results: A total of 11 RCTs were finally included in this systematic review. In all studies, moxibustion treatment was applied as an adjuvant therapy to the conventional treatment, and the most common conventional treatment was pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). The treatment group (conventional treatment plus moxibustion) showed statistically more significant effect than the control group (conventional treatment only) in various evaluation indicators including urinary incontinence frequency, 1 hour urine pad test, quality of life, the clinical efficacy rate, and pelvic muscle strength. Conclusions: In this study, we investigated the efficacy of moxibustion as an adjuvant therapy for female SUI patients. Further studies are needed to supplement the safety of moxibustion and the evaluation of moxibustion dose.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2023

Traumatic uterine rupture is uncommon but can be fatal and life-threatening for both the mother and infant. In addition to complications caused by trauma itself, such as pelvic fracture, gestational complications such as placental abruption, abortion, premature labor, rupture of membranes, maternal death, and stillbirth can occur. In particular, fetuses have been reported to have a high mortality rate in cases of traumatic uterine rupture. A 35-year-old pregnant female patient fell from the fourth floor and was admitted to our trauma center. We observed large hemoperitoneum, pelvic fractures, and spleen laceration, and the fetus was presumed to be located outside the uterus. The pregnant woman was hemodynamically unstable. Although the fetus was stillborn, angioembolization and surgical treatment were properly performed through collaboration with an interventional radiologist, obstetrician, and trauma surgeons. After two orthopedic operations, the patient was discharged after 34 days. This case report suggests the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of pregnant trauma patients.