• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 1999

The pelvic floor is a muscular structure, pierced by urologic, genital, and distal intestinal tract. Also pelvic floor is not a frozen but a functional unit. The pelvic floor dysfunction has 1) laxity of soft tissue and muscle 2)rupture of pelvic floor, 3)increased the tension. The purpose of this study is to give information about the pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic exercise. This investigate the pelvic floor structure and function, pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic floor exercise, and recent research trends. The pelvic floor exercise is one of important exercise in physical therapy, this exercise program will be improved patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.17-27
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• 2018

Background: This study investigated the effects of pelvic floor stabilization exercise of pain, disfunction, psychosocial, electromyography (EMG) activity on the lower back pain with postpartum. Methods: The study included 20 postpartum women who were randomly assigned to a sling exercise group (SEG, n=10) or a general physical therapy group (GPTG, n=10). Outcomes were assessed using to lower back pain with postpartum the quadruple visual analogue scale (QVAS), the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (KODI), the fear avoidance belief questionnaire (FABQ), the inventory of functional status after childbirth (IFSAC), the edinburgh postnatal depression scale-Korean (EPDS-K), and trunk muscle activity before and after a 4-week exercise intervention. Statistical analysis were performed using a mean, standard deviation, crosstab test, paired t-test, independent t-test. Kolmogorove-Smirnov test was used for test of normality. Results: Compared to the GPTG, the SEG showed significant improvement in the QVAS, KODI, FABQ, IFSAC, and EPDK-K scores (p<.05) after 4 weeks. Conclusion: Postpartum pelvic strengthening exercise proved to have a positive effect.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2015

Objective: Pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) form the base of the abdomino-pelvic cavity and also the PFMs function is important for urinary continence. PFMs training (PFMT) is considered to be the first method for PFM dysfunction. This study demonstrated correct PFMs contraction among commonly used different contraction methods for PFMT. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: In this study, nineteen middle-aged (40-70 years) women participated. To evaluate PFM function, ultrasonography was used to measure the distance of the bladder base movement. The distance of the PFM movements were calculated at rest and during the other contractions. The following four different contraction methods were performed randomly: (1) PFM contraction, (2) abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), (3) anal contraction, and (4) hip adductor muscle contraction. The participants held the contraction for 3 seconds for a total of 3 times with a 30 seconds rest period between each trial. The mean of three measurements in each position were obtained and compared with that in the resting position. Results: The bladder base movement values were significantly greater when comparing PFM with ADIM and hip adductor contractions (p<0.05). The bladder base movement values were significantly greater when comparing ADIM and anal contractions with hip adductor contractions (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that performing PFM contractions is the best method among the common methods for PFMT. Performing PFM contractions was more effective than the other contraction methods.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2020

Objective: Using biofeedback in instructing pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activation is a great method to provide information on muscle contraction. This study aimed to determine the immediate effectiveness of a mobile game-based instruction with an extracorporeal biofeedback device (EBD) to improve PFM contraction in healthy subjects. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Sixteen healthy subjects (4 men and 12 nulliparous women; age, 31±5 years) were enrolled. The subjects were randomly categorized into two groups, those who were to receive instructions on how to contract the PFM by using the EBD (n=7) and those who were to undergo a transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS; n=9) with biofeedback. PFM function was measured as the displacement (mm) of PFM elevation by using the TAUS before and after the instructions in each group. Results: The EBD and TAUS groups showed a significant increase in the displacement of PFM elevation after the instructions from 5.93±4.03 mm to 7.62±3.77 mm and from 5.27±3.39 mm to 7.47±2.79 mm, respectively (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that instructions for PFM contraction using the EBD and TAUS showed an immediate effect; however, no significant difference in effectiveness was observed between the two instruction methods. Therefore, not only can the TAUS method be used but the EBD method can also be used as a PFM instruction method for noninvasive procedures. However, further studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of training and exercise on larger sample sizes that includes patient populations with PFM dysfunction.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.26-31
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• 2015

Objectives: This study used semiology based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to investigate vital energy (Qi) behavior in women with abdominal myofascial pain syndrome (AMPS). Methods: Fifty women diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) secondary to AMPS were evaluated by using a questionnaire based on the theories of "yin-yang," "zang-fu", and "five elements". We assessed the following aspects of the illness: symptomatology; specific location of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs); onset, cause, duration and frequency of symptoms; and patient and family history. The patients tongues, lips, skin colors, and tones of speech were examined. Patients were questioned on various aspects related to breathing, sweating, sleep quality, emotions, and preferences related to color, food, flavors, and weather or seasons. Thirst, gastrointestinal dysfunction, excreta (feces and urine), menstrual cycle, the five senses, and characteristic pain symptoms related to headache, musculoskeletal pain, abdomen, and chest were also investigated. Results: Patients were between 22 and 56 years old, and most were married (78%), possessed a elementary school (66%), and had one or two children (76%). The mean body mass index and body fat were 26.86 kg/cm2 (range: 17.7 - 39.0) and 32.4% (range: 10.7 - 45.7), respectively. A large majority of women (96%) exhibited alterations in the kidney meridian, and 98% had an altered gallbladder meridian. We observed major changes in the kidney and the gallbladder Qi meridians in 76% and 62% of patients, respectively. Five of the twelve meridians analyzed exhibited Qi patterns similar to pelvic innervation Qi and meridians, indicating that the paths of some of these meridians were directly related to innervation of the pelvic floor and abdominal region. Conclusion: The women in this study showed changes in the behavior of the energy meridians, and the paths of some of the meridians were directly related to innervation of the pelvic floor and abdominal region.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The current generation has shortened hamstrings due to a sedentary lifestyle, resulting in reduced flexibility of the hamstring and dysfunction. This study was undertaken to compare effects of three different release exercises on hamstring flexibility, in participants with short hamstrings. METHODS: Totally, 20 subjects having short hamstrings were involved in this study. The inclusion criterion for study participation was active knee extension test (AKET) less than 60°. All participants were subjected to 3 methods: hamstring foam roller release (HFRR), sitting self myofascial release (sitting SMR), and standing self myofascial release (Standing SMR). All participants randomly performed all three methods to avoid bias caused by learning or fatigue. Passive knee extension test (PKET), AKET, finger to floor distance test (FTFT), and pelvic tilting angle test (PTAT) were measured pre- and post-exercises. RESULTS: The PKET, AKET and FTFT were significantly increased after HFRR, sitting SMR, and standing SMR exercise (p < .05). However, PTAT was not significantly increased after the three exercises (p > .05). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between PKET, AKET, FTFT and PTAT subsequent to HFRR, sitting SMR, and standing SMR (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that HFRR, sitting SMR and standing SMR were immediately effective in improving hamstring flexibility in participants with short hamstrings.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.198-201
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• 2015

Using Arduino with a pressure sensor to create an interest in modern health care program is aimed. Currently, Korea is estimated that there are 4.2 million people in total incontinence. Through the convergence of Bio Technology and InformationTechnology these patients it is easy and simple to induce urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction treatment, etc., and to prevent the most effective pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel exercises below). The Kegel medical equipments which are currently sold in the market make users exercise by giving electrical stimulations compulsively. Users need to take off their bottoms and take the Femcon therapy in a closed room. This causes various restrictions of time, space and hygiene. This thesis designs a Kegel medical equipment which combines BT and IT, free form restraint in regard to space and hygiene, without the need to take off bottoms.