• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.289-303
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• 2024

Purpose: In this study, 100 stroke patients and 205 physical therapists were surveyed to determine the essential functions needed in the rehabilitation process of stroke patients. Methods: This study involved 100 stroke patients and 205 physical therapists. Sixteen functions suggested in the previous study as necessary in the rehabilitation process of stroke patients were selected, and a revised questionnaire was prepared and distributed to several institutions. A frequency analysis of the collected data was conducted to aggregate the functions required in rehabilitation, and a scoring process was used to determine their ranking among the 16 functions. Results: The functions required in the rehabilitation process, as selected by stroke patients, were ranked as follows: walking, toileting, eating, using products and technology for communication, and washing oneself. The functions required in the rehabilitation process, as selected by physical therapists, were ranked as follows: muscle power functions, maintaining body position, muscle tone functions, attention functions, and walking. Conclusion: The results of the study confirm the importance of an agreed goal between the stroke patient and the therapist regarding the functions required for the rehabilitation. This understanding plays a significant role in achieving the patient's expectations and the therapist's predicted performance, thereby providing reassurance and confidence in the impact of the research.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.23-36
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aims to define the relationships between the sensory, cognitive and physical functions of young-old and old-old individuals. Methods: Participants were 10,451 elderly individuals aged 65 and above, raw data of a 2014 National Survey on Korean Older Persons was used. To investigate the relationships among the sensory, cognitive, and physical functions, a structural equation model was used. Results: The key analysis results are summarized as follows; 5% had poor vision function(young-old 3.5%, old-old 7.1%), 3.8% had poor auditory function(young-old 1.7%, old-old 6.7%), 33.0% had decline in cognitive function(young-old 30.9%, old-old 35.7%), 3.6% were disabled(young-old 1.6%, old-old 6.3%) and cognitive function influences physical function more greatly than does sensory function. Additionally, in the young-old groups, vision among sensory functions, attention among cognitive functions, and IADL among physical functions, turned out to be the most influential. However, in the old-old groups, auditory function among sensory functions, orientation among cognitive functions, and IADL among physical functions, turned out to be the most influential. Conclusions: This study implies that functions in the young-old and old-old individuals must be considered with all three functions-sensory, cognitive, and physical-together at the same time and that this comprehensive approach is necessary in national policy making.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.618-627
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• 2007

As our society progresses rapidly toward an aged society, there is a stiff increase in the population of the aged persons who have difficulties in adjusting themselves to environments due to declines of their physical functions. Therefore, there is a great need for the concept of 'Universal Design' that demands the design of overall social structure to care for the elderly. Due to this reason, the physical function of the aged persons should thoroughly be studied for the development of rehabilitation and training equipments to help the recovery of physical functions of the elderly. Among the variety of physical functions of the elderly, visual functions, motion characteristics, hearing functions, and somatosensory functions have significant influence toward everyday lives and are physical functions to study for the construction of urgently needed physical function databases of the elderly. This study concentrates on visual functions among the variety of physical functions of the elderly. To measure various visual functions of the elderly, a measurement room for the elderly has been developed, which can mimic everyday lives and perform measurements of visual functions with subjects in seated position. The measurement items for the construction of the database were capabilities in everyday vision according to changes in arrangement of colors and light intensity and capabilities in everyday vision, color distinction, dark adaptation, and light glare against changes in contrast.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2009

Purpose: The physical deficits after stroke have been well documented, but there is little information on the sexual functions of stroke patients. This study examined the associations of the general characteristics with the poststroke changes in sexual functions. Methods: A survey was conducted on 200 stroke patients from November 2008 to February 2009. Among the 200 submitted questionnaires, 147 responded, and the results were analyzed by SPSS for windows version 14.0. Results: A majority of the stroke patients reported a marked decline in all the measured sexual functions, i.e., frequency of sexual intercourse, frequency of kissing and romantic touching, thinking about sex with interest or desire, ability to become sexually aroused and the overall level of sexual satisfaction. Significant differences were observed in age (p<0.01), years since diagnosis (p<0.05), and educational level (p<0.01). There were no significant gender differences (p>0.05). Conclusion: Decreased sexual function is a common problem after stroke. These finding demonstrate a need to develop sexual adaptation programs that can be effective in improving the sexual functions reported by stroke patients.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.188-198
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• 2013

Advancement toward aging society has presented the importance of house planning in consideration of the elderly, increasing the necessity of such planning. Therefore the importance of indoor design guideline for elderly houses has been stressed and the understanding of the aging in regard to this trend will create more mature spaces. In line with this trend the purpose of this study is to study the medical factors related with bathroom interior design guidelines of the existing elderly houses from the viewpoint of deteriorating physical functions due to aging process. In order to research the deterioration of physical functions due to aging literatures of medical and exercise physiology were used and concerning the existing bathroom design guidelines for the aged people, the guideline items of behavior facilitation, physiological maintenance and perceptual maintenance aspects out of Murtha & Lee's user benefit criteria(1976) related with physical functions were selected to research in relation with the knowledge about the deterioration phenomena of physical functions. Physical aging and deterioration aspects were classified from the viewpoint of musculoskeletal disorder, cardiovascular disorder, respiratory disorder, gastronomy disorder, urology disorder, somatosensory disorder, endocrine disorder, immune disorder, nervous disorder and skin diseases and these were utilized in interpreting total 100 items of bathroom design guideline. Because bathroom is the space where many physical movements are done, it had the closest relationship with the deterioration of musculoskeletal health in general and as bathroom is the space where people use water and feel the difference in temperature and moisture more than other spaces, deterioration of skin and somatosensory health had the next closest relationship. The result of this study revealed that regarding the deterioration of physical functions of the elderly people in aspect of their perceptibility as designers will design creatively and sincerely based on its relationship with nervous system in future, the result of this study will be used to develop better spatial designs efficiently to meet for the aging society.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.292-296
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of modified cervical exercise on respiratory functions in smartphone users with forward head posture. Methods: Thirty-three smartphone users with forward head posture participated in this study. Subjects were divided into three groups that performed modified cervical exercise one time a day (A group), two times a day (B group), and three times a day (C group). All subjects performed the exercise for four weeks, during which time respiratory functions were measured. Results: There were significant differences in respiratory functions such as forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, and maximal voluntary ventilation in the C group after four weeks (p<0.05). Moreover, the forced vital capacity differed among groups, and the post hoc test revealed a significant difference between A group and C group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that modified cervical exercise improved respiratory functions in smartphone users with forward head posture. These findings indicate that smartphone users with forward head posture should perform modified cervical exercise to build correct posture and respiratory functions.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.38
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• pp.4.1-4.6
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• 2016

Background: Most cases of facial asymmetry involve yaw deformity, and determination of the yaw correction level is very difficult. Methods: We use three-dimensional soft tissue simulation to determine the yaw correction level. This three-dimensional simulation is based on the addition of cephalometric prediction to gradual yaw correction. Optimal yaw correction is determined visually, and an intermediate splint is fabricated with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. Application of positioning devices and the performance of horseshoe osteotomy are advisable. Results: With this procedure, accurate repositioning of jaws was confirmed and patients obtained fairly good facial contour. Conclusions: This procedure is a promising method for a widespread, predictable treatment of facial asymmetry.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of mirror-neuron-system-based action observation physical training on improvements in upper extremity functions and daily living activities in chronic stroke patients. Methods: Ten chronic stroke patients were randomly selected. As a therapeutic intervention, along with conventional occupational therapy, the patients engaged in action observation physical training through repeated imitation practices after they viewed a video. The therapeutic intervention was implemented for 20 minutes, three times each week for eight weeks. A Manual Function Test (MFT) was conducted to compare upper extremity functions before and after the therapeutic intervention, and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) was used to compare the ability to perform daily living activities. Results: Significant improvements in upper extremity motor functions and the ability to perform daily living activities were shown after the intervention. The subjects' left upper extremity motor functions and ability to perform daily living activities showed significant improvement after the intervention. Conclusion: The study's results indicate that action observation physical training based on the mirror neuron system improves chronic stroke patients' upper extremity motor functions and their ability to perform daily living activities. Therefore, action observation training has positive effects on the functional recovery of chronic stroke patients.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a fall prevention program on gait ability, one leg standing-right, one leg standing-left, fear of falling, fall efficacy, and depression in the elderly. Methods: A fall prevention program was consisted of fall preventing exercise with laughter therapy. Quasi-experimental design with one group pre- and post-test was used. Twenty-two elderly were participated in this study from a community health center located in a rural area, South Korea. SPSS/WIN 18.0 was used for descriptive analysis and paired t-test. Results: After 12 weeks with a fall prevention program, gait ability (t=3.44, p=.002), one leg standing-right (t=-3.73, p=.001), one leg standing-left (t=-4.17, p<.001) and fear of falling (t=2.12, p=.046) in the elderly were significantly improved. Conclusion: A fall prevention program was effective on physical and psychological functions. This study suggested that control groups and a larger sample should be included in order to validate the effects of a fall prevention program for the elderly. Key Words: Elderly, Fall prevention program, Physical functions, Psychological

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1596-1601
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• 2018

Smoking can be a significant cause of lung diseases and reduced respiratory functions. Among soldiers, smoking may have a negative impact on their health (physical strength) and well being. Information on differences in the respiratory functions of smokers and nonsmokers in the military services and the effects of the smoking duration and amount (i.e., the number of cigarettes smoked per day) would be useful. This study investigated smoking durations and smoking amounts among young male soldiers (N = 61). The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/forced vital capacities (FEV1/FEC) were measured FVC, FEV1, or FEV1/FEC of smokers and nonsmokers were not significantly different, and FVC and FEV1 were inversely proportional to smoking duration. Besides, the number of cigarettes smoked per day was not correlated with respiratory functions. These findings may be attributed to the effect of the strenuous physical activity (e.g., military drills) undertaken by soldiers on their respiratory functions. Despite the lack of evidence for a difference in the respiratory functions of smokers and nonsmokers, this study recommends ongoing respiratory function management through smoking cessation programs and respiratory physiotherapy to manage the respiratory functions of Korean smoking soldiers.