• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.45
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• pp.315-340
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• 2001

The purpose of study is to examine the effects of family support on the life satisfaction of elderly with disabilities and provide a ground necessary to improve it. Research was conducted on 167 elderly with hearing, visual and physical disabilities aged over 60 who were living in Seoul and Pusan. Telephone survey, sign language and interview, in accordance with types of disability, were adopted to collect data effectively. That is telephone survey was used for elderly with visual impairment whereas face-to-face interview for physical impairment and sign language for hearing impairment by volunteers. Collected data were analyzed, using hierarchical regression analysis. This study utilized two different models, direct effect model and buffering effect of social support in order to examine the effects of familial support on the life satisfaction of elderly with disabilities. Research findings suggest that the level of life satisfaction appeared to be low in general among elderly with disabilities and emotional family support exerted a positive effect on life satisfaction. In addition, it is empirically supported that emotional family support buffered the negative effect of economic limitations on life satisfaction. In other words, the effects of economic limitations as stress factor decreased with the increase in the frequency of emotional support, however, the level of life satisfaction decreased at a mercy of the stress factor of economic limitations with the decrease in the frequency of emotional support. Finally, this paper attempted to provide some alternatives to effectively improve life satisfaction among elderly with disabilities based on empirical findings.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 2015

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to develop the Korean version of the trunk impairment scale (K-TIS) and to examine reliability and responsiveness of the K-TIS in patients with stroke. Methods Subjects of the study were 51 stroke patients (mean age: 57.78 years) recruited from two stroke clinics. For the interrater and test-retest reliability, two raters measured the K-TIS two times using video clips with an interval of 2 weeks. For the responsiveness, intensive physical therapy training was provided to all participants 2 times a day for one month or three months depending on the onset of the stroke and the admission rules of the two clinics. Inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability of the K-TIS three subscales (static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and coordination) scores and total scores were examined using intra-correlation coefficient ($ICC_{3,1}$) and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). To examine responsiveness, the minimally important difference (MID) was calculated with effect size. Results: Inter-rater reliability of the K-TIS subscales and total scores were all high (ICC3,1=0.920-0.983 and r=0.924-0.984). For the test-retest reliability, $ICC_{3,1}$=0.805-0.901 and r=0.806-0.903, and the MID for acute and post-acute as well as chronic stroke patients remained in the mean change range. Conclusion: It is suggested that the K-TIS might be used for clinical and research purposes as a standardized tool for stroke patients. In addition, it can also be useful in establishment of treatment goal(s) and planning treatment program(s) for patients with stroke.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Objectives : As the number of patient with dementia increases, interest in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is a pre-dementia stage, has been expanding. In this study, we investigated the effects from selected clinical research articles to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions. Methods : We searched MCI related articles on MEDLINE and the Web of Science using keywords related to MCI. We selected 26 articles, and 13 evaluated efficiency using the Jadad score. Results : Physical exercise and cognitive remediation techniques were effective for improving MCI. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, taichi, and music belonged to "perhaps" effectiveness group. Many of the 13 articles that evaluated MCI using the Jadad score evaluated them as "good" or "poor", and only three articles evaluated MCI as "excellent". Conclusions : The present evidence suggests that cognitive remediation techniques to improve memory and physical exercise were effective for people with MCI. However, further studies are needed to identify the physical exercise effects.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training and robot rehabilitation training on trunk stability and standing balance in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: There were 30 patients with chronic stroke, divided into two groups: 15 subjects who received PNF and robot training (the experimental group) and 15 subjects who received standard conservative training (the control group), that participated. The experimental group received treatment for 60 min: 30 min of conventional physical therapy, 15 min of PNF training, and 15 min of robot training. The control group received conventional physical therapy for 60 min. Trunk stabilization (trunk impairment scale) and standing balance (center of pressure, limit of stability, modified functional reach test, and Berg balance scale) were measured before and after intervention. Results: Within each group, both the experimental and control groups significantly improved after the intervention in all tests; however, the experimental group showed greater improvement in scores on the trunk impairment scale, the center of pressure, the limit of stability, the modified functional reach test, and the Berg balance scale. Conclusion: The study verified that PNF training and robot training had a positive influence on trunk stability and standing balance indices in patients with chronic stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.190-194
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• 2023

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to brain damage caused by external forces or trauma. TBIs can vary in severity and result from accidents, falls, sports injuries, assaults, or other forms of physical trauma. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is known have roles in various cognitive functions. We report on a patient with traumatic brain injury who showed prefrontal symptoms after injury of thalamocortical connections between mediodorsal nuclei (MD) of thalamus and PFC. Methods: A 54-year-old, male patient suffered a TBI as a result of a heavy object falling on his head. After onset of TBI, he showed typical symptoms of prefrontal lobe injury, including personality changes, memory impairment, and general cognition problem. The thalamocortical connections between MD and PFC (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and obrbitofrontal cortex (OFC)) were reconstructed using diffusion tensor tractography. In terms of fractional anisotropy value, the right thalamocortical connections to the OFC were significantly lower than those of control subjects. Results: The value of mean diffusivity in the right thalamocortical connections to the DLPFC was significantly higher than that of control subjects. By contrast, both VLPFC and left OFC showed significant decrement in the tract volume of thalamocortical connections compared with that of control subjects. Conclusion: We reported on a patient who showed cognitive and neuropsychiatric impairment due to global injury of the thalamocoritcal connections between MD and PFC following TBI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.7
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• pp.313-321
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• 2021

Here we describe the neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight ≤1,500 g) at 3 years of age in the Neonatal Research Network of Japan (NRNJ) database in the past decade and review the methodological issues identified in follow-up studies. The follow-up protocol for children at 3 years of chronological age in the NRNJ consists of physical and comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments in each participating center. Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI)-moderate to severe neurological disability-is defined as cerebral palsy (CP) with a Gross Motor Function Classification System score ≥2, visual impairment such as uni- or bilateral blindness, hearing impairment requiring hearing amplification, or cognitive impairment with a developmental quotient (DQ) of Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development score <70 or judgment as delayed by pediatricians. We used death or NDI as an unfavorable outcome in all study subjects and NDI in survivors using number of assessed infants as the denominator. Follow-up data were collected from 49% of survivors in the database. Infants with follow-up data had lower birth weights and were of younger gestational age than those without follow-up data. Mortality rates of 40,728 VLBW infants born between 2003 and 2012 were 8.2% before discharge and 0.7% after discharge. The impairment rates in the assessed infants were 7.1% for CP, 1.8% for blindness, 0.9% for hearing impairment, 15.9% for a DQ <70, and 19.1% for NDI. The mortality or NDI rate in all study subjects, including infants without follow-up data, was 17.4%, while that in the subjects with outcome data was 32.5%. The NRNJ follow-up study results suggested that children born with a VLBW remained at high risk of NDI in early childhood. It is important to establish a network follow-up protocol and complete assessments with fewer dropouts to enable clarification of the outcomes of registered infants.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2023

Purpose : To investigate effects of transcranial directed current stimulus (tDCS) combined with abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) on balance ability and trunk impairment scale of chronic stroke patients. Methods : Twenty-six chronic stroke patients were recruited and twenty-four participated after excluding two patients who met the exclusion criteria. After screening tests, they were randomized through excel program into an experimental group (n = 12) to apply a tDCS combined with ADIM and a control group (n = 12) to apply a sham tDCS with ADIM. The intervention lasted three times a week for six weeks. To compare tDCS intervention effects, trunk impairment scale and balance ability were measured. Comparisons between experimental and control groups were statistically processed using an independent t-test and comparisons within groups were statistically processed using a paired t-test. Results : The experimental group showed significant increases of pre- and post-intervention medial lateral velocity, anterior posterior velocity and area of balance ability, and trunk impairment scale (p<.05). The control group showed significant increases in pre- and post-intervention medial lateral velocity of balance ability and trunk impairment scale (p< .05). The experimental group showed significant increases of medial lateral velocity of balance ability and trunk impairment scale compared to the control group (p<.05). Conclusion : Results of this study suggest that tDCS combined with ADIM for chronic stroke patients can be effective in improving medial lateral velocity of balance ability and trunk impairment scale. Thus, tDCS can be used as an effective treatment protocol for trunk rehabilitation of chronic stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.45-53
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• 2013

Objectives Non-major depression with fewer symptoms than required for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has consistently been found to be associated with functional impairment. In this study, we aim to estimate the cognitive impairment and the quality of life in elderly patients with subsyndromal depression (SSD) compared with non-depressive elderly (NDE). Methods The Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was administered to 194 outpatients with depression and 108 normal controls. SSD is defined as having five or more current depressive symptoms with core depressive symptoms (depressive mood or loss of interest or pleasure) during more than half a day and more than seven days over two weeks. Depression was evaluated by the Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale of a 15-item short version. Global cognition was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination in the Korean version of CERAD assessment packet (MMSE-KC). Subjective cognitive impairment was assessed by the Subjective Memory Complaint Questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated by the Korean Version of Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey. Results The mean score of the MMSE-KC in the SSD group was lower than that in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education [F = 4.270, p = 0.04, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)]. If we defined those having Z-score of MMSE-KC < -1.5 as a high risk group of cognitive impairment, the odds ratio for the high risk group of cognitive impairment was 1.86 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.04-3.34] in SSD and 7.57 (95% CI 3.50-16.40) in MDD compared to NDE. The scores of physical component summary (F = 9.274, p = 0.003, ANCOVA) and mental component summary (F = 53.166, p < 0.001, ANCOVA) in the SSD group were lower than those in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education. Conclusions The subjects with SSD, as well as those with MDD, showed impairment of global cognition and also experienced low quality of life in both physical and mental aspects, compared to the NDE group.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Joing Mobilization and Group back Pain Exercise Program on the disability level and the pain of flexibility and the back muscle strength in the hearing impairment patients with Low back pain. Methods : The subjects of this study were 12 patients, 8 males and females. They visited clinic for physical treatment within 6 months after onset of low back pain. One group was applied with Joing Mobilization and other group was with Group back Pain Exercise Program. The patient were treated special program 3 times session weekly. And treatment 2 times session was 15min with physiotherapy weekly. The muscle strength was measured by Cybex 660, the level of disability by Oswestry low back pain disability scale, the intensity of pain by visual analogue scale (VAS). The data was analysed by paired T-test and independent T-test. Results : The results of this study were summarized as follow : 1. The Oswestry disability score of experimental and control group were significantly decreased and there was no difference in the Oswestry disability score change between joint mobilization group and back pain exercise group. 2. The pains in anterior, postrior, lift lateral and right lateral bending and in rotation of back pain exercise group were significantly increased compared with those of joint mobilization group. 3. The flexors and extensors peak torque of back pain exercise group were significantly increased at test velocities $30^{\circ}$/sec, $60^{\circ}$/sec compared with those of the joint mobilization group. There was no significant difference in extensors and flexors peak torque at $30^{\circ}$/sec, $60^{\circ}$/sec between two group. The results showed that the back pain exercise group were effective in decreasing disability score and pain of trunk activity, increasing trunk extension and flexion peak torque. Conclusion : It is suggested theat the back pain exercise program could be an essential factor for the effective intervension to the hearing impairment patients suffere from low back pain.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.9-17
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• 2023

Parkinson's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of Parkinson's disease, including classification of Parkinson's disease, impairment due to impairment, how disability is assessed, and how it is treated. Major symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremors, stiffness, bradykinesia, and postural instability, and treatment methods include rehabilitation through drugs, surgical procedures, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Early diagnosis, individualized treatment interventions, and comprehensive treatment involving a multidisciplinary medical team will be essential to manage Parkinson's disease and improve patients' quality of life. In conclusion, this study will provide comprehensive information on the complex nature of Parkinson's disease and serve as a useful guide for healthcare providers designing treatment plans for Parkinson's patients.