• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.202-208
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• 2022

Purpose: There is limited research on the effects of neuropathic pain (NP) on quality of life, depression levels, and sleep quality in patients with combat-related extremity injuries. This study evaluated whether patients with combat-related extremity injuries with and without NP had differences in quality of life, sleep quality, and depression levels. Methods: A total of 98 patients with combat-related extremity injuries, 52 with NP and 46 without, were included in this cross-sectional study. The presence of NP was determined using the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs questionnaire. The outcome measures were a visual analogue scale (VAS), the 36-Item Short Form Survey, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: The VAS subparameter scores for pain (all P<0.05), PSQI sleep dur ation subscale scores (P=0.025), PSQI sleep disturbance subscale scores (P=0.016), and PSQI total scores (P=0.020) were significantly higher in patients with NP than those without. Logistic regression analysis showed that VAS scores of 5 and above for average pain during the previous 4 weeks contributed independently to the prediction of NP. Conclusions: Patients with combat-related extremity injuries with NP had more pain and poorer sleep quality than those without NP. Sleep quality should be evaluated as part of the diagnostic work-up in patients with combat-related extremity injury with NP, and interventions to improve sleep quality may help manage NP in this patient group.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.8-18
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• 1996

Korea will soon experience a high demand for medical rehabilitation specialists, if it tries to deliver advanced health welfare service. In order to medical rehabilitation manpower policies, this study attempts to analyse, estimate and plan a long-term supply for physiatrists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. The study analysed both national and foreign statistical data of manpower supply for medical rehabilitation specialists. A structured category of questionnaire was developed to survey the opinions of regarding the supply for rehabilitation specialists in Korea. Based on the above data, the demand of and supply for each specialists were estimated for long term up to the year 2030. Based on the comparative analysis results of the future demand and supply, the author intended to develop a new supply plan for the three specialist categories. The major findings of the supply plan are as follows : First, the replied proper mean ratios of rehabilitation professionals(physiatrists : physical therapists occupational therapists) appeared 1 : 5.93 : 3.59, and there is no significant difference between interprofessionals (p>0.05). Secons, the estimated demand for rehabilitation services by interprofessionals appeared significant difference among the interprofessionals (p<0.05).

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2009

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the present status of physical therapies provided in the Korean medicine clinics, and to find out the priorities among and the estimated fees of physical therapies for the National Health Insurance plan. Methods : We administered nationwide survey to Korean medicine doctors using the on-line survey system. 16 physical therapies were listed in the Web-based questionnaires, and responders were asked to mark the therapies they used for their patients, and, for each therapy they marked, to fill in the form including the frequencies of service, service fees, target diseases, and priorities for health insurance coverage, etc. Results : Of 488 respondents, 93.7% provide more than one physical therapy for their patients, and each responder uses 5.9 physical therapies on average. 60-90% of physical therapies are being given to patients for free because they are not covered by the National Health Insurance. There is little evidence that the specialties of Korean medicine doctors are related with the use of physical therapies, but, in some therapies, the doctors with longer career years use the physical therapy more frequently. Most physical therapies are applied to the patients with musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and nervous diseases, etc. Conclusions : Physical therapies are widely used among Korean medicine doctors without proper compensation. This could be the one of the main factors distorting the profit structure of Korean medicine clinics, and it encourages the National Health Insurance to cover physical therapies provided in the Korean medicine clinics.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.128-136
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• 2023

Background: The authors aimed to compare the effects of a one-time ultrasound (US)-guided subacromial corticosteroid injection and three-time ozone (O₂-O₃) injection in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to the corticosteroid group (n = 22) or ozone group (n = 22). Injections in both groups were administered into subacromial bursa with an US-guided in-plane posterolateral approach. Primary outcome measure was the change in the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) score between baseline and 12-weeks post-injection. Secondary outcome measures included visual analog scale and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores. Assessments were recorded at baseline, and 4-weeks and 12-weeks post-injection. Results: Forty participants completed this study. Based on repeated measurement analysis of variance, a significant effect of time was found for all outcome measures in both groups. Both the groups showed clinically significant improvements in shoulder pain, quality of life, and function. Baseline, 4-week post-injection, and 12-week post-injection WORC scores (mean ± standard deviation) were 57.91 ± 18.97, 39.10 ± 20.50 and 37.22 ± 27.31 in the corticosteroid group, respectively and 69.03 ± 15.89, 39.11 ± 24.36, and 32.26 ± 24.58 in the ozone group, respectively. However, no significant group × time interaction was identified regarding all outcome measures. Conclusions: Three-time ozone injection was not superior to a one-time corticosteroid injection in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy. It might be as effective as corticosteroid injection at 4-weeks and 12-weeks post-injection in terms of relieving pain and improving quality of life and function.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2019

Objective: Greater occipital nerve block (GONB) is a widely accepted treatment of primary headaches. Two ultrasound (US)-guided blockade techniques exist: 1) the classical distal nerve block technique performed medial to the occipital artery at the superior nuchal line, and 2) the new proximal nerve block technique performed at the obliquus capitis inferior muscle at the level of C2. Our study aim was to perform a head-to-head comparative study of these two US-guided techniques. Method: Forty-nine patients with primary headache treated in our university hospital were recruited. Patients were randomized into two groups of the classical nerve block and the new proximal nerve block techniques. The headache questionnaire was made to assess the intensity of the pain of headache attacks, number of days they experience headache, duration of headache, and amount of pain medication they consumed. Results: In both groups, a decrease in the severity and frequency of the headache was observed. There was no measurable difference in outcome between the two groups. Conclusion: Our study showed that the classic and new proximal techniques are equally effective in decreasing the headache severity and frequency.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2018

PURPOSE: The purpose this study was to investigate the awareness of physical therapy as one of rehabilitation interventions for post-operative women with breast cancer in healthy Korean women. METHODS: This study recruited 223 adult women aged 20 and older who never had breast cancer but received physical therapy. This study used a structured questionnaire consisting of 13 items in 3 fields designed to focus on socio-demographic characteristics, breast cancer experience of friends or family, and awareness of physical therapy as one of methods to improve rehabilitation of patients following breast cancer surgery. RESULTS: Among respondents who completed the survey, 62.8% were interested in breast cancer. However, 78.1% had never heard of physical therapy as a rehabilitation intervention for post-operative women with breast cancer. 44.4% believed that physical therapy is necessary after breast cancer surgery. 69.5% of the respondents were willing to participate in a physical therapy rehabilitation program if there were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 59.2% believed that the participation in this program would be beneficial. 42.9% acquired some information that physical therapy is one type of rehabilitation to improve physical condition for women with breast cancer from the Internet or television. In addition, education level affected interest and awareness of physical therapy for breast cancer. Awareness about breast cancer and physical therapy were higher among well-educated respondents. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a physical therapy rehabilitation program is specifically developed, and correct information on it is provided to improve health condition in women following breast cancer surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2004

Denervated skeletal muscle produces muscle atrophy as well as changes at the neuromuscular junction which leads to terminal axonal sprouting and an ultrastructural remodeling. NT-3 is expressed in adult muscle and motoneurons. Normally NT-3 has a potential role in regulating adult neuromuscular jungtion and recovering following muscle atrophy. Also, it could influence synaptic neurotransmission between motoneurons and skeletal muscle cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation therapy(EST) on NT-3 expression in neuromuscular junction following sciatic nerve transsection in rats. After EST application during 7 days, the immunoreactivity of NT-3 was increased in neuromuscular junction

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.258-265
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the legal basis related to a physical therapist's home-based rehabilitation. Methods: The policy data were referenced to the comprehensive plan for national health promotion and the guidebook Community Health Promotion Project issued by the Korea Health Promotion Institute and other institutes. The legal data were referenced to the Bill information system on the National Assembly website. Results: The physical therapist's home-based rehabilitation did not have a legal basis in the community-based rehabilitation project (CBR) of the HP 2020 project. On the other hand, according to the Home health care part of the community health promotion project that began in 2013, physical therapists were allowed to play a role from 2020 under Article 16-2 (Public Officials in Exclusive Charge of Visiting Health Management) of the REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ACT. Conclusion: Policies and laws are being developed in the field of healthcare, but the necessary policies and laws in the field of rehabilitation are still insufficient. A bill to rehabilitate in a variety of fields and spaces by modifying the scope of work of physical therapists will be needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.156-168
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• 2004

Unilateral neglect is a common behavioral syndrome in patients following stroke. Unilateral neglect is characterized by the failure to report or responds to people or object presented to the side opposite a brain lesion. The patients with unilateral neglect are severely disabled in all daily activities, have a poor rehabilitation outcome and therefore require professional assessment and treatment This article reviews recent efficacy of rehabilitation techniques includings; drug, cueing, scanning training, prism lense, eye patching, trunk rotation, neck vibration, TENS, limb activation, video feedback. The purpose of this reviews are: to clarify the different types of neglect, as a basis for understanding the tests and measures of unilateral neglect and give information about recent treatments.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.123-131
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• 1999

The purpose of is study deals with the physical therapy and the delivery system of public health center, as a center, in community based rehabilitation and delivery system. We hope that the system of physical therapy of public health center in community based rehabilitation spreads all over the country and contributes to the promotion of national health and social welfare. There are many public health center in the country because it can serve inhabitants with the medical benefits in the Erst line. public health center continuously provides poor inhabitants who cant pay medical expenses care of health. It has the public health center branches that take care of inhabitants who live a remote village and hiterland. Additionally, many people want to receive physical therapy. Therefore, the physical therapy of public health center becomes the central paint in community based rehabilitation so that we supply the inhabitants with superior rehabilitation service. We can approach them as a team that be constituted with physical therapist speech therapist, psychologist, nurse, social work. Also the role of physical therapist is divided into two parts, which are home visiting part that individually takes can of patients nod public health part that takes care of patient, family, home, community. We connect with both self-governing body and the government so that we may receive government subsidies. Also, we must prepare regular school education for community based rehabilitation