• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of variations in arm swing during gait on movement of the trunk and pelvis. During the gait task, the angle of the trunk and pelvic rotation were analyzed according to arm swing conditions. Methods: Seventeen healthy males participated in this study. All subjects were analyzed for gait on a treadmill three times each under three different types of arm swing conditions - natural arm swing, restricted arm swing using a phone, restricted swing in both arms. 3-D motion analysis systems were used to collect and analyze the kinematic data of trunk and pelvic movements, and repeated one-way ANOVA was used to compare the trunk and pelvic kinematic data and symmetry index. The level of significance was ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: The results showed kinematic differences in trunk and pelvic during gait based on the arm swing conditions. Specifically, there were significant differences in trunk rotation, left and right trunk rotation and symmetry index of trunk rotation during gait among the three arm swing conditions. ROM was used to calculate a symmetry index (SI) based on the average left and right trunk rotation in which a value closer to zero indicated better balance. The SI obtained for arm swing restricted with the phone was closer to -1 than the other conditions. Conclusion: Restricted arm swing due to use of a phone had the possibility to induce instability of postural control while walking, which could be seen to suggest a risk of falling during gait.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of sex and age and their interactions in premotor-time (PMT) of ankle muscle. Forty-eight elderly subjects (aged 65-90 years) and thirty young subjects (aged 19-27 years) participated in this study. Subject were instructed to perform maximal, voluntary, isometric, bilateral contraction of ankle muscle in reaction to auditory stimulus to determine PMT. As analysis variables, PMT, intrasubject variability of PMT and asymmetry of PMT between dominant and nondominant legs were used. As statistical analysis, two-way ANOVA was performed to assess the main effects of age group and sex and also their interactions. All variables showed significant age effects (p<0.01). However, no sex effect and interaction existed in all variables in both dominant and nondomiant legs. Theses results suggest that the PMT of ankle muscle is related to the age-related deterioration in postural control, however, not related to the sex-difference of fall incidence in the elderly population.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of verifying the effectiveness of the duocock exercise, which is being utilized at the newly developed site to promote balance maintenance, basic physical strength and muscle strength among various age groups, in order to prevent fall and successfully age. Method: In this study, we conducted the duocock Exercise Program for 12 weeks (twice a week for an hour) for 10 senior citizens aged 65 or older (68.8±4.76 yrs, height: 15±6.00 cm) using Western-based health institutions in Daejeon, and compared the pre- and post- effects on basic physical strength and posture balance. All the data obtained from this study were used in statistical program SPSS 24 to perform paired t-test. The significance level for all statistical analyses was set at the level of p<0.05. Results: The 12 week duocock program showed statistically significant improvements in lower extremity muscle strength, equilibrium, agility, balance, and coordination in the basic fitness factors underlying successful aging (p<0.05). In addition, the trunk imbalance, which acts as a factor of falls and body balance, was statistically significant (p<0.05) and the posture balance of the sagittal plane also showed the effect of proper body adjustment. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, duocock provides a new exercise program in the form of a sustainable sport as a two-handed exercise, and is very effective for the elderly to improve their basic physical strength as well as to control postural imbalances, strengthen and increase muscle strength.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of integrating transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation into treadmill gait training by applying functional electrical stimulation on the spasticity, balance, and gait ability of chronic stroke patients METHODS: Twenty participants were assigned randomly to two groups: the treadmill gait training group with applied functional electrical stimulation (FES) with integrated transcutaneous electricalstimulation (TENS) (experimental group, EG, n = 10) and the treadmill gait training group with FES (control group, CG, n = 10). Both groups received treadmill gait training with FES for 30 minutes a time, four times a week, during five weeks. The experimental group received additional TENS on their L3, L5, and S2 dermatome for 30 minutes before the interventions. The spasticity, balance, and gait ability were evaluated before and after the training to compare the intergroup and intragroup changes. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements in the static, dynamic balance, and gait ability (p < .05), but did not show any significant changes in the muscle tone. The EG showed significant improvements in the static balance ability and gait cycle compared to the CG (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Treadmill gait training combined with FES with integrated TENS is an effective method for improving the static balance and gait cycle. On the other hand, the effects of treadmill gait training with FES on spasticity need to be studied further.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion (DF PROM) under a non-weight bearing condition and the normalized reach distance in three directions of the Y-Balance Test (YBT). Sixty-one healthy adults (32 males and 29 females, age: $23.0{\pm}3.0$ years, height: $169.3{\pm}8.9cm$, weight: $61.9{\pm}5.4kg$) participated in this study. The ankle DF PROM was measured using a goniometer. To assess dynamic balance, all subjects performed three trials to determine the maximum lower extremity reach in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions of the YBT. The relationship between the ankle DF PROM and both the normalized reach distance in each direction and the composite score of the YBT were analyzed using the Pearson correlation. Only the normalized reach distance in the anterior direction of the YBT was significantly related to the ankle DF PROM measured under a non-weight bearing condition (r=.50, p<.001). Neither the normalized reach distances in the posterior directions nor the composite score of the YBT were significantly correlated with the ankle DF PROM measured under a non-weight bearing condition. These findings suggest that ankle DF PROM does not affect the overall dynamic balance of the lower extremity, with only the anterior dynamic balance affected among the three directions.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2011

This study was realized the home network system for home care by bio-physical sensor system, to convey for the remote physical signal. The composition condition has four functions of displacement point for a Vision, Somatosensory, Vestibular and CNS that the basic measurement used to a Heart Rate, Temperature, Weight. Physical signal are decided to search a max and min point with adjustment of 0.01 unit in the reference level. There were checked physical condition of body balance to compounded a physical neuroceptor of sensory organ for the measurement such as a Vision, Somatosensory, Vestibular, CNS, BMI. There are to check a health care condition through a combination of physical organ with a posturography of a exercise. The service of home network system can be used to support health care management system through health assistants in health care center and central health care system. It was expected to monitor a physical parameter for the remote control health management system.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of the transverse abdominal muscle resulting from changed posture by measuring the thickness of the transverse abdominal muscle in a supine posture, a slouched sitting posture, and an erect sitting posture. The subjects of the study were 28 patients with cerebral palsy. All their transverse abdominal muscles at the end of inhalation were measured at supine, slouched sitting (S sitting) and erect sitting (E sitting) postures by using ultrasonography, and then their dynamic sitting balance was measured at S sitting and E sitting postures by using BioRescue. For the statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the differences among each the postures. The results were as follows. The thickness of the transverse abdominal muscle when comparing the supine posture and the S sitting posture showed no statistically significant difference. But the E sitting posture showed a statistically significant difference as compared with the others. In addition, the dynamic sitting balance in comparing the S sitting and E sitting postures showed a significant difference. In conclusion, the E sitting posture has a more positive effect on postural control and balance than generally taking the S sitting posture, for the sitting posture of a patient with cerebral palsy. It is suggested that patients with cerebral palsy mainly experiencing a sedentary life or being in a wheelchair should be seated in the E sitting posture during their daily life, and it may be necessary to continue to monitor and manage the proper E sitting posture.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.35-42
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• 2010

Purpose: To investigate the rater reliability of a Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) for children with cerebral palsy, and to investigate possible differences among raters according to their clinical work experience and testing experience. Methods: Study participants included 18 children with spastic cerebral palsy who could walk. They were instructed by pediatric physical therapists, two of whom had ten years of clinical work experience and two who had less than one year of experience. The children's ability to achieve physical balance was videotaped for PBS items. The raters watched the tapes and evaluated each child twice. Rater reliability was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Differences between experienced and novice raters were analyzed using a paired t-test. The statistical significance level was set to 0.05. Results: The total PBS scores averaged 45.78~48.00 and 45.72~47.67 for first and second tests. Intra-rater reliability was very high (ICC=0.89~0.99), and the repeated measurement coincidence was high (p>0.05). Inter-rater reliability was high (ICC=0.83~0.84), but there was a bit of a difference in the coincidence (p<0.05). The experienced raters' reliability and coincidence were higher than those of the novices, and there were differences in reliance and coincidence between experienced and novice raters (p<0.05). Conclusion: Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability is very high. However, rater reliability showed defferences depending on clinical work experience and testing experience. When testing pediatric patients with the PBS, the rater's clinical experience and test experience may affect the test results.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.478-485
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the change of area and average velocity of the center of pressure (COP) according to gait improvement in post-stroke hemiplegic patients.Methods: We measured the area and the average velocity of COP displacement of ten post-stroke hemiplegic patients while they stood quietly on a force plate at the time of dependent and independent gait . We also measured the area and the average velocity of COP displacement of normal persons to verify differences between them and post-stroke hemiplegic patients.Results: The area of COP displacement decreased significantly, and the average velocity of COP displacement tended to decrease, but not significantly. There were significant differences in the area and the average velocity of COP displacement between post-stroke hemiplegic patients and normal persons.Conclusions: The results of this study show that postural control ability improves as gait improves.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2014

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common work-related peripheral neuropathy. In addition to grip force and repetitive hand exertions, wrist posture (hyperextension and hyperflexion) may be a risk factor for CTS among workers. However, findings of studies evaluating the relationship between wrist posture and CTS are inconsistent. The purpose of this paper was to conduct a meta-analysis of existing studies to evaluate the evidence of the relationship between wrist posture at work and risk of CTS. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant studies published between 1980 and 2012. The following search terms were used: "work related", "carpal tunnel syndrome", "wrist posture", and "epidemiology". The studies defined wrist posture as the deviation of the wrist in extension or flexion from a neutral wrist posture. Relative risk (RR) of individual studies for postural risk was pooled to evaluate the overall risk of wrist posture on CTS. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. All were cross-sectional or case-control designs and relied on self-report or observer's estimates for wrist posture assessment. The pooled RR of work-related CTS increased with increasing hours of exposure to wrist deviation or extension/flexion [RR = 2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.646-2.43; p < 0.01: Shore-adjusted 95% CI: 1.32-2.97]. Conclusion: We found evidence that prolonged exposure to non-neutral wrist postures is associated with a twofold increased risk for CTS compared with low hours of exposure to non-neutral wrist postures. Workplace interventions to prevent CTS should incorporate training and engineering interventions that reduce sustained non-neutral wrist postures.