• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.337-343
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of abdominal-compression belt in one leg standing on balance in normal adult. Background: With the effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure, the abdominal-compression belt is contributing to a static balance control. However, specific study is still insufficient. Method: Forty subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: control(n=20) and experimental group(n=20), respectively. The experimental group used an abdominal-compression belt, whereas the control group did not that. All subjects were educated using pressure biofeedback unit and ultrasound imaging for exact application by abdominal-compression belt. Main outcome measurement was used a general stability index, fourier harmony index, weight distribution index, and fall index in tetrax balance system. Results: Experimental group improved significantly on general stability, only 2 factors(eyes closed with head turned forward and eyes closed with head turned backward) among fourier harmony index, and fall index, However, weight distribution index did not revealed significant difference. Conclusion: The findings suggest that application of abdominal-compression belt could be effective on improving balance ability in one leg standing of normal adults. Application: The results of the abdominal-compression belt might help to control balance in workers.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

The active-knee-extension (AKE) test has been used to measure hamstring muscle length. The traditional AKE test measures the popliteal angle to the point of resistance with a 90-degree flexion of the hip fixed by straps, while the stabilized AKE test measures the popliteal angle to the point of resistance with a 90-degree flexion of the hip stabilized using a pressure biofeedback unit providing lumbopelvic stabilization. The purpose of this study was to determine test-retest reliability of the traditional AKE test and stabilized AKE test. Twenty healthy adults participated in the study. The popliteal angles were measured with a digital inclinometer during each test. To assess the test-retest reliability between the 2 test sessions, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. The intrasubject coefficient of variation ($CV_{intra}$) was also calculated. To compare the traditional and stabilized AKE tests for changes in pressure, paired t-tests were applied. The results of this study were as follows: 1) ICCs(3,1) value for test-retest reliability was .96 in the traditional AKE test, and was .98 in the stabilized AKE test. 2) The maximal $CV_{intra}$ was 33.7% in the traditional AKE test and 15.7% in the stabilized AKE test. 3) Differences of $6.1{\pm}2.1$ mmHg in pressure were measured in the traditional AKE test, and differences of $1.2{\pm}1.0$ mmHg in pressure were measured in the stabilized AKE test. The results show the traditional and stabilized AKE test to be highly reliable, with test-retest reliability. However, the stabilized AKE test represented less variation and more stabilization than the traditional AKE test. Further study is needed to measure the inter-rater reliability of the stabilized AKE test for generalization and clinical application.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.49-57
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of emphasized initial contact gait training on balance and gait ability in hemiplegia patients. METHODS: Twenty-four hemiplegic patients were randomly allocated to an experimental group or control group. All participants received 30-min neurodevelopmental treatment. Furthermore, the experimental group received initial contact-emphasized auditory feedback gait training, whereas the control group received gait training without auditory feedback. The intervention was performed 3 times per week, 20 min per each time, for a total of 6 weeks. Balance was assessed using the center of pressure path length, center of pressure velocity, and limitation of stability path length, whereas gait ability was assessed using the 10-m walking test and functional gait assessment. RESULTS: In both groups, center of pressure path length and center of pressure velocity significantly decreased after training. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed a 10% significant improvement (p<.05). In the limitation of stability path length of both sides, the experimental group showed a significant increase compared to that before intervention. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed a 7% significant improvement in results of the 10-m walking test and functional gait assessment (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Emphasized Initial contact gait training is considered an effective treatment for improving gait ability and balance ability in stroke patients.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2017

The problem of trunk stability is a major factor in back pain.. Abdominal draw in maneuver(ADIM), One of the trunk stabilization exercises to relieve lumbar instability, is a method of inducing selective contraction of the transverse abdominis associated with anticipatory posture control among the abdominal stabilization muscles. ADIM is usually performed with a visual feedback by applying a pressure biofeedback unit(PBU) under the lumbar at the supine position, which is not functional compared to the sitting position. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ADIM applied in supine and sitting position on 31 healthy men and women. In each posture, muscle activity was measured by rectal abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA)/internal obilique (IO) and erector spinae (ES) using wireless EMG. In the result, there was no significant difference between RA and EO between the two postures and there was a significant difference between TrA / IO and ES. In both postures, the activity of TrA/IO was higher than that of RA, and the effect of ADIM was shown to be the same, whereas TrA/IO and ES showed higher activity in sitting position. This means that the activity of the muscles involved in the postural stability and lumbar stability is increased further in the sitting position. Therefore, ADIM in sitting, which can be applied more easily in daily life, is useful for improving lumbar stability.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.206-210
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• 2004

This paper proposes a new training system for equilibrium sense using unstable platform. This training system for equilibrium sense consists of an unstable platform, a computer interface circuit and software program. Postural instability changes the weighting of different types of sensory information and the state of the equilibrium maintenance system. In order to improve the equilibrium sense, we developed software program such as a block game, sine curve training (SCT) and pingpong game using Visual C++. Using this system and training programs, we performed an experiment to train the equilibrium sense of a subject. To evaluate the effects of balance training, the time maintained on the target and the moving time to the target are measured. As a result, the moving time to the target and time to maintain cursor on the target improved through repeating equilibrium sense training. It was concluded that this system was reliable in the evaluation of equilibrium sense. We expect that this system might be applied to clinical use as an effective balance training system.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.27-34
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• 2014

Background: This study examined the effects of cervical traction group and cervical traction & nerve mobilization exercise group after applying conservative physical therapy to Computer Workers with Cervical Radiculopathy. Methods: They were randomly divided into two groups: 18 subjects were cervical traction group, 22 subjects were cervical traction and nerve mobilization exercise group. Each group performed its own exercise 30 minutes per day, three times per week, for 4 weeks. Pain intensity was measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI). Cervical extensor muscles strength (CEMS) was measured by the Pressure biofeedback unit. Grasping power (GP) was measured by the Grip Track Commander. Results: After 4 weeks therapy, VAS and NDI were significantly reduced in both groups (p<.05) and CEMS and GP were significantly increased in both groups (p<.05). Significant differences were also evident between the two groups for these three measurements (p<.05). Conclusions: cervical traction and nerve mobilization exercise group is more effective than cervical traction group for reducing VAS and NDI and increasing GP in computer workers with cervical radiculopathy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.14-20
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• 2007

To improve abdominal muscles strengthening, double straight leg lowering (DSLL) has been widely used in physical therapy, fitness program, and athletic program. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the lumbar stabilization maneuver with a pressure biofeedback unit on the muscle activity of rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) during DSLL. Fourteen healthy young men were recruited from university population. The electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from the RA, EO, and IO of both sides. The normalized EMG activity was compared using a paired t-test. The study showed that EMG activity in the RA, EO, and IO was significantly higher during DSLL with lumbar stabilization (DSLL-LS) compared to performed DSLL (p<.05). These results suggest that DSLL-LS is recommended as an effective method for strengthening exercise for the abdominal muscles.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.8 s.173
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• pp.192-198
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• 2005

In this paper, we propose a new training system for the improvement of equilibrium sense using unstable platform. The equilibrium sense, which provides orientation with respect to gravity, is important to integrate the vision, somatosensory and vestibular function to maintain the equilibrium sense of the human body. In order to improve the equilibrium sense, we developed the software program such as a block game, pingpong game using Visual C++. These training system for the equilibrium sense consists of unstable platform, computer interface and software program. The unstable platform was a simple structure of elliptical-type which included tilt sensor, wireless RF module and the device of power supply. To evaluate the effect of balance training, we measured and evaluated the parameters as the moving time to the target, duration to maintain cursor in the target of screen and the error between sine curve and acquired data. As a results, the moving time to the target and duration to maintain cursor in the target was improved through the repeating training of equilibrium sense. It was concluded that this system was reliable in the evaluation of equilibrium sense. This system might be applied to clinical use as an effective balance training system.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in on static and dynamic balance in patients with stroke. Methods: Forty patients with stroke participated in this study. Participation was randomly assigned to the Bridge exercise group (n=20) and the Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in group (n=20). A bio-feedback device was used when patients performed the Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in. This training was performed without any motion on the patient's spine and upper belly part, and the pressure was held with the biofeedback device as 40-70 mmHg. Both groups received training 30 minutes per day, three times per week, for four weeks. Weight bearing, anterior limit of stability, and posterior limit of stability for static balance ability were measured, and Berg balance scale (BBS), Timed up and go test (TUG) for dynamic balance ability were also measured. Results: Participants showed significant differences between pre- and post-mediation in terms of weight bearing, anterior limit of stability, posterior limit of stability, Berg balance scale, and Timed up and go test (p<0.05). The Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in group showed a more significant increase (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, both exercises were effective for improving the static and dynamic balance ability. However we suggest that the Bridge exercise with abdominal drawing-in is more efficient for increasing balance ability in patients with stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.329-337
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to assess more effective exercise prescription for the people with chronic neck pain by comparing stretching exercise and isometric exercise about strength and pain. Method : The research design of the study was that 20 young adults with mild neck disability (5-14 out of 50 in Neck Disability Index) were randomized into 2 groups and underwent stretching exercise(10 peoples) and isometric exercise(10 peoples) at 3 times a week for 5weeks. Measures of pain scale (Visual Analog Scale) and Muscle strength of deep neck flexor (Pressure Biofeedback) were assessed before and after intervention. The pre and post exercise results were compared using paired t-test and the effectiveness of intervention of two groups were compared using Independent t test. Results : The results of this study were that pain reduction was seen after stretching and isometric exercise and significantly difference. There was significantly improvement of cervical flexor strength after stretching and isometric exercise. But, there was no significant difference between stretching and isometric exercise groups. Conclusion : The stretching and isometric exercise for chronic neck pain patients may use according to preference of patient because the effects of treatment was same. Further studies are needed to analyzed psycho social factors, cost effects, group approach.