• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2012

Purpose : This study aimed to acquire a basic knowledge about lumbar stability and inquire into exercise approach of pressure biofeedback unit for lumbar stability. Methods : This study was composed with reviewed theory of lumbar stability and several books and articles for exercise using pressure biofeedback unit. Results : The stability of lumbar should work symmetrical with passive, active, control subsystem in neutral zone, and local muscles should be using for stability. Especially, selective using of transverse abdominis work for lumbar stability importantly. The control of using pressure biofeedback unit may important not only examination but treatment. Conclusion : The stability of lumbar need co-contraction of specific local muscle and training for timing as well as using pressure biofeedback unit for accurate control may use for examination and therapedic approach.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2017

Purpose: The importance of core exercise on muscle activation of the lower extremity has been studied. This study investigated the effects of core exercise using pressure biofeedback unit on muscle strength of lower extremity. Method: Fourteen healthy young adults (7 males and 7 females) were recruited. They were randomly separated two groups and performed core exercise using pressure biofeedback unit of one set for three minutes, 10sets per day for three weeks. Result: The mean of muscle strength of lower extremity, maximum power of muscle and peak TQ/BW in core exercise group significantly increased after core exercise using bio feedback unit (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that core exercise using pressure biofeed-back unit may help improving of muscle strength of lower extremity in young adults.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.67-75
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement of manual muscle testing (MMT) and test-retest reliability of a hand held dynamometer for the posterior gluteus medius muscle, with and without lumbar stabilization, using a pressure biofeedback unit for patients with low back pain. The pressure biofeedback unit was used to minimize the substitute motion of the lumbopelvic region during hip abduction in patients lying on their side. Fifteen patients with low back pain participated in this study. A tester determined the MMT grades of the posterior gluteus medius with and without the pressure biofeedback unit. Active hip abduction range of motion with an inclinometer and the strength of their posterior gluteus medius using a hand held dynamometer were measured with and without the pressure biofeedback unit in the MMT position. The agreement of the grade of muscle strength in the MMT, and intra-rater reliability of both the active hip abduction range of motion and the strength of posterior gluteus medius were analyzed using the weighted kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. The agreement of MMT with the pressure biofeedback unit (weighted kappa=.92) was higher than the MMT (weighted kappa=.34)(p<.05). The inclinometer with pressure biofeedback unit measurement of the active hip abduction range of motion had an excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC=.90). Also, the hand held dynamometer with pressure biofeedback unit measure of strength of the posterior gluteus medius had a good intra-rater reliability (ICC=.85). Therefore, the test for muscle strength with pressure biofeedback unit will be a reliable method for the determination of the MMT grades or amount of posterior gluteus medius muscle strength and the measurement of the range of motion for hip abduction in patients with low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to measure intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and range of motion for measurement of passive shoulder internal rotation range of motion and to compare anterior glide distance of humeral head in three methods. Fifty healthy subjects and fifty patients with shoulder musculoskeletal pain were recruited for this study. The subjects' passive shoulder internal rotation range of motion was measured by visual estimation, manual stabilization, and pressure biofeedback unit methods. In two trials, measurements were performed on each subject by two examiners. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(3,1)) was used to determine the reliability of each measurement. The intra-rater reliability of the three methods was excellent (ICC=.77~.93) in both groups. The inter-rater reliability of the visual estimation method was poor (ICC=.20, .29), the manual scapular stabilization method was poor and fair (ICC=.09, .50), and the pressure biofeedback unit method was excellent (ICC .86, .75) in the experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, the difference of examined range of motion by each examiner was significant in the visual estimation method and manual scapular stabilization method, but there was an insignificant difference between the groups is the pressure biofeedback unit method. This result suggests that the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a pressure biofeedback unit was better than the other methods. The difference in distance of the anterior glide of humeral head was insignificant among all the methods. The pressure biofeedback unit method was the most reliable method, so it is proposed to be a new and reliable method to measure internal rotation range of motion.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.221-227
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of gluteus medius (GM) strengthening training using the pressure biofeedback unit for lower extremity muscle function and balance ability in stroke patients. Methods: Twenty-seven stroke patients (14 men, 13 women) volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups: pressure biofeedback unit GM training, general GM training, and control group. Experimental group 1 performed GM strengthening training using PBU in the sidelying position. Experimental group 2 performed GM strengthening training without PBU in the sidelying position. The training program lasted 4 weeks (20-minute sessions, three times a week). Muscle function was assessed by measuring muscle strength and endurance, and Berg balance scale (BBS), Lateral Reach Test (LRT), and limited of stability (LOS) velocity were measured for evaluation of balance ability. Results: Enhancement of muscle strength and endurance was significantly higher in experimental group 1 than in the other two groups (p<0.05). In comparison of the balance function, experimental group 1 showed a significantly enhanced ability to balance (p<0.05). After the intervention, experimental group 1 showed a significant reduction of LOS velocity in the anterior direction and affected direction (p<0.05). There was no significant difference than the other two groups but a large reduction was observed. Conclusion: These findings suggest that selective gluteus medius strengthening training using the pressure biofeedback unit is effective for lower extremity muscle function and balance ability in stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of selective muscle strengthening of the knee joint extensor muscles using a pressure biofeedback unit to improve knee extensor strength and the balance ability of total knee replacement patients. Through this, we tried to provide clinical information. Methods : In this study, 12 patients with total knee replacement were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. They were divided into two groups: a feedback group (n=6) and a control group (n=6). All patients received 30 minutes of continuous passive motion and leg-strengthening exercises for 15 minutes five times a week for two weeks. Subjects performed knee extension exercises with or without biofeedback units in the sitting position. The knee extensor strength and balance ability were measured before and after exercise. Knee extensor strength was measured by Biodex system 3 and balance ability was measured by Balancia software. Results : Both the experimental group and the control group showed a significant difference in the muscle strength of the knee joint extensor muscles after intervention (p<.05). In comparison, the experimental group showed a significant difference than the control group (p<.05). Both the experimental group and the control group showed a significant difference in the velocity average, path length, area 95 % center of pressure (COP), weight distribution, five times sit to stand test (FTSST) after intervention. In comparison, the experimental group showed a significant difference in velocity average, area 95 % COP, and FTSST than the control group (p<.05). Conclusion : In order to strengthen the knee extensor muscle and improve the balance ability in total knee replacement patients, it is necessary to consider providing pressure biofeedback unit during leg strengthening exercises.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the strength and walking ability of chronic stroke patients following either proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern training with pressure biofeedback units (feedback group) or PNF pattern training without pressure biofeedback units (control group). Methods: Eighteen participants with chronic stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. They were divided into two groups: a feedback group (n = 8) and a control group (n = 10). They all received 30 minutes of neurodevelopmental therapy and PNF training for 15 minutes five times a week for three weeks. Muscle strength and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured. Muscle strength was measured by hand-held dynamometer; gait parameters were measured by the Biodex Gait trainer treadmill system. Results: After the training periods, the feedback group showed a significant improvement in hip abductor muscle strength, hip extensor muscle strength, step length of the unaffected limb, and step time of the affected limb (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern training with pressure biofeedback units was more effective in improving hip muscle strength and walking ability than the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern training without pressure biofeedback units. Therefore, to strengthen hip muscles and improve the walking ability of stroke patients, using pressure biofeedback units to improve trunk stability should be considered.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2022

Objective: This study was to identify the effect of pressure biofeedback applied in various postures that allow the application of abdominal drawing-in. Design: A cross sectional study. Methods: The study intended to compare changes in the thickness of abdominal muscles between different postures when abdominal drawing-in was performed using a pressure biofeedback unit in five postures and to compare differences in terms of measures such as the transverse abdominis's preferential activation ratio(PAR). Data measured from 30 healthy individuals were used for data analysis. A paired t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to compare the thickness of each abdominal muscle. Results: The transverse abdominis's and internal oblique's thickness showed statistically significant differences in all postures when abdominal drawing-in (p<0.05). In the comparison between the postures, statistically significant differences were observed between the positions of hook-lying and wall support standing and between supine and wall support standing and between hook-lying and sitting (p<0.05). In terms of the transverse abdominis's PAR in each posture, statistically significant differences were observed between hook-lying and quadruped, hook-lying and sitting, hook-lying and wall support standing, quadruped and supine, sitting and supine, as well as wall support standing and supine (p<0.05). Conclusions: When abdominal drawing-in using pressure biofeedback unit is performed for stabilization exercises, selecting and applying specific postures according to targeted muscles and the subject's functional ability will help provide a more efficient and accurate intervention.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.238-243
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to confirm the validity of a respiratory retraining exercise using pressure biofeedback units among individuals with stroke as an effective intervention for improving quality of life. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty patients with stroke were recruited as subjects. Among them, 15 patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group performing lumbar stabilization exercise and respiratory retraining exercise, and the other 15 patients were randomly assigned to a control group conducting only lumbar stabilization exercises. Exercises were conducted 3 times a week for 6 weeks, and quality of life was evaluated in the pre-test, 3 weeks and 6 weeks periods. The respiratory retraining exercises were performed using a pressure biofeedback unit and the degree of the quality of life was measured using the Stroke- Specific Quality of Life. For data analysis on the study results, a two-way repeated ANOVA was used in order to observe for changes in the measured variables according to time for both groups. If there was a reciprocal action between the groups and the time in the effect test within the entities, a one-way repeated ANOVA was implemented and was statistically processed. Results: There was a significant difference in the main effect test between the 2 populations depending on the duration of the experiment (6 weeks) (p<0.05). Conclusions: The above results showed that respiratory retraining exercises may provide positive effects in the treatment of stroke as the quality of life showed significant differences according to the duration of treatment.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.12-18
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• 2018

Background: Passive straight leg raising (PSLR) is the common clinical test to measure of hamstring muscle length. Hip flexion angle contributes to change the lumbopelvic rotation during PSLR. Pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) is commonly used to detect lumbopelvic movement during lower limb movements. Thus, there may be the relationship between pressure of PBU and lumbopelvic motion during PSLR. Objects: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between pressure of PBU and lumbopelvic motion during PSLR. Methods: Thirty two subjects participated in this study. A three-dimensional motion analysis system were used to measure the lumbopelvic angle during PSLR, while recording the pressure of PBU according to angle of PSLR by 10 degree increments. Pearson product moment correlations and linear regression analysis were used to describe the relationship between variables. Results: The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the lumbopelvic and angle of PSLR (Pearson's r=.83, p<.05), between the pressure of PBU and angle of PSLR (Pearson's r=.75, p<.05), and between lumbopelvic motion and pressure of PUB (Pearson's r=.83, p<.05). Linear regression equation using lumbopevic angle as an independent factor was as follows: Pressure of PBU = 47.35 + (2.55 ${\times}$ angle of lumbopelvic motion) ($R^2=.69$, p<.05). Conclusion: Results of the present study indicate that pressure of PBU can be used to indirectly detect the amounts of lumbobevic motion during muscle length test or stretching of hamstring.