• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare lower extremity muscle activities and ankle joint angles between different foot strike patterns (forefoot strike, heelfoot strike) during stair ascent walking. Methods: The subjects of this study were 22 males who walked in each foot strike pattern on ascent stairs at a speed of 85 beats/min. During stair walking with the two types of foot strike patterns, the muscle activities of the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, hamstring, and gluteus medius were measured. Additionally, ankle joint angles for inversion, eversion, dorsi flexion, and plantar flexion were recorded. Each participant underwent the experiment three times, with the foot strike pattern randomized. Results were averaged according to the foot strike pattern. Results: Significant differences in ankle angles were observed across all phases according to foot strike pattern. Muscle activities in the lower extremities showed significant differences in all phases except the swing 1 phase. Moreover, differences in foot movement trajectory were noted depending on the foot strike pattern. Conclusion: Walking on ascent stairs elicited differences in lower extremity muscle activities and ankle joint angles based on foot strike pattern. These findings can serve as foundational data for selecting a suitable foot strike pattern tailored to individual patient conditions when training patients in walking on ascent stairs.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2024

Purpose: Falls among persons older than 65 years are a significant concern due to their frequency and severity. This study aimed to develop a vest-type embedded artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of detecting and predicting falls in various scenarios. Methods: In this study, we established and developed a vest-type embedded AI system to judge and predict falls in various directions and situations. To train the AI, we collected data using acceleration and gyroscope values from a six-axis sensor attached to the seventh cervical and the second sacral vertebrae of the user, considering accurate motion analysis of the human body. The model was constructed using a neural network-based AI prediction algorithm to anticipate the direction of falls using the collected pedestrian data. Results: We focused on developing a lightweight and efficient fall prediction model for integration into an embedded AI algorithm system, ensuring real-time network optimization. Our results showed that the accuracy of fall occurrence and direction prediction using the trained fall prediction model was 89.0% and 78.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the fall occurrence and direction prediction accuracy of the model quantized for embedded porting was 87.0 % and 75.5 %, respectively. Conclusion: The developed fall detection and prediction system, designed as a vest-type with an embedded AI algorithm, offers the potential to provide real-time feedback to pedestrians in clinical settings and proactively prepare for accidents.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2024

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of scapula and pelvis symmetrical reciprocal pattern exercise of PNF concept on respiratory function and quality of life in elderly subjects. Methods : Nineteen elderly subjects with healthy were recruited. Subjects performed scapula and pelvis symmetrical reciprocal pattern exercise of PNF concept. Exercise was appied 30 minutes three times per week for four weeks. The respiratory function and quality of life (QOL) test three times (before, two weeks, and four weeks). Respiratory function includes forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV₁), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) and chest cage expansion test (CCET). The QOL test was measured Korean WHOQOL-BRIEF. The analysis method was analyzed through the one-way ANOVA repeated methods, and the statistical significance is α=.05. It was analyzed through the post test Bonferroni test. Results : After the 4 week scapula and pelvis symmetrical reciprocal pattern exercise of PNF concept showed statistically significant differences in the respiratory function (FVC, FEV₁, PEF, and CCET), and QOL (p<.05). As a result of the post-hoc test, FVC showed a significant increase in the mid test and post test compared to the pre test (p<.05), FEV₁ showed a significant increase in the post test compared to the pre test (p<.05). PEF showed a significant increase in all pre-test, mid-test, and post-test sections (p<.05), CCET showed a significant increase in all pre-test, mid-test, and post-test sections (p<.05). QOL showed a significant increase in all pre-test, mid-test, and post-test sections (p<.05). Conclusion : In this study, the scapula and pelvis symmetrical reciprocal pattern exercise of PNF concept improved respiratory function and QOL. The findings suggest that this intervention could be beneficial in improving respiratory function and QOL in the elderly.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.19-30
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was performed for find out temporal spatial parameter of the gait according to age. Method : Four groups of healthy people were allocated randomly in this study : group I(little child, 15), group II(child, 18) and group III(young people, 17), group(elder people, 16). This study was performed from 01 December to 31 December in 2007. Results : The results were as follows : 1. The swing phase was the longest group II, group IV was the shortest. Each groups, there was significant difference in swing phase(p<.05). 2. The stance phase was the longest group IV, group II was the shortest. Each groups, there was significant difference in stance phase(p<.05). 3. The single support time was the longest group II, group IV was the shortest. Each groups, there was significant difference in single support time(p<.05). 4. The double support time was the longest group IV, group II was the shortest. Each groups, there was significant difference in double support time(p<.05). 5. The gait velocity was the fastest group II, group I was the slowest. Each groups, there was significant difference in gait velocity(p<.05). 6. The toe in/out was very increased group IV, group I was very decreased. Each groups, there was significant difference in toe in/out(p<.05). 7. The cadence was the highest group I, group IV was the lowest. Each groups, there was significant difference in cadence(p<.05). 8. The step length was the longest group III, group I was the shortest. Each groups, there was significant difference in step length(p<.05). 9. The step length asymmetry ratio was the highest group IV, group III was the lowest. Each groups, there was no significant difference in step length asymmetry ratio(p>.05). 10. The single support time asymmetry ratio was the highest group I, group IV was the lowest. Each groups, there was no significant difference in single support time asymmetry ratio (p>.05). 11. The FAP was the highest group III, group I was the lowest. Each groups, there was significant difference in FAP(p<.05).

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.275-286
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of an intensive rehabilitation program on the pain, range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, function, quality of life (QoL), and depression of patients with traumatic rotator cuff injury caused by an industrial accident. Methods: Seventeen patients with traumatic rotator cuff injury caused by an industrial accident participated in this study. The 12-week treatment included 30 min of manual therapy and 30 min of exercise therapy twice a day, five times a week. The outcomes were measured for evaluating the pain, ROM, muscle strength, function, QoL, and depression before the commencement of the program and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Results: According to the time of applying the intensive rehabilitation program, the pain (p<0.01), ROM (p<0.01), muscle strength (p<0.01), function (p<0.01), and depression (p<0.05) significantly improved with time. However, QoL was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study confirmed the excellent effect of an intensive rehabilitation program on the pain, ROM, muscle strength, function, and depression of patients with traumatic rotator cuff injury caused by an industrial accident. However, this study was limited by the absence of a control group. This pilot study highlights the need for more extensive research with a larger sample.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 2018

This study investigated the effect of community-based health intervention program to improve metabolic disease in Jeju island. There were 50 obese local residents in the experimental group (body mass index, $BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$). They participated in cooking therapy with nutrition education (4 times), exercise program with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and stretching training (9 times), and alternative medicine program with healing touch massage (3 times) during a 3-week period. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, body composition, blood lipid profiles, blood glucose, and waist circumference were assessed before and after the intervention program. After the program, the value of total cholesterol (TC), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), diastolic blood pressure, percent body fat, and waist circumference were decreased, and became the normal value. Especially, HbA1C, percent body fat, and waist circumference were significantly decreased (P<0.001) in the experimental group, while HbA1C, percent body fat, and waist circumference were significantly increased (P<0.001) in the control group (N=50), who had no intervention. Our results suggest that metabolic syndrome associated markers need intervention program for improving them. In conclusion, although this study did not analyze the effect of the health intervention program and cooking therapy separately, considering the result of this 3-week, short term program, the effect will be more profuse if cooking therapy and exercise program were performed concurrently.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2017

Purpose: This study compares the effects of treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback and general treadmill gait training on the gait and balance ability of patients with chronic stroke. Methods: A total of 11 patients with chronic stroke were randomly divided into either the treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group (six patients) or the general treadmill gait training group (five patients). The gait and balance ability of the two groups were measured before and after the interventions using the functional reach test, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg's balance test, and the Biodex balance test. The treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group performed the exercise under the supervision of a therapist after first being provided with a hat and a goal that was devised for the purpose of providing visual feedback information. The interventions were applied to the respective groups for four weeks. For the statistical analysis, we conducted a Mann-Whitney test to compare the results between the two groups. Additionally, the Wilcoxon test was used to compare the results from before and after the intervention in each group. Results: The treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group showed a significant difference in terms of the functional reach test after the intervention when compared to the general treadmill gait training group (p<0.05). Although there was no significant difference, the treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback group showed a larger improvement in the TUG test, Berg's balance test, and the Biodex balance test than the general treadmill gait training group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that treadmill gait training accompanied by visual feedback can be used as a beneficial intervention scheme for the recovery of the gait and balance ability of patients with chronic stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chest resistance exercise on Forced Expiratory Volume per second and on fatigue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: In all, 62 male patients with COPD were included in this study. The experimental group included 32 patients who were treated with chest resistance exercise using the PNF technique with medication. The control group included 30 patients who were treated only with medication. Subjects were stratified into the 2 groups by randomized clinical sampling. Before the start of the experiment, forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1) and lactic acid were tested in both experimental and control groups. The experimental group did chest resistance exercise for 6 weeks, 4 times per week, 30 min per day, and the effects of this exercise in patients with COPD was determined by comparing the results of FEV1 and lactic acid tests before and after the experiment between and within the experimental and control groups. Results: There was a statistically significant within group difference for FEV1 MEAS and FEV1 %PRED. There was statistically significant control group of FEV1 MEAS and FEV1 %PRED There was a statistically significant difference in the experimental group for fatigue, comparing scores before and after the test. There was a statistically significant control group of fatigue, in comparison of between the groups of FEV1 MEAS, FEV1 %PRED, fatigue(p<0.01)(p<0.05). Conclusion: More research on COPD will be necessary for improving pulmonary function and reducing fatigue. Further studies on COPD will be required for improving pulmonary function and reducing of fatigue.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2020

Background: Stroke patients have reduced trunk control compared to normal people. The ability to control the trunk of a stroke patient is important for gait and balance. However, there is still a lack of research methods for the characteristics of stroke control in stroke patients. Objects: The aim of this research was to determine whether trunk position sense has any relation with balance and gait. Methods: This study assessed trunk performance by measuring position sense. Trunk position sense was assessed using the David back concept to determine trunk repositioning error in 20 stroke patients and 20 healthy subjects. Four trunk movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation) were tested for repositioning error and the measurement was carried out 6 times per move; these parameters were used to compare the mean values obtained. Subjects with stroke were also evaluated with clinical measures of balance and gait. Results: There were significant differences in trunk repositioning error between the stroke group and the control group in flexion, lateral flexion to the affected side, lateral flexion to the unaffected side, rotation to the affected side, and rotation to the unaffected side. Mean flexion error: post-stroke: 7.95 ± 6.76 degrees, control: 3.32 ± 2.27; mean lateral flexion error to the affected side: 6.13 ± 3.79, to the unaffected side: 5.32 ± 3.15, control: 3.57 ± 1.92; mean rotation error to the affected side: 8.25 ± 3.09, to the unaffected side: 9.24 ± 3.94, control: 5.41 ± 1.82. There was an only significant negative correlation between the repositioning error of lateral flexion and the Berg balance scale score to the affected side (-0.483) and to the unaffected side (-0.497). A strong correlation between balance and gait was found. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that stroke patients exhibit greater trunk repositioning error than age-matched controls on all planes of movement except for extension. And lateral flexion has correlation with balance and gait.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of visual and auditory stimulation on the ability to perform exercise. Methods: One hundred twenty subjects were randomly divided into four groups (Green light and Fast tempo music, GF; Green light and Slow tempo music, GS; Red light and Fast tempo music, RF; and Red light and Slow tempo music, RS). One of either two visual stimuli or one of two auditory stimuli were applied to each group. The experiment was conducted randomly twice in two environments: one had visual and auditory stimuli and one had no stimulation. Muscle strength, grip, endurance, quickness, agility, concentration, and balance were measured to determine the ability to perform exercise. Results: Significant differences were found in the muscle strength of the participants who were exposed to the auditory factor and the interaction of visual and auditory factors. In endurance, significant differences were found in all of the factors: visual, auditory, and the interaction of visual and auditory. In quickness, agility, and balance ability there were significant differences in the visual factor. In concentration, there was a significant difference in the auditory factor. Conclusion: Visual stimuli, auditory stimuli, and their interaction influenced the ability to perform exercise. These facts imply that providing the proper environmental stimulation is important to increase the ability to perform during exercise.