• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1255-1264
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 3-week somatosensory stimulation program on the integrity of the somatosensory pathway of patients with brain damage. Method: The sample consisted of two groups of patients with brain damage matched by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and age:8 patients with a mean age of 56.75 years who were treated with somatosensory stimulation, and 8 patients with a mean age of 58.88 years, who were not treated with sensory intervention program. A repeated measures matched-control group design was used to assess functional recovery of the brain. The instrument used in this study was SSEP (somatosensory evoked potentials), a neurophysiological parameter, for the integrity of the somatosensory pathway. Results: The hypothesis that patients with brain damage who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher SSEP wave form scores than the non-treatment group was supported (3rd week.: U=13.000, p=.014). Additional repeated measures analysis showed that there were no significant differences in recovery trends between the groups (F=1.945, p=.159). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a somatosensory stimulation program is effective in promoting recovery of the integrity of the somatosensory pathway of patients with brain damage.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.239-250
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 2-week somatosensory stimulation program on cognitive function and ADL of patients with brain damage. Methods: The sample consisted of two groups of patients with stroke: 10 patients with a mean age of 59.0 years who were treated with somatosensory stimulation, and 9 patients with a mean age of 51.78 years, who were not treated with somatosensory intervention. A nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was used to assess the functional recovery after stroke. Instruments used in this study were MMSE-K for cognitive function and FIM for ADL. Results: The hypothesis 1 that "Patients with stroke who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher MMSE-K score than that of the non-treatment group" was supported(Z = -2.390, p = .017). The hypothesis 2 that "Patients with stroke who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher FIM score than that of the non-treatment group", however, was partially supported(social cognition: Z = -2.204, p = .045). Conclusion: Somatosensory stimulation was effective to patients with stroke in improving their cognitive function. These findings suggest that somatosensory input can be adopted to nursing intervention for functional recovery after stroke.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.907-918
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• 1996

Evoked potentials(EP) are defined as electric responses of the nerves system to sensory stimulation. EPs are used mainly to test conduction in the visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems, especially in the central parts of these systems. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) are the potentials elicited by stimulation of peripheral nerves and recorded at various sites along the sensory pathway. SEPs types consist mainly of SEPs to electric stimulation of arm or leg nerves. SEPs to arm stimulation are usually recorded simultaneously from clavicular, cervical, and scalp electrodes; SEPs to leg stimulation are recorded from lumbar, low thoracic, and scalp electrodes. Subject variables that have practical impotance are age, limb length, body height, and temperature. General clinical interpretation of abnormal SEPs wave decreases of peripheral conduction time, and abolition of SEPs recorded from different levels to identify lesions of peripheral nerves, plexus, nerve root, spinal cord, cauda equina, hemispheric brainstem, and cerebral parts of the somatosensory pathway.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.5-13
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• 2012

The purpose of the research study is to confirm in effectiveness of somatosensory stimulation and to propose ideal training strategy for functional recovery of stroke patients. Through the previous literatures, our study investigated to the advantages and disadvantages in electrical somatosensory stimulation for stroke patients. Also, our study suggested to applicable strategies and confirmed to growth direction about new somatosensory stimulation therapy for functional recovery in stroke patients. Result of research study, although many study demonstrated to the effectiveness about somatosensory stimulation therapy for stroke patients, many therapists have experienced many difficulties in somatosensory stimulation application for stroke patients in rehabilitation environments. Thus, few have the therapeutic tools for somatosensory or specific sensory input. However, apparently the previous literatures showed that effectiveness of somatosensory stimulation on functional recovery of patients with brain damage. In conclusion, we can be confirmed that an ideal somatosensory stimulation program is very effective in promoting recovery and the integrity of the somatosensory pathway of stroke patients. Furthermore, we anticipate that using the customized mechanical interface provides to positive effects in rehabilitation of patients with brain damage.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.291-299
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• 2012

Purpose: This study examined the improved sensory, hand function, postural balance and activities of daily living (ADL) through somatosensory stimulation, such as the facilitation of functional reaching and tactile, proprioceptive stimulus of the upper limb (UL) and hand. Methods: Seventeen stroke patients having problems with motor and somatosensory deficits were selected in Bobath Memorial Hospital adult rehabilitation center. The patients were divided into two groups; the sensorimotor deficit group (SMDG) and motor deficit group (MDG). Somatosensory stimulation on the UL, physical therapy and occupational therapy were carried out three times a week over a six week these treatments were performed in both group period. To compare each group, the following assessment tools were used: such as tactile detection thresholds (TDT), two point discrimination on the affected side (TPDas), unaffected side (TPDus) stereognosis (ST) manual function test, hand function on the affected side (HFas) and unaffected side (HFus), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS) and Korean version Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). Results: In the SMDG, somatosensory stimulation on the UL was statistically important for TDT, TPDas, TPDus (except for the thener), ST, hand function on HFas, on HFus, PASS length of displacement with foam (LDFSEO), and K-MBI. In the MDG, somatosensory stimulation on the UL was important for TDT, TPDas, TPDus (except index finger) length of displacement with the eyes open, LDFSEO, HFas, HFus, PASS and K-MBI. In addition, there was a significant difference in the PASS between SMDG and MDG. Conclusion: Somatosensory stimulation on the UL affects the sensory, hand function, postural control and ADLs performance.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of somatosensory stimulations with joints mobilization in foot on balance and gait speed in elderly women. Methods: This study included 2 female participants aged 72 years. Participants received somatosensory simulations with joints mobilization on both foot for 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week, during a 4 week period. All subjects were assessed using a BT(balance trainer)-4 balance measurement and timed up and go test (TUG), 10m walk test (10MWT). Results: It has been found that static length and static area were reduced and limits of stability was increased in 2 females. TUG test was improved but gait speed was not significantly difference. Conclusion: Those results indicate that somatosensory stimulations with joints mobilization is effective in elderly women to promoting a static and dynamic balance ability.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.34-36
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• 2005

Two hemiplegic cerebral palsy patients were studied to investigate the cortical mechanisms underlying preserved somatosensory capacity, using functional MRI(fMRI). Tactile stimulation was performed by brushing of palm, during fMRI study. By the affected hand stimulation, contralateral primary somatosensory cortex was activated in patient 1 and cortical area anterior to the lesion site was activated in patient 2. We suggest that reorganization of the somatosensory cortex after brain injury can be induced by recruitment of undamaged areas adjacent to lesion site.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.87-99
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aims to investigate the effect of somatosensory stimulation on the upper limb sensory and function and self-esteem of stroke patients. Methods : This study period was march 4 to april 4 (5 weeks). The subject were 20 stroke patients with somatosensory impairment in B hospital, seongnam, gyeonggi province. They were devided into two group-experimental and control-with 10 members each. The members of the experimental group underwent somatosensory stimulation, whereas the members of the control group underwent an occupation-based intervention for 5 weeks. Thirty-minute therapy was provided 3 times per week for 5 weeks. Before and after the intervention, both groups were evaluated via light touch, static two-point discrimination, stereognosis, Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), and self-esteem scale Results : In this study, light touch was not significant in both groups. Static two-point discrimination was significant among the experimental group member's index fingers. Among the control group members, it was significant in the ring finger. The comparison between the two groups was significant in the index finger. The stereognosis results were significant in the experimental group but not in the control group. The comparison between the groups after the intervention was not significant. FMA was significant in the shoulder/ elbow/ forearm (SEF), hand and coordination among the experimental group. Among the control group, it was significant in the SEF and hand. The comparison between the groups was significant in the SEF, hand and coordination. The self-esteem scale results were significant among both groups, and the comparison between the group's score was likewise significant. Conclusion : In conclusion, somatosensory stimulation therapy increases the static two-point discrimination, stereognosis, upper extremity function, and self-esteem of patients with stroke. Therefore, while somatosensory stimulation therapy is not the best therapy, it is one of the best occupational therapies for stroke patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.652-660
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• 2014

In the present study, to examine the effects of somatosensory stimulation of the hands on the hand functions and visuomotor coordination of children with developmental disabilities, a total of 24 sessions of experiments were conducted with three children with developmental disabilities for 60 minutes per session, three sessions per week from January 7, 2013 to March 11, 2013. To examine the effects of somatosensory stimulation of the hands on grasping and visuomotor coordination which are sub-areas of PDMS-2, the A-B study design was used which is a single case study method out of single-subject experimental research designs. Somatosensory stimulation of the hands was shown to be effective in improving the hand functions of children with developmental disabilities. Somatosensory stimulation of the hands showed positive effects on the raw scores and standardized scores of grasping and visuomotor coordination in all the three subject children. Visuomotor coordination functions showed higher scores in post-hoc tests in all three children. In particular, ring throws showed high scores at right $90^{\circ}$, right $45^{\circ}$, center, left $45^{\circ}$, and left $90^{\circ}$ among visual directions. In the present study conducted with children with developmental disabilities, ring throws were performed to examine visuomotor coordination. In particular, the numbers of successes of ring throws on the front, left, and right were shown to be high. Therefore, somatosensory stimulation of the hands was effective on the hand functions and visuomotor coordination functions of children with developmental disabilities.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.843-850
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• 2007

This paper proposes a somatosensory stimulation system for the improvement of postural stability using vibration as somatosensory stimulation. This system consists of vibratory stimulation and postural response measurement. To evaluate this system, the center of pressure(COP) was closely observed in turn with simultaneous or separate mechanical vibratory stimulations to flexor ankle muscles (tibialis anterior, triceps surae) and two plantar zones on both feet while standing on a stable and an unstable support. The simultaneous vibratory stimulations cleared influenced postural stability and the effects of vibrations were higher with the unstable support. In separate vibratory stimulations, the extent of the COP sway reduced when the direction of the vibratory stimulations and that of the inclination of body coincided for flexor ankle muscle stimulations. In the contrary, the extent of the COP sway increased when the direction of the stimulations and that of body inclination coincided for plantar zone stimulations. These results can be useful for the development of rehabilitation systems that utilizes somatosensory inputs for postural balance.