• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2020

Background: Stroke patients experience multiple dysfunctions that include motor and sensory impairments. Therefore, new intervention methods require a gradational approach depending on functional levels of a stroke patient's activity and should include cognition treatment to allow for a patient's active participation in rehabilitation. Objects: This study investigates the effect of integrated revision of electrical sensory stimulation, which stimulates somatosensory and action observation training, which is synchronized cognition intervention method on stroke patients' functions. Methods: Twenty-one stroke patients were randomized into two groups. The two groups underwent twenty minutes of intervention five times a week for three weeks. This study used an electromyogram to evaluate symmetric muscle activation of lower extremities and muscle onset time when performing sit to stand before and after intervention. A weight-bearing ratio was used to evaluate the weight-bearing of the affected side in a sit to standing. To evaluate sit to stand performance ability, this study performed five timed sit to stand tests. Results: The two groups both showed statistically significant improvement in muscle onset time of lower extremity, static balance ability in a standing position, and sit to stand performance after the intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, the action observation and synchronized electrical sensory stimulation group showed significant improvement in symmetric muscle activation of lower extremities and weight-bearing ratio of the affected side (p < 0.05). Conclusion: action observation and synchronized electrical sensory stimulation (AOT with ESS) can have positive effects on a stroke patient's sit to stand performance, and the intervention method that provides integrated AOT with ESS can be used as new nervous system intervention program.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the efficacy of an interferential current (IFC) treatment on the improvement of pain, disability, and quality of life in stroke patients with lumbago. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 40 stroke patients with lumbago. The patients were allocated randomly into two groups: the IFC treatment group (n= 20) and the placebo treatment group (n= 20). The IFC group received 30 minutes of IFC treatment on the lumbar region, while the placebo group received IFC treatment but without real electrical stimulation. The intervention was administered five days a week for four weeks. The primary outcomes of pain intensity were measured using a visual analogue scale. The secondary measurements included the Barthel Index, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). RESULTS: The measurements were conducted before and after the two-week intervention period. Compared to the placebo treatment group, the IFC treatment group showed significantly greater improvement in the pain intensity (p<.05), ODI (p<.05), and SF-36 (p<.05) at the end of the intervention. No significant differences in the Barthel Index were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These findings show that an IFC treatment can improve pain, functional ability, and quality of life, highlighting the benefits of somatosensory stimulation from IFC in stroke patients with lumbago.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.21-27
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study investigated the efficacy of interferential current (IFC) treatment on the improvement of pain, disability, and balance in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. METHODS: A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted with 40 patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups: the IFC treatment group (n = 20) and the placebo treatment group (n = 20). The IFC group received 30 minutes of IFC treatment on the lumbar region, while the placebo group received IFC treatment without real electrical stimulation. The intervention was administered five days a week for two weeks. RESULTS: The primary outcomes of resting pain and pain during functional movement were measured by a visual analogue scale. The secondary measurements included the Oswestry disability index (ODI) for low back pain and postural sway. The measurements were performed before and after the two-week intervention period. Compared to the placebo treatment group, the IFC treatment group showed significantly greater improvement in pain during anterior trunk flexion in the standing position (p = .029), ODI (p = .039), and postural sway when subjects stood with their eyes closed (p = .010) at the end of the intervention. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that IFC treatment can improve pain, disability, and postural sway, thus, highlighting the benefits of somatosensory stimulation from IFC.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2005

We investigated the activation of the cerebral cortex during active movement, passive movement, and functional electrical stimulation (FES), which was provided on wrist extensor muscles. A functional magnetic resonance imaging study was performed on 5 healthy volunteers. Tasks were the extension of right wrist by active movement, passive movement, and FES at the rate of .5 Hz. The regions of interest were measured in primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (SI), secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), and supplementary motor area (SMA). We found that the contralateral SI and SII were significantly activated by all of three tasks. The additional activation was shown in the areas of ipsilateral S1 (n=2), and contralateral (n=1) or ipsilateral (n=2) SII, and bilateral SMA (n=3) by FES. Ipsilateral M1 (n=1), and contralateral (n=1) or ipsilateral SII (n=1), and contralateral SMA (n=1) were activated by active movement. Also, Contralateral SMA (n=3) was activated by passive movement. The number of activated pixels on SM1 by FES ($12{\pm}4$ pixels) was smaller than that by active movement ($18{\pm}4$ pixels) and nearly the same as that by passive movement ($13{\pm}4$ pixels). Findings reveal that active movement, passive movement, and FES had a direct effect on cerebral cortex. It suggests that above modalities may have the potential to facilitate brain plasticity, if applied with the refined-specific therapeutic intervention for brain-injured patients.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 2016

Objective: This study is executed systematic review targeted at international journals intended to investigate on effect of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation on upper extremity function for stroke patients. Method: After literature search, researchers selected for 10 studies registered up to October 2015 based on PubMed database, using the following search terms: peripheral nerve stimulation, electrical stimulation, sensory stimulation, somatosensory stimulation, stroke, hemiplegia, hemiparesis and hand, arm, upper limb. Result: There were significant improves of upper extremity function and positive effect on the cortical activation in the use of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation. Conclusion: domestic studies in future requires a study of the method for measuring more accurately the effect of peripheral sensory nerve stimulation in RCT studies applying various intervention.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2008

This study was designed to test the effects of comprehensive rehabilitation management on functional recovery after attack of cerebrovascular disease. 16 cerebrovascular disease patients applied comprehensive rehabilitation management of physical therapy at department of physical Therapy, C medical center in Gwang－ju. The collection of the data had been executed for 4months(April 15, 2007${\sim}$July 15, 2007). For evaluating, Functional Independence measure(FIM) and Somatosensory Evoked Potential(SSEP) were used to assess functional recovery. The results of this study were as follows: 1. In the comparison of latency of median nerve SSEP before and after treatment, the lat. N20 and P25 increased, the ampl. P25/N20 was decreased. In the comparison difference data of median nerve SSEP, however there was no significant difference in the group(p>0.05). 2. In the comparison of latency of Post Tibial nerve SSEP before and after treatment, the lat. P40, P50, P60 increased, the ampl. P40 was decreased. In the comparison difference data of post tibial nerve SSEP, however there was no significant difference in the group(p>0.05). 3. In the comparison of FIM scores of Self－care, Sphincter Control, Mobility: Transfer, Locomotion before and after treatment, the scores of FIM was significantly increased. In the comparison of difference of the motor part of FIM, however there was significant difference(p<0.05). 4. In the comparison of FIM scores of Communication, Social Cognition before and after treatment, the scores of FIM was significantly increased. In the comparison of difference of the motor part of FIM, however there was no significant difference in the group(p>0.05). Based on these results, it is concluded that the comprehensive rehabilitation management for cerebrovascular disease case was not significant difference in the SSEP, was significant difference in the motor part of FIM. Further study should be done to analyze the effect of intervention duration of treatment, optimal time to apply the treatment in more long period.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.23-33
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• 2018

Objective : This systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of focal muscle vibration in patients with post-stroke spastic hemiplegia. Methods : We searched literature published between April 2009 and October 2017 using PubMed and RISS databases. The main search terms were Vibration therapy, Focal vibration, Somatosensory, Upper limb, and Spasticity after stroke. Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, 6 articles were selected. Results : Articles on focal muscle vibration intervention ranged from evaluation of application-only vibration to muscle vibration with task-oriented activity. Intervention effects on upper extremity spasticity and function and activities of daily living were assessed. There were significant effects on upper extremity spasticity, function, and cortical excitability. Conclusions : This study can provide information on focal muscle vibration for use by clinical therapists. However, further studies are needed to identify the optimal stimulation site and frequency/amplitude of application to maximize the effects of focal muscle vibration.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2021

Background: The body schema, which is constantly updated using somatosensory information, enables accurate movement. Since pain is reported as a possible source to alter the body schema, the left right judgement test (LRJT) has been widely used in the pain rehabilitation. However, there was a lack of consistency in the effect of the pain on the LRJT results, and for the effect of the LRJT as a part of intervention programs for pain patients. The deeper understand of the LRJT is necessary for better reproducibility, and to expand the therapeutic applications of the LRJT in the pain and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Objects: This literature review aimed to understand the LRJT and to study the potential of the LRJT for therapeutic applications. Methods: The PubMed database was searched for studies relevant to LRJT. To establish the query set, the term was regarded from various perspectives. Results: The selected studies were classified into three categories: LRJT development, factors influencing LRJT, and therapeutic applications. Conclusion: Left right judgement test is the evaluation tool for the integrity of body schema as well as a tool for implicit motor imagery. Pain, proprioception, and other factors influence the performance of the LRJT.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.993-1003
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• 2010

his study was to investigate effects of improvement of balance abilities through 8-weeks Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and balance training in the women elderly. 42 women elders who were participated in silver college. Randomized study design of two groups was used: TENS group (21 women, 84.53 years old) and balance training group(21 women, 79.93 years old). Each group had a application of TENS, balance training by a researcher three times per week for 8 weeks. Measurements of static postural sway velocity on the floor and foam, timed get up and go test (TUG), functional reach test (FRT), and lateral functional reach test (LFRT) were evaluated at initial presentation (pretest) and after completion of the each intervention program (posttest). The results showed that the TUG was significantly decreased in all groups (p<.05) and the postural sway velocity using force plate in all conditions was significantly decreased in all groups (p<.05). FRT and LFRT were significantly increased in all groups (p<.05). There were significantly differences in TUG and postural sway velocity on the eye closed condition between two groups (p<.05). In conclusion, the application of TENS to older adults whose somatosensory were deteriorated was effective for improvement balance ability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.57-66
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• 2019

Background: Visual and somatosensory integration processing is needed to reduce pusher behavior (PB) and improve postural control in hemiplegic patients with acute stroke. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of game-based postural vertical training (GPVT) on PB, postural control, and activity daily living (ADL) in acute stroke patients. Methods: Fourteen participants with acute stroke (<2 months post-stroke) who had PB according to the Burke lateropulsion scale (BLS) (score>2) were randomly divided into the GPVT group ($n_1=7$) and conventional postural vertical training (CPVT) group ($n_2=7$). The GPVT group performed game-based postural vertical training using a whole-body tilt apparatus. while the CPVT group performed conventional postural vertical training to reduce PB (30 minutes/session, 2 times/day, 5 days/week for 3 consecutive weeks). The BLS was evaluated to assess the severity of PB. And each subject's postural control ability and ADL level were assessed using the postural assessment scale for stroke (PASS), balance posture ratio (BPR), and Korean-modified Barthel index (K-MBI). Outcomes were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: Comparison of the pre- and post-intervention assessment results showed that both interventions led to the following significant changes: decreased severity of PB scores and increased PASS, BPR, and K-MBI scores (p<.05). In particular, statistical analysis between the two groups, the BLS score was significantly decreased in the GPVT group (p<.05). And PASS, BPR, and K-MBI scores were significantly improved in the GPVT group than in the CPVT group (p<.01, respectively). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that GPVT lessened PB severity and improved postural control ability and ADL levels in acute stroke patients.