• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.403-407
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• 2002

The objective of this study is to establish the new evaluating method of tinnitus and to evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy. Fourteen patients with tinnitus were studied. The patients answered the questionnaire designed to identify and describe the subjective symptoms of tinnitus and discomfort in daily life due to tinnitus. After acupuncture therapy, the survey was conducted again among the patients and we evaluated the difference between pre-acupuncture therapy and post-acupuncture therapy. 1. Precipitating factors of tinnitus among the patients group consisted of 14 members were stress, noise, drug, overwork, URI, and otitis media in order. 2. Significant improvements in subjective symptoms of tinnitus and discomfort in daily life after acupuncture therapy were identified among the patient group of 14 members 3. Patient group of 14 members were divided into 2 groups by digestion status: patients who have poor digestion and patients who have good digestion. The patients who have good digestion showed significant improvement both in subjective symptoms of tinnitus and in discomfort in daily life after acupuncture therapy. 4. Patient group of 14 members were divided Into 2 groups by urination and defecation status: patients who have poor urination and defecation and patients who have good urination and defecation. The patients who have good urination and defecation showed significant improvement both in subjective symptoms of tinnitus and in discomfort in daily life after acupuncture therapy. 5. Patient group of 14 members were divided into 2 groups by sleeping status: patients who sleep well and patients who don't sleep well. The patients who sleep well showed significant improvement both in subjective symptoms of tinnitus and in discomfort in daily life after acupuncture therapy. This study shows that the subjective symptoms of tinnitus and discomfort in daily life due to tinnitus are involved in urination and defecation factor, sleep factor, and digestion factor. This study also shows that acupuncture therapy is effective in improving the subjective symptoms of tinnitus and discomfort in daily life due to tinnitus.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.695-703
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• 2011

Objective: This study was to investigate the effects of coordinated upper-limb body postures on the subjective discomfort rating, heart rate, and muscle activities. Background: Although generally many checklists such as OWAS, RULA, and REBA were applied to evaluate various body postures, the body postures were might be overestimated or underestimated because each body part(i.e., back, shoulder, and elbow etc.) was evaluated separately, and then added all rates of individual body parts to assess an overall risk level for the body posture in these methodologies. Methods: A total of 20 participants maintained 14 postures which were combinations of back, shoulder, and elbow flexion angles and then muscle activities, subjective discomfort, and heart rates were collected every three minute during a sustained 15 minute and 0.5kg weight holding task. Four muscle groups were investigated: erector spine, anterior deltoid, upper trapezius, triceps brachii. Results: Results showed that subjective discomfort was the lowest when the angle of back and shoulder were both $0^{\circ}s$, while the body posture with $45^{\circ}$ of back angle and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder angle was rated as the most subjective discomfort posture. In general, the subjective discomfort ratings increased as back and shoulder flexion angles increased. It was noted that, however, the subjective discomfort of body posture with a $45^{\circ}$ back angle and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle was lower than that of body posture with a $0^{\circ}$ back and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle. The research findings of heart rates and muscle activities showed similar results for the analyses of subjective discomfort ratings. Conclusions: The possible limitations of the current ergonomics evaluation techniques which assessing a body posture with summing all body part score after individually analyzed in this study. Based on the analyses of subjective discomfort, heart rate, and muscle activities, it was recommended that a use of effects of coordinated upper-limb body postures would be considered when one evaluates work-load for various working postures. Application: These findings can be used for developing a more accurate assessment checklist for working posture as well as preventing musculoskeletal disorders of workers in workplaces.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.553-563
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gender (male, female) and grip spans (45, 50, 60, 70, 80mm) on total grip strength, resultant force, finger force and subjective discomfort rating. Background: In order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders, studies of hand tools need to be preceded based on grip strength, finger force, and subjective discomfort rating. However, experimental apparatus using tools such as pliers that reflect the actual work place was almost non-existent. Method: Fifty-Two (26 males and 26 females) participants were recruited from the student population. In this study, a pair of revised pliers, which can change grip span from 45 to 80mm was applied to estimate total grip strength, resultant force and individual finger forces. All participants were asked to exert a maximum grip force with three repetitions, and to report the subjective discomfort rating for five grip spans of pliers (45, 50, 60, 70, 80mm). Results: There were significant differences of total grip strength, resultant force, individual finger forces and subjective discomfort rating according to grip span. The lowest total grip strength was obtained from the grip span of 80mm for both genders. For resultant force, the highest resultant force was exerted at grip spans of 50, 60 and 70mm for females and 50 and 60mm for males. The lowest subjective discomfort rating was observed in the 50mm for both genders. Conclusion: Based on the result, 50mm and 60mm grip spans which provide the highest force and lowest discomfort rating might be recommendable for the male and female pliers users. Application: The findings of this study can provide guidelines on designing a hand tool to help to reduce hand-related musculoskeletal disorders and obtain better performance.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.469-474
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between the stature and the muscle performance ratings and the subjective discomfort rations at performing lower arm's pronation and supination according to change sin the height of working table for more efficient performance at designing a working table and performing a work. For the purpose, this study conducted an experiment targeting 40 people in their 20s, who were classified into 4 groups each group composing 10 people at intervals of 5cm from the standard stature of 166.5cm. The experiment measured the maximum isometric pronation and the supination muscular power, and at measuring the factors, the heights of working tables were set as 800mm, 850mm, and 900mm. From the measurement results, it was found that the stature and the maximum muscular power was correlated. That is, as the experiment groups's average stature is higher, the maximum muscular power was higher. For the correlation between the motion patterns(pronation and supination) and the maximum muscular power, it was seen that the maximum muscular power was higher at performing the pronation than the supination. In the correlation between motion patterns and the subjective discomfort ratings, it was seen that the subjective discomfort rating was higher at performing the supination than the pronation. For the correlation between height adjustment and the subjective discomfort ratings, as the height of working table was lower, the subject discomfort rating was lower. Therefore there was no difference in the maximum muscular power according to the height changes of working table, but it was found that as the working table was higher, the user felt more comfortable.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.25-32
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• 2024

Purpose: This study utilizes big data from the 8th (2021) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine first, the relationship between chewing discomfort in the elderly and some systemic diseases and second, whether oral diseases and oral health problems are related to systemic diseases. Since this may have an impact, we aim to provide basic data to facilitate the expansion and emphasize the importance of integrated health management education. Methods: Original data from the 8th (2021) National Health and Nutrition Survey, conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were analyzed using SPSS Version 21.0 (IBM). A complex sample frequency analysis was conducted to confirm the general and health-related characteristics of the study subjects, and a complex sample cross-analysis was conducted to determine chewing discomfort according to both general and health-related characteristics. Complex sample multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect on chewing discomfort. Results: In order to analyze the factors that affect chewing discomfort, the general characteristics that showed significant differences in chewing discomfort were adjusted for age, personal income, education level, basic livelihood security, high blood pressure, subjective health status, and subjective oral health. It was found that the condition had a statistically significant effect on chewing discomfort. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that high blood pressure, subjective health status, and subjective oral health status affect chewing discomfort; hence, measures such as developing and operating programs to improve national oral health are needed. We hope that our study will be used as basic data for research into chewing discomfort and systemic diseases in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

This study focused on the decreased effect of the work load on using the lower extremity supporter in kneeling posture. Fatigue measures included subjective discomfort ratings through the use of the Borg's CR-10 scale based parameters. The resting period and work method were considered as independent variables. The break time conditions are grouped into 10 seconds after work for 1 min and not exist break time. The method of work conditions are divided into four types. There are kneeling with the lower extremity supporter, kneeling with the knee protector, just kneeling and squatting. The result of the ANOVA of the shift value of subjective discomfort showed the followings: 1) There were differences as regards to the method of the work, the break time and the part of body($p{\leq}0.05$). 2) The lower extremity supporter showed the least subjective discomfort in other part of body except the upper leg.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-29
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a warmed blanket on relieving the cold discomfort after Cesarean Section delivery. A nonequivalent control group pre-test/post-test design was used for this quasi-experimental study. Sixty women were recruited for this study and divided by two groups: experimental and control groups. Blankets warmed to $40^{\circ}C$ were applied to the women in the experimental group for one hour and unwarmed blankets were applied to the control group. Using Abbey's shivering scales, subjective thermal sensation score, and Celsius mercury thermometer, cold discomfort was measured at four time points: 1) baseline measure (at the point the blanket was applied) 2) 15 min. later, 3) 30 min. later, and 4) 45 min. after application. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN and t-test and MANOVA were used to examine the effects of the warmed blanket for relieving cold discomfort. The results of the study are as follows. The experimental group had less cold discomfort than the control group(Wilts's value =0.580, p=0.000) at the 45 minute point after blanket application. the Experimental group reported less shivering and subjective thermal sensation than the control group. Shivering scores showed significant differences between the two groups at each of the four time points (baseline, 15 min., 30 min., and 45 min.) and subjective thermal sensation score showed significant differences between two groups at 45 minutes. after blanket application. In conclusion, the application of a warmed blanket was more effective on shivering and subjective thermal sensation than body temperature measured by objective means. Because women in this study were in the normal range of body temperature, differences in the objective body temperature between the two groups may not be sensitive enough to be detected. Even though differences in objective body temperature were not found, reduced subjective discomfort for low body temperature may be a sufficient significant finding in for nurse clinicians to utilize this method on their practice. Further studies in this area are needed to support these findings.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 2002

Purpose: This study was to examine the changes in cold discomfort according to the type of blanket used after surgery. Methods : Women scheduled for Cesarean Section were divided into two groups. After the surgery, 30 patients were covered with a warming blanket which was set at $40^{\circ}C$ by the warmer and the other 30 patients were covered with an ordinary blanket. Both group's cold discomfort was measured at 5 time points using a mercury thermometer, shivering scale. and subjective thermal sensation scale. Data were analyzed by using mean scores with t-test, paired t-test using the SPSS/WIN program. Result: At 30 min after being covered with the blanket, the axillary temperature had returned to the pre-operation temperature in both groups. At 45 min after being covered with the blanket, the women in the warming blanket group had no further shivering but for those in the ordinary blanket group shivering continued. At 45 min after being covered with the blanket, the women in the warming blanket group had returned to the condition before surgery, but those in the ordinary blanket group continued to complain of cold sensation. Conclusion: This study suggests that use of a warming blanket helps to relieve cold discomfort following surgery. This study is also expected to enhance understanding of the Importance of subjective data by exploring the difference between subjective complaints and objective data about cold discomfort.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.439-447
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study is to design a snow-removing tool using an ergonomic approach. Background: It is necessary to remove snow on the garden of a house or side street to prevent a fall hazard. When a user removes snow using a snow-removing tool, he or she experiences lots of physical discomfort. Therefore it is necessary to design a snow-removing tool to reduce a user's physical discomfort. Method: In this study, a new design for a snow-removing tool was developed considering user needs. The design prototype was compared with an existing tool through electromyography and subjective evaluation. Results: From the comparison evaluation, significant differences between the new design and the existing tool were identified in both muscle fatigue and subjective rating of discomfort. Conclusion: The result showed that the new design is better from the aspect of easing physical discomfort. Application: A new snow-removing tool can be developed using the design so that it can reduce a user's physical discomfort.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2012.04a
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• pp.455-460
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• 2012

Thirteen taxi drivers as the subject in the experiment were exposed to vertical vibration which is controlled on a rigid seat reflecting vibration on passenger vehicle. They were employed not only to get human response of objective measurement but also to make subjective evaluation of the vibration. The subjective evaluation was estimated using the absolute discomfort threshold of the controlled vibration, which was achieved with the three-down one-up method that is widely used in the field of psychophysics. As the result, apparent mass and apparent eccentric mass as objective human response tend to gradually decrease when frequency of the vibration increases. The absolute discomfort threshold was increased in case of increasing the frequency. Concludingly, the subjective discomfort evaluation is highly correlated with the objective human responses at the range of idle vibration on passenger vehicle.