• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality (VR) therapy with compensation inhibition and feedback (CIF) on upper extremity function in chronic stroke patients. Seven chronic stroke patients participated in this study, which was a randomized controlled trial with a crossover design. Self upper extremity exercise, conservative VR therapy, and VR therapy with CIF were performed for one hour per session, 5 times per week, over a 3 week period. The main outcome measures involved range of motion (ROM) including shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, a Manual Function Test (MFT), and a Motor Activity Log (MAL). Data were calculated as posttest and pretest changes in every session and were analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests at p<.05. The results were as follows: 1) Statistically significant increase in ROM measurements of shoulder and elbow joints were seen with VR therapy with CIF compared to VR therapy and self upper extremity exercise (p<.05), whereas no significant increasing was noted for the wrist joint (p>.05). 2) Statistically significant increase in the MFT was seen with VR therapy with CIF compared with VR therapy and self upper extremity exercise (p<.05). 3) VR therapy with CIF also resulted in statistically significant increase in both activity of use (AOU) (p<.05) and quality of movement (QOM) (p<.05) on the MAL test when compared with VR therapy and self upper extremity exercise, respectively. In conclusion, VR therapy with CIF was more effective than conservative VR therapy and self upper extremity exercise in improving the upper extremity function in hemiplegic patients with chronic stroke.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigated the effects of threshold resistance inspiratory muscle training on respiratory function in chronic stroke patients. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Methods: Eighteen patient with stroke were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=9) and control group (n=9) all testing and training. The experimental group underwent threshold resistance inspiratory muscle training with resistance adjusted of maximal inspiratory pressure, 60 breathing a day and general physical therapy 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. The control group was taken general respiratory muscle training and general physical therapy for 4 weeks in the same way. Respiratory function, walking ability were evaluated before and after the intervention. Statistical significance of the results were evaluated by ANCOVA between control group and experimental group after intervention. Results: There was a significant increase in FVC and FEV1 in the experimental group in pulmonary function tests (p<0.05). There was a significant difference with the maximum inspiratory pressure and the maximum inspiratory flow rate between experimental and control group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference with the maximum inspiratory capacity between experimental and control group (p>0.05) but the maximum inspiratory capacity of experimental group some increased than that of control group. Conclusion: These finding gave some indications that the threshold resistance inspiratory training may benefit on pulmonary function in people with stroke, and it is feasible to be included in rehabilitation interventions with this population.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.103-116
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects on the upper extremity function, muscle strength, and hand function of a task-oriented training approach using a percussion instrument for patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: Twenty-four chronic stroke patients accompanied with upper extremity hemiplegia were selected for research and were classified randomly into 12 experimental groups and 12 control groups. The experimental group performed a task-oriented approach, and the control group performed upper extremity occupational therapy. Stroke upper extremity test, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function test, upper extremity muscle strength test, and hand muscle strength test were measured before and after training in the evaluation process. RESULTS: In the upper extremity test and Jebsen-Taylor test, there were no significant differences between the groups. In the upper extremity muscle strength test, there were significant differences in shoulder flexion, internal rotation, and elbow flexion in the experimental group. In the hand muscle strength test, there were significant differences in the grip, tip Pinch, lateral Pinch, and 3-jaw chuck in the experimental group and significant differences in only grip, tip pinch, and lateral pinch in the control group. In addition, there were significant differences in the lateral pinch compared to the amount of change. CONCLUSION: Task-oriented approach using percussion instruments for upper extremity rehabilitation in stroke patients is effective in the upper extremity function and strength, hand function, and strength.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 2024

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of high-intensity laser therapy(HILT), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS), and ultrasound(US) treatment on pain, grip strength, and hand function in patients who had undergone carpal tunnel syndrome surgery. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty patients who had undergone carpal tunnel syndrome surgery were randomly assigned to receive either TENS combined with HILT, US combined with HILT, or only HILT as the control group. Treatments were applied around the surgical site, and pre- and post-treatment changes were evaluated. Pain was assessed using NPRS, hand symptoms using CTS-6 and BCTQ-SSS, grip strength with an electronic dynamometer, and hand function using BCTQ-FSS. Treatments were administered seven times over two weeks. Results: The pain and symptoms were significantly reduced(p<0.05) and grip strength and hand function were significantly increased(p<0.05) after treatment compared to before treatment for all subjects. Pain was significantly reduced(p<0.05) and grip strength was significantly increased(p<0.05) in the TESN+HILT group and US+HILT group compared to the Control group. Hand symptoms were significantly reduced(p<0.05) and hand function significantly increased(p<0.05) in the TENS+HILT group compared to the Control group. Conclusions: TENS combined with HILT was found to be more effective than US combined with HILT in reducing pain and symptoms and improving grip strength and hand function in patients following carpal tunnel syndrome surgery. These findings suggest that these treatment modalities can be beneficially applied in clinical practice.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.163-169
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vibration resistance exercise (VRE) in patients with tennis elbow on strength, range of motion (ROM), function, pain and quality of life (QOL). Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-seven participants were randomly assigned to either the VRE group (n=9), weight resistance exercise (WRE) group (n=9) or control group (n=9). Each group underwent hot compress for 15 minutes and electrotherapy for 15 minutes. The VRE group underwent exercises using a vibrating ball for 5 minutes. The WRE group underwent exercises using dumbbells for 5 minutes. All participants were evaluated on wrist extension strength using a hand-held dynamometer, grip strength level through an electric dynamometer, and ROM through a smartphone goniometer application before and after intervention. Patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation, Visual Analogue Scale and Short Form 8 were measured by questionnaires. Results: There were showed significant differences among the VRE, WRE and control group in wrist extensor muscle and hand grip strength, ROM, elbow function, pain and QOL after intervention (p<0.05). The VRE group showed a greater significant improvement in wrist extensor muscle strength and elbow function compared with the others (p<0.05). The VRE and the WRE groups had a more significant improvement in wrist extensor muscle and hand grip strength, ROM and pain compared with the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in QOL among the three groups. Conclusions: Combining VRE with thermotherapy and electrotherapy appears to be more effective in improving wrist extension strength, ROM, elbow function, QOL in tennis elbow patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.81-87
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• 2010

In order to calculate the accurate runoff from a basin, nonlinearity in the relationship between rainfall and runoff has to be considered. Many runoff calculation models assume the linearity in the relationship or are too complicated to be analyzed. Therefore, the storage function method has been used in the prediction of flood because of the simplicity of the model. The storage function method has five parameters with related to the basin and rainfall characteristics which can be estimated by the empirical trial and error method. To optimize these parameters, regression method or optimization techniques such as genetic algorithm have been used, however, it is not easy to optimize them because of the complexity of the method. In this study, the metamodel is proposed to estimate those model parameters. The metamodel is the combination of artificial neural network and genetic algorithm. The model is consisted of two stages. In the first stage, an artificial neural network is constructed using the given rainfall-runoff relationship. In the second stage, the parameters of the storage function method are estimated using genetic algorithm and the trained artificial neural network. The proposed metamodel is applied in the Peong Chang River basin and the results are presented.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-34
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• 2003

Objective : To ascertain whether the concept of the treatment side is associated with changes in the blind spot mapping that represents the brain function. Methods : Among the outpatients who visited to Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, National Medical Center from March 2002 to October 2002, we selected 40 clinical trial volunteers that showed right side physiological blind spot more enlarged than left, and underwent the examinations of Department of Opthalmology, National Medical Center for ruling out the pathological conditions. Physiological blind spot maps were used as an integer of brain activity before and after electroacupuncture application on the unilateral ST36 meridian point by dividing 40 subjects into two comparative groups for double-blind controlled study. Results: The significant changes in the blind spots were observed. Electroacupuncture application on the ipsilateral or contralateral ST36 of an enlargement cortical map were associated with the concept of determining the treatment side. In the case of electroacupuncture application on the ipsilateral side of an enlarged blind spot, there were decrease of $4.11{\pm}8.56cm$(17.3%) in blind spot perimetry length(p < 0.05). In the case of contralateral side, there were increase of $3.19{\pm}5.40cm$(13.7%) in blind spot perimetry length(p<0.05). The Differences were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusions: We found that eletroacupuncture application was associated with an increase or decrease in the brain function in the view of blind spot changes depending on the treatment side. These results suggest that the traditional acupuncture therapeutic strategy with determining the treatment side has clinical significance in the view of the brain function.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.325-332
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• 2006

The dynamic responses of human standing postural control were investigated when subjects were exposed to long-term horizontal vibration. It was hypothesized that the motion of standing posture complexity mainly occurs in the mid-sagittal plane. The motor-driven support platform was designed as a source of vibration. The AC Servo-controlled motors produced anterior/posterior (AP) motion. The platform acceleration and the trunk angular velocity were used as the input and the output of the system, respectively. A method was proposed to identify the complexity of the standing posture dynamics. That is, during AP platform motion, the subject's knee, hip and neck were tightly constrained by fixing assembly, so the lower extremity, trunk and head of the subject's body were individually immovable. Through this method, it was assumed that the ankle joint rotation mainly contributed to maintaining their body balance. Four subjects took part in this study. During the experiment, the random vibration was generated at a magnitude of $0.44m/s^2$, and the duration of each trial was 40 seconds. Measured data were estimated by the coherence function and the frequency response function for analyzing the dynamic behavior of standing control over a frequency range from 0.2 to 3 Hz. Significant coherence values were found above 0.5 Hz. The estimation of frequency response function revealed the dominant resonance frequencies between 0.60 Hz and 0.68 Hz. On the basis of our results illustrated here, the linear model of standing postural control was further concluded.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2003

The patient had bruxism and epilepsy tendency. Inadequate or unstable posterior support was identified due to severe anterior attrition and decreased occlusal vertical dimension. Prematurities of posterior occlusal and wear facets increased the function of anterior teeth, resulting in severe wear. Wear facets displayed sharply defined peripheries, which are matched on articulated diagnostic casts. Also the patient showed C III malocclusion tendency, and lost some facial contour with drooping corners on the mouth. In this case, the alteration of OVD (Occlusal Vertical Dimention) may provide a biologically compatible adjunct to the treatment such as dentofacial esthetics, improved visual proportion in facial heightand mechanical solutions to the force-management of the masticatory system. The patient requires extensive restorative treatment to regain appropriate function, esthetics and comfort. According to the report by Farhad Fays, the average vertical distance from the maxillary to the mandibular mucolabial reflection in the region of the central incisors is approximately 34mm. However, the vertical distance of this patient was found to be 32mm, which was necessary to add gauge 20-sheets to apply vertical dimension. A removable occlusal overlay splint, which restores OVD to the estimated optimalposition, is the general first trial. The patient was observed periodically for 6 weeks, while appropriate adjustments were made vertical dimension to function. When patient felt comfortable with the splint, the teeth were prepared, and provisional restorations are placed for 3 months. The provisional restoration was fabricated by a diagnostic wax-up. When the patient felt comfortable with the provisional restoration, the final restoration mimics OVD, function, and esthetics that have been developed in the treatment restorations. Restoration of the extremely worn dentition presents a substantial challenge to thedentists. Therefore, careful evaluation of the etiology, history, and factors associated with occlusal vertical dimension should be preceded prior to the appropriate treatment planning.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.125-130
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• 2009

Storage function method which considers the non-linearity of the relationship between rainfall and runoff has been frequently used to predict runoff in a basin and a flood pattern. However, it is time-consuming to estimate appropriate parameters of every basin and rainfall event, which requires the empirical parameter equation applicable in Korea. In this study, multiple regression analysis is used to develop empirical equations to estimate parameters of Storage Function method using basin characteristics. The basin area, maximum stream length, and stream slope are considered as the basin characteristics as the result of the regression analysis. Collinearity is removed and trial-and-error method is used to choose the most descriptive parameters to the dependent variables in Han River basin which is divided into 30 subbasins. The developed equations are validated using the rainfall events in MunMak gauging station and named as 'Han River equation'. The equation could provide the useful information about Storage Function method parameter to calculate runoff from a basin and predict river stage.