• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.61-73
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the effect of cranio-cervical flexion based trunk stabilization exercise on gross motor function and posture alignment change in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: Twenty-six children participated in this study. All subjects were randomly assigned to either the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Based Trunk Stabilization Exercise (CCFTS) group (n=13) or the Trunk Stabilization Exercise (TS) group (n=13). In both groups were trained general physical therapy for 10 minutes, in the CCFTS group was trained cranio-cervical flexion based trunk stabilization exercise for 20 minutes and in the TS group was trained trunk stabilization exercise for 20 minutes. The training was provided 2 times a week during 8 weeks. All subjects were measured with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Cranio-Vertebral Angle (CVA) before and after intervention. Results: The results showed that the CCFTS have increased significantly in GMFM (B, C, D and E-dimension) and CVA, and the TS group have increased significantly in GMFM (B, C D and E-dimension). In particular, the CCFTS group improved significantly than TS group in GMFM (B, C and D-dimension) and CVA. Therefore, the cranio-cervical flexion based trunk stabilization exercise improved gross motor function and posture alignment in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Conclusion: These results suggest that cranio-cervical flexion based trunk stabilization exercise is feasible and suitable for individuals with a spastic cerebral palsy and can be used in addition to conventional physical therapy.

• Exercise Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2017

PURPOSE: To examine the cumulative (7 days) effect of breaking up prolonged sitting on systemic endothelial function in sedentary men. METHODS: Thirty sedentary men ($33.93{\pm}5.72years$) participated in two randomized 7 days sitting trial (Sit group (control) vs. Breaks group). The protocol of Breaks group is as follows: 4-minute of moderate-intensity marching in place (walking) every 1 hour during business hour (total: 8 breaks/day). Assessment of brachial artery endothelial function using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and arterial stiffness indices (augmentation index, arterial pressure and pulse wave velocity) were measured before and after 7 days treatment. RESULTS: Brachial artery FMD significantly increased after 7 days breaking up prolonged sitting treatment (Breaks groups, $9.65{\pm}2.61$ to $9.62{\pm}2.6%$) compared with 7 days prolonged sitting (Sit group, $8.37{\pm}3.41$ to $10.11{\pm}3.75%$) (interaction effect, p=.004). Arterial pressure (AP) significantly increased after treatment (Breaks group, $2.75{\pm}2.19$ to $2.38{\pm}1.63mmHg$, p=.002) in Sit group but there was no change (Sit group, $1.00{\pm}3.18$ to $2.50{\pm}9.23mmHg$) in Breaks groups (interaction effect, p=.008). CONCLUSIONS: These finding show that 7 days regular breaking up prolonged sitting improve in FMD, compared with prolonged sitting. Therefore, regular breaking up prolonged sitting may improve systemic endothelial function in sedentary men.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2022

Objective: This study attempted to find out if it changes the child's ability to perform daily life activities when visiting the familiar environment and daily living space of children with cerebral palsy and conducting a home activity support program for children and parents. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Methods: Among 22 children aged 3 to 12 years old, they were assigned to the intervention group and control group. Of these, 12 boys and 10 girls participated in the study. Gross motor function measure and upper extremity function evaluation were used to measure the physical function of children with cerebral palsy, and self-care skills, mobility and social functions were evaluated in the pediatric evaluation of disability inventory. In addition, a parenting sense of competence was used to find out the efficacy of parents in raising children. After the pre-evaluation, basic rehabilitation treatment and intervention programs were applied to the intervention group, and only basic rehabilitation treatment was performed to the control group, and post-evaluation was performed 8 weeks later. Results: As a result of the study, among the items that measured the gross motor function, upper limb function, and daily life performance ability of the intervention group in the difference between the intervention group and the control group, statistically improved in personal processing and movement (p<0.05). In addition, the parenting sense of competence children in the intervention group was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: The home activity support program will help strengthen the ability of cerebral palsy children to perform daily life as a way to set mutually agreed goals with their families or children and achieve them in a familiar environment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.49-60
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• 2023

Purpose : We aimed to evaluate the impact of a exercise with kinect-based mixed reality device (KMR) on physical function, upper extremity disability, fatigue, and quality of life in breast cancer survivors. We hypothesized that this exercise program would improve physical function, physical activity, fatigue, and quality of life. Methods : Thirty-nine breast cancer survivors were randomized to either the KMR exercise group (KE) or the home stretch group (HS). The KE participated in 8 weeks of exercise, exercising 3 times per week, while the HS performed 8 weeks of stretching exercises, also 3 times per week. Before and after the intervention period, participants underwent assessments of physical function, including body composition, chester step test (CST), and hand grip strength (HGS). Additionally, participants completed questionnaires including the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire, and functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) questionnaire to measure their physical activity levels, upper extremity disability, and quality of life, respectively. Results : Overall, significant improvements were observed in several shoulder movements, body weight, and physical activity, with no significant interaction effects between groups and time. Furthermore, there was a significant group by time interaction for body weight, left flexion, right flexion, right abduction, and left adduction, as well as for upper extremity disability (K-DASH) and quality of life (FACT-B). Conclusion : In conclusion, the KMR exercise program was found to be effective at improving physical function, upper extremity disability, quality of life, and overall well-being in breast cancer survivors. The significant improvements observed in multiple measures and the significant group by time interactions for various outcomes highlight the potential benefits of this KMR exercise program in promoting a better quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.82-90
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• 2024

Objectives: Nitric oxide is the most important mediator of penile erection after the onset of sexual excitement. It activates cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), increasing penile blood flow. Most pharmaceutical medications prevent enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) from breaking down cGMP, thus keeping its level high. However, due to the adverse effects of pharmacological therapies, herbal drugs that improve sexual function have gained attention recently. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine amino acid on the sexual performance of individuals with erectile dysfunction (ED) using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Methods: Over three months, 98 men with erectile dysfunction were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg of herbal supplements or placebo pills. Each herbal tablet contained 100 mg of protodioscin, 35 mg of ginsenosides, and 250 mg of L-arginine. Results: The results showed that the changes in the average scores of ILEF-5 within each group before and after the intervention indicated that all parameters related to the improvement of sexual function in patients with erectile dysfunction improved in the herbal treatment group (p < 0.001). The herbal group significantly improved IIEF-5 scores in nondiabetics (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the changes of IIEF-5 scores between the two intervention and control groups in diabetic patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine have properties that increase energy and strengthen sexual function, making them suitable for patients with sexual disorders.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to determine the effects of training on breathing re-education on pain and dysfunction levels, posture, quality of life (QoL), and pulmonary function in patients. Methods: This study included 34 patients with chronic neck pain and upper thoracic breathing pattern were included. The participants were assigned to either the routine physical therapy program (RPTP) (CG; n=17) or RPTP and breathing pattern re-education training (EG; n=17). The CG and EG groups performed RPTP for 40 minutes, and only the EG groups performed breathing re-education training for 10 minutes. Exercises were performed thrice weekly for both groups. Level of pain and dysfunction, posture, QoL and pulmonary function status were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: After four weeks of intervention, numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), Korean version of neck disability index, cranio-vertebral angle, cranial rotation angle, and 12-item short form health survey-physical and mental component summaries had significant differences before and after intervention in both groups (p<.01). However, only NPRS, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1s, and maximum voluntary ventilation showed significant interactions between the two groups and measurement time (p<.01). Conclusion: Breathing re-education training and RPTP may be optimal for patients with chronic neck pain and may be more effective in improving neck pain and pulmonary function.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.294-303
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of radial shock wave therapy (RSWT) targeting multiple myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) along myofascial chains on shoulder pain, function, range of motion, and muscle strength in patients with bicipital tendinopathy. While traditional treatments primarily focus on a single MTrP, this study aims to achieve better clinical improvement by simultaneously treating multiple MTrPs along the myofascial chains. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with bicipital tendinopathy were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=14) or a control group (n=14). The experimental group received RSWT targeting multiple MTrPs along myofascial chains, while the control group received RSWT focused on a single MTrP in the biceps brachii. Both groups underwent three treatment sessions over a nine-day period, with one session every three days. Outcomes, including shoulder pain, function, range of motion, and muscle strength, were measured before and after treatment to assess therapeutic effects. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in shoulder pain, function, range of motion, and muscle strength (p<0.05). However, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in all outcome measures compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: RSWT targeting multiple MTrPs along myofascial chains showed significantly greater effects in relieving shoulder pain, improving function, enhancing range of motion, and strengthening muscles in patients with bicipital tendinopathy compared to treatment targeting a single MTrP. Therefore, this study proposes that a comprehensive treatment strategy considering the entire myofascial pathway may be more effective in the rehabilitation of patients with bicipital tendinopathy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of massive clinical research and to make a basic analysis on the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion treatment on knee osteoarthritis compared to usual care. Methods and Results : This study is a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. Forty participants are assigned to the moxibustion group (n=20) and usual care group (n=20). Participants assigned to the moxibustion group receive moxibustion treatment on the affected knee(s) at six standard acupuncture points (ST36, ST35, ST34, SP9, Ex-LE04 and SP10) three times per week for four weeks (total of 12 sessions). Participants in the usual care group don't receive moxibustion treatment during the study period and follow-up are made on the 5th, 9th and 13th weeks after random allocation. Both groups are allowed to use any kind of treatment, including surgery, conventional medication, physical treatment, acupuncture, herbal medicine, over-the-counter drugs and other active treatments. Education material that explains knee osteoarthritis and current management options and self-exercise is provided for each group. The pain scale of the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Questionnaire (K-WOMAC) is the primary outcome measurement used in this study. Other subscales of the K-WOMAC, the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Physical Function test, Patient Global Assessment, and Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) are used as outcome variables to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture. Safety is assessed at every visit. Conclusions : The result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.26-40
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• 2014

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of electroacupuncture on swallow function in stroke patients with dysphagia. The purpose was to determine whether electroacupuncture could improve swallow function and quality of life for patients with dysphagia caused by stroke. A pilot double-blind, randomized controlled trial design was used Methods: A total of 17 stroke patients with dysphagia were recruited to this study, 8 assigned to the swallowing electroacupuncture (SE) group and 9 to the control group. Swallowing electroacupuncture was assessed for 5 Hz electrical or sham stimulation for 20 min duration 3 times a week. Outcome measurements were DOSS, 14-item questionnaire from the SWAL-QOL, NIHSS and MBI. Assessment was carried out for baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks Results: In the 2 weeks follow up data, the study group showed significant difference in DOSS and SWAL-QOL compared with the baseline. The study group also showed significant difference in DOSS and SWAL-QOL compared with the control group. Similarly in the 4 weeks follow up data, the study group showed improvement tendency in DOSS and SWAL-QOL compared with baseline and also with the control. The NIHSS and MBI scores returned no significant differences. The swallowing electroacupuncture was well tolerated in all cases with no serious adverse effects. Conclusions: The findings from the pilot study indicated that electroacupuncture has significant effects on improvement in swallowing function and quality of life. With both inpatients and outpatients, further larger and longer-term follow-up study is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.39-49
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• 2000

This study was conducted to prove that there exists a relation between the spleen and learning and memory as Oriental medicine believesTo promote the function of the Spleen, Guibitang was administered to rats in this study. Rats were 250～300g Sprague-Dawley, and were divided into three groups. One was the normal group without any pretreatment. Another was the control group which was administered normal saline and the abdominal injection of L-NAME before learning and memory test. And the 3rd was the sample group, to which was administered Guibitang extract and (no 'the') abdominal injection of L-NAME before the learning and memory test. Each group was made up of 12 rats. Morris water maze and radial arm maze tasks were performed in the learning test and Morris water maze task in the memory test. For 2 days to evaluate the ability of learning in the Morris water maze, 16 trials were carried out and first latency(lapse time to find the escape platform for the first time) was measured. The next day, to evaluate the ability of memory, the escape platform was eliminated from the maze, and total path, target entry number, first latency and memory score were measured. 48hrs before the radial arm maze task was performed, bait was deprived from each group. After learning test, bait was permitted to each group. So 85% of the body weight was maintained for 6 days of the test. Each of the eight arms was baited; correct choice numer and error were counted; each trial was finished when the rat had entered each of the eight arms, or more than 10 minutes had elapsed. The results were as follows: In the learning test, the first latency of the sample group in the Morris water maze showed evident improvement of learning compared to control group at the 11th, 12th, 13th trial of 16 trials, and correct choice number in radial arm maze showed noticeable improvement compared to the control group at 3rd, 4th and 5th; In the memory test, the memory score of the sample group showed evident improvement compared to the control group. From the above results, the administration of Guibitang, which tonifies the function of the Spleen, could enhance the ability of learning and memory. So it was suggested that the Spleen has a relation with learning and memory.