• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study compared the effects of computer-based and virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation programs on the cognitive function, upper limb function, activities of daily living, and their impact on the prefrontal cortex in convalescent stroke patients. METHODS: Ten recovering stroke patients were assessed for their cognitive function, upper limb function, and daily living activities using the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination, the Korean version of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index. The prefrontal cortex activity was measured with functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy. The virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation group utilized a program of daily living activities delivered via a laptop and Oculus Rift. The computer-based cognitive rehabilitation group performed various cognitive tasks on an all-in-one PC. Both groups underwent cognitive rehabilitation training for 30 minutes per day, three times a week, for six weeks, with identical conventional rehabilitation therapies in the hospital. RESULTS: Both programs positively impacted the cognitive and physical functions. On the other hand, the virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation program had a larger influence on improving the cognitive and physical functions of convalescing stroke patients. CONCLUSION: The virtual reality program suggests its potential to enhance cognitive and physical functions in convalescent stroke patients through increased engagement, focus, real-time feedback, and game elements, making it a promising rehabilitation approach.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to quantify one of the useful upper extremity movements to evaluate motor control abilities between the groups of people with mild and moderate arm impairments performing a door handling task. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-one healthy participants and twenty-one persons with chronic stroke (9 mild stroke and 12 moderate stroke) were recruited for this study. Stroke participants were divided into 2 groups based on Fugle-Meyer Assessment scores of 58-65 (mild arm) and 38-57 (moderate arm). All they performed door handling task including the pronation and supination phases 3 times. We measured some movement factors which were reaction time, movement time, hand of peak velocity, hand of movement units to perform door handling task using the three-dimensional motion analysis. Results: The majority of kinematic variables showed significant differences among study groups (p<0.05). The reaction time, total and phase of movement time, hand of peak velocity, the number of movement units discriminated between healthy participants and persons with moderate upper limb stroke (p<0.05). In addition, reaction time, total and phase of movement time, the number of movement units discriminated between those with moderate and mild upper limbs of stroke patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: Three-dimensional kinematic motion analysis in this study was a useful tool for assessing the upper extremity function in different subgroups of people with stroke during the door handling task. These kinematic variables may help clinicians understand the arm movements in door handling task and consist of discriminative therapeutic interventions for stroke patients on upper extremity rehabilitation.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.919-926
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• 2010

This paper proposes a wearable hand rehabilitation device, DULEX, for persons with functional paralysis of upper-limbs after stoke. DULEX has three degrees of freedom for rehabilitation exercises for wrist and fingers except the thumb. The main function of DULEX is to extend the range of motions of finger and wrist being contracture. DULEX is designed by using a parallel mechanism, and its parameters such as length and location of links are determined by kinematic analysis. The motion trajectory of the designed DULEX is aligned to human hand to prevent a slip. To reduce total weight of DULEX, artificial air muscles are used for actuating each joint motion. In feedback control, each joint angle is indirectly estimated from the relations of the input air pressure and the output muscle length. Experimental results show that DULEX is feasible in hand rehabilitation for stroke survivals.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.115-125
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Bee-venom Acupuncture on upper limb spasticity control in stroke patients. Methods : Ten stroke patients with upper limb spasticity were randomly divided into two groups, a Bee-Venom Acupuncture group(group I) and a normal saline group(group II). After 1 week resting phase, this trial was used a cross-over trial. The numbers of Pharmacopuncture treatment were 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS), WMFT(Wolf Motor Function Test), The 10-second Test were used for evaluation of spasticity control before experiment, after 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks. Results : Group I showed significant improvement(p<.05) in MAS, WMFT, The 10-second Test. But Group II showed no significant improvement(p<.05) in MAS, WMFT, The 10-second Test. The results showed significant difference in WMFT, The 10-second Test, but no significant difference in MAS between two groups. Conclusions : These results showed that Bee-venom Acupuncture might decrease upper limb spasticity and increase arm motor function in stroke patients. Further studies will be required to examine more cases in the long period for the effect on upper limb in spasticity by Bee-Venom Acupuncture.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2002

The purpose of this dissertation was to analyze the effect of trunk extension strengthening exercise on muscle performance of the upper limb in adolescent baseball player. The twenty people were studied : experimental group(10), comparative group(10). The experimental group has done trunk extension strengthening exercise for 8 weeks. The study analyzes isometric maximal strength of shoulder internal rotation. shoulder external rotation, elbow flexion, elbow extension, forearm pronation, forearm supination and ball speed. All of subjects were tested for 3 times ; pre, mid, post. The results were as follows; 1. Maximal isometric strength of upper limb, during trunk extension strengthening exercise in experimental group, shoulder internal rotation and external rotation showed it has slightly increased and comparative group showed it has no change, but not significant elbow flexion and extension significantly(p<0.05) increased after exercise either for 4 or 8 weeks compared with that of control group. Forearm pronation showed not significantly changed in both group, but significantly different between group either for 4 or 8 weeks. Forearm supination, significantly((p<0.05) increased after 8 weeks in experimental group. 2. Ball speed showed slightly increased but not significantly in experimental group. These results it may expect improvement of upper limb muscle performance of upper limb in adolescent baseball player. However, in case of shoulder a point of view of bunk extension strengthening exercise of this study hasn't a significant influence. More experimental studies are needs, hereafter which will use more experimental subjects and various methods of exercise and new application of treatment term to define significant change.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2015

This paper describes the design of a two-axis force sensor with two step plate beams for measuring forces in an upper-limb rehabilitation robot. The two-axis force sensor is composed of a Fz force sensor and a Ty torque sensor. The Fz force sensor measures the force applied to a patient's arm pushed by a rehabilitation robot and the force of patient's arm. The Ty torque sensor measures the torque generated by a patient's arm motion in an emergency. The structure of sensor is composed of a force transmitting block, two step plate beams and two fixture blocks. The two-axis force sensor was designed using FEM (Finite Element Method), and manufactured using strain-gages. The characteristics test of the two-axis force sensor was carried out. as a test results, the interference error of the two-axis force sensor was less than 1.24%, the repeatability error of each sensor was less than 0.03%, and the non-linearity was less than 0.02%.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2018

Objective: Participation restrictions are serious problems that stroke survivors experience while reintegrating into family, work, community, and social situations after participating in rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors affecting participation in activities of daily living (ADL), as well as social and leisure activities of individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study involved 96 participants who were diagnosed with a first stroke 6 months before the study (58 men, 38 women; $60.3{\pm}14.3years$). The Berg Balance Scale, Modified Barthel Index, Manual Function test, and Activity Card Sort were used to assess static and dynamic balance function, upper limb function, level of independence, and their level of participation within the community. A regression analysis was used to identify the influence of factors affecting participation in ADL, social and recreational activities. Results: The Activity Card Sort scores were significantly affected by the Manual Function test and Modified Barthel Index scores (p<0.05). Participation in leisure activities was affected by the level of independence. Participation in social activities was affected by the balance function and level of independence of the participants. Conclusions: The results of this study have shown that participation restrictions are affected by upper limb function, balance function, and the level of independence in individuals with hemiparetic stroke.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2018

We describe a case of a 71-year-old male patient who experienced progressive bilateral proximal upper limb weakness and atrophy without sensory symptoms and signs over 5 years. Electromyography demonstrated denervation potentials and neuropathic motor unit action potentials on C5-C7 myotome muscles bilaterally. Cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed engorged anterior epidural venous plexus, T2 hyperintensity localized to grey matter ("snake-eye" appearance) at C2-C6 vertebral level, and ventral epidural fluid collection from C6 to T8 vertebral level. This case indicates that bibrachial amyotrophy associated with epidural fluid leak should be suspected in patients presenting with progressive bilateral upper limb weakness and atrophy without sensory involvement.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.2644-2651
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate difference between grip strength, upper limb dexterity, and hand function according to touch and heat sensory stimulus. Forty healthy men were recruited. After obtaining subjects characteristics, examined grip strength, upper limb dexterity, and hand function, then we made touch sensory input using soft brush and tried the test again. Next day, we made thermal input using hot pack and did retest, too. The result showed significant differences appeared on every variable in grip strength and upper limb dexterity test (p<.001), and significant differences appeared on every variable except lifting small objects in hand function (p<.01). In conclusion, sensory input is to increase grip strength, upper limb dexterity, and hand function. The thermal sensory input has a tendency to increase grip strength, upper limb dexterity, and hand function than that of touch sensory input in effect of stimulus classification. The application of proper stimulus helps to facilitate upper limb and hand function in rehabilitation and in industrial field. So it is necessary to try more tests of frequency and intensity of stimulus.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2013

Upper extremity dysfunction is a common consequence following stroke. Spontaneous recovery during the first six months post-stroke is rigorous and considered as a significant indicator of potential long-term progress. Various approaches have been utilized to regain functional upper limb movement necessary for independent living; however, conventional therapy approaches have failed to prove consistency, especially for subacute stroke patients. There is, thus, a need for innovative therapeutic strategies that motivate stroke survivors to facilitate neural and functional recovery during the critical window immediately following stroke. The effect of music on physical enhancement has been frequently reported in the field of medicine as well as neurorehabilitation. The efficacy of rhythm on lower extremity deficits has been well established. Yet, the rationale for using instrumental music making enhancing subacute upper extremities rehabilitation is not clearly described to date. Based on the key mechanism of music as sensori-motor movement facilitator, this paper reviews previous empirical research that utilized music-based interventions for upper extremity rehabilitation for stroke patients, either in the form of receptive or expressive activity. This paper, further, focuses on the current research trends in subacute stroke upper limb rehabilitation and provides applicable rationale of using instrumental music playing.