• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.843-850
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• 2007

This paper proposes a somatosensory stimulation system for the improvement of postural stability using vibration as somatosensory stimulation. This system consists of vibratory stimulation and postural response measurement. To evaluate this system, the center of pressure(COP) was closely observed in turn with simultaneous or separate mechanical vibratory stimulations to flexor ankle muscles (tibialis anterior, triceps surae) and two plantar zones on both feet while standing on a stable and an unstable support. The simultaneous vibratory stimulations cleared influenced postural stability and the effects of vibrations were higher with the unstable support. In separate vibratory stimulations, the extent of the COP sway reduced when the direction of the vibratory stimulations and that of the inclination of body coincided for flexor ankle muscle stimulations. In the contrary, the extent of the COP sway increased when the direction of the stimulations and that of body inclination coincided for plantar zone stimulations. These results can be useful for the development of rehabilitation systems that utilizes somatosensory inputs for postural balance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2021

Background and Objectives During speech, the vocal folds oscillate at frequencies ranging from 100-200 Hz with amplitudes of a few millimeters. Mechanical stimulation is an essential factor which affects metabolism of human vocal folds. The effect of mechanical vibration on the cellular response in the human vocal fold fibroblasts cells (hVFFs) was evaluated. Materials and Method We created a culture systemic device capable of generating vibratory stimulations at human phonation frequencies. To establish optimal cell culture condition, cellular proliferation and viability assay was examined. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction was used to assess extracellular matrix (ECM) related and growth factors expression on response to changes in vibratory frequency and amplitude. Western blot was used to investigate ECM and inflammation-related transcription factor activation and its related cellular signaling transduction pathway. Results The cell viability was stable with vibratory stimulation within 24 h. A statistically significant increase of ECM genes (collagen type I alpha 1 and collagen type I alpha 2) and growth factor [transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1)] observe under the experimental conditions. Vibratory stimulation induced transcriptional activation of NF-κB by phosphorylation of p65 subunit through cellular Mitogen-activated protein kinases activation by extracellular signal regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) phosphorylation on hVFFs. Conclusion This study confirmed enhancing synthesis of collagen, TGF-β1 and FGF was testified by vibratory stimulation on hVFFs. This mechanism is thought to be due to the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Taken together, these results demonstrate that vibratory bioreactor may be a suitable alternative to hVFFs for studying vocal folds cellular response to vibratory vocalization.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of whole body vibratory stimulation on muscle strength, balance, and fall efficacy among super-aged women. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-eight super-aged women over 80 years of age were assigned to either the experimental group (n=14) and control group (n=14). The experimental group received an exercise program that used the whole body vibratory stimulation with a frequency of 30 Hz and amplitude of 3 mm, and the control group received an exercise program without vibratory stimulation. Intervention was provided for 4 weeks, 3 sessions per week, and 30 minutes per session. In order to measure lower extremity muscle strength the 30-second chair stand test (CST) was used. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure dynamic balance. Static balance was measured by tracking the path length, velocity, and area of the center of pressure (CoP). The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) was used to measure the subjects' fear of falling. Results: Both the experimental and control group demonstrated statistically significant increase in muscle strength, dynamic balance, and fall efficacy (p<0.05). Only the experimental group showed significant improvements in static balance before and after the intervention (p<0.05). The experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in CST, BBS, and CoP (path length, velocity) than control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Whole body vibratory stimulation exercise is shown to be a safe and appropriate physical therapy intervention method to enhance muscle strength, balance, and fall efficacy of super-aged women.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2012

This study was designed to investigate the effect of vibratory stimulation on recovery of muscle function from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Volunteers performed 3 set of 70 % maximal voluntary eccentric muscle contraction and induced DOMS. volunteers were allocated to one of three treatment group after DOMS : group I (control), group II (ultrasound), group III (vibration). Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Range Of Motion (ROM), Root Mean Square (RMS), Median frequency (MDF), Blood Serum Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were recorded at baseline, and 24, 48, 72 hours post-exercise. In MVIC measurement, there was a statistically significant difference in group III compared to group I (p < .05). In VAS measurements, there were a statistically significant difference in group II and III compared to group I (p < .05). In ROM measurement, there was a statistically difference in group II and III compared to group I (p < .05). In Muscle Volume with Ultrasonography measurement, there was no statistically significant difference in any groups (p > .05). In RMS and MDF measurement, there were a statistically significant difference in group II and III compared to group I (p < .05). In Blood samples of CK and LDH measurements, There were no statistically significant difference in any groups (p > .05). From the above result, Vibratory stimulation had a positive effect on recovery of muscle function from delayed onset muscle soreness. Further studies should be undertaken to ascertain the more effectiveness of vibratory stimulation and may be a promising treatment modality.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: Hearing can be elicited in response to vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid in the external auditory meatus. To obtain a complete audiogram in subjects with normal hearing in response to pure tone vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus. Subjects and Methods: Pure tone vibratory stimuli in the audiometric range from 0.25 to 6.0 kHz were delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus of eight participants with normal hearing (15 dB or better) using a rod attached to a standard clinical bone vibrator. The fluid thresholds obtained were compared to the air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC; mastoid), and soft tissue conduction (STC; neck) thresholds in the same subjects. Results: Fluid stimulation thresholds were obtained at every frequency in each subject. The fluid and STC (neck) audiograms sloped down at higher frequencies, while the AC and BC audiograms were flat. It is likely that the fluid stimulation audiograms did not involve AC mechanisms or even, possibly, osseous BC mechanisms. Conclusions: The thresholds elicited in response to the fluid in the meatus likely reflect a form of STC and may result from excitation of the inner ear by the vibrations induced in the fluid. The sloping fluid audiograms may reflect transmission pathways that are less effective at higher frequencies.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: Hearing can be elicited in response to vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid in the external auditory meatus. To obtain a complete audiogram in subjects with normal hearing in response to pure tone vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus. Subjects and Methods: Pure tone vibratory stimuli in the audiometric range from 0.25 to 6.0 kHz were delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus of eight participants with normal hearing (15 dB or better) using a rod attached to a standard clinical bone vibrator. The fluid thresholds obtained were compared to the air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC; mastoid), and soft tissue conduction (STC; neck) thresholds in the same subjects. Results: Fluid stimulation thresholds were obtained at every frequency in each subject. The fluid and STC (neck) audiograms sloped down at higher frequencies, while the AC and BC audiograms were flat. It is likely that the fluid stimulation audiograms did not involve AC mechanisms or even, possibly, osseous BC mechanisms. Conclusions: The thresholds elicited in response to the fluid in the meatus likely reflect a form of STC and may result from excitation of the inner ear by the vibrations induced in the fluid. The sloping fluid audiograms may reflect transmission pathways that are less effective at higher frequencies.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vibratory stimulation applied to the left forearm on unilateral neglect in patients with stroke. Methods : The subjects were 11 unilateral neglect patients with stroke. They were divided into 2 groups; 6 experimental subjects and 5 control subjects. Both groups received standardized rehabilitation program and occupational therapy for the intervention of unilateral neglect in a day. In random order, line bisection test (LBT), Albert test, and star cancellation test (SCT) were conducted at baseline, the next day. During the process of all assessments of the next day, vibration stimulation was provided for the 6 subjects in the experimental group (EG), while the 5 subjects in CG carried out all assessments without vibration stimulation. Result : No significant differences were found between groups on any demographic variable or baseline assessments scores. In the next day, there was significant improvement in the EG for the LBT(p<0.05), Albert's test(p<0.05), and SCT(p<0.05). However, there was no significant improvement in the CG for the LBT(p<0.05), Albert's test(p<0.05), and SCT(p<0.05). Conclusion : These result indicate that vibratory stimulation has a positive effect on the unilateral neglect, and may be considered as alternative choice in clinical occupational therapy for reducing unilateral neglect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.1125-1126
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• 2012

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2007

We studied the effect of vibratory stimulations of different leg muscles, tibialis anterior(TA) and triceps surae(TS), and plantar zones in ten healthy subjects during 1) quiet standing, 2) forward lean of body, 3) backward lean of body, 4) right lean of body, and 5) left lean of body. The experiments were performed on the force platform. The effect of vibration were measured by monitoring the area of COP(Center of pressure) sway. The subjects wore a vibratory stimulation system on foot and ankles and were given the instruction not to resist against the applied perturbations. The results show that all vibratory stimulations to lower limb muscles and plantar zones reduced the COP sway area. This reduction of the COP sway area occurred also in partial vibratory stimulations during quiet standing. In forward lean of body, vibratory stimulations to TA reduced the COP sway area. During backward lean of body, vibratory stimulations to TS reduced the COP sway area. When the subject was tilted right, vibratory stimulations to left plantar zone reduced the COP sway area. During left lean of body, vibratory stimulations to right plantar zone reduced the COP sway area. Thus, the influence of vibratory stimulations to leg muscle and plantar zones differed significantly depending on the lean of body. We suggest that the vibration stimuli from leg muscles and plantar zones could be selectively used to help maintaining postural balance stable.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to prove the increase of range of motion of shoulder joint in the patients with shoulder adhesive capsulitis by applying the vibratory stimulation. In terms of subjects of the study, the experimental group 15(4 male, 11 female)and the control group 15(5 male, 10 female) were divided. The measurement of the shoulder range of motion was taken by measuring the degrees of flexion, abduction, and external rotation with a goniometer from pre treatment to one to four weeks. The results were as follows : In the experimental group and control group, there was the statistical significance in the range of motion of the shoulder flexion, abduction, and external rotation during four weeks. In summary, the vibratory stimulation are effective interventions for improving shoulder adhesive capsulitis, patient's range of motion of shoulder joint.