• PNF and Movement
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual exercise training programs on the improvement of balance in the elderly women. Methods: The subjects were fifteen female citizens, 67 years of age or older living in G city, the subjects were randomly divided into groups; Virtual exercise training group(n=9), control group (n=6). After treatment measured balance by Berg Balance scale test and One-leg stand test during virtual exercise training program at pre-intervention and post-intervention. Results : The results of this study were as follows : Virtual Exercise Training Program (Wii fit) after applying the Berg balance test scores and One-Legged Stance Test, the evaluation results showed significant results(p<05). Conclusion : Virtual exercise training programs can be used to improve the balance of the elderly, as it has been shown to increase Berg balance test and one-leg stand results conducted after virtual training programs. Virtual Exercise Programs(Wii fit) were applied to demonstrate the effecting the balance of the elderly to promote more research on the impact of the ADL survey.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of virtual reality training on muscle activation in the elderly. METHODS: The subjects were 32 healthy elderly people aged between 65 and 80, who were divided into the VR(virtual reality) training group(n=17) and the control group(n=15). The Virtual reality training group engaged in a 30-minute exercise session using Wii Fit three times a week for eight weeks. Virtual reality training group used the Ski Slalom, Table tile, Balance bubble programs. low-extremity muscle activation of the two groups were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: To investigate the effects of the training on lower-extremity muscle activation, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis were measured. The results revealed that the activation of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior significantly increased(p<.05), which indicates virtual reality training is effective in improving the activation of the muscles involved in the movement of the ankle joint. CONCLUSION: Virtual reality training is effective in improving the healthy elderly's activation of the muscles involved in the movement of the ankle joint. Thus, virtual reality training can be proposed as a form of fall prevention exercise for the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study is to apply exercise learning effect to various subjects through training effect and information accumulation based on verification of the effect on dumbbell curl exercises applied with virtual reality. Method: To analyze the effect on the dumbbell curl exercise in the virtual environment, a total of 20 persons with 10 males and 10 females who does not have orthopedics diseases were selected. The dumbbell weight of the subjects was set to a weight of 70% strength of 1RM. At this time, the virtual environment situation was set to four types; presence/absence of virtual environment, preferred colors, and unfavorable colors to perform dumbbell curl exercise. The anaysis of muscle activity was conducted by adhering four surface electrodes (Biceps Brachii, Triceps Brachii, Brachioradialis Muscle, Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Muscle) on the right upper limbs. Independent sample t-test using SPSS (24.0) program was carried out to analyze average values and standard deviations for each variable depending on the presence/absence of virtual environments and changes in color (preferred colors, unfavorable colors) and the level of significance was set to a=.05. Results: In the eccentric contraction, males showed high muscle activity in the Biceps Brachii under virtual reality. On the other hand, females had high muscle activity in the Biceps Brachii in the absence of virtual reality. Also, in case of a change of colors in the virtual environment, females had the high muscle activity in the unfavorable color in the eccentric contraction. Conclusion: During the dumbbell curl exercise, results of different exercises present depending on gender. When males put VR on and performs a basic dumbbell curl exercise, the effect of Biceps presents Brachii for them while exercising in unfavorable colors. However, since it is the basic research data of muscle exercise using virtual reality, it is necessary to verify whether or not it is effective for myopachynsis through long-term training rather than unity.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.355-363
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• 2016

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a 12-week virtual reality exercise program using the Nintendo Wii console (Wii) in improving balance, emotion, and quality of life among patients with cognitive decline. Methods: The study included 30 patients with cognitive decline (12 female, 18 male) who were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15). All subjects performed a traditional cognitive rehabilitation program and the experimental group performed additional three 40-minute virtual reality based video game (Wii) sessions per week for 12 weeks. The berg balance scale (BBS) was used to assess balance abilities. The short form geriatric depression scale-Korean (GDS-K) and the Korean version of quality of life-Alzheimer's disease (KQOL-AD) scale were both used to assess life quality in patients. Statistical significance was tested within and between groups before and after treatment, using Wilcoxon signed rank and Mann-Whitney u-tests. Results: After 36 training sessions, there were significant beneficial effects of the virtual reality game exercise on balance (BBS), GDS-K, and KQOL-AD in the experimental group when compared to the control group. No significant difference was observed within the control group. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that a virtual reality-training program could improve the outcomes in terms of balance, depression, and quality of life in patients with cognitive decline. Long-term follow-ups and further studies of more efficient virtual reality training programs are needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify whether virtual reality-based exercise could improve on balance, gait and fall efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods : Ten patients with Parkinson's disease were randomly divided into either an experimental or control group. The experimental subjects performed vertual reality-based exercise, whereas the control subjects performed conventional physical therapy for 4 weeks. The balance, gait and fall efficacy of all subjects were assessed by using the Measurement Training and Documentation (MTD) balance system, force platform system, Korean version of Berg Balance scale (K-BBS), 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Korean version of Fall efficacy scale (K-FES) at pre training and post training. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in intra-group. Mann Whitney U test was used to analyze changes of all variables in inter-groups. Results : Subjects in the experimental group showed significant improvements in difference of weight distribution, K-BBS scores, antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway length, ground reaction force (GRF), 6MWT, and step length following training. The changes of difference of weight distribution, K-BBS scores, AP Sway Length, GRF, 6MWT, step length and K-FES scores in the experimental group were significantly more than them of the control group. Conclusion : The result of this study suggest that virtual reality-based exercise training is an intervention to improve on balance, gait, and falls efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of posture improvement exercise using virtual reality programs on the posture and balance of patients with forward head postures. METHODS: Thirty men and women in their 20 s, who had a forward head posture, were divided randomly into a group with posture correction exercise and a group with posture correction exercise combined with virtual reality programs. The posture correction exercise was composed of squats, XCO training, and chin-tuck exercise. In contrast, exercise with virtual reality games involved the Hot Squat, Climbey, and Baskhead programs while wearing a headset. Both groups performed the exercises 15 min a day, three times per week, for four weeks. The balance ability, distance between the acromion and earlobe, and neck joint range of motion were assessed before and after the exercises. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant reductions in the distance between the acromion and the earlobe, along with significant improvements in the range of joint motion. The group that performed the virtual reality exercises showed a significant increase in the limit of stability. Both groups showed a significant decrease in the sway length. In contrast, the group given the virtual reality exercises showed a significant reduction in the sway speed while standing with their eyes closed. CONCLUSION: Exercise applying virtual reality programs can be used in clinical and home programs to correct the postures of individuals with a forward head posture because they can trigger interest in inducing active participation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week virtual reality exercise program designed around the Nintendo Wii (Wii), in improving balance among patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Methods: The study included 16 patients with MS (10 female, 6 male) who were assigned randomly to experimental (n=8) or control group (n=8). Experimental group performed three 40-minute Wii balance-training sessions per week, for 8 weeks. The control group did not perform any of the training programs. A computerized dynamic posturography (Sensory Organizing Test, SOT) was used to evaluate all patients at baseline and at the end of the treatment protocol. Statistical significance was tested in between the patients before and after treatment by t-test. Results: After 24 training sessions, SOT showed significant difference on condition 5, 6, and vestibular ratios within the experimental group from baseline to post-intervention. By contrast, no significant difference was observed within the control groups. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that the virtual reality training program could improve the outcomes in terms of balance in the MS population. Long term follow ups and the development of more efficient virtual reality training programs are needed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.274-282
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• 2012

This study conducted the following experiment to examine change of physicopsychological function on lumbar stabilization exercise(LSE) and virtual reality game training(Nintendo Wii Sport-NWS) to stroke patients subject for fall prevention. Psychological function was measured by falls efficacy with stroke patients and physical function was measured by static and dynamic balance on comparative analysis of pre, post exercise and each groups in 30 stroke patient subject. Static balance was measured by BBS, FRT, dynamic were measured by TUG, 10m walking test and falls efficacy with stroke patients was measured index of falls efficacy. These result lead us to the conclusion that each group were statistically improved at all physicopsychological test, but BBS, FRT, 10m walking test were more statistically improved at LSE group and falls efficacy with stroke patients were more improved at virtual reality game training group. Consequently, virtual reality game training would be lead to positive increment of physicopsychological function on stroke patient.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.385-394
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate how to design effective virtual reality-based training (i.e., virtual training) in maritime safety and to present methods for enhancing interface fidelity by employing immersive interaction and 3D user interface (UI) design. Background: Emerging virtual reality technologies and hardware enable to provide immersive experiences to individuals. There is also a theory that the improvement of fidelity can improve the training efficiency. Such a sense of immersion can be utilized as an element for realizing effective training in the virtual space. Method: As an immersive interaction, we implemented gesture-based interaction using leap motion and Myo armband type sensors. Hand gestures captured from both sensors are used to interact with the virtual appliance in the scenario. The proposed 3D UI design is employed to visualize appropriate information for tasks in training. Results: A usability study to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method has been carried out. As a result, the usability test of satisfaction, intuitiveness of UI, ease of procedure learning, and equipment understanding showed that virtual training-based exercise was superior to existing training. These improvements were also independent of the type of input devices for virtual training. Conclusion: We have shown through experiments that the proposed interaction design results are more efficient interactions than the existing training method. The improvement of interface fidelity through intuitive and immediate feedback on the input device and the training information improve user satisfaction with the system, as well as training efficiency. Application: Design methods for an effective virtual training system can be applied to other areas by which trainees are required to do sophisticated job with their hands.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was an investigation of the effect of unstable supporting exercise in young adults with functional ankle instability. The study tested the use of a jumper and virtual reality (VR) training via a VR-head mounted display (HMD) system to provide functional improvement in proprioception, range of motion (ROM), ankle muscle strength, agility, and balance. Methods: The subjects comprised 61 young adults (in their twenties) with functional ankle instability to decide as less than 24 points using Cumberland ankle instability tool. The subjects were divided into three groups: VUS (VR-HMD and unstable supporting exercise, n = 20), VSS (VR-HMD and stable supporting exercise, n = 19), and NUS (non-VR-HMD and unstable supporting exercise, n = 22). The exercise program was conducted three times per week for three weeks. VR training via a VR-HMD system and a VR application on a smart mobile device were used with the VUS and VSS groups, and unstable supporting exercise was used in the VUS and NUS groups for 30 minutes. Proprioception, ROM, ankle muscle strength, agility, and balance were measured before and after training. Results: The VUS group showed significant differences in most results, including proprioception, ROM, ankle muscle strength, agility, and balance to compare before and after, and the VSS and NUS groups partially. Moreover, the VUS group had significant differences in most results when compared with the other groups. Conclusion: Unstable supporting exercise and VR training via a VR-HMD system improved functional ankle instability in terms of proprioception, ROM, ankle muscle strength, agility, and balance.