• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between handwriting skills and praxis. Method : Participants consisted of 50 normal children who were the second-grade students at an A elementary school in Kim-hae. They didn't have a visual dysfunction, an auditory dysfunction, and a disease or an injury in arms and hands. They could follow examiners' directions properly. They were administered the Postural Praxis and the Praxis on Verbal Command of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests(SIPT)(Ayres, 2000) and the handwriting skill test which was made with reference to foreign literatures. It was conducted from October 19, 2004 to December 17, 2004. The data were analyzed with non-paired t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results : 1. Total handwriting score and praxis according to gender of children showed the statistically significant differences(p<0.05). 2. Total handwriting score correlated with praxis(p<0.05) and handwriting speed did not correlate with praxis. 3. Postural Praxis and Praxis on Verbal Command according to handwriting groups showed the statistically significant differences(p<0.05). 4. Among the standards of the handwriting skill test, accuracy of letter form, identity of letter size, spacing between letters and words, placing text on lines, error existence, and letter out of regular square correlated with the Postural Praxis(p<0.05), and accuracy of letter form, identity of letter size, and placing text on lines correlated with the Praxis on Verbal Command(p<0.05). Conclusions : The correlation between handwriting skills and praxis will help occupational therapists to provide fundamental and various treatment programs for children who are referred for the poor handwriting. But more studies in handwriting skills and praxis are necessary to decide which component of handwriting skills is related to praxis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2016

Background: Chronic back pain shows a high correlation with lumbar disability, physical disability for daily activities, and psychosocial factors, such as depression. Object: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation of the level of pain and disability with psychosocial factors, which are potential disturbance variables, in patients with chronic lumbar pain. Method: The sample included 258 patients, who had complained of chronic lumbar pain for more than three months. The Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale was used to measure the level of pain, and a Korean version of Oswestry Disability Index was used to measure the level of disability. Psychosocial factors were measured using the Tampa scale for Kinesiophobia-11, Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using PASW 18.0, and an independent samples t-test was used to examine frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation of sociodemographic characteristics and major variables. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to investigate the correlation between the level of pain and disability and psychosocial factors. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was done to determine the level of pain and psychosocial factors of functional disorder. The significance level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Result: There is a strong correlation between the level of pain and functional disorder and psychosocial factors in patients with chronic lumbar pain. The study also revealed that as the levels of pain and fear avoidance increase, pain self-efficacy decreases. Conclusion: The results suggest that negative perceptions towards pain, limitations of physical movement, and severe fear avoidance directly affect the decrease in pain self-efficacy. Therefore, it is recommended to test pain self-efficacy when measuring the level of pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.133-141
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of active release technique on pain, Oswestry Disability Index, and pelvic asymmetry in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: Thirty five outpatients diagnosed with chronic low back pain were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into an active release technique therapy group(experimental group; n=18) and myofascial release technique therapy group(control group; n=17). These groups performed their respective therapy for a 40-minute session occurring twice a week over six weeks. The Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was used to measure the subjects' pain, and the Korean Oswestry Disability Index(KODI) was used to measure the subjects' dysfunction. To assess the patients' pelvic asymmetry, their pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation were measured using X-ray imaging. RESULTS: Both the experimental group and control group exhibited significant decreases in their VAS and KODI scores after the therapy(p<.05). The experimental group exhibited a significant decrease in their pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation after therapy(p<.05). A significant difference was observed between the experimental group and the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that active release technique is effective in decreasing the level of pain and dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients. In addition, the active release technique is considered to be more effective in improving the pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation than myofascial release technique. This can be an effective method for the non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of chronic low back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the relationship between the severity of radiographic features and pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Seventy-eight subjects (14 men, 64 women) with KOA, between the ages of 41 and 83 years (mean age, 61.29 years), were included. All the subjects diagnosed with KOA were scored for severity of radiographic KOA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) grade, visual analogue scale (VAS), knee joint range of motion (ROM), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), maximum muscle power (MMP), and sit-to-stand (STS) and one-leg standing (OLS) tests. Associations among the K/L grade, diagnosis, pain, and function were examined by correlation analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the K/L grade, and the VAS, STS test time, and WOMAC scores (p>.05). There were no significant differences between the K/L grade, bilateral ROM, MMP, and left OLS test time (p>.05). However, there was a significant difference between the K/L grade and right OLS test time (p<.05). The K/L grade was negatively correlated with the left OLS test time(r=-.24, p<.05) and with the right OLS test time (r=-.307, p<.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that radiographic KOA was not associated with pain, knee MMP, ROM, and STS test time, but had a weak negative correlation with OLS test time.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.481-487
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between non-strabismic binocular dysfunctions and academic achievement for primary school children. Methods: A total of 1,123 parents and their children aged 8-13 years responded to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development Quality of Life (COVD-QOL) questionnaire. Among the all participants, 123 children who have ${\geq}20$ of visual symptom scores, no amblyopia, no strabismus, no any ocular and systemic pathology, and no contact lenses wearing were chosen for this study finally. Binocular functions were evaluated for final subjects. Results: Of 123 primary school children who have criteria-eligible symptoms 93 had non-strabismic binocular dysfunctions. Accommodative dysfunction was significantly correlated to subjects of science and English, and vergence dysfunction was also significantly correlated to Korean, mathematics, social science, science and English in the final subjects. Conclusions: Correlations between academic achievement and accommodative/vergence dysfunctions were statistically significant. Therefore, accommodative/vergence dysfunctions may be factors to affect academic achievement.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a clinical study of using acupuncture for chronic pain in patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) in the outpatient setting. Methods: A prospective case-series attempting to recruit 20 participants was performed from February 11, 2016, to December 31, 2016. We provided Manual and electrical acupuncture was provided one 1 to three 3 times a week, for 6 weeks, up to 18 sessions. The primary clinical outcome was the average pain intensity as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included back-specific dysfunction (Oswestry disability index), quality of life (quality of life questionnaire-26), patient-reported improvement, use of other healthcare resources, and adverse events at 6 weeks. Use of healthcare resources and adverse events were additionally followed-up at 12 weeks by telephone. Results: Of 33 patients screened, a total of 7 were enrolled in the study. Manual and electrical acupuncture was provided 1 to 3 times a week, for 6 weeks, up to 18 sessions. We observed reduced pain intensity at 6 weeks in all participants. The change in the quality of life and back-specific dysfunction was inconsistent among participants. Mild, temporary adverse events were observed in three patients. Conclusion: In our clinical setting, it was not feasible to recruit sufficient participants and to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for chronic pain after osteoporotic thoracolumbar VCFs under a year. Strategies to improve recruitment and to identify barriers to participation are required for future clinical trials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.105-114
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of Tetrax on balance dysfunction caused by ataxia in cerebellar stroke. METHODS: A total of thirty subjects with cerebellar stroke were recruited. The participants was divided into two groups, the experimental (n=15) and the control group (n=15). Tetrax training and conventional physical therapy (CPT) were performed in experimental group, whereas the patients in the control group were treated with CPT twice a day. Each session of the Tetrax and CPT was carried out for 30 minutes, 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Korean version of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (K-SARA) was the primary outcome measure, and the secondary outcomes covered Berg balance scale (BBS), falling index (FI), Timed up and go (TUG), and modified Barthel index of Korean version (K-MBI). All outcome measures were evaluated before and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: K-SARA was decreased significantly after 4 weeks intervention in both the experimental (p<.05) and the control group (p<.05). Furthermore, the experimental group produced significantly better outcomes in K-SARA, BBS, FI, and TUG compared with the control group (p=.012, p=.027, p=.008, and p=.048). There were significant correlations between K-SARA and BBS, FI, TUG, and K-MBI (p<.001, p<.001, p=.004, and p<.001). CONCLUSION: The restoration of ataxia was related with the improvement of the balance, falling risk, mobility, and activity of daily living. Tetrax training was effectively aided recovery of ataxia after cerebellar stroke.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.379-383
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• 2013

Objective : There are differences in the clinical characteristics and surgical results between upper (L1-2 and L2-3) and lower (L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1) lumbar disc herniations. We conducted this study to compare the clinical features and surgical outcomes between the two types of lumbar disc herniations. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features of patients who underwent microdiscectomies from 2008 to 2012. We evaluated the clinical characteristics such as age, preoperative autonomic dysfunction, the presence or absence of previous lumbar surgery and fusion required during surgery. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores about back pain and leg pain were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow-up. Results : Upper lumbar group (n=15) was significantly older than lower lumbar group (n=148). The incidence of autonomic dysfunction was significantly higher in upper lumbar group. The number of patients with a previous lumbar surgery was significantly greater in upper lumbar group. There was no statistical significance for fusion required during surgery between two groups. Both groups showed a significant decrease in the VAS scores of leg pain. VAS scores of back pain were significantly decreased in lower lumbar group. But this was not seen in upper lumbar group. Both groups showed significant improvement of Oswestry Disability Index score. Conclusion : Upper lumbar group had different clinical characteristics from those of lower lumbar group and these include older age, a higher incidence of autonomic dysfunctions and a higher incidence of patients with previous lumbar surgery. There were no significant differences in surgical outcomes, except for back pain, between two groups.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2017

Objectives : The aim of this study was to report the effect of Korean medical therapy on pain and dysfunction after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods : A 25-year-old man experienced severe pain after right ACL reconstruction surgery. He received Korean medical treatments such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and physiotherapy from July 10, 2014 to August 2, 2014. Results : After the treatments, his visual analogue scale scores generally decreased and the range of motion of the right knee improved from $0^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$. Furthermore, the Knee Infury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score increased from 99 to 142. Conclusion : The findings suggest that Korean medical treatments might be effectively used to treat pain and dysfunction after soft-tissue surgeries such as ACL reconstruction. Nevertheless, further research is warranted because of the limited sample size of this study.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2002

Neurocognitive research focusing on cognitive deficits in Depression has resulted in several important but yet potentially contradictory findings. Much literature documents the presence of significant neurocognitive impairments in depressive patients. Studies have shown that dysthymic disorder patients demonstrate a diffuse pattern of cognitive impairment which is frequently indistinguishable from that of focal braindamaged patients. Some reports have suggested that there is a focal pattern of deficit, such as anterior cingulate dysfunction, frontal lobe impairment, or dysfunction of the temporal-limbic cortex. The aim of this study is to evaluate the neurocognitive functions in dysthymic disorder patients, and to compare the functions with those of major depressive disorder patients. The subjects are 17 dysthymic disorder patients. And their neurocognitive functions are compared with those of 23 major depressive episode patients. Patients with a history of neurologic disease, alcohol dependence, substance abuse and mental retardation are excluded. They are assessed with a part of Vienna Test System which is computerized neurocognitive function tests and can evaluate attention, eductive ability, reproductive ability, visuoperceptual analysis, vigilance, visual immediate memory, the speed of information-processing, judgement, and fine motor coordinations. There are no other specific difference between two groups, except the result of cognitrone test. This study provides information about the neurocognitive functions and some difference between major depressive disorder patients and carefully diagnosed dysthymic disorder patients.