• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 2022

Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used for muscle strengthening. While voluntary muscle contraction follows Henneman et al.'s size principle, the NMES-induced muscle training disrespects the neurophysiology, which may lead to unwanted changes (i.e., declined balance ability). Objects: We examined how the balance was affected by abdominal muscle training with the NMES. Methods: Fifteen young adults (10 males and 5 females) aged between 21 and 30 received abdominal muscle strengthening with NMES for 23 minutes. Before and after the training, participants' balance was measured through one leg standing on a force plate with eyes open or closed. Outcome variables included mean distance (MDIST), root mean square distance (RDIST), total excursion (TOTEX), mean velocity (MVELO), and 95% confidence circle area (AREA) of center of pressure data. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to test if these outcome variables were associated with time (pre and post) and vision. Results: All outcome variables were not associated with time (p > 0.05). However, all outcome variables were associated with vision (p = 0.0001), and MVELO and TOTEX were 52.4% (45.5 mm/s versus 95.6 mm/s) and 52.4% (364.1 mm versus 764.5 mm) smaller, respectively, in eyes open than eyes closed (F = 55.8, p = 0.0005; F = 55.8, p = 0.0005). Furthermore, there was no interaction between time and vision (F = 0.024, p = 0.877). Conclusion: Despite the different neurophysiology of muscle contraction, abdominal muscle strengthening with NMES did not affect balance.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2022

Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a physical modality used to activate skeletal muscles for strengthening. While voluntary muscle contraction (VMC) follows the progressive recruitment of motor units in order of size from small to large, NMES-induced muscle contraction occurs in a nonselective and synchronous pattern. Therefore, the outcome of muscle strengthening training using NMES-induced versus voluntary contraction might be different, which might affect balance performance. Objects: We examined how the NMES training affected balance and proprioception. Methods: Forty-four young adults were randomly assigned to NMES and VMC group. All participants performed one-leg standing on a force plate and sat on the Biodex (Biodex R Corp.) to measure balance and ankle proprioception, respectively. All measures were conducted before and after a training session. In NMES group, electric pads were placed on the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles for 20 minutes. In VMC group, co-contraction of the three muscles was conducted. Outcome variables included mean distance, root mean square distance, total excursion, mean velocity, 95% confidence circle area acquired from the center of pressure data, and absolute error of dorsi/plantarflexion. Results: None of outcome variables were associated with group (p > 0.35). However, all but plantarflexion error was associated with time (p < 0.02), and the area and mean velocity were 37.0% and 18.6% lower in post than pre in NMES group, respectively, and 48.9% and 16.7% lower in post than pre in VMC group, respectively. Conclusion: Despite different physiology underlying the NMES-induced versus VMC, both training methods improved balance and ankle joint proprioception.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of interferential current therapy (ICT) on spasticity, ROM, and the balance function in patients with stroke. Methods: 30 inpatients with stroke were randomly divided into 2 groups: the ICT group (n=15) and the placebo-ICT group (n=15). Two groups have got the traditional rehabilitation for 30 minutes before applying either ICT or placebo-ICT stimulation. The stimulus of ICT has been applied to gastrocnemius at the level of 100 Hz, two times of sensation threshold, while the placebo-ICT group has put on the electrode without electrical stimulus. To assess spasticity in ankle, the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) was used, and goniometer was applied to measure the passive range of motion (PROM). Also, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed-up and go (TUG), and the Functional Reach Test (FRT) were carried out to examine the balance ability. Results: The ICT group showed a significant reduction of spasticity and significantly increased PROM than the placebo-ICT group (p<0.05). The placebo-ICT group did not show significant changes in the BBS, the TUG, and the FRT, while the ICT group significantly improved the BBS, the TUG, and the FRT (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that ICT applied to gastrocnemius effectively decreased spasticity and improved range of motion and balance function in patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of the this study is to report the improvement after Chuna manual therapy about patient with essential tremor. Methods : The patient of essential tremor was treated by Myofascial Release Technique(MRT) and Chuna manual therapy with acupuncture, cupping, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS), herbal medicine therapy. Results : According to evaluation of Handwriting test and VAS, The patient has shown improvement aftert Chuna Manual Therapy. Conclusions : This study suggest that Chuna manual therapy with other treatment would be effective for patient of essential tremor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2013

PURPOSE: This study determined the effect of balance control therapy in the brain activation. METHODS: Twenty-two college students who showed decrease of muscle strength in O-ring test were as participants in this study. And the subjects were randomly divided into experimental group (n=13) and control group (n=9). Measurement device is portable EEG (Nihonkhoden, Japan). Examinations used twenty electrodes attached to the head to capture electrical brain signals during 5 minutes with brain activated states such as the awaked state and the data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment by balance control therapy, P3 (p<.025) and P4 areas (p<.025) showed a significantly lower ST index in the experimental group than the control group, The variation of ST index in P4 area (p<.025) was decreased in the experimental group but was increased in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results showed that the balance control therapy was helpful to change the brain activation such as the stress (ST) index at the sensory area in the college students.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.81-87
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of electrical stimulation on the number of MCs and percent of degranulated MCs in rat skin. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two group; electrical stimulation group (n=6) and control group (n=6). Each animals hair on the back was removed. The electrical stimulation group received an positive rectangular pulsed electrical stimulation, while the control group was given the same treatment without electricity. The biopsy specimens were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin and stained with toluidine blue-nuclear fast red and alcian blue-safranin O. respectively. The MCs were counted using a light microscope and computerized image analysis system and calculated as the density and the percent. A t-test showed a significantly higher density of MCs in the electrical stimulated rats than control rats(p<0.05), and the percent of degranulated MCs in the electrical stimulated rats was higher than in the control rats (p<0.05) in toluidine blue stained sections. The density of MCs was significantly higher in the electrical stimulated rats than the control rats in alcian blue-safranin O Stained sections (P<0.01). An analysis of variance showed that the densities of CTMCs was significantly lower than the densities of MMCs and mixed MCs in electrical stimulated rat in alcian blue-safranin O Stained sections (p<0.05). These results suggest that the electrical stimulation may have potential for increasing the number of MCs and lead to degranulate the MCs in rat skin.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.183-193
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• 1998

The Therapeutic pattern for the urinary incontinence in women should be chosen by means of the correct diagnosis. The therapeutic methods are various but drug therapy, electrical therapy and excercise therapy make the urinary incontinance be teated well, except some patient. This study carried out to investigate the therapeutic method fer urinary incontinence by the scope of excercise therapy. The excercise therapy demands the therapist of the correct diagnosis and evaluation. The patient should be Supine position not to increase the, abdominal pressure, and during the early excercise, the excercise should be applied by simple pattern to complex one. The change of position sod duration of therapy are to correspond with the sequels of patient and the patient has to abstrain from stimulant food such as coffee.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional effects of action observation plus functional electrical stimulation (FES) treatment on the weight distribution indexes (heel and toe; right and left), stability indexes, gait velocities, and stride lengths of stroke patients. METHODS: The subjects, who were all more than six months post stroke, were randomly divided into two groups of ten each: an experimental group and a control group. TETRAX (Tetrax Interactive Balance System) and GAITRite (GAITRite$^{TM}$ computerized gait analysis system) were measured at baseline, six weeks after treatment. Participants in both the groups received functional electrical stimulation treatment, but the experimental group was provided with additional action observation. Independent t-tests were used to compare the differences between the groups, and repeated measured two-way ANOVA was used to compare the interaction between the groups. RESULTS: The result of the interactions between the groups and the periods showed significant increases in the weight distribution indexes (heel and toe; right and left), stability indexes, gait velocities and stride lengths (p<0.05). However, a comparison between the groups showed no significance in the weight distribution indexes (heel and toe), stability indexes, and stride lengths (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Action observation plus functional electrical stimulation treatment should be considered as a therapeutic method for physical therapy for stroke patients to improve the weight distribution indexes, stability indexes, gait velocities, and stride lengths.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2007

The purpose of this study were to investigate influence of heat stress temperature on sympathetic nerve activities. Subjects were 8 normal adults (4 men, 4 women, 21.36 years old). First sympathetic nerve activities were measured at the point that increase of core temperature stops at the state of applying normal thermic temperature (NIT; $34^{\circ}C$). After measurement, temperature of bathtub was increased to heat stress temperature (HST; $46^{\circ}C$) and sympathetic nerve activities were remeasured at the point that temperature increase stops. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) were analyzed using EMG, IR thermometer, and auto stethoscope. SSR latency showed significant differences at both palms by electrical stimulation to median nerve (p<.05). Electrical stimulation to forehead showed significant difference at left palm (p<.05) and electrical stimulation to navel showed significant difference at right palm (p<.05). Median nerve in changes of SSR amplitude showed significant differences at both palms in HST (p<.01). Electrical stimulation to navel showed significant difference at left palm (p<.05). Ts of forehead and xiphoid process showed significant differences (p<0.01). Tc of oral (p<0.05) and inner ear (p<0.01) showed significant differences. Pulse rate showed significant difference (<0.05). This study showed that immersion in HST had significant decrease of excitability in sympathetic nervous system compared to immersion in NTT.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 1994

This study was carried out to determine effects of electrical stimulation on the soleus, target muscle of the sciatic newt, of white rat normal muscles. The biometric, histochemical, ultrastructural observations were made. The following results were obtained. A daily electrical stimulation of the skeletal muscle of the normally-functioning rat caused an increase of girth and weight of the muscle fibers for 2 weeks. No noticeable change was observed afterwards. More specifically, the density of volume of the red muscle fiber increased. whereas the density of the white muscle fiber decreased. The electrical stimulation group(experimental group) showed hypertrophy of the muscle fibers and narrowing of the space between perimysium and endomysium. Normally, glycogen granules are accumulated regardless of classification of muscle fibers. In addition, the NADH-TR reaction results were in agreement with the biometric findings, in that the red muscle fibers significantly increased. The ultrastructural observations revealed that mitochondria was formed in the red muscle fiber parallel to the muscle fibers of normal muscle, while mitochondria was observed in the sarcomere region of the white muscle fiber. However, activation of mitochondria took place in the sarcolemma region of the muscle fiber, and generation of mitochondria was observed in the sarcomere region of the white muscle fiber.