• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2017

Background: The purpose of this case study was to investigate into the effect of complex exercise program on the postural change, gait and balance ability in elementary school students with forward head posture. Methods: Four patients with forward head posture were recruited. They were evaluated pre-treatment, and after 6weeks, using neck disability index (NDI), numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), balance ability, foot pressure (fore foot/rear foot peak pressure ratio, F/R ratio), gait ability (cadence, toe out angle, stance phase). Results: First, the angle of forward head posture (craniovertebral angle; CVA and cranialrotation angle; CRA) was decreased in all subjects. The NPRS and NDI were decreased in all subjects. Also, The cadence, toe out angle and F/R ratio were increased in all subjects. The stance phase of gait cycle was positively change in all subjects. Lastly, the static balance ability improved in all subjects. Conclusion: According to the results above, the complex exercise program for students with forward head posture can help improve the postural change, gait and balance ability. Also, the complex exercise program was able to select interventions depending on the patient's condition and the desired goal.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.245-257
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• 2020

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is associated with obesity; however, information on factors associated with pain in adults with obesity and severe obesity is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain by site and intensity of pain and associated factors in individuals with severe obesity (body mass index ≥ 35.0 kg/㎡). Methods: Baseline data from the DieTBra Trial study evaluating pain symptoms in nine body regions over the last seven days using the Nordic Questionnaire on Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Numerical Pain Scale. The variables analyzed using multiple Poisson regression with hierarchical analysis were: sociodemographic, lifestyle, food consumption, clinical, and anthropometric, and the outcome was moderate and intense pain. Results: In 150 participants, there was a high prevalence of ankle and foot pain (68.7%), lower back pain (62.7%), pain in the knees (53.3%) and upper back pain (52.0%), with a predominance of intense pain. Factors associated with pain according to specific sites were: type 2 diabetes with hand/wrist pain; sedentary time with hip pain; insomnia with pain in the hip and knee; edema in the lower limbs with pain in the lower back and ankles/feet; degree of obesity with ankle/foot pain; and percentage of total fat with ankle/foot pain. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of pain and intense pain in individuals with severe obesity and an association with clinical variables, the degree of obesity, and sedentary lifestyle.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2023

Background: Osteoarthritis is a common condition with an increasing prevalence and is a common cause of disability. Osteoarthritic pain decreases the quality of life, and simple gait training is used to alleviate it. Knee osteoarthritis limits joint motion in the sagittal and lateral directions. Although many recent studies have activated orthotic research to increase knee joint stabilization, no study has used patellar tendon straps to treat knee osteoarthritis. Objects: This study aimed to determine the effects of patellar tendon straps on kinematic, mechanical, and electromyographic activation in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis were selected. After creating the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), leg length difference, Q-angle, and thumb side flexion angle of the foot were measured. Kinematic, kinetic, and muscle activation data during walking before and after wearing the orthosis were viewed. Results: After wearing the patellar tendon straps, hip adduction from the terminal stance phase, knee flexion from the terminal swing phase, and ankle plantar flexion angle increased during the pre-swing and initial swing phases. The cadence of spatiotemporal parameters and velocity increased, and step time, stride time, and foot force duration decreased. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the increase in plantar flexion after strap wearing is inferred by an increase due to neurological mechanisms, and adduction at the hip joint is inferred by an increase in adduction due to increased velocity. The increase in cadence and velocity and the decrease in gait speed and foot pressure duration may be due to joint stabilization. It can be inferred that joint stabilization is increased by wearing knee straps. Thus, wearing a patellar tendon strap during gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis influences kinematic changes in the sagittal plane of the joint.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.115-125
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• 2007

Objectives : The limited number of studies to date have mainly focused on the effect of obesity on the characteristics of plantar foot pressures. This study is designed to find the correlation between plantar pressure and obese index. Methods : This study assessed the body composition of 30 obese women using bioelectrical impidence analysis and Gaitview AFA-50. The static and dynamic plantar pressure was determined from electronic footprints captured using a capacitive pressure distribution platform during standing and walking. The data were analysed by independent t-test and Pearson Correlation. Results : Positive correlations were noted between body weight, body mass index(BMI), waist circumference(WC), waist-hip ratio(WHR) and difference of fore and rear plantar pressure. And negative correlations were noted between body weight, BMI, WC, WHR and difference of left and right plantar pressure. Conclusions : The findings of this pilot study suggest that body composition influences the waight distribution in overweight and obese subjects.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.109-118
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• 2024

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cold feet and sleep quality using polysomnography (PSG) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Methods : We divided 11 adults (6 females, 5 males) with Insomnia Severity Index score below 21 into cold feet (CF) and a non-cold feet (NCF) group based on the median feet temperature (Taichong, LR3). PSG and PSQI were administered to assess sleep characteristics and subjective sleep quality. Results : CF group exhibited significantly lower time in bed, sleep period time, and total sleep time compared to NCF group. While there were no significant group differences in sleep latency, wakefulness after sleep onset, or total arousal index, NCF group had significantly lower minimum oxygen saturation and apnea-hypopnea index in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep compared to CF group. Although the PSQI score and the proportion of poor sleepers were both higher in the CF group (7.40 and 80%) compared to the NCF group (5.50 and 50%), these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions : This study showed that foot temperature affects sleep characteristics and suggests the need to utilize PSG in sleep research in Korean medicine.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.241-254
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• 2013

The nutria(Myocastor coypus) that is originated from South America is a representative Invasive alien species in Korea. invasive alien species is one of the biggest causes for the loss of biodiversity and it may threaten the conservation and function of ecology as well as the welfare of mankind. Intense habitation has been made around the Nakdong River basin area that this study has analyzed the habitat density of nutria for the subject of 3 survey sites in the Nakdong River basin area. As a result of survey on habitation density in 2011 and 2012, under St.1 it was shown $2.01{\pm}0.21$/ha in 2011 and $0.69{\pm}0.55$/ha in 2012. Under St.2, it was shown $0.91{\pm}0.37$/ha in 2011 and $0.55{\pm}0.39$/ha in 2012. Under St.3, it was shown $5.31{\pm}0.72$/ha in 2011 and $3.99{\pm}2.31$/ha in 2012. The wet survey areas of St.1 and St.3 had shown relatively high habitation density compared to St. 2, the river survey area, and the average annual habitation density of the survey area was $2.74{\pm}2.29$/ha in 2011 and $1.74{\pm}1.18$/ha in 2012 that it has shown slightly reducing trend. As a result of measuring the morphology by capturing the habitation individuals, the average body length of adults is $92.23{\pm}9.41cm$, the length from the head to body for $53.90{\pm}5.15cm$, tail length for $38.33{\pm}4.83cm$, hind foot length for $13.82{\pm}1.00cm$, front foot length for $6.02{\pm}0.56cm$, and weight for $5.48{\pm}1.08kg$. As a result of comparing the types between genders, male showed a slightly higher figure in all parts compared to female and it showed significantly difference in total body length, head-body length, front foot length and total weight. As a result of analysis for each head-body length, other measured parts, weight and relativity for each measured part, all bodily part is shown to have the higher volume of correlations. The condition index of individuals in the survey area was shown in the average of $35.67{\pm}4.78$ with female for an average of $36.60{\pm}5.19$ and male for an average of $34.73{\pm}4.34$. The winter temperature in the southern area of Korea is considered for not greatly impacting on the habitation and development of nutria that, if there is no artificial control, it is considered to have certain concern of showing drastic breeding and territory expansion for the habitation group.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2020

Purpose: Ankle fractures with dislocations and pilon fractures at the distal tibia are usually associated with soft tissue damage caused by high-energy damage. Recently, a two-stage operation to perform internal fixation after the application of external fixation devices for stabilizing soft tissues has been accepted as the treatment of choice. This paper reports the clinical result of these injuries treated with threaded trans-calcaneal pin external fixation devices. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three patients diagnosed with ankle fractures with dislocations or tibial pilon fractures without open wounds. They underwent surgical treatment with threaded trans-calcaneal pin external fixation from January 2008 to February were enrolled in this study. This study evaluated the visual analogue scale (VAS), foot function index (FFI), and Olerud & Molander score as well as whether complications occurred. Results: The average VAS showed a meaningful decrease (p<0.001) from 7.4 before surgery to 2.6 after application of the external fixation device, and 1.4 at 12 months after surgery. The FFI also decreased significantly from 84.3 preoperatively to 20.3 at 12 months postoperatively (p<0.001). The Olerud & Molander score averaged 71.4 points, showing good clinical results. Complete bone union was observed in all patients. One patient each underwent debridement due to wound necrosis and infection in the pin insertion site. At the final follow-up, seven patients had posttraumatic ankle joint arthritis, according to a radiological examination. Conclusion: Manual reduction and external fixation using a threaded trans-calcaneal pin is a suitable surgical technique that is easy to perform and shows good clinical outcomes in stabilizing soft tissue damage in fractures and dislocations of ankle fracture or tibia pilon fractures in foot and ankle injury.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare the ring lock type knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with newly developed 4-bar linkage KAFO on the gait characteristics of persons with poliomyelitis clinically. This 4-bar linkage is the stance control type KAFO which provide the stability during stance phase and knee flexion during swing phase. Two subjects participated in this study voluntarily. We provided the customized 4-bar linkage KAFO then asked the subjects to walk in level surface and stairs under the two different KAFO conditions. The characteristics of gait in the persons with poliomyelitis were evaluated using a 3D motion analysis system and force plate. Additionally 6 minute walk test for physiological cost index were conducted using pulse oximeter to measure the energy consumption. In the results of this study, the differences of 4-bar linkage KAFO compared with ring lock type KAFO are as follows: (1) Walking speed, stride length, and step length on level increased in subjects, (2) The gait symmetry was improved by generated knee flexion and decreased pelvic external rotation on level and stairs walking, (3) Decreased vertical excursion of center of mass and pelvic elevation during swing phase was decreased on level, (4) Knee extension moment, hip flexion moment, hip and knee internal rotation moment of non-braced limb were decreased on level walking, (5) Walking speed in 6-minute walk test was increased and physiological cost index was decreased. These findings indicate that 4-bar linkage KAFO compared with ring lock type KAFO is effective in enhancing pattern, endurance, and energy consumption in level surface and stairs walking.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1844-1850
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• 2010

Body fat reducing and physical-activity enhancing effects, along with artherosclerosis improving effects, of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were elucidated on obese male middle school students with more than 30% body fat. Twenty-four volunteers were randomly divided into control (placebo, n=12) and CLA treatment (n=12) groups. Subjects were daily fed 6 g CLA (6 capsules, twice a day) or a placebo for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, body composition, blood lipid composition and exercise capacities of subjects were measured. CLA significantly reduced body fat content and body mass index (BMI) along with body weight, while the placebo did not have any such effects. Similarly, CLA significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride, but elevated high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol content in blood. Meanwhile, in terms of exercise capacity, there were significant enhancements of trunk flexion, closed-eyes foot balance, standing long jump, shuttle run, and sit-up activities in the CLA treatment group. These results indicate that CLA consumption reduced body fats, improved atherosclerosis factors in blood and improved physical activity of young male obese middle school students, and suggest that CLA could be a useful material for the heath care of obese young men.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2020

Objective: The study aimed to develop a functional performance index that evaluates the functional performance of Parkinson's patients, i.e., to integrate biomechanical measurements of walking, balance, muscle strength and tremor, and to use multiple linear regression with stepwise methods to identify the most suitable predictors for the progression of disease. Method: A total of 60 subjects were tested for sub-variables of four factors: walking, balance, isometric strength and hand tremors. Potential independet variables were extracted through correlation analysis of the sub-variables and dependent variables, Hoehn & Yahr scale. And then, a stepwise multiple regression analysis using the potential independent variables was performed to identify predictor of Hoehn & Yahr scale. Results: First, the results of the study showed that physical composition and gait had a relatively more correlated with the progression of the disease, compared to balance and hand tremor. Second, Parkinson's functional performance is characterized by dynamic pattern of walking, such as foot clearance and turning angle (TA) of walking, and a high-explained regression model is completed. Conclusion: The study emphasized the importance of walking variables and body composition in minor pathological features compared to Parkinson's patient's balancing ability and hand tremor. Specifically, it revealed that dynamic walking patterns functionally characterize patients. The results are worth considering when assessing functional performance related to the progression of the disease at the site.