• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.7-13
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate correlations among objective measurements of spasticity in patients with brain lesions. Thirty-two stroke and traumatic brain injury subjects participated in the study. Spasticity was quantified using the knee first flexion angle, relaxation index obtained from a pendulum drop test, and the amplitude of a knee tendon reflex test. Pearson's product correlation coefficient was used to examine relationships among these measurements of spasticity. There was a significant positive correlation between the relaxation index and knee first flexion angle in patients with brain lesions (r=.895, p<.01). There was also significant negative correlation between the amplitude of knee tendon reflex and relaxation index (r=-.612, p<.01), and between amplitude and knee first flexion angle (r=-.537, p<.01). Thus, it is possible to use the knee first flexion angle as an objective measure of spasticity, rather than relaxation index, which is more complicated to obtain. Further studies are needed to explore the effects of functional improvement and long-lasting carryover effects of spasticity using a simple objective measure such as the knee first flexion angle from a pendulum test.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.15-31
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• 2000

The aim was to evaluate the prevailing ergonomic and psychosocial conditions regarding low back injury in an automobile assembly system. This study consisted of two parts. In the first part of the study, analytic biomechanical model and NIOSH guidelines were applied to evaluate risk levels of low back injury for automobile assembly jobs. Total of 246 workers were analysed. There were 20 jobs having greater back compressive forces than 300kg at L5/S1. Also, there were 44 jobs over Action Limit with respect to 1981 NIOSH guidelines. This might in part be explained by the ergonomic conditions of the company analysed generally being good, with a relatively low duration of 'combined' extreme work posture. The relationship between psychosocial factors and low back injury was examined in the second part of the study. It has recently been recognized that overall reaction to working conditions was influenced by a range of factors, some of which were physical and some psychosocial. The psychosocial environment surrounding the work place may contribute to the perception of risk and eventual ill-health. A battery of questionnaires concerning the psychosocial stress based on PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index) and musculoskeletal pain symptoms at low back was completed by 246 workers at the same plant. Results showed that 207 out 246 workers experienced the symptoms and 27 workers were diagnosed as patients. Two groups(low stressed, high stressed) based on PWI score had no significant relationships with both symptoms and results of diagnosis. However, sensitivities for symptoms and diagnosis by PWI were 91.3% and 92.6% respectively. Finally, relationships between physical work load and psychosocial stress were analysed. Specifically, some postural factors {vertical deviation angle of forearm, horizontal deviation angle of upperarm, vertical deviation angle of thigh, etc) were highly correlated with psychosocial stress. The results illustrated that PWI scores were associated with some physical workloads. However, psychosocial stress levels couldn't be well related with the pain symptom as well as the actual incidence of low back injury since pain or discomfort regarding low back injury were more complex than that of other musculoskeletal disorders.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.150-157
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• 2014

Objectives: The decrease or increase in sleep duration has recently been recognized as a risk factor for several diseases, including hypertension and obesity. Many studies have explored the relationship of decreased sleep durations and injuries, but few have examined the relationship between increased sleep duration and injury. The objective of this research is to identify the risk for injury associated with both decreased and increased sleep durations. Methods: Data from the 2010 Community Health Survey were used in this study. We conducted logistic regression with average sleep duration as the independent variable, injury as a dependent variable, and controlling for age, sex, occupation, education, region (cities and provinces), smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and depression. Seven categories of sleep duration were established: ${\leq}4$, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and ${\geq}10$ hours. Results: Using 7 hours of sleep as the reference, the adjusted injury risk (odds ratio) for those sleeping a total of ${\leq}4$ h/d was 1.53; 1.28 for 5 hours, for 1.11 for 6 hours, 0.98 for 8 hours, 1.12 for 9 hours, and 1.48 for ${\geq}10$ hours. The difference in risk was statistically significant for each category except for the 8 and 9 hours. In this study, risk increased as the sleep duration decreased or increased, except for the 8 and 9 hours. Conclusions: This research found that either a decrease or increase in sleep duration was associated with an increased risk for injury. The concept of proper sleep duration can be evaluated by its associated injury risk.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2009

Purpose: Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were referred from other hospitals for further management. In addition, patients routinely underwent computed tomography examinations of the head (HCT) in the referral hospitals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the utility of routine HCT scans according to the severity of TBI. Methods: Patients with TBI referred to our hospital between December 2005 and July 2008 were included in this study. We investigated HCT findings, indications for repeat HCT examinations (routine versus a neurological change), and neurosurgical interventions. The head injury severity was divided into three categories according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, including mild, moderate, and severe TBI. The use of neurosurgical interventions between patients who underwent routine HCT scans and patients who underwent HCT scans for a neurological change were compared according to the severity of TBI. Results: A total of 81 patients met the entry criteria for this study. Among these patients, 67%(n=54) of the patients underwent HCT scans on a routine basis, whereas 33%(n=27) of the patients underwent HCT scans for a neurological change. A total of 21 patients showed signs of a worsening condition on the HCT scans. Neurosurgical intervention was required for 23(28.4%) patients. For patients who underwent routine HCT examinations, no patient with mild TBI underwent a neurosurgical intervention. However, one patient with moderate TBI and three(13%) patients with severe TBI underwent neurosurgical interventions. The kappa index, the level of agreement for HCT indications of intervention and referral reasons for intervention, was 0.65 for high hierarchy hospitals and 0.06 for low hierarchy hospitals. Conclusion: Routine serial HCT examinations in the referred hospitals would be useful for patients with severe head injury and for patients from low hierarchy hospitals where no emergency physicians or neurosurgeons are available.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

Blast injuries in a compartment are investigated, and the effects of obstacles on blast injury are particularly analyzed by comparing injuries in the compartments with or without protruding obstacles inside. Even if blast pressure profile tends to be complicated in a confined space unlike in open field, it can be obtained in a relatively short time by using some empirical fast running models for simple confined spaces. However, a finite element method should be employed to obtain blast pressure profiles in a case with obstacles in confined spaces, because the obstacles heavily disturb blast waves. On the other hand, Axelsson SDOF(Single degree of freedom) model and ASII(Adjusted severity of injury index) injury level are employed to estimate blast injury in compartments, because the usual pressure-impulse injury criterion based on the ideal Friedlander waves in open the field cannot be applied to personnel in a confined space due to complexity of blast waves inside. In cases with obstacles, chest wall velocity was reduced by 26 to 76 percent(%) and the personnel injury in the compartment caused by blast was also reduced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.573-582
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of the Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), which was translated into Korean for long-term wheelchair users. This index measured 15 functional activities, including transfer, self-care, wheelchair mobility and general activities. METHODS: To assess test-retest reliability, 23 long-term wheelchair users completed this self-administered index twice within the same day. Reliability was determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Cronbach's alpha was used to measure internal consistency. To examine concurrent validity, 21 long-term wheelchair users completed the questionnaire, and we examined the correlation between the index score and the shoulder range of motion measurements. RESULT: The results showed that the intraclass correlation for test-retest reliability of the total index score ranging from .88 to .99 was good to excellent. Additionally, Cronbach's alpha was .96. The internal consistency indicated excellent. Concurrent validity showed negative correlations of total index score to range of motion measurements of shoulder flexion (rho=-.58), extension (rho=-.09), abduction (rho=-.59), external rotation (rho=-.07) and internal rotation (rho=-.3), suggesting a relationship of total index score to loss of shoulder range of motion. CONCLUSION: The Korean WUSPI shows not only high reliability and internal consistency, but also concurrent validity with loss of shoulder flexion and abduction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate the neurologic abnormalities in the donor limb after contralateral C7 transfer in brachial plexus injury. Materials and Methods : From August 1996 to December 1999, five patients with brachial plexus injury were treated with contralateral C7 nerve root transfer. The average follow up was 16 months(range, 5 to 36 months). The clinical findings were assessed using the British Medical Research Council Grading System, and also measured grip power, pinch power of hand and two point discrimination of the fingers. Results : We had no difference in shoulder abduction and elbow flexion after contralateral C7 transfer. The grip and pinch strength were recovered within 4weeks. Sensory loss occurred in all patients and was noted to be more severe on index and middle finger. Four patients recovered within 2 weeks, one continued till one year. Subjective numbness and pain on percussion minimally persisted until last follow-up. Conclusion : The division of the C7 nerve root resulted in minimal and temporary functional deficit in the donor upper limb.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.6
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• pp.482-489
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• 2011

Background: Based on the assertion that apocynin diminishes acute lung injury (ALI) by inhibition of NADPH oxidase, the effect of apocynin was tested in interleukin-$1{\alpha}$ (IL-1)-induced ALI in rats. Methods: IL-1 was insufflated into the trachea of Sprague-Dawley rats to induce ALI, and apocynin (8 mg/kg) was given intravenously for inhibition of NADPH oxidase. In addition, we determined whether apocynin inhibited generation of superoxide anions from isolated human neutrophils. Five hours after IL-1 instillation, lung injury parameters, expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) by cells from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), an index of oxidative stress in lung tissues (${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase, activity), and ultrastructure of alveolar type II (AT II) cells were evaluated. Results: Apocynin decreased the generation of free radicals from phorbol myristate (PMA)-activated neutrophils in vitro, but did not ameliorate ALI. IL-1 induced enhancement of the expression of cPLA2 on neutrophils was not altered by apocynin. Conclusion: Apocynin induced suppression of the generation of superoxide anions from neutrophils by inhibition of NADPH oxidase does not attenuate IL-1-induced ALI in rats.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.142-151
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and the reliability of the WISCI II to ascertain its value in the walking function evaluation of spinal cord injury patient. The WISCI II consists of 20 variables with a total valus ranging from 6 to 20 score. A group of 23 spinal cord injury patient were included in this study. To determine the validity, kappa statistics between the WISCI II and SCIM II were measured. The result of this study are as follows: 1) In the validity study, the kappa statistics between the WISCI II and SCIM II were 0.79 and 0.84 for an initial total score and a discharge total score respectively, indicating a reasonable agreement between the two test. 2) In the reliability study, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.83 and 0.95 for total score indicating a good internal consistency. The finding suggest that the WISCI II demonstrated an acceptable validity and reliabilit for the evaluation of walking function capacity of spinal cord injury patient in clinical practice.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2017

Purpose: This study is a descriptive study to analyze the relationship between the cognitive function, body image and pain, and the influencing factors on the daily life performance of brain injured patients. Methods: The study subjects were 119 inpatients with brain injury who gave informed consent. The activities of daily living (ADLs), cognitive function, pain and body image were measured by Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), K-MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Semantic Differential Method (SDM), respectively. Results: ADLs was significantly associated with body image, cognitive function, and pain. Multiple regression analysis showed that paralysis, consciousness, cognitive function, and pain were significant factors influencing ADLs. Overall, approximately 48% of total variability in the ADLs could be explained by the 4 variables ($R^2=.477$, p<.001). Conclusion: To improve ADLs of brain injury patients, a deeper understanding of paralysis, consciousness, cognitive function, and pain of patients is required and active nursing invention should be conducted.