• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was to determine whether the Sun-style 24 forms of Tai Chi exercise improve pain, stiffness, disability, knee joint motion, mobility, balance or falling. Method: Forty-six community-dwelling elderly subjects (mean age, $75.46{\pm}6.28$) voluntarily participated in an intervention group of either 24 forms of Sun-style T ai Chi for 60 min, 2 times per week for 12 weeks or a control group. A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. Independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to examine group differences by using SPSS12.0. Result: The experimental group had significantly less pain (F=7.60, p=.008) and stiffness (t=-3.19, p=.003) than the control group. Also there were significant improvements in knee joint motion on the right knee (t=2.44, p=.019), left knee (t=2.30, p=.026), rising time (F=8.03, p=.07), balance on the left single leg test (t=2.20, p=.033), and fear of falling (t=-2.33, p=.024) in the Tai Chi exercise group. No significant group differences were found in disability and falls efficacy. Conclusion: The Sun-style 24 forms Tai Chi exercise is effective in decreasing pain, stiffness, fear of falling and it improves balance, rising time, and knee joint motion. We suggest a continuing long term intervention to decrease disability and increase efficacy concerning falls.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the maximum knee strength and endurance of elderly Korean women with Kellgren-Lawrence grade (K-L II) by age. METHODS: In this study, the total number of participants was 50, divided into five groups of 10 by age. Maximum knee muscle strength was measured at a low speed of 60°/sec using Biodex, an isokinetic device for comparison of maximum knee muscle strength, whereas muscle endurance was measured by muscle contraction at a high speed of 180°/sec. The peak torque values of the extensor and flexor muscles in the muscle strength and muscle endurance tests were collected according to each classification. RESULTS: The results of the experiment show that maximum muscle strength and muscle endurance decreased significantly at 60°/sec and 180°/sec during flexion and extension according to age (p<.05). In particular, the age group of 71 to 75 years showed the most significant correlation with other age groups (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used as basic data for increasing physical activity and muscle strength in women with knee osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.17-26
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between assessment measurements of knee osteoarthritis and obesity. Methods : Data on assessment measurements of knee osteoarthritis and obesity were obtained from 63 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis from February to April, 2005. The assessment measurements consisted of BMI (body mass index), WHR (waist-hip ratio), two disease-specific questionnaires (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index and Lequesne's Functional Severity Index (LFI)), one generic instrument (Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire (KHAQ)), and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). Statistical correlations among assessment measurements were evaluated by examining the Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results : 1. The sexual ratio in this study was 1: 5.3 (male: female= 10: 53). The average age of all patients was $59.1{\pm}6.6$ (male: $58.3{\pm}7.1$, female: $59.2{\pm}6.5$), and the group of 60-69 (34 patients, 54%) was biggest in the age distribution. 2. The average BMI of all patients was $25.4{\pm}3.1\;kg/m^2$ (male: female= $23.6{\pm}2.6\;kg/m^2:\;25.8{\pm}3.0\;kg/m^2$), and the group of $20-25\;kg/m^2$ was biggest in the BMI distribution. According to clinical definition of obesity by WHO (1997), 52.4% of all patients was within normal weight, 42.9% was overweight, and 4.8% was obese. 3. The average WHR of all patients was $0.91{\pm}0.06$ (male: female= $0.90{\pm}0.05:\;0.92{\pm}0.06$). According to definition of abdominal obesity, 73.0% of all patients (46 patients were all female) was in the state of abdominal obesity. 4. There were no significant correlations in statistics among assessment measurements except between BMI and WHR. Conclusion : Though there is significant correlation between knee osteoarthritis and obesity according to many clinical and experimental researches, there is no assessment measurement reflecting knee osteoarthritis and obesity simultaneously. For this, further studies on correlation between knee osteoarthritis and obesity and development of assessment measurement or questionnaire on this are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.123-142
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• 2010

Objectives : The knee pain is the main reason of getting acupuncture treatment. In order to have confidence in the results of a study, it is necessary to establish that questionnaire is both valid and reliable in questionnaire related study. The aim of this study was to review the instruments that are currently in sue for assessing the knee joint. Methods : A literature study was performed to choose appropriate scales for assessment for pain and the function of the knee. Theoretically based scales were selected for review. Therefore, 18 scales for knee and 9 scale for pain were reviewed. the status of scales involved in knee treatment of acupuncture throughout several countries was evaluated. Results & Conclusion : Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, Cincinnati knee rating system(CKRS) are adequate for ligament injury in knee. International Knee Documentation Committee scoring system(IKDC) may become a publication requirement for journals in view of the international standing of the committee. The available outcome measure for use in osteoarthritis are Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC), Lequesne Functional Severity Index(LFI) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score(KOOS), and in rheumatoid arthritis are McMaster-Toronto Arthritis patient function preference questionnaire(MACTAR), Quality of Life-Rheumatoid Arthritis Scale(QoL-RA Scale). Visual analog scale(VAS), verbal rating scale(VRS) are commonly used for the standard pain scale. For long term follow-up study The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36(SF-36), Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales(AIMS), Health Assessment Questionnaire(HAQ) should be included. Each measurement has its own composition and characteristics. Their validity, reliability, responsiveness and practical characteristics were already evaluated. We found 20 domestic and 28 overseas papers about knee treatment using acupuncture assessed with knee scales.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.131-145
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of artificial balenotherapy on the with degenerative osteoarthritis were selected as the subject do this study among the patients with degenerative osteoarthritis having pains in their knees by the criteria of America Rheumatoid Association. And the randomly selected ten patients out of the twenty were classified as an artificial balenotherapy group and the other the Patients were in a control group. Ten individuals with degenerative osteoarthritis patients in the artificial balenotherapy group Participated in artificial balenotherapy Program four weeks from March 1st, 2003 to March 31st, 2003 in Daegu 00 hospital. Ten individuals with degenerative osteoarthritis in the control group did not receive Artificial Balenotherapy. The conclusions were as follows: 1. After 4 weeks of therapy, the score of WBC(p < 0.01), RBC(p < 0.01), HTC(p < 0.01) in the artificial blalenotherapy group were significantly decreased, compared with their scores in pre-intervention. 2.In the balenotherapy group, significantly increase $Na^{+}$ ion(P < 0.05), decrease K ion(p < 0.01), unchanged Cl ion scores were found, compared with their scores in pro-intervention. 3. The result of the substudy about the effects of artificial balenotherapy on the substances that have relations with the function of liver were following that artificial balenotherapy group, increased total bilirubin(P < 0.01), unchanged total Protein, Albumin, total cholesterol, GOT, GPT, ALP were found, compared with their score in pre-intervention. 4. The result of the substudy about the effects of artificial balenotherapy on the substances that have relations with the function of kidney were following that in the artificial balenotherapy group, reduced BUN(P < 0.05), and increased creatine were found. 5. The result of the substudy about effects of artificial balenotherapy on the knee pain visual analog score, knee's functional score, ADL score were following that in the artificial balenotherapy group, decreased VAS score(P < 0.05), increased ADL score(p < 0.01), unchanged knee's functional score were founf, compared with their scores of the pre-intervention. In conclusion, the result of this study suggest that artificial balenotherapy improved ADL score and reduced knee pain visual analog score of the patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. The result proposed that appropriate use of artificial balenotherapy improves the degenerative osteoarthritis

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.155-165
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• 2005

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic degenerative joint disease in elderly. Osteoarthritis is a widespread, slowly developing disease, with a high prevalence increasing with age in women. The large joints mostly involved by the disease are the knees. But there are no treatments available that cure the underlying process of osteoarthritis diseases. Physical exercise helps in increasing cartilage nutrition and remodeling, increases the synovial blood flow, decrease swelling, and improves muscle strength. Thus, exercise has been suggested as an important nursing strategy in osteoarthritis. Purpose: The purpose of this study were to compare muscle strength between Tai-Chi exercise and aquatic exercise for women with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with pretest and posttest measures was used. The study subjects were those who had been enrolled in a community health center, and agreed to participate in the study for eight weeks, signed the consent form, and obtained the physicians approval. The study dropout rates were 13.2% with the final study subjects of 17 on Tai-Chi exercise, 16 on aquatic exercise program. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS for Window (version 12.0). Independent sample t-test and paired t-test was performed to compare of muscle strength for women with osteoarthritis after 8-week Tai-Chi exercise and aquatic Exercise. Results: The homogeneity tests of demographic characteristics and study variables at the pretest data revealed no significant differences between two groups. After 8-week Tai-Chi and aquatic exercise, there was significant result in pre-post test comparison on muscle strength on Tai-Chi group, but no significant in aquatic group. There were no significant differences of knee extensor (p=.078), and hand grip(p=.118) in group comparisons on muscle strengths. But there were significant differences of knee flexor(p=.024). Conclusion: Tai-chi exercise was effective in improving knee flexor. So, it seems that Tai-chi exercise may be more suitable for aquatic exercise in osteoarthritis exercise programs. Further studies with other comparisons in physical and psycho social outcomes are necessary to confirm the more effects of exercise.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.401-408
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a lower extremity exercise program on muscle strength and flexibility in women with knee osteoarthritis. Method: This study was conducted using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 35 women with knee osteoarthritis. The experimental group performed the lower extremity exercise program, which was an adapted BeHaS exercise program developed by Kim(2006). It consisted of approximately 65-130 minutes per one session, two days a week, for twelve weeks. Lower extremity muscle strength was measured by the Seated Leg Press Machine (TY-H2217, made in Korea), back muscle strength by back muscle strength scale (TKK 5402, made in Japan) and flexibility, by Sit and Reach tester (01285, U.S.A). Data were gathered from September 2005 to March 2006. Frequency, $X^2$ test and t-test were used to analyze the data. SPSS Win 11.0 was used to assist analysis. For normal distribution of data, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was done. Results: There were statistical differences in the mean strength of both legs together, strength in leg with more pain(p=.044; p=.046), sit and standing time (p=.007), and back strength (p=.021). Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be concluded that a lower extremity exercise program can help improve lower extremity muscle strength in women with osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1154-1162
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• 2007

This study was to investigate the effects of Bee-venom Treatment on the monosodium iodoacetate(MIA)- induced osteoarthritis in rats. Arthritis was induced by injection of MIA(0.5 mg) into knee joints of rats. Arthritic rats were divided into control(n=8) and treated(n=8) group. Control group was injected with normal saline once a day for 20 days, while treated group was injected with Bee-venom extract once a day for same duration. Body weights were measured at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 days after injection. At the end of experiment, gross and histopathological examination on the articular cartilages of the knee joints were performed. Proteoglycan contents of articular cartilages were analysed by safranine O staining method. The contents of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in synovial fluids were analysed by ELISA method. And also, COX-2 and iNOS immunohistochemical examination on the knee joints were performed. Body weights of the treated group were increased compared with control group at 20 days after injection. Grossly, the severity of osteoarthritis in the treated group were alleviated compared with control group. PG contents in articular cartilages of the treated group were significantly increased compared with control group. Histopathologically, degenerative and necrotic lesion of articular cartilages in the treated group were alleviated compared with those of the control group. $TNF-{\alpha}$ contents in synovial fluids of the treated group were decreased compared with control group. Positive reactions of COX-2 in chondrocytes and synovial membranes of the treated group were decreased compared with the control group. On the basis of these results, we concluded that Bee-venom treatment has anti-arthritic effects on the monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in rats. And it's effects were related with reduced secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and COX-2 from osteoarthritic chondrocytes and synovial membranes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of cold application on knee joint in rats induced by osteoarthritis. Methods : Osteoarthritis was induced in female Sprague-Dowley rats by injecting into articular cavity of knee joint with 4% Kaolin, 2% carrageenan. Rats were divided randomly into the control and MES applicated group. The Experimental group was applicated MES in rat knee joint for 30 minutes. Results : Recovery of articular cartilage surface and thickness of articular cartilage increased after MES application. And chondrocytes were distributed widely throughout the cartilage matrix. The physical effects of Microcurrent Electrical Stimulation. Decrease in blood flow. Delay of neurotransmitter velocity Decrease in metabolism activity and inhibit the progress of the infection. Decrease in pain and muscle rigidity, inhibition of circulation Conclusion : This study shows that MES application affects articular cartilage recovery in osteoarthritis.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.311-323
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to compare factors influencing the quality of life of osteoarthritis patients in urban and rural areas. The data were derived from the sixth Korea national health and nutrition examination survey in 2014 and analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.0 software package considering complex samples analysis. The subjects of study were 599 adults with osteoarthritis over 50 years. The results of the study show that the factors affecting the urban patients' quality of life are healthcare coverage types, knee joint pain, knee ankylosis, hip joint pain, low back pain, limited activities, and subjective health status. The rural patients' quality of life are influenced by knee joint pain, limited activities, and alcohol consumptions. Therefore, the government should create differentiating strategies and approaches, including community rehabilitation programs, to improve the quality of life of urban and rural patients with osteoarthritis.