• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.598-603
• /
• 2022

Objective: About one-third of college students are exposed to stress to the point that their academic performance is negatively affected. To provide useful information for managing the mental health of young people by analyzing the perceived stress level, depression level, and life satisfaction according to the amount of physical activity and the level of muscular strength in male college students. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Among 304 students who participated in the health exercise class at Sahmyook University in Seoul, the amount of physical activity and the level of muscular strength were divided into 3 quartiles, respectively, and the perceived stress level, depression level, and life satisfaction were analyzed through one-way ANOVA. The physical activity level and muscle strength level of the subjects were ranked, divided into 3 groups, and the difference in variables according to the group was verified. Results: There was no difference in perceived stress level, depression level, and life satisfaction according to the amount of physical activity, but statistically significant differences were shown in perceived stress scale(p=0.008) and life satisfaction(p=0.030) according to muscular strength. Conclusions: Policies to increase physical activity are important to improve and manage the mental health of young people, but it is judged to be more meaningful to provide an environment that can improve muscular strength.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.58-68
• /
• 2015

This study aimed to determine the effect of lower trapezius muscle strengthening exercises on pain, neck disability index (NDI), cervical range of motion (ROM), and lower trapezius muscle strength in patients with unilateral neck pain. Following baseline measurements, the subjects (N=40) with unilateral neck pain were randomized into one of two 5 weeks exercise intervention groups: a experimental group (EG, $n_1=20$) that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles or a control group (CG, $n_2=20$) that received routine physical therapy program. Each group participated in the intervention for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for 5 weeks. All participants performed 2 repetitions of each intervention per day. The numeric pain rating scale for pain, NDI, ROM, and lower trapezius strength were recorded both pre- and post-intervention for both groups. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant changes post-intervention compared with pre-intervention and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the 2 groups. After the 5-weeks intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased pain and disability level (p<.05) and significantly increased cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation ROM (p<.05). The EG that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles showed greater improvements in pain and functional disability level, cervical rotation, and lower trapezius strength than the CG (p<.05). These results suggest that a lower trapezius strengthening exercises reduce neck pain and neck disability level and enhance cervical ROM and lower trapezius strength level in patients with unilateral neck pain.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.259-278
• /
• 1995

This study was done to investigate levels of physical fitness, self efficacy(SE), instrumental activities of daily living(IADL), and quality of life (QL), and their relationships among the elderly Data were collected from 47 noninstitutionalized elderly dwell-ing in their own homes and 43 institutionalized elderly living in homes for older people. The ages of the subjects were 65 years and over. The data were col lected from January 20th to February 20th, 1995. Physical fitness was measured with T.K. K dyna mometer, grip dynamometer, stop watch, and Purdue pegboard. Structured questionnaires developed by Kim by Lawton & Brody, and by Ro were adopted to measure SE, IADL, and QL, respectively. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients. The results were as follows : 1. The noninstitutionalized elderly had higher scores in such measures of physical fitness as body weight, skinfold thickness, flexibility and coordination as compared to the institutionalized elderly. 2. On the following measures of physical fitness, men showed higher levels than women ; in height when standing, height when sitting, body weight, and muscle strength. Women had more trunk flexibility than men. 3. Muscle strength was positively correlated with height when standing, height when sitting, and body weight. The following measures of physical fitness, muscle strength, flexibility and coordi nation, were negatively correlated with "up and go”. 4. The noninstitutionalized elderly had higher scores in SE(t=2.28, p<0.05), IADL(t=2.24, p<0.05), and QL(t=2.41, p<0.05) as compared to the institutionalized elderly. 5. SE was positively correlated with both IADL(r=0.41, p<0.001) and QL(r=0.54, p<0.001), and the latter two variables were a positively correlated (r=0.30, p<0.001). 6. SE was positively correlated with the physical fitness measures of height when standing, body weight, strength of leg muscles, strength of back muscles, grip strength, and level of touching the floor, but negatively correlated with "up and go”. 7. Positive correlations were revealed between IADL and the physical fitness measures of height, strength of leg muscles, level of trunk muscle extension, level of touching the floor, and coordination. The IADL was negatively correlated with “up and go”. 8. QL was positively correlated with body weight (r=0.28, p<0.01) and skinfold thickness (r=0.26, p<0.05). 9. Age was negatively correlated with the physical fitness measures of height when standing, height when sitting, “up and go”, strength of leg muscles, strength of back muscles, grip strength, level of trunk muscle extension, and coordination. 10. Age was also negatively correlated with SE (r=-0.24, p<0.05) and IADL(r=-0.22, p<0.05). The above results suggest that caring elderly in their own homes were more effective and that nursing interventions to enhance physical fitness, SE, IADL, and QL especially for the institutionalized elderly are stressed.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.129-136
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the level of physical fitness and isokinetic strength, between EMT student and physical education students. Nine a major in EMT student volunteers, and nine a major in physical education student volunteers participated in that study as subjects. The basic physical body composition, fitness and isokinetic strength were measured. The data obtained in the study was analyzed by SPSS PC+ for window version 10.0. The difference in the mean of each variable between the two groups was analyzed by using the independent t-test and the significance level for all analysis was set at <.05. The results were as follows ; 1. There was a significant difference in the basic physical fitness between the two groups with the exception flexibility. The difference showed the statistical significance on back strength, balance and power in physical education students. 2. There were significant difference in body composition between the two groups with the exception of lean body fat. The difference showed the statistical significance on body fat%, body fat mass in the physical education students. 3. There was significant defference in the isokinetic strength between the two group. The difference showed the statistical significance on peak torque, peak torque B/W%. It was concluded that the physical education students may not have an effect of flexibility; however, back strength, balance, power, body composition, isokinetic strength, could be enhanced due to the long-term period of training. Based on the findings of this study, the regular participation of regular exercise help the untrained men achieve health-related fitness.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.355-364
• /
• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study is to test the effects of elastic band exercise accompanied by Swiss ball exercise on lower limb muscle strength, balance and pain in middle-aged women with osteoarthritis. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-five participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=18), which performed elastic band exercise combined with Swiss ball exercise, and the control group (n=17), which performed elastic band exercise only. Both groups did a 30-minute session of exercise three times a week for eight weeks and were assessed for lower extremity muscle strength, static and dynamic balance, and pain levels before the first therapy session. All participating patients underwent outcome assessment after eight weeks of therapy without any additional treatment. Results: The experimental group made a significant increase in muscle strength of the lower extremities, static and dynamic balance ability, and pain level (p<0.05). The control group made a significant improvement in lower limb muscle strength, dynamic balance ability and pain level (p<0.05) with no such improvement in static balance ability. The exercise group made a significant increase in static and dynamic balance ability and pain level compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results demonstrated that both Swiss ball exercise and elastic band exercise were effective for middle-aged women with osteoarthritis and found that elastic band exercise combined with Swiss ball exercise produced more significant effects on their balance and pain.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.231-242
• /
• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to identify ways to improve the quality of physical therapy research and ultimately review the current situation to improve evidence-based decision-making in physical therapy. Methods : For better evidence-based decision-making in physical therapy, researchers should review the quality assessment of articles in more detail and report their findings for valid and appropriate level of evidence and strength of recommendations. The level of evidence affects how well the findings are derived from well-designed literature. The evaluation of the evidence focuses primarily on the study design and the degree of bias that may compromise the validity of the findings. The final recommendation is based on a combination of the study design and literature quality. To uncover gems of information in each paper, a risk of bias assessment should be performed after the literature has been initially selected. Results : Researchers should consider the complexity of the intervention, appropriate grouping, and calculation of effect sizes for the intervention. Researchers conducting systematic reviews should provide a detailed description of the quality assessment performed and present a detailed analysis of their interpretation of the results. The results of systematic reviews and meta-analyses should be interpreted with caution and include a risk of bias assessment. Guidelines for the level of evidence and strength of recommendations should be developed and utilized more broadly to improve reporting practices in physical therapy. Conclusion : Researchers should be knowledgeable about the strengths and limitations of each study design and methodology. In the future, researchers will also need to improve their ability to critically evaluate their findings, given the potential for their results to influence clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.66-75
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study is aimed at obtaining the information on the physical fitness level of female flight attendants at a local airline. Methods: The subjects are 2,409 female flight attendants who have had medical examination and physical fitness tests at an airline medical center from January 2 to December 30, 2008. The independent variables include socio-demographic & behavioral characteristics, and medical examination results, whereas the dependent variable is their physical strength score representing their fitness level. Results: Factors that affect the fitness strength score are age, flight hours per year, and fasting blood sugar level. It is found that physical fitness level is higher when the subjects are over 35, on board for over 850 hours per year and their fasting blood sugar level is over 100 mg/dL. Conclusion: It is concluded that for the improvement of flight attendants' health, more exercise to develop cardio-respiratory endurance and muscular strength is needed, and further study needs to be done to develop fitness enhancement programs considering flight attendants' job characteristics, working years, and flight hours per year, and programs for those returning to their workplace after a long-term leave, and new employees.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.214-221
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate and reveal the effects that the complex exercise training consisting of aerobic exercise and strength training(sit up, push up) that everyone can easily practice regardless of a time and a place in order to manage practically the physical strength of the aged affects the difference on their body composition and the change of physical fitness level. Looking into the change of body composition of an experimental group, the weight of 2.5kg was reduced after applying complex training for 12 weeks and the body fat mass of 2.65kg was reduced. Also, the abdominal fat of 0.13% was decreased and the muscle mass of 1.56kg was increased. For the change factors of physical fitness, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance and flexibility excluding agility showed significant improvement after applying complex exercise training. The improvement of health fitness of the aged under this study was significantly effective to improve specified body functions which had been lowered by aging and insufficient physical activities. So, it is regarded that their health fitness is the important factor to improve the activity competence required for daily life and to lead healthy living by the improved activity competence. Henceforth, it needs to study more the complex composition of several sports, exercise intensity and the frequency based on the previous researches and studies. In addition, it needs to develop the complex exercise training in accordance with various characteristics such as a sex of the aged, an age, a physical fitness level, environment, a disease and the program in consideration of the efficacy and safety during training.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.98-109
• /
• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in physical and cognitive function according to the level of independence in performing activities of daily living in stroke patients. Design: Retrospective study. Method: This study is a retrospective study analyzing medical records. This study utilized data collected from 123 stroke patients at admission in a local rehabilitation hospital between 2019 and 2022. Stroke patients were classified into 5 groups based on the scores of the Korean Modified Barthel index (K-MBI) evaluated at the time of hospitalization at a rehabilitation hospital, and investigated the change in physical (spasticity (modified Ashworth scale), muscle strength (manual muscle test), gait ability (functional ambulation category), upper extremity function (manual function test), and balance function (berg balance scale)) and cognitive function (Korean mini mental status examination) according to the level of independence in performing activities of daily living. Result:: As a results, significant differences were observed in the physical (muscle strength, gait ability, upper extremity and balance functions) and cognitive functions of stroke patients according to the level of independence in performing activities of daily living (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in upper and lower extremities spasticity. Conclusions: Through the results of this study, we found that the physical (muscle strength, gait ability, upper extremity and balance functions) and cognitive function were influenced by the level of independence in performing activities of daily living in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.341-351
• /
• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the initial effects of deltoid inhibition taping to Pain, Function, Strength, ROM in shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods : This study is 28 patients(male 16, female 12) with shoulder impingement syndrome(SIS).The experimental group received deltoid inhibition taping and the control group had sham taping. Outcome variables measured degree of pain, disability, strength, and range of motion at pre-post intervention. The changes between pre-post interventions are analyzed by a repeated measure ANOVA test. Results : Pain and disability index significantly decreased (p<.05), and the rate of change in pain and disability level of the experimental group increased significantly more than control group (p<.05). Strength and range of motion significantly increased (p<.05), but the rate of change of the two groups showed no significant difference (p>.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that deltoid inhibition taping was initial effective in decreasing pain and disability in SIS patients.