• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.127-134
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• 1996

Recently, in Korea the birthrate is declining and the average life span has been increasing. Thus, compared to the previous periods nowadays, older people are required to work. Even elderly people are rejoining the workforce. Korean companies set the retirement age between 55 and 60 years of age, however, accidents occur frequently. Thus, it becomes necessary to evaluate the ability of the elderly person. Since the required function of the worker varies from job to job the evaluation of the capability must also be conducted according to the desired functions. One of the methods used in this study is the continuous control knob to evaluate the tracking control ability to investigate the relationship of manual dexterity and age. The result of the study Indicates that the manual dexterity decreases with age. However, there are differences among individuals. The individuals lifestyle affected the manual dexterity of that individual. As a result, a company may use the manual dexterity as an measure to evaluate the elderly persons work ability.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.686-695
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• 2020

The present study evaluated the manual dexterity and usability of conductive gloves when operating touchscreen devices in the cold. Twelve male subjects (23.3±1.5 years in age) participated in three experimental conditions: no gloves, fabric conductive and lambskin conductive gloves. Manual dexterity was tested using both Purdue Pegboard (PP) and ASTM dexterity tests at an air temperature of 5℃ and air humidity of 30%RH. Glove usability was tested through the following touchscreen tests: tap, double tap, long tab, drag, flick, and multi-touch. The results showed that manual dexterity according to the PP (2.5 mm of a pin diameter) and ASTM tests (8 mm of a stick diameter) was worse for the two glove conditions than for the no glove condition (p<.005). PP dexterity was better for the fabric glove condition than for the lambskin glove condition (p<.05); however, there was no difference in ASTM dexterity between the two glove conditions. Hand and finger skin temperatures were higher for the glove conditions than the bare hand condition (p<.05), with no differences between the two glove conditions. The touchscreen usability was the best for the no glove condition, followed by fabric gloves (p<.05). Wearing either fabric or lambskin gloves diminishes hand dexterity while maintaining hand and finger temperatures at higher levels. For improved hand dexterity in dealing with small numbers, letters on a touchscreen in cold environments, we recommend wearing fabric conductive gloves rather than lambskin conductive gloves.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to systematically review the correlation between hand dexterity and cognitive function in the elderly, and summarize various evaluation tests and results analysis methods for manual dexterity tests applied to this population. Methods : We searched published studies in the Korean Studies Information Service System and PubMed databases from January 2013 to March 2023. The main keywords used were "dexterity," "fine motor," "elderly," "cognitive function," and "correlation." A total of 10 studies were selected for analysis from the 1,524 searched articles. The included studies consisted of a cohort study, a longitudinal study, and eight cross-sectional studies which were analyzed for patients, intervention, comparison, and outcomes. Results : Analyzing the qualitative level of 10 studies, 8 articles (80%) were non-randomized two-group studies that provided level II evidence whereas the remaining 2 studies (20%) were non-randomized single-group studies (level III evidence). Therefore, these results indicated that the level of evidence in this field is generally high. The Purdue pegboard test was the most commonly used evaluation test for manual dexterity, and velocity speed was the most frequently employed analysis method. Results indicated that there were significant differences in manual dexterity test between the normal elderly, those with mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. Conclusions : These results can be used as a basis for selecting dexterity test evaluation items and methods to analyze it in the elderly while screening for cognitive impairment. In addition, this study highlights potential areas for future research on the development of manual dexterity evaluation tools and techniques for analysis and the need for more reliable and valid methods for assessing cognitive function in the elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation on hand function. Methods: A total of 22 university students participated in this study (10 males and 12 females). Twelve subjects received $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation. The other subjects received neither. All subjects were assessed for hand function (manual dexterity, power grip, pinch, lateral pinch, tactile sense) using a Purdue pegboard, dynamometer, pinch gauge, and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament wire. The data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests. Results: The results were as follows: 1. In the experimental group, manual dexterity and tactile sense were significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention (p<0.05). Within the control group, manual dexterity and power grip were significantly increased between pre- and post-test (p<0.05). 2. With regard to dexterity and tactile sense, the experimental group experienced a significant post-intervention increase compared to the control group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in power grip, pinch, or lateral pinch changes between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study show that $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation affect hand function with regard to manual dexterity and tactile sense.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of action observational physical training (AOPT) on manual dexterity and corticomotor facilitation in stroke patients. Ten hemiparetic patients participated in this study. Each subject was asked to participate the three conditions; base condition (Base), physical training (PT), AOPT. Participants were asked to observe the action in the video that a therapist moved the blocks during the AOPT conditions. Corticomotor facilitation was determined in three conditions by monitoring changes in the amplitude of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited in hand muscles by transcranial magnetic stimulation. MEP responses were measured from the first dorsal interosseous after participants attended to three conditions. For the manual dexterity, Box and Block test (BBT) was used. The results of present study were summarized as follows: MEPs amplitude significantly tended to be larger than PT and Base condition. The scores of BBT in the AOPT condition were also significantly larger than other conditions. In conclusion, this finding of present study indicates that physical training for observation of an action is beneficial for enhancing a dexterity of paretic arm in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.17-25
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• 1986

In recent years, the average life span of people in advanced countries has increased. Conwequently, the number of middle-aged and old workers who have the will to work has increased. On the other hand, the declining birth rate has decreased the number of young workers. However, because many enterprises in advanced countries have extended their mandatory retirement age from 55 to 60 years, labor accidents involving aged workers are on the increase. As a result, the need for a method to evaluate the work skills of middle-age and old workers has become urgent. To explore one such method, this study investigated the relationship between aging and manual dexterity. Dexterity was found to deteriorate with age, but with large variability from individual to individual. The parameters of dexterity used in this experiment were found to be reliable.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.43-47
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this preliminary study was to use hand function tests to Hand dexterity levels provided by the type of compression garment and compression bandages in asymptomatic subjects and to collect baseline data for the comparison of hand functions in the patients with chronic arm lymphedema. Methods: The subjects of this study were 32 healthy volunteer female with a mean age of 45.8 years. Grip strength and hand functions were tested in three conditions-no compression, compression garment, and compression bandages-using the nine-hole peg test (NHPT), the box and block test (B&BT), Minnesota Manual Dexterity test (MMDT), and the hand-held Jamar dynamometer. Results: The grip strength was significantly low in the bandage condition (p<0.05). The performance in both compression groups (i.e., bandage and compression garment) decreased as the thickness of the compression material increased (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that grip strength and hand function scores are influenced by the characteristics of the compression applied. Future study is needed to determine the level of hand function between patients with chronic arm lymphedema and healthy individuals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.11-21
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the changes in the handgrip strength, dexterity, and hand function according to the presence or absence of gloves and types of gloves. METHODS: Seventy-six adults in their twenties (male: 24, female: 52, mean age 21.04 years) were the subjects of this study. The handgrip strength, dexterity, and hand function were evaluated with bare hands without gloves, poly gloves, and latex gloves. The handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer, and three pinch strength tests were performed: tip pinch, lateral pinch, and three-jaw pinch. The hand dexterity was evaluated using the Minnesota manual dexterity test, and the hand function was evaluated using the Jabson-Taylor hand function test. RESULTS: There was no difference in the grip strength depending on whether the gloves were worn. The hand grip, dexterity, and hand function showed significant differences according to the type of glove. Regarding the handgrip, dexterity, and hand function, the latex glove had the best function, and the poly glove had the lowest function. CONCLUSION: There was a difference in dexterity among the hand functions but no difference in grip strength according to the type of glove. The results suggest that the use of latex gloves in daily life be recommended.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2022

Engagement is an important factor in the field of rehabilitation as it is a known factor that have a positive influence on functional gaining in people who receive rehabilitation therapy. Although a number of measurements for engagement have been recently developed, investigation of possible factors that may have influence on engagement is not well established. Currently available evidence suggests that engagement is affected by mood and it is hypothesized that a personal factor may contribute to engagement. Therefore, this study aims to test the hypothetical relationship between mood and engagement while performing a manual dexterity task through an experiment in healthy participants prior to investigation on people with medical condition who requires rehabilitation therapy. After inducing target mood (positive or negative mood) for study participants by asking them to recall autobiographical memories, change in muscle activity, which was operationalized as an indicator of engagement, was investigated. Electromyogram (EMG) was recorded from four muscle areas in non-dominant hand side to quantify muscle activity. The results show that the target moods were appropriately induced with the method. Although there were subtle differences in the level of engagement between different moods, certain variables derived from muscle activity were significantly different; mean amplitude for wrist extensor EMG showed significant difference between different moods (Z = -2.023, p < .05) indicating that muscle activities in the wrist extensor are greater for positive mood than negative mood region during manual dexterity task. Meanwhile, performance outcomes of Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), such as mean completion time and number of errors, between moods showed no significant difference in two different moods, resulting in MMDT administration may not be useful task in distinguishing the level of rehabilitation engagement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2009

Purpose：The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation on hand function in stroke with hemiplegia. Methods：A total of 32 stroke with hemiplegia participated in this study experimental group(16 subjects) received $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation with general neurologic therapy. Control group(16 subjects) received general neurologic therapy. All subjects were assessed for hand function(manual dexterity, power grip, pinch grip, two point discrimination(parm, finger), tactile sense(parm, finger) using a purdue pegboard, dynamometer, pinch gauge, two-point anethesiometer and semmes-weinstein monofilament wire. The data were analyzed using paired and independent t-test. Results：The results were as follows : 1. In the experimental group, manual dexterity were significantly increased between pre and post intervention(p<.05). 2. In the experimental group, tactile sesne in finger were sifnificantly increased between pre and post intervention(p<.05). Conclusion：The results of this study shows that $\alpha$-wave music and art appreciation affect the hand function of hemiplegic side with regard to manual dexterity and tactile sense.