• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.391-401
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation(EST) on MAP2(Microtubule Associated Protein 2) expression in cerebral cortex following sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. Twelve Sprague-Dawley adult female rats, six for control and six for experimental, were anesthetized and their sciatic nerves were crushed. The electrical stimulation (EST) was applicated with 3 Hz for 10 minuties in a day for muscles innervated sciatic nerve. The MAP2 expression in cerebral cortex was identified from immunohistochemistry against MAP2. The result of this study were as follow: 1) In control group, MAP2 immunoreactive neurons were observed but there no significant increase for 3 days. 2) MAP2 immunoreactive neurons were increased markably in experimental group than control group. 3) MAP2 immunoreactive neurons were increased markably after applicating with EST in sciatic nerve crush injury induced group from 2nd day. This study showed that the application of EST for muscles after sciatic nerve crushed injury made MAP2 immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex increased. Therefore, the electrical stimulation on the peripheral site, denervated muscle, may facilitate MAP2 expression in the cerebral cortex.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.32-43
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• 1996

The purpose of this case study was to introduce functional electrical stimulation(FES) for paraplegic patients. FES provides the ability to rise from sitting to standing, maintenance of a standing position, and the ability to walk with a reciprocal gait. Six channels of electrical stimulation are sufficient for synthesis of a simple reciprocal gait pattern in these patients. During the double-stance phase, knee extensor muscles of both knees are stimulated, providing sufficient support for the body. Only one knee extensor muscle group is excited during the single-stance phase. The swing phase of the contralateral lower extremity is accomplished by eliciting the synergic flexor muscle response through electrical stimulation of afferent nerves. The transition from the double-stance phase to the swing phase is controlled by two hand switches used by the therapist or built into the handles of the walking frame for using by the patient. A twenty-five years old male was with a T9/T9 spinal cord injury due to a traffic accident and admitted to Yonsei Rehabilitation Hospital for comprehensive treatment. After 30 days of training using the Parastep(R) he was able to stand for 10 minutes. After 43 days, he was able to walk and at discharged he could walk for 100 meters.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2023

Objective: Meniscal injuries are a common and high-risk condition among military personnel, leading to difficulties in performing missions.The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of combining electrical muscle stimulation therapy with exercise therapy during rehabilitation on pain, muscle strength, and function in patients after meniscectomy. Design: A two-group pretest-posttest design Methods: A total of 30 subjects were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=15), which received knee extensor strengthening exercise along with electrical muscle stimulation, or the control group (n=15), which received only knee extensor strengthening exercise. Pre-test was conducted prior to the intervention, which consisted of 30 minutes of treatment five times a week for a total of 20 sessions. Post-test was performed after a 4-week period. Pain, strength, and function were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in pain reduction and muscle strength improvement in the experimental group, and a significant difference was also found between the experimental group and the control group in terms of functional evaluation. Conclusions: The combination of exercise therapy and electrical muscle stimulation therapy resulted in greater improvements in pain, strength, and function assessment, contributing to improved overall function.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1005-1013
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• 2001

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of low power GaAlAs laser on spinal Fos expression related to the anti-nociceptive effect of laser stimulation. Low power GaAlAs laser was applied to either acupoint or non-acupoint for 2 hour under light inhalation anesthesia. Spinal Fos expression in the dorsal horn was compared to that obtained in inhalation anesthesia control group. Furthermore, we analyzed the effect of the local treatment of lidocaine on the spinal Fos expression evoked by low power GaAlAs laser stimulation. The results were summarized as follows: 1. In the normal animals, only a few Fos like immunoreactive(Fos-IR) neurons were evident in the lumbar spinal cord dorsal horn. Similarly, following prolonged inhalation anesthesia, Fos-IR neurons were absent in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord. In animals treated with laser stimulation, Fos immunoreactive neurons were increased mainly in the medial half of ipsilateral laminae I-III at lumbar segments L3-5. These findings directly indicated that prolonged anesthesia used in this study did not affect the Fos expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn of intact animals and low power laser stimulation dramatically produced Fos expression in the spinal cord laminae that are related to the anti-nociceptive effect of laser stimulation. 2. In acupoint stimulated animals, 10mW of laser stimulation, not 3mW and 6mW intensity, significantly increased the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn(p<0.05). However, laser stimulation on acupoint more dramatically increased the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons in the spinal cord rather than laser stimulatin on non acupoint. These result suggested that laser stimulatin on acupoint was more effective treatment to activate the spinal neuron than non acupoint stimulation. 3. The local treatment of lidocaine totally suppressed the activity of spinal neurons that were induced by lower power 1aser stimulation. These data indicated that the anti-nociceptive effect of laser stimulation was absolutely dependent upon the peripheral nerve activity in the stimulated location. In conclusion, these data indicate that 10mW of low power laser stimulation into acupoint is capable of inducing the spinal Fos expression in the dorsal horn related to the anti-nociceptive effect of laser stimulation, Furthermore, the induction of spinal Fos expression was totally related to the peripheral nerve activity in the laser stimulated area.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of study was to better understand the effects of Interferential Current (IFC) and Ultrasound on the ROM and pain in patients with chronic back muscle pain. Methods : Twenty patients with chronic back pain were randomly assigned to IFC stimulation groups and Ultrasound stimulation groups. Both groups used the same method for 20 minutes each session, three times a week for 4 weeks at the same time point and with the same amount of treatment. Measurement items are visual analogue scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM). Results : This study showed that the IFC stimulation group and the ultrasound stimulation group demonstrated significant improvement in ROM increase and pain reduction. Both groups showed a significant reduction in VAS; however, the ultrasound stimulation group decreased more than ultrasound stimulation group. And, both groups showed a significant increase in ROM. The ultrasound stimulation group increased significantly more than the IFC stimulation group in ROM of flexion and extension. The IFC stimulation group increased significantly more than the ultrasound stimulation group in ROM of lateral flexion. Conclusion : Pain relief was more effective in the ultrasound group. The ultrasound showed a more significant effect than IFC in ROM of flexion and extension. The IFC showed a more significant effect than ultrasound in ROM lateral flexion. The results of this study suggest that the treatment effects are different on patients with chronic back pain, according to treatment methods.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed as follows in order to investigate the effect of presynaptic inhibition mechanism using the transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) for global synkinesis (GS) on the post-stroke hemiplegic patients. Methods : The subjects consist of 38 post stroke hemiplegic patients; experiments were performed on thirty patients excluding eight. The experiment was performed on sham group, sensory level stimulation group, and motor level stimulation group for 20 minutes a day 5 times a week for 6 weeks total. We compared the differences in GS levels and walking ability. The measurements were carried out pre, immediated, post 10th, and 20th, for a total of four measurements. Results : The GS level using sEMG found significant differences between groups at the post 10th and post 20th in dorsiflexion, and post 20th in plantarflexion (p<0.05, p<0.01). The motor level group indicated more significant differences when the number of electrical stimulations increased. TUG and 10 m walking test indicated a significant difference at immediated, post 10th, and post 20th. The motor level group showed more significant decreasing tendency than the sensory level group. Conclusion: From these results, electrical stimulation using presynaptic inhibition mechanism of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) had positive effects for walking ability on inhibition of muscle tone in lower extremity. The motor level stimulation group experienced a more significant effect than the sensory level stimulation group. Therefore, the transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) is considered to be effective on walking ability increasing through inhibition of muscle tone in lower extremity for rehabilitation of post stroke hemiplegic patients.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.35-39
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in skeletal muscle architecture and qualitative properties by muscle contraction force when neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of 50% MVIC was applied. Sixteen subjects (8 male, 8 female) without neuromuscular disease volunteered to participate in the study. All subjects were divided into two subgroups: control (no electrical stimulation) group and 50% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) group. NMES training program was performed in the calf muscle three times a week for 10 weeks. Before and after the experiments, the MVIC of ankle plantar flexor was measured by the use of dynamometer, and the ultrasonography in the gastrocnemius medialis muscle was measured. The following results were obtained; MVIC was significantly increased in the electrical stimulation groups. Pennation angle, muscle density, and white area index also considerably changed in the electrical stimulation groups. In conclusion, the NMES training of 50% MVIC, comparative low level, improved the skeletal muscle architecture and the qualitative properties as well as the muscle contraction force.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 1996

High Voltage Pulsed Current Stimulation(HVPCS) and Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation(MENS) have been used to promote the healing of decubitus ulcer and surgical wounds. The benefits of HVPCS and MENS are thought to include an inhibitive effect on bacterial growth. The purpose of this study was to compare the inhibitive effect of two different electrical stimulation techniques growth in vitro. Using agarose-based media, the two bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, Esherichia coli - which are commonly isolated from open wounds were incubated in an incubator for 24 hours following exposure to HVPCS(400 V, 120 pps, $70{\mu}s$) and MENS($100{\mu}A$, 0.3 Hz). We then measured the zone of inhibition around each electrode. Both HVPCS and MENS produced an inhibitive effect on bacterial growth in this vitro study. However MENS was more effective than HVPCS.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.71-76
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• 2011

Purpose: We investigated a better method to enhance the vestibular system including balancing by comparing the vestibular stimulation exercise (VSE) and galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS). Methods: The study was performed with 40 subjects randomized into four groups, including a control group, a VSE group, a GVS group, and a VSE with GVS group. The subjects of VSE performed a forward and backward roll, a right side and left side roll, and an equilibrium board in vestibular stimulation training. GVS was applied for 10 minutes and the cathode and anode side were then changed and GVS was then applied for the remaining 10 minutes. GVS was applied for 20 minutes to the subjects of this group after completion of the VSE program. Results: In the control group, all conditions were significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared to the VSE with GVS group. Also, the center of pressure (CoP) surface was more significantly decreased (p<0.01) and the CoP speed was significantly decreased in the one legged stance (p<0.05) in the control group compared to the GVS group. Conclusion: These findings suggested that GVS training increases balance ability in a narrow width. VSE with GVS training is therefore recommend as the superior method. Using GVS or VSE with GVS training is considered to clinically improve balance ability by stimulating the vestibular system.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of microcurrent stimulation as a non-invasive therapeutic approach for managing pain and improving the quality of life in women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea. Design: A case study. Methods: This study was conducted, involving a cohort of 6 women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea, aged between 20 to 30 years. Participants were received microcurrent stimulation using low-intensity microcurrents for 30 minutes every day for 4 weeks. The intensity of microcurrent stimulation was 25 μA and the frequency was 8 Hz. The intervention was administered between the menstruations, with pain intensity and quality of life being assessed at baseline, and then at the end of menstrual cycle. Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and menstrual symptom questionnaire (MSQ), while the quality of life was assessed through the stress response inventory (SRI), state trait anxiety inventory (STAI), center for epidemiologic studies depression (CES-D), and menstrual distress questionnaire (MEDI-Q). Results: After the intervention, participants demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity, as evidenced by improved VAS scores (p<0.05). However, the changes in MSQ scores did not reach statistical significance. Regarding quality of life measures, no statistically significant differences were found in the SRI, STAI, CES-D, and MEDI-Q scores after the intervention (p>0.05). Conclusions: This study suggest that microcurrent stimulation holds promise as a potential treatment option for alleviating pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea.