• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical availability of the pendulum test (through reliability and validity) using a NK table attached electrogoniometer for spasticity measurement in patients with brain lesions. METHODS: Thirty-one stroke and traumatic brain injury subjects participated in the study. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to verify the test-retest reliability of spasticity measures of the pendulum test. Pearson's product correlation coefficient was used to examine the validity of the pendulum test through the amplitude of the deep tendon reflex (DTR) test known for objective and quantitative measure of spasticity. RESULTS: In these results, the test-retest reliability was showed significantly high correlation between pendulum tests (ICCs=.95~.97, p<.01). There were significant negative correlations between the amplitude of the DTR test and all measures of spasticity of the pendulum test(r=-.77~-.85, p<.01). CONCLUSION: Thus, it is possible to use the pendulum test using a NK table as an objective measure of spasticity, rather than other expensive equipment, which is more complicated to use. Further studies are needed to explore the therapeutic effects of spasticity using a newly designed pendulum test equipment in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2023

PURPOSE: Falls are caused by a decline in physical and cognitive function. A quantitative evaluation tool that can comprehensively evaluate motor and cognitive functions for elderly people with an impaired physical function. This study assessed the clinical application potential by confirming the correlation between the physical function tests, cognitive and the stepping trail-making test (S-TMT). METHODS: Fourteen community-dwelling older patients (65-75 years) were recruited. The study conducted cognitive function tests with the trail-making test (TMT-A, B), and physical function tests (6-minute walking test (6MWT), short physical performance battery (SPPB), and timed up and go (TUG)). The results of were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive statistics were used for the general characteristics of the study subjects, and the correlations between S-TMT, other functional tests were examined through Pearson's correlation analysis. The statistical significance was set to .05. RESULTS: S-TMT had a significant positive correlation with the TUG (r = .588^*) and trail-making test-B (TMT-B) (r = .689^*, p < .05). Furthermore, S-TMT showed a negative correlation between SPPB (r = -.397) and 6MWT (r = -.422), but it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: S-TMT is a cognitive-gait dual-task performance evaluation tool that can be performed safely. A significant correlation was confirmed between the TUG test and the TMT-B. S-TMT is a dual-task screening tool that can evaluate both physical and cognitive functions simultaneously.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.220-226
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• 2020

Esophageal cancer is a representative cancer that occur physical deterioration but, physical problems after surgery were not well reported. The purpose of this study is to report on the long thoracic neuropathy after surgery, and to identify the symptoms and effects of physical therapy after esophageal cancer surgery. This is a case of a 61-year-old man who showed winging of the scapula with long thoracic nerve injury on the results of electromyography after an esophageal cancer surgery. Physical therapy programs were implemented 8 sessions during hospitalization. The quality of life, fatigue, shoulder range of motion (ROM), numeric rating scale (NRS), 6-minute walk test, and 30-second chair stand test were assessed. The quality of life, fatigue, shoulder ROM, NRS (pain), 6-minute walk test, and 30-second chair stand test were improved. However, the esophageal-specific symptom was not different after physical therapy program. As esophageal cancer suffers from physical difficulties after surgery, physical therapy programs are thought to be helpful.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of present study was to examine the effect of ultrasound therapy and static stretching on hamstring length and balance. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: A total of 30 adults in S college, Seongnam city, Gyeonggi-do, between the ages of 20-30 were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 (n=15) had ultrasound therapy, called US group. Group 2 (n=15) had static stretching, called SS group. Measurements were taken prior to starting the program and after completing the experiment using Finger to floor test and Active knee extension test to get the results of hamstring flexibility and the ability of static balance. Paired t-test was used to compare each group pre-test values to post-test values and to compare US post-test values to SS post-test values on PASW 18.0. Results: 1) Both hamstring SS group and US group had significant increase (p<.05) in Finger to floor test and Active knee extension test. 2) Dominant leg standing had significant change (p<.05) only in US group. 3) There was no significant difference between US group and SS group. Conclusion: Results showed that US group and SS group had an effect on changes in hamstring length (p<.05). However, they did not show a significant increase in static balance. Further effective studies on hamstring SS group and US group were needed based on this examination.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.61-67
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of balance training through various ankle inclination on dynamic balance in healthy adults. Methods: This study was participated in 20 healthy subjects. Twenty healthy adults were randomly divided into 10 ankle inclination group and 10 flat group, 3 kinds of exercised were performed in $30^{\circ}$ of the plantar flexion, $0^{\circ}$ of the neutral angle and $30^{\circ}$ of the dorsiflexion. Above 3 kinds of exercises were also performed in the flat group. Dynamic balance of each group was evaluated using a Figure-of-8 hop test, Up-down hop test, and Functional reach test before and after the experiment. Results: In the ankle inclination, the post-experiment showed a significant difference in Figure-of-8 hop test, Up-down hop test, and Functional reach test in comparison to pre-experiment(p<.05). Conclusion: The exercise applied in the ankle inclination is effective in improvement of the dynamic balance.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2019

Background: Compared to healthy people, patients with chronic lower back pain have reduced balance abilities which may cause proprioception problems, patients with chronic lower back pain avoid physical activities due to pain, and reduced activity levels lead to muscle weakening, which can further exacerbate pain. Recently, there have been many studies on the use of sensory stimulation; and among these studies, interventions that use vibrational stimulation have shown functional improvements in the patients. Objects: This study examined the effects of a stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation on the balance ability and disability in patients with chronic back pain. Methods: The subjects of the study were 30 persons who were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group, with 15 subjects in each. The subjects were evaluated before and after intervention via a balance ability test, the Korean Oswestry disability index (KODI) test, a pain test, and a proprioceptive sensory test. Both groups received general physical therapy. The experimental group performed the stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation, and the control group performed a general stabilization exercise, three times a week for six weeks. Results: After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in the balance ability test, the KODI test, the pain test, and the proprioceptive sensory test. The experimental group showed statistically significant, higher improvements than the control group in the balance ability test, the KODI test, and the proprioceptive sensory test. Conclusions: The stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation for patients with chronic back pain has been reported to provide greater functional improvements than the conventional intervention method. Therefore, the stabilization exercise in a vibration stimulation environment could be a useful intervention for patients with chronic back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.149-161
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• 1999

The purpose of study wan to compare the effect of balance performance in the elderly by the strengthening exercise. Thirty-one health elderly women aged 60 to 79 years participated in this study. Participants were divided into exercise(21) and control group(10). Exercise participants received strengthening exercise for 45 minutes in three times a week for 6 weeks while control subjects continued their normal activities, Exercise included resisted hip flexion, extension, abduction and adduction, knee flexion and extension, ankle dorsiflexion and plantrarflexion. All subjects were assessmented clinical test of sensory interaction and balance. one leg stance test, Berg balance test. Exercise and control subjects were teated before, midway through, and at the end of the trial. These collected data were analyzed by using oneway and repeated ANOVA, scheffe's test, 1-test and correlation. The results of this study were as fellows. 1. There were statistically significant difference in balance performance clinical teat of sensory interaction, and balance(p<.01), one leg stance test(p<.05), Berg balance test(p<.05) by the strengthening exercise. 2. There was correlation between static balance and dynamic balance(p<.01). 3. There was correlation between static balance and weight(p<.05), dynamic balance and height(p<.01), and weight(p<.01).

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.40-46
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine which spatiotemporal gait parameters obtained during hemiplegic walking could be a predictive factor for the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). Two hundreds nine subjects who had suffered a stroke were recruited for this study. They were participated in two assessments; the TUG test and gait analysis. The relationship between the TUG test and spatiotemporal parameters was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients. In addition, to predict the spatiotemporal gait parameters that correlated most with the TUG scores, we used multiple linear regression analyses (stepwise method). The results show that the normalized velocity was strongly correlated with the TUG performance (r=-.72, p<.001). Additionally, single support percentage (SSP), double support percentage (DSP), step time difference (STD), and step length difference (SLD) significantly were correlated with the TUG test. Normalized velocity, STD, DSP of affected side, and SSP of non-affected side explained 53%, 8%, 3%, 2%, of variance in the TUG test respectively. In conclusion, an increase in gait velocity and a decrease in STD would be effective indicators of improvement on the functional mobility in the stroke rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) abdominal muscle strengthening exercise on the activity, posture, and body function of clients with abdominal muscle weakness after cesarean section. Methods: PNF abdominal muscle strengthening exercise was applied to one patient with abdominal muscle weakness after cesarean section. PNF abdominal muscle strengthening exercise was applied five times a week for four weeks. The 5-time supine-to-long sitting test (5-TSLST) and supine-to-stand test (SST) were used to measure activity, and the pelvis tilt angle test (PTAT) and anterior head translation test (AHTT) were used to measure posture. Body function was assessed using the transverse abdominis muscle strength test (TAMST), the internal oblique and external oblique muscle strength test (IOEOMST), and the rectus abdominis muscle strength test (RAMST). Results: Activity, posture, and body function were improved post-intervention. Conclusion: The study verified that PNF abdominal muscle strengthening exercises are effective when applied to patients with abdominal muscle weakness after cesarean section. The findings of this study provide useful data for future interventions in patients with abdominal muscle weakness after cesarean section.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2017

Purpose: Competency in physical assessment is an important component of nursing practice. However, some physical assessment skills are not being utilized within the current teacher-centered, content-heavy curriculum. This study was conducted to identify the effects of student-centered, self-directed learning in the physical assessment class. Methods: An experimental study with a post-test only control group design was used to compare an intervention group that was provided self-directed learning classes and a control group that was provided traditional lecture and practice classes. Competency in physical assessment, academic self-confidence, and learning satisfaction were evaluated. Collected data were analyzed using $x^2$-test (Fisher's exact test) and independent t-test. Results: Competency in physical assessment was significantly higher in the experimental group. However, academic self-confidence and learning satisfaction were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: The findings in this study indicate that self-directed learning can improve nursing students competency in physical assessment and that self-directed learning is a good education method to improve nursing students' competency in physical assessment during clinical practice and perform quality patient care by making active use of physical assessment skills.