• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.173-183
• /
• 2023

Background: Understanding the stability of quantitative sensory tests (QSTs) over time is important to aid clinicians in selecting a battery of tests for assessing and monitoring patients. This study evaluated the short- and long-term reliability of selected QSTs. Methods: Twenty healthy women participated in three experimental sessions: Baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 months. Measurements included pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in the neck, upper back, and leg; Pressure-cuff pain tolerance around the upper-arm; conditioned pain modulation during a pressure-cuff stimulus; and referred pain following a suprathreshold pressure stimulation. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and minimum detectable change (MDC) were calculated. Results: Reliability for PPT was excellent for all sites at 2 weeks (ICC, 0.96-0.99; MDC, 22-55 kPa) and from good to excellent at 6 months (ICC, 0.88-0.95; MDC, 47-91 kPa). ICC for pressure-cuff pain tolerance indicated excellent reliability at both times (0.91-0.97). For conditioned pain modulation, reliability was moderate for all sites at 2 weeks (ICC, 0.57-0.74; MDC, 24%-35%), while it was moderate at the neck (ICC, 0.54; MDC, 27%) and poor at the upper back and leg at 6 months. ICC for referred pain areas was excellent at 2 weeks (0.90) and good at 6 months (0.86). Conclusions: PPT, pressure pain tolerance, and pressure-induced referred pain should be considered reliable procedures to assess the pain-sensory profile over time. In contrast, conditioned pain modulation was shown to be unstable. Future studies prospectively analyzing the pain-sensory profile will be able to better calculate appropriate sample sizes.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.87-91
• /
• 2023

Most advanced countries that are members of the World Physiotherapy have established a 4-year education system or specialized graduate school system for physical therapists based on national standards. They have also expanded their laws and systems to provide physical therapists with the autonomy and independence to offer services in their clinics. However, compared with developed countries in North America and Europe, there are issues with the autonomy and independence of physical therapists in Korea related to national regulations. Social status and recognition of the profession are also lagging. Korea is expected to become a super-aged society by 2025. To reduce the financial burden of healthcare and welfare on the government, it is necessary to extend the time spent by older adults on independent activities and minimize their time spent using medical services. To achieve this goal and maximize the active life of older adults, a plan to efficiently use licensed physical therapists in the country should be prepared. Korea should increase the license utilization rate of physical therapists to reduce waste at the national level and increase the professional hope of the younger generations of physical therapists. To create a healthcare policy focusing on the use of physical therapy personnel, similar to that in advanced countries, it is necessary to unify educational systems and produce excellent physical therapists. Providing professional autonomy can help physical therapists develop a sense of job satisfaction. Outstanding talent will choose physical therapy as a profession if they can see hope for their future careers, and if physical therapy services in Korea are similar to those delivered in advanced countries, physical therapy in Korea can develop into a healthcare service that people desire.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.49-78
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Korean Medicine Therapy (KMT) for the treatment of Chemotherapy-induced Cognitive Impairment (CICI) through systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as proceeding research to further research the efficacy of KMT for CICI patients. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). The RCTs on the efficacy of KMT for treatment of CICI were searched by structured search strategies in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, CAJD, KISS, NDSL, KoreaMed, and OASIS. The searched RCTs were screened by inclusion and exclusion criteria. We evaluated the quality of the method in the included studies using the Jadad score and Cochran ROB tool. The efficacy outcomes were the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Clinical total Effective Rate (CER) of CICI. They were analyzed using mean difference for continuous variable or Relative Risk (RR) for Dichotomous variable in the random-effect model. The RevMan 5.3 program was used for meta-analysis. Results: We included 19 RCTs, including 653 participants, in the systematic review and meta-analysis. There were favorable results for the KMT group after the intervention compared with the pharmacotherapy group, physiotherapy group, and combined treatment group. KMT group showed improvement using CER and VAS compared with exercises, but their heterogeneities were slightly significant. KMT was more effective compared to the Rehabilitation program in CER and the subgroup analysis results showed that KMT had a significant difference compared to other therapies in VAS, to Medication therapy in CER. Conclusions: KMT presented reasonable evidence on improving the Clinical total Effective Rate and Visual Analogue Scale in CICI patients. However, further evaluation in future research is required.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chest mobilization and stretching exercises on maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure in healthy adults who use computers for extended periods of time each day due to coronavirus disease 2019. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adults in their 20s and without respiratory disease (15 female, 10 male) took part in this study. Two types of thoracic mobilizing exercises using a Theraband and three types of stretching exercises using a foam roller were performed. Maximum inspiratory pressure and maximum expiratory pressure were measured three times each before and after the interventions. In terms of statistical methods, the maximum inspiratory pressure due to chest mobility and stretching was compared with the maximum expiratory pressure using parametric paired t-test and non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Maximum inspiratory pressure (p = .012) and maximum expiratory pressure (p = .006) showed significant differences before and after chest mobilization exercise and stretching among the participants. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that chest mobilization and stretching exercises are effective exercise methods for improving maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure. They suggest that these exercises can prevent respiratory muscle weakness and improve aerobic fitness in healthy people as well as those in need of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.92-110
• /
• 2023

Background: Digital therapeutics are software medical devices that provide evidence-based treatments to prevent, manage, and treat disease. Digital therapies have recently been shown to be effective in motivating children with cerebral palsy as a tool in neuropsychological therapy. Digital therapies improve postural control, balance and gait in children with cerebral palsy. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of digital therapies on balance and gait in children with cerebral palsy and to provide guidelines for prescribing digital therapies for children with cerebral palsy. Design: A Systematic Review Methods: This study searched for English-language articles published in medical journals from January 2000 to July 2023 using PubMed and MEDLINE based on the year of initiation of the digital therapy. The search terms used in the study were 'digital technology' OR 'digital therapeutic' OR 'mobile application' OR 'mobile health' OR 'virtual reality' OR 'game' AND 'cerebral palsy', 'balance' 'gait' as the main keywords. The final article was assigned an evidence level and a Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score to assess the quality of clinical trials studies. Results: The digital therapies applied to improve balance and gait in children with cerebral palsy are game-based virtual reality training and the Nintendo Wii Fit program. Both digital therapy interventions had a significant effect on improving balance in children with cerebral palsy, and virtual reality training significantly improved balance and gait. However, there were no significant improvements in balance and gait within two weeks of treatment, regardless of the type of digital intervention. Conclusion: The study suggests that this data will be important in building the evidence base for the effectiveness of digital therapies on balance and gait in children with cerebral palsy and in advancing clinical protocols.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.109-119
• /
• 2023

PURPOSE: The definition and scope of biofeedback are broad and lack a clear framework. Therefore, efforts are needed to clearly understand the exact range and definition of biofeedback based on the research and development conducted to date. Thus, the purpose of this study was to arrive at the definition and scope of biofeedback through a literature review and analysis of its application methods. METHODS: This study is a systematic literature review conducted to understand the various types and effects of biofeedback. International databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed were used. Domestic databases utilized for keyword searches included the Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) and the National Digital Science Library (NDSL). Quality assessment of the selected studies in the selection process was done using the Cochrane risk of bias, and the research was analyzed according to the population, intervention, control, and outcomes (PICO) format. RESULTS: Studies conducted between 2019 and 2021 were selected, with 4 papers falling under physiological classifications and 7 under biomechanical classifications. The quality assessment results showed that random sequence generation, allocation concealment, performance bias, and reporting bias were unclear. Detection bias was moderate, and attrition bias and other biases were low. Out of the 11 papers, 9 dealt with physical function outcomes, 5 with daily life activities, and 3 with mental functions. CONCLUSION: Physiological biofeedback tended to influence psychological factors more than physical functions, while biomechanical biofeedback tended to have a positive impact on physical functions.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.26-35
• /
• 2024

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore how using inspiratory training affects the respiratory function and balance of stroke patients. We also plan to compare the results with a control group that does not receive the intervention. Design: A Randomized Controlled Trial Methods: In this study, 27 chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to either a control group (n=14) or an experimental group (n=13). Both groups underwent six weeks of common interventions involving standard physiotherapy and treadmill training. Additionally, the experimental group received inspiratory training. Respiratory function and balance were evaluated using Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Five times Sit-to-Stand (FTSTS), Seated Center of Pressure (S-COP), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests. Results: Respiratory function and balance were compared within each group before and after intervention. The experimental group, which received inspiratory training, showed significant improvements in FVC (0.26±0.18), FEV1 (0.35±0.32), MIP (11.54±12.39), PEF (1.12±1.52), and TUG (-3.39±2.45) compared to pre-intervention values (p<0.05). When comparing changes between groups post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant increases in FVC, FEV1, MIP, PEF, and TUG compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in MEP, FTSTS, and S-COP. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a positive effect of inspiratory training on chronic stroke patients. These findings suggest that with further research involving a larger sample size and enhanced intervention methods, inspiratory training could be employed positively in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.131-142
• /
• 2024

PURPOSE: This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature comparing the differences between task-oriented treadmill training and general treadmill training for stroke patients. METHODS: Literature published in the Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and PubMed was reviewed. A total of 1,163 studies were initially retrieved, of which eight articles were included in the final review. A quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0 tool, and Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill method was used to evaluate publication bias. Data analysis was performed using R studio 4.2.1. RESULTS: According to the quality assessment using RoB 2.0, three articles were evaluated as low risk, two as of some concern, and three as high risk. The overall effect size of task-oriented tradmill training was .35. Regarding gait function, the values were .76, .25, and .40, respectively, for gait endurance, gait speed, and gait pattern. According to Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill method, no publication bias was observed. CONCLUSION: Study findings indicate that task-oriented treadmill training is the most effective intervention for improving gait endurance in patients with stroke. Therefore, applying this intervention to patients with stroke in the community is recommended.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2024

Objectives : The aim of this study is to set out case series study protocol to complete clinical pathway (CP) of hip and finger degenerative arthritis by applying CP, based on Korean medicine clinical practice guideline developed by clinical experts, to clinical field. Methods : The treatments included Manual acupuncture, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, chuna, and physiotherapy. They were conducted in the 2nd week of admission and 4th week of out patient department (OPD) days. We carried out 10-point Likert scale questionnaires on the clinical usefulness and the satisfaction of patients and staff after applying CP. Appropriateness and improvement on patients were conducted using a 10-point Likert scale. An open-ended questionnaire was also conducted to ask if there was any requirement to be added. Results : In past research studies, there were no related studies about Korean medicine CP on hip and finger degenerative arthritis. Final version of CP is going to be completed based on the questionnaire. Conclusions : This evidence-based case series study protocol is expected to contribute development of hip and finger degenerative arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.75-89
• /
• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of life satisfaction and moderating effect of physical activity on the effect of adolescents' perceived positive parenting on depressed. In addition, the present study explores the role of life satisfaction and physical activity in the relationship between adolescents' perceived positive parenting and depressed, which may help in the reduction and control of adolescent depressed. Design: This study utilizes data from the 2021 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey. Methods: First, positive parenting attitudes have a significant positive effect on life satisfaction. Second, life satisfaction has a significant negative effect on depressed. Third, life satisfaction has a mediating effect on the relationship between positive parenting and depressed. Fourth, physical activity has a significant negative effect on depressed. Fifth, physical activity has a moderating effect on the relationship between life satisfaction and depressed. Finally, this study confirmed the mediating effect of life satisfaction and moderating effect of physical activity on the relationship between positive parenting attitudes and depressed. Conclusion: This study confirmed that life satisfaction and physical activity are positive resources for depressed in adolescents. Therefore, a system that promotes a positive outlook on life and voluntary physical activity is necessary to prevent and overcome depressed. In addition, it shows the need for arts and physical education as well as entrance examination-oriented subjects in the curriculum. The results of this study may provide a basis for the therapeutic approach of mental health physiotherapy in the treatment of adolescent depressed.