• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.774-790
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• 2023

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatments in two patients with Parkinson's disease complaining of discomfort stemming from postural instability and gait disturbance (PIGD). Methods: Two patients were treated for 3 months. They visited the clinic once a week for the first month and thereafter once every 2 weeks. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and a three-dimensional gait analysis were performed at the first visit and at 1, 2, and 3 months thereafter. Results: In Case 1, gait speed, stride length, and swing phase increased. Double support decreased until 2 months after treatment but increased slightly after 3 months. Among the kinematic parameters, tilt and rotation increased. The total UPDRS Part III score decreased from 51 points to 29 points after 3 months of treatment. In Case 2, gait speed, stride length, and swing phase increased, but double support decreased. Among the kinematic parameters, tilt, rotation, and obliquity decreased. The total UPDRS Part III score decreased from 11 points to 7 points after 3 months of treatment. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine can be an effective treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease who experience discomfort due to PIGD.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1356-1365
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• 2021

This study examined the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment in a patient with persistent drug-induced parkinsonism after drug discontinuation. The changes in symptoms were assessed using the unified parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), postural instability-gait disturbance (PIGD) score, and the 20 m gait time and steps. After 22 days of hospitalization, the UPDRS, PIGD score, and 20 m gait time and steps showed clinically significant improvement. The improvement persisted after discharge. This study indicated that Korean medical treatment could be an effective alternative therapy for treating persistent drug-induced parkinsonism after drug discontinuation.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the complex anatomical structure and function of the midbrain to better understand the patient's symptoms and plan effective treatment including pharmacological and rehabilitation interventions. Design: A single case study Methods: A 17-year-old girl presented with acute onset of drowsiness, gait disturbance, mutism, and ptosis. Physical examination revealed postural instability, rigidity of all limbs, and limitations in extraocular movement. The brain MRI revealed an isolated acute infarction in the bilateral midbrain. Considering the location of the infarction, the presenting symptoms were the result of an impairment of the dopaminergic pathway in addition to lesions in the nuclei of the oculomotor nerve. Levodopa/carbidopa was prescribed. And the intensive and comprehensive rehabilitation program was done. Results: As a result of the study, through comprehensive intervention, which encompassed assessments such as the manual muscle test, Korean Modified Barthel Index score, and Trail-making test, significant enhancements in the patient's condition were observed. These findings provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of the intervention in promoting the patient's physical functioning and overall well-being. Conclusions: The results of this case highlight the significance of comprehending the intricate anatomical structure and functional aspects of the midbrain, which led us to approach appropriate pharmacological and rehabilitation interventions. Through active communication among the medical team, we were able to establish a therapeutic plan, which demonstrated that effective treatment can be achieved.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.46
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• pp.289.1-289.10
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• 2018

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are associated with cerebrovascular risk factors and cognitive dysfunction among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, whether CMBs themselves are associated with PD is to be elucidated. Methods: We analyzed the presence of CMBs using 3-Tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging in non-demented patients with PD and in age-, sex-, and hypertension-matched control subjects. PD patients were classified according to their motor subtypes: tremor-dominant, intermediate, and postural instability-gait disturbance (PIGD). Other cerebrovascular risk factors and small vessel disease (SVD) burdens were also evaluated. Results: Two-hundred and five patients with PD and 205 control subjects were included. The prevalence of CMBs was higher in PD patients than in controls (16.1% vs. 8.8%; odds ratio [OR], 2.126; P = 0.019); CMBs in the lobar area showed a significant difference between PD patients and controls (11.7% vs. 5.9%; OR, 2.234; P = 0.032). According to the motor subtype, CMBs in those with PIGD type showed significant difference from controls with respect to the overall brain area (21.1% vs. 8.9%; OR, 2.759; P = 0.010) and lobar area (14.6% vs. 4.9%; OR, 3.336; P = 0.016). Among PD patients, those with CMBs had higher age and more evidence of SVDs than those without CMBs. Conclusion: We found that CMBs are more frequent in PD patients than in controls, especially in those with the PIGD subtype and CMBs on the lobar area. Further study investigating the pathogenetic significance of CMBs is required.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.290-300
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• 2023

This study was understood the risk mechanism of falls in the elderly and reviewed previous research data to see if the principle of Pilates rehabilitation exercise could have a positive effect on balance ability and postural stabilization in the elderly, and the purpose of this study is to present literature-based data on the fall prevention effect of rehabilitation Pilates exercise. First, the rehabilitation Pilates exercise makes it available for strengthening the center of the body to stabilize the spine and pelvis and stimulates the nerve root, thereby having an effect on the balance and the joint stabilization. Second, a proprioceptive sensory impairment and a musculoskeletal degenerative disease due to aging increase the loss of balance ability and the instability in posture maintenance, thereby coming to raise the risk of a fall damage caused by the difficulty in performing motor functions and by the gait disturbance. Third, the rehabilitation Pilates exercise leads to improving the core muscle strength in older adults, resulting in being capable of expecting the betterment in the balance and the reaction time motor function. And there is a positive impact on the improvement in body imbalance and on the stability in movement involved in the fall prevention, resulting in being able to suggest the possibility of likely contributing to a reduction in a fall risk rate. In conclusion, the rehabilitation Pilates as the elderly exercise program showed effects on the improvement in the body's muscular strength, on the upgrade in a sense of balance, and on the stabilization of core. Thus, it was considered to diminish the risk factors for a fall damage caused by musculoskeletal degeneration and to be capable of preventing a serious disorder of activity due to a chronic senile disease.