• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.377-385
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and grip strength of people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: This was a retrospective study that analyzed raw data from the first year of the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019). The study population was 780 people in total, ranging in age from their teens to their 80s. These were people who had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the presence of arthritis in and grip strength of these subjects were determined using the average value of three measurements. Results: According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the prevalence of arthritis in Korea was 2.5% in men, 10.7% in women, and 13.1% overall. More women than men had osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the number of people with osteoarthritis increased with age. In this study, of those with osteoarthritis, 13.5% were men and 88% were women of those with rheumatoid arthritis, 19.3% were men and 56.3% were women. The number of patients with osteoarthritis increased with age, and rheumatoid arthritis was more common in older people. Subjects with osteoarthritis had lower grip strength than those without the disease, and the older the age at which rheumatoid arthritis was first diagnosed, the lower the grip strength. Conclusion: Grip strength is lower in patients with osteoarthritis than in those without osteoarthritis, and it is possible to estimate the degree to which muscle strength decreases.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.387-401
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean version of the Falls Efficacy Scale (K-FES), which is used to measure the fear of falling, that is conceptually equivalent to the original and culturally adaptable to the Korean population. Methods: A five-step translation and adaptation process was employed to create the K-FES, adhering to the established guidelines for cross-cultural rehabilitation outcome measures. The content validity was then evaluated by 22 rehabilitation professionals (15 males and 7 females) with an average clinical experience of 201 months at neurological rehabilitation centers. The content validity ratio and index were used as a basis for judgment. Results: The translation process identified inconsistencies with the terms "objects" and "telephone" in the original Falls Efficacy Scale, which were subsequently resolved in the final K-FES version. The content validity ratios for the original, second, and third versions of the K-FES ranged from -0.27-0.91, -0.27-0.91, and -0.27-0.91, respectively. Correspondingly, the content validity index values for the original, second, and third versions of the K-FES ranged from 0.77-1.00, 0.68-1.00, and 0.63-1.00, respectively. Conclusions: The K-FES was rigorously developed through translation, adaptation, and validation processes, making it a reliable tool for Korean stroke rehabilitation professionals. It is expected to be instrumental in clinical and research settings to assess postural stability and fall risk in patients with strokes and brain injuries.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.281-289
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of the non-elastic taping method for controlling internal hip joint rotation on internal and external hip rotator muscle activity in healthy people. Methods: In this study, 18 healthy volunteers were instructed to perform the small knee bending (SKB) test. All participants completed the test following two methods (using non-elastic taping and not using taping). Muscle activation during the two methods was measured using a surface electromyography (EMG) device. Surface EMG data were collected from the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, and tensor fasciae femoris muscles while performing the SKB test with and without non-elastic taping. Results: Muscle activity in the gluteus maximus was significantly higher during the SKB test with non-elastic taping than during the conventional SKB test with taping (p < 0.05). Tensor fasciae latae muscle activity was lower during the SKB test with non-elastic taping than during the conventional SKB test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that the non-elastic taping method for controlling internal hip joint rotation effectively activates the hip's external rotator muscles and minimizes unwanted internal rotator muscle use during the SKB test. Therefore, the non-elastic taping method for controlling internal hip joint rotation could be an effective intervention for those who cannot control the internal rotation of their hips.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.113-128
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of eccentric training applied to the calf muscles on muscle tone, muscle strength, and gait variables in patients with chronic stroke. Methods: Twenty-two participants were divided into experimental (n=12; eccentric training) and control (n=10; static stretching and stretching board) groups. The participants completed 30-minute physical therapy sessions five times a week for three weeks. Calf muscle tone, muscle strength, and gait variables were measured using MyotonPRO, a hand-held dynamometer, and Optogait, respectively, before and after each intervention. Results: Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a significant interaction effect between measurement points and groups in frequency, stiffness, and decrement of the lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles (p<.05). Paired t-tests showed that the experimental group exhibited significantly decreased frequency and stiffness scores for the lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles (p<.05), as well as significantly increased decrement and muscle strength scores, gait speed, step length, and stride length (p<.05). Conclusion: The application of eccentric training to the calf effectively reduced muscle tone, increased muscle strength, and improved the gait speed, step length, and stride length of patients with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.129-137
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the risk factors focusing on the neck and lower back between general workers (GW) and mild intellectual disability workers (MIDW) in the automobile manufacturing industry. Methods: A total of 32 participants were required for this study design to achieve 80% power, 0.9 effect size, and an alpha level of 0.05. Each group consisted of 16 subjects, including GW and MIDW. Pain levels in the neck and lower back were measured for all participants using the visual analog scale (VAS). A dual digital inclinometer was used to measure the range of motion (ROM) in the neck and lower back three times, and the average was used for analysis. The independent t-test was used to compare between the wo groups. Cohen's d effect analysis was employed to determine the effect size. The significant level was set at 0.05. Results: In the MIDW, neck pain was significantly higher, and left cervical flexion was significantly decreased compared with the GW. There was no significant difference in lower back pain between the MIDW and GW. However, both lumbar flexion and extension, as well as lateral flexion, were significantly reduced in the MIDW compared with the GW. Conclusion: This study reveals that MIDW working in the automobile manufacturing industry have a greater risk of neck pain, limitation in left cervical flexion, and overall restriction in the ROM of the lower back compared with GW.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Purpose: The prevalent use of mobile devices may contribute to musculoskeletal disorders, such as forward head posture (FHP), among users. The measurement of the craniovertebral angle (CVA) using photographic images is frequently employed in assessing FHP. Although manual CVA measurement using photographic images is reliable in clinical settings, computer programs or mobile applications to support tele-physical therapy are not yet fully developed. Therefore, in the current study, we propose an automatic method for extracting CVA from photographic images of FHP subjects to facilitate tele-physical therapy. Methods: To develop the automatic CVA measuring computer program, photographic images were obtained from 10 FHP participants. The location information obtained from the markers attached to the tragus and the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra were used as coordinates. Using these coordinates, straight line 1 was generated by connecting the seventh spinous process of the cervical vertebra and the tragus, while straight line 2 was drawn parallel to the coordinate obtained from the seventh spinous process of the cervical vertebra. The arc tangent function was used to calculate the angle between the two straight lines. The automatic CVA measurement computer program utilizing photographic images was developed using MATLAB (ver. 2016b). Results: The results showed that the automatic CVA measurement computer program demonstrated stable repeatability and high accuracy. Conclusion: The proposed approach was able to automatically estimate the CVA using photographic images. The developed computer program can potentially be used for easier and more reliable clinical assessment of FHP.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.101-111
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate physical activity as a risk factor for neck pain recurrence using the National Health Insurance Data Sharing Service that utilizes a nationwide cohort in South Korea. Methods: Medical records spanning a two-year period were extracted from the National Health Insurance database for 541,937 patients who sought healthcare services for neck pain (ICD 10 codes: M54.2) in 2020 and completed the national health examination survey. Selected variables for analysis included age, gender, health insurance premium decile, regional health vulnerability index, body mass index (BMI), acuity, blood pressure, and types of physical activity. A mixed-effect multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the recurrence rate of neck pain and identify risk factors for neck pain recurrence. Results: Among the participants, 124,433 patients (23.0%) experienced a recurrence of neck pain within two years, with higher recurrence rates observed among older individuals and females. Regression analysis revealed that the risk of neck pain recurrence increased with age (OR=1.51), being female (OR= 1.10), being a medical aid recipient (OR=1.51), and having anaerobic (OR=1.04) or vigorous physical activities (OR=1.06). By contrast, an increased health insurance premium decile (OR=0.96) and having moderate physical activity (OR=0.97) were associated with a decreased risk of neck pain recurrence. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of moderate physical activity as an effective strategy for reducing the recurrence of nonspecific neck pain, underscoring the necessity for personalized physical activity programs for patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.13-21
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of side walking training combined with squats on the balance and gait ability of stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental data regarding the use of side walking training combined with squats among stroke patients. Methods: Thirty patients with stroke were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=15) that underwent side walking training combined with squats and a control group (n=15) that performed general rehabilitation exercises. Both groups performed their respective exercises for 30 minutes, five times a week for six weeks. Balance was assessed using the functional reach test and timed up and go test, while gait ability was evaluated using the 10-meter walk test. A paired t-test was performed to compare within-group changes before and after the intervention. Differences between the experimental and control groups were analyzed using an independent t-test. For all tests, the level of statistical significance was set at α=0.05. Results: After the exercise, significant within-group improvements in balance and gait ability were observed in both the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). There was also a significant between-group difference in balance and gait ability following the intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: While general rehabilitation is commonly employed in treating stroke patients and is relatively effective, the application of side walking training combined with squats may offer additional benefits in terms of improving balance and gait ability in these patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.31-41
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare lower extremity muscle activities and ankle joint angles between different foot strike patterns (forefoot strike, heelfoot strike) during stair ascent walking. Methods: The subjects of this study were 22 males who walked in each foot strike pattern on ascent stairs at a speed of 85 beats/min. During stair walking with the two types of foot strike patterns, the muscle activities of the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, hamstring, and gluteus medius were measured. Additionally, ankle joint angles for inversion, eversion, dorsi flexion, and plantar flexion were recorded. Each participant underwent the experiment three times, with the foot strike pattern randomized. Results were averaged according to the foot strike pattern. Results: Significant differences in ankle angles were observed across all phases according to foot strike pattern. Muscle activities in the lower extremities showed significant differences in all phases except the swing 1 phase. Moreover, differences in foot movement trajectory were noted depending on the foot strike pattern. Conclusion: Walking on ascent stairs elicited differences in lower extremity muscle activities and ankle joint angles based on foot strike pattern. These findings can serve as foundational data for selecting a suitable foot strike pattern tailored to individual patient conditions when training patients in walking on ascent stairs.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.43-54
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• 2024

Purpose: Falls among persons older than 65 years are a significant concern due to their frequency and severity. This study aimed to develop a vest-type embedded artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of detecting and predicting falls in various scenarios. Methods: In this study, we established and developed a vest-type embedded AI system to judge and predict falls in various directions and situations. To train the AI, we collected data using acceleration and gyroscope values from a six-axis sensor attached to the seventh cervical and the second sacral vertebrae of the user, considering accurate motion analysis of the human body. The model was constructed using a neural network-based AI prediction algorithm to anticipate the direction of falls using the collected pedestrian data. Results: We focused on developing a lightweight and efficient fall prediction model for integration into an embedded AI algorithm system, ensuring real-time network optimization. Our results showed that the accuracy of fall occurrence and direction prediction using the trained fall prediction model was 89.0% and 78.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the fall occurrence and direction prediction accuracy of the model quantized for embedded porting was 87.0 % and 75.5 %, respectively. Conclusion: The developed fall detection and prediction system, designed as a vest-type with an embedded AI algorithm, offers the potential to provide real-time feedback to pedestrians in clinical settings and proactively prepare for accidents.