• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.239-250
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 2-week somatosensory stimulation program on cognitive function and ADL of patients with brain damage. Methods: The sample consisted of two groups of patients with stroke: 10 patients with a mean age of 59.0 years who were treated with somatosensory stimulation, and 9 patients with a mean age of 51.78 years, who were not treated with somatosensory intervention. A nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was used to assess the functional recovery after stroke. Instruments used in this study were MMSE-K for cognitive function and FIM for ADL. Results: The hypothesis 1 that "Patients with stroke who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher MMSE-K score than that of the non-treatment group" was supported(Z = -2.390, p = .017). The hypothesis 2 that "Patients with stroke who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher FIM score than that of the non-treatment group", however, was partially supported(social cognition: Z = -2.204, p = .045). Conclusion: Somatosensory stimulation was effective to patients with stroke in improving their cognitive function. These findings suggest that somatosensory input can be adopted to nursing intervention for functional recovery after stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.97-101
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• 2010

Purpose: Sensory input is very important for proper performance of human. Two-point discrimination is the most widely used tactile sensory test. The purpose of this study was to find the changes in cortical activation patterns between tactile stimulation and two-point discrimination. Methods: Two healthy subjects participated in our study. fMRI scanning was done during 4 repeated blocks of tactile stimulation and two point discrimination of the right index finger tip. In one block, stimuli were repeated 10 times every three seconds. To determine the changes of cortical neurons during sensory input, intensity index was analyzed. Results: When tactile stimulation of the right index finger tip was completed, only contralateral primary somatosensory area was activated. In contrast, during two-point discrimination, both the primary somatosensory area and ipsilateral supplementary sensory area were activated. Conclusion: During two point discrimination, both primary somatosensory area and ipsilateral supplementary sensory area were activated. Therefore, two-point discrimination is required more complex and conscious activity than tactile stimulation.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.5-13
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• 2012

The purpose of the research study is to confirm in effectiveness of somatosensory stimulation and to propose ideal training strategy for functional recovery of stroke patients. Through the previous literatures, our study investigated to the advantages and disadvantages in electrical somatosensory stimulation for stroke patients. Also, our study suggested to applicable strategies and confirmed to growth direction about new somatosensory stimulation therapy for functional recovery in stroke patients. Result of research study, although many study demonstrated to the effectiveness about somatosensory stimulation therapy for stroke patients, many therapists have experienced many difficulties in somatosensory stimulation application for stroke patients in rehabilitation environments. Thus, few have the therapeutic tools for somatosensory or specific sensory input. However, apparently the previous literatures showed that effectiveness of somatosensory stimulation on functional recovery of patients with brain damage. In conclusion, we can be confirmed that an ideal somatosensory stimulation program is very effective in promoting recovery and the integrity of the somatosensory pathway of stroke patients. Furthermore, we anticipate that using the customized mechanical interface provides to positive effects in rehabilitation of patients with brain damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the effectiveness of TENS on balance in stroke patients by analyzing some components such as foot pressure, limit of stability and velocity sway after providing somatosensroy input using TENS. METHODS: Twenty five subjects participated and were randomly divided into two groups, TENS group (n=13) and control group (n=12) by the computer program. Interventions were given to subjects 5 days a week for four weeks. TENS group were treated with TENS for 60 minutes in addition to the conventional therapy which included 30-minute exercise and rehabilitation ergometer training for 15 minutes. Control group performed only conventional therapy. TENS was applied on the skin of soleus, tibialis anterior, tensor fascia latae and vastus medialis in affected side. Foot pressure, limit of stability and velocity sway for balance test were measured using Biorescue. RESULTS: TENS group was significantly increased limit of stability and foot pressure in affected side more than control group. And in eye closed condition, TENS group was significantly decreased velocity sway more than control group. CONCLUSION: The application of TENS is effective to improve the somatosensory input of affected side and to increase the motor function and balance ability.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 2016

Background: Posture balance control is the ability to maintain the body's center of gravity in the minimal postural sway state on a supportive surface. This ability is obtained through a complicated process of sensing the movements of the human body through sensory organs and then integrating the information into the central nervous system and reacting to the musculoskeletal system and the support action of the musculoskeletal system. Motor function, including coordination, motor, and vision, vestibular sense, and sensory function, including proprioception, should act in an integrated way. However, more than half of stroke patients have motor, sensory, cognitive, and emotional disorders for a long time. Motor and sensory disorders cause the greatest difficulty in postural control among stroke patients. Objects: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of visual and somatosensory information on postural sway in stroke patients and carrying out a kinematic analysis using a tri-axial accelerometer and a quantitative assessment. Methods: Thirty-four subjects posed four stance condition was accepted various sensory information for counterbalance. This experiment referred to the computerized dynamic posturography assessments and was redesigned four condition blocking visual and somatosensory information. To measure the postural sway of the subjects' trunk, a wireless tri-axial accelerometer was used by signal vector magnitude value. Ony-way measure analysis of variance was performed among four condition. Results: There were significant differences when somatosensory information input blocked (p<.05). Conclusion: The sensory significantly affecting the balance ability of stroke patients is somatosensory, and the amount of actual movement of the trunk could be objectively compared and analyzed through quantitative figures using a tri-axial accelerometer for balance ability.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2010

Objective : Multisensory integration (MSI) is the essential process to use diverse sensory information for cognitive task or execution of motor action. Especially, visual and somatosensory integration is critical for motor behavior and coordination. This study was designed to explain spatial and temporal characteristics of visual and somatosensory integration by neurophysiological research method that identifies the time course and brain location of the SI process. Methods : Electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potential (ERP) is used in this study in order to observe neural activities when integrating visual and tactile input. We calculate the linear summation (SUM) of visual-related potentials (VEPs) and somatosensory-related potentials (SEPs), and compared the SUM with simultaneously presented visual-tactile ERPs(SIM) Results : There were significant differences between the SIM and SUM in later time epochs (about 200-300ms) at contralateral somatosensory areas (C4) and occipital cortices (O1&O2). The amplitude of the SIM was mathematically larger than the summed signals, implying that the integration made some extra neural activities. Conclusion : This study provides some empirical neural evidence of that multisensory integration is more powerful than just combing two unisensory inputs in the brain and ERP data reveals neural signature relating to multisensory integrative process. Since this study is preliminary pilot study, larger population and criteria are needed for level of the significance. Further study is recommended to consider issues including effect of internally-driven attention and laterality of interaction to make the evidence by this study solid.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.205-213
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of somatosensory input on the gait ability and equilibrium sensory of elderly women. The subjects who participated in this study were 31 elderly women with a mean age of 75 years or older who no using a walking stick and had no abnormality in otolaryngology. The control group consisted of 30 elderly women who did not exercise regularly more than twice a week. Dependent variables consisted of 2.44m timed up and go test, 10m usual gait, 10m fast gait and 6minute gait. The equilibrium sensory test was performed using EquiTest (NeuroCom, USA). The results of the study on gait ability were not statistically significant for 2.44m timed up and go test, and 10m usual gait. However, 10m fast gait (P<.001) and 6min gait (P<.05) showed significant differences. According to the results of the study on equilibrium sensory ability, there was no significant difference between Condition 1 and Condition 5 however Condition 2 (P<.01), Condition 3 (P<.01), Condition 4(P<.01) and Condition 6 (P<.05) showed statistically significant differences. In conclusion, walking stick have beneficial effects on walking and equilibrium sensation, and elderly women need to actively use walking stick when going out and walking.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2012

Purpose : This study was somatosensory less in patients with idiopathic scoliosis somatosensory input to the lumbar stabilization exercises carried out to determine the most effective treatment method to be stable and unstable in terms of supporting the lumbar stabilization exercises the patient's torso length and postural sway by comparing the distance from a standing position and looked for differences in effect on the balance. Methods : The subjects of the study were 18 patients who showed the symptom of scoliosis. The study classified the patients into two experimental groups, one using an unstable surface and one a fixed surface, and the patients were required to do a lumbar stabilization exercise a total of 12 times for 60 minutes per session, three times a week for four weeks. The study carried out a paired comparison t-test so as to compare differences between measurement values in each experimental group before and after the exercise. Results : Superior iliac spine on the left, there was a significant reduction in the group doing the lumbar stabilization exercise on an unstable surface (p<0.05). Regarding change in sway distance to the left and right directions in the group doing the lumbar stabilization exercise on the unstable surface, there was a significant decrease in both the condition of closed eyes or open eyes (p<0.05). As for change in sway distance in forward-and-backward direction, there was a significant reduction in the condition of either closed eyes or open eyes (p<0.05). Conclusion : The lumbar stabilization exercise on an unstable surface improved the trunk posture of patients with scoliosis symmetrically, and the static balance ability in a standing posture was discovered to be improved. In the future, the lumbar stabilization exercise on an unstable surface may be used as a posture correction and balance increase exercise for patients with scoliosis.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.647-656
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of vibratory stimulus as somatosensory inputs on the postural control in human standing. To study these effects, the center of pressure(COP) was observed while subjects were standing on a stable and an unstable support with co-stimulated mechanical vibrations to flexor ankle muscles(tibialis anterior tendon, achilles tendon) and two plantar zones on both foot. The COP sway measurement was repeated twice in four conditions: (1) with visual cue and vibration, (2) without visual cue and vibration, (3) with visual cue and without vibration, (4) without visual cue and with vibration. The calculated parameters were the COP sway area and the distance, the median frequency and the spectral energy of COP sway in three intervals $0.1{\sim}0.3,\;0.3{\sim}1,\;1{\sim}3Hz$. The results showed that vibratory stimulus affect postural stability. The reduction rate of the COP sway with vibratory stimulus were higher on the unstable support because the effect of postural stability increases when afferent nervous flow is more activated by vibration on unstable support. If unclear visual or vibratory information is received, one type of information is compared with the other type of sensory information. Then the input balance between visual and vibratory information is corrected to maintain postural stability. These findings are important for the rehabilitation system of postural balance control and the use of vibratory information.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2018

Background: Although postural instability is one of the major symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), dopaminergic treatment is ineffective for treating postural instability. Recent reports have shown that somatosensory deficit is associated with postural instability, and that somatosensory input improved postural instability. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of lateral wedges for quiet standing postural control in people with PD. Methods: Twenty-two patients who were diagnosed with PD were enrolled in this study. The participants stood on a force plate under two conditions (wedge and no wedge) with or without having their eyes open or closed. The center of pressure (COP) range and velocity were analyzed using a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: The range and velocity of COP in the anterioposterior and mediolateral (ML) directions were significantly improved after the patients stood on the lateral wedge with their eyes closed (p < 0.05). The range in ML direction and velocity in both directions of COP were significantly decreased when their eyes were open (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Regardless of vision, standing on lateral wedges improved postural sway in people with PD.