• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The cane is one of the most popular assistive devices for stroke patients. Clinical complaints of sensorimotor functions on the ipsilateral upper limb were appealed in stroke patients who had used a cane for a long period. Therefore, we investigated whether cane usage for a long-term period affected sensoriomotor dysfunctions on the non-affected upper limb, in terms of pain presence, shoulder joint sense, a nine-hole pegboard test, and a tracking task. Methods: We recruited 12 stroke patients, who were divided into the cane-using (CU) group or the non-cane using (NCU) group, according to cane usage experience. We evaluated joint position sense for the integrity of proprioceptive reposition sense in the shoulder joint, used a nine-hole pegboard test for upper limb dexterity evaluation, and a tracking task for visuomotor coordination. Results: Four patients in the CU group had complained of shoulder pain none did in the NCU group. In addition, the CU group showed more reposition errors on the shoulder joint than the NCU group did. In addition, the CU group had more difficulty in proprioceptive sense perception and in performance of the nine-hole pegboard teat and tracking task, compared with the NCU group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that cane usage for a long period in stroke patients could give rise to trigger joint pain and decrease proprioceptive sense. In addition, complex motor performance in the ipsilateral upper limb could deteriorate. In stroke patients who had used acane for long period, careful observation and proper intervention will be necessary.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1734-1738
• /
• 2019

Background: Stroke patients usually have arm weakness, which affects trunks and arms. Objective: To investigate the effects of paretic side and non-paretic side arm training on trunk control and upper limb functions. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (single blind). Methods: Twenty patients with stroke in hospital were enrolled in the study. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to paretic side arm training group (PATG, n = 10) or non-paretic side arm training group (NATG, n = 10). Trunk impairment scale (TIS) was used for trunk control, and box and block test (BBT) was used for upper limb function. Training was conducted for 4 weeks. Results: PATG showed significant difference in TIS (static balance, dynamic balance, coordination, total score) and BBT. NATG showed significant differences in static balance, and dynamic balance and total score except for coordination and BBT. PATG also showed a more significant difference in BBT and coordination and total score than NATG. Conclusions: The arm training performed on the paretic side are more effective than those performed on the non-paretic side in improving both upper limb function and trunk control in stroke patients.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.11 no.12
• /
• pp.5878-5904
• /
• 2017

This paper proposes a novel intelligent wheelchair vehicle system that enables upper limb exercises, lower limb standing exercises and rehabilitation training in a daily life. The proposed system, which can be used to prevent at least the degeneration of body movements and further atrophy of musculoskeletal system functions, considers the characteristics and mobility of the old and the disabled. Its main purpose is to help the old and the disabled perform their daily activities as much as they can, minimizing the extent of secondary disabilities. In other words, the system will provide the old and the disabled with regular and quantitative rehabilitation exercises and diagnosis using the wheelchair-based upper/lower limb rehabilitation vehicle system and then verify their effectiveness. The system comprises an electric wheelchair, a biometric module to identify individual characteristics, and an upper/lower limb rehabilitation vehicle. In this paper the design and configuration of the developed vehicle is described, and its operation method is presented. Moreover, to verify the tracking performance of the proposed system, dangerous situations according to biosignal changes occurring during the rehabilitation exercise of a non-disabled examinee are analyzed and the performance of the upper/lower limb rehabilitation exercise function depending on muscle strength is evaluated through a neural network algorithm.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2019

Hemiplegic patients who suffered from a stroke struggle with a deterioration in upper limb functions, which can both be psychologically and physically discomforting; this can also limit patients' daily tasks involving any upper limb motions. In this study, we developed an assistive device for hemiplegic patients to improve their upper limb functions. It was manufactured to train patients by using their grip strength and the range of motion of the arm. Furthermore, we produced game contents in virtual reality to induce users' immersion and interaction. It was configured as a multi-player game to help ease the mental burden of receiving the training alone, hence allowing the patient and the caregiver to join the rehabilitation training simultaneously. The assistive device and game contents developed in this study enables patients and caregivers to easily check the degree of improvements in upper limb function by viewing quantitative analysis and visualized results.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.29-39
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the upper limb nerve mobilization (ULNM) on functional recovery of upper extremity in hemiplegic patients following stroke. Twenty patients who had functional impairment on upper extremity were participated. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups: Control group (n=10) received traditional physical therapy only for 4 weeks; Experimental group (n=10) received ULNM treatment along with traditional physical therapy for the same period. Upper extremity functions were assessed by manual muscle test (MMT), modified Ashworth scale (MAS), and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) before and after the treatment. In both experimental and control group, upper extremity functions were significantly improved in MMT (p<.01) and FMA (p<.01), however only experimental group showed significant improvement in FMA after the treatment (p<.05). Moreover, experimental group showed significantly greater improvement than control group in MMT (p<.05), MAS (p<.05), and FMA (p<.05). We conclude that the upper extremity functions is a useful additional therapeutic technique for the effective treatment of upper extremity deficits in hemiplegic patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2005

We assessed whether the use of a symmetrical upper limb motion trainer in daily repetitive training for a 6-week period reduced spasticity and improved motor function in three chronic hemiparetic patients. Upper limb motor impairment and disability were measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Manual Muscle Test (MMT), respectively. The electromyography (EMG) of the affected hand was recorded during isometric wrist flexion and extension. In all patients, FMA and MMT scores were significantly improved after the 6-week training. However, MAS scores of the affected wrist spasticity did not change considerably. Onset and Offset delays in muscle contraction significantly decreased in the affected wrist. The co-contraction ratio of flexor and extensor muscles significantly increased after the 6-week training. Onset and offset delays of the muscle contraction and co-contraction ratio correlated significantly with the patients' FMA. This study showed that repetitive, symmetric movement training can improve upper limb motor functions and abilities in chronic hemiparetic patients. Also, the EMG assessment of motor response is likely to provide insights into mechanisms and treatment strategies for motor recovery in chronic hemiparetic patients.

• 재활복지
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.401-420
• /
• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the impact of the Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Therapy on the upper limb function recovery of patients with stroke and their abilities to perform daily activities and to provide basic data for a long-term treatment. A total of 30 patients with hemiplegia that occurred due to stroke were recruited as subjects of the present study, and 15 patients were randomly assigned to a Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Therapy group and a conventional treatment group, respectively. And, tests were performed over four weeks, five times a week, and 30 minutes a session. Manual Function Test(MFT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale(FMA), and Korean-Modified Bathel Index(K-MBI) were used to measure the degree of the functional recovery before and after the experiment. According to the data of this study, in the upper limb function test, the Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Therapy group showed significant increase of the measurement values of MFT and FMA(p <.05), and when the difference between the two groups were compared, the upper limb function showed a statistically significant difference. In the daily activity performance test, only the Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Therapy group showed a significant improvement of K-MBI value(p <.05). Based on the results of the present study, it was demonstrated that the Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Therapy was effective in enhancing the upper limb functions and daily activity performance of patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.359-366
• /
• 2023

In order to fully utilize the functions of the hand which is the end effector of the upper limb, other parts of the upper limb have to perform their own roles. Among them, the pronation and supination of the forearm, which allows the hand to rotate along the longitudinal direction of the forearm, play an important role in activities of daily living. In this paper, a soft wearable robot that assists the pronation and supination of the forearm for individuals with weakened or lost upper limb function is proposed. The wearable robot consists of an anchoring part with polymer (wrist strap, elbow strap), a tendon with a belt and wire, and an actuation module. It was developed based on the requirements with respect to friction of anchoring part, forearm compression, and friction of the tendon. It was confirmed that these requirements were satisfied through literature review and experiments. Since all components exist within the forearm when worn, it is expected to be easy to combine with the already developed soft wearable robots for the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.209-219
• /
• 2019

Objectives: This study investigated musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs according to the working environment (job stress) of dental hygienists and examine their relationship with upper limb functions. Methods: The subjects include 198 dental hygienists in dental hospitals and dental clinics in Pusan and Gyeongnam. The questionnaire was consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, job stress, musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs and function (Disability Measurement Tool for Upper Extremity Disorders-11, DASH-11). Results: The study was analyzed their musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs according to their general characteristics and found that the symptoms occurred in the neck (39.4%), the shoulders (54.6%), elbows (14.7%), and the hands (50.0%). Job stress was associated with upper limb functions (DASH-11) (model 3, B=5.210, p=0.012) and repeated elbow bending and spreading posture was associated with DASH-11 (model 3, B=6.561, p=0.029). Elbow symptoms were associated with DASH-11 in the upper limbs (B=10.679, p=0.003). Conclusion: Dental hygienists are experiencing limitations of upper limb function due to job stress. In particular, even if the correction of their uncomfortable posture is significantly related to the job stress and upper limb function, in order to improve the upper limb function of the dental hygienist, efforts to reduce the job stress as well as the uncomfortable posture are necessary.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2019

Purpose : This study examined the effects of a virtual reality rehabilitation program on stroke patients' upper extremity functions and activities of daily living (ADL). Methods : The subjects were equally and randomly divided into an experimental group (n=16) to whom a virtual reality rehabilitation program was applied and a control group (n=16) who received traditional occupational therapy. The intervention was applied five times per week, 30 minutes per each time, for six weeks. Jebsen-Taylor hand function test was conducted and the subjects' Manual Function Test was measured to examine their upper extremity functions before and after the treatment intervention, and a Korean version of modified Barthel index was calculated to look at their activities of daily living. Results : After the intervention, the upper extremity functions and activities of daily living of the participants in both groups significantly improved (p<.05). However, the improvements in these parameters among the participants in the virtual reality rehabilitation program were significantly greater than those in the control group (p>.05). Conclusion : The virtual reality rehabilitation program is a stable and reliable intervention method for enhancing the upper limb functions and activities of daily living of stroke patients.