• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2020

Background: This study examined the effects of myofascial release exercise using an inflatable compression therapy ball on spinal flexibility in adults to present basic data to improve spinal flexibility. Methods: The participants were assigned randomly to two groups: the myofascial release exercise group (MRE, n=60) and the stretching exercise group (SE, n=60). The MRE group performed myofascial release exercise for the erector spine muscles using an inflatable compression therapy ball. The SE group performed stretching exercises of the erector spine muscles. Each exercise was performed in 3 sets of 10 repetition daily for one week. Results: The within-group comparison revealed a statistically significant difference between the pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements in only MRE group (p<.05). On the other hand, the between-group comparison revealed the MRE group to show statistically significant improvement in spinal flexibility (p<.05). In effect size, the MRE group was -1.82 (95% CI= -2.24~-1.39), and the SE group was -.7 (95% CI= -1.15~-.41). Conclusion: Myofascial release exercise for the erector spine muscles using an inflatable compression therapy ball was more effective in improving spinal flexibility than stretching exercises for the erector spinae muscles. However, although myofascial release exercise using inflatable compression therapy ball is more effective than stretching exercise, it is insignificant, and research is also insignificant. It is believed that more diverse studies using props will be needed in the future.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2022

Background: The legal and academic definitions of manual therapy in domestic and foreign countries are reviewed, and problems and improvement plan of manual therapy are established through comparative analysis of the current status and system of manual therapy in Korea and abroad. Design: Review. Methods: In this study, the development direction of manual therapy in Korea was derived by analyzing the definition, application status, and service system of domestic and foreign manual therapy. Results: Firstly, it lays the foundation for a more comprehensive national health promotion by solving problems arising from the current unclear definition of manual therapy. Secondly, the subject of manual therapy is a physiotherapist but the subject of claiming non-benefit costs is a doctor, moreover illegal manual therapy by an unqualified or non-professional who is not a physiotherapist is being carried out in the medical field. Thirdly, in order to provide quality physiotherapy services (manual therapy) under a cooperative relationship between medical staff and physiotherapists, it is appropriate that physiotherapist have a clear "prescription" or "request" by a doctor. Fourth, there is no provision for the preparation of medical records in the current Medical Technicians Act, and this causes safety accidents of patients during manual treatment. Conclusion: As described above, the current manual therapy in Korea is being performed indiscriminately without a clear interpretation, resulting in various problems. I think it is necessary to lay the foundation for institutional and legal re-establishment of manual therapy through additional research on manual therapy in the future.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.189-202
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• 2008

The aim of this study was conducted to investigate the level of awareness and performance of the physical therapists on nosocomial infection and evaluate potential factors as associated with awareness and performance in order to provide fundamental data for the development of program and policy on the prevention of it. The data were collected from 405 physical therapists. The research instrument was self-administered standardized questionnaire including general characteristics, education status, necessity of the education on nosocomial infection, and awareness and performance for prevention of nosocomial infection. Responses were determined as 5-Likert scales and data were summarized as percentage, mean and standard deviation. Data were analysed using independent t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient(${\alpha}=0.05$). The results of this study show that most physical therapists have not received education on nosocomial infection. For this reason, they have a low level of the awareness and performance on nosocomial infection, but they strongly recognize the necessity of the program and education for the prevention of nosocomial infection. Thus, these program and education are needed in each college as an academic curriculum, as well as in hospitals.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.365-376
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• 2018

Purpose: This study investigates research trends in the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and Movement journal. Methods: This study analyzes the frequency of keywords and their coincidences with medical subject headings (MeSH) over 15 years in 315 papers from volume 1, issue 1 to volume 15, issue 3 of a journal published by the Korean Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Association. The research types and levels are also analyzed, and the journals are classified by subject, diagnosis, application of PNF, and technique used when PNF is applied. All of the variables are classified in five-year units and their trends are examined. Results: A total of 315 papers were published in 40 issues, and 1190 keywords were used over 15 years. The most frequently used keyword was "PNF." For the keywords that coincided with the MeSH, there were 235 (19.74%) complete coincidence words, 167 (14.03%) incomplete coincidence words, and 788 (66.21%) complete incoincidence words. Thus, the number of complete incoincidence words was the largest. For research types, there were 196 (61.90%) experimental studies, which was the most studied research type. For research levels, there were 155 (49.21%) Level 3 studies (non-randomized trial), which was the research level with the largest number of papers. Normal people were the most common subjects (121 cases, 38.41%), and the number of papers that did not use PNF was 187 (59.37%), which was larger than those that used PNF. The most frequently used combination technique was isotonics when PNF was used. Conclusion: Basic data on PNF-related research was obtained by analyzing papers published over the past 15 years. This information can be used to suggest future directions for PNF research.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.45-53
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• 2011

Purpose : Many researchers have attempted to identity the reliability used in clinical examination of balance and gait performance for individuals of hemiparetic stroke. The study aims to evaluate whether the reliabilities of three popular clinical measures of balance and gait performance was consistency regardless of applicate experience of those clinical measures compared with previous studies for persons with hemiparetic stroke. Methods : A total of three hemiparetic stroke populations and twenty-six physical therapists were recruited from Glory hospital, Inchen, Korea in this study. The three clinical measures, involving Berg balance test (BBT), dynamic gait index (DGI), and Tinetti performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA), were assessed in two sessions that were seven days apart. Results : The POMA was showed a good intrarater and interrater reliabilities in people with hemiparetic stroke regardless of measure's experience in clinical field. However BBT and DGI were showed below moderate intrarater and interrater reliabilities. Conclusion : The POMA could be a reliable measure to evaluate functional postural stability and gait performance in hemiparetic stroke patients compared with other two clinical measures regardless of measure's experience of physical therapists.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.181-188
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) lower extremity patterns combined with elastic bands applied to stroke patients diagnosed with hemiplegia through self-training using the non-paralyzed side approach and the paralyzed side approach, and to investigate the differences in the effects. Methods: Nine chronic stroke patients who were being treated not more than twice a week at H, K, R, and C hospitals located in Gangwon-do, performed self-training for 16 minutes, two times per day for four weeks between August and October 2015. The subjects' balance ability was measured using the Tetrax stability index, the weight distribution index, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test before the experiment and four weeks later. Among the statistical methods, paired t-tests were conducted for intra-group comparison of the measurements taken before and after the experiment, and independent t-tests were conducted for inter-group comparison of the ex post facto values. The statistical significance level was set to 0.05. Results: When the lower extremity patterns were applied to the non-paralyzed side group and the paralyzed side group, significant intra-group differences were observed for the Tetrax stability index, the weight distribution index, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests (p<0.05); however, the inter-group comparisons showed no significant differences. Conclusion: The non-paralyzed side approach was found to be easy for patients to participate in and it also affected the patients' paralyzed side. Although the paralyzed side approach produced good exercise effects in a short period of time, it could result in adverse effects, such as a decrease in motivation and self-confidence. Therefore, these approaches are considered to be more effective when they are selectively applied depending on the purpose of the intervention and the degree of a patients' participation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.485-493
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• 2018

Purpose: This study provides a treatment for central nervous system development in patients with chronic stroke by investigating changes in the upper limb function over time. The correlations among the activities, participation, and environmental factors of the international classification of functioning (ICF), disability and health are also examined. Methods: The subjects of this study are 18 patients with chronic stroke who were hospitalized and treated at 00 hospital in the Chungcheongbuk-do province. Their upper extremity functions are evaluated using the manual function test (MFT). The activities, participation, and environmental factors are evaluated using the ICF generic form. The correlations between the total scores of the affected and unaffected sides and the ICF items are analyzed using the Pearson correlation analysis. The significance level is p<0.05. Results: When the correlations between the activities and participation areas of ICF and the total score of the affected side of MFT were examined, significant correlations (p<0.05) were found in the following items: changing basic body position (D410), lifting and carrying objects (D430), moving around using equipment (D465), using transportation (D470), washing oneself (D510), caring for body parts (D520), and dressing (D540). When the correlations between the activities and participation areas of ICF and the total score of the unaffected side of MFT were examined, significant correlations (p<0.05) were found among writing (D170), speaking (D330), eating (D550), and drinking (D560). In addition, when the correlation between the environment area of ICF and the total score of the unaffected side of the MFT were examined, significant correlations (p<0.05) were found between products and technology for personal use in daily living (E115) and immediate family (E310). Conclusion: The MFT of patients with chronic stroke is closely correlated with the activities, participation, and environmental factors of ICF. This result suggests that ICF can be used as a useful tool to comprehensively evaluate the abilities of the patient, including the upper extremity function.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2015

In order to establish the quality control on patient safety following the guideline presented by American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) TG-100 committee, we aim to analyze the modes based on errors occurred during treatment of patients at the radiation oncology department at Yeungnam University Hospital and establish a quality control guideline for patient safety when patient-centered radiation treatment is conducted. We aim to analyze the errors that can occur during radiation treatment at the radiation department, and assess the frequency of error, the severity of error affecting patients, and probability of proceeding without noticing error, with scores. The places where errors can take place were divided into CT simulation treatment room, treatment planning room, and treatment room for the analysis. In CT simulation treatment room, an error from using the immobilization device showed the highest Risk Priority Number (RPN) value of 60, and an error from simulation treatment information input showed the lowest of 6. In treatment planning room, an error from selecting the radiation dose calculation model showed the highest RPN value of 168, and an error of patient treatment start date showed the lowest of 36. In treatment room, a Table Bar error showed the highest RPN value of 252, a weight change error showed 190, and a Pillow error showed the lowest of 24.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.75-85
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of intensively complex physical therapy program on pain, range of motion (ROM) and muscle function in traumatic low back injury by industrial accident. Design: Prospective study Methods: Eight patients with traumatic low back injury by industrial accident participated in this study. They were treated the intensively complex physical therapy program including daily 60 minutes therapist supervised physical therapy at 5 times a week and 30 minutes manual therapy at 5 times a week in 12 weeks. Evaluation was performed before the commencement of the training and again 4, 8 and 12 weeks. There were measured Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for evaluating pain, ROM of trunk, and isometric muscle strength of trunk, core muscle endurance, neuromuscular control ability for evaluating muscle function. Results: NRS was significantly improved according to time (p<0.05). ROM of extension and rotation, isometric muscle strength of trunk and hip, core muscle endurance and neuromuscular control ability were significantly improved according to time (p<0.05). Conclusion: We could confirm the superiority effect of intensively complex physical therapy program on pain, ROM of trunk and muscle function in traumatic low back pain with industrial accident.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of abdominal muscle contraction thickness using real-time ultrasound imaging while applying an abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) and pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFC) to low back pain patients and healthy subjects. Methods: The subjects were 21 young adults; a group of 10 low back pain patients and a control group of 11 healthy subjects. Measurements were made with the subjects on a pillow in a supine position, with the knee joints flexed at 60 degrees. While the two groups conducted ADIM and PFC, their transverse abdominal muscle (TrA), internal abdominal oblique muscle (IO), and external abdominal oblique muscle (EO) thicknesses were measured using an ultrasound imaging system. Result: The TrA muscle contraction thickness ratio during PFC and ADIM was significantly lower in the low back pain group than in the healthy group (p<0.05). The EO muscle contraction thickness ratio during ADIM was also significantly lower in the low back pain group than in the healthy group. The healthy group's muscle contraction thickness ratio was significantly lower during PFC than during ADIM in the TrA, IO, and EO (p<0.05). The low back pain group's muscle contraction thickness ratio was lower during PFC than during ADIM in the TrA, IO, and EO, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that oral direction during ADIM induced an appropriate contraction of the TrA. Therefore, the procedure reported here may be applied during rehabilitation for appropriate contraction of the TrA.