• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.29-36
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• 2021

PURPOSE: The respiratory function and range of joint mobility deteriorate due to aging, respectively, and the respiratory function may be related to the range of joint mobility. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there has been little research on how the deterioration of the range of joint mobility caused by aging is related directly to the respiratory function. This study investigated the relationship between the respiratory function and the range of joint motion in the cervical and lumbar regions of older adults. METHODS: Thirty-two older adults participated in the study. The forced vital capacity (peak expiratory flow: PEF and forced expiratory volume in 1 second: FEV1) and the range of cervical joint motion were assessed in all subjects. The results were analyzed using the Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The respiratory function moderately correlated with age. A moderate correlation was observed between FEV1 and right cervical lateral flexion. PEF was moderately correlated with the lumbar lateral flexion. In addition, FEV1 correlated strongly with lumbar lateral flexion. CONCLUSION: The respiratory function was correlated with the cervical and lumbar lateral flexion. Therefore, rehabilitation of the respiratory function should involve improving the limited range of motion of the joints, and a stretching program is needed for older adults.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2022

Purpose: The impact of prolonged sitting in a cross-legged posture on physiological factors has not been extensively studied. We therefore attempted to evaluate whether prolonged sitting in a cross-legged posture affects pulmonary function in normal young adults. Methods: Twenty-four participants were recruited in this study, and the participants were equally allocated to the normal sitting posture group (NSP group, n=12) or sitting posture with the cross-legs group (SPCL group, n=12). The NSP group sat on chairs without crossing their legs for 30 minutes, and the SPCL group sat on the chair with legs crossed (the right knee on the left knee or the left knee on the right knee) for 30 minutes. The pulmonary function of the subjects was evaluated based on forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FVC/FEV1, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) measured using a spirometer. Results: In the intra-group comparison, the SPCL group showed significant differences in FVC and FEV1 before and after sitting (p<0.05), but no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in the NSP group. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the pulmonary function parameters measured before and after sitting (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our results confirmed that prolonged sitting in a cross-legged posture could have a negative influence on pulmonary function. Therefore, if a sitting position is maintained for a long time, the correct sitting posture should be maintained to prevent musculoskeletal disorders as well as to maintain normal pulmonary function.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2022

Background: This study was to determine whether the diaphragmatic breathing exercise using a DiP Belt(Diaphragmatic Pressure Belt) is effective in increasing the diaphragmatic motion and forced vital capacity. Design: Pretest-Posttest design. Methods: A total of 44 subjects(15 male, 29 female) participated in this study. All subjects were measured the diaphragmatic motion with a sonography and the Forced Vital Capacity(FVC) was measured with a digital spirometer. After 4 weeks, the subjects were intervened the diaphragmatic breathing exercise using a DiP belt and were remeasured for diaphragm motion and FVC. Results: After exercise intervention, quiet breathing significantly increased with the change in diaphragmatic motion and showed a moderate effect size (p<.01, Cohen's d = -0.53). In addition, it was significantly increased in deep breathing and showed a high effect size (p<.001, Cohen's d = -1.32). The mean diaphragmatic contraction pressure increased, but there was no significant difference and the peak diaphragmatic contraction pressure increased significantly (p<.05). Both diaphragmatic contraction pressure showed small effect sizes (respectively Cohen's d = -0.28, -0.33). In spirometry, FVC, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), and FEV₁/FVC% all increased, but there was no significant difference. Only peak expiratory flow increased significantly and showed a small effect size (p<.05, Cohen's d = -0.41). Conclusion: The DiP belt diaphragmatic breathing exercise that the principle of visual feedback can correct diaphragm breathing in a short time, so it is a useful breathing exercise device that can help the diaphragm breathing exercise in the right way in clinical practice.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2024

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore how using inspiratory training affects the respiratory function and balance of stroke patients. We also plan to compare the results with a control group that does not receive the intervention. Design: A Randomized Controlled Trial Methods: In this study, 27 chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to either a control group (n=14) or an experimental group (n=13). Both groups underwent six weeks of common interventions involving standard physiotherapy and treadmill training. Additionally, the experimental group received inspiratory training. Respiratory function and balance were evaluated using Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Five times Sit-to-Stand (FTSTS), Seated Center of Pressure (S-COP), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests. Results: Respiratory function and balance were compared within each group before and after intervention. The experimental group, which received inspiratory training, showed significant improvements in FVC (0.26±0.18), FEV1 (0.35±0.32), MIP (11.54±12.39), PEF (1.12±1.52), and TUG (-3.39±2.45) compared to pre-intervention values (p<0.05). When comparing changes between groups post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant increases in FVC, FEV1, MIP, PEF, and TUG compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in MEP, FTSTS, and S-COP. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a positive effect of inspiratory training on chronic stroke patients. These findings suggest that with further research involving a larger sample size and enhanced intervention methods, inspiratory training could be employed positively in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to determine whether respiratory physical therapy might increase the pulmonary function of the patients with stroke or not. Twenty patients with stroke were randomly assigned to experimental and control group. During four weeks, both groups participated in the conventional physical therapy and only the experimental group added in a program of respiratory physical therapy. Respiratory physical therapy consisted of chest mobilization, resistive ventilatory muscle training used the method of PNF technique and relaxed diaphragm breathing. Baseline and post-test measurements were made of vital capacity. inspiratory capacity, expiratory reserve volume, farced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, $FE1/FVC(\%)$ and maximal voluntary ventilation. Ater four weeks, the experimental group showed the significant improvement in VC(p<.05). FVC(p<.05), FFV1(p<.05) md MVV(p<.05). However, the controll group showed no significant differnece. As compared th the relationship of dependent variables between the experimental group and control group. experimental group showed the significant difference in VC(p<.01), FEV1(p<.05) and MVV(p<.05). These findings suggest that respiratory physical therapy can be used to improve pulmonary function in stroke patients. Also, respiratory physical therapy should be performed for at least four weeks and be followed by the continuous respiratory exercise programs.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.222-226
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• 2014

Background: Focusing on the respiratory function for health effect indices, we conducted a cross-sectional study on workers who did and did not handle toner to compare the longitudinal changes. Methods: Among 116 individuals who worked for a Japanese business equipment manufacturer and participated in the study, the analysis included 69 male workers who we were able to follow up for 4 years. We categorized the 40 workers engaged in toner-handling work as the exposed group and the 29 workers not engaged in these tasks as the referent group, and compared their respiratory function test results: peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), vital capacity (VC), predicted vital capacity (%VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a percent of forced vital capacity ($FEV_1%$). Results: The cross-sectional study of the respiratory function test results at the baseline and at the $5^{th}$ year showed no statistically significant differences in PEFR, VC, %VC, $FEV_1$, and $FEV_1%$ between the exposed and referent workers. Also, respiratory function time-course for 4 years was calculated and compared between the groups. No statistically significant differences were shown. Conclusion: Our study does not suggest any toner exposure effects on respiratory function. However, the number of subjects was small in our study; studies of larger populations will be desired in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.65-73
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of a kinesio tape on inspiratory muscle training(IMT) to improve muscle strength, endurance and pulmonary function. Methods: Healthy 20 males were divided into IMT group (control group) and IMT with tape group (experimental group). The same IMT program was applied to both groups using the Respifit S for four weeks, three times a week, a total 12 times. To exprimental group, kinesio tape was applied on the inspiratory agonist diaphragm and the accessory inspiratory muscle scalene, sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis minor. The inspiratory pulmonary muscle strength was measured by the maximal inspiratory pressure (PI max) and minute volume (MV) using the Respifit S and the pulmonary function were measured peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1sec (FEV1), FEV1/FVC using the Spirometer and compared before and after. Results: Results showed that the PI max in the two groups increased significantly and experimental group increased more effectively than that of control group. However, only MV showed a significant increase in experimental group but was not significantly different between the two groups. PEF and FEV1/FVC are significantly increased in both groups, but they did not make much difference between two groups, and the FVC for the two groups did not increase significantly. FEV1 increased significantly only with control group, but did not make a difference with experimental group. Conclusion: These result show that the PI max value for experimental group increased significantly than that of control group. Therefore kinesio tape maximizes inspiratory muscle exercise effect on muscle strength improvement. However, because of the short experimental period and difficulty in subject control, increase values of the others did not show a significant difference. In other words, kinesio tape did not show maximizing the inspiratory muscle exercise effect to improve endurance and pulmonary function.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.885-892
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• 2001

The purpose at this study was comparied at effect the pulmonary function to breathing exercise(BE) in water with on land. The result was as follow: FVC(Forced Vital Capacity) was decreased 1.5% in control group, increased 1.5% in BE on land group and increased 6.5% in water group after BE, but no significant difference in water group. FEV1(forced expiratory volume at one second) was increased 0.2% in the control group, decreased 0.7% in BE on land group and increased 5.7% in BE in water group after BE, but no significant difference in water group. MVV(maximal voluntary ventilation) was significant difference in BE in water group who was increased 12.2% after BE. It was decreased 1.0% in the control group and increased 0.2% in BE on land group. VC(vital capacity) was decreased 1.5% in the control group, increased 6.2% in BE on land group and increased in BE in water group after BE, but no significant difference in water group. IC(Inspiratory Capacity) was decreased 0.5% in the control group, increased 7.5% in BE on land group and decreased 2.0% in BE in water group after BE, but no significant difference on land group. ERV(Expiratory Reserve Volume) was decreased 0.5% in the control group, increased 3.0% in BE on land group and increased 8.5% in BE in water group after BE, but no significant difference in water group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.99-106
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide supporting data for the clinical use of breathing exercise with a WBV stimulation as a sustained and safe intervention program, by examining the effect of breathing exercise with WBV stimulation on the pulmonary function, gait ability, and life quality in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who have difficulty performing exercise. METHODS: For this study, after collecting the samples from 20 patients with severe COPD, they were placed randomly in an experimental group to perform breathing exercises with a WBV stimulation (n = 10) and a control group to perform breathing exercises only (n=10). Before the intervention, pulmonary function, six-minute gait distance, and health-related life quality were measured as pre-tests. After applying the intervention program to the patients for 30 minutes once a day, for four days a week, for six weeks, the post-test items were remeasured in the same way as the pre-tests, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: In the within-group comparison, both the experimental and control groups showed significant differences in the forced expiratory volume in one second, six-minute gait distance, and health-related life quality (p < .01) (p < .05). In the intergroup comparison, there were significant differences in the forced expiratory volume in one second and the six-minute gait distance (p < .05). CONCLUSION: WBV stimulation was more effective for the patients by improving the muscular strength and muscular endurance through the reflexive contraction of muscles, and increasing the exercise tolerance. This result could serve as an alternative means to clinically improve the physical function of patients with severe COPD, who have difficulty performing breathing exercises in the future.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.172-182
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the differences in physical function, self-efficacy (SE), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) categorized by disease severity in community-dwelling patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 182 patients with COPD selected from the pulmonology outpatient department of a tertiary hospital. Disease severity was measured using forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Physical function, SE, and HRQoL were measured with the six-minute walking distance, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Adapted Index of Self-Efficacy (PRAISE), and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Disease duration, FEV1, and 12-month history of exacerbations were obtained from medical records. Patients were categorized by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) category. Data were analyzed using the χ² test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Most of the participants were male and nonsmokers. The disease duration was 10.76 ± 10.03 years, the mean FEV1% was 62.13 ± 22.80, and 70.3% of the participants were in GOLD category 2 (moderate) or milder. Half of the participants reported modified Medical Research Council scores ≥ 2. Patients in GOLD categories 1 and 3 (mild and severe) exhibited significantly higher PRAISE scores than those in the other groups (F = 8.23, p < .001). The total SGRQ scores were highest in GOLD 4 (very severe), indicating the lowest HRQoL. Significant differences were identified among GOLD 1, GOLD 2 and 3, and GOLD 4 (F = 9.92, p < .001). Conclusion: We identified potentially useful variables to comprehensively assess disease severity and tailor management strategies, including airflow limitation, and to determine the consequences of COPD from patients' perspectives.