• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.125-131
• /
• 2016

PURPOSE: The objective of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of mental practice on function and muscle activation of upper extremity (UE) in stroke patients. METHODS: The mental practice was conducted on 12 subjects for 10 minutes and the related existing work treatment for 20 minutes. The evaluation for the function of UE proceeded with Fugl-Meyer assessment of motor function (FMA) and muscle activity analysis instrument. Furthermore we analyzed patients' reaching activity by two stages, reaching phase and returning to original position phase. RESULTS: According to the research results, the subjects' upper limb function improved in all of the measured items and the total scores after the mental practice (p<.05). In muscle activity, CCR value was used to efficiently analyze the patients' reaching activity in the two stages of reaching stage and returning to the original position phase. While the elbow movement only had a bit of positive change (1.1%) in the reaching stage, both the shoulder (-12.3%) and elbow (-18.2%) movements had a positive change in the returning to original position phase. CONCLUSION: This research confirmed that the mental practice is effective for the enhancement of UE function for stroke patients. The result of this research can contribute to the progress of mental practice in clinical environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.269-276
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of mirror movements(MM) on upper extremity's function and measure the change of MM on stroke patients depending on the elapse of time. Methods : Sixteen stroke patients with MM and Sixteen stroke patients without MM were recruited for this study. Intended movements and MM were measured by two dynanometers of MP150 system(BIOPAC System Inc., Santa Barbara, U.S.A). The upper extremity's motor function was measured using manual function test(MFT), Fugl-Meyer assesment(FMA). Results : The change rates of upper extremity's motor function test showed significant group differences in FMA but not in MFT between the patients with MM and without MM from the first test to the second test. In each group motor function generally more increased. The magnitudes of MM decreased from the first test to the second test. Conclusion : These results indicate that stroke patients with MM have a significant motor deficit. But motor deficit could be recovered by spontaneous recovery or treatments and a clinical sign of MM was improved. In the future, we suggest that studies of assessments of MM after rehabilitation and treatment interventions of MM on stroke patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2004.10a
• /
• pp.246-249
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics between EMG timing of muscle contraction and motor impairment in chronic hemiplegic stroke patients. Delay time and co-contraction of 4 patients who had stroke less than 3 years were measured during isometric wrist flexion and extension along the 3 seconds beep signal. Onset and offset of muscle contraction were significantly delayed on the more affected sides than control sides. Offset was significantly delayed than the onset on the affected sides in wrist flexion. Also, recruitment of antagonist was larger than agonist on the affected sides. Co-contraction ratio on the affected side was significantly smaller than control sides in wrist flexion. In affected sides, Fugl-Meyer motor assessment(FMA) shows the correlation of onset delay in wrist flexion and extension. However, co-contraction ratio correlated with FMA in wrist flexion. EMG assessment is likely to be useful outcome measure and provide insights into mechanism for motor recovery in stroke patients.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.139-147
• /
• 2007

The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of short-tenn repetitive-bilateral excercise on the activation of motor network using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The training program was performed at 1 hr/day, 5 days/week during 6 weeks. Fugl-Meyer Assessments (FMA) were performed every two weeks during the training. We compared cerebral and cerebellar cortical activations in two different tasks before and after the training program: (1) the only unaffected hand movement (Task 1); and (2) passive movements of affected hand by the active movement of unaffected hand (Task 2). fMRI was performed at 3T with wrist flexion-extension movement at 1 Hz during the motor tasks. All patients showed significant improvements of FMA scores in their paretic limbs after training. fMRI studies in Task 1 showed that cortical activations decreased in ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex but increased in contralateral sensorimotor cortex and ipsilateral cerebellum. Task 2 showed cortical reorganizations in bilateral sensorimotor cortex, premotor area, supplemetary motor area and cerebellum. Therefore, this study demonstrated that plastic changes of motor network occurred as a neural basis of the improvement subsequent to repetitive-bilateral excercise using the symmetrical upper-limb ann motion trainer.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.273-282
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of robot-assisted hand rehabilitation(Amadeo(R)) on hand motor function in chronic stroke patients. This study used a single-subject experimental design with multiple baselines across individuals. Three chronic stroke survivors with mild to sever motor impairment took part in study. Each participants had 2 weeks interval of starting intervention. Participants received robot-assisted therapy(45min/session. 3session/wk for 6wks). Finger active range of motion(AROM) was assessed by Range of Assessment program in Amadeo(R), and test-retest reliability was verified using Pearson correlation analysis. To investigate effect of Amadeo(R), finger AROM was measured immediately after each sessions and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper extremity, Motor Activity Log, Nine hole peg board test and Jebsen-Taylor hand motor function test were assessed at pre-post intervention. Results were analyzed by visual analysis and comparison of pre-post tests. The test-retest reliability of Range of Assessment was good(r=.99). After robot-assisted therapy, finger AROM of participant 1, 2, and 3 was respectively improved by 18%, 3.6%, and 6% each. Hand motor function of participant 1, 3 was improved on all four tests, but not effect in participant 2. Robot-assisted hand rehabilitation could improve finger AROM and effect on hand motor function in chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of Magnetics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.353-356
• /
• 2014

The aim of the present study was to examine whether mental practice (MP) in conjunction with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve the upper limb function of sub-acute stroke patients. This study was conducted with 32 subjects who were diagnosed with hemiparesis by stroke. The experimental group consisted of 16 members upon each of whom was performed MP in conjunction with rTMS, whreas the control group consisted of 16 members upon each of whom was performed MP and sham rTMS. Both groups received traditional physical therapy for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks; additionally, they received mental practice for 15 minutes a day. The experimental group was instructed to perform rTMS, and the control group was instructed to apply sham rTMS for 15 minutes. A motor cortex excitability analysis was performed by motor evoked potentials (MEPs), and upper limb function was evaluated by Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and the Box and Block test (BBT). Results showed that the amplitude, latency, FMA, and BBT of the experimental group and the latency, FMA, and BBT of the control group were significantly improved after the experiment (p<0.05). Significant differences were found between the groups in amplitude and latency after the experiment (p<0.05). The results showed that MP in conjunction with rTMS is more effective in improving upper limb function than MP alone.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine reliability and validity of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS) in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 43 stroke patients, who had a stroke more than 6 months previously, participated in the study. Reliability was determined by the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC$_{3,1}$), Bland and Altman method and Cronbach's alpha by internal consistency. Validity was examined by correlation the PASS scores to the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Trunk Control Test (TCT), and Fugl-Meyer Balance (FM-B) score. Results: The intra-rater reliability and the Absolute reliability of the PASS was good ICC$_{3,1}$=0.97 (95%CI 0.95$\sim$0.99) and excellent SEM=1.01 respectively. Cronbach's alpha value for PASS was found to be 0.94. There were significant correlations between the PASS and BBS, TCT, FM-B (r=0.65－0.96, p<0.01). Conclusion: The PASS provide reliable and valid instrument of the postural control assessment for chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.207-213
• /
• 2011

In this case report, we investigated the effects of robot-assisted gait therapy in a chronic stroke patient using motor assessment and gait analysis. A patient who suffered from the right hemiparesis following the left corona radiata and basal ganglia infarction received 30 minutes of robot-assisted gait therapy, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcome was measured using Motoricity index(MI), Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA), modified motor assessment scale(MMAS), isometric torque, body tissue composition, 10-meter gait speed and gait analysis. After robot-assisted gait therapy, the patient showed improvement in motor functions measured by MI, FMA, MMAS, isometric torque, skeletal muscle mass, 10-meter gait speed. In gait analysis, cadence, single support time, double support time, step length, walking speed improvement in after robot-assisted gait therapy. The results of this study showed that robot-assisted gait therapy is considered to facilitate locomotor recovery of the chronic hemiparetic stroke patient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.285-291
• /
• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to propose clinical criteria to differentiate patients who are able to perform the step-through-step gait pattern in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Sixty patients with chronic stroke patients participated this study. To differentiate patients who could perform the step-through-step gait pattern, age, gender, and causes of stroke were noted, a Chedoke-McMaster (CM) damage list, Fugl-Meyer (FM) assessment scales and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were determined. A 10 meter gait test and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were conducted to determine the differences in gait speed and dynamic balance between patients walking with or without canes in the step-through-step gait pattern group. RESULTS: There was no significant statistical difference in age, gender, and stroke type between all subjects. There were significant differences in the CM scale for postural and lower extremities, and FM scale for lower extremities and BBS. The dynamic balance ability and gait speed showed significant differences between the subjects in the step-through-step gait pattern with or without a cane during gait. CONCLUSION: CM and FM scales for the lower extremities and postural control, as well as BBS scales, can be used as criteria to differentiate patients who are able to perform the step-through-step gait pattern. These results can also be used to provide beneficial information to patients that are walking with canes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.355-359
• /
• 2016

This study is to investigate the effect of the level of Korean medical intervention (KMI) on the recovery of activity of daily living (ADL) and the motor function in patients with stroke. A total of 43 stroke patients were recruited. The participants were divided into two groups, the basic Korean medical intervention (BKM) and the comprehensive Korean medical intervention (CKM) group. The patients in BKM group were treated with the basic acupuncture and the consultation of Korean medicine doctors. The treatments of CKM group patients included the comprehensive herbal medical therapies in addition to the treatments of BKM group. The western rehabilitation therapies were performed in all participants with KMI. The functional outcomes using modified Barthel Index of Korean version (K-MBI) and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) were analyzed before and after the treatment between two groups. Significant differences between the BKM and the CKM group were demonstrated in both K-MBI and FMA (p<0.05). There were significant relationships between the level of the KMI and K-MBI/FMA (p<0.05). In conclusion, the comprehensive KMI was more effective to improve the ADL and motor function in patients with the stroke east-west integrative medical care.