• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Thoracic kyphosis is occasionally used to describe someone with accentuated thoracic curvature, hyperkyphosis is preferred since kyphosis itself refers to the normal sagittal angle of thoracic curvature. The angle of thoracic kyphosis tends to increase with age resulting in hyperkyphosis in some individuals. The persons who suffer from hyperkyphosis are at increased risk for a variety of adverse health outcomes that include musculoskeletal alteration, physical functional limitations, poor quality of life, falls, and even earlier mortality. Hyperkyphosis may develop from vertebral fractures, degenerative disc disease, either muscle weakness, decreased mobility and sensory deficits. The gold-standard orthopaedic technique for assessment of thoracic kyphosis is standing lateral spine radiographs. Other clinical measures are Debrunner kyphometer, inclinometer, flexicurve ruler, arcometer, flexible electrogoniometer and spinal mouse.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.80-91
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• 2005

This research aims to classify wetland types and evaluate functions of a dam lake. The case study area is Boryung lake in Boryung City. In this study was carried out based upon field surveys, drawing maps and publication, and modified-RAM which can evaluate the general functions and conservation values of wetlands. Eight functions of 2-12 variables each are analyzed for assessing the wetland functions. The analysis shows that several types of wetlands were identified, such as Palustrine/ Perennial/ Hydrophytes, Palustrine/ Perennial/ Openwater, Palustrine/ Seasonal/ Herbal, Palustrine/ Seasonal/ Shrub and Scrub, Palustrine/ Seasonal/ Hydrophye, and Riparian/ Seasonal/ Shrub in the Boryung lake. The average level of functions of the wetlands is very "HIGH", and it is recommended that prompt conservation measures should be taken.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2014

This study is a single group before-and-after study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of additional acupuncture therapy for lung cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy. Acupuncture therapy was conducted twice a day at least for a week. The effectiveness outcome measures were the Korean Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-L) and the Korean Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) at the baseline, discharge and four weeks after discharge, and visual analogue scale(VAS) checked daily from the baseline to discharge. Ten patients were enrolled, one patient had excluded due to acute exacerbation of lung cancer. The data of nine patients showed some improvement in all of FACT-L, FACIT-F and VAS, however, there were no statistical significance. Additional acupuncture therapy for lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy might be beneficial to improve the quality of life(QoL) and to improve fatigue. Prospective trials with complex traditional Korean medicine interventions are needed to further investigation.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.20-34
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• 2016

Background: It is necessary to find and develop the effective way of intervention for patients with neck pain, since the neck pain is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. To identify the altered motor control in patient with neck pain would be informative to find and develop the effective way of intervention. Objects: The aim of this study was to review literature regarding the altered motor control in patients with neck pain, measured by using surface electromyography (sEMG), ultrasonography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and to suggest prospective research work on neck pain. Methods: Case-control (neck pain/healthy) studies published between 2004 and 2015 that investigated neck muscle activation, thickness, cross-sectional area, and fat infiltrate were searched in Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Twenty-eight articles were included in this study. Results: sEMG, ultrasonography, and fMRI were used complementarily to investigate the altered superficial and deep neck muscle activation, thickness, cross-sectional area, and fat infiltrate in patients with neck pain. They showed the following altered motor control when compared retrospectively with healthy subjects or during specific functional tasks: (1) increased superficial muscle activation, (2) lesser deep muscle thickness, (3) smaller cross-sectional area of the deep muscle, and (4) greater fat infiltrate in deep muscles. In particular, among the women, the office workers showed higher muscle activation of superficial neck muscles during functional tasks, although they did not have neck pain, than those who were not office workers. Conclusion: Studies revealed that patients with neck pain showed an altered motor control when compared with healthy subjects by using various assessment modalities. Understanding this phenomenon would help researchers design an effective intervention for alleviating neck pain or to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. In addition, we recommend that female office workers take measures to care for their necks before developing neck pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2007

The purposes of the present study were to determine the difference of functional outcome, and to identify factors associated with functional difference in patients with stroke. The sample consisted of 56 stroke patients who had received physical therapy at the physical therapy unit of the Dongeui Medical Center in Busan city between January 2000 and June 2002. Stroke patients were evaluated by physical therapists 3 times; The first day in physical therapy (PT) (T1), one month after the first day in PT (T2), and two months after the first day in PT (T3). Functional status was assessed with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) instrument, a validated instrument for documenting the severity of disability and assessing the outcome of rehabilitation treatment. Functional gain was calculated over T2-T1, T3-T1, and T3-T2. SAS statistical software was used for the analysis. The Student's t-test, paired t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA/Tukey and Scheffe), and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to examine the functional difference in variables. Repeated measures ANOVA was also used to analyze the functional difference by time (T1, T2, and T3). Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of independent variables on the difference of functional outcome as defined by the FIM score. A total of 56 stroke patients were evaluated, their average age${\pm}$standard deviation was $61.6{\pm}9.3$ years (range: 40~81 yr). The functional status of patients who received physical therapy for about 2~3 months was significantly improved (mean FIM scores, $20.5{\pm}1.8$, $28.9{\pm}1.9$, and $8.41{\pm}1.1$ points for each time period, respectively) (p<.0001). Diabetes was significantly associated with the FIM score for T2-T1 (p<.05). The type of diagnosis was significantly associated with the FIM score for T3-T1 (p<.05). Gender, smoking, and the FIM score on admission were significantly associated with the FIM score for T3-T2 (p<.05). In conclusion, gender, smoking, diabetes, the type of diagnosis, and the FIM score on admission were significantly associated with improved FIM scores. We recommend that further research should explore the functional outcome by using larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, and more sensitive assessment instruments.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.459-466
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• 2016

This study examined the effects of robot-assisted therapy on the motor and functional recovery of the lower limbs in 53 subacute stroke patients. Robot-assisted therapy was performed using Lokomat? (Hocoma AG, Zurich, Switzerland) for thirty minutes per day, five times a week for four weeks. The outcome measures used were the Fugl-Meyer assessment, Motricity index(MI), Functional ambulation category(FAC), Berg balance scale(BBS) for gait function and balance ability, 10m walking test, K-Modified Barthel Index(K-MBI) for the activities of daily living and Mini mental state examination (MMSE), and Beck's depression inventory(BDI) for depression. All patients recruited underwent these evaluations before and after the four week robot-assisted therapy. For the evaluation, the somatosensory evoked potentials were used to assess the functional recovery. Robot-assisted therapy on the lower limb after subacute stroke showed improvement in motor strength, gait function, and the activities of daily living. All changes in terms of MI, FAC, BBS, and K-MBI exhibited a statistically significant difference after the four weeks robot-assisted therapy. The somatosensory evoked potential result showed a correlation with the MI and K-MBI. Robot-assisted therapy is believed to facilitate the motor and functional recovery of the lower limb in subacute stroke patients.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.120-127
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• 1998

Background : This study is to identify preoperative patient characteristics associated with a lack of improvement on one or more measures peri operatively, postoperative 3-4 months, and postoperative 12 months. Methods : For the assessment, prospective study was performed with 92 patients who had undergone either one eye or both eye cataract surgery by 3 ophthalmologists practicing at a university hospital. The criteria of improvement were (1) Snellen visual acuity, (2) a cataract-related symptom score(possible range: 0, 0 of 6 symptoms present or bothersome, to 18, all 6 symptoms very bothersome), and (3) VF-14 score - a measure of functional impairment in patient with cataract - (possible range: 0, inability to perform any of the applicable activities, to 100, no difficulty in performing any of the applicable activities). Results : Although 14 patients (15.2%) failed to improve on one or more of the outcome measures assessed, no one failed to improve on all three measures. Both eyes of surgery than one eye, preoperative cataract symptom score of 1-4, 5 or higher than 0 were associated independently with the increased likelihood of improvement (odds ratio 8.95, 7.16, 8.87 respectively). And the preoperative level of Snellen visual acuity was not associated with the likelihood of improvement Conclusion : We conclude that specific preoperative characteristics (both eyes, cataract symptom score) are independent predictors of patient outcome after cataract surgery.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2023

Background: Golf is a popular sport involving overhead activity and engagement of the rotator cuff (RC). This study aimed to determine to what level golfers were able to return to golf following RC repair, the barriers to them returning to golf and factors associated with their failure to return to golf. Methods: Patients preoperatively identifying as golfers undergoing RC repair at the study centre from 2012 to 2020 were retrospectively followed up with to assess their golf-playing status, performance and frequency of play and functional and quality of life (QoL) outcomes. Results: Forty-seven golfers (40 men [85.1%] and 7 women [14.9%]) with a mean age of 56.8 years met the inclusion criteria, and 80.1% were followed up with at a mean of 27.1 months postoperatively. Twenty-nine patients (76.3%) had returned to golf with a mean handicap change of +1.0 (P=0.291). Golf frequency decreased from a mean of 1.8 rounds per week preinjury to 1.5 rounds per week postoperatively (P=0.052). The EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) index and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) score were significantly greater in those returning to golf (P=0.024 and P=0.002), although functional outcome measures were not significantly different. The primary barriers to return were ipsilateral shoulder dysfunction (78%) and loss of the habit of play (22%). Conclusions: Golfers were likely (76%) to return to golf following RC repair, including mostly to their premorbid performance level with little residual symptomatology. Return to golf was associated with a greater QoL. Persistent subjective shoulder dysfunction (78%) was the most common barrier to returning to golf.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5229-5237
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• 2012

Occupational therapist is required for patient-centered approaches to actively seek the perspectives of patients and their families in clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current trends and to suggest future-oriented view of examination and assessment used by neurological occupational therapist in clinical settings. Sixty-six occupational therapists who work in persons with neurological disorders participated in this study. The survey was measured from Seoul and GyeongGi by means of E-mail about commonly used assessment tools and selecting considerations. The participants were 66 neurological occupational therapists. The number of patients by one day was from 10 to 14 persons, and the length of time for initial evaluation was 20-40 minutes per one patient, and reexamination periods was every 1 month or as functional changes were detected. The using tool was not limited only neurological tools, and choice consideration was the reliability and validity of clinical measures. The most frequently used tools for adults were: JHFT for motor function in upper extremity, MMSE-K for cognitive perceptual assessment, MBI for daily activity assessment, and COPM for occupational performance. The most frequently used tools for child were: MVPT for cognitive perceptual assessment and Wee-FIM for daily activity assessment. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to integrate and associate patient-report, care-giver report, and results of performance-based assessment for estimating plan of care more quality.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.656-679
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• 2022

Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the fidelity of stroke stage reporting, the timeliness of the outcome measures, and the use of the core outcome set. Methods: We searched the literature using 6 domestic databases. We selected studies that used Korean medicine interventions and targeted stroke patients with motor sequelae. We examined whether the included studies reported the stroke stage and whether they used the outcome measures in the appropriate period based on the recommendations of the "Stroke Evidence Database to Guide Effectiveness". We also confirmed the use of the essential assessment tools suggested by the core outcome set. Results: Overall, 77 studies were finally selected, with 16 (21%), 55 (71%), and 6 (8%) published on the acute, subacute, and chronic phases, respectively. Only 11 of the studies directly mentioned the stroke stage. The most commonly used assessments were the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Modified Barthel Index, and Manual Muscle Testing. Only 5 studies failed to apply the stage-related outcome measures at the recommended period. The outcome variables used inadequately were the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Functional Ambulation Categories, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and Mini-Mental State Examination. Among the core outcome set items, some studies used liver and renal function tests, but no herbal medicine safety reporting was conducted. Conclusions: In future studies, we propose to ensure accurate reporting of the stroke stage with reliable outcome measures to deliver better clinical and research outcomes. Furthermore, in future clinical studies on stroke, a standard protocol that reflects the core outcome set should be developed.