• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.218-228
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• 2007

Modem concepts of gait rehabilitation after stroke favor a task-specific repetitive approach. In practice, the required physical effort of the therapists limits the realization of this approach. Therefore, a mechanized gait trainer enabling nonambulatory patients to have the repetitive practice of a gait-like movement without overstraining therapists was constructed. In this study, we developed an active gait training system for patients with gait disorder. This system provides joint movements to patients who cannot carry out an independent gait. It provides a normal stance-swing ratio of 60:40 using an eccentric configuration of two gears. Joint motions of the knee and the ankle were evaluated with using the 3D motion analysis system and compared with the results from the multi-body dynamics simulation. In addition, clinical investigations were also performed for low stroke patients during the 6-week gait training. Results from the dynamics simulation showed that joint movements of the knee and the ankle were affected by the gear size, the step length and the length of the foot plate, except the radius of curvature of the foot guide plate. Also, the 6-week gait training revealed relevant improvements of the gait ability in all low subjects. Functional ambulation category levels of subjects after training were 2 in three patients and 1 in a patient. The developed active gait trainer seems feasible as an adjunctive tool in gait rehabilitation after stroke.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2021

Purpose : This study examined the differences in occupational therapists' jobs depending on their past clinical careers using a survey of the importance of occupational therapy tasks in South Korea. This survey sought to provide fundamental data for strengthening occupational therapists' capacities and developing clinical training programs for therapists' future careers. Methods : An online survey was used to collect data from 93 South Korean occupational therapists. The subjects were divided into three groups for the analysis of the importance of occupational therapy tasks, depending on the length of their clinical careers: less than 3 years, from 4 to 6 years, and over 7 years. Results : A within-groups comparison of task importance found that "occupational therapy evaluation" was most important in all three groups. In between-groups comparisons, "patient information check", "assessment planning and establishment", "sensory function assessment", "social skills assessment", "developmental function improvement", "basic daily activities training", "social skills improvement", and "patient education" demonstrated statistically significant differences (p<.05). Each group showed different priorities. In the less-than-3-years group, "understanding of patient's needs" was most important, followed by "arm function improvement", "arm function assessment", "nerve, musculoskeletal, and motor-related functional improvement", and "basic daily activities training". In the 4-to-6-years group, "arm function assessment" was most important, followed by "basic daily activities assessment", "patient's needs", "arm function improvement", and "patient information check". In the over-7-years group, "understanding of patient's needs" was most important, followed by "patient information check", "basic daily activities assessment", "basic daily activities training", and "sensory function assessment". Conclusion : This study found that what occupational therapists consider important in their jobs varies according to their past clinical career and that occupational therapists with more than 7 years' experience are more aware of the importance of diverse fields of occupational therapy. Differentiated education that considers length of career and a range of training programs for more experienced occupational therapists will be needed in the future.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of multi joint-joint position sense (MJ-JPS) training on joint position sense, balance, and gait ability in stroke patients. A total of 18 stroke patients participated in the study. The subjects were allocated randomly into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Participants in the experimental group received MJ-JPS training (10 min) and conventional treatment (20 min), but participants in the control group only received conventional treatment (30 min). Both groups received training for five times per week for six weeks. MJ-JPS is a training method used to increase proprioception in the lower extremities; as such, it is used, to position the lower extremities in a given space. MJ-JPS measurement was captured via video using a Image J program to calculate the error distance. Balance ability was measured using Timed Up and Go (TUG) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Gait ability was measured with a 10 m walking test (10MWT) and by climbing four flights of stairs. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess normalization. Within-group differences were analyzed using the paired t-test. Between-group differences were analyzed using the independent t-test. The experimental group showed a significant decrease in error distance (MJ-JPS) compared to the control group (p<.05). Both groups showed a significant difference in their BBS and 10MWT results (p<.05). The experimental group showed a significant decrease in their TUG and climbing results (p<.05), but the control group results for those two tasks were not found to be significant (p>.05). There was significant difference in MJ-JPS and by climbing four flights of stairs on variation of pre and post test in between groups (p<.05), but TUG and BBS and 10MWT was no significantly (p>.05). We suggest that the MJ-JPS training proposed in this study be used as an intervention to help improve the functional activity of the lower extremities in stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.289-297
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• 2023

Technological advances in neonatology led to the improvement of the survival rate in preterm babies with very low birth weights. However, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) has been one of the major complications of prematurity. IVH is relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy, language and cognitive impairments, and neurosensory and psychiatric problems, especially when combined with brain parenchymal injuries. Additionally, severe IVH requiring shunt insertion is associated with a higher risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Multidisciplinary and longitudinal rehabilitation should be provided for these children based on the patients' life cycles. During the infantile period, it is essential to detect high-risk infants based on neuromotor examinations and provide early intervention as soon as possible. As babies grow up, close monitoring of language and cognitive development is needed. Moreover, providing continuous rehabilitation with task-specific and intensive repetitive training could improve functional outcomes in children with mild-to-moderate disabilities. After school age, maintaining the level of physical activity and managing complications are also needed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2015

Objective: Balance is a preceding task for functional activities in daily activities as well as community-dwelling activities. To learn skilled and functional activities, it is also necessary to imagine an appropriate and effective movement representation used to plan and execute the functional activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of balance imagery of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor and balance beam on balance abilities for elderly and young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifteen elderly and thirty-four young adults were enrolled in this study. In order to determine whether there is a change in postural control ability according to the different imagery training methods used, standing static balance measurements were performed. According to the therapist's instructions, participants were to stand in a semi-tandem position on the Good Balance System for 1 minute while imagining that they were standing on a balance beam, and while the postural control abilities was assessed. Results: Postural control was significantly different in balance ability of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor compared to on a balance beam in both geriatrics and young adults. Postural sway was more significantly decreased in young adults than older adults during balance imagery of semi-tandem stance on a flat floor as well as on balance beam (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the ability to mentally represent their actions was similar in older adults compared to young adults, although older adults showed a drop in efficiency of postural control more than young adults.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.519-529
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinant factors of maintaining employment in young adults with intellectual disabilities who took part in a vocational training program and was employed. The determinant factors were from four areas, such as physical competence, job-related task performance, emotional behaviors, and functional adaptive behaviors. 64 young adults with intellectual disabilities participated in this study. The participants' capacities were examined during the program, and then their job retention was examined through a follow-up survey six month after the end of the program. Tests contained hand dexterity, grasp strength, finger strength, visual-perception, Survey of Functional Adaptive Behaviors, and Observational-Emotional Inventory-Revised. After data collection, the data were analyzed by binary logistic regression. The results indicated that dexterity in both hands (OR= 1.123) in physical competence, anxiety (OR= .733) and socialization (OR= .429) in emotional behaviors, and academic skills (OR= 1.077) and vocational skills (OR= 1.542) in functional adaptive behaviors were significant determinant factors. These significant factors which affected job attention were consistent with the results from previous studies, and should be considered when designing and constructing an effective career and vocational education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2017

Objective: The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and Y-Balance Test (YBT) have been commonly applied to measure dynamic postural stability ability. These two tests are utilized interchangeably in various settings. However, they could in fact require different movements to assess dynamic postural stability, as one uses a platform and different measuring techniques than the other. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference in the kinematic patterns in physically active population while performing the SEBT and the YBT. Method: Seventy participants performed in the Anterior (AN), Posteromedial (PM), and Posterolateral (PL) directions of the SEBT and the YBT. The kinematics of hip, knee, and ankle in sagittal plane was calculated and analyzed. Paired-sample t-tests were performed to compare joint angular displacement in the ankle, knee, and hip between the SEBT and the YBT. Results: Significant differences in angular displacement at the hip, knee, and ankle joints in the sagittal plane between performance on the SEBT and on the YBT were observed. Conclusion: Clinicians and researchers should not apply these dynamic postural control tasks interchangeably from one task to another. There appear to be kinematic pattern differences between tests in healthy physical active population.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in the brain connectivity in mental practice and physical performance of training bilateral upper extremity function. Method: The subject performed activities involving mental tasks and physical exercise for bilateral upper extremity functioning during each phase of EEG measurements. The subject performed a symmetrical task(lifting a box and placing it back) that involved moving both arms at the same time and an asymmetrical task(opening and closing a bottle cap) in order to perform functional tasks. EEG electrodes were attached to Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4, T3, T4, P3, and P4. Data analysis was performed using Cross-Line Mapping for correlational analyses between EEG electrode pairs. Conclusion: This study found that the brain connectivity patterns of symmetrical and asymmetric upper extremity tasks have similar patterns for the motor and sensory area, and that the correlation of the physical practice is generally higher than that of the mental practice.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.185-197
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• 2002

Today, the basic problem of functional safe management of Korean Disaster Control system was separately administrated 33 acts that are relating to safe management in 13 ministries. Because of the facts that the fire service is not provided practically, the control system and risk management for safe administration are not operated, the information can not be shared with each other, and the various laws have the lacks of linkage, the National Safe System was appeared unsteady. The roles and functions of fire service have started with restriction to operate structurally and institutionally, which operational structure of fire service is becoming weak. As a result, the federal and local fire organizations have not reached yet to the institutionalization and the local fire service agencies have bias with the task regarding the fire service because of the relation between organizational structure and the local fire agency. With the enforcement of the federal and local fire system, professionality and autonomy for making policy, and dealing with changes of fire service positively, the national fire service on the policy performance can be established. Promotion of research and development and education training to strengthen innovation in technology and competition in fire industry will contribute to the firmly establishment of control system to prevent from fire, flood, terror and national disaster. This article proposed that (a) the established law and administration, agency are required efforts to effectively operate fire service system; (b) the national fire service agency, national college of fire, national institute of science fire, and national fire service hospital should be early established to make firmly policy to operate effectively and practically. These kinds of innovational acts are known the best ways of operating solid policy of national fire service system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 2006

Objective : After ischemic stroke, partial recovery of function frequently occurs and may depend on the plasticity of axonal connections. Here, we examine whether blockade of the Nogo/NogoReceptor[NgR] pathway might enhance axonal sprouting and thereby recovery after focal brain infarction. Methods : Adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing $250{\sim}350g$ were used. Left middle cerebral artery occlusion[MCAO] was induced with a intraluminal filament. An osmotic mini pump [Alzet 2ML4, Alza Scientific Products, Palo Alto, CA] for the infusion of NgR-Ecto[310]-Fc to block Nogo/NgR pathway was implanted 1 week after cerebral ischemia. Prior to induction of ischemia, all animals received training in the staircase and rotarod test. Two weeks after biotin dextran amine injection, animals were perfused transcardially with PBS, followed by 4% paraformadehyde/PBS solution. Brain and cervical spinal cord were dissected. Eight coronal sections spaced at 1mm intervals throughout the forebrain of each animal with cresyl violet acetate for determination of infarction size. Images of each section were digitized and the infarct area per section was measured with image analysis software. Results : Histological examination at 11 weeks post-MCAO demonstrates reproducible stroke lesions and no significant difference in the size of the stroke between the NgR[310]Ecto-Fc protein treated group and the control group. Behavioral recovery is significantly better and more rapid in the NgR-Ecto[310]-Fe treated group. Blockade of NgR enhances axonal sprouting from the uninjured cerebral cortex and improves the return of motor task performance. Conclusion : Pharmacological interruption of NgR allows a greater degree of axonal plasticity in response this is associated with improved functional recovery of complicated motor tasks.