• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.398-405
• /
• 2021

Objective: The interest of clinicians is increasing due to the newly established medical insurance for pulmonary rehabilitation. Improvement of respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function is an important factor in pulmonary rehabilitation, and this study aims to investigate the correlation between changes in respiratory muscle contraction thickness that can affect respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Methods: Thirty-one subjects (male=13, female=18) participated in this study. The respiratory muscle strength was measured by dividing it into inspiratory/forced expiratory muscles, and the pulmonary function was measured by forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC. To evaluate the respiratory muscle length increase, in resting and concentric contraction thickness of diaphragm, external/internal oblique, transverse abdominis, and rectus abdominis were measured by using ultrasonography. Results: Inspiratory muscle strength showed a significant correlation with the length increase of the inspiratory muscle (r=0.368~0.521, p<0.05), and forced expiratory muscle strength showed a significant correlation with length increase of forced expiratory muscle (r=0.356~0.455, p<0.05). However, pulmonary function was not correlated with the length increase of the respiratory muscle. Conclusions: In this study, a correlation between respiratory muscle strength and respiratory muscle length increase was confirmed, but no correlation with the pulmonary function was found. It is considered that the respiratory muscle strength can be improved by increasing the respiratory muscle thickness through appropriate respiratory muscle training.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.103-109
• /
• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and knee function index on the knee strength and endurance in the national male field-hockey athletes. METHODS: Twenty-four male field-hockey athletes with a painful knee who trained at the national training center in 2019 were enrolled. The VAS and knee function index questionnaire were used to evaluate the degree of pain and functional state of the knee. The muscle strength and endurance of the knee were measured by Biodex (System 4, USA). The Pearson product moment correlation was performed to examine the effects of the VAS and knee function index the of knee on the strength and endurance. In addition, the VAS and knee function index and muscle strength and muscle endurance were examined to determine the relationship using Simple Linear Regression. The statistical significance level was α=.05. RESULTS: An analysis of the correlation between VAS and knee function index and muscle strength and muscle endurance revealed the VAS and knee function index to be statistically significant (r = .700). In addition, the extensor muscle strength, knee VAS (r = -.457), and knee function index (r = -.414) were also statistically significant. A 1-point increase in the VAS and knee function index was associated with an approximately 9.881 and 1.006 extensor muscle strength. CONCLUSION: The VAS and knee function index of field-hockey athletes are related to the strength of the knee extensors. Therefore, field-hockey athletes should develop a program to strengthen the extensor muscle strength of the knee.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.446-453
• /
• 2022

Objective: The popularization of smartphones can lead to abnormal cervical alignment in university students. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among smartphone screen time, cervical alignment, and muscle function in university students. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Seventy-five university students participated in the study. They completed the evaluation of cervical alignment and muscle function, such as handgrip strength, proprioception, and muscle quality (tone, stiffness, and relaxation time). All participants recorded their general characteristics and individual smartphone screen time before the evaluation. They were evaluated craniovertebral angle (CVA) using smartphone application (angle meter 360) for measuring cervical alignment. The muscle function was assessed using a digital hand-held dynamometer, dual inclinometer, and MyotonPRO device. Results: Of all participants, twenty-five university students had forward head posture (CVA<49°, 33.33%). Independent t-test revealed that there were significant differences on smartphone screen time, muscle stiffness, and muscle relaxation between the participants with and without forward head posture (p<0.05). There were significant correlations between the smartphone screen time and the CVA, muscle tone, and muscle relaxation (r=-0.493, 0.250, and -0.500, respectively). Conclusions: The results indicate that the university students with forward head posture had high smartphone screen time and muscle stiffness compared to the students without forward head posture, and smartphone screen time might be associated with cervical alignment and muscle quality.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.287-291
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the influence of inspiratory muscle exercise using visual biofeedback and inspiratory muscle exercise with diaphragm breathing retraining in stroke patients in regard to inspiratory muscle activity and respiratory function and to provide fundamental information on intervention for improvement of pulmonary function in stroke patients. Methods: The current study measured and analyzed inspiratory muscle activity and pulmonary function of 15 randomly selected subjects in a Biofeedback inspiratory muscle exercise (BIE) group that uses visual feedback and 15 subjects in the Diaphragm breathing exercise (DBE) group that uses breathing retraining before and after intervention. Intervention was performed for 30 minutes, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks. Subjects were measured for muscle activity of upper trapezius muscle and lattisimus dorsi muscle using a surface electromyography system and maximum inspiratory pressure was measured using a respiratory measurement device. For homogeneity test of subjects, independent t-test was performed and ANCOVA was performed for comparison of inspiratory muscle activity and pulmonary function between groups. Results: In the study results, the BIE group showed more significant muscle activity than the DBE group in upper trapezius muscle and lattisimus dorsi muscle (p<0.001). In addition, the BIE group showed more pressure than the DBE group in maximum inspiratory pressure (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the current study, performing biofeedback respiration exercise simultaneously with breathing retraining in stroke patients can provide more efficient respiratory physical therapy. In addition, it is considered that consistent study on the effectiveness is necessary to further improve clinical availability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.211-220
• /
• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of VR training with FES on improving the muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper limb joints in patients with chronic stroke. Methods : The present study makes use of a pre-post control group design. Thirty patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to two groups according to treatment method - the VRFES group and the control group. The VRFES group received 15 minutes of VR training and 15 minutes of FES treatment. The control group received 15 minutes of conservative physical therapy and 15 minutes of VR training. All subjects received 30 minutes of treatment, three times a week, for eight weeks, which amounted to 24 sessions of training. The muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper extremities were measured before the training and eight weeks after. Upper limb muscle strength was tested using the Digital Manual Muscle Tester while AROM was measured using the Digital Dual Inclinometer. The clinical assessment tools for upper extremity function included the use of the Manual Function Test and the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test. Results : Both groups exhibited great improvements in muscle strength and upper extremity function during the intervention period. The VRFES group exhibited a significant difference in muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper extremities in comparison with the control group(p<.05). Our results reveal that VRFES is more effective for the muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper extremities in patients with chronic stroke. Conclusion : VRFES treatment will be used as an important intervention for improving the muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper extremities in patients with chronic stroke and achieving the functional recovery of the upper extremities.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.297-303
• /
• 2021

Objective: Stroke patients generally have problems with motor function, muscle weakness, and gait.This study was purposed toevaluate the effect of the treadmill training with kinesio taping of tibialis anterior (TKT) on muscle function, tibialis anterior, muscle strength, and gait ability in poststroke patients. Design: A randomized controlled design Methods: The participants were randomly divided in the TKT group (experimental group) and treadmill training with sham kinesio taping (control group), with 21 patients assigned to each group. Both groups receive treadmill training with kinesio taping and sham kinesio taping for 30 minutes per day, five days per week, for four weeks. The motor function was measured using the Fugl-Meyer assessment. A disital manual muscle test and G-walk were used to evaluate ankle dorsiflexor and gait ability.Evaluation was performed baseline and 4 weeks after the experiment. Results: Both groups showed significantly more improvement in muscle function, tibialis anterior muscle strength, cadence, gait velocity, and stridelength in pre-post intervention change(p<0.05).The experimental group showed significantly more improvement in motor function, muscle strength, cadence, gait velocity, and stridelength ability comparedto the control group(p<0.05). Conclusions: These finding show the benefits of treadmill training with kinesio taping for functional recovery in poststroke patients

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study evaluated the validity of measuring paravertebral muscle function with 3D-NEWTON (Hanmed, Korea) by assessing the correlation between Biodex (Biodex, USA) and surface electromyography (EMG). Methods: Nineteen healthy adults participated. The function of their paravertebral muscle was measured in three ways. Maximum endurance time was measured in seconds when 3D-NEWTON was inclined forward for assessing extensor function, and inclined backward for assessing flexor function. Using surface EMG, maximum muscle activity was obtained from the eractor spinae and rectus abdominis during the 3D-NEWTON measurement. Maximum muscle activity was the mean activity from 10 seconds when the root mean squared firing data was highest. Through Biodex the peak torques of the extensor and flexor were measured during isometric exercises. The Spearman correlation coefficiencts from 3D-NEWTON, surface EMG, and Biodex were calculated. Results: The data from surface EMG and Biodex were statistically correlated when measured for flexor function, but less so for extensor function. In the case of 3D-NEWTON, the correlation coefficient with Biodex was 0.50 (p=0.05), while the coefficient with surface EMG was 0.53 (p=0.02) when measured for extensor function. Similarly, the correlation coefficienct with Biodex was 0.60 (p=0.01), while the surface EMG was 0.51 (p=0.03) for flexor function. Conclusion: 3D-NEWTON was a useful method for measuring paravertebral muscle function and can give helpful information for treating people with diseases associated with the lumbar spine.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.9 no.7
• /
• pp.202-210
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to identify the factors which correlated with upper limb function after stroke and to analyze the effect of related factors on upper limb function. The 100 stroke patients(MMSE-K>24) were participated. The upper limb function according to gender, hand dominance, stroke type, affected location, site of paralysis, speech disorder showed no significant difference, and show significant difference according to shoulder subluxation. The upper limb muscle strength(Manual Muscle Testing), proprioception, muscle tone(Modified Ashworth Scale), grip strength(Dynamometer), paint (Visual Analog Scale) showed significant correlations with upper limb function. These predictors explained 77.6% of the upper limb function and the most significant affecting factor of upper limb function was upper limb muscle strength. In conclusion, the upper limb muscle strengthening will be effective strategy to improving the upper limb function and considering the proprioception, muscle tone, grip strength, pain, subluxation will be helpful to develop the strategies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trigger finger on pain, muscle strength and function in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. METHODS: A total of 60 subjects (30 carpal tunnel syndrome with trigger finger and 30 carpal tunnel syndrome without trigger finger) were assessment for pain, muscle strength (power grip, key pinch , tip to tip pinch, three jaw pinch) and function. The effect sizes of the two groups were compared, and the correlation between the trigger finger and each variable was analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that there were significantly difference in the pain, muscle strength excluding three jaw pinch and function (p < .05). The results also showed correlation between trigger finger and pain (r = .552), muscle strength excluding three jaw pinch (power grip r = -.296, key pinch r = -.260, tip to tip pinch r = -.285), and function (r = .375). The function of carpal tunnel syndrome patients was related to pain (r = .550) and power grips (r = -.324) of muscle strength. CONCLUSION: In carpal tunnel syndrome patients with trigger finger compared to carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle weakness, pain increase, and function reduction were shown. In addition, trigger finger are correlated with muscle strength, pain and function, and muscle weakness and increased pain affect the daily living of carpal tunnel syndrome patients with triggers finger. Therefore, physical therapy interventions of carpal tunnel syndrome patients with trigger finger should be combined with treatment for muscle strength enhancement as well as pain reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.399-406
• /
• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, and cough capacity in stroke patients. METHODS: This study used a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. We recruited thirty-four stroke patients(16male, 18female), who were assigned to intervention (n=17), or control (n=17) groups. Both groups participated in a conventional stroke rehabilitation program, with the intervention groups also receiving respiratory muscle training 20 minutes a day, three times a week, for 4 weeks. Respiratory function (forced vital capacity) and respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure) were assessed by spirometry. Cough capacity (peak expiratory flow) was assessed using a peak flow meter. The collected data were analyzed by independent and paired t-tests. RESULTS: The intervention group showed a significant increase in the forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) at the end of the program, while the control group showed no significant changes. CONCLUSION: This study showed that respiratory muscle training increased respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, and cough capacity in stroke patients and prevented a decrease in cough capacity. These findings suggest that respiratory muscle training effect on respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength and cough capacity for rehabilitation in patients with stroke.