• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.303-310
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between abdominal muscle strength and measures of respiratory function in stroke patients. Methods: The study participants comprised 17 (male: 12, female: 5) stroke patients hospitalized at W rehabilitation hospital in Busan, South Korea. Abdominal muscle strength was assessed using a digital manual dynamometer for 5 seconds contacting the sternal notch of the participants to bend the trunk. Respiratory function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow) was assessed using a spirometer. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis, and the significance level was set 0.05. Results: A statistically significant correlation was found between abdominal muscle strength and forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and peak expiratory flow. However, abdominal muscle strength and forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity were not significantly correlated. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is a relationship between abdominal muscle strength and respiratory function. Exercise programs to strengthen the abdominal muscles are therefore necessary to improve respiratory function in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the resistance respiratory muscle exercise with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the respiratory muscle tone and pulmonary function of stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty stroke patients were divided into the TENS group (n = 7), placebo TENS group (n = 7), and control group (n = 6), and each intervention was performed on the three groups 5 times a week for 4 weeks. The assessment was carried out by measuring changes in the muscle tone of the latissimus dorsi and abdominal external obliques, and pulmonary function. RESULTS: In this study, the TENS group and the placebo TENS group had significant increases in the paretic side latissimus dorsi muscle tone, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). There was no significant difference in changes in respiratory muscle tone between the three groups. The pulmonary function was significantly different between the three groups, and it was observed from the results of the post-hoc test that FVC showed a significant increase in the TENS group and the placebo TENS group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Through this study, it was found that the respiratory muscle resistance exercise was more effective as a method to increase respiratory muscle tone and pulmonary function in stroke patients than combined transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.406-422
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• 2023

Sarcopenia is an age-related, progressive skeletal muscle disorder involving the loss of muscle mass and strength. Previous studies have shown that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from fermented oysters aids in regulatory T cells (Tregs) cell expansion and function by enhancing autophagy, and concomitantly mediate muscle regeneration by modulating muscle inflammation and satellite cell function. The fermentation process of oysters not only increases the GABA content but also enhances the content of branched amino acids and free amino acids that aid the level of protein absorption and muscle strength, mass, and repair. In this study, the effect of GABA-enriched fermented sarco oyster extract (FSO) on reduced muscle mass and functions via Treg modulation and enhanced autophagy in aged mice was investigated. Results showed that FSO enhanced the expression of autophagy markers (autophagy-related gene 5 [ATG5] and GABA receptor-associated protein [GABARAP]), forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) expression, and levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-10 and transforming growth factor [TGF]-β) secreted by Tregs while reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-17A and interferon [IFN]-γ). Furthermore, FSO increased the expression of IL-33 and its receptor IL-1 receptor-like 1 (ST2); well-known signaling pathways that increase amphiregulin (Areg) secretion and expression of myogenesis markers (myogenic factor 5, myoblast determination protein 1, and myogenin). Muscle mass and function were also enhanced via FSO. Overall, the current study suggests that FSO increased autophagy, which enhanced Treg accumulation and function, decreased muscle inflammation, and increased satellite cell function for muscle regeneration and therefore could decrease the loss of muscle mass and function with aging.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2023

Objective: Meniscal injuries are a common and high-risk condition among military personnel, leading to difficulties in performing missions.The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of combining electrical muscle stimulation therapy with exercise therapy during rehabilitation on pain, muscle strength, and function in patients after meniscectomy. Design: A two-group pretest-posttest design Methods: A total of 30 subjects were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=15), which received knee extensor strengthening exercise along with electrical muscle stimulation, or the control group (n=15), which received only knee extensor strengthening exercise. Pre-test was conducted prior to the intervention, which consisted of 30 minutes of treatment five times a week for a total of 20 sessions. Post-test was performed after a 4-week period. Pain, strength, and function were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in pain reduction and muscle strength improvement in the experimental group, and a significant difference was also found between the experimental group and the control group in terms of functional evaluation. Conclusions: The combination of exercise therapy and electrical muscle stimulation therapy resulted in greater improvements in pain, strength, and function assessment, contributing to improved overall function.

• Journal of Sport and Applied Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Purpose: Sarcopenia is defined as a decrease in muscle mass, strength, and function with age that affects overall body function. We aimed to investigate the effect of combined training on body composition, balance, and muscle function in sarcopenia elderly. Research design, data, and methodology: Twenty-eight sarcopenia elderly (age 74.9±4.5 years) were randomly assigned to an exercise, EG (n=14), or a control, CG (n=14), group. The EG performed an intervention consisting of combined exercise training (60-75 min) for a total of 12 weeks, three times a week. The CG maintained their usual daily lifestyle during the intervention period. We measured body weight, body mass index (BMI), % body fat, free fat mass, balance ability, peak torque in shoulder, knee, and lumbar joints normalized for bodyweight in one second. Results: The EG showed improved body composition (i.e., BMI, fat-free body mass, fat mass; all p < 0.031, η² > 0.179), balance (i.e., right and left of static and dynamic balance and fast 10 m walk; all p < 0.049, η² > 0.152), and muscular function (i.e., 90°/sec and 180°/sec peak power per kg bodyweight, 90°/sec average power per kg bodyweight, 180°/sec total work, and 180°/sec endurance ratio; all p < 0.045, η² > 0.158). Conclusions: Combined exercise training improves muscle mass and strength, body composition, balance, and muscle function in sarcopenia elderly.

• 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 the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine correlations between grip and lower limb muscle strength and pulmonary function and respiratory muscle in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Subjects were 17 children with cerebral palsy. Inclusion criteria for participation were having GMFCS from I to III grade and ability to independently blow into a spirometer. Pulmonary function and respiratory muscle were measured with a spirometer. All subjects performed maximal expiratory flow maneuvers using a spirometer in order to determine their forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and FEV1/FVC, and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). Muscle strength was measured in terms of grip strength and lower limb muscle strength in terms of knee extension strength with a dynamometer and manual digital muscle tester respectively. Data were analyzed using Person product correlation. RESULTS: Grip strength significantly positively correlated with FVC (r=0.95, p<0.01), FEV1 (r=0.95, p<0.01), PEF (r=0.84, p<0.01), MIP (r=0.65, p<0.01) MEP (r=0.71, p<0.01) and lower limb strength with FVC (r=0.72, p<0.01), FEV1 (r=0.69, p<0.01), PEF (r=0.54, p<0.05), and MEP (r=0.69, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Grip and lower limb muscle strengths of children with cerebral palsy were positively correlated pulmonary function and respiratory muscle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.29-37
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study investigated the immediate effect of inspiratory muscle training with whole-body vibration on the pulmonary function of subacute stroke patients. METHODS: All participants (n=30) were allocated to the following groups: (1) the inspiratory muscle training group with whole-body vibration (n=10), wherein the patients received inspiratory muscle training with whole-body vibration comprising 3minutes of vibration per session and respiratory training of 30 times and 2 sessions for one day. (2) the inspiratory muscle training group with visual feedback (n=10), wherein the patients received inspiratory muscle training with visual feedback. (3) the inspiratory muscle training group (n=10), wherein the patients received inspiratory muscle training. RESULTS: After the experiment, the inspiratory muscle training group with whole-body vibration exhibited significantly higher forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at 1 second, peak inspiratory flow rate, maximal inspiratory pressure, and chest expansion (p<.05), compared to the other groups. Inspiratory muscle training group with whole-body vibration had significantly higher peak expiratory flow rate and maximal voluntary ventilation than the other groups (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results show that pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressure, and chest expansion were significantly better in the inspiratory muscle training group with whole-body vibration than in the other groups. Thus, this treatment will help recovery of pulmonary function in stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.13-21
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of abdominal muscle strengthening exercise on abdominal muscle strength and respiratory function in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects were 14 stroke patients (10 males, 4 females) hospitalized at W rehabilitation hospital in Busan City and randomly assigned to 7 exercise groups and 7 control groups. Exercise was performed in combination with an upper and lower extremity pattern of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Measurements of abdominal muscle strength and respiratory function were made before intervention and 4 weeks after intervention. Abdominal muscle strength was assessed using a digital manual dynamometer, and respiratory function was assessed by spirometry. The collected data were analyzed with a paired t-test and independent t-test and the significance level was set as α =.05. Results : The results showed that applying abdominal muscle strengthening exercise to stroke patients showed a significant increase in abdominal muscle strength and a significant difference between groups (p<.05). Maximal-effort expiratory spirogram (MES) readings were significantly increased in forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), in the exercise group, and there were a significant differences between the groups in terms of FEV1 (p<.05). Slow vital capacity (SVC) was significantly increased in vital capacity (VC), tidal volume (TV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), and expiratory capacity (EC), and there were significant differences between the groups in VC, TV, expiratory reserve volume (ERV), EC, and inspiratory capacity (IC) (p<.05). Conclusion : Abdominal muscle strengthening exercise was effective in the abdominal muscle strength of stroke patients, and it was confirmed to have a positive effect on the enhancement of respiratory function. Therefore, it seems that exercise programs for stroke patients with respiratory weakness should include abdominal muscle strengthening exercises.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study to investigate the correlations among the motor function, balance, and gait velocity and the strength that could explain the variation of gait velocity of chronic stroke survivors. Design: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. Methods: Thirty hemiplegic stroke survivors hospitalized in an inpatient rehabilitation center were participated. The muscle tone of ankle plantarflexor and muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexor were measured respectively with modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and hand-held dynamometer. And the motor recovery and function with Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), balance with Berg balance scale (BBS) and timed up and go (TUG) test were measured. Gait velocity was measured with GAITRite. The correlation among motor function, muscle tone, muscle strength, balance, and gait were analyzed. In addition, the strength of the relationship between the response (gait velocity) and the explanatory variables was analyzed. Results: The gait velocity had positive correlations with FMA, muscle strength, and BBS, and negative correlation with MAS and TUG. Regression analysis showed that TUG (𝛽=-0.829) was a major explanatory variable for gait velocity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that gait velocity had correlations with muscle strength, MAS, FMA, BBS, and TUG. The tests and measurements affecting the variation of gait velocity the greatest were TUG, followed by FMA, BBS, muscle strength, and MAS. This study shows that TUG would be a possible assessment tool to determine the variation of gait velocity in stroke rehabilitation.