• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.499-508
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sensorimotor stimulation on the development of infant with low birth weight premature. Methods : Ten infants with low birth weight premature and ten normal infants participated in this study. We carried out test TIMP(Test of Infants Motor Performance) according pre intervention, post 3 weeks, PCA 40 week and normal infants. The intervention of sensorimotor stimulation applied to infants with low birth weight premature four times a week and fifteen minutes a once time. There was no intervention for normal infants. The collected dada were analyzed by ANOVA using by SPSS/PC 17.0 ver. program. Results : There was significant difference among three differential test period to improved developmental value in infants with low birth weight premature. According over time, numbers of observed items presented significant difference among test period, and elicited total score and total raw score was significant value(p=.00). There was no significant value that means sensorimotor stimulation affected on development of infants with low birth weight premature. Conclusions : In conclusion, sensorimotor stimulation had affects on the development of infants with low birth weight premature.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of a horse riding simulator and galvanic vestibular stimulation on improving the ability to balance posture and proprioception. Thirty healthy adults participated and were randomly assigned to a horse riding simulator group ($n_1$=10), galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) group ($n_2$=10), control group ($n_3$=10). Experiment groups were trained 3 times per week over 6 weeks. The ability to balance posture was measured by force plate and proprioception was measured by Joint position sense. The following results were obtained. the changes of balance index were significant interaction in each group in accordance with the experiment time in 0, 3 and 6 weeks (p<.05). All groups showed the most decreasing pattern compared with the control group. But was not statistically significant. Proprioception was significant interaction in each group in accordance with the experiment time (p<.05). All groups showed the most decreasing pattern compared with the control group. The above results indicated that the 6 weeks horse riding simulator and galvanic vestibular stimulation training demonstrated positive effects in the ability to balance posture and proprioception. These results suggest that the horse riding simulator and galvanic vestibular stimulation training could be therapeutic intervention that can improve balance and postural control.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.286-291
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• 2012

Objective : To investigate the change of latency of cervical dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential (DSEP) according to stimulation intensity (SI) and severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods : Stimulation sites were the C6, C7, and C8 dermatomal areas. Two stimulation intensities $1.5{\times}$sensory threshold (ST) and $2.5{\times}ST$ were used on both normal and CTS patients. Results : In moderate CTS, the latencies of C6 and C7 DSEP during $1.5{\times}ST$ SI and those of C7 DSEP during $2.5{\times}ST$ SI were significantly delayed compared with the values of normal subjects. Significant correlation between the latency of C7 DSEP of $2.5{\times}ST$ stimulation and the median sensory nerve conduction velocity was observed. Conclusion : We suggest that these data can aid in the diagnosis of cervical sensory radiculopathy using low stimulation intensity and of those who have cervical sensory radiculopathy combined with CTS patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.465-479
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• 1995

We randomly assigned 61 healthy subjects(male 14, female 47) to compare the experimental pain threshold and skin temperature between high mode TENS and burst mode TENS. In this study, 61 subjects were divided into three groups ; high mode TENS(n=20), burst mode TENS (n=20), and control group(n=21). Experimental pain thresholds and skin temperatures were measured before, immediately after cessation of stimulation, and at 30 minutes post stimulation. Stimulation was applied to the dorsal surface of the forearm(L14, LI10). Pain thresholds were measured by chronaxie meter. Skin temperature were measured by electrical digital thermometer. The results are as follows ; 1. There were no statistical difference in the pain threshold and skin temperature at before TENS stimulation among the three groups(p>0.05). 2. The pain threshold and skin temperature in burst mode TENS group was significantly higher and longer effect than that in high mode TENS group and control group(p<0.01). 3. The pain threshold in burst mode TENS group decreased to prestimulation levels by 30 minutes poststimulation. 4. The skin temperature in burst mode TENS group decreased to prestimulation levels by 20 minutes poststimulation. 5. The skin temperature was significantly difference among three group at immediately after, and at 30 minutes poststimulation and the skin temperature in burst mode TENS group was significantely higher than that in two groups(p<0.001). 6. The increasing rate of pain threshold in high mode TENS group after immediately cassation of stimulation was 24.3%(p<0.001). 7. The increasing rate of pain threshold in burst mode TENS group after immediately cessation of stimulation was 93.5% (p<0.001).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2017

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the impact of exercise with that of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on muscle tone, calf muscle stiffness, and balance ability in patients with stroke. METHODS: Thirty patients with stroke were randomly divided into an FES group (n=15) and a TENS group (n=15), and a progressive task-oriented exercise was assigned to them. These exercises were performed non-synchronously from December 5, 2016 to January 31, 2017. Patients underwent TENS and simultaneously exercised for 30 minutes daily, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. To determine the effect of the interventions, muscle tone and stiffness of the medial and lateral region of gastrocnemius muscle were measured using the MyotonPRO instrument and balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale. RESULTS: Both groups revealed a significant decrease in muscle tone and stiffness of the medial part of gastrocnemius muscle before and after the interventions (p<.05). Berg Balance Scale scores increased significantly (p<.05). However, none of the other parameters were significantly different (p>.05). CONCLUSION: Our results prove that progressive task-oriented exercise along with FES and TENS decreases muscle tone and stiffness of the gastrocnemius muscle in patients with stroke and improves balance. TENS could serve as a complementary replacement for functional electrical stimulation for in-house training, as TENS poses less risk of muscle fatigue and has lesser contraindications than does functional electrical stimulation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was designed to compare the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and silver spike point (SSP) therapy on current perception threshold (CPT) and mechanical pain threshold (MPT). Methods: Forty-five healthy adult male and female subjects were studied. Fourteen of them were males and twenty-one were females. Subject were randomly assigned to receive; (1) TENS (80/120 Hz alternating frequency), (2) SSP (3 Hz), or (3) no treatment (control group). Electric stimulation was applied over LI4 and LI11 on acupuncture points of the left forearm for 30 minutes. CPT and MPT were recorded before and after electrical stimulation. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models, with group treated as a between subject factor and time a within-subject factor. Results: At 30 minutes after cessation of electrical stimulation the CPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers was reduced in the TENS group that of C fibers was reduced in the SSP group (p<0.05). After cessation of electrical stimulation, the MPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers increased in the TENS group, and that of A${\delta}$fibers increased in the SSP group (p<0.05). Conclusion: After TENS and SSP stimulation, MPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers were selectively increased. In particular, the TENS group showed increases in both C and A${\delta}$fibers, while the SSP group showed increases only in A${\delta}$fibers.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2009

Purpose: $17\beta$-estradiol is the most active endogenous estrogen, which is related to favorable changes in the plasma lipid profile, to relaxation of the coronary vessels, and to a decrease in platelet aggregation and vascular smooth muscle cell migration. However, although the beneficial effect of estrogens on plasma lipoproteins (ie, lowering low-density lipoprotein and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) contributes to cardiovascular protection, it does not fully account for the protective effect, particularly in the application of physical therapy, including low frequency electrical stimulation. Methods: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the inhibition of stressors, such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), prostaglandin $F2\alpha$ ($PGF2\alpha$), and a protein kinase C (PKC) activator 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB), induced isometric tension by $17\beta$-estradiol in vascular smooth muscle strips, respectively. In addition, the effects of low frequency electrical stimulation at the meridian points (CV-3, -4, Ki-12, SP-6, LR-3, BL-25, -28, -32, -52) on the indirect antihypertensive effect were examined by monitoring the changes in the serum $17\beta$-estradiol concentration in healthy volunteers. Results: Isometric tension analysis showed that the responses of inhibited tension by $17\beta$-estradiol were similar to the same stressors in rat aortic smooth muscle strips. Furthermore, although the continued amplitude modulation (AM) type of electrical stimulation was not increased significantly by electrical stimulation, the current of the frequency modulation (FM) type of low frequency electrical stimulation increased the serum $17\beta$-estradiol concentration in normal volunteers. Conclusion: These results, in part, suggest that $17\beta$-estradiol has the capacity to supress stressor-induced muscle tension, and electrical stimulation, particularly current of the FM type, has a modulatory effect on the sex steroid hormones, particularly $17\beta$-estradiol, in healthy volunteers.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the intensity of microcurrent stimulation (with currents of 50 ${\mu}A$, 100 ${\mu}A$ and 300 ${\mu}A$ using a pulse frequency of 5 pps) on wound healing in rats. Methods: Sixty male Korean rats were randomly divided into four groups of 15 rats that were subjected to four different treatment protocols (control group, no treatment; experimental groups, treated with currents of 50 ${\mu}A$, 100 ${\mu}A$ or 300 ${\mu}A$). An experimental 20 mm linear wound was made in each animal and all animals in the experimental groups received microcurrent stimulation once a day for 20 minutes until the day of sacrifice on day 1, day 3 and day 6. An optical microscope was used to determine any histological changes. Results: The experimental results were as follows. 1. In an examination with the naked eye, all groups showed similar changes until the first day. However, from the third day, a little intercellular fluid soaked through wound region in the control group rats. In the experimental group animals, little intercellular fluid soaked through wound region, and swelling and redness did not appear, from the third day. 2. In an examination with histological evaluation, more significant changes were observed in all of the experimental group rats than the control group animals. Especially, a stimulation intensity of 50 ${\mu}A$ caused a more significant effect than the use of the other intensities by day 6 of wound healing. In addition, rapid recovery was observed. Conclusion: It was determined that microcurrent stimulation had a positive effect on wound healing. A stimulation intensity of 50 ${\mu}A$ was more effective than the other intensities (100 ${\mu}A$ and 300 ${\mu}A$) utilized for wound healing. Furthermore, low-intensity microcurrent stimulation was more effective for the purpose of wound healing.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.87-92
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to have examined the influence on the blood circulation by comparing the differences between stimulating the sympathetic ganglion and the muscle group among the stimulation variables in interferential current stimulation and to have found out the most effective stimulating mode for the improvement the peripheral blood circulation in the interferential current stimulation. Method : The subjects of the study is the men and women in the twenties, who are in great condition and have no pathological report for the blood circulation influence. The intensity of the inferential current stimulation is the medium degree, 100 bps constant current, which is the comfort and overt degree to confirm the muscle contraction. The areas stimulated by the interferential current stimulation are the stellate ganglion area in the seventh cervical vertebrae and the forearm muscle area. The stimulating time is twenty minutes long. After stimulating the two areas, the change of the blood circulation has been measured. Results : Both stimulating the sympathetic ganglion and stimulating the muscle, before and after interferential current stimulation, we have seen that the amount of blood circulation was increased significantly and statistically in both two groups(p<.01) and that the amount of blood circulation was increased significantly and statistically in the case of stimulating the sympathetic ganglion(p<.01). Conclusion : The conclusion we received that inferential current stimulation had the clear influence on increasing the peripheral blood circulation. And stimulating the sympathetic ganglion area is more effective than stimulating muscle area directly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently, many studies have demonstrated that application of external stimulation can modulate cortical excitability of the human brain. We attempted to observe cortical excitability using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or functional electrical stimulation (FES). Methods: We recruited two healthy subjects without a history of neurological or psychiatric problems. fMRI scanning was done during? each constant anodal tDCS and FES session, and each session was repeated three times. The tDCS session consisted of three successive phases (resting phase: 60sec dummy cycle: 10sec tDCS phase: 60sec). The FES session involved stimulation of wrist extensor muscles over two successive phase (resting phase: 15sec FES phase: 15sec). Results: The average map of the tDCS and FES analyses showed that the primary sensory-motor cortex area was activated in all subjects. Conclusion: Our findings show that cortical activation can be induced by constant anodal tDCS and FES. They suggest that the above stimuli have the potential for facilitating brain plasticity and modulating neural excitability if applied as specific therapeutic interventions for brain injured patients.