• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.391-399
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• 2002

Purpose: Knowing the accurate gestational age(GA) is critical in nursing care of premature infants. A descriptive study was performed to examine the reliability and clinical applicability of the New Ballard examination(NBE) in premature infants. Method: A NBE was performed to measure GA by assessing the neuromuscular and physical maturity in the course of physical examination of a convenient sample of 74 premature infants. Result: 1. The highest item of NBE score was posture (mean=2.82) and the lowest item was breast (mean=1.84). 2. There was a highly correlation between both the GA by LMP(GA-LMP) and GA by NBE (GA-NBE)(r=.844, p=.000). 3. There was a greater positive relationship in neuromuscular maturity than physical maturity in the GA-NBE of the premature infants(r=.786 vs r=.933). 4. There was a positive correlation between neuromuscular, physical, total maturity, GA-LMP and GA-NBE in the birth weight, length, 1, 5 minute apgar score. 5. There was no significant difference neuromuscular, physical, total maturity in NBE by delivery history. Conclusion: The study supports the reliability a clinical relevance of NBE in assessment of the accurate GA in premature infants.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2013

Objective: To determine the correlation among three functional tests: single leg vertical jump (SLVJ), single leg hop for distance (SLHD), and single leg squat (SLSQ). Design: Cross sectional study. Methods: Twenty healthy men (n=10) and women (n=10) with no history of lower extremity dysfucntion participated in this study and performed in university research laboratory. The procedures consisted of a general warm-up, a task-specific warm-up, actual testing, and a cool down. All participants performed the three tests in random order. Each test was performed three times for the dominant and non-dominant lower extremity (LE). SLVJ, SLHD, SLSQ were measured using a standard tape measure. Results: Statistically significant difference was presented between dominant LE and non-dominant LE in each function test (p<0.05). The strongest correlation was between SLVJ and SLSQ, 0.939 and 0.883 for dominant and non-dominant LE, respectively (p<0.05). The weakest correlation was between SLVJ and SLHD, 0.713 for dominant (p<0.05) and between SLSQ and SLHD, 0.739 for non-dominant (p<0.05). Conclusions: There is a strong correlation between SLVJ and SLSQ, suggesting that each test measures similar constructs of function and can be substitutive, while weak correlation between SLSQ and SLHD suggest these two tests do not measure the same functional components and could be paired as outcome measures for the clinical assessment of LE function. It will provide physical therapist with scientific evidence for effective test combination of LE function assessment in clinical practice.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.379-386
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the trunk impairment scale that are used to assess the trunk control of stroke patients. Design: A systematic review Methods: Stroke subjects were categorized as acute, subacute, chronic. In this systematic review, the studies published between 2000 and 2020 were selected. A literature search using the keywords 'QUADAS', 'stroke', 'trunk impairment scale'. Data sources included RISS, GOOGLE Scholar and DBpia. We assessed the quality of assessment tools using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. Results: We reviewed 18 studies. 7 of the 18 studies reported reliability results, 10 reported validity results. The QUADAS tool quality evaluation of 17 literatures extracted except for one randomized control test among 18 literatures showed a range of 3 to 13 points. 5 of the 18 studies are presented with the Cronbach alpha coefficient indicating reliability using internal consistency, all of which are more than 0.8. All studies that presented test-retest reliability, intra-rater reliability, and inter-rater reliability showed high agreement with an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.75 or more. Conclusions: A systematic review of the study of the application of the trunk impairment scale for stroke patients will help provide criteria for future studies and application of the trunk impairment scale in clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2023

PURPOSE: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis (WOMAC) index has been used to measure the outcome of total knee replacement (TKR), but studies on its reliability and validity are limited. The present study examined the reliability and validity of this index for patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent TKR. METHODS: Seventy-one inpatients and outpatients who underwent bilateral TKR for knee osteoarthritis were included in this study. The pain assessment scale and WOMAC index were used to evaluate the participants every two weeks to examine the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability scores for pain, stiffness, and physical function were .75-.92, .85-.90, and .75-.95, respectively. The corresponding intraclass correlation coefficients were .75-.88, .76-.88, and .71-.95, respectively. The internal consistency score in the first and second examinations was .92. Furthermore, the construct validity scores for pain, stiffness, and physical function were .83, .41, and .58, respectively. CONCLUSION: The application of the WOMAC index in patients who underwent TKR showed high test-retest reliability and internal consistency with the use of the WOMAC index and good validity with the use of the pain assessment scale.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.192-199
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• 2015

Background: Overweight, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors are prevalent among firefighters in some developed countries. It is unclear whether physical activity and cardiopulmonary fitness reduce cardiovascular disease risk and the cardiovascular workload at work in firefighters. The present study investigated the relationship between leisure-time physical activity, cardiopulmonary fitness, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and cardiovascular workload at work in firefighters in Hong Kong. Methods: Male firefighters (n = 387) were randomly selected from serving firefighters in Hong Kong (n = 5,370) for the assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, known cardiovascular diseases). One-third (Target Group) were randomly selected for the assessment of off-duty leisure-time physical activity using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Maximal oxygen uptake was assessed, as well as cardiovascular workload using heart rate monitoring for each firefighter for four "normal" 24-hour working shifts and during real-situation simulated scenarios. Results: Overall, 33.9% of the firefighters had at least two cardiovascular disease risk factors. In the Target Group, firefighters who had higher leisure-time physical activity had a lower resting heart rate and a lower average working heart rate, and spent a smaller proportion of time working at a moderate-intensity cardiovascular workload. Firefighters who had moderate aerobic fitness and high leisure-time physical activity had a lower peak working heart rate during the mountain rescue scenario compared with firefighters who had low leisure-time physical activities. Conclusion: Leisure-time physical activity conferred significant benefits during job tasks of moderate cardiovascular workload in firefighters in Hong Kong.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.37-45
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of treadmill training on gait, balance, and trunk control in a patient with hemiparesis. A female subject who had suffered a left hemiparesis 12 months previously was selected for this study. A single subject ABA design was used. Eight data-collection sessions were conducted during each of three phases (baseline-intervention-withdrawal). During baseline and withdrawal phases, the treatment based on Bobath approach was performed for the subject, and during the intervention phase, treadmill walking training was added. Assessment tools were made using the 10 m walk test, Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment(RVGA), Berg Balance Scale(BBS), and a seated Lateral Reach Test(LRT). During the intervention phase, the time measured in 10 m walk test and the scores of RVGA and BBS were significantly improved, and the number of steps in 10 m walk test and LRT showed a small improvement. During withdrawal phase, the time measured in 10 m walk test and the scores of RVGA and BBS were shown the carry-over effect. This findings indicate that treadmill training has significant effect to gait function and balance in a patient with chronic hemiparesis.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.767-779
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• 2012

In case of executing surveys in marine ecosystems, the most important things are scientific selection measures of survey stations that can represent various ecosystems characteristics in subjected areas. The situations show a lot of differences that understand characteristics of marine ecosystems in targeted areas according to selection methods and positions in survey stations. Investigation ranges and station numbers in marine ecosystems are classified according to project characteristics and scales. But, currently a clear divisions or objective standards are not. Therefore, this study tried to provide selection measures of survey station in scientific and objective marine ecosystems through precise analysis among environmental impact statements of coastal development projects until now. In this study, impact scopes of marine ecosystems correspond to physical impact predictions by undertaking projects. Impact ranges were divided into three(physical impact ranges) coastal waters. In case of proposing numbers of survey stations according to this survey ranges, numbers of investigation stations due to minimum survey scopes in targeted projects applied 20~30% of all numbers in survey stations. Number of survey stations due to average investigation scopes within physical impact ranges applied 60~70% of all numbers in investigation stations. Numbers of survey stations due to maximum survey ranges within physical impact scopes applied 10~20% of all numbers in survey stations. So, improvement measures were deducted. Finally, according to prediction ranges in impact of various coastal development projects, several kinds of conclusions are suggested. And, it is thought to be able to use as fundamental database to select investigation stations in marine organisms through this study.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.631-648
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• 2012

The integrative ecological approaches of chemical assessments, physical habitat modelling, and multi-metric biological health modelling were applied to Gwanpyeong Stream within Gap-Stream watersheds to evaluate environmental impacts on the constructions of residential and commercial complex. For the analysis, the surveys conducted from 45 sites of reference streams within the Gap-Stream watershed and 3 regular sites during 2009 - 2010. Physical habitat health, based on the habitat model of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index(QHEI) declined from the headwaters(good - fair condition) to the downstream(poor condition). Chemical water quality, based turbidity and electric conductivity(EC), was degraded toward to the downstream, and especially showed abrupt increases, compared to the values of control streams(CS). Also, concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the downstreams were greater compared to the control stream(CS), indicating an eutrophication. Biological health conditions, based on the Index of Biological Integrity(IBI) using fish assemblages, averaged 19.3 which is judged as a fair condition by the biological criteria of the Ministry of Environment, Korea. The comparisons of model metric values in sensitive species and riffle-benthic species on the Maximum Species Richness Line(MSRL) of 45 reference streams indicated a massive disturbances in all sampling locations. Also, tolerance guild and trophic guild analyses suggest that dominances of tolerant species and omnivores were evident, indicating a biological degradation by habitat disturbances and organic matter pollutions. There was no distinct longitudinal variations of IBI model values from the headwater to the downstream in spite of slight chemical and habitat health gradients among the sampling sites. Overall, integrative ecological health(IEH) scores, based on the chemical, physical, and biological parameters, were low compared to the 45 reference streams due to physical and chemical disturbances of massive constructions of the residential and commercial complex. This stream, thus showed a tendency of typical urban streams which are disturbed in the chemical water quality, habitat structures, and biological integrity. Effective stream management plans and restoration strategies are required in this urban stream for improving integrative stream health.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.333-352
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to identify the effects of the cognitive performance of stroke patients on their motor function recovery after comprehensive rehabilitation management. The subjects of this study were 41 stroke in-patients of the Rehabilitation Hospital, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, hospitalized during the period from September 1, 1997 to May 5, 1998. The cognitive performance was measured using a Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE) and the motor function recovery using Motor Assessment Scale(MAS). The data were analyzed by the paired t-test, independent t-test, a one way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficiency. The findings were as follows: 1. There was a significant difference found in the motor function recovery level after the comprehensive rehabilitation management. 2. There was no significant difference found in relation to sex, age, cause of stroke, laterality of paralysis and the level of spasticity. However, there was a big difference between pre- and post-treatment regarding the treatment period. 3. In line with the cognitive performance level, there was a significant difference found in the motor function recovery level after the comprehensive rehabilitation management. 4. The correlation between the elements of the cognitive performance and the motor recovery was found to be high in orientation, attention, calculation, and language. Those elements were expected to give larger effects on motor recovery after the comprehensive rehabilitation management. Based on this study, the cognitive performance level was found to play an important role in bringing effects on motor recovery after the comprehensive rehabilitation management of stroke patients. And the evaluation on the motor recovery based on quality would be also expected to be examined, as well as the cognitive performance level test accompanied by Intelligence Quality(IQ) test.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1894-1903
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of group task-oriented circuit training (TOCT) based on motor learning applied in conjunction with physical and occupational therapy on functional activity, activities of daily living (ADLs), and quality of life in individuals with chronic stroke. Six chronic stroke patients participated for a duration of 31 weeks. Treatment outcomes were assessed via Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment, the Berg Balance Scale, the Assessment of Motor and Process Skill (AMPS), and the Stroke Impact Scale pre- and post-intervention. The participants exhibited significant improvements in impairment, static and dynamic balance, and mood and emotion after group TOCT. The results of AMPS indicated an improvement in the motor area in 3 of the subjects. In the process area, 4 of the subjects exhibited improvement. The results of this study suggest that TOCT is beneficial to physical functions for chronic hemiparetic stroke patients in community-dwelling.