• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the effects of heel insoles on the static balance and leg muscle activity and posture control strategy during external perturbation. Methods: Thirty healthy young men participated in the study. The subjects underwent two experimental conditions: 1) no heel insole condition (0cm) and 2) wearing heel insole condition (5cm). The static balance was measured using an I-Balance device, which measured the change in the center of gravity (COG). The onset time of muscle activation and muscle activation of the erector spinae (ES), hamstring (HAM), gastrocnemius (GCM) were measured using surface EMG electrodes to determine the change in posture control strategy during external perturbation. Results: The speed and distance of COG were significantly higher in the wearing heel insoles condition than the no heel insole condition (p<0.05). In addition, significant differences in the onset time of the GCM, HAM, and ES muscle activation were observed when there was no heel insole condition during external perturbation (p<0.017). On the other hand, no significant differences in the onset time of muscle activation were observed between GCM and HAM when wearing the heel insole condition during external perturbation (p<0.017). Moreover, muscle activation of the GCM was significantly higher in the wearing heel insoles condition than the no heel insole condition during external perturbation (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that heel insoles may have disadvantages, and increased efforts are needed to maintain balance and change the posture control strategy during external perturbation.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of whole body vibratory stimulation on muscle strength, balance, and fall efficacy among super-aged women. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-eight super-aged women over 80 years of age were assigned to either the experimental group (n=14) and control group (n=14). The experimental group received an exercise program that used the whole body vibratory stimulation with a frequency of 30 Hz and amplitude of 3 mm, and the control group received an exercise program without vibratory stimulation. Intervention was provided for 4 weeks, 3 sessions per week, and 30 minutes per session. In order to measure lower extremity muscle strength the 30-second chair stand test (CST) was used. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure dynamic balance. Static balance was measured by tracking the path length, velocity, and area of the center of pressure (CoP). The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) was used to measure the subjects' fear of falling. Results: Both the experimental and control group demonstrated statistically significant increase in muscle strength, dynamic balance, and fall efficacy (p<0.05). Only the experimental group showed significant improvements in static balance before and after the intervention (p<0.05). The experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in CST, BBS, and CoP (path length, velocity) than control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Whole body vibratory stimulation exercise is shown to be a safe and appropriate physical therapy intervention method to enhance muscle strength, balance, and fall efficacy of super-aged women.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2021

Purpose : We aimed to determine whether improvements in balance, gait, and motor function were different when the same exercise was performed, with and without mirror therapy, by patients with subacute stroke using the affected and unaffected lower limbs. Methods : Eight patients with subacute stroke were randomly divided into experimental groups 1, 2 and the control group. A mirror therapy program was performed with group 1 using the unaffected lower limb and group 2 the affected lower limb. The exercise lasted 30 min per session, five times weekly, for 4 weeks. The control group did not perform the exercises. BT-4, BBS, POMA, 10MWT, and BRS were used to evaluate balance, gait, and motor function before and after the intervention. Results : Post-intervention analysis showed that all three groups had higher BBS scores. After training, the postural sway in groups 1 and 2 decreased in the post eye opened and closed positions; that of the control group increased. The scores of two subjects in group 1 increased by 4 and 5 points in POMA, resulting in significant changes compared to those in the other groups. No group showed significant results in 10MWT. BRS improved in all subjects in group 1 from BRS 2 to 1 and in only one subject in group 2 there was no change in the control group. Conclusion : Static and dynamic balance and significant results are noted in POMA, BBS, but not gait velocity. Therefore, mirror therapy seems to show a positive change in subacute patients, but the research results are not clear and the difference between groups is unknown due to the small number of subjects. The effects of mirror therapy and exercise therapy should be compared using more subjects in future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.13-25
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined cervical stabilization exercise (CSE) and stretching exercise (SE) on office workers with forward head posture (FHP). Methods : A total of 32 office workers with forward head posture were randomly assigned to experimental (n=16) and control (n=16) groups. The experimental group underwent combined CSE and SE, and the control group underwent cervical self-myofascial release and SE. Both groups performed exercises for 40 min per day, thrice per week for a total of 6 weeks. Craniovertebral angle (CVA), respiration, disability, and joint range of motion (ROM) before and 6 weeks after intervention were measured and compared. Results : There was no significant between-group difference in the general characteristics (p>.05). The intra-group comparison showed significant differences in the visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) of both groups post-intervention (p<.05). CVA and forced expiratory volume in 1 seconds (FEV₁) were significantly improved post-intervention in the experimental group only (p<.05). In the experimental group, all ROM variables were significantly improved post-intervention. In contrast, in the control group, all ROM variables improved significantly post-intervention, except for extension (p<.05). The inter-group comparison showed significant differences in NDI, left lateral flexion, right lateral flexion, and left rotation between the two groups (p<.05). Conclusion : The combination of CSE and SE, which stabilizes the cervical spine, had positive effects on cranial rotation angle, respiration, disability, and joint ROM in office workers with forward head posture. Therefore, the combination of the two exercises may be an effective option to reduce symptoms and prevent postural problems in office workers with FHP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.41-47
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• 2016

PURPOSE: Forward head posture (FHP) is one of the most common postural problems among white-collar workers who perform highly repetitive tasks in the same position. The aim of this study was to research the effects of thoracic and lumbar support fixtures on forward head posture (FHP) during visual display terminal (VDT) work. METHODS: The subjects were 36 healthy male students with no problems in their medical history or respiratory systems. The subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: control group (n=12), thoracic support fixtures (n=12), and lumbar support fixtures (n=12). We conducted a text typing task of the same content for 20 minutes, and evaluated the angles, including the craniovertebra angle (CVA), craniorotation angle (CRA) with photogrammetry. RESULTS: The thoracic and lumbar support fixture groups showed a statistically significant difference at the CVA and CRA to the control group (p<.05), and the post-hoc test showed an increase of the CVA and decrease of the CRA than the control group. However, when we compared the effects of thoracic and lumbar support fixtures on FHP, there was no significant difference in the difference in decrease of the CVA or increase of the CRA (p>.05). CONCLUSION: We determined that VDT work using thoracic and lumbar support fixtures has a positive effect on forward head posture in white-collar workers. Further studies are required to find the more effective location of support fixtures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study were to determine an intervention that involves proprioceptive exercises combined with cognitive task completion for adults with chronic ankle instability and to investigate the effects of the exercises on the static balance, dynamic balance, and ankle function of such individuals. METHODS: A total of 30 adults suffering from the aforementioned condition were randomly divided into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The experimental group performed proprioceptive exercises in combination with cognitive tasks for 15 minutes in each session that was held three times a week for four 4 weeks, whereas the control group carried out only proprioceptive exercises. A Wii Balance Board, which enables examining the fluctuation area distance, and speed, was used to determine static balance; a Y-balance test kit was employed to measure dynamic balance; and the side hop, figure-of-8 hop, and square hop tests were conducted to ascertain ankle function. RESULTS: The results showed that the static balance, dynamic balance, and ankle function of both the experimental and control groups significantly improved. The participants were instructed to perform one-leg postural exercises with and without vision blocking for the affected leg. The experimental group showed more significant improvement than did the controls in terms of the fluctuation distance, speed, and area of static balance. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, although combined proprioceptive exercises and cognitive tasks were insufficient to enhance all types of balance among the subjects, it effectively reinforced their static balance.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of balance training with plantar flexor stretching on ankle dorsi flexion range of motion (ROM), balance, and gait ability in stroke patients. Design: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Methods: Thirty stroke patients volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: the experimental group (n=15) received the neurodevelopment therapy plus balance training with plantar flexor stretching for 20 minutes in one session. The control group (n=15) received the same neurodevelopment therapy plus plantar flexor static stretching for 20 minutes in one session. Both groups underwent sessions four times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Measurements included passive range of motion (PROM), active range of motion (AROM) of ankle dorsiflexion using a goniometer, timed up and go (TUG), the functional reaching test (FRT), and the 10 m walk test (10 MWT). Results: There were significant improvements in AROM and PROM of ankle dorsiflexion, TUG, and FRT scores after the intervention in the experimental group (p<0.05). However, the control group showed no statistically significant differences except for PROM of ankle dorsiflexion. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in PROM, TUG, and FRT scores compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Balance training with plantar flexor stretching improves ankle dorsiflexion ROM and balance ability in patients with stroke. Therefore, this therapeutic intervention will be effective for rehabilitation of stroke patients in the clinical setting.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.383-391
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• 2010

The present study evaluated a preliminary control room (CR) design of radioactive waste facility using the $JACK^{(R)}$ human simulation system. Four digital humanoids ($5^{th}$, $50^{th}$, $95^{th}$, and $99^{th}$ percentiles) were used in the ergonomic evaluation. The first three were selected to represent 90% of the target population (Korean males aged 20 to 50 years) and the last to reflect the secular trend of stature for next 20 years in South Korea. The preliminary CR design was assessed by checking its compliance to ergonomic guidelines specified in NUREG-0700 and conducting an in-depth ergonomic analysis with a digital prototype of the CR design and the digital humanoids in terms of postural comfort, reachability, visibility, and clearance. For identified design problems, proper design changes and their validities were examined using JACK. A revised CR design suggested in the present study would contribute to effective and safe operations of the CR as well as operators' health in the workplace.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.292-297
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• 2020

Background: Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in the sports population or during usual daily life activities. The sprain can cause functional ankle instability (FAI), and it is very important to treat FAI. However, the optimum intervention method for FAI has yet to be determined. Objects: This study investigated the impact that virtual reality (VR) training program on balance with ankle kinesio taping for FAI. Methods: Twenty-two people were selected for the study and randomly divided into the experimental (n = 11) and the control group (n = 11). The experimental group had attached kinesio taping on the ankle and then implemented a virtual reality exercise program for 30 minutes a day. Nintendo Wii Fit Plus was used for the VR intervention three times a week for four weeks. The control group performed only two measurements without intervention. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in overall, anterior-posterior (AP), medial-lateral (ML) index of the static balance, and significant differences in overall, AP, ML index of the dynamic balance when taping and VR exercise were applied at the same time (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in overall and ML index of static and dynamic balance compared with before and after assessment between the experimental and the control group, and found differences in AP index of static and dynamic balance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Kinesio taping may not influence the balance of FAI as great as people expected. VR approach does not affect the static balance of FAI, but it influences dynamic balance in overall, AP, ML index. The authors suggest that VR-based exercises can be used as an additional concept in clinicians for FAI or as part of a home program because the exercises still have limitations.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.67-75
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to assess the ability of balance control in virtual moving surround stimulation using head mount display (HMD) device and force platform in patients with brain injury. Fifteen patients with stroke (mean age 54.47 yrs) and fifteen healthy normal persons participated. COP parameters were obtained total path distance, frequency of anterior-posterior and medial-lateral component by FFT analysis, weight-spectrum analysis in the two different conditions; (1) during comfortable standing with opened or closed eyes, (2) during virtual moving surround stimulation delivered using HMD with four different moving pattern. Moving patterns consisted of close-far, superior-inferior lilting (pitch) , right-left tilting (roll) and horizontal rotation (yaw) movement. In all parameters, the test-retest reliability was high. Also, the construct validity of virtual moving surround stimulation was excellent (p＜0.05). A posturographic balance assessment system equiped with virtual moving surround stimulation using HMD is considered clinically useful in evaluation of balance control in patients with brain injury.