• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of proprioceptive-vestibular based sensory integrative intervention on handwriting and fine motor function in elementary school students in grades 1 to 3. Methods : In this study, eight students in an elementary school in Busan were enrolled. The intervention was conducted twice a week from May to October, 2016, and a total of 14 intervention sessions were conducted. In order to evaluate the writing ability and the fine-motor exercise ability before and after the intervention, the fine-motor movement items of the Korean alphabet writing test and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) evaluation were used. Results : There was a statistically significant difference between the total scores of consonant writing and the Korean alphabet writing assessment after the intervention. In BOTMP-Fine motor, the response speed items showed statistically significant difference. Visual-motor control scores increased during intervention, but the statistical significance was not found. Conclusion : Sensory integration interventions might have positive effects on elementary school students' writing skills and fine motor functions.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

This research measures the conditions of spinal scoliosis of college students and analyses the factors that affect spinal scoliosis. From September 15, 2008 to October 30, 2008, the study was conducted with 142 C College students and measured the degrees of spinal scoliosis. The analysis was evaluated according to the Pneumex Analysis program. The collected data was compiled into statistics using the SPSS PC+ 12.0 program. The results were as follows: 1. It appeared that in the cases of C curve, reverse C curve, S curve, and the normal, there was a statistical significance(p=.010) between the conditions of spinal scoliosis of the two genders. 2. It appeared that the comparison among the three groups according to the characteristics of the subjects showed a statistical significance in spinal length(p=.000) in the C curve group, age(p=.019) and spinal length(p=.004) in the reverse C curve group, and spinal length (p=.035), difference in apparent leg length(p=.019), and difference in true leg length(p=.012) in the S curve group. 3. It appeared that in the normal group without spinal scoliosis, the results of comparing the differences in apparent true leg length and spinal length according to the characteristics of the subjects showed a statistical significance in spinal length and gender(p=.000), age (p=.008), height(p=.000), and whether or not there was a regular exercise over once per week(p=.001). 4. On the correlations between C curve, reverse C curve, and S curve and differences in apparent true leg length and spinal length, it appeared that: (a) As the difference in apparent leg length gets bigger the difference in true leg length gets big in C curve(r=.551, p=.000). (b) As the difference in apparent leg length gets bigger the difference in true leg length gets big in reverse C curve(r=.511, p=.006). (c) There is no correlation in S curve.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of using smartphones for tele-rehabilitation on head position and neck dysfunction in workers with visual display terminal (VDT) syndromes over a four-week period. Methods: Sixteen VDT workers volunteered to participate in stretch exercise and posture education sessions. The subjects were divided into three groups as follows: five subjects in the visit group (VSG), six subjects in the video group (VEG), and five subjects in tele-rehabilitation group (TG). The subjects in all the groups performed the exercises three days per week for four weeks. Cranial rotation angle (CRA), craniovertebral angle (CVA) measurement, and neck disability index (NDI) tests were performed before and four weeks after the intervention. Results: No significant difference in the CRA and CVA variables was found among groups. No significant difference in the CRA variable was found within each group. A significant difference in the CRA variable was found in the VSG after the four-week intervention. No significant difference in NDI was found among the groups. The NDIs among all the groups were significantly decreased after the intervention when compared with the NDIs measured before the intervention. Conclusion: The use of smartphones in the tele-rehabilitation of VDT workers with neck pain was found to be as effective on neck function as the conventional intervention method. The tele-rehabilitation of VDT workers with neck dysfunctions may be presented as an alternative way.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.343-351
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to suggest effective lunge exercise methods for various purposes by comparing differences in the muscle activity of thigh and plantar pressure according to changes in base of support during lunge exercises. Methods: The subjects were 20 college students who agreed to participate in the experiment. They performed three types of lunges-a basic lunge (BL), wide lunge (WL), and narrow lunge (NL). In a static position during each lunge, the muscle activity of the thigh and plantar pressure were measured. Each movement was maintained for 7 seconds, and the muscle activity for the 3 seconds in the middle was measured and analyzed. The plantar pressure was divided into six areas for analysis. The subjects randomly performed the lunges to prevent the influence of an experimental sequence. Each movement was performed three times, and the mean value of the three measurements was analyzed. Results: The analysis of muscle activities in the thigh during the three lunge movements showed statistically significantly higher muscle activity of biceps femoris in WL and NL than BL. Moreover, the analysis of plantar force showed statistically significant differences between BL and WL and WL and NL on the medial-forefoot and medial-midfoot, as well as between BL and WL and BL and NL on the lateral-midfoot. The analysis of plantar contact pressure exhibited statistically significant differences between BL and NL and WL and NL on the medial-forefoot, as well as a statistically significant difference between WL and NL on the medial-midfoot and lateral-hindfoot. Conclusion: This study suggests that changing the base of support during lunges can be useful to suit the purposes of various rehabilitation programs.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.253-257
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to predict the risks that arise while standing on mediolateral ramps at various ramp angles by identifying the ratio of medial to lateral gastrocnemius muscle activities. Methods: The subjects were 20 healthy adult men. Seven mediolateral ramp angles ($0^{\circ}$, $2^{\circ}$, $5^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, $15^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$, and $25^{\circ}$) were applied for the experiment. The ratio of medial to lateral gastrocnemius muscle activities in each condition was measured using electromyography, and the measured data were converted to root mean square values to calculate the activity ratios. Results: The study results showed statistically significant differences in the ratio of mediolateral gastrocnemius muscle activities according to the selected mediolateral ramp angles. The results of a post hoc test confirmed that the multifidus muscles were asymmetrically used on the two sides at mediolateral ramp angles of $5^{\circ}$ or higher. Conclusion: This study found that an asymmetric use of the multifidus muscles began at a mediolateral ramp angle of $5^{\circ}$, and the provision of propulsion using the ankle joints on mediolateral ramps at $5^{\circ}$ or steeper was maneuvered differently from that on flat ground. This suggests that individuals with balance control disorder have the risk of falling due to ankle sprains and unstable balance control. Therefore, patients and elderly people are required to exercise caution when crossing $5^{\circ}$ or steeper ramps.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.317-331
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• 2017

Purpose: Balance and walking ability are important elements of functional independence for people with stroke and are major goals in rehabilitation. These abilities require trunk performance, but most chronic stroke patients reach a plateau in their rehabilitation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a self-training trunk program to improve balance and walking ability in people with stroke, and to suggest such a self-training program for integrated rehabilitation of people with stroke. Methods: The study recruited 7 people with stroke. The subjects performed trunk training for 30 min per day, 6 days per week, for 3 weeks. Participants were measured on the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Korean Activities-specific Balance Confidence (K-ABC) scale, the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and a gait analysis to measure the training effects. Statistical analysis used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test as a non-parametric statistical test. Results: TIS was not significantly different after the self-training trunk program, but BBS (p>0.05), K-ABC, and FES were significantly improved after the training program (p<0.05). Furthermore, the 6MWT, stride/height %, and one-leg stance were significantly improved after the training program (p<0.05), but cadence, stance, and swing duration were not significantly different after the training (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that a self-training trunk program should be integrated into stroke rehabilitation to improve balance and walking ability, and further research is needed to develop the program to be more effective for chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.15-23
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• 2015

PURPOSE: We aims to promote the development of proprioception measurement using smartphones, goniometers, and laser pointers as compared to the conventional use of electrogoniometer measurement. METHODS: Measurements using an electrogoniometer were previously proved to be reliabile and valid. Among E-university students, 20 who had no fracture, operation history, or inflammatory arthritis were examined. These subjects had not performed regular exercise in the past 3 months. Proprioception measurements were performed using four different measurement tools, three times per day, for test-retest analysis. RESULTS: No notable test-retest differences were noted for any of the measurement methods (P>0.05). With regard to the test-retest reliability for each measurement method, we observed that the readings from both the electrogoniometer and smartphone have high reliability (ICC>0.80), whereas the readings from the laser pointer have moderate reliability (ICC>0.60). When assessing the concurrent validity between electrogoniometers with individual measurements, we did not observe any notable difference between the smartphone and electrogoniometer (P>0.05) and these tools in fact showed high correlation (r>0.60, P<0.05) and a moderate reliability (ICC>0.60). Moreover, there was no notable difference in between electrogoniometers and laser pointers (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CONCLUSION: The findings of this suggested that proprioception can be measured by using smart-phones, and proved that this method has sufficient credibility. Moreover, we noted that the concurrent validity with smartphones was high in comparison with the conventional electrogoniometer, which also indicates the validity and credibility. Based on these findings, we conclude that the measurement of proprioception by using a smartphone can be widely adopted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.111-119
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• 2020

PURPOSE: In adults with hamstring tightness, stretching is considered a therapeutic exercise that improves flexibility. However, previous studies have reported efficacy of numerous methods, and are inconclusive in determining the most effective stretching techniques. This study aims to compare the outcomes of Evjenth-Hamberg stretching (E-HS), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (PNFS), and static stretching (SS), on muscle tone and flexibility. METHODS: A total of 30 subjects were assigned to each of the three stretching groups:; E-HS (n₁ = 10), PNFS (n₂ = 10), and SS (n₃ = 10). Muscle tone of the hamstring muscle, active knee extension (AKE), and passive knee extension (PKE) were assessed by range of motion. RESULTS: After the intervention, statistically significant differences were obtained between groups for muscle tone (p < .05). The post hoc test, showed statistically significant differences in muscle tone between the E-HS and PNFS groups (p < .05), and PNFS and SS groups (p < .05). Post hoc test after intervention, also revealed statistically significant differences in flexibility (p < .05) between the E-HS and PNFS groups (p < .05), E-HS and SS groups (p < .05), and PNFS and SS groups (p < .05). Moreover, a statistically significant difference was observed in PKE scores between the E-HS and SS groups (p < .05), and PNFS and SS groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that E-HS may be the most effective stretching technique for muscle tone and flexibility, in adults with hamstring tightness.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prove the effects of coordinative locomotion training (CLT) on walking speed, walking endurance, and balance for incomplete spinal cord injury patients. Methods: Ten subjects were randomly assigned to the CLT group (n = 5) and the treadmill (TM) group (n = 5). The CLT group performed PNF pattern exercise using the motions of the sprinter and skater for 30 minutes, while the TM group performed using a treadmill for 30 minutes. Both groups performed these therapeutic interventions for five days per week, for a period of four weeks. A 10 meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and 6 meter walking test were used for the assessment of gait speed, balance, and gait endurance. The SPSS Ver. 18.0 statistical program was used for data processing. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for the comparison of pre- and post-intervention performance and a Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison between the groups. The significance level for the statistical inspection was set at 0.05. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in the 10 meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale, and 6 meter walking test (P < 0.05). Conclusion: CLT had an effect on the improvement of walking speed, walking endurance, and the balance of incomplete spinal cord injury patients. Thus, we suggest that CLT is a therapeutic intervention for incomplete spinal cord injury patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2020

Purpose: Functional ankle instability (FAI) causes tension in the joints, ligaments, and tendons, and the impact on visual and vestibular organs leads to imbalance. This study compared the effects of a traditional balance training program to virtual reality training to improve FAI. Methods: Twenty-four participants with FAI (CAIT score < 24) were assigned to a virtual reality training group (n = 13) and a traditional balance training group (n = 11). Both groups pursued their respective training program for four weeks. After a ten-minute warm-up, participants completed a 30-minute training session, three times per week. The traditional balance training group underwent static and dynamic training using a balance board and a stability trainer pad while the virtual reality group underwent balance training using a virtual reality program. Biorescue was used to measure changes in the speed and length of center of pressure (COP) for single-leg stance pre- and post-training. Results: The speed and length of COP improved significantly in both groups after training as compared to before (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in these outcomes between the virtual reality training group and the traditional balance training group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The study findings confirm the effectiveness of both virtual reality training and traditional balance training in reducing ankle instability, with no difference in treatment effects.