• 대한한의학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.13-29
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this review is to investigate the use of conventional Western medicine (WM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on leg cramps. Leg cramps are the occurrence of muscular spasm in the leg muscles which occur frequently in the elderly and are frequently observed in the clinical field. Methods: Relevant clinical studies were searched from five medical databases including PubMed, KISS, RISS, OASIS, and J-STAGE. Systematic review, clinical studies, and clinical practice guideline were included in this review. Results: In total, 27 clinical studies, 9 systematic review and meta-analysis, and 1 clinical practice guideline met the inclusion criteria. Included studies were classified and analyzed according to the type of intervention. Studies on quinine and magnesium have been most studied in WM and CAM, respectively. Although quinine shows some clinical effects on leg cramps, however, the risk of side effects are suggested. In addition, magnesium failed to improve the clinically significant effects in most studies. Five case reports using Oriental herbal medicine (OHM) were included and OHMs were effective in improving leg cramps without side effects, however, the quality of evidence was low. Clinical studies on other interventions were lacking. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there is no definite treatment standard for leg cramps until now, and there are limitations such as low level of evidence and side effects for each treatment. OHM can be an effective alternative to conventional intervention on leg cramps, therefore, related clinical studies are needed.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.131-141
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• 2006

A visual decision by clinical experts like physical therapists is a best way to detect onset and offset time of muscle activation. The current computer-based algorithms are being researched toward similar results of clinical experts. The new algorithm in this paper has an ability to extract a trend from noisy input data. Kalman smoother is used to recognize the trend to be revealed from disorderly signals. Histogram of smoothed signals by Kalman smoother has a clear boundary to separate muscle contractions from relaxations. To verify that the Kalman smoother algorithm is reliable way to detect onset and offset time of muscle contractions, the algorithm of Robert P. Di Fabio (published in 1987) is compared with Kalman smoother. For 31 templates of subjects, an average and a standard deviation are compared. The average of errors between Di Fabio's algorithm and experts is 109 milliseconds in onset detection and 142 milliseconds in offset detection. But the average between Kalman smoother and experts is 90 and 137 milliseconds in each case. Moreover, the standard deviations of errors are 133 (onset) and 210 (offset) milliseconds in Di Fabio's one, but 48 (onset) and 55 (offset) milliseconds in Kalman smoother. As a result, the Kalman smoother is much closer to determinations of clinical experts and more reliable than Di Fabio's one.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1995년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.27-33
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• 1995

A time-dependent large deformation fracture theory is developed for application to soft biological tissues. The theory uses the quasilinear viscoelastic theory of Fung, and particularizes it to constitutive assumptions on polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) (Part I) and cartilage (Part II). This constitutive theory is used in a general viscoelastic theory by Christensen and Naghdi and an energy balance to develop an expression for the fracture toughness of the materials. Experimental methods are developed for measuring the required constitutive parameters and fracture data for the materials. Elastic stress and reduced relaxation functions were determined using tensile and shear tests at high loading rates with rise times of 25-30 msec, and test times of 150 sec. The developed method was validated, using an engineering material, PVC to separate the error in the testing method from the inherent variation of the biological tissues. It was found that the the proposed constitutive modeling can predict the nonlinear stress-strain and the time-dependent behavior of the material. As an approximation method, a pseudo-elastic theory using the J-integral concept, assuming that the material is a time-independent large deformation elastic material, was also developed and compared with the time-dependent fracture theory. For PVC. the predicted fracture toughness is $1.2{\pm}0.41$ and $1.5{\pm}0.23\;kN/m$ for the time-dependent theory and the pseudo-elastic theory, respectively. The methods should be of value in quantifying fracture properties of soft biological tissues. In Part II, an application of the developed method to a biological soft tissue was made by using bovine humeral articular cartilage.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1995년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.19-22
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• 1995

A biomechanical study was made to demonstrate the superior mechanical performance of the newly designed Miniplate staple to the conventional Coventry staple in high tibial osteotomy(HTO). Using twenty fresh porcine tibiae, the fixational strengh of the two different types of staple in HTO was compared. To minimize the error due to the specimen-to-specimen individuality, the bone mineral density of the tibiae was measured with a bone densitometry (Dual photon absorptionometer, Luner, USA) and those with $0.8\;{\sim}\;1.2\;gm/cm^2$ at the proximal tibia was used in the biomechanical test. Testing was performed on a material testing system (Autogram ET-5, Shimatzu, Japan) with aid of a commercial data processor (IBM 80386/ ASYST). Using two differant loading modes, 'pull-out' and 'push-out', the maximum resistant force required to release the staple from the substrate bone was recorded. In the pull-out test, ten non-osteotomized specimens were used and the staple was pullout by subjecting an axial tension on the head of the staple inserted. While in the pull-out test where ten tibiae osteotomized in the usual way of HTO were used, the staple was not directly loaded. In this testing, as a mimic condition of the natural knee, the distal part of the specimen tibia was pushed horizontally in order for the staple to be pulled out while the proximal tibia was fixed. The pull-out strength of Coventry staple and miniplate staple were found to be $27.88\;{\pm}\;5.12\;kgf$ and $182.47\;{\pm}\;32.75\;kgf$, respectively. The push-out strength of Coventry staple and miniplate staple were $18.40\;{\pm}\;4.47\;kgf$ and $119.95\;{\pm}\;19.06\;kgf$, respectively. The result revealed that miniplate staple had the pull-out/ push-out strength at least fivetimes higher than Coventry staple. Based on the measured data, it was believed that the newly designed miniplate staple could provide much better postoperative fixation in HTO. The postoerative application of long leg casting may not be needed after HTO surgery.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.35-41
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• 2014

In this study, joint angles of the lower extremity and inertial sensor data such as accelerations and angular velocities were measured during a ski simulator exercise in order to evaluate the skill of skiers. Twenty experts and twenty unskilled skiers were recruited for the study. All expert skiers held the certificates issued by the Korea Ski Instructors Association. A three-dimensional motion capture system and two inertial sensors were used to acquire joint movements, heel acceleration and heel angular velocity during ski simulator exercises. Pattern variation values were calculated to assess the variations in ski simulator motion of expert and unskilled skiers. Integral ratio of roll angular velocity was calculated to determine the parallel alignment of the two feet. Results showed that ski experts showed greater range of motion of joint angle, peak-to-peak amplitude(PPA) of heel acceleration and PPA of heel angular velocity than unskilled skiers. Ski experts showed smaller pattern variations than unskilled skiers. In addition, the integral ratio of roll angular velocity in ski experts was closer to 1. Inertial sensor data measurements during the ski simulator exercises could be useful to evaluate the skill of the skier.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess visual biofeedback's influence on trunk muscles' (EMG) activity and endurance holding time for correct position during whole-body tilt exercise. For the study, we recruited 14 volunteers who showed no symptom of lumbar disease during medical tests. We measured the EMG activity of their rectus abdominis, external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique and erector spinae muscles, and their endurance holding time for correct position during $40^{\circ}$ anterior and posterior whole-body tilt under two conditions: whole-body tilt with and without visual biofeedback. Resistance with gravitational force on the trunk during whole-body tilt was applied by using a device that had a monitor on which the subjects could check their alignment and that sounded an alarm if a subject's alignment collapsed. The study showed an increase in the EMG activity of external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio and endurance holding time for correct position during both $40^{\circ}$ anterior and posterior whole-body tilt with visual biofeedback compared with without visual biofeedback (p<.05). We suggest that the whole-body tilt exercise with visual biofeedback could be a beneficial strategy for selectively strengthening the internal abdominal oblique muscle and minimizing the rectus abdominis muscle's activity while maintaining correct alignment during whole-body tilt exercise.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Background: Gait problems appear in most stroke patients. Commonly, stroke patients show the typical abnormal gait patterns, such as circumduction, genu recurvatum, and spastic paretic stiff-legged gait. An inclined treadmill gait exercise is good for gait problems of stroke patients. In addition, the backward walking training has been recommended in order to improve the component of the movement for the forward walking. Objects: The purpose of this study to investigated the effects of backward walking with inclined treadmill training on the gait in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 30 volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups that walked on an inclined treadmill: the experimental group ($n_1=15$), which walked backward, and the control group ($n_2=15$), which walked forward. To measure the improvement of the patients' gait, a Figure of Eight Walking Test (F8W), Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) were performed. We also measured spatio-temporal gait variables, including gait speed, cadence, stride length, and single limb support using a three-axial wireless accelerometer. The measurements were taken before and after the experiment. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare both groups before and after the interventions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparisons after the interventions. The statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: Before and after experiment, all dependent variables were significantly different between the two groups (p<.05). As compared to the control group, the experimental group showed more significant improvements in F8W, FSST, speed, cadence, stride length, and single limb support (p<.05); however, FGA in this group was not significantly different from the control (p>.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that backward walking on an inclined treadmill is more effective for improving the gait of stroke patients than forward walking.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.8-16
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of mobilization of the sciatic nerve on hamstring flexibility, lower limb strength, and gait performance in patients with chronic stroke. This study was a randomized clinical trial with a crossover design. Sixteen subjects were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly divided into two intervention groups and underwent either of the following two interventions: sciatic nerve mobilization or static stretching of the hamstring. We assessed hamstring flexibility, lower limb strength, and gait performance using a digital inclinometer, a hand-held dynamometer, and the 10-meter walk test, respectively. Subjects had a 24-hour rest period between each session in order to minimize carryover effects. Measurements for each test were assessed prior to and immediately after the intervention sessions. Using a two-way analysis of variance test with repeated measures, data from the two trials were analyzed by comparing the differences between both techniques. The level of statistical significance was set at .05. Sciatic nerve mobilization resulted in significantly better knee extensor strength (p=.023, from $15.32{\pm}5.98$ to $18.16{\pm}6.95kg$) and knee flexor strength (p=.011, from $7.80{\pm}4.80$ to $8.15{\pm}4.24kg$) in the experimental group than in the control group. However, no significant effects of static stretching of the hamstring were observed on hamstring flexibility from the ankle plantar flexion (p=.966) and ankle neutral positions (p=.210) and on gait performance (p=.396). This study indicated that the sciatic nerve mobilization technique may be more effective in muscle activation of the knee extensor muscle and knee flexor muscle than hamstring static stretching technique in patients with chronic stroke.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.58-65
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• 2017

Background: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have impaired postural control, but critically require the control of stability. Consequently, therapeutic interventions for enhancing postural control in children with CP have undergone extensive research. One intervention is sensorimotor training (SMT) using a Flexi-bar, but this has not previously been studied with respect to targeting trunk control in children with CP. Objects: This study was conducted to determine the effect of SMT using a Flexi-bar on postural balance and gait performance in children with CP. Methods: Three children with ambulatory spastic diplegia (SD) participated in the SMT program by using a Flexi-bar for forty minutes per day, three times a week, for six weeks. Outcome variables included the pediatric balance scale (PBS), trunk control movement scale (TCMS), 10 meter walking test (10MWT), and 3-dimensional movement coordination measurement. Results: The SMT provided no statistically significant improvement in PBS, TCMS, 10MWT, or 3-dimensional movement coordination measurement. However, positive changes were observed in individual outcomes, as balance and trunk control movement were improved. Conclusion: SMT using a Flexi-bar may be considered by clinicians as a potential intervention for increasing postural balance and performance in children with SD. Future studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy of Flexi-bar exercise in improving the functional activity of subjects with SD.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.19-29
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• 2020

Background: Stretch-oriented home exercise programs are often used as treatments for patients with adhesive capsulitis; however, there is lack of research on home exercise programs to strengthen rotator cuffs. Objects: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of home exercise programs for rotator cuff strengthening on pain, range of motion (ROM), disability level, and quality of life in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Methods: Twenty-two patients with adhesive capsulitis volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 11) and control group (n = 11). For the experimental group, manual therapy and home exercise programs for rotator cuff strengthening were applied for 6 weeks; for the control group, only manual therapy was applied for 6 weeks. Shoulder pain (quadruple visual analogue scale, QVAS), ROM, disability (shoulder pain and disability index-Korean version, SPADI), and quality of life (world health organization quality of life scale-Korean version, WHOQOL-BREF) were evaluated at baseline, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks of intervention. The changes in the measurement variables were analyzed by using repeated measure analysis of variance. Results: Significant differences were observed between the experimental group and control group in the QVAS; SPADI-pain scores; SPADI-disability scores; SPADI-total scores; flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation ROM of the glenohumeral joint; and WHOQOL-BREF total, overall, physical health, and psychological scores. All groups displayed statistically significant improvements as observed in the QVAS, SPADI, flexion, abduction, external and internal rotation ROM of the glenohumeral joint, and WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusion: Home exercise programs for rotator cuff strengthening had a positive impact on shoulder pain, shoulder ROM, disability level, and quality of life in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Therefore, we propose the use of home exercise programs for rotator cuff strengthening in the exercise rehabilitation of patients with adhesive capsulitis.