• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.123-131
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study attempts to examine the impact of respiratory muscle exercises on the respiratory function and quality of sleep among stroke patients. METHODS: A total of 20 stroke patients were randomly divided into a breathing-exercise training group(n=10) and a breathing-device-training group(n=10). Changes in pulmonary function, as well as the quality, were measured before and after the intervention. The breathing exercise was performed three times a week for a total of eight weeks. Breathing-device exercises made use of a lung-capacity-strengthening device and were performed for three times a week for eight weeks. One Flow FVC was used as a measurement tool for the pulmonary function test. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) and a sleep measurement tool were used for sleep evaluation. RESULTS: In a comparison of changes in pulmonary function before and after the training, the breathing-exercise group and the breathing-device-training group showed a significant difference. In changes of sleeping measure and PSQI, the breathing-exercise group and the breathing-device-training group also showed significant differences. CONCLUSION: Diverse index analyses confirmed that breathing exercises and exercises using a lung-capacity-strengthening device, were effective in improving respiratory function and quality of sleep among stroke patients experiencing respiratory function disorders and sleep disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the resistance respiratory muscle exercise with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the respiratory muscle tone and pulmonary function of stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty stroke patients were divided into the TENS group (n = 7), placebo TENS group (n = 7), and control group (n = 6), and each intervention was performed on the three groups 5 times a week for 4 weeks. The assessment was carried out by measuring changes in the muscle tone of the latissimus dorsi and abdominal external obliques, and pulmonary function. RESULTS: In this study, the TENS group and the placebo TENS group had significant increases in the paretic side latissimus dorsi muscle tone, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). There was no significant difference in changes in respiratory muscle tone between the three groups. The pulmonary function was significantly different between the three groups, and it was observed from the results of the post-hoc test that FVC showed a significant increase in the TENS group and the placebo TENS group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Through this study, it was found that the respiratory muscle resistance exercise was more effective as a method to increase respiratory muscle tone and pulmonary function in stroke patients than combined transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.43-52
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• 2020

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate the change of the respiratory function of chronic low back pain patients after the thoracic manipulation and the trunk stability exercise on chronic low back pain patients. Methods : For this study, the group of the experiment was consisted of 44 patients suffering from the low back pain chronically. The participants were divided into two groups: the control group, which was assigned for core stabilization exercise (CSE), and the experimental group, which was randomly assigned for core stabilization exercise after thoracic manipulation (CSE+TM). Both groups carried out each assigned treatment on three times a week for 8 weeks. To study the change related to measurement variable from each test groups before and after intervention, paired t-test was performed. Further, the statistics for an intergroup comparison was analyzed by covariance analysis, ANCOVA. The measurement was conducted by the respiratory function, the respiratory function was measured by forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁). Results : As a result, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) showed significant differences not only by each groups but also between those groups before and after the test. Conclusion : In conclusion, both experiments, the core stabilization exercise and the core stabilization exercise conducted after thoracic manipulation, on chronic low back pain patients resulted in the significant level of difference in the respiratory function. This result indicates that the thoracic manipulation is an efficient treatment for improving the respiratory function for chronic low back pain patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.311-315
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• 2013

Purpose: Forward head posture is a typical symptom in people who use computers for long periods of time. Respiration is a complex function involving co-operation of muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems. Abnormal posture can have a negative effect on respiratory function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between forward head posture and respiratory function in young adults. Methods: Forty-six healthy subjects participated in this study. Craniovertebral angle was measured for assessment of the forward head posture. The respiratory function of all subjects was evaluated by measuring forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume at one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio, and peak expiratory flow (PEF). The baseline of forward head posture was less than 49 degrees. Results: : Significant differences for predicted FVC and FEV1 were observed between the two groups, however, no statistically significant differences in FEV1/FVC ratio and PEF were observed between the two groups. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that forward head posture has a negative effect on respiratory function in young adults.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training and respiratory muscle endurance training on pulmonary function and activity in chronic stroke patients. Methods: The participants were 25 chronic stroke patients. They were assigned to two groups: a PNF and respiratory muscle training group (experimental group; n = 12) and a conservative training group (control group; n = 13). The experimental group completed 50 minutes (30 minutes of conventional physical therapy, 10 minutes of PNF training, and 10 minutes of respiratory muscle endurance training). The control group also completed 50 minutes (30 minutes of conventional physical therapy and 20 minutes on a full-body workout machine). Pulmonary function and activity were measured before and after the intervention, using Cosmed to analyze pulmonary function and 6MWT as clinical evaluation indicators. Results: Both groups showed significant within-group differences on all tests before and after the intervention; the experimental group showed greater improvement on all tests. Conclusion: The findings confirm that PNF training and respiratory muscle endurance training have a positive effect on pulmonary function and activity index in chronic stroke patients.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.108-115
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of respiratory rehabilitation training on the respiratory functions of hospitalized cervical spinal cord injury patients. Methods: One group pre and post test design was used. Subjects were 20 cervical spinal cord injury inpatients of the national rehabilitation center. Training program consisted of air cumulation training, manual assisted coughing training, and abdominal breathing. Trained rehabilitation nurse implemented 20 minutes program twice a day for 4 weeks. Respiratory function was measured as peak coughing flow rate, and perceived respiratory difficulty after activity on wheel chair for 30 minutes and during speaking and singing. Perceived respiratory difficulty was measured with modified Borg scale. Also content analysis was done with the result of open ended question about subjective feeling about training. All variables were measured 3 times before, 2weeks and 4 weeks after the program. Results: Peak coughing flow rate significantly improved after compared to before training. Also all three perceived respiratory difficulty variables decreased significantly after training. In the content analysis, 'it's easier to cough up phlegm' was the most frequent answered subjective feeling. 'Sound at speaking and coughing became louder', 'respiratory volume increased', and 'comfortable chest feeling' were frequent answered subjective feeling, in order. Conclusion: Although it is preliminary since no control group, respiratory rehabilitation training was found to be effective to improve respiratory function in terms of peak coughing flow rate, perceived respiratory difficulty, and subjective feeling. It is necessary further systemic research to investigate the effects of respiratory rehabilitation training.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.135-145
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• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to discover which breathing technique is more effective in improving respiratory function by applying different breathing techniques-the chest expansion respiratory technique and the abdominal expansion respiratory technique-to adults in the same aerobic exercise situation. Methods : In this study, 30 people were randomly assigned to two groups: chest expansion respiratory technique with aerobic exercise (A group) and abdominal expansion respiratory technique with aerobic exercise (B group). Group A was asked to breathe after wrapping their rib cage with an elastic band, and Group B was asked to breathe after wrapping their abdomen with an elastic band. A total of 3 sets of 30 breaths were performed, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. For statistical processing, an independent t-test was used to verify homogeneity between the two groups, and a repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare differences according to the period for each group. Results : The changes in FVC and FEV₁ for each group following 6 weeks of intervention are as follows. In comparison according to the intervention period, there was a significant increase in all groups depending on the timing of measurement (p<.05), and as a result of the inter-subject effect test, there was no significant difference between groups (p>.05). In addition, there was no interaction effect between period and group (p>.05). Conclusion : The conclusion of this study is that FVC and FEV₁ values increased according to the intervention period in both groups; therefore, it can be suggested that flexible breathing techniques can be applied depending on the patient's physical situation when applying a breathing program to improve respiratory function.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.4
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• pp.312-320
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• 2020

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) involves multiple organ systems and has the highest mortality among connective tissue diseases. Interstitial lung disease is the most common cause of death among SSc patients and requires closer studies and follow-ups. This study aimed to identify lung function changes and predictors of progressive disease in systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Methods: A retrospective study extracted SSc patients from an electronic database January 2002-July 2019. Eligible cases were SSc patients >age 15 diagnosed with SSc-ILD. Factors associated with progressive disease were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Seventy-eight SSc-ILD cases were enrolled. Sixty-five patients (83.3%) were female, with mean age of 44.7±14.4, and 50 (64.1%) were diffuse type SSc-ILD. Most SSc-ILD patients had crackles (75.6%) and dyspnea on exertion (71.8%), and 19.2% of the SSc-ILD patients had no abnormal respiratory symptoms but had abnormal chest radiographic findings. The most common diagnosis of SSc-ILD patients was non-specific interstitial pneumonia (43.6%). The lung function values of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and DLCO per unit alveolar volume declined in progressive SSc-ILD during a 12-month follow-up. Male and no previous aspirin treatment were the two significant predictive factors of progressive SSc-ILD with adjusted odds ratios of 5.72 and 4.99, respectively. Conclusion: This present study showed that short-term lung function had declined during the 12-month follow-up in progressive SSc-ILD. The predictive factors in progressive SSc-ILD were male sex and no previous aspirin treatment. Close follow-up of the pulmonary function tests is necessary for early detection of progressive disease.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.350-355
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study is to find out whether people still have problems with breathing after being quarantined for a certain period after being infected with COVID-19. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: A total of 36 subjects were included in this study. Subjects who have been quarantined after being infected with COVID-19 (the after-quarantine group, n=18) and those who have never had COVID-19 (the healthy group, n=18). Respiratory function was evaluated by subjects in resting state and after treadmill exercise. Subjects performed treadmill exercise at moderate intensity for 20 minutes. To compare the differences in respiratory function between groups, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) were evaluated using a spirometer. Results: The result of the study, there was a significant difference in FVC in the after-quarantine group between resting and after treadmill exercise (p<0.05). In the healthy group, there was no significant difference in respiratory functions between resting and after treadmill exercise. Conclusions: The meaning of this result is that people who have been quarantined with COVID-19 have lower respiratory function than healthy people who are not infected with COVID-19.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.278-292
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• 2023

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effects of thoracic joint mobilization and breathing exercises on diaphragmatic thickness, chest expansion, respiratory function, and endurance in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: The study included 24 chronic stroke patients who were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (12 people) performed 15 minutes of thoracic joint mobility exercises and 15 minutes of breathing exercises, three times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes each time. The control group (12 people) received 15 minutes of conservative physical therapy and 15 minutes of breathing exercises, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per session, the same as the experimental group. The experimental and control groups performed the same breathing exercises. To assess training effectiveness, changes in diaphragm thickness, chest expansion, respiratory function, and endurance were measured. Results: As a result, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in diaphragm thickness, chest expansion, and respiratory function. The endurance mode also displayed significant enhancement (p<0.05), a finding consistent with the control group. However, the experimental group displayed more substantial improvements in non-affected diaphragm thickness and thoracic expansion compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Drawing from these findings, breathing exercise which combine thoracic mobilization, will be actively utilized in addition to physical therapy interventions in clinical trials as an effective intervention method.