• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.47-54
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of active and passive postural perturbation on ankle dorsiflexor responses in stroke patients. The subjects consisted of 13 stroke patients. Using wireless electromyography, the patients' ankle dorsiflexor muscle responses were measured under the following conditions: active dorsiflexion (AD), active perturbation (AP), and passive perturbation (PP). Tibialis anterior muscle activity increased most significantly during PP of the affected side ($118.64{\pm}56.28$). The most significant increase for the non-affected side was in AD ($72.64{\pm}24.56$). Tibialis anterior muscle activity was compared under each condition. The affected side showed significant differences between PP and AD and between PP and AP (p<.05). The non-affected side showed not significant differences between each condition. The ratios of tibialis anterior muscle activity under AP to that under AD were 1.00 on the affected side and .75 on the non-affected side and the difference was not significant (p>.05). The ratios of tibialis anterior muscle activity under PP to that under AD were 3.30 on the affected side and 1.14 on the non-affected side and the difference was significant (p<.05). Passive perturbation improved tibialis anterior muscle activity on the affected side, and training based on this approach may have the potential to improve the ankle dorsiflexion of people with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.19-27
• /
• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a multi-modal exercise program for patients with chronic low back with respect to pain intensity, trunk muscle strength and Oswestry disability index. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic low back pain were recruited and divided equally into two groups. The multi-modal training program comprised a series of exercises such as warm-up, stabilization exercises, stretching, endurance exercises, and cool down whereas the control group performed only stabilization exercises. The both group spent an equal amount of time performing 60 minutes per day, three times per week, for five weeks. Results: The experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in range of motion, trunk muscle strength, the visual analogue scale, and the Oswestry Disability Index (p<.05). Intergroup comparison showed a statistically significant difference in the range of motion of the lumbar spine and the degree of disability in the experimental group. Muscle strength and pain were statistically significant in both groups. Conclusion: The multi-modal exercise program is effective for patients with chronic low back pain, as it reduces lower back pain, increases trunk muscles strength, and decrease the potential for becoming disabled.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.53-65
• /
• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to a comparison of physical fitness according to the body mass index (BMI) of Chinese college students. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: According to the BMI, the research objects are divided into four types: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. This research took 26,976 college students who participated in Jiujiang College. It examines BMI, 50m, vital capacity, standing long jump, sitting forward bend, sit-up (female), pull-up (male), 800m (female), 1000m (male) which is to research the correlation between different BMI and other indicators. Results: The physical qualities of students with normal weight are significantly better than those with other BMI groups. Pearson correlation analysis showed that male BMI was positively correlated with vital capacity (r=0.07, p<0.01), 50m (r=0.15, p<0.01) and 1000m (r=0.14, p<0.01), and negatively correlated with standing long jump (r=-0.12, p<0.01), sitting forward bend (r=-0.06, p<0.01) and pull-up (r=-0.13, p<0.01); Female BMI was positively correlated with vital capacity (r=0.03, p<0.01), 50m (r=0.21, p<0.01) and 800m (r=0.18, p<0.01), and negatively correlated with standing long jump (r=-0.07, p<0.01), sitting forward bend (r=-0.11, p<0.01) and sit-up (r=-0.10, p<0.01). Conclusion: Overweight and underweight will affect the physical quality of college students. Students should keep their BMI within the normal range for their health.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2010

This study aimed to compare 2 protocols recommended to patients with chronic cervical cord injury: each protocol included breathing exercises (inhalation-oriented or exhalation-oriented) and facilitation maneuver for the accessory respiratory muscles. Seventeen patients with chronic cervical cord injury volunteered to participate in this study, and we randomized these patients into 2 groups: the inhalation-oriented breathing exercise group (IOBEG) and exhalation-oriented breathing exercise group (EOBEG), consisting of 8 and 9 patients, respectively. Patients in the IOBEG performed inspiratory exercises using intermittent positive pressure breathing devices, while those in the EOBEG performed expiratory exercises using incentive spirometry. All exercises were performed by the subjects twice a day for 4 weeks, with each session lasting an average of 20 min. The outcomes were assessed on the basis of the pre- and post-treatment values of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC. In the IOBEG, no significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-treatment values of any of the measured variables (p>.05); however, in the EOBEG, significant improvement was noted in the VC, FVC, FEV1 measured (p<.05) after the treatment. In addition, the rates of change in the values of VC, FVC, and FEV1 differed significantly between the 2 groups (p<.05). These findings suggest that the EOBEs can enhance respiratory function and are clinically feasible in patients with chronic cervical cord injury. Further studies will be undertaken to evaluate the clinical application of these findings.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.286-291
• /
• 2020

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) causes a reduction in the balance of the lower extremities. Static and dynamic balance were evaluated separately to confirm the decrease in balance in patients underwent ACLR. The commonly used methods include the Biodex Balance System (BBS) for static balance and the Y balance test (YBT) for dynamic balance. No study has evaluated whether the static and dynamic balance of the involved side recovers as much as the uninvolved side one year after ACLR. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the recovery of static and dynamic balance between the involved and the uninvolved sides. Methods: The BBS (overall, anteroposterior index, and mediolateral index) and YBT (anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial) of 58 patients underwent ACLR were measured one year postoperation. Both sides of the BBS and the YBT were compared using the paired t-test. Results: All the index of the BBS showed no difference between the involved and the uninvolved sides, while all the scores of the YBT showed a significant difference in both sides. The YBT anterior result was 54.64 ± 5.62 cm in the involved side and 56.90 ± 5.41 cm in the uninvolved side (p = 0.001). The YBT posterolateral results were 90.12 ± 10.51 cm and 92.34 ± 9.85 cm (p = 0.013). The YBT posteromedial results were 93.72 ± 8.84 cm and 96.14 ± 9.37 cm (p = 0.002). Conclusion: A year after ACLR, the static balance showed no difference, while the dynamic balance showed a significant difference in the involved and the uninvolved sides. The static balance of the involved side recovered as much as the uninvolved side, but the dynamic balance did not. Therefore, dynamic balance training should be considered in the rehabilitation program for patients underwent ACLR.

• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of boxing combined training on cardiopulmonary function and health-related fitness in male college students over a period of eight weeks. Methods: Eighteen male students were randomly assigned to the following groups: boxing exercise (n=6), aerobic exercise e(n=6), and non-exercise (n=6). The exercise program was conducted for 50 minutes every three weeks, for a total of eight weeks. After eight weeks, the factors that affected the measurement variables were analyzed, and the following results were obtained. Results: Participants in the eight-week boxing exercise group and the aerobic exercise group showed significantly increased maximal oxygen, which was not observed in the control group. The body mass index decreased in the aerobic exercise group, but did not significantly differ between the boxing exercise and control groups. Body fat (%) and abdominal fat (%) significantly decreased in all exercise groups, but significantly increased in the control group. Skeletal muscle mass increased in the boxing exercise group, but did not significantly differ between the boxing, aerobic exercise, and control groups. Muscular strength and muscular endurance increased in both exercise group, but did not change in the control group. Flexibility showed no differences between the groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, an eight-week boxing exercise program for college students showed positive effects on cardiorespiratory function and health-related fitness.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.349-356
• /
• 2012

This study aimed to assess the effects of progressive lumbar stability exercises and lumbar stability exercises on changes in the transversus abdominis muscle thickness and lower extremity muscle fatigue index in soccer players. Ten subjects were assigned to undergo training in each of the 2 groups, namely, the progressive lumbar stability exercise group and lumbar stability exercise group. Each intervention session lasted for 30 min, and 4 sessions were conducted in a week for 6 weeks for soccer players of S. University in Jeonnam, Korea. Changes in the transversus abdominis muscle thickness and lower extremity muscle fatigue index were measured using ultrasound and surface electromyogram. The results of the ultrasound measurement for the transversus abdominis muscle thickness indicated that progressive lumbar stability exercises were more effective than lumbar stability exercises. The results of the lower extremity muscle fatigue index measurements using surface electromyogram indicated that the fatigue index decreased in the progressive lumbar stability exercise group. Progressive lumbar stability exercise is believed to have put more workload during the shaking of the limbs, leading to increased stability and increased efficiency of the lower extremity muscle, thereby decreasing the fatigue index. Therefore, progressive lumbar stability exercises can be an effective measure for preventing injuries and improving the game performance of sports players by increasing the transversus abdominis muscle thickness and decreasing the lower extremity muscle fatigue index.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of sensory feedback training of the ankle with visuoperceptual stimulation on static balance and gait functions in patients with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. Methods: This study included 16 patients with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. The subjects were randomly assigned toeither the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG), with 8 subjects in each group. All the subjects received a routine physical therapy. The EG subjects received a 30-min sensory feedback training for the foot and ankle with visuoperceptual stimulation by using Tetrax Portable Multiple System. This training was conducted 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The scores of balance ability, timed up and go (TUG), and dynamic gait index (DGI) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: In the EG, the scores of static balance, TUG, and DGI obtained afterthe intervention significantly differed from those obtained before the intervention (p<0.05). Further, in the EG, a significant difference was noted in the rate of change of all the variables when compared with those of the CG (p<0.05). However, in the CG, post-intervention score were only significantly different for DGI. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the sensory feedback training with visuoperceptual stimulation improves balance and gait functions of patients with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. Further studies are needed to generalize the results of this study.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study examined the effects of pre-eccentric exercise to the quadriceps for the prevention of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and recovery of muscular function, depending on the training intensities. Methods: Subjects were divided into one of three groups that control group, a low intensity eccentric exercise group (LIEE group) and a high intensity eccentric exercise group (HIEE group). Subjects who underwent pre-eccentric exercise undertook exercise at an intensity of 25% and 75% of maximal voluntary contractions, respectively. After undertaking pre-eccentric exercise for eight weeks, eccentric exercise was applied again to induce DOMS. Measurements were conducted to examine pain and muscular function changes before, immediately after, after the induction of DOMS, and at the first, third, fifth and seventh days after the induction of DOMS. Results: Subjects who underwent pre-eccentric exercise showed a significant difference from the control group for the changes in the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain threshold, pressure pain threshold and muscle thickness by isometric contraction from measuring DOMS, and in particular, pain threshold by isometric contraction had remarkable effect in the LIEE group of subjects. For the change of the root mean square values using mechanomyography (MMG) as the measurement of muscular function recovery, subjects who had undertaken pre-eccentric exercise group showed a significant difference as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Pre-eccentric exercise was very effective in preventing and recovering delayed onset muscle soreness and was helpful to prevent and recover from decreased muscular function. The difference based on the intensity of exercise was not great, but it was more effective in the low intensity eccentric exercise group of subjects. Therefore, it can be considered that pre-eccentric exercise has a high application value as a physical therapy intervention for prevention and rehabilitation of sports injuries.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.179-185
• /
• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare vertical ground reaction forces during sit to stand (STS) and gait between female elderly and young individuals using the Wii Balance Board (WBB). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifty-one female elderly people (age: $75.18{\pm}4.60years$), and 13 young people (age: $29.85{\pm}3.69years$) performed the five times STS test and gait respectively on the WBB. We analyzed time (s), vertical peak (%), integral summation (Int_SUM, %), and counter variables (%) in STS and 1st peak (body weight, BW%), 2nd peak (BW%), peak minimum (BW%), time (second), center of pressure (COP) path length (mm), and Int_SUM (BW%) in gait. The independent t-test was used to assess for differences in STS, gait ability, and general characteristics between the female elderly group and young adults group. With the first and last trials excluded, the mean value was obtained from the middle three of the five trials. Results: During STS, Int_SUM and time of young adults were significantly less than of the female elderly subjects. There were no significant differences in peak and counter variables. In gait, all variables (1st peak, 2nd peak, min, time, COP_path, and Int_SUM) showed significant differences between groups (p<0.05). This study demonstrated that the validity of vertical ground reaction forces occurring during STS and gait was significant in female elderly and young adults. Conclusions: Based on the measurement of vertical ground reaction forces in STS and gait using the WBB, it is possible to clinically improve the quality of geriatric physical therapy. Further studies are necessary to examine concurrent validity of elderly patients who have undergone total hip or knee replacement.