• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1118-1138
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• 2023

Objectives: Sarcopenia is an age-associated skeletal muscle disorder that can profoundly impact the health of elderly people. However, the efficacy of herbal medicine in sarcopenia is uncertain. This review aims to investigate evidence of the effect of herbal medicine on sarcopenia. Methods: We systematically searched 12 electronic databases for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Only trials that met the inclusion criteria were selected, and the characteristics of the included studies were extracted and synthesized in a narrative manner. The quality of the included studies was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0 tool. Results: 7 RCTs involving 672 participants with sarcopenia met the inclusion criteria. The intervention combining herbal medicine and conventional treatment (i.e., exercise, nutritional support) had a significant therapeutic effect compared with the conventional treatment, showing improvement in muscle strength (i.e., grip strength), muscle mass (i.e., appendicular skeletal muscle mass index), and physical function (i.e., gait speed, short physical performance battery, and timed up and go test). However, the methodological quality of the included RCTs was relatively low due to their high RoB, making it difficult to evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicine in sarcopenia. In terms of safety, several adverse events were reported. Conclusion: This review suggests that herbal medicine has a positive effect on muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance in elderly patients with sarcopenia, but there is a clear need for further research in this area.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of action observation training (AOT) on the balance and cognition of the elderly with dementia. Methods: Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (12 participants each). The 5-week intervention involved 45 minutes sessions, three times a week. Both groups did 30 minutes of general physical exercises, followed by the experimental group watching a 5 minutes video featuring functional movements and imitating them for 10 minutes. The control group watched a scenic video and did functional training for 10 minutes, mimicking the experimental group. All participants were evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Functional Reaching Test (FRT), Berg's Balance Scale (BBS), and Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) before and after the intervention. A paired t-test was conducted to compare the within-group change before and after the intervention. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed to compare the between-group difference. The statistical significance level was set to p=0.05 for all variables. Results: The experimental group showed significant within-group changes in the TUG test, FRT, BBS, and K-MMSE (p<0.05). The control group showed a significant change in FRT and K-MMSE (p<0.05). A significant difference was observed between the experimental group and the control group regarding the change in the TUG test, BBS, and K-MMSE after the interventions (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the AOT and repetition of actual movements, led to more significant improvements in balance and cognitive abilities compared to the control group that observed scenic landscapes.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2024

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore how using inspiratory training affects the respiratory function and balance of stroke patients. We also plan to compare the results with a control group that does not receive the intervention. Design: A Randomized Controlled Trial Methods: In this study, 27 chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to either a control group (n=14) or an experimental group (n=13). Both groups underwent six weeks of common interventions involving standard physiotherapy and treadmill training. Additionally, the experimental group received inspiratory training. Respiratory function and balance were evaluated using Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Five times Sit-to-Stand (FTSTS), Seated Center of Pressure (S-COP), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests. Results: Respiratory function and balance were compared within each group before and after intervention. The experimental group, which received inspiratory training, showed significant improvements in FVC (0.26±0.18), FEV1 (0.35±0.32), MIP (11.54±12.39), PEF (1.12±1.52), and TUG (-3.39±2.45) compared to pre-intervention values (p<0.05). When comparing changes between groups post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant increases in FVC, FEV1, MIP, PEF, and TUG compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in MEP, FTSTS, and S-COP. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a positive effect of inspiratory training on chronic stroke patients. These findings suggest that with further research involving a larger sample size and enhanced intervention methods, inspiratory training could be employed positively in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study compared the effect of the muscle energy technique (MET) and stretching technique on ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion, balance, and gait ability of stroke patients with limited ankle dorsiflexion. METHODS: Forty-four post-stroke patients participated. The participants were randomized into the MET group (METG; n = 22) and the stretching group (STG; n = 22). The METG was subjected to the MET to relax the dorsiflexion, while the STG was subjected to the dorsiflexion stretching technique. Both groups completed standard neurological physical therapy for 30 min per session. The intervention was conducted five times a week over 3 weeks for a total of 15 times. All participants underwent ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion measurement and Berg Balance Scale score determination and completed a 10-m walking test and the timed up and go test before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the 3-week intervention, both groups showed significant improvement after the intervention (p < .05). METG participants showed greater improvements in ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion and 10-m walking test results compared to STG participants (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Both interventions improved ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion, balance, and gait ability in stroke patients with limited ankle dorsiflexion. Moreover, the MET was superior to ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion on the 10-m walking test.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of gluteal muscle strengthening exercises (GMSE) with ankle joint pumping exercises (AJPE) on thigh swelling, gait ability, and pain level in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: A total of 38 patients who had undergone total hip replacement surgery >1 week prior participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to a group that performed only GMSE (CG; n = 19) and a group that performed GMSE and AJPE (EG; n = 19). The CG group performed GMSE for 30 min, and the EG group performed GMSE for 30 min followed by AJPE for 15 min. Exercises were performed five times a week, for a total of 20 times over 4 weeks in both groups. Thigh swelling (thigh size), 10 m walking test (10MWT) and timed up and go test (TUG) results, pain level (visual analogue scale, VAS) scores, Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36), and hip outcome scale (HOS) scores were evaluated before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of intervention, significant differences were observed in the thigh size, 10MWT, TUG, VAS, SF-36, HOS before and after intervention in both groups (p < . 05). However, only thigh size showed a significant interaction between group and measurement time (p < . 05). CONCLUSION: GMSE combined with AJPE might be effective in improving the gait ability and pain level in patients with total hip arthroplasty, and GMSE may be more effective in improving thigh swelling and gait ability than GMSE without AJPE.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of trunk stabilization exercises using a Reformer on trunk control, balance ability, and gait function in chronic stroke patients. Methods: The participants were 24 chronic stroke patients, randomly divided into two groups: trunk stabilization exercise using the Reformer group (TS-R, n = 12) and general trunk stabilization exercise group (GT-E, n = 12). Assessment methods included the Trunk Impairment Scale for trunk control, the AMTI force platform for static balance, the Timed Up and Go test for dynamic balance, and the Dynamic Gait Index for gait function. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. The intervention for the TS-R group consisted of bridging exercises using a Reformer, while the GT-E group performed bridging exercises on a mat. All interventions were performed for 17 minutes per session, five times a week, for a total of 20 sessions over four weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated-measures ANOVA to analyze the interaction between groups and time. Results: The results of the repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant interaction between the groups and time. The TS-R group showed statistically significant differences in all variables before and after the intervention. In contrast, the GT-E group did not show statistically significant differences in any variables before and after the intervention. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that trunk stabilization exercises using a reformer are effective in improving trunk control, balance ability, and gait function in chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2019

This study looked at the effects of teratainment taping and footpad exercise on the improvement of flat foot in a university student. We divided it into flexible flat foot taping group(n=13), flexible flat foot exercise group(n=14), rigid flat foot taping group(n=12), rigid flat foot exercise group(n=13) through a navicular drop test. After one hour's application of teratainment taping and footpad exercise, the height change of navicular, balancing ability and postural stability were evaluated. Change in the height of the navicular was measured before and after intervention, and the balancing ability was measured timed up & go test, and the postural stability ability was evaluated for stability limits in shoulder-width double leg stance, narrow base double leg stance, tandem stance. According to result, there was a statistically significant difference in the left and right foot of the flexible tapping group, right foot of the flexible tapping group, right foot of the rigid tapping group in the change in the height of the navicular in comparison pre- and post- intervention(p<0.5). There were no statistically significant differences in pre- and post- intervention comparisons intragroup and intergroup in balancing ability. There was a statistically significant difference in flexible flat foot exercise group and rigid flat foot taping group in tandem stance in comparison pre- and postintervention in the postural stability(p<0.5). And there was a statistically significant difference in tendem stance of the flexible flat foot exercise group compared to the rigid flat foot exercise group(p<0.5). The results of this study show that teratainment taping and footpad exercise have a significant effect on the improvement of flat foot in adults. Therefore, it is recommended to apply teratainment taping and footpad exercise to improve flat foot.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aquatic ramp walking exercise on the activity of the quadriceps, gait and activity of daily living in child with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type II. A 5 years-old girl with SMA type II participated in this study. This study used single-subject reverse(A-B-A) design study. There are 12 sessions(4weeks 3 times a week) each during the baseline phase(A), the intervention phase(B), the follow up phase(A). During the baseline phase and the follow up phase performed general aquatic therapy, the intervention phase additional performed walking activity on ramp in pool (60m). Surface electromyogram, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, ACTIVLIM were used as outcome. During the intervention phase, there were decrease on the activity of the quadriceps. In modified TUG test, gait time reduced during the intervention phase. The ACTIVLIM logit score increased during intervention phase by comparison with the baseline phase. These findings suggest that an aquatic ramp walking exercise activities have the therapeutic possibility on the quadriceps activity and gait ability for child with SMA type II.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.297-306
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• 2017

The study was performed to determine the impact of the gastrocnemius taping with balance training on spasticity and balance ability of the ankle joint. A total of 25 stroke subjects were divided into two groups: a taping with balance training (n=14), a sham taping with balance training (n=11). Spasticity assesment was scored by modified ashworth scale. Balance ability assesment was performed by functional reach test (FRT), the timed up & go test (TUG). The stability index (SI), the left-right weight distribution (left-right WD), the toe-heel weight distribution (toe-heel WD) were analyzed in the eyes open conditions(EO) and eyes closed conditions(EC) conditions using by the Tetrax interactive balance system. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in SI, left-right WD and toe-heel WD in the EO and EC, MAS, FRT, TUG. In comparison between the groups, a significant improvement was detected in FRT, TUG, SI and left-right WD in the EO, and left-right WD and toe-heel WD in the EC. It was found out that a short period of balance training with taping is effective on spasticity and balance ability in stroke patients. Therefore, any stroke patient without skin damage is encouraged to use the gastrocnemius taping for balance rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.145-152
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• 2022

Stroke results in balance disorders, these directly affect autonomy and gait ability. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on balance and gait. We included all randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on balance and gait control in patients after stroke. This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. Cochrane library, CINAHL, and PubMed were searched for studies published up to November 2021, and all randomized controlled trails(RCT) assessing PNF therapy were included. This analysis included only RCT. A total of 18 studies were selected from 1091 records obtained from the databases. The meta-analysis was performed using the R project for statistical computing version 4.0.2. The overall intervention effect was middle (standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.56) Additionally, berg balance scale (SMD: 0.48), functional reach test (SMD: 0.51), timed up and go test (SMD: 0.78), 10m walking test (SMD: 0.52), and dynamic gait index (SMD: 0.33) had medium effect sizes. The average Pedro scale was 6.63 out of 18, with a low risk of bias. These findings indicate that PNF is an effective therapy for improving balance gait in stroke patients.