• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a lower trapezius strengthening exercise program on an unstable support surface on pain, neck dysfunction, psychosocial factors, and postural alignment in neck pain patients with forward head posture. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: A total of 36 neck pain patients participated in this study. Screening tests were performed and assigned to experimental group (n=18) and control group (n=18) using randomization program. Both groups performed the lower trapezius strengthening exercise program. In addition, in the experimental group, an exercise program for lower trapezius muscle strengthening was performed on an unstable support surface. All interventions were performed 3 times a week, for a total of 5 weeks. quadruple visual analogue scale (QVAS), neck disability index (NDI), short form (SF)-12, and postural alignment were measured before and after the intervention to compare their effectiveness. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in QVAS, NDI, SF-12, and postural alignment before and after intervention (p<0.05). In addition, the experimental group showed significant differences in NDI and postural alignment compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The lower trapezius strengthening exercise program on unstable support surfaces is an effective intervention method with clinical significance in improving neck disability and postural alignment in patients with neck pain with forward head posture.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.345-358
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• 1998

The evolution of surface roughness and morphology in epitaxial Si and $Si_{0.7}Ge{0.3}$ alloys grown by UHV opm-beam sputter deposition onto nominally-singular, [100]-, and [110]-mi-scut Si(001) was investigated by stomic force microscopy and trasmission electron microscopy. The evolution of surface roughness of epitaxial Si films grown at $300^{\circ}C$ is inconsistent with conventional scaling and hyperscaling laws for kineti roughening. Unstable growth leading to the formation of mounds separated by a well-defined length scale is observed on all substrates. Contraty to previous high-temperature growth results, the presence of steps during deposition at $300^{\circ}C$ increases the tendency toward unstable growth resulting in a much earlier development of mound structures and larger surface roughnesses on vicival substrates. Strain-induced surface roughening was found to dominate in $Si_{0.7}Ge{0.3}$ alloys grown on singular Si(001) substrates at $T_S\ge450^{\circ}C$ where the coherent islands are prererentially bounded along <100> directions and eshibt {105} facetting. Increasing the film thickness above critical values for strain relaxation leads to island coalescence and surface smoothening. At very low growth temperatures ($T_s\le 250^{\circ}C$), film surfaces roughen kinetically, due to limited adatom diffusiviry, but at far lower rates than in the higher-temperature strain-induced regime. There is an intermediate growth temperature range, however, over which alloy film surfaces remain extremely smooth even at thicknesses near critical values for strain relaxation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.580-583
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ankle balance training on unstable and stable surfaces to discover on which surface the proprioception, balance and muscle strength of obese middle aged women improves more. Method: 30 obese middle-aged women were randomly recruited and divided into two groups (training on an unstable surface, training on a stable surface). The subjects in each group participated in the training for six weeks, three times per week for 30 minutes each session. Proprioception was measured using Dualer IQ digital inclinometer; sway length (SL) and sway area (SA) of center of pressure, and limit of stability (LOS) were measured for balance; muscle strength before and after the training was measured using manual muscle testing. Results: There were significant improvements in the subscales of the proprioception, balance and muscle strength in those who participated in ankle balance training on the unstable surface, and in those who participated on the stable surface. Therefore, the training of participants on unstable and stable surfaces did not identify which ankle balance training technique was more effective. Conclusion: Unstable and stable surface ankle balance training are both effective in improving the proprioception, balance and muscle strength of obese middle-aged woman.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2012

This study used an unstable platform to change the support surface type and position of both lower limbs in order to determine changes in weight distribution and muscle including the vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, lateral hamstring, and lateral gastrocnemius of both lower limbs were evaluated during knee joint flexing and extending in a semi-squat movement in 32 hemiplegic patients. The support surface conditions applied to the lower limbs were divided into four categories: condition 1 had a stable platform for both lower limbs; condition 2 had an unstable platform for the non-hemiplegic side and a stable platform for the hemiplegic side; condition 3 had a stable platform for the non-hemiplegic side and an unstable platform for the hemiplegic side; and condition 4 had an unstable platform for both sides. The normalized EMG activity levels of muscles and weight bearing ratio of both sides in the four surface conditions were compared using repeated measures ANOVA. A significant increase was found in the weight support distribution for the hemiplegic side in flexing and extending sessions in condition 2 compared to the other conditions (p<.05). A statistically significant decrease in significant decrease in asymmetrical weight bearing in flexing and extending sessions was observed for condition 2 compared to the other conditions (p<.05). A similar significant decrease was found in differences in muscular activity for both lower limbs in condition 2 (p<.05). The muscular activity of the hemiplegic side, based on the support surface for each muscle showed a significantly greater increase in condition 2 (p<.05). An unstable platform for the non-hemiplegic side and a stable platform for the hemiplegic side therefore increased symmetry in terms of the weight support distribution rate and muscle activity of lower limbs in hemiplegic patients. The problem of postural control due to asymmetry in hemiplegic patients should be further studied with the aim of developing continuous effects of functional training based on the type and position of the support surfaces and functional improvement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.7-13
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• 1999

An experimental study was performed to discover the effect of silver coating on the frictional behavior of SM45C steel at sliding surfaces. Pure silver was coated the SM45C disk surfaces by a thermal evaporation method. Experiments using a pin-on-disk test-rig was performed under dry air and various humidity conditions. Friction coefficients increased to a high and unstable value after failure of coating, and friction coefficients increased with increasing the thickness of silver coated layer. But optimum coating thickness was not observed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to determine the duration of maintained calf muscle flexibility gained in young adults with calf muscle tightness, as measured by increases in ankle active and passive dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM) after three stretching interventions. Twenty subjects (5 men and 15 women) with calf muscle tightness received the following three stretching interventions in one leg (assigned at random): static stretching (SS), eccentric training on stable surface (ETS), and eccentric training on unstable surfaces (ETU). The subjects received all three interventions to the same leg, applied in a random order. Each intervention had a break of at least 24 h in-between, in order to minimize any carryover effect. Each intervention used two types of stretching: with the calf muscle stretched and both knees straight, and with the knee slightly bent in order to maximize the activation of the soleus muscle. All three interventions were performed for 200 seconds. We measured the duration of maintained calf muscle flexibility through active and passive ankle DFROM before intervention, immediately after intervention (time 0), and then 3, 6, 9, 15, and 30 min after intervention. We found a difference in the duration of maintained calf muscle flexibility between the three interventions. In the ETS and ETU interventions, a significant improvement in calf muscle flexibility, both ankle active and passive dorsiflexion ranges of motion (ADFROM and PDFROM), was maintained for 30 min. In the SS intervention, however, ADFROM before 9 min and PDFROM before 6 min were statistically different from the baseline. Our results suggest that ETS and ETU may be more effective than SS for maintaining calf muscle flexibility in young adults.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ankle balance training on unstable and stable surfaces to discover on which surface the proprioception, balance and muscle strength of obese middle aged women improves more. Method : Thirty obese middle-aged women were randomly recruited and divided into two groups (training on an unstable surface, training on a stable surface). The subjects in each group participated in the training for six weeks, three times per week for 30 minutes each session. Proprioception was measured using Dualer IQ digital inclinometer; sway length (SL) and sway area (SA) of center of pressure, and limit of stability (LOS) were measured for balance; muscle strength before and after the training was measured using manual muscle testing. Results : There were significant improvements in the subscales of the proprioception, balance and muscle strength in those who participated in ankle balance training on the unstable surface, and in those who participated on the stable surface. However, before and after the intervention, there were no differences between those who had the balance traning on the unstable surface and those who had the balance traning on the stable surface. Conclusion : Unstable and stable surface ankle balance training are both effective in improving the proprioception, balance and muscle strength of obese middle-aged woman.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a task-oriented upper arm exercise performed in a sitting position on either an unstable support surface or a stable support surface for children with cerebral palsy. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 18 children with cerebral palsy. Eight subjects were randomly assigned to each of the stable and unstable support surface groups. We performed the upper arm exercise three times a week for 6 weeks. To confirm the effects of the intervention, the berg balance scale test, modified functional reaching test (MFRT), timed up and go test (TUG), and Jebsen-Taylor hand function test were conducted before and after the study. Results: Significant differences were observed in MFRT and TUG between the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). In the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test, there were significant differences between the groups for the items picking up small objects, stacking checkers, lifting large light objects, and lifting large heavy objects (p<0.05), but not for writing and stimulation of feeding. Significant differences were observed between the groups in items of card turning, lifting large light objects, and lifting heavy objects. Conclusion: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a task-oriented upper extremity exercise program for dynamic balance and hand function performed in a sitting position with either stable or unstable support by cerebral palsy patients. There were improvements in the two groups, but performing the exercise while sitting on an unstable support surface had a greater effect on dynamic balance and hand function than exercise while sitting on a stable supporting surface. The results of this study can be used to improve the daily lives of cerebral palsy patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.211-223
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of task-oriented circuit training using unstable support surface on balance, gait ability, and balance confidence in subacute stroke patients. Methods : Forty-five patients with subacute stroke were randomly divided into the three following groups of 15: 1) TOCT-US group; task-oriented circuit training using unstable surface (experimental group 1), 2) TOCT-SS group; task-oriented circuit training using stable surface (experimental group 2), and 3) CON group; conventional physical therapy (control group). All patients participated in one of the three training programs for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per session, 3 times per week. Patients' balance ability was assessed using the BT-4, BBS (berg balance scale), TUG (time up and go test), and LOS (limit of stability). Gait speed was measured to examine gait ability. K-ABC (activities-specific balance confidence scale) was also used to assess the level of patients' confidence in daily activities. Results : After the intervention, the sway area in experimental groups 1 and 2 decreased, but that in the control group increased. Experimental group 1 showed significant improvement compared with experimental group 2 and the control group. BBS, TUG, and LOS scores of experimental group 1 were significantly improved compared with those of experimental group 2 and the control group. Also, gait speed significantly improved in experimental group 1 compared with experimental group 2 and the control group. Experimental groups 1 and 2 showed significant improvement in K-ABC scores after training. Conclusion : Patients with subacute stroke had significantly improved balance, gait, and level of confidence in performing activities of daily living following task-oriented circuit training using the unstable surface. This indicates that task-oriented circuit training using unstable surfaces can be an effective treatment method for the recovery of balance and gait in subacute stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.143-151
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of single-leg stance training according to different support surfaces on walking speed and balance in patients with chronic hemiplegia. Methods: Twenty-two patients with chronic stroke were randomly categorized into an experimental group (11 patients) and a control group (11 patients). In the experimental group, single-leg stance training was performed on an unstable surface after 50 min of general physical therapy. In the control group, single-leg stance training was performed on a stable surface after 50 min of general physical therapy. All participants performed five sets of single-leg stance exercises per minute and rested for 3 min. The intervention was performed 5 times a week for 4 weeks, and each patient was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA), and difference in walking speed between the first and last day of the intervention. Results: Compared to baseline measurements, both study groups showed significant increases in FMA, BBS, and walking speed (p<.05) after the intervention. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>.05) between the experimental and control groups. However, in the experimental group, the increases in FMA, BBS, and walking speed were 3.36 %, 9.50 %, and 7.71 %, respectively. In the control group, the increases in FMA, BBS, and walking speed were 2.39 %, 6.65 %, and 7.64 %. Conclusion: Single-leg stance training on different support surfaces could help improve walking ability and balance in patients with chronic hemiplegia.