• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to investigate kinematic parameters of racket head and upper extremities during squash back hand stroke and to provide quantitative data to the players. Five Korean elite male players were used as subjects in this study. To find out the swing motion of the players, the land-markers were attached to the segments of upper limb and 3-D motion analysis was performed. Orientation angles were also computed for angular movement of each segment. The results were as follows. 1) the average time of the back hand swing (downswing + follow-through) was 0.39s (0.24 s + 0.15 s). 2) for each event, the average racket velocity at impact was 11.17m/s and the velocity at the end of swing was 8.03m/s, which was the fastest swing speed after impact. Also, for each phase, 5.10m/s was found in down swing but 7.68m/s was found in follow-through. Racket swing speed was fastest after the impact but the swing speed was reduced in the follow-through phase. 3) in records of average of joints angle, shoulder angle was defined as the relative angle to the body. 1.04rad was found at end of back swing, 1.75rad at impact and it changes to 2.35 rad at the end of swing. Elbow angle was defined as the relative angle of forearm to upper arm. 1.73rad was found at top of backswing, 2.79rad at impact, and the angle was changed to 2.55rad at end of swing. Wrist angle was defined as the relative angle of hand to forearm. 2.48rad was found at top of backswing, 2.86rad at impact, and the angle changes to 1.96rad at end of swing. As a result, if the ball is to fly in the fastest speed, the body has to move in the order of trunk, shoulder, elbow and wrist (from proximal segment to distal segment). Thus, the flexibility of the wrist can be very important factor to increase ball speed as the last action of strong impact. In conclusion, the movement in order of the shoulder, elbow and the wrist decided the racket head speed and the standard deviations were increased as the motion was transferred from proximal to the distal segment due to the personal difference of swing arc. In particular, the use of wrist (snap) may change the output dramatically. Therefore, it was concluded that the flexible wrist movement in squash was very important factor to determine the direction and spin of the ball.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.59-78
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of robot-assisted therapy on upper extremity function. Methods : This study used a single-subject experimental A-B-A' design. Three Parkinson's disease patients took part. Each subject received a robot-assisted therapy intervention (45 min/session, 5 sessions/week for 4 weeks). Upper extremity movement was evaluated with the Reo Assessment tool in Reogo. The Jebsen-Taylor hand motor function test, Fugle-Mayer Assessment score, Box and Block Test, and Nine-hole pegboard test were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results : After intervention, all subjects underwent 3D motion analysis of reaching function. There was overall improvement in resistance, smoothness, direction accuracy, path efficiency, initiation time, and time to moving target with robot-assisted therapy. Robot-assisted therapy may have a positive effect on upper extremity movement in Parkinson's disease. Conclusion : Robot-assisted therapy is considered an alternative in clinical occupational therapy to improve upper extremity function in Parkinson's disease.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.409-413
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• 2012

Purpose: Rehabilitative devices are used to enhance sensorimotor training protocols, for improvement of motor function in the hemiplegic limb of patients who have suffered a stroke. Sensorimotor integration feedback systems, included with these devices, are very good therapeutic frameworks. We applied this approach using electrical stimulation in stroke patients and examined whether a functional electric stimulation-assisted biofeedback therapy system could improve function of the upper extremity in chronic hemiplegia. Methods: A prototype biofeedback system was used by six subjects to perform a set of tasks with their affected upper extremity during a 30-minute session for 20 consecutive working days. When needed for a grasping or releasing movement of objects, the functional electrical stimulation (FES) stimulated the wrist and finger flexor or extensor and assisted the patients in grasping or releasing the objects. Kinematic data provided by the biofeedback system were acquired. In addition, clinical performance scales and activity of daily living skills were evaluated before and after application of a prototype biofeedback system. Results: Our findings revealed statistically significant gradual improvement in patients with stroke, in terms of kinematic and clinical performance during the treatment sessions, in terms of manual function test and the Purdue pegboard. However, no significant difference of the motor activity log was found. Conclusion: Hemiplegic upper extremity function of a small group of patients with chronic hemiparesis was improved through two weeks of training using the FES-assisted biofeedback system. Further research into the use of biofeedback systems for long-term clinical improvement will be needed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Objective: There are many types of exercises with upper and lower-limb action for activation of abdominal muscles for trunk stabilization. A comparison of the different exercise methods been very useful to enhance the result from the exercise for treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate through surface electromyography (EMG) the changes in abdominal muscle activity during the performance of three different dead-bug exercise methods performed at three different speeds. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The subjects were 30 healthy adults (13 males and 17 females). We instructed the subjects to perform three different dead-bug exercises. We also applied three different speeds to the dead-bug exercises; 60 bpm, 90 bpm, and 120 bpm with use of a metronome. The assessment of EMG was percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction on the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO). Results: EMG activation of the RA, EO and IO muscles was significantly greater at the higher speed (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in abdominal muscle activity during the dead-bug exercise performed with both the upper and lower extremities compared to that with only the upper extremity or the lower extremities (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the performance of the dead-bug exercise with both the upper and lower extremities combined at a high speed is more effective compared to other exercises. Therefore, it is suggested that more favourable and effective outcomes may occur when the type and speed of the exercise is chosen appropriately.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2014

Purpose: The discovery of mirror neuron system may positively affect functional recovery; therefore, rehabilitation is needed that is practical for use in clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of action observation training on upper motor function in people who had suffered strokes. Methods: Three elderly patients with stroke, aged to years, were recruited from a stroke rehabilitation center. A nonconcurrent, multiple baseline subject approach was taken, with an A-B-A treatment single-subject experimental design, and the experiment was conducted for 3 weeks. The action observation training was repeated 5 times in 5 days during the intervention period. The arm function, including WMFT, BBT, and grip and pinch strength, was evaluated in each subject 5 times during the baseline period, the intervention period, and the baseline regression period. Results: The results of the evaluation for each subject were presented as mean values and video graphs. The WMFT scores of 2 subjects were improved during the intervention period in comparison with the baseline period, and this improvement was maintained even during the regression baseline period. The BBT and the grip and pinch strength were not improved. Conclusion: Based on these results, we suggest that the action observation training for 5 sessions was effective in improving upper limb function of stroke patients but was not effective in improving hand dexterity or grip and pinch strength.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.47-58
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study is to observe effects of Occupation-Based bilateral UE training for chronic stroke. Methods : 4 patients with hemiplegic stroke were divided into two groups: experimental group and control group. From May to August 2016, we conducted a occupation - based bilateral UE training and a traditional bilateral UE training for 5 weeks, 3 times a week, and 60 minutes per session for each subject. EMG, accelerometer, ARAT, Y-BAT, SIS, and COPM were performed before and after the intervention. Results : The experimental group showed a large changes before and after intervention in ECR, DA and all items except for hand function and memory of SIS, compared with the control group. Also, the experimental group showed a large change before and after the intervention compared to the control group in the accelerometer measuring the amount used of bilateral hand and grasp, pinch, and gross movement items of ARAT and COPM, Y-BIT. Conclusions : Occupation-based bilateral upper extremity training was effective in the recovery of upper limb function and social participation through neurological changes. Future research will be required development studies to ensure a high content validity of the Occupation-based bilateral upper extremity training protocol.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2006

This study aimed to compare movement patterns of shoulder joints between the right and left symmetry in stroke patients and control subjects. This study proposes use of the voluntary response index (VRI) calculated from quantitative analysis of surface electromyographic (sEMG) and motion data recorded during voluntary movement as a feeding task. The VRI is comprised of two numeric values, one derived from the total muscle activity recorded for the voluntary motor task (magnitude), and the other from the sEMG distribution across the recorded muscles with the similarity index (SI). Five stroke patients and five age-matched healthy controls were recruited. Feeding motion was performed using the provided spoon five times with rests taken on a chair in between tasks. EMG data were digitized and analyzed on the basis of the root mean square (RMS) envelope of activity. The average amplitude of responses was calculated. Responsiveness and clinically meaningful levels of discrimination between stroke patients and control for EMG magnitude and SI were determined. The similarity index of the results from two successive examinations of both sides apart for stroke patients and control subjects were .86 and .95 in motion analysis and .84 and .99 in electromyographic analysis. The SI of sEMG data and motion data was significantly correlated in stroke patients. The data suggest that SI is a sensitive program for comparing and analyzing the symmetry of muscle activity and motion in both sides. This analysis method has a clinical value in grading muscular activity and movement impairment after brain injury.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate age-related bimanual coordination functions in older adults. Method: Thirteen studies that compared bimanual coordination functions in older adults with those in healthy young adults qualified for this meta-analysis. We additionally categorized 21 total comparisons from the 13 qualified studies into two types of task-related moderator variables: (1) kinematic versus kinetic movements and (2) symmetry versus asymmetry movements. Results: Random effects model meta-analysis found that older adults revealed significant bimanual coordination impairments as compared with young adults (Hedges's g = -0.771; p < .0001; I² = 74.437%). We additionally confirmed specific bimanual coordination deficits using two moderator variables: 1) kinematic (Hedges's g = -0.884; p < .0001; I² = 0.000%) and kinetic (Hedges's g = -0.666; p = .023; I² = 86.170%). 2) symmetry (Hedges's g = -0.712; p = .001; I² = 74.291%) and asymmetry (Hedges's g = -0.817; p < .0001; I² = 76.322%). The moderator variable analysis indicated older adults indicated bimanual coordination deficits in the upper extremities than healthy young adults while performing kinematic bimanual coordination tasks and asymmetry coordination tasks. Conclusion: These findings suggest that developing motor rehabilitation programs based on asymmetric bimanual movement task for enhancing interlimb coordination functions of older adults may be crucial for increasing their independence in everyday activities. Given that elderly revealed the deficits in lower extremities coordination when older adults perform gait, posture, and balance, future studies should estimate lower limb coordination functions in elderly people.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.136-143
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of physical functions of elderly people on their clothing behavior and to provide basic information about manufacturing comfortable apparels for the elderly. A total of 219 people, with ages between 60s and 70s, participated in the survey and in the experiment to correlate their tendency of wearing clothes with the state of their physical functions. About 78.5% of the elderly showed eyesight deterioration in the subjective evaluation. Elders in their 60s raised their arms higher up in overhead reach, and showed shorter distance between middle fingertips in behind back stretch and in back scratch than elders in their 70s. Also, the former stretched farther to the floor in standing trunk flexion, and maintained more steady in one leg stand and in tandem stance than the latter. The narrower the movement range of the upper limb joints was, the more the elderly preferred upper garments with full front opening to those with half or no opening. The more inflexible the upper limbs and waist and the more unbalanced the body was, the more likely the elderly put on pants while sitting on the floor. The time taken to button up the shirt and to put on and take off pants showed a positive correlation with the overhead reach, the behind back stretch, the back scratch and the standing trunk flexion, whereas the former showed a negative correlation with the one leg stand and the tandem stance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.69-77
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure changes in spine inclination and thoracolumbar structure and morphology according to upper-extremity movements with and without resistance in order to evaluate the spine stability in workers. METHODS: Forty-eight middle-aged male workers (mean age, 40.48 ± 6.27 years) participated in this study. Using the spine analysis system, changes in the inclination of the spine and structure as well as shape of the thoracolumbar spine were measured. For posture measurement, the postures of standing, lifting the right and left arms (shoulder joint 90° flexion), and lifting with both arms were measured in random order. In addition, variables were measured using a resistance of 3 kg for each posture. The statistical significance level was set at α = .05 for all variables. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the front and back inclinations of the spine, kyphotic curve of the thoracic spine, lordotic curve of the lumbar spine, rotation changes in the thoracolumbar spine, and rotation changes in the T4 vertebra (p < .05). However, there was no significant difference in the left and right tilts of the spine. In the post-hoc analysis, rotation changes in the T4 vertebra showed a significant difference in posture when resistance was applied to the left and right sides CONCLUSION: Causes of musculoskeletal diseases include excessive thoracic spine rotation, torsion, and hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the working environment in order to ensure a healthy posture and prevent musculoskeletal diseases that can reduce the ability to carry various and/or excessive loads.