• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of VR training with FES on improving the muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper limb joints in patients with chronic stroke. Methods : The present study makes use of a pre-post control group design. Thirty patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to two groups according to treatment method - the VRFES group and the control group. The VRFES group received 15 minutes of VR training and 15 minutes of FES treatment. The control group received 15 minutes of conservative physical therapy and 15 minutes of VR training. All subjects received 30 minutes of treatment, three times a week, for eight weeks, which amounted to 24 sessions of training. The muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper extremities were measured before the training and eight weeks after. Upper limb muscle strength was tested using the Digital Manual Muscle Tester while AROM was measured using the Digital Dual Inclinometer. The clinical assessment tools for upper extremity function included the use of the Manual Function Test and the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test. Results : Both groups exhibited great improvements in muscle strength and upper extremity function during the intervention period. The VRFES group exhibited a significant difference in muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper extremities in comparison with the control group(p<.05). Our results reveal that VRFES is more effective for the muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper extremities in patients with chronic stroke. Conclusion : VRFES treatment will be used as an important intervention for improving the muscle strength, AROM, and function of the upper extremities in patients with chronic stroke and achieving the functional recovery of the upper extremities.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of an upper extremities group exercise program based on motor learning in chronic stroke patients and to assess improvements in upper sensory motor function and activities of daily living (ADL). Five chronic stroke patients participated for the duration of 25 weeks. On the assessment of motor and process skills, there was a statistically significant improvement in motor area functioning in 4 of the subjects. In process area functioning, there was a statistically significant change in 3 of the subjects. Therefore, further studies are needed to assess sensorimotor area and ADL changes in chronic stroke patients to reduce medical cost and assess for positive psychological changes.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.5132-5142
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to find effect of upper extremities exercises using two different supporting surface, mobile surface and fixed surface in sitting on the function of upper extremities for the patients with stroke. The study period was between July 5, 2012 and August 1 2012. The subjects were 20 subjects who were randomly divided into two groups : (1) mobile surface group, (2) fixed surface group. The mobile surface group performed bilateral upper extremities exercise sitting on balance disc, and the fixed surface group was provided fixed surface chair. Both groups performed 30 minutes 5 times per a week for 4weeks. The Manual Functional Test(MFT) and Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Assessment(FMA) was used to measure the differences of upper extremity functions before and after interventions. The results of this study were as follows. First, Both groups, mobile surface group and fixed surface group showed the significant increase(p<.05) in upper extremity function. Second, the improvements of the hand function in mobile surface group showed significant difference comparing with the group with fixed surface. Therefore, the results of this study showed the bilateral hand exercise program on mobile surface is more effective than the fixed surface bilateral hand exercise program for the patients with stroke.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2005

Purpose: Authors have performed free tissue transplantation in the upper and lower extremities with sensory flaps and evaluated the sensory function recovery. Materials and methods: Between 1992 through 2004, sensory free flap articles published in the journal of the Korean microsurgical society, were reviewed and recovery of sensory function was assessed by static two-point discrimination test. Results: Static two point discrimination test showed average 6.7 mm in the thumb, average 12 mm in the hand and 7 cm of the dorsalis pedis flap, 20.5 mm of the lateral arm flap and over 8 cm of the forearm flap in the foot. Conclusion: Sensory flaps provide the protective and useful coverage in the upper and lower extremities and have benefit for activities for daily life in free tissue transferred patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2015

Purpose: The current study (case report) seeks to examine the effects of a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercise program on the upper extremity function and activities of daily living (ADLs) in a stroke patient. Methods: The subject was a 42 year-old woman diagnosed with right-sided hemiplegia due to stroke. Exercise therapy was provided for 50 minutes per day (5-minute warm-up, 40-minute exercise, 5-minute wrap-up) three times per week for a four-week period. The manual function test (MFT) was used to evaluate upper extremity functions. The modified Barthel index (MBI) was utilized to measure ADL. Results: After intervention using various PNF program, the MFT score increased from 23 to 26 and the MBI score increased from 62 to 66. Conclusion: After the application of the PNF program, the MFT and MBI scores increased. As compensative movement of the upper extremities declined, the movement of the upper extremities became faster and softer.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to analyze the presence of ipsilesional movement deficit, with segmental performance in each proximal or distal upper extremity. The visuoperceptual complex task of the ipsilesional upper extremity was investigated in patients with unilateral brain damage and a control group of healthy sex-age-matched controls. Tracking movements were tested in the proximal and distal upper extremities. Movements were measured by the accuracy index, which was normalized to each subject's own range of motion and took into account any differences between subjects in the excursion of the tracking target. The findings revealed that stroke patients experienced difficulties with tracking movement of both proximal and distal segments in the upper extremities on the so-called "non-affected side", irrespectively of the extent of patient's age, time since onset, or severity of contralateral upper extremity. Therefore, the unilateral brain damage affected ipsilateral motor function of the proximal and distal upper limbs in the performance of complex motor tasks, requiring central processing and the higher order cognitive function in the integrity of both hemispheres.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2014

Recent years, mirror therapy or mirror neuron therapy has been used to improve neural damage of upper extremities among stroke patients. This systematic review was conducted to assess the clinical effect of mirror therapy used for the treatment of upper extremities for patients with stroke. After literature search, researchers selected for 9 randomized controlled clinical trial studies registered up to October 2013 based on PubMed database, using the following search terms: mirror therapy, mirror neuron, stroke, paresis, hemiplegia, upper extremity. There were significant improves of distal upper extremity function in the use of mirror therapy groups but the research using range of motion(ROM) as outcome measure. In conclusion, mirror therapy was more effective than conventional therapies or sham therapies for upper recovery of distal upper extremity function among stroke patients.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.33-39
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• 2013

When the eldery with limited mobility and disabled use a wheelchairs to move, it can cause decreased exercise ability like decline muscular strength in upper limb and lower extremities. The disabled people suffers with spinal cord injuries or post stroke hemiplegia are easily exposed to secondary problems due to limited mobility. In this paper, We designed intelligent wheelchair robot system for upper limb and lower extremities exercise/rehabilitation considering the characteristics of these severely disabled person. The system consists of an electric wheelchair, biometrics module for Identification characteristics of users, upper limb and lower extremities rehabilitation. In this paper, describes the design and configurations and of developed robot. Also, In order to verify the system function, conduct performance evaluation targeting non-disabled about risk context analysis with biomedical signal change and upper limb and lower extremities rehabilitation over wheelchair robot move. Consequently, it indicate sufficient tracking performance for rehabilitation as at about 86.7% average accuracy for risk context analysis and upper limb angle of 2.5 and lower extremities angle of 2.3 degrees maximum error range of joint angle.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.25-36
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) and resistive exercise using elastic band with pressure belt on improving upper extremity function in stroke patients. Methods: Sixteen patients with stroke were randomly assigned to a control group that received mCIMT and resistive exercise using elastic band (n=8) and an experimental group that received mCIMT and resistive exercise using elastic band with pressure belt (n=8). Over the course of four weeks, mCIMT were conducted 60 minute three times per week and resistive exercise using elastic band (with pressure belt) were conducted twice daily, three times per week. The function of the upper extremities were evaluated before, after 2 weeks and 4 weeks using the grip strength test (GST), the box and block test (BBT), and motor activity log (MAL). Results: The values for the GST, the BBT, and MAL increased in both groups as the treatment period progressed. The values for the GST (p<.01), the BBT (p<.001), and MAL (p<.001) were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 4 weeks after initiating the treatment. Conclusion: We found that mCIMT and wearing a pressure belt during resistive exercise was very useful in improving the function of the upper extremities in patients with stroke.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of task-oriented arm training for chronic hemiparetic stroke patients. The experimental design in this study was the pre-test and post-test with control group for 4-week intervention. Thirty patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke were recruited from 2 rehabilitation units. The subjects were divided randomly into experimental and control groups. The experimental group conducted task-oriented approach, involving 3 subparts of upper extremity activities, and the control group involved in the general upper extremity exercises. Functional movements of the upper extremities were assessed using clinical measures, including the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity Section, Box and Block Test, and Action Research Arm Test. The score of Fugl-Meyer Assessment showed greater increases in the experimental group than in the control group after training. The improvement in Box and Block Test between pre-test and post-test measurements was significantly greater after task-oriented arm training compared to general upper extremity exercises. Action Research Arm Test scores also improved after task-oriented arm training compared to exercises in the control group. The task-oriented arm training improves the gross and fine motor activities and encouraging the use of the paretic arm through activity dependent intervention expedites the recovery of functional activities in the upper extremities for chronic hemiparetic stroke.