• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.56-62
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ankle joint immobilization on postural balance during quiet standing. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty-seven healthy subject participated in this study. The subjects performed to stand quietly for 30s in eyes open on the platform with three different conditions. The sway length, sway area and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement and limit of stability (LOS) was measured using the balance platform. Repeated measured ANOVA was used to compare the postural balance parameters depending on three different ankle immobilized conditions. Results: Sway length, sway area and sway velocity of the COG displacement with bilateral ankle immobilized condition was significantly increased compared to those of the other two conditions(p<0.05). All directions of LOS with bilateral ankle immobilized condition were significantly decreased compared to those of the other two conditions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ankle joint immobilization could be one of the factors that interfere the maintaining of the postural balance in quiet standing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2008

This study was designed to examine the effects of temporary immobilization of the ankle and knee joints on standing in healthy young adults with the use of a postural control mechanism. The subjects were twenty-four college students (12 males and 12 females, aged between 20 and 28). A Biodex balance system SD 950-302 and its software were used to measure indirect balance parameters in standing. Each subject underwent postural stability tests in 4-different joint conditions: free joints, ankle immobilization only, knee immobilization only, and ankle and knee immobilization. In addition, the postural stability test was conducted once with the subject's eyes open and once with the eyes closed conditions. For data analysis of the postural stability tests, the overall stability index, antero-posterior stability index, and medio-lateral stability index were recorded. The overall stability index (p=.000) and medial-lateral index (p=.003) were significantly greater different conditions with eyes closed in postural stability. Therefore, the eyes closed condition is expected to be used as an effective postural stability training for treatment planning in patients with unstable postures. In addition, training based on the dynamic multi-segment model can improve postural stability and is available to therapeutic programs, helping people with unstable balance to reduce their risk of falling.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.105-109
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• 2019

Purpose: To compare the efficacy between cast immobilization and functional treatment using an ankle brace as a treatment for acute lateral ankle sprain. Materials and Methods: This study reviewed the medical records of 157 acute ankle sprain patients who were treated between 2009 and 2014. A total of 101 cases were included in this study except for cases with a combined injury, and could not be followed up for eight weeks after the first visit. The patients were divided according to the treatment modality: a cast immobilization group (64 cases) and functional treatment group (37 cases). The clinical outcomes were assessed retrospectively based on the medical records of each group. The residual symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and instability, at three weeks after the primary treatment and at the last visit were compared. Results: The residual pain and instability were significantly common in the functional treatment group at three weeks. Five cases (7.8%) of pain and one case (1.6%) of instability were in the cast group whereas nine cases (24.3%) of pain and six cases (16.2%) of instability in functional treatment group (p=0.021, p=0.014). On the other hand, there was no meaningful difference at the last follow-up. Residual pain, swelling, and instability at the last visit were noted in three (4.7%), six (9.4%), and four cases (6.3%) in the cast group, and three (8.1%), three (8.1%), and three (8.1%) were observed in the functional treatment group. Six patients refused cast immobilization. Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference at the last follow-up, cast immobilization appears to be more effective than a functional brace in terms of early pain relief and early restoration of ankle stability as a treatment for acute ankle lateral sprain in this study.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.49-55
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• 2017

Purpose : In this study we tested the hypothesis that eucommia ulmoides (EU) extract would improve disuse-induced muscle atrophy following hindlimb immobilization. Method : The hindlimb immobilization was performed with casting tape to keep the left ankle joint in a fully extended position. The rats in EU treated group were orally administrated with eucommia ulmoides water extract. After 2 weeks of immobilization, all animals were sacrificed, and the whole gastrocnemius muscles were dissected from both legs. The morphology of right and left gastrocnemius muscles in both EU and control groups were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results : Eucommia ulmoides extract represented the significant protective effects against the reductions of the gastrocnemius muscles weight and average cross section area to compared with Control group. Conclusion : Eucommia ulmoides has protective effects against immobilization induced muscle atrophy.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the quantitative changes of the numbers of the mechanoreceptors in the experimentally tenotomized Achilles tendon of rabbits as compared with short-term immobilization and long-term immobilization. Materials and Methods: 14 white rabbits were used. After tenotomizing the right Achilles tendon, the subjects were divided into 2 groups according to the periods of immobilizaton. The left side of each Achilles tendon of the rabbits were used as controls. The tendons were stained with a modified gold-chloride method. Results: The number of mechanoreceptor was significantly decreased in the tenotomized Achilles tendon group than the control group (p<0.01). There was no statistical difference between the two experimental groups in the numbers of the mechanoreceptors (p>0.01). Conclusion: The injured Achilles tendons may more vulnerable to injury because of the decreased numbers of mechanoreceptors, but no difference between the periods of immobilization. It may suggest that post-operative immobilization period may not affect on the outcome of operative treatment from the viewpoint of mechanoreceptors.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.81-85
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• 2015

Acute sprain of the ankle requires comprehensive history taking and physical examination in diagnosing the type of severity and deciding on the plan of treatment. Literature supports functional treatment as the treatment of choice for grade I and II injuries. During the acute phase, the goal of treatment focuses on controlling pain and swelling. PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation) is a well-established protocol at this phase. There is some evidence that application of ice and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs improves healing and speeds recovery. Then the functional treatment (motion restoration and strengthening exercises) is administered to progress the rehabilitation appropriately in order to facilitate healing and restore the mechanical strength and proprioception. Early mobilization has been shown to result in more rapid return to work and daily activities than immobilization. Grade III injuries still generate controversy in terms of the best management available, and more studies on early mobilization, cast immobilization, or surgery are needed. Even the Cochrane reviews published to date are not conclusive.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.118-122
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• 2022

Although total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has increased considerably in the past ten years, reflecting improvements in implant design and survivorship, the clinical outcomes have been less satisfactory than total hip or total knee arthroplasties. Several issues under debate include postoperative management and rehabilitation in TAA. Especially, there is no consensus or evidence for the most appropriate postoperative management and rehabilitation for patients undergoing TAA. This study was therefore undertaken to suggest appropriate postoperative management and rehabilitation in TAA, after reviewing published articles and focusing on the following topics: prehabilitation, hospital stay, immobilization type and duration, weight-bearing management, pharmacological treatment, and adopted rehabilitation protocols. In previous studies, the postoperative management and rehabilitation proposed depended on the surgeon's preference, the patient's characteristics, and the associated surgical procedures performed after TAA. Nonetheless, our research indicates the best approach is to include a prehabilitation program, immobilization in the early postoperative stage (2~4 weeks), range of motion exercise with partial weight-bearing ambulation, followed by full weight-bearing ambulation after six weeks. Further studies are required to develop a standardized rehabilitation protocol and improve the overall quality of care after TAA.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.127-136
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• 2015

Objectives This study was carried out to investigate the clinical effects of Korean medical treatment on acute peroneal nerve palsy caused by prolonged immobilization. Methods One patient with acute peroneal nerve palsy was treated with various korean medical techniques such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and herbal medicine, bee-venom acupuncture for 12 weeks. Manual Muscle Test, Range of motion, Numerical Rating Scale, Ankle-hindfoot scale, Digital infrared thermographing imaging system were used to evaluate treatment effect. Results After treatment, all the scales mentioned above were improved significantly. Conclusions This result showed that Korean medical treatment is effective on acute peroneal nerve palsy caused by prolonged immoblization.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.185-188
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• 2008

Purpose: Zone I fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone can generally be treated by conservative methods while both surgical and conservative methods are used for zone II fractures. However, the clinical results of conservative treatment have been rarely reported. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical results of conservative treatment for zone I and II nondisplaced fractures. Materials and Methods: Between July 2007 and August 2008, consecutive thirty seven patients (38 fractures) with zone I and II fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone were treated with tolerable weight bearing and minimum duration of immobilization based on pain on weight bearing. We evaluated the duration of immobilization, time to clinical and radiographic union, and time to pre-injury activity level. Results: Clinical and radiological union were achieved in all patients without any complications including malunion or nonunion. The mean duration of immobilization was 28.7 days. The mean 33.1 days and 48.9 days were required for clinical union and radiographic union respectively, after the initial injury. The mean time to pre-injury activity level was 4.8 months. Conclusion: Our study shows that the acute nondisplaced zone I, II fracture of fifth metatarsal bone can be treated effectively using tolerable weight bearing and minimum duration of immobilization, which is based on the pain on weight bearing.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2018

Chronic lateral ankle instability is a major complication of acute ankle sprains, which can cause discomfort in both daily and sports activity. In addition, it may result in degenerative changes to the ankle joint in the long term. An accurate diagnostic approach and successful treatment plan can be established based on a comprehensive understanding of the concept of functional and mechanical instability. The patients' history and correct physical examination would be the first and most important step. The hindfoot alignment, competence of the lateral ligaments, and proprioceptive function should be evaluated. Additional information can be gathered using standard and stress radiographs. In addition, concomitant pathologic conditions can be investigated by magnetic resonance imaging. Conservative rehabilitation composed of the range of motion, muscle strengthening, and proprioceptive exercise is the main treatment for functional instability and mechanical instability. Regarding the mechanical instability, surgical treatment can be considered for irresponsible patients after a sufficient period of rehabilitation. Anatomic repair (modified $Brostr{\ddot{o}}m$ operation) is regarded as the gold standard procedure. In cases with poor prognostic factors, an anatomical reconstruction or additional procedures can be chosen. For combined intra-articular pathologies, arthroscopic procedures should be conducted, and arthroscopic lateral ligament repair has recently been introduced. Regarding the postoperative management, early functional rehabilitation with short term immobilization is recommended.