• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.233-248
• /
• 2024

The purpose of this study was to describe the family life and relationships of national family center users in 2023. A sample of 1,086 adults was recruited from 48 family centers across South Korea. Participants, both online and offline, reported on various aspects of family life, including satisfaction, gender equality, work-home-life balance, family leisure, and internet usage for family and household purposes. Additionally, family relationships were explored in terms of dynamics with a spouse, children, and adult children. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests. In the family life domain, center users reported a high level of satisfaction, with women exhibiting greater awareness of gender equality and higher engagement in household chores than men. Furthermore, although a moderate balance among work, home, and life was reported, time emerged as a significant challenge for family leisure. Regarding technology, center users frequently utilized the internet for family communication, leisure, shopping, and household management. In the family relationships domain, men were more satisfied with spousal relationships than women. Center users reported high satisfaction with parent-child relationships. Parents of school-aged children perceived economic burdens, while those with adult children frequently provided psychological and instrumental support. These findings suggest the need for program modification and the development of new initiatives within national family centers to better support the diverse needs of families in terms of life satisfaction and relationship dynamics.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.554-567
• /
• 2019

Recently, concerns regarding the environmental impact due to nutrient input in croplands have increased. Therefore, the government is promoting the introduction of a nutrient management system in croplands to solve the problem of excessive nutrient input. This study was carried out to establish nutrient indicators in regional croplands to facilitate the introduction of the national nutrient management system in Korea. The nutrient load and balance indicators for nitrogen and phosphorus were analyzed for nine provinces (Gang-won, Gyeong-gi, Chung-buk, Chung-nam, Jeon-buk, Jeon-nam, Gyeong-buk, Gyeong-nam, and Jeju). In the correlation analysis between the nutrient load and nutrient balance, the correlation coefficient (r) for nitrogen was 0.2504, which was not statistically significant at the 5% significance level. However, the correlation coefficient for phosphorus was 0.7375, which was statistically significant at the 5% significance level. In the nutrient management index, phosphorus showed mutual compatibility between the nutrient load and the nutrient balance indicators, but nitrogen showed no mutual compatibility between the nutrient load and the nutrient balance indicators. Therefore, utilization of the nutrient balance indicator, reflecting the characteristics of the agricultural environment, was more reasonable as a nutrient management index for regional nutrient management.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.329-338
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of stabilization, resistance exercise, and combined exercise for lumbar on balance and walking ability of elderly. This study selected 22 subjects of over 65 years old elderly women who satisfy the study condition from A, B and C Senior Citizen's Center, in Daegu. The subjects were divided into groups; 7 for resistance exercise group, 8 for stabilization exercise group, and 7 for combined exercise group(resistance and stabilization exercise). The exercises were conducted for 60min a day, three times a week for 12 weeks. Balance and walking ability were checked before the exercise, 6 weeks later, and 12 weeks later. First, all lumbar muscle strengthening exercises were effective for static balance which changed according to exercising period. In dynamic balance, the resistance exercise group showed significant improvement in sit to stand. Stabilization exercise group showed significant improvement in all factors. The combined exercise group showed significant improvement in sit to stand and timed up and go. There was no difference between the exercise types. Second, the resistance exercise group showed significant change in Cadence which changed according to exercising period. The combined exercise group showed significant improvement in all factors. Between the exercise types, combined exercise was a bit more effective than resistance exercise. According to the result of 12 weeks of lumbar muscle exercise, combined exercise is considered to be the most effective exercise to prevent fall as it helps balance and walking ability slightly more than other exercises. Therefore, this study can understand the risk factors for fall accidents that frequently occur among elderly and adopt the combined exercise to prevent fall which in turn will prevent secondary problems occur from fall accidents and improve quality of life of elderly.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.293-299
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of balanced movement system for the elderly and for exercise system and lower body balance satisfaction survey results balance, which improved. Elderly people were using the exercise machine for 9 weeks to improve the most inconvenient lower body balance. We have examined periodically analyze the satisfaction survey items. Elderly people were responding to the satisfaction survey items separated by the lower body balance and movement system. The system used is individual customized exercise was possible and there is an interesting content. As a result shows that maintaining the balance of the user is improved. Also, exercise is thought to be by reducing the discomfort of the lower body will help the elderly in activities of daily living and quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.255-264
• /
• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop new balance evaluation index that can discriminate fall risk factors and provide effective interventions for healthy elderly. In order to conduct this study, the balance assessment tools (TUG, mCTSIB, OLST, FRT and BBS) currently used in clinic were re-evaluated using biomechanical analysis. Method: The participants were healthy elderly people over 65 years old, n=26, age: 69.31±3.13 years; height: 154.00±4.12 cm, body weight: 56.13±6.04 kg. The variables are length of CoM-BoS, length of CoP-BoS, range of CoP, mean distance of CoP, mean frequency of CoP, root mean square of CoP, joint angle, ASM (%SL), CoP-CoM angle. Results: As a result of this study, the following items were included in the list of new balance evaluation index for the healthy elderly, showing differences in the biomechanical evaluation based on the clinical evaluation (Inclusion list: TUG, OLST, 8th assessment item of BBS (reaching forward with outstretched arm), 11th item (turning 360 degrees), 13th item (standing with one foot in front), 14th item (standing on one foot)). Conclusion: Based on the results, the new balance evaluation index for the healthy elderly determined through this study can be used to prevent the fall by evaluating the balance ability in various situations that can be experienced in the normal daily life of the healthy elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.139-150
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of treadmill gait training with obstacle-crossing on the static and dynamic balance ability of patients with post stroke hemiplegia. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with post stroke hemiplegia were divided into three groups as: treadmill gait training with obstacle-crossing (TOG, n=7), treadmill gait training without obstacle-crossing (TGG, n=7) and a control (CON, n=7). TOG and TGG performed exercise for 20 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks. Static balance ability (stability typical, ST; weight distribution index, WDI; fourier harmony index, FHI; and fall index, FI) and dynamic balance ability (berg balance scale, BBS and timed up and go test, TUG) were measured before and after 8 -weeks in each exercise group. Statistical analyses were conducted using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures, a paired t-test, and multiple comparisons according to Tukey's HSD. RESULTS: FHI and BBS were significantly increased at TOG (p<.01) and TGG (p<.05) after 8-weeks compared to before treadmill gait training with obstacle-crossing. FHI and BBS were significantly increased at TOG compared with CON and TGG (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Treadmill gait training with obstacle-crossing was more effective than that without obstacle-crossing to improve posture control and independent daily life performance of hemiplegia patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.179-188
• /
• 2024

Purpose : The home-visiting exercise guidance service is a component of the community-based integrated care policy in District J of Busan Metropolitan City. This study aims to investigate the effects of the service provided by physical therapists on depression, pain, and balance among the elderly. Methods : Three elderly individuals were selected as study participants. Depression was assessed using the beck depression inventory (BDI) and the short geriatric depression scale-Korea (SGDS-K). Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS). Balance was assessed using the berg balance scale (BBS), functional reach test (FRT), and timed up and go test (TUGT). The evaluation data were compared by averaging the values from the first and eighth sessions. Additionally, the overall satisfaction with the home-visiting exercise guidance service was surveyed. Results : In the depression assessment, the beck depression inventory score decreased (by 16.67±5.69 points), and the short geriatric depression scale score decreased (by 4.67±2.52 points). The visual analog scale score for pain decreased (by 2.67±0.58 points). In the balance assessment, the berg balance scale score increased (by 7.67±2.52 points), the functional reach test distance extended (by 4.67±0.58 cm), and the timed up and go test time decreased (by 5.33±0.58 s). Overall satisfaction with the home-visiting exercise guidance service was high (4.26±0.14 points). Conclusion : The home-visiting exercise guidance service received high satisfaction ratings from the participants. It was effective in reducing depression and pain while improving balance, potentially reducing fall risk factors among the elderly. These findings suggest that the home-visiting exercise guidance service, delivered by physical therapists, could significantly enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals by addressing issues related to depression, pain, and fall prevention within the community. Consequently, it is recommended that this service be continued and expanded as part of government policy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2014

Fall is one of the most intimidating health conditions in elders. Comprehensive assessment is necessary to understand the individual and environmental aspects of the falls such as balancing abilities, depression, and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the balancing ability, depression, and quality of life between elderly fallers and elderly non-fallers. Thirty-two community-dwelling elders (fifteen males and seventeen females between 65 and 83 years old), who have experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly fallers group. And twenty-four males and twenty-two females between 65 and 83 years old of community-dwelling elders, who have no experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly non-fallers group. Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and functional reach test (FRT), were used to evaluate the ability of the physical balance. 'Beck depression scale in Korean' questionnaire was used to assess the depression. 'Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Bref' questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. The results were as follows: 1) Balancing abilities measured by the BBS, TUG in the elderly fallers group were meaningfully lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05), whereas no significant difference in the FRT was found (p>.05). 2) Depression level in the elderly fallers group was significantly higher than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05). 3) Quality of life in the elderly fallers group was significantly lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group, excluding environment domain (p<.05). Therefore, in order for clinical evaluation of the community-dwelling elders those with reduced balancing ability, it is necessary to evaluate and understand the fall experience, depression, and quality of life.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of the transverse abdominal muscle resulting from changed posture by measuring the thickness of the transverse abdominal muscle in a supine posture, a slouched sitting posture, and an erect sitting posture. The subjects of the study were 28 patients with cerebral palsy. All their transverse abdominal muscles at the end of inhalation were measured at supine, slouched sitting (S sitting) and erect sitting (E sitting) postures by using ultrasonography, and then their dynamic sitting balance was measured at S sitting and E sitting postures by using BioRescue. For the statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the differences among each the postures. The results were as follows. The thickness of the transverse abdominal muscle when comparing the supine posture and the S sitting posture showed no statistically significant difference. But the E sitting posture showed a statistically significant difference as compared with the others. In addition, the dynamic sitting balance in comparing the S sitting and E sitting postures showed a significant difference. In conclusion, the E sitting posture has a more positive effect on postural control and balance than generally taking the S sitting posture, for the sitting posture of a patient with cerebral palsy. It is suggested that patients with cerebral palsy mainly experiencing a sedentary life or being in a wheelchair should be seated in the E sitting posture during their daily life, and it may be necessary to continue to monitor and manage the proper E sitting posture.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.665-678
• /
• 1999

Stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability. Because muscle weakness is one of the most prominent consequences of stroke, it was considered important to determine whether exercise in order to improve muscle strength and range of motion could have an effect in limiting the learned disuse of the affected side. The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of an 8 week rehabilitation program on physical and cognitive ability in stroke patients. A total of 18 patients who were admitted to the oriental medicine unit of a K medical center in Seoul were recruited : ten for the experimental group and eight for the control group. The rehabilitation program consisted of three level's of active and passive exercises for prevention of muscle contracture and at range of motion. Muscle strength, flexibility of the upper and lower extremity, perceived balance, functional independence, depression, and quality of life for the two groups were compared at the pretest and 4 and 8 weeks after the rehabilitation program. The results are as follows : 1) When measuring muscle strengths of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion, hip flexion and knee extensor, ankle dorsi-flexor and muscle strength of knee flexor. Muscle strength of knee flexor for the experimental group was significantly higher than the comparison group at the 4 weeks. 2) Muscle strength and flexibility of the ankle dorsi -flexor for the experimental group was significantly better than for the control group at 8 weeks. 3) Functional independence, perceived balance, and Tinetti balance for the experimental group as measured at 4 and 8 weeks were better than for the control group. Also, there were changes over time in physical balance and functional ability, but there was no significant differences between the groups. 4) The experimental group showed a higher quality of life and lower depression than the control group at 8 weeks. 5) Muscle strength and flexibility of ankle dorsi -flexor were significantly changed over time and an interaction between group and time. The findings suggested that the rehabilitation program would improve the physical and psychological status of the stroke patients. Thus, the gains in actual or perceived ability to perform physical activities was marked.