• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of pulsed ultrasound on wound healing and observe during the wound healing process the distribution of mast cells according to histopathologic findings. Eighty Sprague Dawley rats which were divided into 4 groups received full thickness skin wounds on the back. Each of the 5 animals was sacrificed immediately and then sacrificed again 1, 3, 6, and 12 days after injury. Specimens from the wounds were removed during healing and routinely processed with a hematoxylin-eosin stain and a toluidine blue stain. The authors then observed the distribution of mast cells under a light microscope. The results of this study were as follows: The rate of wound healing and the length of the wounds of the pulsed ultrasound group II was significantly faster than group I on day 6 and day 12 (p<.001). Group III showed the most significant effect after12 days (p<.001). Group IV also showed a significant effect at 12 days (p<.01). A low-intensity ultrasound .5 $W/cm^2$ resulted in a fast healing rate. During the wound healing process mast cells had a tendency to decrease in the acute inflammatory phase. During the wound healing process mast cells were thought to contribute to the healing of the wound.

• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.199-205
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• 2002

최근 산업안전/보건분야에서 누적외상성질환(Cumulative Trauma Disorders： CTDs)과 직업성요통(Low Back Injury)과 같은 근골격계질환은 산업현장에서 어렵지 않게 발견할 수 있는 신종 산업재해의 일종이다. 특히 미국의 경우, 발생건수와 그로 인한 인적/물적 손실이 급격하게 증가되고 있는 것으로 나타나고 있다. 그러나 미국과 같이 근골격계질환의 폐해를 일찌감치 인식하고 그 해결방안을 연구해온 나라들에서는 현재 환자관리 및 인간공학적인 기준 등을 포함하는 예방지침들이 잘 정착되어 있는 실정이다. 우리나라의 경우에는 작업환경 등의 조건과 상황이 미국과 같은 구미 선전국과 비숫하고, 특히 제조업의 생산체계가 그런 나라들과 매우 유사하여 근골격계질환의 발생과 그로 인한 인적/물적 손실이 적지 않을 것이라고 예상할 수 있지만 아직까지 CTDs에 대한 전반적인 이해가 부족하고, 정확한 실태가 파악되지 못하였으며, 따라서 체계적인 관리 대책 또한 마련되어있지 않은 실정이다. 본 조사에서는 서울 근교의 수송기계관련 사업장의 작업들에 대한 작업자세에 중심을 둔 인간공학평가를 통하여 조사 작업의 근골격계질환에 대한 상대적인 위험도, 위험요인 등을 파악하고, 그에 따른 개선 대책의 방향을 제시하고자 하였다. 특히, 각 부위별 위험점수와 부위별 증상호소율의 상환분석결과, 작업자 개인적 수준에서는 통계적으로 유의한 차는 없는 것으로 분석되었으나, 부서별로 분석한 결과, 작업시 주로 사용하는 오른쪽 상지의 경우, 오른쪽 어깨, 팔꿈치, 손목 순으로 통계적으로 유의하게 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 즉 증상호소율과 해당 신체부위의 위험도 점수는 서로 정적(positive)한 관계에 있는 것으로 나타났고, 상지 중 주로 사용하는 오른쪽 부담의 위험도 자세 점수와 증상호소는 비교적 높은 상관관계에 있는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 이와 같은 인간공학적 분석결과는 향후 인간공학적인 개선대책의 개발 뿐만 아니라 의학쪽에서 근골격계질환을 접근하는 초기단계에서 매우 유용한 역할을 할 수 있으리라 생각된다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2010

Objectives : This study aims to evaluate current clinical evidence of acupuncture treatment for rehabilitation in patients with traffic accident in South Korea. Methods : Seven Korean databases were searched for prospective clinical trials for acupuncture on rehabilitation in patients with traffic accident from their inception to June, 2009. Only studies conducted in Korean language were searched. Risk of bias in included randomized controlled trials were assessed by Cochrane Handbook procedure. Results : Fifteen clinical trials were included among 31 studies searched. Eight were observational studies, five were non-randomizedcontrolled trials, and two were randomized controlled trials. In all of included studies, acupuncture were conducted with other concomitant treatment. Included studies dealt with such conditions as neck pain, low back pain tinnitus after traffic accident, post-traumatic stress, oculomotor nerve palsy, diplopia and insomnia. All of included studies reported favorable effects of acupuncture group compared to baseline or control group. All of included studies lacked the occurrence of adverse events. High risk of bias were observed in two randomized controlled trials. Conclusions : There is no evidence that acupuncture is effective for rehabilitation of traffic accident. All of included studies lacked appropriate methodological qualities and internal validity. Future welldesigned clinical trials that evaluate the effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for rehabilitation in patients with traffic accident is needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.142-147
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• 2014

Objective : A thoracolumbar burst fracture is usually unstable and can cause neurological deficits and angular deformity. Patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture usually need surgery for decompression of the spinal canal, correction of the angular deformity, and stabilization of the spinal column. We compared two struts, titanium mesh cages (TMCs) and expandable cages. Methods : 33 patients, who underwent anterior thoracolumbar reconstruction using either TMCs (n=16) or expandable cages (n=17) between June 2000 and September 2011 were included in this study. Clinical outcome was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale and Low Back Outcome Score (LBOS) for functional neurological evaluation. The Cobb angle, body height of the fractured vertebra, the operation time and amount of intra-operative bleeding were measured in both groups. Results : In the expandable cage group, operation time and amount of intraoperative blood loss were lower than that in the TMC group. The mean VAS scores and LBOS in both groups were improved, but no significant difference. Cobb angle was corrected higher than that in expandable cage group from postoperative to the last follow-up. The change in Cobb angles between preoperative, postoperative, and the last follow-up did not show any significant difference. There was no difference in the subsidence of anterior body height between both groups. Conclusion : There was no significant difference in the change in Cobb angles with an inter-group comparison, the expandable cage group showed better results in loss of kyphosis correction, operation time, and amount of intraoperative blood loss.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.203-209
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• 2014

Background: Coal mining is of significant economic importance to the Australian economy. Despite this fact, the related workforce is subjected to a number of psychosocial risks and musculoskeletal injury, and various psychological disorders are common among this population group. Because only limited research has been conducted in this population group, we sought to examine the relationship between physical (pain) and psychological (distress) factors, as well as the effects of various demographic, lifestyle, and fatigue indicators on this relationship. Methods: Coal miners (N = 231) participated in a survey of musculoskeletal pain and distress on-site during their work shifts. Participants also provided demographic information (job type, age, experience in the industry, and body mass index) and responded to questions about exercise and sleep quality (on-and off-shift) as well as physical and mental tiredness after work. Results: A total of 177 workers (80.5%) reported experiencing pain in at least one region of their body. The majority of the sample population (61.9%) was classified as having low-level distress, 28.4% had scores indicating mild to moderate distress, and 9.6% had scores indicating high levels of distress. Both number of pain regions and job type (being an operator) significantly predicted distress. Higher distress score was also associated with greater absenteeism in workers who reported lower back pain. In addition, perceived sleep quality during work periods partially mediated the relationship between pain and distress. Conclusion: The study findings support the existence of widespread musculoskeletal pain among the coal-mining workforce, and this pain is associated with increased psychological distress. Operators (truck drivers) and workers reporting poor sleep quality during work periods are most likely to report increased distress, which highlights the importance of supporting the mining workforce for sustained productivity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.32-41
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• 2019

Background: Limitations in hip flexion caused by tight hamstrings lead to excessive lumbar flexion and low back pain. Accordingly, many studies have examined how to stretch the hamstring muscle. However, no study has focused on the effect of hamstring eccentric exercise for tight hamstrings on trunk forward bending. Objects: We compared the short-term effect of hamstring eccentric exercise (HEE) and hamstring static stretching (HSS) on trunk forward bending in individuals with tight hamstrings. Methods: Thirty individuals with tight hamstrings participated in the study. The subjects were randomly allocated to either a HEE or HSS group. To determine whether the hamstrings were tight, the active knee extension (AKE) test was performed, and the degree of hip flexion was measured. To assess trunk forward bending, subjects performed the fingertip to floor (FTF) and modified modified Schober tests, and the degree of trunk forward bending was measured using an inclinometer. We used paired t-tests to compare the values before and after exercise in each group and independent t-tests to compare the two groups on various measures Results: The FTF test results were improved significantly after the exercise in both groups, and AKE for both legs increased significantly in both groups. There was no significant difference in the hip angles, mmS test results, or degree of trunk forward bending between groups after the exercise. No test results differed significantly between the two groups at baseline or after the exercise. Both groups increased hamstring flexibility and trunk forward bending. Conclusion: HSS and the HEE groups increased hamstring flexibility and trunk forward bending. However, HEE has additional benefits, such as injury prevention and muscle strengthening.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.156-172
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• 2021

Objectives: To investigate the trends of industrial injuries among long-term health care workers in Korea Methods: T7866 injuries were selected from the total industrial injuries approved by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act(Occupational Safety and Health Act) among long-term health care workers between 2007 and 2016 in Korea. We analyzied the trends of industrial injuries according to work process, occurrence type, and causes. Results: The industrial injuries among long-term health care workers increased since 2012. The mostly occurred area for industrial injuries were low back areas, which is related that the most serious industrial injuries occurred when the one long-term healthcare worker lift manually the recipient, from bed(ondol, Korean floor heating system) to a wheelchair, bed to bath bed, and wheelchair to bath chair. In addition to this, lack of workforce, increased work intensity due to overwork contributed the increasing of occupational injury. Conclusions: This study suggests that the main causes of industrial injuries were Lack of facilities and equipment for small private long-term care institutions, The physical load that goes into lifting the recipient directly, work intensity such as excessive workload and increased work speed. We suggest that the social publicization of long-term care service for the elderly, avoiding ways to lift recipients directly, introducing lifting machines as well as improving working methods, and reducing the workload of caregivers are required.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study aims to reveal the prevalence, therapeutic efficacy and undesirable side effects of cupping therapy all over the world from past to present. METHODS: This meta-analysis is based on the data obtained by scanning the keyword "cupping therapy" from the Pub-Med system, which is an international database. The date range has been set as 1950-2019. Local databases were not included. Cupping therapy studies combined with other complementary therapies such as acupuncture, moxa and hirudotherapy are also included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 381 scientific studies were found on cupping therapy. Of these studies 127 wererandomized controlled trials (RCSs). Cupping treatment has been found effective in studies of painful conditions such as herpes zoster pain, fibromyalgia, back pain, neck pain, headache and acute injury pain. In addition, the effectiveness of cupping therapy was found to be high in studies related to bone / muscular system diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spondylosis. In addition, cupping treatment is also promising in studies on skin diseases, neurological diseases, respiratory system diseases and cardiovascular system diseases. CONCLUSION: Recently, there has been an increase in the number of RCSs related to cupping therapy. The vast majority of this increase has been made in European and American countries rather than in Far Eastern countries. Studies on cupping therapy, which have been and will be carried out in the future, will provide evidence-based indication of whether cupping therapy is effective. and it will allow more patients to benefit from this treatment, which has a very low rate of side effects and complications.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.96-105
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Skin aging is reportedly associated with regulation in collagen and elastin synthesis. This study investigated the potential of combining light-emitting diode (LED) treatments using a 630-nm and 850-nm LED with simultaneous microcurrent application. Materials and Methods The dorsal skin of female pigs was treated with a home-use device. We examined the treatment effects using photography, thermocamera, microscopic pathology, and histological examination to determine the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of the procedure. A histological observation was performed using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, Victoria blue, and immunohistochemical staining. We also used the Sircol soluble collagen and elastin assay kit to measure the amounts of collagen and elastin in the porcine back skin tissue after 2 and 6 weeks. Results Evaluation by visual inspection and devices showed no skin damage or heat-induced injury at the treatment site. Histological staining revealed that accurate treatment of the targeted dermis layer effectively enhanced collagen and elastin deposition. Collagen type I, a protein defined by immunohistochemical staining, was overexpressed in the early stages of weeks 2 and 6. Combined therapy findings showed the superior capability of the 630-nm and 850-nm LED procedures to induce collagen; in contrast, elastin induction was more pronounced after microcurrent treatments. Conclusion The home-use LED device, comprising a combination of 630-nm and 850-nm LEDs and microcurrent, is safe and can be used as an adjunctive treatment for self-administered facial rejuvenation.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.276-280
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• 2011

BSSRO (bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy) is an effective surgical method for maxillofacial deformities. Rigid fixation using a plate and screws can stabilize bony segments and induce early mouth opening. Though this procedure has a low complication rate, normal function and esthetic recovery is achieved through proper and early management of the complications. Complications consisting of temporomandibular disorders, sensory disturbances due to inferior alveolar nerve damage, open bite, malunion or nonunion, and facial nerve palsy occur, but these rarely develop. Facial nerve palsy causes the muscles involved in facial expression to depress, which results in ocular dryness or retinal damage. When facial nerve palsy develops, early management involving steroid medication and physical therapy is effective. In the case of severe damage, surgical intervention should be considered. A 20-year-male patient came to the oral and maxillofacial surgery department for orthognathic surgery. The mandible was set back by BSSRO under general anesthesia. Facial nerve palsy was observed on the left side of the face: steroid and vitamins were administered early and physical therapy was performed daily. These forms of management can aid in function and allow for gradual esthetic recovery. Presumed causes were excessive soft tissue retraction or soft tissue injury by the osteotome at the horizontal osteotomy of the ramus. Careful dissection, retraction and a precise osteotomy are needed for protection of the facial nerve. If nerve damage is observed, early management can help in the recovery of facial nerve function and esthetics.