• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 2024

Forward head posture (FHP) is a representative postural deformation problem in people today, causing various physical and mental problems, but the effect of FHP on discomfort or distraction during rest is not well known. Accordingly, this study aims to demonstrate the effect of FHP on these brain functions by analyzing brain wave signals at rest. Thirty-three heavy users of computers participated in this study, and all of them exhibited functional FHP when using computers. All participants performed using both normal posture and FHP, and their brain waves were measured at rest while maintaining each posture for five minutes without stimulation. Brain wave signals were acquired using EEG with 32 channels, and through frequency analysis, changes in delta and beta waves, known to be closely related to discomfort and attention, were compared and analyzed depending on the posture. As a result, FHP showed a significant decrease in delta waves in nine channels compared to the normal posture, and a significant increase in beta waves in 14 channels, showing that FHP does affect brain function at rest. These changes are consistent with those that occur under conditions of psychological discomfort and distraction, and they appear to be because the increased discomfort caused by musculoskeletal changes in the FHP also affects brain activity. These can provide important results showing that posture correction can help improve brain function and psychological state at rest.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.1075-1083
• /
• 2018

Objective: Facial nerve palsy is caused by damage to the seventh cranial nerve. It is the main symptom of facial muscle paralysis on the affected side. If the patient cannot receive proper treatment, severe permanent impairments, both physical and mental, may result, so this disease must be treated appropriately. In this study, a patient with facial nerve palsy was admitted to a Korean medicine hospital for treatment. This case study reports on the patient's progress and the effects of the treatment. Methods: We treated the patient with herbal medicines, acupuncture, herbal acupuncture therapy, and physical therapy. The House-Brackmann Grading System and a weighted regional grading system were used to assess symptom changes. Results: The patient with facial nerve palsy was hospitalized for 50 days and recovered from symptoms without significant problems in the face or to motor function. Conclusion: This case report demonstrates the possibility of treating facial nerve palsy using Korean medicine.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.459-466
• /
• 2016

This study examined the effects of robot-assisted therapy on the motor and functional recovery of the lower limbs in 53 subacute stroke patients. Robot-assisted therapy was performed using Lokomat? (Hocoma AG, Zurich, Switzerland) for thirty minutes per day, five times a week for four weeks. The outcome measures used were the Fugl-Meyer assessment, Motricity index(MI), Functional ambulation category(FAC), Berg balance scale(BBS) for gait function and balance ability, 10m walking test, K-Modified Barthel Index(K-MBI) for the activities of daily living and Mini mental state examination (MMSE), and Beck's depression inventory(BDI) for depression. All patients recruited underwent these evaluations before and after the four week robot-assisted therapy. For the evaluation, the somatosensory evoked potentials were used to assess the functional recovery. Robot-assisted therapy on the lower limb after subacute stroke showed improvement in motor strength, gait function, and the activities of daily living. All changes in terms of MI, FAC, BBS, and K-MBI exhibited a statistically significant difference after the four weeks robot-assisted therapy. The somatosensory evoked potential result showed a correlation with the MI and K-MBI. Robot-assisted therapy is believed to facilitate the motor and functional recovery of the lower limb in subacute stroke patients.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.291-299
• /
• 1999

This study was conducted to evaluate the health status including mainly cognitive function and activities of daily living of institutional elderly in a rural area. We studied 466 subjects dwelling in ten institutions at Chonnam province, Korea. The participants consist of 148 males(31.8%) and 318 females(68.2%). We collected the information of socioeconomic state, mini-mental state examination(MMSE), activities of daily living(ADL), instrumental activities of daily living(IADL), and Dartmouth Primary Care Cooperative Information Project(COOP) chart. The results were followed: 1. Severe cognitive function impairment was appeared in 45 males(30.4%) and 115 females(36.2%). 2. The percentage of fully independent in the six ADL items was 50.0% of males and 42.8% of females, but 31.1% of males and 26.1% of females were fully dependent. 3. Males had more impairment in mode of transportation among IADL, but females had most impairment in laundry. 4. Observing health status by COOP chart, both had more grade in feeling and social activity than physical fitness.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.1313-1325
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of and factors influencing depression in community-dwelling, low-income elderly. Methods: A randomized sample of 306 subjects aged 65 and over was selected from one communities. in Korea. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaire, during the period from January to September, 2007. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression with SPSS/Win program. Results: The prevalence of depression was 43.8%, the mean score of depression was 6.37. Depression of the elderly significantly correlated with education level, types of the health insurance, economic levels, smoking, hypertension, arthritis, incontinence, life satisfaction, perceived health status and cognitive function. Stepwise multiple regression analysis reveled that a combination of life satisfaction, cognitive function and health insurance accounted for 67.6% of depression in elderly. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the approach to effective depression prevention and management program for community-dwelling elderly should consider life satisfaction, physical and mental health and economic levels.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2016

This paper is shown the new method using LED Light, which the light environment is upgraded the natural LED light in the area of Disaster Prevention and Safety Management (PDSD), which the events of deaths is reduced on the Suicide, the Infectious diseases, the safety accidents, the Traffic Accident, the crime, the fire, the Nature Disaster, and which the health and the environment and the safety is implemented using the value of the color LED Light. Research findings include,during 3 weeks in the November 2016, in the ten residents (average living 28.7 years, age 67.5 years) with depressive symptoms in the northern part of Seoul, according to the request of the user, the PDSD natural light LED lighting was installed in the home bedroom or the living room, expectations for the ability to restore physical and mental stability were high (88%), in the same way, after 1 week and 3 weeks, the physical and mental changes were compared and the results,84% in the first week and 90% in the third week and thereafter, the effect of relieving depression was high. We conclude that patients with depression have a good sleep, an uneasy feeling, a sense of security, a good night's sleep, and a good feeling. The PDSD LED Light is expected to contribute in the various areas, which reduced the suicides, which give increased immunity from infectious diseases, which give a crash to reduce accidents caused by negligence, which improve the safe operation of heavy vehicles in which a traffics accident incidence installed on the highest point, which improve the safety function on the 'safety way home' for the safety of the community, which due to fire gives alleviate the emotional anxiety of firefighters, which improve the environment for long-term control room working during decision making caused by natural disasters.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.314-325
• /
• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pet dog-assisted activities on self-esteem, depression and cognitive function of elderly people Method: The experimental group(pet dog-assisted group) consisted of 22 people over 65 years old out of about 90 elderly people registered with a home for the aged and the control group(non-pet dog assisted group) consisted of 22 people over 65 years old out of about 90 elderly people registered with another home for the aged in Daegu. Both groups had similar general characteristics, state of health, conduct on health and self-esteem, depression and cognitive abilities. Nineteen people who participated in the program at least 10 times out of 12, were chosen for the final analysis from the experimental group. For the control group, 20 people who responded to all three tests, which had been conducted before, 1 week after, and four week after the experiment, were analyzed. Result: Mean(${\pm}SD$) differences between before and 1 week after the experiment for self-esteem, depression, and cognitive function were 5.84(${\pm}3.06$), -3.26(${\pm}1.76$), 1.47(${\pm}1.26$), respectively. Those between before the experiment and 4 weeks after the experiment was 5.68(${\pm}3.64$), -3.94(${\pm}2.32$), 1.63(${\pm}0.96$), respectively. Those for control group between before and after the experiment were -0.40(${\pm}1.27$), 0.00(${\pm}0.92$), 0.15(${\pm}0.93$), respectively. Those for control group between before and 4 weeks after the experiment were -0.45(${\pm}2.24$), 0.25(${\pm}1.68$), 0.15(${\pm}0.93$), respectively. All the differences between experiment and control group in mean differences between before and 1 week after experiment, between before and 4 weeks after experiment were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the pet-assisted activities can be useful solution for elderly people who have psychological and emotional problems caused by retrogression of physical, mental and social ability.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.30 no.3 s.58
• /
• pp.630-642
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this study was to examine the mortality risk associated with cognitive impairment among the rural elderly. The subjective of study was 558 of 'A Study on the Depression and Cognitive Impairment in the Rural Elderly' of Jung Ae Rhee and Hyang Gyun Jung's study(1993). Cognitive impairment and other social and health factors were assessed in 558 elderly rural community residents. For this study, a Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSEK) was used as a global indicator of cognitive functioning. And mortality risk factors for each cognitive impairment subgroup were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. At baseline 22.6% of the sample were mildly impaired and 14.2% were severely impaired. As the age increased, the cognitive function was more impaired. Sexual difference was existed in the cognitive function level. Also the variables such as smoking habits, physical disorders had the significant relationship with cognitive function impairment. Across a 3-year observation period the mortality rate was 8.5% for the cognitively unimpaired, 11.1% for the mildly impaired, and 16.5% for the severly impaired respendents. And the survival probability was .92 for the cognitively unimpaired, .90 for the mildly impaired, and .86 for the severly impaired respondents. Compared to survival curve for the cognitively unimpaired group, each survival curve for the mildly and the severely impaired group was not significantly different. When adjustments models were not made for the effects of other health and social covariates, each hazard ratio of death of mildly and severely impaired persons was not significantly different as compared with the cognitively unimpaired. But, as MMSEK score increased, significantly hazard ratio of death decreased. Employing Cox univariate proportional hazards model, statistically other significant variables were age, monthly income, smoking habits, physical disorders. Also when adjustments were made for the effects of other health and social covariates, there was no difference in hazard ratio of death between those with severe or mild impairment and unimpaired persons. And as MMSEK score increased, significantly hazard ratio of death did not decrease. Employing Cox multivariate proportional hazards model, statistically other significant variables were age, monthly income, physical disorders. Employing Cox multivariate proportional hazards model by sex, at men and women statistically significant variable was only age. For both men and women, also cognitive impairment was not a significant risk factor. Other investigators have found that cognitive impairment is a significant predictor of mortality. But we didn't find that it is a significant predictor of mortality. Even though the conclusions of our study were not related to cognitive impairment and mortality, early detection of impaired cognition and attention to associated health problems could improve the quality of life of these older adults and perhaps extend their survival.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.516-527
• /
• 2008

Sounds and music have been used in various ways in the East and the West, as it is well known that they influence the human mind and health a lot. Recently, there have been many studies regarding the remedy through sounds and music in the West and they have made good effects in the actual therapy. In the East, people knew that sounds and music would make great effects on human mind long time ago and they placed importance on sounds and music. Although there is a Sound Therapy in Oriental Medicine, it is not studied sufficiently in modern Oriental Medicine. It does not have clear standards for the clinical application and has not been frequently used. Accordingly, Yukjagyeol which has long been used in Korean Medicine and Younggamudo which was made by Kim Il-bu in late Chosun were compared from the perspective of acoustics and demonstrative treatment theory of Korean Medicine. Younggamudo by Kim il-bu allot the five sounds such as 'Eum, Ah, Eo, Ih and Uh' to 'spleen, lung, liver, heart and kidney' respectively. As the five sounds are all vowels and vibrate the vocal band as much as possible, they vibrate and resonant the respective organs to help them to function and promote circulation. In oriental medicine, there is 'Singing and Dancing Treatment'. They say songs and dances nurtures personality, supplement blood stream and comfort the mind. As the five sounds of Younggamudo take the melody while vibrating the vocal band sufficiently, when it passes from Youngto Ga(Songs) we may dance moving our bodies according to the rhythm. Therefore Gongbeop of Younggamudo helps the functionality of human organs and promotes blood circulation. As Yukjagyeol is Sabeop(discharging method), it should be used for those who have surplus Sagi and should not use for Heojeung. As Younggamudo is Bobeop(supplementing method), it is not for Shiljeung but for Heojeung which lacks of Jeonggi. It is considered that healthy people without specific disease can use it as a preventive method of 'Chimijeong' to maintain their physical and mental health. It is considered that we can have useful effects if we apply Yukjagyeol and Younggamudo dialectically with the concept of Bosa. It is considered that concrete application to Sound Gigong can be possible by searching for the methodology for empirical further study and clinical experiments and clinical application in the future.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.79-102
• /
• 2003

It has been believed that the human body can be effected by color, sound, smell, and taste - each of them is based on the original character. Out of these elements, the color can be a mediation that absorbs energy into human body and adapts it to the creatures whose life are definitely based on the solar energy. This thesis makes a study of the possibility of applying the color to the oriental medical science by researching the color psychology and therapy which are studied in the west medical science, the recognition and application of color developed from orientalism, and the opinion of color in the oriental medical science. Color therapy is one of the psychological treatment techniques that are able to recover and maintain the health with the rays of the sun rays and the color. The light and the color have its energy that may relax, harmonize, encourage, or excite a human being. This is because the wavelength and the vibration of each color will take effects to human body. The core energy of absorbing and distributing the color vibration is made in the 7 "chakras" in the body, which are the pith and marrow of bio-energy directly connected with the center of the nervous system. There are several methods in the color therapy - the treatment of solar ray, the color-bath, the water-therapy using color energy, the inducement of the solar energy into the body, the acupuncture, the therapy of crystal and jewel, and the self-suggestion dependent upon the color. The color therapy can help us to keep our balance by changing the emotion into the positive energy that will cure the disease with color. As a result, this method not only must be useful to cure physical disease, or develop into good health but also will be used in conforming itself to the mental disease. The color therapy mainly uses the eight colors, which are made by mixing Red, Yellow and Blue basic colors in the field. They are never used in the treatment, but they will go along with complementary colors. This rule is closely connected with the theory of yin and yang which lies at the root of oriental philosophy, and with the treatment principle of oriental medical science whose field is focused on the balancing the body mentally as well as physically. In the East, it is the Obangsaek - the color of blue, red, yellow, white, and black in the theory of yin and yang and the five elements that have been used in helping people having trouble with their health for a long time. In the view of the oriental medical science, these five colors attached the theory of five-elements have been very useful to the physiology, the pathology, or the diagnosis, and been applied to the medical treatment, combining themselves with a five-taste in medicinal herbs. Since the study of color and human physiology has been made in some different interest and fields these days, it goes to prove that the different function of color we couldn't have got before becomes very useful to the medical science. The color must be worth researching the diversity for applying itself to the oriental medical science.