• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-45
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level, hip abductor strength (HAS), number of positive lumbar instability tests, and dynamic balance (DB) by applying lumbar stabilization exercises according to the presence or absence of gluteus medius muscle weakness in chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients with lumbar instability. METHODS: Thirty-five CLBP patients with lumbar instability were divided into the gluteus medius weakness (n = 18) and gluteus medius non-weakened (n = 17) groups using the gluteus medius manual muscle test. Intervention applied conservative physical therapy and lumbar stabilization exercises to both groups that lasted three times a week for four weeks. To compare the intervention effects, the quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS), the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI), fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ), HAS, lumbar instability tests positive response counter (LIC), and DB were measured. RESULTS: Significant differences were shown for QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ, HAS, LIC, and DB for both groups pre- and post-intervention (p < .05). Compared to the gluteus medius weakness group, the gluteus medius non-weakened group showed a significant difference (p < .05) in the changes in QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ-W, FABQ-total, and HAS. CONCLUSION: In CLBP patients with lumbar instability, having gluteus medius weakness was less effective in improving lumbar stabilization exercise than gluteus medius non-weakness regarding pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level excluding physical activity, and hip abductor strength. Therefore, additional gluteus medius strengthening exercises are necessary for patients with lumbar instability and gluteus medius muscle weakness.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2010

Objectives : The object of this study is to report a clinical effect of oriental medical treatments lot chronic muscle weakness caused by herniated intervertbral lumbar disc. Methods : The patient was diagnosed as lumbar disc herniation, and was treated by conservative treatments including acupunture, herbal mixture, pharmacopuncture. And we measured Visual Analog Score(VAS), Walking time and Manual Muscle testing(MMT). Results : After treatments, Visual Analog Score, Walking time and Manual Muscle testing(MMT) were improved in case. Conclusions : Chronic Muscle weakness caused by lumbar disc herniation can be improved by conservative maneuver as to oriental medical method.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.784-787
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• 2012

Wei symptom(痿證) is symptom that reveals muscle relaxation without contraction an muscle relaxation occurs in the lower or upper limbs, in severe case, leads to death. The symptoms of Wei symptom are weakness, atropy of muscle, gait disturbance, etc. We studied to evaluate the oriental medical treatment on a patient with Wei symptom. We applied various methods of oriental medical treatment including herb medicine, acupunture, moxibustion, herb acupunture. The clinical symptoms that were both lower limbs weakness, gait disturbance, etc. were improved after the methods of oriental medical treatment. The results suggest that oriental medicare is an effective treatment for Wei symptom, but more extensive research is needed.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.51-60
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• 2020

Muscle pathology findings may guide the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders since they are helpful for understanding the pathological processes causing muscle weakness and also provide significant clues for the diagnosis of muscle diseases. Recent advances in molecular genetics mean that a muscle biopsy can be omitted when diagnosing inherited muscle diseases. However, the muscle pathology can still play a role in those cases and its findings are also required when diagnosing inflammatory myopathies.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.63-73
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• 2020

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of spinal mobilization with leg movement (SMWLM) using Korean Medicine treatment on acute lower limb muscle weakness through four case studies. Methods SMWLM, with other Korean Medicine treatments, was performed on four patients who underwent treatment at OOOO Korean Medicine Hospital from August 2017 to July 2018. Additionally, results of the Numerical Rate Scale(NRS), EuroQol-FiveDimensions(EQ-5D),Oswestry lowback pain disability questionnaire(ODI), Straight Leg Raise(SLR) test, and Manual Muscle Test(MMT) were evaluated. Results There was a significant increase in NRS, ODI, and EQ-5D scales with im-rovements of SLR angle and MMT figures to a normal range. Conclusions This study suggested that Korean Medicine treatment combined with SMWLM may affect treating acute lower limb muscle weakness. Further clinical studies are needed to establish a definite conclusion.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2011

Polymyositis is diffuse, inflammatory myopathy with proximal-muscle weakness due to lymphocyte infiltration to the muscle layer. The exact cause of the muscle weakness is unclear but may be related with an immunologic mechanism. Using high-dose steroid is the treatment of choice for polymyositis. It is difficult to distinguish steroid-resistant polymyositis from steroid myopathy, however, in the course of high-dose steroid therapy. These authors encountered a steroid myopathy patient during polymyositis treatment with high-dose steroid. A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with polymyositis and was treated with high-dose steroid. Her condition was initially improved, but in the course of the treatment, her symptom was aggravated without increasing the muscle enzymes. Her muscle weakness was improved by reducing the steroid dosage.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.311-316
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• 2019

Purpose: Generally, patients with stroke present with decreased balance and increased spasticity following weakness of the paralyzed muscles. Muscle weakness caused by stroke has two causes. This is caused by a decrease in motor output and an adaptive muscle change, resulting in muscle weakness and muscle paralysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of strengthening exercise on balance and spasticity in chronic stroke patients and to suggest the basis of clinical treatment. Methods: Twenty subjects were divided into two groups: a lower-extremity strengthening group (experimental group) and a general physical therapy group (control group). The sliding stander equipment was used for the experimental group and a regimen of warm-up exercise, the main exercise routine, and cool-down exercise were used for the muscle strengthening exercise program. Balance and spasticity were measured before and after the training period. Balance ability was measured by the Berg balance scale, the Timed up and Go test and the weight distribution of the paralyzed muscles by the Spacebalance 3D. Spasticity was measured by the Biodex system. Results: After the training periods, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in BBS, weight distribution of the paralyzed muscles, and decreased spasticity when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study supported the hypothesis that lower-extremity strengthening exercise improves the balance and decreases the spasticity of stroke patients. If it is combined with conventional neurologic physiotherapy, it would be effective rehabilitation for stroke patients.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 1999

Purpose : To investigate the complication of donor site in latissimus dorsi muscle flap. Materials and Methods : From April 1983 to March 1999, forty patients with latissimus dorsi muscle flap for reconstruction of extremity and with a follow-up period of more than 12 months were included. We analysed the complication, shoulder function, degree of shoulder muscle weakness, skin scar width after operation. Results After 1 year, skin scar widening in 12 cases(30%), limitation of shoulder motion in 9 cases(12.5%), muscle weakness in 14 cases(17.5%) were found. Conclusion. The rate of complication at donor site after latissimus dorsi flap operation is around 10%. To minimize the complication, avoiding axillary skin incision, minimal invasive harvesting by endoscopy, meticulous suturing of subcutaneous layer are needed.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.98-107
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• 2002

Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a chronic immune-mediated peripheral myelinopathy. The major clinical features include slowly progressive, painless, and asymmetric weakness, usually of distal limb muscle. Early in the course of the disease, weakness is not necessarily associated with muscle atrophy, owing to the initial primary involvement of peripheral myelin. Chronic progressive weakness is often associated with some degree of concurrent axonal loss and subsequent muscle atrophy. Sensory symptoms are usually mild or absent, and involvement of cranial and respiratory muscles is rare. The findings of multifocal motor conduction block, abnormal temporal dispersion, and focal conduction slowing at segments not at risk for common entrapment or compression injury, associated with normal sensory conduction studies along the same segments, are the hallmark electrophysiologic features of MMN. The slow progression and absence of upper motor neuron signs are the major clinical points that separate MMN from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The role of GM1 antibodies, found in high titers in 22~84% of MMN patients, remains uncertain. The contention that MMN is an autoimmune disorder is largely based on the often dramatic improvement in symptoms following the administration of intravenuos immunoglobulin or cyclophosphamide.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to investigate the median frequency (MDF) between initiation and termination of muscle contraction through surface electromyographic (sEMG) analysis and to propose the basis of clinical treatment for movement problems in early hemiparetic upper limbs. Thirteen patients who had stroke with onset less than 3 months prior to the study and seven control subjects participated in the study. The median frequency in initiation and termination of muscle contraction was recorded from wrist flexor and extensor muscles using the sEMG, with 3 second beeper signals, during maximal isometric wrist flexion and extension. Flexion and extension must be done as quickly and forcefully as possible. The results of the study were as follows: 1. The MDF of the onset and offset sections were significantly lower on the paretic than the nonparetic and control sides. 2. The MDF of the offset section significantly decreased on the paretic and nonparetic sides. Consequently, this study showed that the lowering of the MDF was due to the hemiparetic wrist motor impairment and muscle weakness. These results are also related to Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA) scores in hemiparetic upper limbs. This study also suggests that since muscle weakness of early stroke patients affects the functional decrease of upper limbs, further studies must focus on the treatment to improve muscle agility and muscle fiber recruitment efficiency that can induce the functional recovery correlated to motor control.