• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2022

Background: Older adults use different ankle muscle activation patterns during difficult static balance conditions. It has been suggested that this is related to a decline in proprioception with age, resulting in reduced postural balance. However, the association between proprioception and ankle muscle activity during quiet standing has not been directly assessed. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of age and sensory condition on ankle muscle activity and the association between ankle proprioception and ankle muscle activity. Methods: We recruited 10 young women and 9 older women. Ankle proprioception was evaluated using joint position sense (JPS) and force sense (FS) divided by dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. The electromyographic activity of the tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles was collected during quiet standing. Results: Older women activated GCM muscle more than young during quiet standing and when performing difficult tasks. Older women had more errors in JPS dorsiflexion and FS plantarflexion than did young. The GCM muscle activity is related to JPS dorsiflexion and FS plantarflexion. Conclusion: Lower proprioception of the GCM with age leads to increased muscle activity, resulting in reduced postural balance. There was no difference in TA proprioception or muscle activity among older women with frequent physical activity.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.54-64
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• 2022

Background: This study aims to investigate the perception and actual situation of online classes of college physical therapy students after COVID-19. In addition, it is necessary to conduct a fact-finding survey on how physical therapy students who have experienced online classes think about the online class method, what are the overall problems, and to what extent they are satisfied. Methods: The subjects of this study were 102 students in the 3rd year of physical therapy at University A, and the survey period was from June 10 to June 23, 2020, and the perception and use of online classes and self-regulated learning ability were investigated. Design: Cross-section study. Results: The perception of online lectures, it was found that the perception of online classes after actual online classes was better than the perceptions before watching (utilization), and satisfaction with online classes was generally high. There was a significant difference according to the grades in self regulated learning. The data values measured in this study were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) Windows version 12.0 statistical program. Conclusion: These results suggest that in future research, it is necessary to study the perceptions and actual conditions of each class compared to online classes and face-to-face classes.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2021

Background: During squat exercises, Ankle joint stability during squat movement transfers forces produced by unstable supports or various loads to the leg joints and trunk, reducing the risk of injury; therefore, a reference is needed for correct ankle joint posture during squat exercises. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of ankle joint stability on quadriceps femoris and hamstring activation during squat exercises. Design: Quasi-experiment one group pretest-posttest design. Methods: The participants in this study were 20 volunteers who performed squat exercises with and without kinesiology tape. We measured quadriceps femoris and hamstring activation using surface electromyography. The ankle joint was stabilized with kinesiology tape using the ankle balance taping (ABT) method. A paired t-test was performed to compare differences between taping conditions. Results: Vastus medialis and vastus lateralis activation were greater following squat exercises with kinesiology tape than without; however, the difference was not significant. Medial and lateral hamstring activation was not significantly different between taping conditions. Conclusion: Although it is difficult to maintain stability using kinesiology tape alone, ankle joint stability is believed to affect quadriceps femoris muscle activity, which increases the effectiveness of the squat exercise.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.77-91
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• 2002

Asymmetrical stance posture, balance, and gait disturbance are common problems in hemiplegic patients. Posterior leaf springs (PLS) are frequently prescribed to correct these problems. Recently, anterior leaf springs (ALS) have also been prescribed, but only limited studies have been performed to investigate the effects of ALS. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three conditions, i.e., wearing an ALS, wearing a PLS, and not wearing an AFO (ankle foot orthosis),: on 1) the distribution of weight bearing on the affected side, 2) standing balance, and 3) the gait patterns of hemiplegic patients. Eleven hemiplegic patients (10 men and 1 woman) participated in this study. The data were analyzed by the Friedman test. The results were as follows: 1) More weight bearing on the affected leg was observed in the ALS and PLS conditions than in the condition without an AFO. No significant difference between the ALS and PLS conditions was found. 2) There were statistically significant differences in the composite equilibrium scores (CES) among the three conditions. The CES in the PLS condition was significantly higher than in the ALS condition or the condition without an AFO. 3) Gait patterns improved significantly in the ALS and PLS conditions. No statistically significant difference between the ALS and PLS conditions was found. These results suggest that both ALS and PLS effectively improve the distribution of weight bearing on the affected side, standing balance, and gait patterns of hemiplegic patients. Further study using three-dimensional kinematic analysis and dynamic electromyography is needed to support these findings.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.162-167
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to identify the different wind speed categories and competitive level among windsurfers through GPS variables to provide the useful information on the development of training programs for enhancing windsurfers' performance. Method: Data from 69 female athletes who participated in 27 races during the 2018-2019 windsurfing season were used for the analysis. Average board speed, total race time, total distance, upwind race time, downwind race time, beam reach race time were collected through GPS. Unconfirmed data were excluded along with penalty point data. The wind conditions were classified as light, light to medium, medium, medium to heavy, and heavy wind, the competitive levels were classified as level 1, level 2, and level 3. Results: As for the average board speed, the level 1 or level 2 group showed higher board speed than the level 3 group in all wind conditions except for the light wind. The total race time and upwind race time showed less time in level 1 or level 2 group than level 3 group in all wind conditions. The total distance, downwind race time and beam reach race time showed less distance and time in level1 group than level 3 group under sufficient wind conditions. Conclusion: Our results show that the aerobic capacity to sustain pumping during upwind course in wind conditions below 15 kts effects performance. In wind conditions of 15 kts or more, indicated that the board control for the fast board speed and small distance required during up, down, beam reach courses had an effect on competition performance. This information can be provided to windsurfers and coaching as basic data for training programs to improve performance.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 2023

Background: Although visual examination and palpation are used to assess shoulder motion in clinical practice, there is no consensus on shoulder motion under dynamic and static conditions. This study aimed to compare shoulder joint motion under dynamic and static conditions. Methods: The dominant arm of 14 healthy adult males was investigated. Electromagnetic sensors attached to the scapular, thorax, and humerus were used to measure three-dimensional shoulder joint motion under dynamic and static elevation conditions and compare scapular upward rotation and glenohumeral joint elevation in different elevation planes and angles. Results: At 120° of elevation in the scapular and coronal planes, the scapular upward rotation angle was higher in the static condition and the glenohumeral joint elevation angle was higher in the dynamic condition (P<0.05). In scapular plane and coronal plane elevation 90°-120°, the angular change in scapular upward rotation was higher in the static condition and the angular change in scapulohumeral joint elevation was higher in the dynamic condition (P<0.05). No differences were found in shoulder joint motion in the sagittal plane elevation between the dynamic and static conditions. No interaction effects were found between elevation condition and elevation angle in all elevation planes. Conclusions: Differences in shoulder joint motion should be noted when assessing shoulder joint motion in different dynamic and static conditions.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.368-379
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to establish a strategy to improve the poor working environment and working conditions among long-term healthcare workers in Korea. Methods: A total of 600 questionnaires with which long-term health care workers participated in the targeted base areas of each city and province nationwide were distributed directly and 525 responses were collected and 506 responses were analyzed. Surveys, on-site field visits, and in-depth interviews were also conducted to understand the working environment as well as conditions and establish a strategy for improving the working environment among long-term healthcare workers to understand the demands of working conditions and working conditions. Results: Korean long-term care workers firstly and mostly enumerated their risk factors for ill-health when lifting or moving elderly recipients directly by hand (69.9%), followed by increased physical workload with old beds, tools, and facilities (42.3%) in the workplaces, shortage of manpower (32%), and source of infection (30%). To improve the working environment as well as conditions, Korean long-term care workers considered improving low-wage structures, ergonomic improvements to solve excessive physical loads, and increasing various bonus payments as well as implementing the salary system, positive social awareness, and increasing resting time. Of 506 responses, 92.3% replied that the long-term care insurance system for the elderly should be developed to expand publicization at the national level. Conclusion: This study proposes to improve the low-wage structure of Korean long-term care workers, automation and improvement of facilities, equipment, and tools to eliminate excessive physical loads (beneficiary elderly lifting), and reduction of night labor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.67-71
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Muscle fatigue is a cause to change proprioception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of calf muscle fatigue and visual control on postural balance during single-legged standing in healthy adults. METHODS: Nineteen healthy adults (male) were participated in this study (mean age: 24.36 years; mean height: 171.32 cm; mean weight: 64.58 kg). The postural balance (sway length, sway area, sway velocity of COG displacement) was measured by Balance Trainer System (BT4) in before and after calf muscle fatigue feeling in single legged stance. In this study, repetitive single-legged heel rise test was used to induce fatigue of the calf muscle. Paired t- test was used to compare the postural balance between before and after calf muscle fatigue. Data of subjects were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Level of significance was set to .05. RESULTS: The sway length, sway area, sway velocity of COG (center of gravity) displacement after calf muscle fatigue feeling was significantly increased compared to before calf muscle fatigue feeling during single leg standing both eye open and close conditions (p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that calf muscle fatigue feeling has affected on postural balance when standing one leg both eye open and close conditions and postural control was disturbed by muscle fatigue and visual feedback in single leg standing.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.441-450
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical conditions and social adaptation of children who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods: The participants in this descriptive survey were 37 children who had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at least one year ago. Data were collected through observation and questionnaires and processed with the SAS program. Results: Compared to the time of diagnosis, WBC, RBC and platelet counts had increased significantly. The children were taller than at the transplantation stage, but there was no change in weight and 73% of the children had physical symptoms. Boys who were between 6 to 11 years of age had lower rates of socialization and academic progress than normal Korean boys. Boys between 12 to 17 years of age had higher rates of socialization, but lower rates of academic progress. Girls between 6 to 17 years of age scored lower than normal Korean girls in both categories. Conclusion: The above findings indicate that children who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation try hard to participate in everyday activities. Therefore nursing interventions to improving normal growth and development and facilitate social adaptation should be provided for them.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.28-36
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• 2009

Many researches have been done to define the physical parameters for the wave generation and transformation over a coastal region. However, most of these have been limited to the application of particular conditions, as they are generally too empirical. To yield more reasonable wave estimation using a spectral wave model, it is important to understand how they work for the wave estimation. This study involved a comprehensive sensitivity test against the spectral resolution and the physical source/sink terms of the spectral wave model using SWAN and TOMAWAC, which have the same physical background with several different empirical/theoretical formulations. The tests were conducted for the East Anglian coast, UK, which is characterized by a complex bathymetry due to several shoals and offshore sandbanks. For the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the models' performance with different input conditions, the wave elements and spectrums predicted at representative sites the East Anglia coast were compared/analyzed. The spectral resolution had no significant effect on the model results, but the lowest resolution on the frequency and direction induced underestimations of the wave height and period. The bottom friction and depth-induced breaking terms produced relatively high variations in the wave prediction, depending on which formulation was applied. The terms for the quadruplet and whitecapping had little effect on the wave estimation, whereas the triads tended to predict shorter and higher waves by energy transferring to higher frequencies.