• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Aging causes a decrease in muscle mass and a change in posture, which reduces motor function and makes it difficult to perform daily activities independently. As these factors are closely related to the deterioration of the quality of life, it is very important to prevent and manage negative changes in the musculoskeletal system. Forest healing is a nature therapy course that maintains and promotes health using various environmental factors in a forest. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the forest healing anti-aging programs on the physical health of the elderly. METHODS: Ten elderly people participated in this study, as part of a forest healing anti-aging program for two days. Functional fitness, muscle strength, gait function, and balance were evaluated before and after the program. RESULTS: The number of arm curls, chair stands, and steps in a 2-min walk significantly increased (p < .05). 8-feet up & go time was significantly decreased (p < .05). Biceps brachii, quadriceps femoris, and calf muscle strength were significantly increased (p < .05). Gait velocity and cadence were significantly increased (p < .05). Step length, stride length, step time, swing time, stance time, and cycle time were significantly decreased (p < .05). Reaching distance in the lateral directions was significantly increased (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The forest healing anti-aging program improves the physical health of the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.37-41
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• 2003

The aim of this study is to present the basic reference data Effect of uneffected side insole on Gait Pattern in Hemiplegia Patients. The basic gait parameters were extracted from 10 Adult Hemiplegia Patients, 5 left Hemiplegia Patients and 5 right Hemiplegia Patients, 50 to 60 years of age using VICON 512 Motion Analyzer. The results were as follows; 1) The mean Cadence of the shoes to the 1cm insole in shoes were $70.58{\pm}12.67\;steps/min$, to $77.28{\pm}14.58\;steps/min$.(p>0.05) 2) The mean Walking Speed of the shoes to the 1cm insole in shoes were $0.40{\pm}0.17\;m/s$, to $0.49{\pm}0.18\;m/s$.(p>0.05) 3) The mean Stride Length of the shoes to the 1cm insole in shoes were $0.67{\pm}0.20\;m$, to $0.75{\pm}0.19m$.(p>0.05) 4) The mean anterior angles of pint on the pelvic tilt for different the shoes to the 1cm insole in shoes were $13.22{\pm}7.25^{\circ}$, to $11.68{\pm}4.02^{\circ}$.(p>0.06) 5) The mean maximal angles of pint on the hip flexion motion for different the shoes to the 1cm insole in shoes were $24.62{\pm}8.35^{\circ}$, to $24.74{\pm}9.12^{\circ}$.(p>0.05) 6) The mean maximal angles of joint on the knee flexion motion for different the shoes to the 1cm insole in shoes were $34.27{\pm}16.71^{\circ}$, to $35.93{\pm}18.22^{\circ}$.(p>0.05) insole in shoes were $15.97{\pm}7.72^{\circ}$, to $18.77{\pm}11.03^{\circ}$.(p>0.05) 7) The mean maximal angles of joint on the ankle dorsiflexion motion for different the shoes to the 1cm. 8) The mean maximal angles of joint on the ankle plantarflexion motion for different the shoes to the 1cm insole in shoes were $-4.24{\pm}10.66^{\circ}$, to $-7.04{\pm}11.00^{\circ}$.(p<0.05)

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2011

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and is led to physical disability. Yet the development of effective disease-modifying treatments has lagged. In this study, I examined the effect of physical therapeutic intervention through microcurrent stimulation and attempt to find which degree of intensity, either 25 ${\mu}A$ or 500 ${\mu}A$ with a regular 5 pps pulse, is more effective in the osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was induced with a mixture of 2% carrageenan and 2% kaolin in 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The mixture (0.1 $m{\ell}$) was injected into the intra-articular capsule of knee joint once a week for three weeks. Five animals did not show degenerative changes by radiological findings and excluded in the following experiment. Osteoarthritic animals were randomly divided into 3 groups ($n_1$, $n_2$, $n_3$=7/each): untreated, treated with 25 ${\mu}A$, treated with 500 ${\mu}A$. All experimental groups received microcurrent stimulation for four weeks (15 min/day, 5 days/week). The ethological inspection of foot print analysis on the walking corridor was accomplished every week. Histological preparations and immunohistochemical staining with insulin-like growth factor-1 were also done in the articular cartilages. All of these parameters were compared with those of osteoarthritic control group (n=7). The ethological inspection of foot print analysis revealed that changes of walking track (paw width) and stride length was significantly increased in both experimental groups. The better results were observed in experimental group treated with 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity without significance than group treated with 500 ${\mu}A$. Histological preparations disclosed that routine hyaline cartilage of articular surface were altered to fibrous cartilage in untreated group and experimental group treated with 500 ${\mu}A$ intensity. But a little changes were seen in experimental group treated with 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity. Immunolocalization of insulin-like growth factor-1 was simultaneously decreased according to the duration of osteoarthritis, and did not show significant difference among the groups. In this study discovered that the microcurrent stimulation, especially 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity, had a positive effect by the ethological inspection, histological and immunohistochemical stainings. These results suggest that microcurrent stimulation with low-intensity might be effective in the promotion of healing process for the osteoarthritis.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.23-33
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of walking on a treadmill while using dynamic functional electrical stimulation (Dynamic FES) on functional ability and gait in chronic stroke patients. This was a prospective, randomized controlled study. Twelve patients with chronic stroke (>24 months) who were under grade 3 in dorsiflexor strength with manual muscle test were included and randomized into intervention (Dynamic FES) ($n_1$=7) and control (FES) ($n_2$=5). Both the Dynamic FES group and FES group were given a neuromuscular development treatment. The Dynamic FES group has implemented a total of 60 minutes of exercise treatment and gait training with Dynamic FES application. The FES group, with the addition of applying FES while sitting, has also implemented a total of 90 minutes of gait training on treadmill after the exercise treatment. Both two groups accomplished the program, twice a week, for a total of 24 times in a 12-week period. Exercise treatment, gait training on treadmill, and both Dynamic FES and FES were implemented for 30 minutes each. Korean version activities-specific balance confidence scale (K-ABC) was measured to determine self-efficacy in balance function. Timed up and go (TUG) test was performed to evaluate the physical performance. K-ABC, TUG, Berg balance scale (BBS), modified physical performance test (mPPT) and G-walk were evaluated at baseline and at 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, statistically significant differences (p<.05) were apparent in the Dynamic FES group in the changes in K-ABC and BBS. mPPT, TUG, gait speed, stride length and stance phase duration (%) were compared with the FES group. K-ABC had higher correlation to BBS, along with mPPT to TUG. Our results suggest that walking with Dynamic FES in chronic stroke patients may be beneficial for improving their balance confidence, functional ability and gait.