• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.155-164
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and virtual reality program application on cognition and depression of patients with mild cognitive impairment, and to find an intervention method that can enhance active participation of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Methods : In this study, 50 mild cognitive impairment patients were divided into a treatment group (25 patients) and a control group (25 patients). The treatment group was applied with a transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program, while the control group received a placebo transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program. Both groups received five 50-minute sessions per week (one session per day) for six weeks (total of 30 sessions). NCSE was used to evaluate the cognitive functions of the patients before and after treatment intervention. Moreover, K-BDI was conducted to examine the depression of the patients. Results : As a result of the transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program intervention, the cognitive function of both treatment and control group significantly (p<.05) improved, and the depression of both treatment and control group significantly (p<.05) decreased. Moreover, the changes in cognitive functions and depression were significant between the two groups¸ treatment and control group (p<.05). Conclusion : The results of the study showed that the application of the transcranial direct current stimulation and virtual reality program significantly improved the cognitive function of mild cognitive impairment patients and decreased the depression of them. Therefore, it could be concluded that the transcranial direct current stimulation and virtual reality program was an intervention method which positively affects the cognitive function and depression of mild cognitive impairment patients.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.53-62
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• 2023

Purpose : This study evaluated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program on the depression, hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living of patients with mild cognitive impairment by dividing 20 patients with mild cognitive impairment and depression. The 20 patients were divided into a treatment group (transcranial direct current stimulation + a virtual reality program) and a control group (placebo transcranial direct current stimulation + a placebo virtual reality program). Methods : This study allocated ten subjects to the treatment group and ten subjects to the control group. The treatment was given five times per week for six weeks (30 sessions), and each session was 30 minutes. This study screened depression by using SGDS-K, a short geriatric depression scale, to examine depression before and after treatment intervention. This study also used the box and block test, NCSE, and FIM to evaluate hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living, respectively. Results : The results showed that depression significantly decreased, hand functions significantly increased, cognitive function significantly improved, and activities of daily living significantly increased after intervention in the treatment and control groups. The magnitude of changes in depression, hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living was significantly different between the two groups after intervention (p>.05). Conclusion : The results showed that the application of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program could improve cognitive function, hand functions, and activities of daily living by decreasing depression. Therefore, it can be concluded that the simultaneous application of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program is an intervention method, which can be applied for decreasing depression, enhancing hand functions, improving cognitive function, and increasing activities of daily living in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.201-210
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• 2021

Purpose : There is a lack of research on this field in the Republic of Korea, especially those that have seen the effect of interaction between transcranial direct current stimulation and computerized cognitive rehabilitation therapy. This study divided 30 dementia patients into a treatment group, which received transcranial direct current stimulation and computerized cognitive rehabilitation, and a control group, which received pseudo-transcranial direct current stimulation and pseudo-computerized cognitive rehabilitation. This study evaluated the effects of these treatments on the visual perception, cognition functions, and daily activities of dementia patients. Methods : Fifteen subjects were allocated to the treatment group and the other 15 subjects were allocated to the control group. Treatments were given at intervals of five sessions per week (30 minutes per session) for six weeks (30 times in total). This study used the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (NCSE) to examine cognitive functions, MVPT to evaluate visual perception, and FIM to test daily living activities before and after applying the treatments. Results : The results of this study showed that cognitive functions, visual perception, and daily living activities significantly (p<.05) improved after the intervention in the treatment group and the control group. The changes in cognitive functions, visual perception, and daily living activities due to the treatments were significantly different between the groups (p<.05). Conclusion : The results indicated that transcranial direct current stimulation and computerized cognitive rehabilitation therapy improved visual perception and daily living activities by increasing cognitive functions. Consequently, it was found that the simultaneous application of transcranial direct current stimulation in conjunction with a computerized cognitive rehabilitation program was an intervention method that could positively affect the visual perception, cognitive function, and daily living activities of dementia patients. Based on the results of this study, the study of arbitration protocols for demential will have to be more active.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.105-117
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• 2021

Purpose : This study examined the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined high intensity interval training (HIIT) on the aerobic exercise capacity of college soccer players. Methods : The subjects of this study were 30 college soccer players. They were divided into a high intensity interval training group combining transcranial direct current stimulation (Group I) and a high intensity interval training group (Group II). Each group had 15 subjects randomly assigned. After receiving general soccer training, each group additionally received high intensity interval training combined with transcranial direct current stimulation and high intensity interval training for 30 minutes 5 times a week for 8 weeks. Their VO₂max and 20 meter shuttle run test, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test were analyzed before the intervention. After 8 weeks of intervention, the above items were re-measured and an intergroup analysis was performed. Results : As a result of comparative analysis of VO₂max intake between groups, 20 meter shuttle run test and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test, a statistically significant difference was found. The high intensity interval training group (Group I) combined with transcranial direct current stimulation showed a significant difference in aerobic exercise capacity compared to the high intensity interval training group (Group II). Conclusion : These results showed that high intensity interval training group combined with transcranial direct current stimulation was more effective for aerobic exercise. Based on this study, this study proposes an effective program for patients as well as elite athletes. In the future, it is necessary to develop an effective transcranial direct current stimulation program and to study how to apply it for various patients.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.33-40
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• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this randomized controlled trial study was to examine the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive function and depression in stroke patients. Methods : Thirty stroke patients were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received tDCS while performing computerized cognitive rehabilitation programs, and the control group was provided with sham tDCS while operating the same programs. The 30-minute intervention was implemented five times per week for six weeks. To assess cognitive function before and after the intervention, the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination was conducted; the Beck Depression Inventory BDI was employed to assess depression. Results : The experimental group showed statistically significant increases in cognitive function and decreases in depression (p < .05 ). Comparing the amount of variation between the groups after arbitration also showed significant differences in cognitive function and depression between the two groups (p > .05). Conclusion : The application of tDCS and computerized cognitive rehabilitation programs for stroke patients may positively affect their cognitive function and depression. Therefore, tDCS used with computerized cognitive rehabilitation programs is positively applicable to the enhancement of cognitive function in stroke patients and reduction of depression.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2019

Purpose : This study assessed the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on balance, fall efficacy, and fall-related fitness in stroke patients, using a cohort of 30 stroke patients divided into two groups. Methods : The experimental group (was given transcranial direct current stimulation in a virtual reality program) and the control group was given false tDCS in virtual reality. there were 15 patients in each group, receiving appropriate treatment over 30 sessions (30 minutes per session per week over a six-week period). In order to assess the change in balance before and after the intervention, the Berg Balance scale was utilized. Fall efficacy was evaluated using the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale for the Elderly (FES-K), The following exercises were performed by patients to assess fall-related fitness : sitting down in a chair and standing up : walking a 244 cm round= trip, and standing on one foot. Results : After the intervention, the experimental group exhibited significantly increased fall efficacy and fall-related fitness, while the control group exhibited no change. These findings suggest that tDCS has positive effects on balance, fall efficacy, and fall-related fitness in stroke patients. Conclusion : Using tDCS as an intervention would bring positive effects on balance, fall efficacy, and fall-related fitness in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.213-221
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aimed to evaluate the changes in visual perception and daily life activities after simultaneously applying the visual perception training program and transcranial DC stimulation. Particularly, this study tried to understand what changes in abilities among daily life activities influenced cognition. Methods : This study selected 50 dementia patients to achieve the objective. This study applied transcranial DC stimulation and a visual perception training program to a treatment group (n=25) and a visual perception training program to a control group (n=25). The intervention was applied five times per week and 30 minutes per session (total of 30 intervention sessions). This study measured visual perception functions and daily life activities using MVPT and FIM before and after applying the intervention. Results : The visual perception, mobility of daily life activities, cognition, and total score of the treatment group (n=25), which received the visual perception training program and transcranial DC at the same time, were significantly (p<.05) different between before and after the intervention. Moreover, when the visual perception and daily life activities of the treatment group and those of the control group after implementing the intervention were compared, they were significantly (p<.05) different between the two groups. Conclusion : The results of this study showed that the simultaneous application of the visual perception training program and transcranial DC stimulation was an effective means to enhance the visual perception and daily life activities of dementia patients. The results implied that transcranial DC stimulation, as well as the application of visual perception training program, as well as a visual perception training program, was effective for improving the visual perception functions and daily life activities dementia patients and simultaneous application of the two interventions would increase the effect even further.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.318-323
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• 2020

Objective: Reacquisition of motor functions following stroke depends on interhemispheric neural connections. The intervention highlighted in the present case is an insight for augmenting motor recovery by stimulating the lesioned area and adjacent areas governing the motor behaviour of an individual. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in the motor and cognitive outcomes through multi target stimulation of cortical areas by application of multichannel transcranial direct current stimulation (M-tDCS) in a stroke survivor. Design: A case report. Methods: The patient was a participant of a trial registered with the clinical trial registry of India (CTRI/2020/01/022998). The patient was intervened with M-tDCS over the left primary motor cortex i.e. C3 point and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex i.e. F3 point with 0.5-2 mA intensity for the period of 20 minutes. SaeboFlex-assisted task-oriented training, functional electrical stimulation over the lower extremity (LE) to elicit dorsiflexion at the ankle and eversion of the foot, and conventional physiotherapy rehabilitation including a tailored exercise program were performed. Outcome assessment was done using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA) for the upper and lower extremity (UE and LE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) and the Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SSQOL) measures. Assessment was taken at Day 0, 15 and 30 post intervention. Results: Improvement was observed in all the outcome measures i.e FMA (UE and LE), MOCA, SSQOL and WGS across the span of 4 weeks. Conclusions: M-tDCS induced improvement in motor functions of the UE and LE, gait parameters and cognitive functions of the patient.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.484-488
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• 2013

Objective : To examine the synergistic effects of both computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (CACR) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive function in patients with stroke. Methods : The current double-blind, sham-controlled study enrolled a total of 11 patients who were newly diagnosed with stroke. The patients of the tDCS group (n=6) completed sessions of the Korean computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation program five times a week for 30 minutes a session during a mean period of 18.5 days concomitantly with the anodal tDCS over the bilateral prefrontal cortex combined with the CACR. The patients of the control group (n=5) also completed sessions of the sham stimulation during a mean period of 17.8 days. Anodal tDCS over bilateral prefrontal cortex (F3 and F4 in 10-20 EEG system) was delivered for 30 minutes at an intensity of 2 mA. Cathode electrodes were applied to the non-dominant arm. All the patients were evaluated using the Seoul Computerized Neuropsychological Test (SCNT) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination. Results : Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant difference between the two groups. The patients of the tDCS group achieved a significant improvement in the post/pre ratio of auditory continuous performance test and visual continuous performance test on the SCNT items. Conclusion : Our results indicate that the concomitant use of the tDCS with CACR to the prefrontal cortex may provide additional beneficial effects in improving the cognitive dysfunction for patients with stroke.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.101-108
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• 2023

Purpose : To investigate effects of transcranial directed current stimulus (tDCS) combined with abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) on balance ability and trunk impairment scale of chronic stroke patients. Methods : Twenty-six chronic stroke patients were recruited and twenty-four participated after excluding two patients who met the exclusion criteria. After screening tests, they were randomized through excel program into an experimental group (n = 12) to apply a tDCS combined with ADIM and a control group (n = 12) to apply a sham tDCS with ADIM. The intervention lasted three times a week for six weeks. To compare tDCS intervention effects, trunk impairment scale and balance ability were measured. Comparisons between experimental and control groups were statistically processed using an independent t-test and comparisons within groups were statistically processed using a paired t-test. Results : The experimental group showed significant increases of pre- and post-intervention medial lateral velocity, anterior posterior velocity and area of balance ability, and trunk impairment scale (p<.05). The control group showed significant increases in pre- and post-intervention medial lateral velocity of balance ability and trunk impairment scale (p< .05). The experimental group showed significant increases of medial lateral velocity of balance ability and trunk impairment scale compared to the control group (p<.05). Conclusion : Results of this study suggest that tDCS combined with ADIM for chronic stroke patients can be effective in improving medial lateral velocity of balance ability and trunk impairment scale. Thus, tDCS can be used as an effective treatment protocol for trunk rehabilitation of chronic stroke patients.