Earticle

Purpose : This study investigated the effects of osteoarthritis therapy using images and histological diagnosis after microcurrents were applied to osteoarthritic rats. Methods : Osteoarthritis was induced with a mixture of 2% carrageenan and 2% kaolin. The mixture (0.1 ㎖) was injected into the knee joints of rats. Osteoarthritis with articulation received microcurrent stimulation for four weeks (15 min/day, 5 days/week): treated with pulsation frequency of 5 pps and a stimulation intensity of 25 ㎂ Results : Osteoarthritis of the control group constantly changed. The group with a stimulation intensity of 25 ㎂ applied to the surface of the articular cartilage experienced near normal recovery according to image diagnosis. The result of histological and immunohistochemistry inspection confirms that microcurrent stimulation had a positive effect on the treatment of osteoarthritis. Conclusion : The differences among images and histological diagnoses show that steoarthritis will experience constant progression from stimulation.

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of a core stability exercise program using Swiss Ball on muscle activity, muscle thickness, maximum muscular strength, and pain in the trunk region during a 6-weeks program involving participants who have lower back pain. Methods : A total of 21 males between the ages of 20 and 33 years old were divided into 3 Swiss Ball exercise groups. Group 1 performed isometric exercises, group 2 performed isotonic exercises, and group 3 performed mixed exercises. Measurements were taken prior to starting the exercise program and after completing the program at the 6-week period using ME6000 to measure muscle activity and VAS to measure pain reduction. Comparisons were made using a paired t-test and ANOVA on SPSS 10.0. Results : There was a statistically significant effect in muscle activity for group 1 and group 3. Secondly, there was a statistically significant effect in pain reduction for group 1, group 2, and group 3. Conclusion : We found that isometric exercises performed by group 1 were effective in improving muscle activity and pain reduction.

Purpose : This study aims to examine the effects of action observation of ski simulation on electroencephalogram (EEG). Methods : Thirty healthy subjects were randomly divided into three groups: 10 participants in an AM (actual movement) group; 10 participants in an OM (observation) group; and 10 participants in a CM (control movement) group. The EEG was measured to examine changes in EEG between action observation and actually movement at 8 areas of the scalp for one minute before, during and after action observation. Results : Relative alpha power showed statistically significant differences among groups in Cz and C4 and there were interactions among groups in the Oz area. Relative beta power showed no statistical significance among groups and in particular, there were interactions among groups in the Oz area. Conclusion : These findings show that action observation affected brain activation as in actual movement. Thus it can be expected that when movement through the brain activation is applied to patients in bed rest or those who cannot perform actually movement, it can be utilized as physiotherapy.

Purpose : The purpose of study was to better understand the effects of Interferential Current (IFC) and Ultrasound on the ROM and pain in patients with chronic back muscle pain. Methods : Twenty patients with chronic back pain were randomly assigned to IFC stimulation groups and Ultrasound stimulation groups. Both groups used the same method for 20 minutes each session, three times a week for 4 weeks at the same time point and with the same amount of treatment. Measurement items are visual analogue scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM). Results : This study showed that the IFC stimulation group and the ultrasound stimulation group demonstrated significant improvement in ROM increase and pain reduction. Both groups showed a significant reduction in VAS; however, the ultrasound stimulation group decreased more than ultrasound stimulation group. And, both groups showed a significant increase in ROM. The ultrasound stimulation group increased significantly more than the IFC stimulation group in ROM of flexion and extension. The IFC stimulation group increased significantly more than the ultrasound stimulation group in ROM of lateral flexion. Conclusion : Pain relief was more effective in the ultrasound group. The ultrasound showed a more significant effect than IFC in ROM of flexion and extension. The IFC showed a more significant effect than ultrasound in ROM lateral flexion. The results of this study suggest that the treatment effects are different on patients with chronic back pain, according to treatment methods.

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of book bag handling styles and types of footwear on muscle activation of erector spine muscles and calf muscles. Methods : Ten participants took off their book bags and used sneakers to walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes. The following day, 10 participants put on their backpack with 10% of the weight and used sneakers to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. On the last day, 10 participants put on their backpack with 10% of the weight and used formal shoes to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. After walking on the treadmill at 3 mph for thirty minutes, we measured muscle activation in erector spine muscles and calf muscles. Results : The results of this study showed the activation of the erector spine muscles and the calf muscles significantly increased when walking with a book bag and the activation of the erector spine muscles and the calf muscles significantly increased when walking in formal shoes. Conclusion : Using a backpack and formal shoes increase muscle activity of erector spine muscles and calf muscles. The results of this study indicate that not using a backpack and wearing sneakers are more beneficial than that using a backpack weighted 10% and wearing formal shoes and can be recommended to adult women by clinicians.

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine changes in muscle activity due to elastic taping at the rectus femoris, biceps femoris and tibialis anterior muscles using surface electromyography analysis. Methods : In this study 10 healthy university students in the Department of Taekwondo Studies were screened and individuals with a history of previous injury or surgery to their nerve, muscle, and skeletal systems, such as paresthesia and motor disorder, were excluded. Subjects were taped over the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and tibialis anterior and their muscle activities were analyzed using the surface electromyography method during maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Results : The results of this study were as follows: muscle activities indicated a significant increase after elastic taping than before at the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and tibialis anterior muscle. These results lead us to the conclusion that muscle activity were influenced by elastic taping at the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and tibialis anterior muscles. Conclusion : The results of this study show that muscle activity can be improved by elastic taping at the lower limbs. These results suggest that elastic taping of muscles in the lower extremities has the capability to increase muscle activity in the body.

This study purposes to conduct visual feedback and body posture control training on stroke patients with pusher syndrome in order to reduce their pusher syndrome. This study also examines changes resulting from the training and applies the guidelines necessary for documentation of patient/customer management. The participant for this study was one patient with pusher syndrome. The study progressed from a medical examination of the subject followed by evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention and treatment plan, and finally re-examination in order of precedence. Problems in the participant’s functional activities, difficulties in changes from sitting postures into standing postures, and maintaining standing postures were determined as primary restrictions on activities and the improvement of these activities was set up as a goal through discussions with the patient. Interventions were mainly implemented to reduce the pusher syndrome with visual feedback provided using mirrors and exercises focusing on leaning in order to maintain posture while sitting. Changes from supine postures to sitting postures and the degree of changes in maintaining standing postures were compared between before and after the intervention by measuring times in the same environment and the degree of pusher syndrome was measured using the SCP tool. The process of this clinical practice was documented. The SCP score that indicates the degree of changes in the participant’s pusher syndrome changed from 3.75 points to 0.8 point indicating a decrease in pushing. Among functional activities, posture changes from sitting postures to standing postures and maintaining standing postures were improved. In addition, since the patient could maintain standing postures, the patient could walk indoors. In this case study, mirrors and body posture control training used as interventions to relieve pusher syndromes can be easily applied in clinics to examine the form of functional recovery. The results indicated that these intervention methods were effective and thus it is thought that the results can be used as basic data to utilize these intervention methods diversely. In addition, the documentation of patient/client management was applied as actual documentation in Korean and based on the results, we could show decision making processes for patients’functional goals and objectively explain problems, prognoses and changes made through the interventions.