Earticle

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise method through elastic line on muscle activity and muscle thickness of trunk muscles in healthy individuals. In 19 adult males, exercise A (scapula adduction), exercise B (scapula adduction and external rotation), and exercise C (cross movement of limbs) were applied with an elastic line. Electromyography was used to measure back muscles (latissimus dorsi and erector spinae) and ultrasonography was used to examine abdominal muscles (external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis). In the present results, there was a significant difference in latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, and internal oblique muscle (p<.05). Motion of scapula adduction using an elastic line could be suggested as an intervention method to improve body stability.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors and awareness about Parkinson's disease (PD) in young adults and the elderly. This study is a cross-sectional study design by survey. Survey data were collected from 200 young adults (100 majoring in health care, 100 majoring in non-health care) and 99 elderly people. A self-written questionnaire consisted of 6 questions for general characterisitics of subjects and 45 questions relate to the PD, 15 questions each in the awareness level of PD symptoms, the perception level of PD risk factor, and recognmition and attitude. As a result of the study, 98 young adults majoring in health care, 83 young adults majoring in non-health care, and 75 elderly people had experience in acquiring information about PD. In addition, the most common sources of PD information were books and research paper for young adults majoring in health care and broadcast media for young adults majoring in non-health care. In the contrary, the elderly obtained from their acquaintances. Based on the results of this study, this study would suggest the necessity of health education about symptoms, risk factors, perceptions and attitudes related to the PD for ordinary people and the elderly. Health education about PD may be helpful to enable early diagnosis and treatment when symptoms of PD appear, reducing the burden of medical expenses for the elderly, and will be the primary preventive activity against PD.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of facilitating normalization of scapular location and trunk stability on antigravity posture and upper limb function in the patient with cerebellar ataxia. A subject of this study was a 62-year-old male with cerebellar ataxia. Measurement tools were made with observation of scapular alignment, sit-to-stand test (SST), functional reach test (FRT), and Berg balance scale (BBS). A subject underwent therapist-guided techniques aiming to facilitate scapular positioning and trunk stability, which was performed for 30 minutesaveraging, three times per week for 4 weeks. Clinical observation reported improved scapular and pelvic alignments after the intervention. In addition, the SST, FRT, and BBS scores were remarkably improved after the intervention. These findings indicate that technique to facilitate scapular positioning and trunk stability may be advantageous to improve balance function of patients with cerebellar ataxia.

This study aimed to identify the effect of an exercise program using stimulation therapy doll on the cognition, hand grip power, and depression in patients with dementia. seven subjects with dementia volunteered to participate in this study. All subjects underwent the exercise program using stimulation therapy doll for averaging 30 minutes daily for eight weeks (total of 40 sessions). Assessment tools were made with mini mental status examination- Korean version (MMSE-K), hand grip power (HGP) and Beck depression inventory (BDI) before and after the 8-week intervention period. HGP and the BDI score showed significant improvement after the exercise program (p<0.05). This study suggest that an exercise program using stimulation therapy doll may be favorable for enhancing hand grip power and depression of patients with dementia.

This study aimed to analyze the immediate effects of median nerve mobilization integrated into Tecar therapy on pain and range of motion as a clinical intervention for patients with acute neck radiating pain due to cervical radiculopathy. 36 subjects with acute radiating pain due to cervical radiculopathy were randomly assigned to three groups depending on intervention types integrated into median nerve mobilization: (1) experimental group (EG) 1 - Tecar therapy; EG 2 - transcutaneous electrical stimulation; and control group - none. Visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and grip strength (GS) were measured before and after the treatment. After the intervention, subjects of all groups showed significant decreased VAS scores (p<.05). Furthermore, changes between pre- and post-test in the ROM of cervical flexion and rotation, the PPT on upper trapezius and levator scapulae, and GS appeared to be significantly improved for subjects of the EG 1 that other two groups (p<.05). These findings suggest that imcorporating Teca therapy into median nerve mobilization may have some benefits on pain, ROM, and GS in patients with acute radiating pain due to cervical radiculopathy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of inclination treadmill training on gait and gross motor function in children with developmental delay. In this study, a total of 12 developmental delay children was randomly assigned to: the 10° inclination treadmill training group, the 0° inclination treadmill training group. GMFM and K-PBS were used to evaluate the subject’s to gross motor function. In order to evaluate the subject’s walking ability, a walking analysis was conducted via GAITRite system. The intervention was performed 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Each session lasted 20 minutes. The experimental group conducted 10° inclination treadmill training, and the control group conducted 0° inclination treadmill training. The results of this study confirmed that 10° inclination treadmill training was effective in improving gait and gross motor function in developmental delay children. Therefore, 10° inclination treadmill training can be used as an effective interventional method in physical therapy developmental delay to improve gait and gross motor function in children with developmental delay.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between Covid-19 pandemic and physical therapists' risk perception, safety environment job stress, and depression. The number of subjects has been calculated using the G*Power 3.1.9.2 program and the final 386 data were analyzed. The research tool used structured anonymously self-filling questionnaire, consisted of 12 questions of general characteristics, 11 questions of risk perception, 21 questions of safety environment, 14 questions of job stress, and 16 questions of depression. The data were collected from a one-month-long online survey that was conducted in March 2021. The collected data were analyzed using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis. The mean score of risk perception was 2.58 points, safety environment was 3.52 points, job stress was 2.82 points, and depression was 1.66 points. There was a positive correlation between the risk perception and job stress, the safety environment and depression, and the job stress and depression. And there was a negative correlation between risk perception and depression, the safety environment and job stress. Based on the results of this study, cautious observation on physical therapists' awareness of safe working environment and infection, and exposure to psychological risks such as stress and depression would be steadily given in acute respiratory infectious disease situations.

In recent, physical therapists undergo rapid paradigm shift toward dynamic perspectives based on therapeutic efforts to restore functional problems rather than focusing on medical diagnosis of disease in treating a variety of musculoskeletal impairments. This conception emphasizes on the evaluation of postural aberrations and their causes, and then the treatment of functional limitations to relieve the symptoms related to musculoskeletal impairments. Based on current trends, the ‘Neuromuscular Control and Reset (NCR)’ concept supports the use of the 4R, which includes the reset of joint malalignment, reset of muscle imbalance, reset of impaired joint stability, and reset of impaired sensory-motor control, as specific option to identify physical factors related to functional limitations and to facilitate therapeutic effects. The NCR concept highlights that the precise evaluation on posture and movement should be a proceeding condition to provide the treatment of musculoskeletal impairments. Therefore, a best idea in the physical therapy of musculoskeletal impairments needs to promote the understanding of kinesiopathology associated with joint malalignment and muscle imbalance as well as the analysis of physical movements. Further studies require to provide detailed guidelines and algorithm in the evaluation and treatment for clinical application of the NCR concept, and to evidence its clinical feasibility and effects.