Earticle

The objective of this study was to measure the effect of applying heat therapy before gastrocnemius stretching on the angle of dorsiflexion and pennate angle of the gastrocnemius in people with limited ankle dorsiflexion. The study included 20 subjects with limited ankle dorsiflexion. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the control group, which performed only gastrocnemius stretching, or the group with heat therapy applied before gastrocnemius stretching. The subjects in the experimental heat therapy group placed a hot pack on their calf muscles for 20 minutes before the gastrocnemius stretching. For each of the subjects, the passive dorsiflexion angles and pennate angles of the gastrocnemius were measured before and immediately after each intervention. A goniometer was used to measure the passive dorsiflexion angle, and ultrasound was used to measure the pennate angle of the gastrocnemius. The passive dorsiflexion angles significantly increased, and the pennate angle significantly decreased after intervention in both groups compared to the pre-intervention measurements (p<.05). The passive dorsiflexion angles increased significantly and the pennate angle decreased significantly in the group that applied heat therapy before stretching compared to the group that only stretched (p<.05). These results suggest that for people with limited ankle dorsiflexion, applying heat therapy before gastrocnemius stretching is more effective at improving ankle dorsiflexion compared to gastrocnemius stretching alone.

The trunk muscles include the abdominal and scapular muscles, and strengthening them improves trunk stability. We investigated the effect of scapular strengthening exercise with and without band on trunk muscles and abdominal muscles activities. In 34 healthy men, scapular strengthening exercises A (scapular adduction) and B (scapular adduction with shoulder external rotation) with and without bands were applied. Electromyography was used to measure the muscle activity of latissimus dorsi (LD), lower trapezius, and erector spinae, and ultrasonography were used to measure the thickness of the abdominal muscles. Muscle activity was measured during the motion and during maintaining it, and muscle thickness was measured during maintaining the motion. As a result, LD activity was the highest in scapular strengthening exercise A with band, and there was no significant difference in abdominal muscle thickness with or without band. Therefore, scapular strengthening exercise A with band is considered to be the most effective method to improve LD activity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the necessity of self-questionnaire evaluation by presenting the relationship between Korean version of Activity Scale/Index (KASI), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), and aerobic exercise capacity in patients with heart failure. A retrospective study was conducted by analyzing the results of 58 patients (41 men and 17 women) diagnosed with heart failure, and each subject safely finished cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Measures included MLHFQ, KASI, and peak VO2. The aerobic exercise ability was significantly correlated with between self-activity scale (r=.529, p<.001) and health-related quality of life (r=.-350, p=.025) in men. In women, a correlation between aerobic exercise capacity and self-activity scale (r=505, p=.039) was found; however, no correlation with health-related quality of life (r=.158, p=.546) was found. This results suggest that the level of self-functional status and health-related quality of life is related to the aerobic exercise ability. Further studies should focus on interventions for improving the level of self-reported activity and quality of life in people with heart failure.

This study aimed to determine the effects of the virtual reality respiratory exercise and conventional respiratory exercise on diaphragm movement and pulmonary function in patients with stroke. Thirty subjects with stroke (an average age of 54.9 years) were randomly allocated to virtual reality respiratory exercise (n=15, VR group), and conventional respiratory exercise (n=15, control group). The two exercises were performed for 30 minutes 2 times a week for 4 weeks. This study measured diaphragm movement and pulmonary function before and after each 4-weeks exercise. Ultrasonography was used for measuring the diaphragm movement, and AVAD9 was used to measure the pulmonary function; forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF). The control group showed a significant increase in PEF (p<.05), but no significant different in diaphragm movement, FVC, FEV1. The VR group showed a significant increase in all dependent variables (p<.05), except the FEV1. In comparison of two group, the VR group showed significant increases in diaphragm movement, FVC, and PEF relative to the control group (p<.05). Based on the above results, it can be concluded that the virtual reality respiratory exercise is more effective than conventional respiratory exercise on diaphragm movement and pulmonary function for rehabilitation in patients with stroke.

The purposes of this study are 1) to identify the effects of general characteristics of subjects on motivation for major selection and career stress, 2) to analyze relationship between motivation for major selection, satisfaction in major and career stress, and 3) to confirm the cause-and-effect relationship between motivation for major selection, satisfaction in major and career stress in physical therapy department students. The questionnaire consisted of a total of 40 questions, answering general characteristics, motivation for major selection, satisfaction in major, and career stress. The collected data were analyzed by using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Scheffe's post hoc test was performed to confirm significant differences between groups. As a result of the study, intrinsic and extrinsic motivations were significant differences in both grade point average and the entrance process of college. There was significant correlation between motivation for major selection, satisfaction in major, and career stress. The cause-and-effect relationship was found between motivation for major selection, satisfaction in major and career stress. These findings suggest that various waysrequires to increase students' motivation for choosing a major and satisfaction in their major in various ways. And it is possible to be better physical therapists who develop higher major knowledge, so that they will be able to provide high-quality medical services to patients.

The purpose of this study is to identify the organizational culture types of physical therapists and to determine their effect on workplace bullying. In the future, we plan to prepare basic data for physical therapists to prevent workplace harassment and further reduce the turnover rate of physical therapists and improve the quality of their work 365 physical therapists are currently working in clinical settings who have completed the survey. The study of the questionnaire used at this time consists of a total of 71 questions, including questions about general characteristics. Research topics, organizational culture types, workplace bullying. Data collected were independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. The average score for organizational culture type was 2.06 points for relationship-oriented culture, 2.46 points for innovation-oriented culture, 2.38 points for hierarchical culture, and 3.60 points for work-oriented culture. Workplace bullying was found to be 3.03 points. A positive correlation was found between organizational culture type and workplace bullying. Those who experienced workplace bullying received high scores in work-oriented culture, and showed low scores in innovation-oriented culture, relationship- oriented culture, and hierarchical-oriented culture. To reduce workplace harassment of physical therapists, hospital managers and managers should improve and mitigate relationship-oriented organizational culture.

This study aimed to determine how the pelvic algorithm affects the functional aspect of walking ability in chronic stroke patients based on the concept of NCR. Four patients with chronic stroke hemiplegia were included in this study. Functional training was conducted five times a week, 30 minutes per session for 3 weeks, using pelvic algorithms based on the NCR concept. The pelvic algorithm evaluated the hip joint and lumbar motility and displacement of the sacroiliac joint that affected gait function after stroke and provided an intervention method accordingly. The following measurement tools were used: the 10-meter walking test, Berg balance scale, Timed up and go test, and modified Barthel index. The measurements were performed before intervention, and 1, 2, and 3 weeks after intervention. The modified Barthel index was implemented 1 month before and after arbitration. After 3 weeks of intervention, the participants’ 10-meter walking test score increased by an average of 7.9 m/sec, showing an improvement rate of 22.8%; the Timed up and go score increased by an average of; the Berg balance scale score increased by an average of nine points, showing an improvement rate of 41.8%; and the modified Barthel Index increased by an average of five points, showing an average improvement rate of 9%. These results indicated that the application of pelvic algorithms based on the NCR concept helped to improve balance and gait in chronic stroke patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effects of trunk stabilization exercise in patients with stroke via searching previous studies and orgarnizing their results on arm function, balance and walking. Literature review was conducted on the domestic journals published from 2010 to 2020. The journals were divided into 3 categories by physical function as follows: upper limb function, balance, and walking ability. 18 journals were finally included and the PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) method was used for systematic analysis. 16 of the 18 journals applied the experiment to the experimental group and the control group, while others were carried out in a single group. Regarding the functions, four journals were on both upper limb function and balance, seven journals were on the only balance control, and seven journals were on both balance and gait ability. As a result, journals showed that trunk stabilization exercise has significant improvements in balance and walking ability. We suggested that trunk stabilization exercise may be helpful for improving the upper limb function, balance and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke.