Earticle

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different weight load locations on the muscle activity in the trunk and lower extremities and gait ability of stroke patients during gait training. This study was conducted on 25 stroke patients hospitalized at the S General Hospital in Cheongju City. The weight load was applied to the wrists, ankles, and trunks of the paralyzed side or both sides of stroke patients. Sandbags, a weight-load device, were applied with weights ranging from 1 kg to 5 kg, commensurate with the patient's ability before intervention. For the torso weight load group using a weight vest, the quantum of the weight was adjusted by increasing the weight by 1 kg from the base weight of 20 kg according to the patient's ability. This study evaluated gait ability (velocity, cadence, stride length) through a pre-intervention test and muscle activity (external oblique muscle, internal oblique muscle, erector spinae muscle, gluteus medius muscle, and the rectus femoris muscle) measured through surface electromyography (EMG) equipment. After the 4-week intervention, a post-test was conducted in the same way as the pre-test to observe the change before and after the intervention. The results showed that when gait training was performed by applying a weight load to the affected ankle and trunk, the muscle activity of the trunk and lower limb muscles and walking ability significantly increased. In addition, it was observed that both muscle activity and gait ability were significantly increased when the weight load was applied to the affected wrist and ankle compared to the application of the weight load to both wrists and ankles. These results will be useful as base data in future clinical practice for determining the appropriate position to apply the weight load when performing gait training in stroke patients.

This study aims to investigate the effect of latiissimus dorsi (LD) stretching on thoracic excursion and lung capacity in subjects with a short LD. The study included 20 subjects with a short LD, identified by measuring a range of shoulder flexion of <170 degrees in the LD length test. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the control group or the group with LD stretching applied. The thoracic excursion of the upper and lower parts was measured using a circular tape measure, and the lung capacity was recorded using a Pony FX. The experimental group was measured immediately after stretching, and the control group was measured again after resting for 10 minutes. In the experimental group, the thoracic excursion of the lower parts significantly increased after LD stretching (p<.05). In the control group, there were no significant differences in all dependent variables between before and after 10 minutes of rest. After the intervention, the thoracic excursion of the upper parts and the lung capacity did not differ significantly between the groups. These results suggest that for people with short LD, applying LD stretching is effective at improving the thoracic excursion of the lower part.

The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of violence in the workplace of physical therapists on depression and turnover intention. Among physical therapists working across the country, 135 people who experienced violence in the workplace were surveyed. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data, and the violence in the workplace, depression, and turnover intention according to general characteristics was analyzed by one-way ANOVA and independent t-test. Scheffe's test was conducted for the post-analysis of statistically significant items, and the correlation between variables was analyzed by Pearson's Correlation Coefficients. Violence in the workplace was somewhat high at 36 points, showed moderate depression, and the turnover intention was somewhat high at 3.83 points. It was found that violence, depression, and turnover intention in the workplace were experienced more as the age and clinical experience were less. Violence, depression, and turnover intention in the workplace are positive correlations, and depression and turnover intention were higher as more bullying experienced in the workplace. It was found that the study subjects most prefer creating a friendly workplace mood as a solution to violence in the workplace. Hospital institutions and all members need constant efforts to recognize and prevent the seriousness of workplace violence.

This study aimed to determine the effect of kinesiology taping on thoracic kyphosis and pelvic tilt angle in males with rounded shoulder postures. Thirty men in their 20s with round shoulder syndrome were randomly assigned to the experimental and control group. All subjects were measured for parameters such as height from the table to the back of the shoulder acromion in a straight posture (supine), an angle of thoracic kyphosis, and pelvic tilt before starting the experiment and rested for a half hour. The experimental group applied kinesiology taping while resting, while the control group did not take any intervention. After half an hour, the above parameters were measured again to compare the changes between the control and experimental group. The experimental group showed significant changes in round shoulder posture (RSP), thoracic kyphosis (TK), and pelvic tilt angle (PTA). There were no significant changes in RSP, TK, or PTA in the control group. While comparing both groups, the experimental group showed significant differences in RSP, TK, and PTA compared to the control group. Our results indicate that kinesiology taping is effective in RSP, TK, and PTA for subjects with rounded shoulder posture.

Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations. This study aimed to investigate how Pilates exercises immediately affect standing balance and walking in children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy. We included 8 participants aged 7∼18 years with spastic cerebral palsy. We administered the Pilates exercise for 60 minutes. We used the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, balance plate, and gait analysis to evaluate balance function and gait pattern before and after the intervention. Comparison of the average values of all measured variables before and after therapy showed a statistically significant difference (p<.05) after therapy. There were significant differences in TUG test, balance function, gait speed, and cadence before and after pilates exercise. Pilates exercise is immediately effective in improving standing balance and gait function in children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this study was to find out the correlation between food delivery workers' awareness and practice of safety education and musculoskeletal pain. It consists of 4 items for general characteristics, 5 items for work characteristics, 9 items for safety education awareness and practice, and 8 items for musculoskeletal pain and pain conditions. As a result of this study, safety education awareness and practice showed a significant correlation with musculoskeletal pain (p<.05). In conclusion, a social institutional device for the health and well-being of food delivery workers should be prepared by strengthening safety education.

This study aimed to identify the effect of push up plus exercise using 8-figure shoulder orthosis (PUPE-8FSO) on pain, shoulder range of motion (ROM) and proprioception in patients with round shoulder posture. The participants were randomized into the PUPE-8FSO (n=10) and 8FSO groups (n=10). PUPE-8FSO group applied 8FSO on the shoulder, and both groups performed to PUPE for 3 sets of 10 times a day, 2 minutes break between sets, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. All participants have measured visual analog pain scale (VAS), shoulder flexion-abduction ROM, and proprioception in before and after the intervention. After the interventions, PUPE-8FSO group showed greater improvement in VAS, shoulder flexion-abduction ROM, and proprioception than in the PUPE group (p<.05). Furthermore, both groups had significantly improvement in the all outcomes compared to the pre-test (p<.05). These findings suggest that the PUPE-8FSO has a potential for benefits on pain and shoulder functions.

The purpose of this study was to determines the effect of backward training on gait ability and dynamic balance in stroke patients. Subjects with stroke for more than six months, whose level of Brunnstrom stage is greater than Ⅲ and who are able to walk more than ten meters with or without assistive devices were recruited. After grouping for a single-blind clinical randomized controlled trial, the subjects were divided into two groups: six in the control group and six in the experimental group. All subjects were subjected to 30 min neurodevelopment physical therapy, once a week for three weeks. The experimental group recived to an additional 15 min of backward walking training on a treadmill. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) were used to assess functional balance and walking ability. The walking speed was evaluated using a 6-Minute Walk Test (6-MWT). All assessments were made at baseline before training commenced (pre-training) and at the end of the three-week training period (post-training). Mann-Whitney U-test was used to determine the effect on dynamic balance and gait ability before and after training. The level of significance was 0.05. After three weeks of training, the experimental group showed significant differences on TUG and 6-MWT. This study demonstrates that the 15 min of backward walking training increased walking speed and overall walking ability.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of treadmill training using progressive dual-task on the balance and gait function of subacute stroke patients. A randomized study assigned 25 participants to an experimental group (n=13) and a control group (n=12). All participants performed treadmill training 30 min daily, three days a week for 4 weeks. The experimental group completed the by gradually applying the each week while running on the treadmill. Due to discharge and refusal, 5 people from the experimental group and 4 from the control group dropped out, leaving a total of 16 people to complete the study. Walking ability was measured using the 10-m walk test (10MWT) and 6-min walk test (6MWT), and balance ability using the time up-and-go test and Berg balance scale (BBS), and balance confidence was measured using the Korean version of the activity- specific balance confidence scale. After the pretest, all participants received the intervention, and the posttest was administered after all interventions were completed. The study found a significant difference in the time factor in all items (p<.05), but no significant difference in any of the main effects by group (p>.05). In the analysis of the interaction between the time factors in the groups, there was a significant difference in the and BBS items (p<.05). According to the post hoc test, there was a significant difference between the groups in the TUG and BBS items (p<.05). In comparison, there were significant differences in all items in the experimental group (p<.05), and in 10MWT, 6MWT, and ABC-K items in the control group (p<.05). This study found that treadmill training using the progressive dual task improved the balance and walking ability of patients with subacute stroke. This study is expected to provide basic data for the treatment of patients with subacute stroke in the future.

Post-intensive care syndrome refers to impairment of the physical, cognitive, and mental health of patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). This condition can negatively affect patients’ quality of life; therefore, early rehabilitation is important to manage these complications, and improved functional ability, muscle strength, and quality of life are benefits of prompt intervention in patients admitted to an ICU. In this literature review, we investigated the effectiveness of early rehabilitation introduced for patients in the ICU. We searched the PubMed database between 2018 and 2022 using the following search terms: “ICU rehabilitation” and “early mobilization ICU.” We retrieved 75 articles; 9 studies met the inclusion criteria. The effects of early rehabilitation for critically ill patients were classified into functional mobility, strength, quality of life, and others. We observed significant and non-significant differences between the aforementioned studies. Despite the conflicting results observed across the aforementioned studies, we recommend introduction of early- stage systematic and structured rehabilitation for critically ill patients.